Of Mountains and Rivers

The darkness at the foot of the mountain is not purely invisible. A more accurate description is that the place should be a shadow, a stagnant shadow. Chu Huan heard those whispering voices again, and two strong thoughts suddenly surged in his heart. .

A person has experienced a lot of critical situations, and his intuition will be much sharper than ordinary people, but that is only limited to subconsciously avoiding when encountering danger. Chu Huan has never been so clear, but it is obviously not out of reason and logic. thought.

It seemed that there were two extra voices in his mind, one was desperately urging him to go forward, until he walked into the sinkhole, and the other was warning him hoarsely to back off and run as far as he could.

Chu Huan pinched the center of his brows hard, and was suddenly a little bit in a dilemma, so he firmly nailed his footsteps in place, and continued to wait and see without moving.

Nanshan didn't allow him to be so calm, he turned around and grabbed Chu Huan, and pulled his shoulder abruptly: "Let's go!"

Chu Huan was also dragged staggeringly by him, and the whispers in his ears became louder and louder. He couldn't help clasping Nanshan's wrist: "I think that..."

Nanshan interrupted him: "Don't look, don't listen, don't think about it!"

Chu Huan: "What..."

His voice fell, and suddenly there was a chill down his back, and Chu Huan turned around in shock, only to see a huge shadow chasing after him like a nightmare!

Chu Huan shook his head violently——wait a minute, how could the shadow "chase" him?So what if you catch up?

He couldn't think clearly about these questions, but just for a moment, he felt a sense of unreasonable fear born in his bones.

The sense of fear overwhelmed the attraction of the fallen place to him, and the group fled in a hurry.

The boulder was covered with fine ice slag and hoarfrost, Nanshan slipped, Chu Huan grabbed his arm, but Nanshan pulled him down, his hand was so strong that he pulled Chu Huan from the ground. The top pulled it down and pressed it in his arms.

Chu Huan: "Wait..."

But Nanshan didn't give him time to adjust his posture at all. He arched his back to protect Chu Huan in his arms, and directly used himself as a shield to roll down the mountain.

A big tree crossing over blocked the way, Nanshan suddenly turned over to separate Chu Huan, and hit his back without any buffer, Nanshan groaned, holding Chu Huan's hand more and more tightly, Almost sank into his flesh.

When a few people went up the mountain, they climbed like turtles, but when they went down, it was almost like a river flowing into the sea. They rolled and climbed all the way. Fortunately, there were no old, weak, sick or disabled among them. shelf.

No one knows why they run, but what is there to be afraid of in the shadows?

However, they are like rabbits who have encountered a fierce eagle. Facing the huge shadow, they are instinctively terrified.

Chu Huan felt his body suddenly empty, followed by a familiar feeling of falling, he and Nanshan Siamese twins flew sideways from the protruding ice.

how high is thisWhat's down there?Won't you be disabled?

At the moment when Chu Huan was completely at a loss, he suddenly heard a word in the chattering voice next to his ear.

"fire!"

Chu Huan couldn't help asking back: "Fire?"

His lighter has been blown up by Wu Sihua, where did the fire come from?Do you spray yourself?

But when he uttered such a vague sound, as if he had uttered some mysterious secret language, there was a roar in Chu Huan's ears, his eyes were almost blank, and the intense white light dazzled him so much that he couldn't open his eyes.

...Could it be that you sprayed it yourself?

No one saw where the white light came from, and all eyes couldn't help avoiding it.

In a trance, Chu Huan seemed to have touched some kind of secret connection, extending to an untouchable place.

However, this mysterious feeling was fleeting. The next moment, several people had already landed heavily on a slightly sunken pit on the hillside. Chu Huan quickly supported the ground, touched the ground with his shoulders, and turned sideways Roll to the side, relieve the impact of the fall, at least not let Nanshan directly become his flesh pad.

