The strange story of Huai'an Inn

It looked at Chong Liu's outstretched hand, hesitating and daring not to move, like a wounded and bewildered beast.Chong Liu waited patiently, neither urging nor giving up, and finally saw it tentatively reaching out and holding Chong Liu's.

The same hand as my own, only pale because of not seeing the sun, with blue blood vessels.

Is their original blood red?Or is red also just a disguise, like their bodies?

It was pulled by Chong Liu and got out of the dilapidated small temple.The wind has stopped at some point, and everything has added a faint color, but it is still covered with a layer of night gray.Among the treetops in the east, there is a mountain scene like blue smoke in the distance, and the ridge has begun to turn red, as if it has been tempered by fire.There seems to be something extremely powerful and hot hidden behind the mountain, centering on it, majestic golden red and falling purple burst out towards the blue sky.

It opened its eyes wide and stared at everything in front of it stiffly.It has seen a lot of human scenes in Chongliu's memory, but seeing it in memory is very different from witnessing it in person, just like listening to other people's stories and experiencing the story himself.Its body shivered like an autumn leaf, not from the cold, but from the awe of so many unseen sights and colors.

The sun was about to come out from behind the ridge, but it shrank behind Chong Liu in fear. If it wasn't for the hand still held by Chong Liu, it might have turned around and rushed back into the temple.

Chong Liu turned his head to look at it, with a gentle and soft tone, "Don't be afraid, the sun will not hurt us."

It stared nervously at Chong Liu's eyes, and his palms were already wet with sweat.It whispered, "I didn't expect the sun to be like this."

Chong Liu laughed, turned his head to let the increasingly intense sunlight fall on his face, and slowly closed his eyes, "It's beautiful, isn't it?"

From the moment it was awakened, it could smell a smell from Chong Liu's body, a pig iron smell that underground creatures emit when they are injured or feel pain.But it didn't see any scars on Chong Liu's body.But at this moment, the smell faded for a moment.

It raised its head, too, to meet the ever-brighter daylight.

warm feeling...

It's not quite sure how to describe it, this feeling reminds a little of the temperature that emanated from his skin when he was just hugged out of the source soup by that human being.

It likes this feeling.

Chong Liu opened his eyes and saw it standing beside him, and imitated him to close his eyes, letting the sunlight soak into his cold skin.It smiled unconsciously, without any malice, without any false smile.

Chong Liu felt a sore heart.He wasn't sure he was right to bring it out of the darkness.It still doesn't know that this world does not belong to them.If you can't find your location, if someone knows your true appearance, they will be destroyed at any time.

"Chong Wu..." it closed its eyes and asked, "Why did you give me a name?"

"You don't want a name?"

It was silent for a while, then lowered its head and said, "That human... Gou Chen, never gave me a name."

Not only did it not give it a name, but even the human's own name was searched from Chong Liu's memory.

Chong Liu turned around and looked at the unhealed scar hidden under its plain expression.

"If it was me and not you who were born before, I would have the same fate." Chong Liu looked at him seriously, "I'm just luckier than you."

"You pity me?"

"No..." Chong Liu sighed and said, "Master has already left. You are my last relative."

It froze, "Going?"

"His mission is accomplished... Now, we are the only ones left."

It was dazed.Probably because the two are too similar, Chong Liu can even feel a certain attachment that collapsed in the depths of his consciousness.

It probably has always held some kind of fantasy that even it itself is unwilling to admit, imagining that one day the human being who has taken care of it and raised it tenderly will come back to look for it, apologize to it, and tell it regret ditching it.

But now, the cornerstone that supports all its obsessions and resentments has been removed.

Chong Liu looked at it silently collapsing silently, and suddenly stretched out his hand, wrapping his arms around its shoulders.

It startled.The body is as stiff as a stake.Except for Mr. Gou Chen, except for the hug it cheated from Zhu Helan when it was disguised as a heavy six, no one has embraced it.It wanted to break free, or take this opportunity to sneak attack Chong Liu, but in an instant, all emotions suddenly burst, and tears gushed out of its eyes.

It didn't make a sound, it didn't move.In the light of the morning sun, two figures with the same face and completely different destinies stand for a long time, supporting each other.

..................................................................

Zhu Helan looked at the letter Chong Liu left him with a calm expression.But the strange flowers in the whole yard that were originally lush and lush in the cold winter all withered and rotted at the same time in an instant.

Zhu Yi, Xiaoshun and others rushed to the shopkeeper's small courtyard in a hurry to report the news that Chongliu had left without saying goodbye, but they were frightened by the rotten and gloomy atmosphere that filled the courtyard.Master Liao hurriedly grabbed Xiao Shun who was about to rush in with his head sullen, and said, "You don't want to live anymore?"

Zhu Yi said, "What should we do? Why don't we wait outside the yard?"

Master Liao took a sip of tea and pondered for a while, "You guys wait outside, I'll go in and have a look."

As soon as he entered, Master Liao was almost forced out by the red ribbon-like tentacles that filled the room.When Zhu Helan heard the sound of the door opening, she put away her distorted state in an instant, and her face of suppressed anger appeared gloomy.

Master Liao closed the door and asked, "What did he say in the letter?"

Zhu Helan remained silent, and directly handed the letter to Master Liao.The latter took it and looked at it carefully, raising his eyebrows.

