A branch of the Yanshan Mountains. After the boundary stone of the "Night Death Mountain Boundary" is this deep and narrow valley. The mountains are long and the cliffs are steep, blocking all the footsteps of the world—the change of dynasty, the chaos of the army, the taxation and conscription, including the spring. For eight months of the year, the night mountain is full of wind and snow; In the middle of summer in June and July, when the heat outside the mountains is unbearable, the snow and ice accumulated in the valley are often just beginning to melt.

This year's spring came very early. It was only the end of February, and there were a few rare sunny days in succession. The stream in the valley is also melting in the spring sun, breaking the ice early and singing comfortably.

Early in the morning, the little boy of the Mu family ran up to the top of the rain peak out of breath. This is the highest peak of Yeyao Mountain, overlooking the entire valley of Yeyao Mountain, and the small village hidden in the valley is almost invisible. Mu Fansheng is already familiar with the road, almost with his eyes closed, he can find the way up the mountain, find the peak of the mountain and the rock, face the mountains and ravines, and wait patiently for his fourth brother. At this time last year, Shen Ruoyu gave a class to Mu Fansheng for the first time on this mountaintop. Every day of the year, no matter the storm and snow, the wind and the sun are beautiful, there are no exceptions. It is still the same today. The young master standing quietly on the mountain rock was only sixteen years old, his figure with his back to him was thin and thin, but in Mu Fansheng's eyes, he was as tall and holy as ever, solid as a rock.

Hearing the footsteps and wheezing behind him, Shen Ruoyu turned around and faced Mu Fansheng, cold and serious.

"Mortal, you're too late again. What time do you get up? He coldly scolded, "I said, if you are late with a stick of incense, you will be punished for running a lap; I've waited for you to make two sticks of incense, and I'm going to punish you twice today. In addition to this lap of daily morning exercise, there are three laps in total. I don't have time to listen to your nonsense; Hurry up and tie your shoes, let's get started. ”

Mu Fansheng had already run up the mountain with a red face, sweating profusely, and when he heard the master say that he was going to be punished for running, he trembled all over, lowered his head, and didn't dare to look at the master. Shen Ruo turned a blind eye, took Mu Fansheng to run down to the rain peak, ran all the way to the foot of the mountain, and then ran up at the same speed, running three laps in one breath without stopping. This is not Mu Fansheng's first day of practice, let alone the first time he has been punished; Rao so, the little boy still felt unbearable on the first lap as always. However, his fourth brother, the master, did not mean to slow down at all, so he could only grit his teeth and persevere. On the third lap up the mountain, he couldn't hold on. Shen Ruoyu's heart was like iron and stone, grabbed his arm, and even dragged him to force him to finish the whole race. When he reached the summit, he suddenly collapsed and was about to lie on the ground. Shen Ruoyu grabbed him tightly, almost holding his collar and forcing him to walk slowly back and forth on the top of the mountain for a long time before letting him sit down.

Mu Fansheng was sweating profusely, panting, and almost collapsed on the ground; The young master in front of him didn't feel the slightest distress, and when he was sweating a little, he ordered as usual:

"Get up, you'll catch a cold if you sit for a long time."

When Mu Fansheng heard this, he trembled in his heart for a moment, struggled to get up obediently, skillfully straightened his clothes, and then straightened his waist and looked at the fourth brother master seriously.

Under the supervision and guidance of Shen Ruoxiao, he moved his muscles, tempered his internal strength, and everything had to be done in accordance with the requirements of the fourth brother. The fourth brother made him squat down the mountain with a wooden bucket full of water, and put a thick stone under his feet, and then forced him to stretch his legs and touch the ground with his hands, and pressed his hands on his back when his student could not hold it down, until the hapless little boy cried and burst into tears; His fourth brother, Master, has always been like a stone.

After the activity opened the muscles, Shen Ruoyu began to check the basic exercises he had taught before, but he was still not satisfied.

"How?" The young master's eyebrows twisted impatiently, like two knives, piercing into Mu Fansheng's heart. "You've been practicing these three styles for a month, and you've been making rapid progress at the beginning, why are they getting worse and worse?"

