The terrain of Pingzhou is flat, the wind is not blocked by the mountains, although there is little snowfall, but there are many strong winds. The howling wind creaked through the cracks between the somewhat rudimentary wooden houses.

Xiao Yilan wielded an axe, split the firewood on the stake in front of him in half, and put it at his feet, there was already a pile of firewood at his feet, and then he stopped and wiped the sweat on his forehead.

Since the last time he was in the wooden house, the tree spirit seemed to have summoned some kind of ritual, every time Xiao Yilan closed his eyes, he could feel his powerful beating heart, and he always unconsciously appeared in front of his eyes, the muscles and veins of his whole body, and in this complex image, the position of the heart was like a turquoise gem, dazzling blue.

From that day on, the stiff muscles in his body did begin to subside, but it took two months for him to fully recover. He is now able to move freely and is even stronger than he was before his injury. The wound on his chest had already formed a pale green scab, and if you looked closely, you could see that the green filaments were densely connected to cover the entire wound.

Li Zheng stood behind him and said with a smile: "It seems that the second young master is recovering well, I may not be able to split these firewoods with one sword." You are probably more powerful than me, so it seems that my days under Master have been wasted. I was scared when I thought of his appearance, and when I went back this time, I didn't have to look at his face day and night. ”

Xiao Yilan swung hard, stuck the axe on the stake in front of him, turned back to Li Zheng and smiled: "I will take it seriously if you praise me." Are you ready?"

"Naturally. I've repaired all of these cabins a little, so it shouldn't be a problem to keep out the cold in the winter. I see that Miss Meng's harvest in the field this year seems to be good, and there are a lot of piles in the warehouse, and I helped her to hunt some game, but I am more handy, and I don't have much, so it should be enough in a short time. ”

Xiao Yilan nodded, a little absent-minded. He had been here for several months, and after his injuries had healed, he and Li Zheng were planning to leave. He was blessed by the tree spirit to save his life, and planned to send the surviving tree spirit and the two life beads in his hand back to southern Xinjiang, Li Zheng was reluctant to return to the blacksmith shop, anyway, he had nothing to do, and offered to go with him. Before leaving, the two wanted to leave some firewood and dry food for Meng Lin for the winter, which could be regarded as a chat to express their gratitude.

"It's a little bad for us to leave Miss Meng here alone?" Li Zheng asked with some hesitation.

Xiao Yilan showed a scared look on his face: "After all, this is someone's home, we are outsiders after all, and it's not good for people to go with us......"

Li Zheng showed a knowing expression, deliberately prolonged his voice, and responded with a smile: "Oh......"

"Where's the wood?" Xiao Yilan waved his hand impatiently, did not answer, and diverted the conversation. Li Zheng used to call the tree spirit wood, Xiao Yilan also called him so, they have been here for two months, the tree spirit is familiar with the name, it seems to understand, will turn its black jewel-like eyes in response.

Li Zheng turned his head around, but he didn't see the wood, Xiao Yilan said: "I'll look for it, let's leave this afternoon, and we have to say goodbye to Miss Meng." ”

"I thought Xiao Gongzi was going to say goodbye. The two of them suddenly heard a soft laugh behind them, and when they turned around, it was Meng Lin. She was still dressed in plain cloth, but it was like a neon dress. She also carried a burden behind her, which was not too big, and she could only fit a few pieces of clothing.

Xiao Yilan looked at the burden behind Meng Lin in surprise and asked, "Miss Meng, ...... are you?"

Meng Lin didn't answer, and asked sideways, "Where is Xiao Gongzi going?"

Xiao Yilan scratched his head and said: "I have been accompanied by tree spirits along the way, if it weren't for them, I might have lost my life, and I could be regarded as having a relationship with the tree spirit clan." Therefore, I intend to send this surviving dryad and their orb of life back to southern Xinjiang safely. He seemed to feel that he had not spoken carefully enough, and added: "On the way, I still want to go back to Benhai City's house to have a look." ”

Meng Lin smiled and said, "Then I will go with you, and I should also have a traveling companion." I don't know if Xiao Gongzi agrees?"

