Sealing Sword

Aoyama Arakuzuka said:

spoiler!High energy!Be careful! (important things are emphasized at the beginning)

Note 1 is from Ye Xuan's "May You Be Treated Gentlely by the World".

Note 2 is from "Han·Han Ying·Han Poetry Biography"

Bingdi flowers bloom in two places, and there are people with different thoughts.

Mu Qingshang brought Shen Liu back to Wangchen Peak.

It has been more than half a year since he left the mountain, and the Taishang Palace is still the same as when he left, except that the seasons have changed twice, turning the cold spring into cool autumn, nothing else has changed.

Ji Qingyan's black hair was tied into a Taoist bun, and his military uniform was replaced by a Taoist robe. On his girdle, there was an extra piece of Tai Chi jade pendant, and the demeanor of the future master could already be seen faintly.

He got the news early and personally took Jing Fei and Song Qiwei to wait at the foot of the mountain. When he saw the two coming hand in hand, he saluted Shen Liu first, and then brought Mu Qingshang over to greet him.

Shen Liu put his arms around his arms, and there was a soft look in his eyes. It is clear that Mu Qingshang has grown so much that he is no longer a child who needs to be taken care of blindly. And indifferent.

He finally understood why after several years, Mu Qingshang can still uphold the pure heart like he first met when he was young. It's not that the other party has never experienced the wind and rain, but the memory left to him by the Supreme Palace is always so pure. .

Treat the world with tenderness, and may the world treat you with tenderness. (Note)

Shen Liu has lived a life of fighting with evil spirits for these years, and he has raised a stomach full of bad water, but he has not yet become black-hearted. He does not agree with such innocent gentleness, but it does not prevent him from appreciating their persistence in kindness. .

After all, there are only people left in the world, so it may not be too sad.

As the Young Palace Master, Ji Qingyan is considered a half-master, so it is naturally impossible for Ji Qingyan to leave the guests aside for a long time, exchange pleasantries with Mu Qingshang, then hand them over to Jing Fei and Song Qiwei, and walk to Shen Liu's side by himself, turning his palms for a long time. He took out a small jade bottle and said with a smile: "After traveling for many days, this medicine is good for nourishing Qi. Please don't dislike Mr. Shen."

Compared with Mu Qingshang, who was still young and immature, Ji Qingyan was more than a little bit more appropriate in his life. Although Shen Liu did not let go of his guard, he still reached out his hand and took the jade bottle politely without hitting the smiling face. Ji Qingyan also took hold of the two of them. The distance between advance and retreat is just right.

Shen Liu said with a smile: "This time of trouble, I would like to thank the Supreme Court for helping me. I dare not forget this love and righteousness, and there will be rewards in the future."

Ji Qingyan knew that he and Mu Qing had known each other in Chuitiao, so he raised his eyebrows and smiled when he heard the words: "That poor man prayed day and night, and hope that Mr. Shen will not die in a catastrophe, and there will be good luck in the future."

Shen Liu couldn't help clapping his hands, if this person wasn't in the Taoist sect, he must be a rare and exquisite person.

Seeing the smile on Ji Qingyan's face, Mu Qingshang decided in his heart that as long as his senior brother passes this test, Shen's stay in the Taishang Palace will be safe.

His heart relaxed, and he asked with a gentle smile, "Where is Master?"

Usually at this time, Taoist Master Su Qing would either meditate in the quiet room and practice inner strength, or read and copy scriptures in the study. The faces of the fellow students changed in an instant.

Mu Qingshang's smile melted at the corner of his mouth: "What's wrong?"

Seeing the tired look in his eyes, Song Qiwei couldn't bear it, and exchanged glances with Ji Qingyan, but she didn't expect that Jing Fei couldn't hide the matter, and said in a hoarse voice: "Master is sick."

Mu Qingshang knew that Jing Fei was an out-of-the-box person, and if Su Qing was suffering from cold and heat, the other party would never have put on such a mournful expression, and immediately his heart tightened, and Ji Qingyan pressed his shoulder when he wanted to ask.

