Ye Hengyuan followed behind Wei Wei and walked for nearly five minutes before he walked out of Mingguang Castle. The scale of this Mingguang Fort is very large, and the longitudinal distance is much larger than the width of its frontage. Not to mention a fortress, it's not too much to say it's a small city.

Passing through Mingguang Castle, he came to three small hills. The three small hills are not tall and are arranged in order of left, center, and right. The hills are covered with grass and low bushes, and there is a path between every two hills. The path is not wide, only about four or five people can pass side by side, and the road is paved with large slabs. At the intersection of each path stood two disciples of Huang Guangtang, both a man and a woman. It seems that the three small hills and the two mountain paths do not seem to be natural, but rather artificially created.

"Mr. Ye," Wei Wei bowed to Ye Hengyuan, "I can only send you here." The place in front of it is only accessible to direct disciples and members of the collateral family above the Dharma Protector Elder. ”

"Okay, thank you, Brother Wei Wei," Ye Hengyuan returned the salute, "Then where should I go to find Mengyi next?"

Wei Wei raised his right hand and pointed to the path on the left.

"Mr. Ye, you just need to follow this path all the way to the end. The fourth lady is waiting for you at the flower field at the end of this road. Miss Four said that she would like to have lunch with you there. ”

"Where to eat? There's a restaurant there?"

As soon as the words came out, Ye Hengyuan realized that he had said something a little silly, and raised his hand to cover his mouth.

"You'll know when you go," Wei Wei said, "I still have some business, so I'll go back first." Enjoy your meal. ”

"Okay. Thank you Wei Viagra. ”

Ye Hengyuan walked into the path on the left. The two Huang Guangtang disciples who were guarding the door all saluted him, did not ask him any questions, and their expressions did not change at all. Judging from the breath, the cultivation of these two gatekeeper disciples has also reached at least the fourth order, which is about between the third level of the fourth order and the fourth level of the fourth order. It was one level higher than those disciples who were guarding the main gate before.

He walked along the path. There was no one else on this path, only himself. The grass and shrubs on the hills on both sides grew denser and greener. The stone slabs under your feet are sturdy, and stepping on them feels like stepping on the floor indoors.

The trail is not a flat road, but an uphill one. As we walked, the hills on both sides gradually became shorter, and the number of bushes became smaller and smaller. Soon, he was at the end of the path.

In front of him was a huge field of flowers, or a sea of flowers. What caught his eye was a full of golden yellow and snow white. The golden lilies, snow-white jasmine, gently swaying in the breeze, exude an alluring fragrance. A one-man wide path leads down the slope to a small, snow-white pavilion in the middle of a flower field. The melodious sound of the flute came slowly from the middle of the pavilion.

Ye Hengyuan immediately opened his legs and walked briskly towards the small pavilion along the sheep intestine path. The originally elegant aroma suddenly became strong, and little by little it followed his breath into his nasal cavity, which immediately made him feel comfortable all over his body.

Xue Mengyi was sitting on the milky white round stone bench on the right side of the stone table in the middle of the small pavilion, holding the golden-colored bamboo flute with her small hands and playing it gently. Two maids stood behind her. Outside the pavilion, more than a dozen tall male disciples of Huang Guangtang were dividing into two teams, fiddling with something in a small circle of open space around the pavilion.

"Little dream!"

Xue Mengyi stopped playing, put down the flute gently, stood up from the stone bench, and the little bird leaned towards Ye Hengyuan's side like a human.

"Brother Hengyuan, are you here? I've been waiting for you for a long time. ”

"Huh? ...... Was it a long time?" Ye Hengyuan scratched his head, his expression was very embarrassed, "Wei Wei took me to visit Mingguang Fort just now...... Sister Mengya also chatted with me for a while......"

"It's okay," Xue Mengyi grinned, "Of course I know." Sister Mengya should help you choose a souvenir, right? ”

Ye Hengyuan sat on the round stone bench on the left side. From the outside, the material of this round stone bench seems to be similar to the material of the stone steps at the entrance of Mingguang Fort, but there is a completely different sense of warmth when sitting on it, not like sitting on a stone, but a bit like sitting on a kang in some countryside. On a stone table between the four stone benches is a long white porcelain vase, and around the vase are four slender porcelain cups.