"This ...... This, I thought that the girl missed Meng Lao and was unwilling to leave the former residence and endure hardships with us......" Xiao Yilan still scratched his head and smiled, looking a little flustered. Li Zheng looked at Xiao Yilan's panic and embarrassment, and smiled secretly in his heart.

"Now that my father is dead, I don't want to see this sad place every day, so I will leave. Meng Lin's eyes were sincere, and she tilted her head and said, her light brown hair hanging down her shoulders.

Xiao Yilan stared at the gloom that flashed in Meng Lin's eyes, and said: "It's a long way to the south, and hardships are inevitable, if the girl is willing, I can buy a house for the girl in Benhai City......"

"Doesn't Childe want to go with me?" Meng Lin said suddenly.

Xiao Yilan looked at those eyes, and suddenly found that the dark eyes in her eyes faintly reflected a little blue light, like stars in the night sky. He was stunned for a moment. When he reacted, Meng Lin was looking at him, so he simply looked at Meng Lin, looked at her, nodded again and again, and smiled brightly: "Then I will ask the girl to take care of me along the way." Li Zheng clapped his hands again and again next to him in agreement.

Xiao Yilan went to find the tree spirit wood. In the past few months, Mu seems to like to be alone in the woods, standing or sitting, and many times Li Zheng sees him motionless for a day or two, and if he doesn't pay attention, he really thinks it's a strangely shaped tree. Xiao Yilan called twice in the nearby woods, and saw a tree move, and there were two jewel-like balls hanging on the top, which were wood.

The shape of the wood along the way was weird, which inevitably caused trouble, and Xiao Yilan finally chose to use the method of Liu Feng and his group. Xiao Yilan and Li Zheng cut down some trees, and used the tools in Meng Lin's wooden house to barely piece together a small compartment, which was about the same size as the previous iron cage, but it was all made of wood, and there was only one frame, and the pillars on the four corners were hollowed out, and the wood could enter and exit freely. Then they covered it with sackcloth and cut several openings in the upper part of it, so that he could stick out his head as soon as he stood up. The dryad is quite spiritual, and they don't worry about him popping up when there are a lot of people.

Xiao Yilan and Li Zheng reluctantly pieced together a carriage from the fragments of Liu Feng and others' carriages, and installed this compartment on it, fortunately, the horses of Liu Feng and his party were only killed and injured and escaped in the melee that day, but there were still one or two left, enough to drag the carriage, but this simple thing would not last long, Xiao Yilan planned to make plans after returning to Benhai City.

After the three of them were ready, they planned to leave that afternoon. Xiao Yilan just turned over and got on the horse, but saw Meng Linwu holding a torch and standing in front of the wooden house a little distracted. Xiao Yilan understood that Meng Lin seemed to want to burn this place, for her, this was a sad place after all, and it was a little comfort to burn these memories with old things. Therefore, Xiao Yilan was beside him and did not make a sound to urge.

I saw that Meng Lin was silent for a moment, then suddenly smiled, and put the torch on the ground again, and then turned over to the carriage.

Xiao Yilan was a little surprised and asked, "Doesn't the girl want to burn this place?"

After he asked, he found that something was wrong, and there were a few teardrops hanging on Meng Lin's eyelashes, like dew on flowers. He was suddenly a little embarrassed, and hurriedly said, "Don't ...... girl" Don't mind, I'm not ...... Not intentionally ......"

Meng Lin smiled and said, "It's okay." I just thought that if I didn't have this place, I really wouldn't have a place to live in the world, and I couldn't bear to burn it. After saying this, she looked deeply at the humble rooms, and then did not look back, but rode her horse gently.

Xiao Yilan looked at the torch, the fire swayed in the wind, and it would be extinguished in a moment. He cleared his thoughts, and with a twist on his horse's belly, he followed.

