"I want to know what happened to my past......" The village chief Fang Yuan, who had always been cheerful, seemed to remember the unbearable past, and his straightforward expression disappeared for a moment, but turned to a trace of silent sadness for a long time. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 ｉｎｆｏ

"How...... What's wrong?" Looking at the village chief's sad face, thinking that he had mentioned the sore spot, Xiao Tian couldn't help but ask worriedly.

"Nothing...... It's just that the things of the past, now that I think about it, it seems to be ......" Fang Yuan still swallowed.

After all, Xiao Tian and Su Jia were outsiders, and Fang Yuan was still hesitant to state it.

"Village Chief, what have you been through...... Xiao Tian asked with a hesitant look in his eyes.

"That was the pain of my life...... Fang Yuan's eyes were deep, and he whispered bitterly, "It is precisely because of that incident that I have never left here again, even if I become the village chief of 'Anyin Village', I still pay tribute to the past every day......"

"Memorial?" Xiao Tian asked inexplicably, "Could it be ...... Seniors have experienced life and death?"

"It's not me......" Fang Yuan closed his eyes slightly, and then said, "It's the brother who was born and died with me-"

"Brother?" Xiao Tian listened and continued to ask, "Village Chief, you used to be an official of the imperial court, so what about your former brother...... What exactly is ......?"

"Not one brother, but all brothers...... Fang Yuan opened his eyes and said in a deep voice, "They are the subordinates of our generals, and they are the brothers who were born and died with me!"

"Your subordinates?" Xiao Tian was stunned for a moment, and couldn't help but say, "Then the sacrifice you just talked about, shouldn't it be ......?"

"That's right, they sacrificed ......" Fang Yuan nodded and said in grief, "Because of my dereliction of duty, they all sacrificed ......"

"Sacrifice?" Xiao Tianyu said uneasily, "What happened back then, also in this village?"

"Yes......" Fang Yuan continued, "Fifteen years ago, when I was still a lieutenant general in the imperial court, the rebels in the land of Tongguan were stacked. I was ordered by the imperial court to follow General Dosi to lead the troops to suppress the rebels, and the troops marched here......"

"Fifteen years ago, there was a rebellion in Tongguan, right......" Xiao Tian muttered in a low voice.

"Back then, when I was brave and brave, I pursued the rebels all ......the way here because of my eagerness for quick success," Fang Yuan continued to recall, "Traveling here, Anyin Village, our army was out of touch with the main force because the pursuit was too deep, and the food and grass were exhausted, so we had to garrison here...... At that time, the rebels were already a respite army, and I thought that I could win, and I wanted to break through the cauldron and attack the enemy directly......"

"The result?" Xiao Tian continued.

"At that time, some of my subordinates advised me that the enemy's rout and escape seemed to be a trick, and I couldn't pursue it alone, so I needed to use this village as a position to wait for the attack to observe the enemy's situation, protect the people of the village, and at the same time, wait for the main force to come and ......" Fang Yuan paused for a while, as if mentioning the pain, and said in a lower tone, "But because I am arrogant, I don't listen to dissuasion, and I insist on pursuing with my troops...... As a result, I was really ambushed by the enemy, and not only did all my soldiers die, but the village was tragically ransacked by the rebels......"

"Here...... I've also suffered war disasters before, haven't you......" Hearing this, Xiao Tian couldn't help but whisper sadly.

"Although the villagers fled in time and escaped the catastrophe, all my brothers died on the battlefield, and there was no ...... to survive" Fang Yuan closed his eyes again, recalled the "scar" fifteen years ago, gritted his teeth and said with hatred, "The soldiers of the army are like brothers to me, and they obey me in everything, but I insisted on doing it because of my eagerness for quick success and quick profit, and killed my brother who trusted me...... All the 2,000 men of the army died on the battlefield, because of my pride and dereliction of duty, they lost their lives...... I killed them, and I killed these brothers with my own hands...... It's all my fault......" Speaking of this, unable to suppress the pain in his heart, Fang Yuan stroked his forehead with one hand and said bitterly with the other.

"Senior ......" listened to the painful past, the unchangeable mistakes, and the loss of countless lives, Xiao Tian felt the same sadness in his heart.

Su Jiaben was sad alone on the side, but after listening to Fang Yuan's recollections, for some reason, he also had an indescribable sadness, a pain that was very familiar to his heart......

(in recall)......

The Valley of Ghosts, a battle of success or failure......

