A piece of Japanese incense

It was the first time since I came to this world that I was walking freely on a mountain path alone. I felt so happy, just like a bird flying freely in the vast blue sky, enjoying the tranquility and comfort, without any constraints and pure freedom.

Freedom is the oxygen of the soul. Suddenly I felt that whether or not I could find the legendary peach tree was no longer important.

While the sky is not paying attention, hijack the sunset and chase and capture the orange dusk.

There was a fork in the road ahead, and the afterglow of the setting sun filled the forest, as if it was guiding me in the direction of the road ahead, and I quickened my pace. This path was not easy to walk on, the mountain road was rugged, and it felt like I might fall off the cliff if I wasn't careful.

I stumbled forward and suddenly stepped on a smooth stone. I instantly lost my balance and quickly hugged a tree with both hands, trying to stabilize myself. However, I still couldn't stop myself from falling and sat on the ground. I gasped in pain. My elbow was inevitably scratched by the branch, and blood seeped through my clothes.

I shook my arms, not taking it seriously, stood up, rubbed my butt, and continued walking.

At this moment, the crisp sound of dry branches being crushed came from behind.

I looked back warily, "Uncle?"

He stopped smiling and said seriously, "Why did you run out alone? Maybe you fell down!"

"No! I... I'm having close contact with a big tree." Then he pretended to be relaxed and hugged a big tree nearby.

"Are you still looking?" he asked me with a smile.

"Let's go! The sun hasn't set yet and the journey isn't over yet!" I took a big step forward resolutely.

The path became narrower and narrower, and the trees were only willing to open up slightly to allow the narrow path to wind through.

The sun has set, and its dazzling light is shooting out from the treetops, dyeing the white clouds and green mountains blood-red. In this blood-red afterglow, it slowly sinks behind the mountain, and suddenly turns into a red ball, suspended on the mountainside. At this time, its light is no longer dazzling, the mountain is dim, the clouds are dim, and the trees are dim.

"Perhaps, there is no four-color flower tree in this world." My cousin's voice was full of loneliness.

"But we walked together on a road you had never walked before. Is the scenery different from before?"

In fact, I was a little disappointed, but I insisted on moving forward and had to use words to resolve the embarrassment.

"Yes, the scenery is unique, but I don't know how to get back."

I grabbed his arm, the pain still in it: "Don't panic, don't panic, there will be moonlight after the sun goes down! The deeper the night, the brighter the stars will be."

The moonlight illuminated the mountain path, and we groped our way back by the moonlight. In the distance, we heard the sound of a gurgling stream, and in front of us, two forked roads appeared.

According to my memory, I should take the road on the right, but I firmly believed in "not going back", so I pointed to the road on the left and said confidently: "Just go this way!"

My cousin twisted my head with his five fingers and said righteously, "This way!"

"Ah? How did you know?" I dragged him tightly, stubbornly wanting to go left.

"Because that's where we came from." He pulled my head up like pulling a carrot. My feet were in the air and I struggled.

"Ouch! It hurts, it hurts!"

He put me down and I ran to the left.

This trail was not as safe as I thought. While I was running with all my concentration, I suddenly lost my footing and my body quickly tilted towards the edge of the cliff.

Panic instantly took over my heart, and just when I was about to fall off the cliff, my uncle rushed over and grabbed my arm tightly. He pulled me back to safety with all his strength, while I sat on the ground in shock, still terrified.

After a brief silence, I looked around and couldn't help laughing, feeling lucky that I had escaped.

My uncle shouted at me, "You! You really have a problem with your brain!"

"Hehe, uncle, don't be angry. As a human being, there's no need to be too normal."

I dusted myself off and sat up, saying with a playful smile, "The best scenery is on the road you haven't walked on."

My uncle said nothing.

(He must be really angry.)

I walked up to him, looked at him flatteringly, and said something nonsense: "What I mean is that we just keep moving forward. Even if there are no golden peach trees, there will be mountains..."

I spread my hands, turned around, and saw the scene behind me:

The moon was as bright as day, and the silver light was all over the earth. There was an open space on the steep mountain, and a golden peach tree grew on the cliff with a tenacious posture, standing tall and majestic.

In the night, the flowers are wrapped in a mysterious halo, and each petal is like an elf dancing in the darkness, blooming with a quiet and gorgeous beauty.

Some flowers are half red and half white or half pink and half white. The branches are full of flowers, the fragrance is intoxicating, and the light and shadow are intertwined.

Under the starlight, the peach blossoms are covered with a layer of soft gauze, stretching out their charming posture, exuding a unique charm in the dark night.

In the dark night, the peach tree is surprisingly bright, like a lone twinkling star in the night sky. The peach blossoms are also like bright fireworks blooming on the tree, colorful and gorgeous.

I tried to describe the beautiful scene in front of me with all I had learned, and the first thing I said was, "Wow! It's so beautiful!"

"This is the beauty of the peach tree, its bright and beautiful flowers." My uncle said slowly.

I immediately ran to the tree, unable to contain my excitement, screamed, picked up the petals that had fallen on the ground, and threw them at my uncle.

"Uncle! Come on! Come and make a wish! You are the first one to see the Four Jinshi Bi Tao, you will definitely win the first prize!"

He clenched his hands into fists, leaned forward slightly, and looked determined.

Seeing that he was still standing there, I ran towards him and pulled him under the tree: "Hey! Don't hesitate! Come and make a wish! Quick! Let's do it together!"

I put my hands together and shouted at the top of my voice: "Great Peach Blossom Goddess, please bless my brother to pass the exam! Please bless my family to be safe and sound. Finally," I silently prayed in my heart, "please bless my grandma to be healthy and wait for me to return."

"What's the last thing?"

"The last wish cannot be spoken out loud. If you speak it out loud, it will not come true. Why doesn't cousin make a wish yet?"

He said indifferently: "I just came to admire the tree, and now I have seen it."

"Then let's arrange some flowers to celebrate!"

I picked up two whole flowers, put one in my hair, and stood on tiptoe to put the other behind his ear, but he subconsciously dodged it.

"Uncle, don't be shy. Boys also have the right to wear flowers in their hair~" I joked mischievously.

"No! Go away!" He hid behind a tree.

I teased him playfully: "You have to keep a flower as a souvenir~"

I chased after him and was determined to put the flower on him.