"Fourth Miss," said a male disciple with a conspicuous orange-yellow back, turning his head, "we've got it all done." ”

"Okay," Xue Mengyi smiled and nodded, "You guys go back first." If there is anything needed, I will call you again. ”

"Yes. ”

More than a dozen male disciples saluted Xue Mengyi at the same time, lined up in two neat lines, and left the small pavilion from both sides. Only then did Ye Hengyuan see that what they had been fiddling with was a small barbecue grill, or a barbecue grill. This barbecue grill is made of a mixture of wood and metal, with the upper part being a rack and the lower half being an oven with a roaring charcoal fire burning inside. Baskets of different vegetables and meats are placed around it, and a smaller bamboo basket holds the chef's coarse cloth robes and thick gloves, as well as various other kitchen utensils. Next to this small bamboo basket is a wooden table, slightly smaller than the stone table in the pavilion, on which are placed cutting boards and various knives, various seasonings, and a dozen bottles of different kinds of spices.

"Xiaomeng, this ......" Ye Hengyuan was a little confused, pointing to the barbecue grill, and then to the baskets of vegetables and meat, "This is to ...... Eat barbecue?"

"That's right," Xue Mengyi stood up from the stone bench, walked around behind Ye Hengyuan, stretched out a pair of small hands, and gently rubbed Ye Hengyuan's shoulder, "Brother Hengyuan, I really want to eat the barbecue you made again." ”

"Huh, shall I bake it?" Ye Hengyuan was stunned for a moment, stretched out a finger and pointed at himself.

"That's right. Brother Hengyuan, your skills are better than many chefs in my family. Roast it for me again, okay? "Xue Mengyi leaned her face to Ye Hengyuan's neck and said angrily.

"Uh, okay...... Okay......" Ye Hengyuan's face instantly turned red to the base of his neck, and he jumped up from the stone bench as if he had been suddenly thrown into ice water, and ran towards the barbecue.

Xue Mengyi couldn't help laughing, sat down like a well-behaved kitten, and looked at Ye Hengyuan's somewhat flustered figure and his hurried figure.

Ye Hengyuan put on his clothes and quickly began to get busy. He hadn't worn a chef's outfit since he was rescued by Khoober. I don't know how many times dirtier and how old the apron and hat he used to wear in the store than this one. At this moment, he felt a little kind of kindness in his heart, but immediately there was a trace of loss and sadness.

If it hadn't been for that calamity, if Master hadn't discovered me, I might have been just an ordinary cook for the rest of my life.

Now I have strength, I have a future, I have so many friends and classmates, and I have ......

Several knives of different sizes, lengths, and thicknesses kept changing from his hands, dancing on the chopping board. Piece after piece of meat is broken down into many small pieces, or cut into a thousand bizarre patterns.

Xue Mengyi slowly walked behind Ye Hengyuan and looked at his back carefully. She remembered that the last time she had seen him so focused was when he practiced his halberd that night.

In a few moments, several large pieces of meat were all broken down. The cut meat is divided into two piles, one with wooden skewers and the other carved into various bird motifs. The largest of them is a phoenix.

Ye Hengyuan raised his hand and gently released a few streams of air. More than a dozen different pieces of vegetables flew onto the cutting board from all directions. He quickly cut them into extremely thin shredded vegetables, picked out a few, carefully inserted them into the "phoenix", and placed them on the barbecue grill.

"Brother Hengyuan, can you add some spices?" Xue Mengyi asked, "I brought some of the best food spices in our family." ”

"When it's almost baked, add spices. Otherwise, the fragrance may be destroyed. ”

Skewers of barbecue were placed on the grill. Phoenixes, swans, seagulls, sparrows, one after another flew into shape, tumbling on the barbecue. Ye Hengyuan's hand became faster and faster, and he kept fiddling with the spice jar and sprinkling seasoning on the meat skewers. The rich aroma of meat is mixed with the aroma of cumin and the spicy taste of chili peppers.

"Brother Hengyuan," Xue Mengyi's eyes widened with curiosity, "Your hands are so skillful, you can cut out so many birds." You've been practicing for a long time since you were a child, haven't you?"