He's right...... It's me who hurt you, it's me who is sorry for you......" Su Jia couldn't help but shed tears, crying bitterly and said, "I'm really a selfish person, and I've hurt too many friends and relatives for personal revenge...... It was I who killed Sister Xiaohong, and I also killed Senior Brother Zheng's biological parents...... I kept saying that fate was unfair, and I wanted to avenge my dead father and Sister Xiaohong with my own hands...... But now it seems that I myself am a sinner who has killed others...... I deserve death...... I don't deserve to live in this world...... Woo woo...... "The more Su Jia cried, the more painful it became, and her emotions and reason had completely collapsed......

(In reality)......

That's right, in the despair of the Valley of Ghosts, Su Jia also said something similar, and now thinking about it, it is still fresh, and the bloody fear and grief swept through the whole body again.

"I'm just as ...... as him" Su Jia looked at the ghost knife in his hand with low eyes, and said bitterly in his heart, "In the Wind Chaser faction, because of my selfishness and arrogance, I killed Chen Shijin in pursuit of power, and broke into the 'Water Moon Cave' alone, but I killed Sister Xiaohong...... Because of his personal vendetta, he went out with the army, but he couldn't witness the sacrifice of Brother Zichuan...... Because of my self-abandonment, regardless of the worries of my relatives and friends, I went into danger alone, but I caused my younger brothers and sisters to fall into traps...... It's all my fault - I've always wanted to change everything and change my fate by my own strength, but I didn't expect that in the end, I hurt the people I love the most...... I'm really selfish, and I'm really ...... in vain."

Xiao Tian didn't pay attention to Su Jia's expression, he kept concentrating on the memories of the village chief Fang Yuan, and after listening to the "tragedy" fifteen years ago, Xiao Tian couldn't help but say sadly: "I didn't expect you, the village chief, to have experienced such an encounter before......

"After that defeat, I personally buried the bodies of my fallen brothers in a cave on the hill of the village...... "Fang Yuan continued, "I made a mistake in leading the troops and killed all the soldiers of the army, and the court will not let me go...... So after that, I lived in seclusion in the village, while hiding from the pursuit of the imperial court, and at the same time, for fifteen years, I went to the mountain every day to pay respects to my dead brother...... I just went there early this morning, just before you came here......"

"Fifteen years...... Xiao Tian couldn't help but sigh when he heard it, "Leave here to pay tribute to the soul of the dead, once it has passed, it will be fifteen years, just to make up for the past sins......"

"It's not just a memorial ......," Fang Yuan continued, "After that, the imperial court actually found out my whereabouts and sent troops to arrest me one after another...... The defeat fifteen years ago not only killed my brothers and soldiers, but also brought a ruthless disaster to the village at that time, so after becoming the village head, I took on the task of protecting the village - with my single bravery, I successively blocked the harassment of a small number of officers and soldiers of the imperial court, and if there were heavy troops coming, I led the villagers to hide in the mountains......"

"Fifteen years...... Has the Mengyuan Imperial Court never let you go?" Xiao Tian couldn't help but ask in surprise when he heard this.

"That's right, in the eyes of the imperial court, I am the one who ...... guilty," Fang Yuan continued, "However, because of the warlords in the past ten years, the warlords have been in constant turmoil in various places, and the imperial court has not focused on me, and the village has enjoyed a clean ...... these years."

Xiao Tian thought for a moment and couldn't help asking, "Then the village chief, are you...... Do you want to stay in the village forever? The court considers you a criminal minister...... Or is it that I feel guilty and sorry for the soldiers and brothers who have died......"

"I won't leave here!" for some reason, Fang Yuan, who was depressed just now, suddenly said with a resolute look in his eyes, "It's not just to pay tribute to my dead brother...... After that defeat, the officers and soldiers of the imperial court continued to oppress and repeatedly make things difficult for the village. I swore at the graves of my brothers that I would stay here to protect my fellow villagers - I failed to protect my brothers who were born and died fifteen years ago, but now I want to protect the village, protect the people here, and make up for my mistakes!"

The last sentence was impassioned, in the face of the past of "sins", Fang Yuan still did not give up his faith, stayed in the village to protect the villagers, and firmly believed that he could change his fate.

Xiao Tian couldn't help but cast a look of admiration in his eyes, while Su Jia, who had been depressed on the side, seemed to have a smart heart, and his eyes changed slightly......

"The seniors can face the past calmly, let go of their prejudices, and strengthen their beliefs, and the juniors really admire them-" Xiao Tian looked at Fang Yuan's face that had experienced the vicissitudes of the world, and said with feeling, "However, the junior has a reluctant request, I wonder if the village chief can agree?"

"Just say what you want......" Facing Xiao Tian and Su Jia, Fang Yuan always had an approachable expression, and he felt that the two of them were extraordinary, and his heart was inexplicably excited.