The size of Chu Huan's pupils slowly reset, and he saw that the noon sky was still as clear as a cloudless sky, and the sunlight was evenly sprinkled on the top of the mountain they rolled down just now, and the fine halo on it seemed to be covered with a layer of crystal. .

The terrifying shadow and inexplicable white light just now disappeared, as if it was just an illusion.

Nanshan supported the ground with his hands, but he didn't stand up for a while, and fell back again. It can be seen that the impact was not light, his head was covered with cold sweat, and there was a shocking bruise on his lower back.

If he wasn't a mountain guard who was born with copper skin and iron bones, his spine would probably be broken.

But Nanshan didn't say a word, his breathing became heavy, and his clenched teeth made a hard mark on his lower jaw.

Chu Huan immediately twitched his eyes: "Show me."

However, I don't know if it was Chu Huan's illusion. When he stretched out his hand to pull Nanshan, the other party actually hid.

"Don't look," Nanshan climbed up with difficulty, staggered and wobbled, almost unable to straighten up, "Let's go first."

"Slow down, wait," Chu Huan called to stop him, "Why are you going? Come here, I'll carry you on my back."

Nanshan took a deep look at him, then lowered his eyes to avoid his sight, then straightened up almost bravely, almost paralyzed when walking.

what's the situation?

Chu Huan frowned, but the situation was urgent, and he didn't have time to say anything.

There is a saying that it is easy to go up the mountain and difficult to go down. They quickly walked through a short gentle slope and reached the almost most dangerous section of the mountain. I felt my scalp explode after just one glance - how do I go about this?

When they climbed up, they almost climbed into a group of spidermen without helmets, but it was absolutely impossible to go down in the same way.

Xiaofang hurriedly turned her head to ask Nanshan for instructions: "Patriarch, what should we do?"

Nanshan didn't respond, he bent down in great pain, the large bruise on his back had turned purple, and under the skin, he could see a network of blood vessels, entrenched there ferociously like a chap, at first glance he thought it was his waist Surrounded by a big boa constrictor.

Chu Huan held him down involuntarily, inspecting the bruise carefully, and tentatively touched Nanshan's swollen skin lightly, feeling that the oily skin was burning hot.

Nanshan held back and didn't make a sound, but trembled involuntarily.

"No," Chu Huan turned to Xiaofang, "Brother, go to the vicinity to see if there are any stronger vines, cut off a few long ones, and tie everyone together."

There are many unknown vines growing on the cliff, Xiaofang had no objection, and immediately acted upon hearing this.

At the same time, Nanshan avoided Chu Huan's gaze again, trying to pull his arm out calmly.

This time, no matter how dull Chu Huan was, he realized that it wasn't his illusion, Nanshan was clearly avoiding him.

For no reason, why did he suddenly become awkward?

Chu Huan didn't react for a while, and he didn't have time to think about it. He stretched out his hand, grabbed Nanshan's wrist, and said with a dark face: "You can't walk by yourself, either I will carry you on my back, or I will hold you, choose one yourself. "

Nanshan pondered for a moment, not knowing what psychological construction he had done for himself, and quickly stabilized his eyes. His eyes slipped around the newly scabbed wounds on Chu Huan's body, and replied objectively and calmly: "You My wound is not completely healed, and it is barely enough to go down here, if I carry another person on my back, the wound will definitely open at that time. I can recover within one night at most, but you can't."

This statement is justified, and there is simply no way to refute it.

At this time, Xiaofang had already quickly chopped the cane back, Yuan Ping came over, and threw one end of the cane to Chu Huan: "He is right, get out of the way, crispy dog—patriarch, you should be tighter!" , I will carry you on this journey."

Yuan Ping likes to run on Chu Huan when he has nothing to do, and the frequency is about the same as eating and drinking. Chu Huan has long been used to it, and basically ignores it. For many years, he knew that Yuan Ping couldn't be more straightforward, but he just felt uncomfortable when his things were coveted by others.