"Sort of," Ye Hengyuan didn't look up, "I apprenticed for several years, and soon after I finished my studies, I became the head chef of the store. But these bird-shaped barbecues are the first time I've ever made them. Master took me to eat once. ”

Xue Mengyi stopped talking, just looked at Ye Hengyuan's back, and there seemed to be something more in her eyes.

After a few minutes, the two of them sat back down on the stone benches in the small pavilion. Skewers of barbecued meat were served on plates and served on the stone table. The sweet wine in the porcelain vase filled the porcelain cup in front of the two of them.

"Hmmm......"

Xue Mengyi gently took a bite of the "Phoenix" in her hand and swallowed it slowly. She smacked her lips and closed her eyes, pretending to be enjoying herself.

"It was so delicious. Brother Hengyuan, is your store usually doing good business? I mean before the border war. ”

Ye Hengyuan nodded and did not speak. He took a large bite of the barbecue, chewed it casually twice, and swallowed it.

"Ah...... Oh," Xue Mengyi shook her head, "I'm sorry, Brother Hengyuan, I forgot ......"

"It's okay, Mengyi. ”

Ye Hengyuan squeezed out a smile, picked up the porcelain cup on the table, and drank the sweet wine in the cup in one gulp. He looked up, turned his head to the west, and glanced into the sky.

"I'm not going to think about this revenge all the time. But I must report it. When I graduate, I will follow Master to the front. ”

"Really?" Xue Mengyi asked worriedly.

The corners of Ye Hengyuan's mouth moved, which could be regarded as acquiescence. At this moment, he seemed to have become a little more mature, and he seemed to be more vicissitudes, and he didn't look like a young man anymore.

"Brother Hengyuan," Xue Mengyi said, "haven't you thought about going to live a good life for a while?"

"Huh?"

Ye Hengyuan shook his head and blinked, as if he didn't understand.

"We're just heirs now, and there's a lot more we can do. I still have family responsibilities, but you don't. You can also go and see more of the world first, and you can ......"

"Xiaomeng," Ye Hengyuan smiled, but it was a wry smile, "How does what you say sound similar to what an elder said?

"I know," Xue Mengyi's voice was much softer, "I understand you." But if a man lives only for revenge, isn't his life too miserable?"

Ye Hengyuan stood up and slowly walked to the edge of the stone pavilion. As far as the eye can see, it is full of golden yellow like the sun and white like snow.

"I don't have a real family, only my hometown. Now, my hometown is gone. ”

Xue Mengyi also stood up from the stone bench. She gently raised her hands and clasped her fingers in front of her chest.

"I really want to cherish everything I have now. ”

Ye Hengyuan raised his head, his arms naturally drooped, but his fists were clenched.

"I now have a Master, classmates, and friends. But what needs to be done, I have to do it. ”

Xue Mengyi suddenly picked up Ye Hengyuan's cup from the stone table and poured a glass of sweet wine. She held the cup with her right hand, walked to Ye Hengyuan's right side, and gently held his right hand with her left hand.

"Don't forget that you still have me, okay?"

Ye Hengyuan slowly turned his head and stared at Xue Mengyi's bright eyes like the sun. The blown-out skin, the bright red lips, and the delicate face all stimulate the exuberant male instinct in his body.

"Wow. ”

Xue Mengyi handed over the wine glass. The bright orange dessert wine shimmers in the sunlight with bright white dots.

"Drink it slowly. Very delicious. ”

Ye Hengyuan smiled, gently took the wine glass, put his lips together, and took a sip. Little by little, a faint sweet taste spread in his mouth, from the tip of his tongue to the base of his tongue.

The wind suddenly changed direction and blew towards the stone pavilion. The scent of flowers surrounded the stone pavilion from all sides. In that aroma, there seems to be a hint of sweetness.

In mid-air, the figures of Qiu Bai and Cao Shunyang suddenly appeared.

"What do you think?" Cao Shunyang asked lightly.

"I don't know. Qiu Bai's tone was very low, as if he had lost his soul.

"Wouldn't it?" Cao Shunyang couldn't believe it.

Qiu Bai didn't answer him again, but just looked to the west. A flock of black birds flew just past the western sky, making a quack-quacking sound