"Don't worry, Master is very old, you will feel uncomfortable after some cold, you later..." He suddenly paused, and then said, "You don't need to see him later, so as not to disturb Master's rest. "

Mu Qingshang was stunned by this unexpected statement, not sure what his senior brother meant, Shen Liu took a glance and saw the worry flashing in Ji Qingyan's eyes.

Ji Qingyan spoke tactfully, apparently because he didn't want to reveal the affairs of the sect to outsiders who met for the first time.Jing Fei knew that he had made a slip of the tongue, so he didn't say much anymore, and took over from his senior brother to lead the way for Shen Liu. The latter turned his eyes on the four of them, and listened to Jing Fei's introduction of the scenery along the way obediently, without saying a word that was unnecessary.

After all, Mu Qingshang was still worried, he had to see Su Qing with his own eyes, so he followed Ji Qingyan to the front, hurriedly stepping, as if returning to his heart.

If Shen Liu added color to his pale childhood, Su Qing's appearance brought him a future that he never dared to hope for.

Be like a master, be like a father, nothing more than that.

Ji Qingyan and Jing Fei led Shen Liu to the Guest House, and Song Qiwei took Mu Qingshang all the way to the Feidao Pavilion where Suqing lived. Before parting ways, Ji Qingyan obviously had something to say to Mu Qingshang, but unfortunately the latter walked too fast. He was not given this chance.

Shen Liu followed Ji Qingyan's gaze to look at the backs of the two of them. The sunlight dragged Song Qiwei's shadow long, and he also caught a glimpse of the fleeting edge in each other's sleeves.

Mu Qingshang didn't realize it at all.

As soon as he arrived in the yard, Mu Qingshang subconsciously glanced at the cypress tree planted in the yard. Many leaves had fallen, and he looked bald and stooped like an old man.

It is said that this cypress tree was planted by the previous palace owner when Suqing was introduced. This year is now in a haggard state.

Mu Qingshang panicked suddenly.

Song Qi covered her mouth slightly, her eyes were already red, she stepped forward and knocked on the door with a hoarse voice: "Palace Master, Master, Junior Brother Qing Shang is back."

Mu Qingshang stared at the door, afraid that it would open, but also afraid that it would not open.

With a sound of "squeak", Master Su Yin opened the door, and when he saw Mu Qingshang, his hands and feet stopped, his eyes fell on him for a long time, but it seemed that he was not just looking at him, making Mu Qingshang feel uncomfortable all over.

Master Su Yin is too strict, but she has always been kind to these juniors. This is the first time in the past few years that Mu Qingshang has felt such a substantive cold and serious gaze from her.

He couldn't help calling softly: "Uncle Master..."

"You... just come back." Master Su Yin was too silent for a moment, and finally slowed down, "Brother is waiting for you in the room."

After she finished speaking, she brushed past Mu Qingshang and took Song Qiwei out for a long trip.

Mu Qingshang's back was covered with cold sweat. He saw Master Su Yin's back disappearing at the gate of the courtyard, so he opened the door carefully and entered, for fear of disturbing Master by making any noise.

However, Daoist Su Qing did not fall asleep.

He sat leaning on the bed, holding a strange thing and a small carving knife in his hand. When he saw Mu Qingshang put the things on the mattress when he came in, he smiled and waved: "Go out for a few months, have you lost weight?" few."

In fact, Mu Qingshang hasn't changed much, but Su Qing has lost a lot of weight in the past six months.

He was already quite old, he was not confused when he adopted Ji Qingyan, and he was almost sixty years old when he took Mu Qingshang as his apprentice, but because of his high internal strength and energy accumulation, he didn't look very old, and he was in a high position. No one dared to regard him as an old man.

However, Su Qing is indeed old.

The beard and hair have long been replaced by graying, and the once smooth skin is also loose and wrinkled. In the past few years, I have been prone to illness. Although they are all minor ailments of wind, cold, damp and heat, they have become more and more frequent, and people have gradually lost weight. Now they fade away With the complicated attire of the sect leader, only skin and bones remain.

This was the first time Mu Qingshang saw such Su Qing.

When he was young, he most wanted to become a person like Su Qing, who was calm and strong, and seemed to be able to straighten his spine forever and never collapse, but now Su Qing has a stooped figure, and his once strong five fingers tremble even when holding a carving knife.