Mu Fansheng snorted aggrievedly: "Fourth brother, teach me a new one." I really can't practice these three styles anymore. ”

"The old ones haven't been practiced well, how can the new ones teach you?" His stern master coldly reprimanded, "Mortal life, how many times have I told you, don't be greedy for practice. Blindly seeking speed, in the end you can only learn to be an empty shelf, embroider legs, what's the use? ”

Mu Fansheng's face turned red, and he stood obediently in place, bowing his head and not saying a word.

"Do it all over again!" With a shout, the little apprentice was stunned.

The master corrected it over and over again, and Mu Fansheng made mistakes over and over again. An hour later, tears began to roll in his eyes again. He was exhausted. He gritted his teeth and tried to raise his arms to the position requested by the fourth elder brother, and tried to lift his legs to the position requested by the fourth elder brother. However, this required position is not one point higher, one point lower, one point on the left, not one point on the right, but it is at the most exhausting point, which is too difficult to achieve.

He was so tired that he could no longer lift his arms and kick his legs; Each repetition is worse than the last. And he has no way back, he must continue to practice until he reaches the standard.

Is that possible? He thought it was impossible. But the fourth brother is not a strong man; The fourth elder brother himself can do a perfect job, so he is also required of him, and he cannot tolerate the slightest deviation. He heard the patriarch uncle say that the father of the fourth elder brother, his nominal master, Shen Rufeng, who was once the world's number one master who was famous in the north and south of the country, used to demand his son with such absolute perfection; After more than ten years of brutal training like purgatory, the fourth brother's martial arts have been forged to the level they are today, and they are impeccable and impeccable.

"But I'm not the fourth brother; I may never be like my fourth brother. Mu Fansheng thought about it, feeling extremely sad in his heart.

"Stop!" A loud shout rang out overhead; The fourth brother's anger finally couldn't be restrained.

Mu Fansheng stopped, standing in place and trembling.

"What do you think you're doing, mortal? What kind of thing are you performing! What did I teach you about this? Where is the shadow of the Shen family's heirs? Don't say I'm sorry for my dad, what will your sister think if she finds out? You-"

Shen Ruoyu suddenly stopped. A string of crystal tears rolled down Mu Fansheng's flushed cheeks.

In the little boy's heart, there is only shame and shame at this moment; Self-blame and despair filled all his thoughts and feelings, as if the fourth brother master in front of him was a majestic iceberg, braving the cold air, freezing his heart from head to toe. For a while, he didn't realize it, let alone look up, how the iceberg in front of him reacted to his weakness and shame at the moment.

"Ruo Few? Mortal? A girl's call came from the mountain road below. Both the master and apprentice were taken aback and came to their senses; The embarrassment of silence has not yet been perceived, it has been broken.

"Ruo Few? Mortal? Are you guys on it? The call was getting closer.

The young master finally moved, walked to the edge of the cliff, and shouted downward:

"We're all here. Come on. ”

A fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl ran to the top of the mountain, sweating profusely, and when she saw the two of them, she panted and put the lunch box she was carrying on the ground, raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, and threw the two long braids that hung down to her chest behind her. She crossed her waist and looked at the two in front of her with a smile.

"When has it been, haven't you eaten yet, aren't you hungry? I have to send it to you. It's hard to serve. ”

Mu Fansheng said shyly: "Sister, I haven't finished practicing yet." ”

The girl was slightly stunned when she saw the tears still hanging on her brother's little face.

"He's not doing well again, is he?" She looked inquiringly at the young master on the side.

Shen Ruoyu shook his head. "Nope; It's all my fault. He was so focused on his practice that I forgot about the time when I didn't pay attention. ”

The girl's keen eyes sharply captured the shadow in the eyes of the fourth brother. She sighed, frowned, looked at her brother, and said:

"Fansheng, how many times have I told you, why are you still so ignorant? It is a great blessing for you to have four brothers teach you martial arts. You're good, you're lazy and playful, you don't practice well, and you always make him angry. When will you be able to make a difference? ”

"Swing," Shen Ruoyu stopped her, "it has nothing to do with him." It's all my fault today. - Alas, forget it; He looked at his little apprentice:

"Mortal, come here today. You're trembling, it's weird that you can practice well. Skill is not a fast thing; How did I commit this mistake and still think I was right. Go back on your own, and consolidate what you've learned. Wait for next month, let's start a new class. ”

After they had lunch together, they went down the mountain into the valley. The early spring sun still retains the lazy and warm smell of winter, and the grass and trees all over the mountains and valleys are still buried under the snow, revealing a little bit of dry brown in the white, but it does not feel as dead and silent as in the harsh winter. If you look closely, the pimples on the branches have already given birth to new shoots. In the quiet valley, in addition to the subtle sound of running water under your feet, you can also hear the sound of grass breaking through the snow in the snow. A few sparrows swept in front of them, jumped up the bare branches, and in an instant flew down again, jumping up the opposite slope.