According to Xiao Yilan's intentions, the three of them first walked towards Benhai City. They were originally located in the northern part of Pyongju, and the southern part of Cheongju was supposed to border the northeastern part of Pyeongju, and although the carriage traveled slowly, they arrived at the city of Benhai in Cheongju within ten days. Because the wood was not convenient to enter the city, Li Zheng stayed on the outskirts of the city with him.

It has been several months since he was kidnapped by Liu Feng and others, Xiao Yilan looked at the familiar Benhai City, and the bustle and noise in the city rushed to him, and he couldn't help but feel troubled. And Meng Lin had never been to such a bustling city, and she seemed quite curious, blinking her eyes and looking at the huge streets and houses, full of interest.

As soon as Xiao Yilan entered the city, many merchants on the street recognized him, came up, and told him that his family was very anxious, and Xiao Yilan agreed again and again. Along the way, someone came to greet him, looking very surprised, and some people who like to join in the fun looked Meng Lin up and down, and joked to Xiao Yilan: "The second young master has been out for so long, but he has opened his mind, and he has brought a girl back! The master and the lady are going to be happy." ”

Xiao Yilan smiled and didn't answer, and inadvertently glanced at Meng Lin behind him.

"Looks like you're very popular here. Meng Lin just covered her mouth and chuckled.

Xiao Yilan was quite proud and said with a smile: "That is, we have been in this city for a long time. ”

"Aren't you a little prince, how can you mess around on the street?" Meng Lin was a little surprised.

Xiao Yilan scratched his head and said, "Hobbies, hobbies." ”

Xiao Yilan was anxious to return home, and dealt with many merchants along the way to greet him, and the street was crowded with people for a while, and when he was about to reach the gate of the palace, he remembered to look back, but found that Meng Lin was gone. Thinking of Meng Lin's excited expression when she saw the lively scene of the street market, he was more familiar with the city anyway, and it was not a trouble to find someone, so he was not too worried. In addition, he was away from home for many days and stood at the familiar gate of the palace, he couldn't help but be overjoyed, so he entered the palace alone.

The entire Chengji Royal Mansion suddenly became jubilant, and the news that the second young master, who had been missing for many days, had returned home quickly spread throughout the entire palace. Xiao Yizhan and Li Xianru, who heard the news, hurriedly left what they were doing and came out. As soon as Xiao Yilan saw his mother and eldest brother, his nose suddenly became sore, and a few tears couldn't help falling.

Li Xianru saw Xiao Yilan from a distance, and the haze in her heart for many days was suddenly swept away, and she hurriedly stepped forward to support Xiao Yilan, who was about to bow down, and smiled for a while but couldn't speak, and kept wiping away her tears. Seeing that the two of them were so excited that they couldn't cry, Xiao Yizhan smiled and joked that the two of them eased the atmosphere, and led the two of them into the sea hall.

Xiao Yilan finally adjusted his emotions, patiently answered all kinds of questions from Li Xianru and Xiao Yizhan, and then told Li Xianru and Xiao Yizhan about his experience during this time, from Liu Feng and the tree spirit, to Meng Lin and Meng Laosan, including the strange changes that happened to him.

The two listened, and their expressions gradually changed with Xiao Yilan's narration, and when they heard that Xiao Yilan was pierced through the heart, Li Xianru almost screamed.

Xiao Yizhan touched the newly emerging stubble on his chin and muttered, "Who would be interested in the tree spirit?

"Could anyone just want to use the tree spirit to save their lives, like Yilan came back from the dead?" Li Xianru guessed.

Xiao Yilan nodded: "I think this is the most likely explanation, although the tree spirit clan is hidden in southern Xinjiang all the year round, it is inevitable that people with intentions want to use them to make some articles." The dryad spirit holds the secret of eternal life, and it should be normal for some people to be tempted by it. ”

"Then what are you going to do next?" Xiao Yizhan asked his younger brother.