Mu Qingshang once thought that he would have a lot of time to grow up, and under the blessing of his master, he would become an upright person like him. However, countless "futures" and "futures" have piled up. Don't wait". (Note 2)

Today's affairs look forward to tomorrow, even if there are so many tomorrows, the years and personnel are even more unbearable.

Sitting by the couch, Mu Qingshang held Su Qing's skinny hand, resisting the soreness, and asked softly, "Master, what's wrong with you?"

His voice was very soft, for fear of making Su Qing feel uncomfortable, but the Taoist reached out and touched the corner of his eyes, and said with a smile: "You are already sixteen years old, why are you still crying?"

Mu Qingshang felt as if someone had hollowed out his heart, he couldn't speak, and lightly rubbed Master's palm.

Su Qing said: "I'm not sick, but old, you don't need to make a fuss."

Birth, old age, sickness, and death, the cycle of the world goes on and on again, Su Qing's words couldn't be more plain, but Mu Qingshang's nose was sour, and he almost cried.

Although Su Qing had three apprentices, Jing Fei only pretended to be a master and apprentice, and gathered the strengths of the elders in miscellaneous knowledge, and he had nothing to teach him, so Ji Qingyan and Mu Qingshang were his disciples in the true sense .

Compared with Ji Qingyan, who is calm and steady, Su Qing has always been more careful and cautious towards Mu Qingshang. Although this disciple is young, he has a special background. There are good and bad.

Mr. Su Qing hopes that he can be alone, but he can't let him fly. Instead, he uses rules, skills and human relationships to restrain him without any trace. The hardest thing to figure out.

He knew very well that these five years were not so much a careful teaching, but more like a subtle taming.

Sadly... that's not quite the right thing to do.

Su Qing lowered her eyes and asked: "I read your letter, and reunited with my childhood friend after a long absence, do I feel happy in my heart?"

Mu Qingshang originally wanted to ask a lot of questions, but now he doesn't want to confide a single word. He smiled along with his words, and it was rare to be obedient and clever: "Well, the disciple is very happy, but I am worried about whether it will bring trouble to the master. I specifically asked Master for punishment, you should be more lenient."

Su Qing laughed: "When I was a child, no matter how much I teased you, I didn't open my mouth very much, but now I am like that monkey Jing Fei... I have personally read your letter. , why not open a convenient door?"

"Thank you Master."

The master and apprentice chatted a few words, and the originally somewhat sad atmosphere became much more relaxed under the tacit activeness of the two.Mu Qingshang picked up the thing on the mattress and found that it was a mask made of silver. Except for the eye sockets and sniffing holes, even the lips were not exposed. A mysterious beauty.

"This is……"

Su Qing smiled slightly: "For you."

Mu Qingshang was taken aback for a moment: "Me... us?"

He was puzzled, but Su Qing just smiled and looked over quietly.

Although Su Qing is old, his eyes are still not cloudy, black and white are clear, so pure that it seems that he can hide all the secrets and secrets. When Mu Qingshang is looked at by him, he only feels a chill behind his back, and an inexplicable panic comes from him. The bottom of my heart rose, but it was accompanied by an indescribable anger.

The anger was aimed at himself and at Su Qing in front of him, but Mu Qingshang didn't know where the anger came from.

The smile on his face disappeared in an instant, and his voice trembled: "Master, disciple... I don't understand what you mean."

"Since you can write down your doubts about Absence in a letter, why don't you dare to ask me yourself? Shang'er, it's not that you don't understand, but you just don't want to think about it." After a pause, Su Qing asked Another question, "How is your "Wuji Kungfu" practicing now?"

Mu Qingshang managed to regain his composure: "I have just passed the seventh level of entry, and now I have a glimpse of the 'Ren Situation'."

In addition to the three realms of "respect", "ruthlessness" and "forgetfulness", "The Promise" has seven levels before it as a solid foundation. However, this mentality is too demanding on people. Stopping at the realm of "Ren Qing", even Su Qing spent his entire life for decades, but he was only "Ren Qing" in its great perfection.

Ji Qingyan has practiced for more than ten years, but he has only stepped into the threshold of "responsible situation". Although he has made rapid progress in other martial arts, he is like a snail in this martial art. Fortunately, Su Qing does not force him, let him develop freely. Even if you don't rely on this work, you can achieve something.