The wooden swing washed the clothes by the stream in the morning; Fan Sheng helped his sister pick up the clothes back to the village. The two of them were left to freshen up by the stream. The water of the first melt is clear and clear. Shen Ruoliao washed his face a few times and sat down by the stream, a little worried. He plunged his bony fingers into the stream and picked up the dirt from the bottom; The clear water of the stream was muddy in an instant.

Wooden Swing carefully examined his face from the side, recalling the first time he saw him. A year ago, in the middle of winter, in the middle of the night, the snowy Yeyao Mountain Canyon. Ruo Xiao that day, standing beside his father Shen Rufeng, was like a weak girl. After being rescued from the law field by his second brother Liang Tiehan, he fled all the way from Yingtian Capital to this cold Yanshan, and saw too many rough northern men; Among them, Shen Rufeng is a beautiful man second to none, tall and straight, and heroic. His son was born too handsome, even in Jiangnan, and it was not easy to find such a handsome girl. At this moment, she looked at his dark and slender eyebrows; There is a dark red scar in the center of the eyebrow, which is not long, but it is deep and striking. The scar, as always, drew her gaze back to his dark eyes, causing her to shudder inexplicably. For a moment, she seemed to feel that those eyes were also like the stream in front of her, the mud and sand were agitated, and they seemed unfathomable; But she knew how clear and transparent the water was.

"What do you think of again?" She asked softly.

Shen Ruoyu said in a low voice: "It's not a mortal life yet. When you came up the mountain, I was angry with him, and for no reason, all the time. I found out that I didn't learn anything else from my dad, which was surprisingly similar. He used to beat me every day, all his requirements were harsh and impersonal, he never encouraged, and he always scolded me for being a useless wreck, which would only embarrass him and my mother. I used to think that I would never treat my apprentice and son like he did; But now, I have meticulously copied everything, and created a mortal shadow to make him like me—"

Wooden Swing smiled. "You didn't hit him after all. Besides, boys should be strict with him, and beating and scolding is also necessary. If he can really become as capable as you, that's his great blessing. ”

"What am I capable of?"

"Both civil and military, and can play the piano. The names of me and mortals are not all given by you. Before, we didn't even have a serious name, just a vulgar and rustic milk name, all because my father and mother were uneducated. ”

"I'm also a guy, if you like it." Shen Ruoyu said, "How is your book memorized?" ”

"I remember what Sister Qing taught me last time; If you have time in the evening, I'll recite it to you. ”

"That's great; I happened to be fine at night. But you have to do me a favor first. ”

Wooden Swing looked at his shy expression and smiled knowingly.

"Do you want me to help you make a date with Sister Qing?"

"I ...... I haven't seen her in two days and don't know what's going on......"

"How are you going to thank me this time?"

"I ...... I can...... Teach you two New Tang Dynasty poems in the evening......"

Mu Qiuqian pursed his mouth and said: "Pity me, I helped you run for a year, carried a letter for a year, and each time I learned two more poems in return." ”

"That'...... Then I'll help you carry firewood for ten days? ”

The wooden swing shook his head and laughed, revealing a mouthful of crystal teeth, two dimples on his brown cheeks sunken down beautifully, and two beautiful willow eyebrows raised high, like small fish in an ink painting.

"That's what you said, don't go back."

"The big husband counts when he talks." Shen Ruoyu couldn't help laughing.