My hands are itching.

However, at Chu Huan's age, after all, he didn't have any youthful impulsiveness. The fire in his heart came subtly and was suppressed quickly. Huan didn't say anything at the time, but stretched out his hand to test the firmness of the rattan, then bent down when Nanshan was unable to move, and tied a very strong buckle around his leg for him.

Then, Chu Huan pulled up the cane, crossed the mountain, patted the young man on the shoulder, told him to back off, and went to the front to explore the way.

Chu Yan has never envy the people of the mountain or the gatekeeper's resistance. Nanshan has mentioned many "blood changes". He basically listened to it and did not seriously consider it to accept it.

Because in Chu Huan's view, this is not necessary at all.

What kind of race gives birth to what kind of body, he was born with this mortal body, there is nothing to mind, just like birds are born to fly, fish are born to swim, when people are just born, they are a bastard without a shell—even I can't turn over.

Sometimes people are indeed limited by talent in a certain aspect, but so what?Isn't the so-called "strong man" a way of life that constantly transcends innateness?

When faced with this problem, Chu Huan's mind is still very open, until now.

For example, right now, he suddenly lost his mind.

Chu Huan's self-esteem, which had not been touched for many years, was caught off guard by Yuan Ping's intentional or unintentional "crisp dog", which hurt him like a stick in his throat.

When going up the mountain, they walked from early morning to noon, and when they went down the mountain, they climbed from noon to early morning of the next day.

When there is light, it is Chu Huan who scouts the way, but at night, his night vision can no longer be so accurate, so Xiaofang can only be the scout.

The atmosphere was dull and stiff, and no one dared to be distracted by chatting. It was not until the dawn of the next day that several people overcame a section of cliffs and reached a gentle slope that could walk upright even though there were no stone steps.

As expected, Nanshan's injury recovered quickly, but after a night's work, the swelling has almost subsided, and the bruise has turned into a more terrifying deep purple, but the bruise has spread a little, and it looks serious, but it doesn't seem to affect him anymore most of the actions.

They cut off the vines, didn't dare to rest, and rushed back the same way without sleep, until the Golden Wuxi fell again, and after another day of running in such a hurry, they returned to the cave where they had rested halfway, and stopped temporarily.

And the stop is not entirely for the purpose of rest. They all know in their hearts that if they go forward, they will inevitably encounter the eye-eaters occupying the dense forest and the resurging sound beasts, so they have to recharge their batteries temporarily and discuss how to deal with them .

Nanshan draws a detailed local map on the ground based on memory—every time the mountain gate is reversed to this end, the mountain guard will go through two mountain patrols. He has been walking this road since he was [-] or [-] years old, and the topography is closed. The eyes can be drawn perfectly.

"This time we have gone the farthest here, and the forest of steles is here." Nanshan drew the mountain they had climbed, and then extended the route by about one-fifth of the length. The main river. There are a few tributaries with deep water, and I have marked them all, and there are likely to be sound beasts in these places."

"We are at this position now, and this side is a dense forest occupied by ophthalmologists." Nanshan first clicked a point, then drew a circle, and patted the soil on his hands. He said, "Ophthalmologists generally don't like Migration, unless the original place makes them unable to live. Most of the places where they live need trees and water, so I can basically tell that they came from the south. This time we go back as far as possible to the north, follow the foot of the mountain, and go around the mountain. Let’s go, I’d rather go a little farther away than confront them head-on.”

Chu Huan interjected lazily: "That group of eye-eating beasts live in groups, and the smell is so fragrant that other animals can't smell it. The flat people and the sound beasts should also try their best to go around. We go around them too. It's best not to Come together."

"Pianpian people have high IQs, so they shouldn't take the initiative to provoke large-scale sound beasts. They are good at fighting in groups. Even if they are captured, they should be able to pick a single one." Yuan Ping continued, "So they should be able to go around Where there is a lot of water, it is most likely to be in the mountains, and it is in the mountains where clean and safe water sources can be found close by.”