However, being so open-minded, he was very strict with Mu Qingshang in this matter. It was the most basic requirement for him to practice three weeks in the morning and evening.

Mu Qingshang is now sixteen years old, and he was able to see the way of "Renqing" for the first time. It is due to his talent and the hard work of his teacher.

But when he finished explaining anxiously, Su Qing's expression was very solemn.

"For the first time, I saw 'Renqing', no wonder...things are reversed when they are extreme, and it is my fault." Su Qing sighed, he rarely did this, but now he has to sigh.

Mu Qingshang became increasingly suspicious, and he became nervous unconsciously: "It's the disciple who failed to live up to expectations and made slow progress, and let the master down."

Su Qing shook her head: "You didn't do anything wrong, it was my oversight... When you went down the mountain, you should have reached the bottleneck, right?"

Mu Qingshang nodded, hesitating a little: "The disciple felt that his internal energy was fluctuating in the past few days, but it didn't hinder him. He also saw that the master was lacking in skills, so he kept silent."

"If you say so, I won't let you go down the mountain at that time." After a pause, Su Qing said almost coldly, "I will imprison you in the Supreme Palace until you reach the 'No Situation' in one go, if not , I will abolish your martial arts."

Mu Qingshang was startled, and the chill on his back turned into spikes, which pierced him hard, from skin to bone.

Although Su Qing was old and sick, but when the words fell, there was an invisible killing intent piercing through the bones. Mu Qingshang instinctively stepped back and forced himself to let go of the hand holding the sword, but the inexplicable anger became more and more intense, making him He couldn't help shaking slightly.

Mu Qingshang has been alert since he was a child, so he can naturally hear that Su Qing's words are not coaxing him, but the truth.

He was panicked and aggrieved, more confused, pinching the silver mask tightly to prevent himself from losing control of the instinct to hold the sword, tremblingly said: "Master...why?"

Su Qing asked back: "Do you know why I made an exception to pass on "The Promise" to you?"

Mu Qingshang shook his head blankly.

""The Promise Art" can make people calm and calm, and it can better complement and respond to the state of mind. Its three realms correspond to the three changes of the human heart, that is, presumptuousness, restraint and naturalness." Su Qing said lightly, "You are a well-behaved Children, who have been gentle and kind since they were young, do not fight or fight with others, are excellent seedlings for practicing "Wuji Gong", but this is not the reason why I make an exception to pass it on."

Mu Qingshang's fingers clenched unconsciously: "That's...why?"

"Because you need it." Su Qing raised her eyes to meet his four eyes, as if she wanted to see deeper inside through those eyes, "Human nature cannot be trampled on maliciously, nor can it grow arbitrarily in a presumptuous way. You can be obedient and self-disciplined. But...he can't."

Frightened by this gaze, Mu Qingshang instinctively took a step back: "He, who is he?"

Su Qing said: "He is you."

Mu Qingshang followed his gaze to look at the bronze mirror on the wooden frame next to him, his panicked face was reflected in the mirror, but by some strange coincidence, he put the silver mask in his hand on his face.

The cold and hard mask covered the description of the facial features, and also concealed all the weak and flustered expressions, only revealing a pair of eyes.

For the first time, Mu Qingshang realized that his eyes were cold.

Suddenly there was a soft sound outside the door, as if someone bumped into something accidentally, but Mu Qingshang didn't look back to see what happened.

The familiar trance hit his brain, this time he gritted his teeth to stay awake, but the darkness still hit his eyes.At this moment, he heard the sound of Su Qing getting off the bed and approaching, he waved his hand instinctively but was forcefully pinched.

Mu Qingshang heard Daoist Su Qing sigh with relief: "I haven't seen you for five years, and you have grown up too."

Five years...that was when he and Daoist Su Qing met for the first time.

At the last moment when his consciousness fell into a daze, Mu Qingshang suddenly realized that he couldn't remember what happened that day.

He realized that he was standing outside a hazy window paper, but unfortunately, before he had time to pierce it, his mind was already silent.

On this day, there was a sudden upheaval in the Feidao Pavilion, but it came to an abrupt end.

