【Xue Xiao】Desolate City Crossing

The next day, before Xue Yang woke up, Xiao Xingchen and Chen Xibao set off first.

Xue Yang woke up, dizzy, unable to see the person who appeared in the dream last night, and felt lost.The Soul-Binding Curse had been removed, and a stick of incense was burning on the table, and the word "Xue Yang" was written on the wooden plaque in front of the incense.

At least this way he can stay in the house and sleep until he wakes up naturally.

I had a body yesterday, and I was really overjoyed, so I drank so much wine, many things are vague, and I can't remember them clearly.

It seems that I had a very good dream. In the dream, I kissed the Taoist priest, but the Taoist priest still hasn't refused.

Xue Yang recalled with relish the kiss that seemed real in his dream, when he suddenly heard a conversation outside the window, and looked around, it turned out that Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji were also staying in this inn last night, Wei Wuxian also just woke up , was washing his face by the well in the courtyard when Lan Wangji handed him a clean cloth towel.

"Oh, it's sticky in the morning."

Hearing the sound, the people in the courtyard raised their heads, wiped their faces and said, "Little rascal, it's already noon, and my uncle said that they won't leave very quickly, and told you to meet them when you wake up."

After Wei Wuxian wiped his face, Lan Wangji took back the cloth towel, and handed him the clothes on his other hand.Seeing this harmonious scene made Xue Yang feel agitated. He glanced at the two of them and returned to the house. After walking two steps, he suddenly remembered something. He turned around and jumped directly from the window, landing in front of the two of them in the courtyard.

"Wei Wuxian, did I want to read you a poem yesterday, but was interrupted by Xiao Xingchen?"

Wei WuXian thought about it, and asked Lan WangJi as if he was not sure: "It seems that the poetry reading was interrupted?"

Lan Wangji didn't drink, so he remembered it clearly, nodded and said, "The sword art of the Qingfeng swordsmanship."

A flash of inspiration flashed in Xue Yang's mind, and he remembered more precisely, Xiao Xingchen's slightly nervous stop at that time, and his unnatural expression when he first taught him the sword formula.

Jin Guangyao clearly explained that the poem was expressing his disappointment in life, but if it was just that, why should Xiao Xingchen be nervous?

Thinking about it this way, Xue Yang was nervous, and he said calmly, "Wei Wuxian, don't you want to read the Taoist priest's poem? I can show you, but you have to explain it to me after reading it. "

Wei Wuxian laughed: "It's because you are ignorant and unable to understand the Taoist priest's poems, are you in a hurry?"

Xue Yang was really anxious, too lazy to bicker, took out a thick envelope from his arms, opened it carefully, and showed Wei Wuxian one of the yellowed pages.He kept these pens and ink close to his body all the time, and he carried them with him when he died, so he didn't lose them when he became a ghost.

Without Xiao Xingchen's soul-binding curse, Lan Wangji couldn't see Xue Yang, so Wei Wuxian read the poem to him.

"The breeze blows from the south, encircling the mountains;

The breeze comes from the north, and the best is like water.

The breeze comes from the east, and the clouds and cranes swim in the sky;

The breeze comes from the west, and fortune and misfortune depend on each other.

Reveal old dreams, shake them to pieces;

The wind stops, the river is wide and the clouds are low.

Qingqing Zipei, think about it leisurely;

The wind moves, I don't give up. "

After reading the last two sentences, Wei Wuxian's voice lowered hesitantly, and he exchanged a complicated look with Lan Wangji.

"Okay, what does this poem mean?"

Obviously asking for help from others, Xue Yang did not have the slightest tone of entrustment, but questioned domineeringly, as if he already knew what it meant, and it was just a test of Wei Wuxian.

"This poem is "Qingfeng Sword Art"? The little master researched it himself when he was in Yicheng, and said it was only taught to you?"

"Correct."

Wei Wuxian's eyes flickered, and he said vaguely, "Since it was written by my junior uncle, didn't he explain it to you?"

"He didn't explain it," Xue Yang thought for a while, carefully put away the paper again, and pretended to be happy, "But I asked someone else to explain it, and I know it's a love poem."

Wei Wuxian opened his eyes wide and asked back, "You know this is a love poem?"

The next moment, seeing the sly smile on Xue Yang's face, Wei Wuxian knew he had been fooled.He had just woken up from a hangover, and he was a little dazed at first. In addition, Xue Yang was always complacent and calm when he asked questions. Wei Wuxian thought that Xue Yang knew the meaning of the poem and was just showing off in front of him on purpose. Tongue off.

After Xue Yang verified his conjecture, his legs trembled with excitement, and he couldn't wait to turn around and leave.

It turns out that Qingfeng swordsmanship is actually a love poem written by Xiao Xingchen to himself!For so many years, he has practiced the sword technique hundreds of times at least, and he is familiar with the formulas and mental techniques, but he has not understood the meaning of this poem.