After the wooden swing left, Shen Ruoyu re-climbed to the top of the rain peak alone. On the cliff on the north side, a flying boulder stretches out in the sky. Above the boulder lies an ancient wooden lyre. Shen Ruoyu jumped onto the boulder and looked at it with great eyes; The valley was filled with mist. He knew that even if the fog cleared, he would not be able to see the fine shapes in the cottage, and it was impossible to know where Qing'er was. The wooden swing returned to the village, even if she successfully found Qing'er and asked her to come to the peak of the rain immediately, it would take an hour.

He waited for a long time, thirsty and distraught; The hand is on the strings and plucks wildly, but there seem to be thousands of noises between the strings, and the sound is irritable and impure.

He threw the harp aside, drew his sword, and carved on the boulder:

"The sun and moon are blue and the sky is clear; **Around the peak, I am sunny. The kite flies to the sky, and it is difficult to find the sun and the moon; And in the deep valley, the night is suspicious. ”

The sword carved into the hard rock was as easy as cutting through mud, and he couldn't help but be secretly proud of his internal skills. He withdrew the sword in front of his eyes and examined the sword's face; It was as if the restless heart had suddenly fallen silent.

Cast iron is green and dull; A disciple's sword for the most common practice.

Autumn wind. Autumn wind......

He silently recited the name in his heart; A deacent, mythical and ancient name.

If his father passed the sword to him, what would it be like to hold the autumn wind in his hand at this moment?

When the second brother went out to seek revenge, he was only ten years old; That was the last time he saw the autumn wind. However, to this day, he has not forgotten the appearance of the autumn wind for a moment.

The deep and mysterious seal characters, the heavy and cold sword body, the old and dull scabbard; Under the blue sky and bright sun, the blue sword light; When the clouds are thick, it is as gorgeous as the sun. When the breeze blows, the blade of the sword will emit a clear, low whistling.

He had heard his uncle tell a mysterious legend outside the mountain. According to legend, this Autumn Wind Sword was given to his father by a Taoist in the Luoying Valley of Wuling. At that time, my father was sixteen years old, and his martial arts were already famous. The man gave his father two things, one was this autumn wind sword, which was said to be made into gold by extracting the stones of the Yingxi water, and collecting the frost, mist and dew of the autumn wind at its clearest, and tempering it under the moonlight on the night of August 16, which was tough and sharp. My father got the Autumn Wind Sword, and his martial arts became more and more out of control, and soon he dared not compete in the four seas and became recognized as the number one master in the world. But the other thing that the man gave to his father was a promise that he would have the heart of the most beautiful woman in the world.

Ten years later, my father met his mother, a mother he had never met, in Lushan. For sixteen years, he could only sketch his mother's face in his imagination; And the basis for all the outlines has always been only a common definition of the elders of the clan:

The most beautiful woman in the world.

He had never seen the most beautiful woman in the world, never.

But he had ever seen the most beautiful sword in the world. This alone is enough to convince him of love at first sight and single-mindedness.

It was my father's sword, a good sword from time to time. In contrast, the sword in his hand was nothing more than scrap metal.

He dropped his sword, picked up the piano again, and plucked three notes intently, and a clear and distant voice came out from under his fingers. He continued to play intently, and the song "Flowing Water" rippled between the strings. This is the best time he has played in 16 years, the melody is smooth from the heart, the timbre is full, the brilliance is shining, and the profound internal force penetrates into it, raising the sound of the piano into the wind and spreading to every corner of Zhenshuizhai.

This song should only be in the sky, and the world can hear it a few times. [1]

In fact, after only three years, his style of music has changed dramatically; After five years, his attainment in playing the piano reached a higher level, and he despised his simplicity at the age of sixteen; Ten years later, however, he could no longer play the piano, and at that time, he recalled the sound of the piano flowing in the mountains and clouds when he was sixteen years old.

Shen Ruoyu ended the sound of "Flowing Water" and rested for a moment. A new wave of joy rippled in my heart. He gently stroked a string of notes on the strings, and suddenly a flood of inspiration swept through his body. He lowered his head again.

God is idle, and the world is quiet. The jade finger is the ice string, and the intention of the palace has been passed on. [2]

A cracked accent, the mountains and forests were silent. The accent is followed by a few incomparably gentle staccatoas; The gentleness is not pleasant, but the law of harmony is broken, and the sound is pinched with extreme caution, and a nervous emotion of pressing the sword arises spontaneously.