"I received this great favor, naturally I want to send this tree spirit and life bead back to the southern Xinjiang forest, the southern Xinjiang is full of vitality, over the years, they can see the light of day again, and the changes that have occurred in my body are also very strange, I have to figure out to feel at ease. He pulled open his neckline, revealing the green scab on his heart.

Li Xianru looked at this son, who has always been playful and a little domineering, he hasn't seen him for a few months, although his face has a lot of dust, but his eyes are more determined than before, and what he said seems more responsible and mature. She felt a little relieved.

Xiao Yizhan also patted his younger brother's shoulder and said with a smile: "After going out for a while, I am really more stable." You should send the tree spirit back to the south, but the road is far away, I will send some people to follow you, and we can rest assured. ”

Xiao Yilan nodded: "There are not too many people, Li Zheng, is my playmate, and he will go with me." ”

Li Xianru suddenly interjected: "That Miss Meng will also be with you, right?"

Xiao Yilan was stunned for a moment, but still replied, "Yes." Li Xianru nodded, picked up the tea at hand and took a sip, before saying slowly: "People have taken care of you for so long, don't treat them badly." ”

"That's nature. Xiao Yilan said with a smile.

"Second brother!" suddenly a crisp voice came from outside. The smile on Xiao Yilan's face was also brighter, and he turned around.

Xiao Ying'er threw herself into Xiao Yilan's arms. Xiao Yilan also reached out and stroked Xiao Ying'er's head.

"I've never seen you so affectionate to me. Xiao Yizhan was on the side, and his voice was quite complaining.

Xiao Ying'er smiled: "Then big brother, you have been missing for a few months, give it a try!" Xiao Yizhan laughed, and Li Xianru shook his head again and again next to him: "Nonsense." ”

Xiao Ying'er turned her head sideways and asked Xiao Yilan, "Second brother, where have you been during this time?" Xiao Yilan said again. Xiao Ying'er's eyes lit up when she heard this: "Then I'm going to go with my second brother! This tree spirit must be interesting, I'm going to take a look!"

"You kid, this is a serious matter, but it's not playing, aren't you going to make trouble for your second brother?" Li Xianru sighed, and hurriedly grabbed Xiao Ying'er, for fear that she would run out to see the tree spirit.

Xiao Yilan also comforted the sullen Xiao Ying'er: "Look at it, this tree spirit is just outside the city, don't follow this way, southern Xinjiang is remote and far away, there is nothing fun." I'll rush back to play with you when I'm done, how about I?"

It's just that Li Xianru held her down, obviously not even planning to give her the option of going out of the city to see. Xiao Ying'er pouted, looking very unconvinced, and sat sullenly on the side, but in her heart she was thinking about escaping to play like Xiao Yilan.

Xiao Yilan stayed with his family for a while, then remembered to get up and leave. Li Xianru was a little surprised: "Won't you rest at home for two days before leaving? ”

Xiao Yilan shook his head and said with a smile: "No need, the home is so comfortable, I'm afraid that I won't want to go out after a two-day rest at home." Li Xianru still wanted to say something to save her, but Xiao Yizhan smiled and said: "What Yilan said is also right, he is much calmer in doing things." Mother, let him go, go early and return early. Xiao Yilan nodded heavily. Xiao Yizhan arranged a few effective guards for him to go out with him.

Li Xianru and the three of them have been sending Xiao Yilan to the gate of the palace, and it will cause an inconvenient sensation outside, so they have to stop here, Xiao Yinger just wants to join in the fun, but Li Xianru is watching her tightly, and she is really empty. After saying goodbye to his family, Xiao Yilan's mood was much more relaxed than before, after seeing his family, the surging mood before calmed down, and the separation was imminent, although the trip was hard, but after all, the destination was clear, except for some reluctance, he didn't feel much sad.

Xiao Yizhan sent a six-person escort team to protect Xiao Yilan and his party, purchased carriages and supplies, and under the guidance of Xiao Yilan, they quickly joined Meng Lin and Li Zheng and went out of the city to the south.