If this is the case, then...then...the Daoist said back then, "I can teach you more when you understand the Qingfeng swordsmanship thoroughly." Does it mean something else?

Xue Yang was overjoyed, and wished he could run to Xiao Xingchen immediately to ask for clarification. Wei Wuxian ignored him when he called him from behind, until Wei Wuxian rarely called him by his name in a serious manner.

"Xue Yang!" Wei Wuxian said, "Since he hasn't explained it to you until now, he didn't want you to read it to us yesterday, don't you know what it means?"

Xue Yang's footsteps faltered, and the joy that had just risen slowly sank.

"Before and now, he didn't explain this poem, and the reasons for it may be completely different." Wei Wuxian took two steps closer and said seriously: "Xue Yang, you didn't realize that Daoist Xiao Xingchen is different from before. ?"

"What's the difference?" Xue Yang said stiffly, refusing to admit it. "Isn't it better to be able to see?"

Wei Wuxian took another two steps, stopped beside him, and said meaningfully, "He's not happy."

Wei Wuxian repeated: "He's not happy."

A fact that Xue Yang already knew, but just refused to admit.

Xue Yang knew how Xiao Xingchen liked to laugh before.When he was in Yicheng, he used to be able to tease the Taoist leader with a few words, and even laughed out loud, but now?After being reborn, except for smiling at Xiaojie, Xiao Xingchen has always been worried.Thinking about it carefully, apart from being angry, most of the time his face was expressionless. Although he was still humble, it was true...anyone could tell that he was not happy.

Wei Wuxian said sincerely, "Why is he unhappy? Xue Yang, have you ever thought about it? Every day he transcends the grievances caused by you, and broke up with Daoist Song because of you. Maybe he still misses A-Qing very much, but he still treats you With a heart of compassion, I hope you will keep your soul intact...Xue Yang, he doesn't say anything on the surface, but do you know how tormented he is? The better he treats you, the more he feels guilty towards others. Daoist Xiao Xingchen is a soft-hearted If you really value him, don’t take advantage of his weakness and add burden to him.”

A shadow passed over Xue Yang's face: "I didn't use him!"

Shaking off Wei Wuxian, he strode away.

When they found Xiao Xingchen and Chen Xibao, they were resting at a noodle restaurant.Even though he was accompanied by someone, the figure in white clothes still looked lonely and desolate. He was even more depressed than when we first met in Yicheng. He sat there and only ate half of the noodles.

When Xiao Xingchen first came out of the mountain, he was very determined. He crossed the three provinces to hunt down him, the murderer. The pure white Taoist robe flew down from the sky, and his eyes were shining brightly, which made him feel a desire to defile him for no reason.

Also born and alive, why Xiao Xingchen can be clean and innocent, but Xue Yang has to wallow in blood?

Until the man was driven to complete defeat, he threw away his helmet and armor, and shrank at his feet begging for mercy.

Like the only lamp that illuminated him in the dark world, it went out.

Now Xue Yang wants to hold this lamp in his arms and protect it with all he has, but with this lamp in his arms, it can't shine brightly and illuminate the world, right?

Going against his wishes and beliefs, how could Xiao Xingchen be happy.

Xue Yang was thinking about a lot of messy things, and sat down at the noodle restaurant with an ugly face. Xiao Xingchen finished his fugue, and while no one was looking around, cast a soul-binding spell to coil the silk around his wrist, and pushed a bowl of soup to him. before.

Chen Xibao said: "Brother Xue, this is hangover soup. Immortal Master Xiao Xingchen specially ordered the store to cook it for you. We have been waiting for you here for a long time."

As soon as the words were finished, Chen Xibao noticed that Xiao Xingchen frowned slightly and looked at him, vaguely intending to stop him, so he stopped talking.

Xue Yang lowered his head and took a sip of the soup, a feeling of warmth fell down his throat and into his stomach.

Xiao Xingchen's concern was the thing that made him happiest, but he had just heard Wei Wuxian's words. At this time, the better Xiao Xingchen treated him, the less he liked him. drink soup.Hurrying in the afternoon, I tried to talk about light topics to make Xiao Xingchen happy, but Xiao Xingchen was not only always in a trance, but also avoided him intentionally or unintentionally, unwilling to talk to him.

But there is a question, he must ask.

"Daoist, Qingfeng swordsmanship, what does that poem mean?"

Xiao Xingchen finally stopped, unable to hide his nervousness: "Why do you ask this suddenly? Did you show Mr. Wei and Mr. Hanguang the poem?"

Xue Yang stared at Xiao Xingchen for a while, and asked, "Are you afraid that I will show them?"

Xiao Xingchen said: "The clumsy works that I thought were pure and noble in the past, expressing the lack of ambition in my life, it is ridiculous for people to read."