Dashan: "Patriarch, then the mountain roads and waterways are not safe, what should we do?"

"I know there is a way." Xiaofang suddenly interjected, "It's a short way. It passes through the cold pool in the mountain. The cave is so small that the sound beasts can't get in. You don't need to climb the mountain or go around the mountain. Swim down below. Pianpian people are not good at water, so they probably won’t go into the mountain pool, even if they meet Mutai, they are easy to deal with without the Pianpian people’s command.”

When they came here, no one knew that a group of neighbors such as eye-eaters lived in the good woods, so Xiaofang didn't have time to propose this idea, but it just came in handy when they went back.

Nanshan passed decisively and nodded: "Okay, everyone should rest for a while, and we will be on the road as soon as the sun rises tomorrow."

His voice fell, and Chu Huan had already stood up: "I will keep watch."

After speaking, he walked to the entrance of the cave by himself without raising his head.

Nanshan looked at his back, which had lost a lot of weight these days, and opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't say a word, and let him go.

Chu Huan sat alone beside the fire at the entrance of the cave, with his hands clasped together behind his head, lying on his back on the ground, looking up at the faint galaxy above his head.

Chu Huan is actually still confused about the fallen place. It is an existence that he has never seen before, and he can't understand it. He just instinctively feels the extreme danger.

After running away for two days and one night exhausted, Chu Huan also calmed down at this time. He realized that Nanshan suddenly alienated him, as if after seeing the sinking place.

Once the joint was opened, Chu Huan could understand what Nanshan was thinking with his toes.

The changes in this world must have exceeded Nanshan’s expectations. If the enemy is a human, even the most incredible monster is not invincible. However, what if the "enemy" is the world itself?

Nanshan probably realized that no matter what was said in their deceitful holy book, he might not be able to find a ray of life in it, so when the gate of the mountain was turned upside down again, with that person's temper of not turning around, he might not be able to explain it. Push yourself out.

Get him out of this absurd world in the cracks forever.

Chu Huan sighed, thinking of the stories I saw in some unofficial anecdotes in the past. Some of the stories about the borderlands told in the stories were all fragrant and poisonous. The resolute paranoia of "I die, you must die" and "If you dare to betray, I will leave your bones behind" and so on...

There are countless weird methods here, and it is the territory of the mountain guards themselves. They can do whatever they want, they are lawless and no one cares about it... It can be said that the right time, place and people are harmonious, but why can't the person he meets be more selfish and vicious? ?

Chu Huan was stunned for a while, realizing that he was in a hurry to beg for abuse, he couldn't help but spurned himself in disbelief: "Bitch."

But Nanshan was silent and resolute, there was really nothing the cheap bone could do about him.

In the middle of the night, Nanshan came over to replace Chu Huan. He looked at his nose and mouth with his eyes and nose, ready to draw a line, and said to Chu Huan, "Go to sleep for a while."

Chu Huan moved his eyes and focused on him, without saying a word, just looking at Nanshan.

Nanshan was stared at by his speechless eyes so much that he wanted to run away. After a while, he squatted down, slowly took off the ring on his hand, and put it beside Chu Huan.

Chu Huan turned over and sat up, picked up the platinum ring, threw it in his hand twice, and turned it upside down a few times, feeling the fire light reflected from the metal hurting his eyes.

He suppressed his emotions and asked knowingly with a blank face: "What do you mean?"

"I'll give it back to you." Nanshan kept his voice low as if he was afraid of alarming others.

After a while, he seemed to harden his heart, took a deep breath, and said to Chu Huan in a business-like tone: "The holy book says that there will be a person who can communicate the past and the future, the present world and the end of the world. I always thought that person was you—but now it seems unlikely, we are already surrounded by traps, whether you are right or not, it’s too late—when this winter is over and the mountain gate is reversed, I will send you away, Don't come back."