"The inn is closed, I'm leaving now." Zhu Helan got up and walked inside while talking.Master Liao hurriedly asked, "What do you say to those boys?"

"Tell me the truth."

"...Do you really need me to go with you?"

"No need." Zhu Helan said without turning his head, "As soon as I leave the city, Song Mingzi and the others will follow me immediately. With him and Daoist Qi Yao, there should be enough manpower. If it is not enough, adding more people is just a matter of time In addition, someone needs to be in charge of the inn." He paused, and added, "The inn is protected by locust trees, and with the Qingming faction, there should be no danger. But in case of any critical situation , can you stop your tea for a few days?"

Master Liao nodded and said, "Don't worry about the inn."

Zhu Helan hurried to the secret room, packed a few things, and came to the pagoda tree again.

The current locust tree is no longer what it used to be. The root system is like an endless network covering all horizontal planes as far as the eye can see. Each of them is like a small raised mountain, covered with strange moss, fungi and flowers. All have a strange texture somewhere between wood and meat.The trunk of the tree is five or six times thicker than before, making one feel like a wooden wall entwined with pieces of flesh and blood vessels.It soars majestically into the boundless sky, protruding proudly and wantonly from the surface of the entire planet.The huge wriggling canopy covered a large area of ​​the universe, dense palm-like leaves grew on it, and countless tentacles hung down, and among the leaves, huge bright red exotic flowers like silver pots gradually bloomed.

The flower looks like a red lotus at first glance, with mucous membrane-like petals layered on top of each other, exuding a sticky and treacherous gorgeous beauty.Huaxin surrounded countless eyeballs, blinking occasionally, each turning to a different direction.

If humans could see it in its entirety, they would either be scared out of their wits or prostrate in worship.This is how it should look like the Jianmu that can lead directly to the heavens in ancient records and the world tree in the legends of the Far West.

Zhu Helan looked up at it, feeling an indescribable pride spontaneously.

The little pagoda tree finally bloomed...

Amidst the sense of relief, a trace of uneasiness is quietly brewing.

After flowering, it will bear fruit.When the fruit is ripe, the locust tree is fully grown.At that time...

Now is not the time to think about that.

As soon as he saw Zhu Helan, the red flowers all over the sky flickered immediately, like thousands of red stars twinkling.It knew that Chong Liu had left, and even told him the direction Chong Liu left immediately.It's just that Chong Liu obviously took a shortcut. Once it leaves the place covered by the roots of the locust tree, it will be difficult to track down.

"Don't worry, I know where he's going...but," Zhu Helan hesitated, and asked, "Xiaohuai, if I take you to the sea, are you afraid?"

The consciousness of Huai Shu came into his mind clearly: don't be afraid.

"Sea water...is not suitable for your growth. And it is not our territory."

The locust tree still told him firmly: Don't be afraid.

Zhu Helan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded, "I won't take all of you there, I plan to take your branches."

Now the pagoda tree is close to adulthood, and its branches have a certain ability to reproduce.As long as the branch is inserted, the root system of the locust tree will immediately grow in that place.The rapidly growing locust tree is the incarnation of the locust tree, which will take away part of the ability of the locust tree, but it will not survive for too long before it will start to rot and return to the main body of the locust tree.Even so, it can still give Zhu Helan a lot of help.

Huai Shu agreed without hesitation.It was obviously very worried about Chong Liu, and also vaguely guessed what Chong Liu was going to do.A small piece of bright red stuff fell from the air above the fingertips, and landed in Zhu Helan's hand.

A blood-jade-like branch, tangled with fine blood vessels, faintly reveals a bright red light.At first glance, it looks like a bloodstone, but the tentacles can feel a vigorous and surging vitality, with a fine and continuous pulse beating inside.This pulse is synchronized with the pulsation in the body of the locust tree, even though it seems to be separated from the main body, it is actually still one.

Zhu Helan lifted up her temple hair and coiled it with this branch.No one would have thought how powerful the hairpin on his head was.He smiled at Huai Shu, "Don't worry, I will bring him back."

............................................................

After Zhu Helan left the inn, Zhu Yi put up a closed sign at the door.He chatted casually with the peddler who sold groceries at the door, and then returned to the inn.

The shopkeeper and Chong Liu had left, and the whole inn was eerily silent.Everyone quietly cleaned the lobby and the back kitchen, sealed the wine jar and pickle jar, and kept busy until night. After dinner, they went back to their rooms.

Zhu Yi opened the room between himself and Chong Liu while moving his sore arm, but was stunned.

Zhu Helan, who should have left a long time ago, was watching him quietly in the dark.

"Dong... Dongjia?" Zhu Yi was tongue-tied, "Why are you back?"

Zhu Helan slowly put a note on the table and pushed it towards Zhu Yi.

The note contained detailed information such as the time Zhu Helan left the inn, the direction he left, where he was going, what he might be carrying, and so on.It was during the day that Zhu Yi took the opportunity of chatting with the salesman to hand it over.

Zhu Yi's face turned pale, "Boss, I can explain. I..."

"Sang Ya, let go of Zhu Yi." Zhu Helan said coldly.

Zhu Yi was stunned, "What... what?"

"Your spirit was invaded by the great witch Tiangu. I guess it happened when you went home before the Chinese New Year?" Zhu Helan asked quietly, "In the world of your parents, someone put something in your meal. Gu. And you, under the control of Sangya, put a Gu on Liu'er.""