Daoist Su Qing, who had been ill for many days, fought with the disciple who had just returned, and cut through the fly with his long sword, but before he hurt anyone, he was suppressed by Mu Qingshang himself, and left with Shen Liu who broke into the courtyard.

Master Su Yin didn't get angry when she got the news, she just sighed deeply, and dealt with the follow-up in an orderly manner, keeping the few witnesses silent, and then brought Ji Qingyan, Jing Fei and Song Qiwei into Su Qing's room.

Su Qing sat cross-legged on the couch and adjusted her breath, the ground was covered with broken lenses and sundries, and there were a few drops of blood.

Master Su Yin's complexion changed, and he hurried forward: "Brother, he..."

"He didn't do anything." Su Qing opened his eyes and looked at the few drops of blood, "I'm fine."

The two fought, and since Su Qing was unscathed, the blood was naturally from Li Ren who didn't turn back.

Ji Qingyan saw a bloody carving knife, not much blood was stained on it, but it was very glaring.

Song Qi's voice trembled slightly: "Junior Brother Qingshang..."

"I thought I could use this last bit of strength to relieve him, and I prepared for the worst, but I didn't expect...he would stop at the last moment." Su Qing sighed deeply, as if at this moment In an instant, he looked ten years older again, "This time, I was wrong again."

Ji Qingyan suddenly turned around and ran out.

Su Qing didn't stop him, but closed his eyes tiredly, Song Qi covered her mouth slightly and didn't dare to vent her anger, but Jing Fei opened her mouth: "Master, what did you do wrong?"

Su Qing didn't say a word, Jing Fei wanted to continue asking, but was suppressed by Master Su Yin.

After a long time, Su Qingcai said, "Get the name spectrum."

Ji Qingyan traveled around for more than a month, almost searching the entire Dongling, but he never saw the shadow of Mu Qingshang and Shen Liu. Occasionally, he heard some clues, but said that he had seen the fox-eyed young man with a silver mask on his face. I walked away from the waterway, and I didn't know where I was going.

He was so anxious that he wanted to continue chasing and searching, but at this moment Jing Fei dragged him back to the Supreme Palace.

Daoist Su Qing, the fourth head of the Supreme Palace, died of illness.

Ji Qingyan felt like being struck by five thunderbolts, the Taishang Palace was full of eyes, no one was smiling.

However, Mu Qingshang still did not come back.

Seven days later, Taoist Priest Su Qing was buried in Qingjingping, and Ji Qingyan was dressed in plain clothes as the fifth head of the Supreme Palace, and has since become Taoist Priest Duanya.

No one knew what happened in Feidao Pavilion that day, it seemed that with the death of Daoist Su Qing, all this had become a thing of the past.

When he was dying, he didn't say a word about Mu Qingshang, and he didn't allow any of his disciples to comment on him, as if the man had never returned since he went down the mountain, and the short-lived shocking change in Feidao Pavilion seemed to have never happened.

On the day of Su Qing's burial, Taoist priest Duanya stood alone in Qingjingping for a long time. From dusk to the willow tip on the moon, fine pieces gradually fell on his body.

Winter came early this year, and now the first snow has fallen.

The young Daoist Duanya closed the scroll in his hand and placed it in front of Daoist Suqing's grave, paused in his footsteps, and finally turned and left Qingjingping.

The snow is getting bigger and bigger.

Only when the scroll was almost wet by the melted snow did he pick it up with one hand.

Judging by his stature, he was still a young man, carrying an ancient sword on his back, wearing a white smock and a plain gown with arrow sleeves, and wearing moiré satin boots, his long hair tied up high was covered with snow, but his face was hidden by a Under the silver mask.

The only thing exposed outside the mask are those cold eyes.

He picked up the famous book that records the succession of masters and apprentices of the Taishang Palace, and carefully turned from the first page to the last: the fourth generation head of the Taishang Palace, Daoist Su Qing, his personal disciple Duanya Daoist Ji Qingyan, Mu Qingshang and Taoist Duanheng Jing Fei.

His fingers paused for a moment on one of the names, those cold pupils suddenly shrank,

At the end of a column that originally said "Mu Qing Shang", a name was added in familiar handwriting - Duan Qing.