The clansmen in the cottage couldn't help but stop what they were doing and stop to listen; The whole night mountain was quiet, immersed in the sound of the piano.

Shen Ruoyu was not in a hurry; He closed his eyes, and the pictures of countless emotions in his heart were vividly colored, and one by one spread in front of his eyes. He listened to his instincts and directed his playing, and the amazing sound continued to burst under his fingers.

The theme was repeated several times, each time becoming more and more high-pitched, but the more cautious and quiet, and the uneasiness and tension became more and more intense. Shen Ruoliao has completely integrated into it, and is completely oblivious to external objects.

A low, rapid shudder began to fluctuate; The trembling was swift, but also extremely cautious. Suddenly, as if a taut bowstring finally popped out of the arrow, and like a flood finally breaking the embankment, a strong chorus burst out, and the long-suppressed anger rolled and poured out, shaking the whole Yexiao Mountain, and the listener was moved.

Suddenly, after a terrible roar, Shen Ruoyu stopped his hand. The song came to an abrupt end; The whole night was silent. In this moment of silence, he heard the whisper of the mountain breeze through the pine forest.

Sad and flowing, writing a few eternal meanings. Returning sleepless, the aftermath of the night is in my ears. [2]

Shen Ruoyu sighed softly and said, "Qing'er, you are finally here, I think so hard." ”

He turned around, and Yang Yiqing's surprised and shy gaze was at the other end of the boulder, close to him. He jumped up, leaped over the boulder, returned to the solid rock at the summit, and hugged her tightly into his arms, turning every inch of his thoughts for two days into a passionate kiss that burned her sideburns, forehead, eyebrows, cheeks, and lips.

Yang Suqing's delicate and thin body leaned softly on his chest, and murmured: "Don't I want you, what kind of life have I had in the past two days, do you know?" ”

"It's good that you're here; In the future, I will not allow you to disappear like this. Shen Ruoyu complained, "What do you have on your mind, what are your words, why can't you tell me, you have to hide and hold it alone?" All I can think is that you either don't believe me, or you don't really care about me - or both. ”

Yang Yiqing's eyes turned red and her mouth pursed.

"I just don't understand, I'm ugly, I'm not smart, I can't do anything, no matter what, I'm not as good as the other people's wooden girls. You are so close to her every day, where is I still in your eyes? ”

Shen Ruoyu sighed helplessly: "Qing'er, how many times do you want to say this?" Swing is my best friend, my buddy. People have been running errands and delivering letters for you and me for a year, how much have you helped, have you forgotten? Silly girl, you doubt the loyalty of others all the time, and you never realize that you are the real princess. ”

Yang Yiqing pursed her lips and said cautiously: "Then you really won't leave me in this life, won't you want me?" ”

Shen Ruoyu squatted down in front of her, held her knees, and looked straight into her eyes. Yang Yiqing was slightly taken aback; His eyes were resolute and open like never before.

"Qing'er, how many oaths have I sworn to you, why don't you believe me?" He said earnestly, "Listen, I'll send it again; This time, not to you, but to my father and my mother's spirit in the sky. Shen Ruoyu will always stay by Yang Miqing's side, love her for the rest of her life, and not let her be hurt in any way; The sky is falling apart, and the heart will never change. If I turn my back, I will lose all my martial arts, and my flesh and bones will rot to death. The sky is bright and the sun is bright, and this word must be practiced. ”

Yang Yiqing was frightened by his oath, and hurriedly pulled him and said, "Brother Xiao, you don't have to be like this, you don't have to swear by martial arts, I just understand your heart, why do you swear such a poisonous oath to your father?" ”

Shen Ruoyu said: "In order to reassure you." ”

"I'm relieved, I'm relieved," Yang Yiqing reluctantly leaned close to him: "Brother Xiao, am I stupid?" I can't tell if what you're saying is a joke or a real thing, are you bothering me? ”

Shen Ruoyu sighed and smiled helplessly: "Fortunately, I can always guess your thoughts." If only you understood my sincerity. ”

He stood up and took her hand.

"Let's go down the mountain; It was getting a little dark; When we get back to the village, it's almost time for dinner. Don't make everyone wait for us. ”

********

[1] Du Fu "Gift of Flowers"

[2] Su Shi, "Minus the word Magnolia? Piano》