"Village chief, you just said that fifteen years are like a day, and you will go to the cave on the top of the mountain every day to pay tribute to the deceased......" Xiao Tian paused, and then said, "Jia'er and I have been recuperating in the village for the past few days, and there is nothing important for the time being, I wonder if you can take me and the other two to have a look tomorrow?"

"Of course you can ......," the village chief smiled kindly and said slowly, "Over the years, little brother, you are the first outsider to understand my heart so well...... Tomorrow morning, I'll take you to the top of the mountain, if it's convenient......"

"Of course it's convenient, my injuries with Jia'er have improved a lot after a day of rest, and there is no major problem...... Xiao Tian also responded kindly......

He said a lot of things with the village chief by the pond, like a friend who had forgotten the year, and told each other's past experiences, Xiao Tian felt a lot of emotion in his heart, forgetting the pain of the war for a while, and immersed in the long-lost nostalgia.

Even Su Jia listened to a lot on the sidelines, and finally did not forget the encouragement of faith, so that the depression in her heart improved slightly......

After a day of harmony, chatting and relaxing outside, Xiao Tian and Su Jia's injuries have also improved a lot......

In the evening, when the smoke rose, Xiao Tian and Su Jia returned to the house and had dinner with Xiaohua's family......

"It's a bit ...... that you have caused so much trouble to your family, and you still take care of us like this," Xiao Tian said a little embarrassed to see that the old woman's family not only saved herself and Su Jia, but also entertained the two of them for food and lodging.

"Where is it? It's rare for a guest to come to the village and sit together for dinner, and the house is a little lively...... "The old woman smiled kindly and said slowly, "You two eat more, and you two will get better ......quickly when you are full."

"However, Grandma, you are so enthusiastic, if we don't do something, I'm afraid we won't be embarrassed......" Xiao Tian was still a little restrained.

"Where is this? Just treat yourself as a member of your family, don't be too outward...... the old woman was very enthusiastic, and even picked up vegetables for Su Jia, who was silent on the side, "Girl, you are seriously injured, eat more to replenish your body......"

"Thank you, Grandma......" Su Jia received the favor and said a little shyly.

"Big brother and sister, you eat more, if it's not enough, there is porridge in the kitchen-" Xiaohua smiled brightly on a plate, and said innocently, "Daddy and mother are not in the village, and the family is rarely so lively, don't treat yourself as an outsider......"

"Hehe, the little girl is quite enthusiastic...... Xiao Tian didn't change his usual words, touched Xiaohua's head kindly, and said with a smile, "When the world is too peaceful, big brother will take you to see the outside world——"

"Really, yes, yes, big brother, you must be the talker-" When Xiaohua heard this, her face immediately burst into laughter, and she was so happy that she forgot to wipe the rice from the corner of her mouth.

Looking at Xiao Tian's "funny" appearance, Su Jia rarely showed a smile......

"Drip ...... Didi ......" However, at this time, the sound of dripping water suddenly sounded on the eaves......

"Oh, it's raining...... Xiaohua looked up, a little "sad" and said, "Really, the roof of the house has been leaking, but it's raining at night, so it's troublesome to sleep now......"

"Has the house at home been leaking?" Xiao Tian heard this, and couldn't help but ask the old woman.

"Yes, the roof has been leaking since last year......," the old woman said unhurriedly, "Most of the strong men in the village have left the village, and it rarely rains here, so the house has been delayed by the leakage...... In the event of a rainy day, it is indeed a bit inconvenient, and the village chief helped to take care of it a few months ago, but it was only barely ......."

Xiao Tian heard and thought about it, as if he had thought of something, and couldn't help but smile slightly.

"What's the matter, Ah Tian......" Looking at Xiao Tian's inexplicable smile, Su Jia couldn't help but ask on the side.

"I thought of an idea...... Xiao Tian straightened up, and suddenly said with enthusiasm, "Grandma, you and the village chief saved me and Jia'er, and you still entertained us so warmly, we really can't afford it...... Why don't you do this? I'll fix the leaks in your house for Grandma, and I will repay you for your kindness to me and Jia'er—"

"This ...... How embarrassing is this, let an outsider help you......" said the old woman with some embarrassment, "and, young man, you ...... Can it really be repaired?"

"Of course—" Xiao Tian said confidently, "I'm a carpenter, these are trivial matters!"

"Ah Tian......" Looking at Xiao Tian's long-lost "music", Su Jia muttered on the side.

"When you're full, it's time to move...... Xiao Tian put away the dishes and chopsticks and stood up, moved his muscles and bones, and then asked the old woman, "Grandma, do you have any eaves and planks at home, take advantage of the fact that the rain is not heavy now, I will help you repair the roof as soon as possible-"

"Good...... Good ......" The old woman didn't react for a while, and said intermittently......