After listening to this explanation, after Xue Yang asked the question, the tense heartstrings gradually relaxed, slackened, and even lethargic.

The rest is a bit unwilling, lingering.

With a bright smile, he said: "The Taoist priest explained it late, I have already shown it to Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji."

He paused intentionally, appreciating the panicked and nervous expression on the Taoist priest's beautiful face enough, and then added: "They all saw that the Taoist priest was using poems to express the distress of being unsuccessful in the past, but they didn't laugh at you, they laughed at me for my ignorance , so I can’t read your poems.”

Xiao Xingchen: "That's it?"

Xue Yang: "That's it."

Xiao Xingchen dodged his eyes, heaved a sigh of relief thinking that there was no trace, and continued on his way in silence.

He was clearly wearing a light robe, and his hands were empty, but his back was obviously heavy.

Xue Yang followed closely behind, smiling wryly to himself, laughing that Daoist Master really doesn't know how to pretend, in vain he thought he was the best at observing words and expressions, why didn't he understand the original intention behind Daoist Gao Jie's shy appearance back then?

If he had understood it back then, would everything have been different, and he wouldn't have done evil things like leading Xiao Xingchen to kill his friends with his own hands, forcing people to collapse?

No, things probably won't be much different.

At that time, there were many blood debts, and there was more than one.The obstacle between them is more than one person surnamed Song.

What Wei Wuxian said is indeed true. Xiao Xingchen did not explain this poem before, and the reasons for not explaining this poem now are completely different.

The few people had nothing to say all afternoon, and hurried on their way, and arrived at a new town in the evening.

Xiao Xingchen stopped and said, "You should be hungry too, right?"

Their eyes fell on Chen Xibao and Xue Yang at the same time.

In fact, Xue Yang is already a ghost, even if he doesn't eat, he won't be hungry.

Xiao Xingchen still found a clean restaurant and brought Xue Yang in. Chen Xibao asked Xiao Xingchen to order, and Xiao Xingchen ordered all the dishes that Xue Yang liked to eat in the past.

When the food was ready, Xiao Xingchen only cared about eating the vegetables in front of him. Xue Yang took a few mouthfuls, but couldn't swallow, so he put down the bowl and chopsticks.

"Isn't it to your liking? Order what you want." After Xiao Xingchen asked, he said firmly to Chen Xibao: "Brother Chen, I'll take care of the three meals a day from now on."

Xue Yang was baffled, and finally found that although Xiao Xingchen had an extremely indifferent attitude and few words to him today, his behavior was full of concern.

By the way, it must be an inner conflict. I know I shouldn't treat him well, but I still can't help but care about him habitually.

Xue Yang picked up the bowls and chopsticks again: "You don't need to order any more, the ones that the Taoist priest asked for are very suitable for my appetite."

In order to hide his emotions, Xue Yang devoured his food. Xiao Xingchen really thought he was hungry, so he ordered another bowl of rice.

When he held Xue Yang the night before, he felt that the boy's body under his clothes was emaciated, and his ribs hurt him when lying on him, and he was not as solid and healthy as before. He guessed that Xue Yang had been depressed for eight years, so He was extremely thin when he died, so he cared about it, and wanted Xue Yang to eat well in the future.

More can't be done, but this can still be done.

Xiao Xingchen said: "Eat slowly, we will rest in this town at night, and we are not in a hurry."

The two had their own struggles in their hearts, and at night, when they performed the ritual of summoning souls and superseding wraiths according to their daily habits, the situation became even worse.

Xiao Xingchen settled Chen Xibao in the inn, and went to find a remote and quiet place outside the town by himself.

Cast a spirit spell.

The night is wet and cool, and it seems to be raining.

Xue Yang watched quietly not far away, ready to accept Xiao Xingchen's condemnation after he had saved the wraith spirit, the familiar process, everything remained the same.Every time, the nearest wraith is randomly recruited in this way, most of them are wandering around Xue Yang, and the death is related to it.

Wraiths remained as they were at the last moment before death. Some had their throats sealed with a sword, some had no tongue, and some had been stabbed several times.

Xiao Xingchen thought that the worst thing was one of the wraiths with more than 20 knives in his body.

However, only after attracting the resentful spirits who will be saved tonight, did he know what the real death is, horrific, appalling, and shocking.

He really underestimated Xue Yang's bloodlust.

What appeared in front of my eyes was a mass of red.Bright red, dark red, scarlet, deep and shallow, outlined a human figure.

Humans are no longer human, between the blurred flesh and blood, there are faint bones, almost a half-skeleton, no eyeballs on the face, only two sunken dark red blood holes, other parts are completely unrecognizable, facial features cannot be seen clearly, hideous and ugly .

With this appearance, even the most familiar relatives would not be able to recognize who the deceased was, but Xue Yang recognized it at a glance.

Chang Ci'an's son, Chang Ping.

Back then, Shou He died in a hurry.