Looking for plums under the moon

On the bamboo path, a snow-white long-maned horse galloped past.The sound of horseshoes rushing like a loom, the passing wind whipped up weeds, mixed with dust, and flew all over the sky.

Sitting on horseback was a thin swordsman with a black gauze cap on his head, a red satin jacket, a brocade belt with black edges and red waves around his waist, and a delicate long sword on his back.

The sword is about five feet long, but only two inches wide, and the scabbard is so gorgeous that people can't take their eyes off it just by looking at it.

People from the rivers and lakes with some seniority will know that the master of this sword is not an ordinary person.The reason is the same, only because the scabbard is engraved with a lifelike crane lingering in fairy spirit.The crane's paws were still on the pine branches, and its head was already flying high, as if it wanted to catch a glimpse of the sky.What's even more amazing is the crane's eye, which is inlaid with a crystal clear ruby, pointing exactly seven inches from the hilt.Even if it is held by the owner, the dazzling streamer can pour out, so this sword is named "Streamer Sword".

A world-renowned swordsmith once commented on the Liuguang sword: the blade is like autumn frost, bright as a mirror, and there is aura in the sword, which is rare in the world.

It is precisely this exquisite sword that makes people really curious, wanting to see who is the owner who can possess it.

It's a pity that the swordsman covered his face so that people couldn't see his eyebrows and eyes clearly. He was still young only from his supple waist.

There was a sound of hoofbeats, and the swordsman was holding the reins, obviously hurrying on his way.

Walking to a stream, the swordsman looked around.The sky is already bright, but the surrounding area is still boundless bamboo forest at the foot of Pingchuan Mountain. The forest is still filled with smoky morning mist, and birdsong can be heard from time to time.

Just when the swordsman was about to lift up the black gauze to wipe his sweat, there was a sudden movement from a distance.

The swordsman was suddenly vigilant, straightened his back, and listened carefully, only to hear a faint shout coming from the thick fog behind him.

"Uncle Ling..."

The swordsman clicked his tongue, seemed a little distressed, then clamped his legs around the horse's belly, and swung the long whip in his hand.The white horse under him suffered from pain, let out a long hiss, and ran faster and faster.

"Uncle Ling! Uncle Ling!" A seventeen or eighteen-year-old boy in yellow came riding on horseback, carrying a bundle in his arms, and chased after the red-clothed swordsman.

The horse under the swordsman had been running all night, and was gradually showing signs of fatigue, but within a cup of tea, the young man had already chased him up from the thick fog, and he was about to grab the swordsman by the hem of his clothes.

"Uncle Ling! Wait..." The young man chased after him with great difficulty, sweat dripping from his forehead.

The swordsman took the time to look back and saw that the young man was alone, so he relaxed a little, slowed down, and kept a close distance from the young man.

"Nephew Lianyi, are you also here to invite me back?" the swordsman said, the voice sounded humble and polite, like a deep spring coming out of a valley, melodious and clear.

The young man called Lian Yi panted and replied: "Uncle Ling, you misunderstood! I am the one who gave you the key. I want to save you. How can I let you go back?"

The swordsman thought for a while, and remembered that he was trapped in the house last night, and it was a sparrow chirping outside the window that caught his attention.Just when he was wondering when sparrows flew in the bamboo forest, a key suddenly fell from the roof.Looking at the material, it is exactly the same as the Tianji Xuan iron lock on the door.

He tried to insert the key into the keyhole, and it turned out to be a perfect fit. He turned it lightly, and there was a crisp 'click' sound, and the door was successfully opened.

The swordsman tightened the reins and stopped the horse.When the young man caught up with him, he asked in confusion, "Nephew Lianyi, how come you have the key to the Tianji Xuantie lock?"

Lian Yi seemed a little shy, and replied flatly, "I stole it from the Great Elder."

The swordsman nodded, looked at him carefully and said: "Now Pingchuan is attacking me from top to bottom, why do you want to save me?"

Lian Yi blushed a little when he heard the words, although the swordsman was wearing a veil, it seemed that two eyes really fell on his face, he immediately lowered his head and did not dare to look at the man, "Uncle Ling... I just came to Pingchuan When I was young, I was thin and small, and I was often bullied by others. Sometimes I couldn’t even eat a meal a day, let alone practice martial arts. Later, it was your uncle who ordered you not to bully my fellow apprentices, so I could practice martial arts smoothly... Another time, The uncle and the head of the school came to Feiyefeng to inspect, and saw that my sword was curled, so they went to the storeroom and ordered me to give it to me. The kindness of the uncle, I dare not forget even one day. Today, the uncle is in trouble, how can I Can you just sit back and watch?"

The swordsman touched his nose with some guilty conscience. On that day, as an uncle, he was going to teach swordsmanship to new disciples. There were a few children who were always playing around, which delayed his rest. Hu Xiaohao... and that time when he was given the sword—his younger brother dragged him around Feiye Peak for a long time, he was really bored and wanted to go back, when he happened to see a boy holding a sword looking at him stupidly.Seeing a small hair-thin cut on the boy's sword, he found an excuse to leave.

Unexpectedly, by mistake, I helped myself once...

The swordsman patted the young man on the shoulder, and said with a smile: "Between the same sect is a big taboo in Pingchuan. Since I established this sect rule back then, I should practice it by myself. It's just that someone insisted on killing several disciples on me now." Push, there is no excuse for the crime..." The swordsman sighed, and continued: "I will never admit that Ji Tong and Bai were killed by me. But now the situation forces me to go down the mountain for a while and stay for a while. Time, when this matter has a clue, I will come back and make plans..." At this point, he looked at Pingchuan who was hidden in the fog behind him, "I hope this matter can be revealed as soon as possible..."

Lian Yi said anxiously: "Uncle Ling, do you really want to leave? Even if the three elders don't believe you, the head will definitely uphold justice for you! You can go to Pingyi Peak to find the head..."

The swordsman smiled wryly: "If he believed me, he wouldn't have put me under house arrest in Shen Dongxie."

"What?" Lian Yi said in surprise, "It was the head of the sect who locked up the uncle? How is it possible?"

The swordsman thought to himself: How is it impossible?That man's martial arts are profound and unpredictable, looking around the world, few people can compare with him.Ever since he was placed under house arrest in Shen Dongxie, that person came every day. He stayed from early morning until midnight, and only returned to Pingyi Peak to rest in the middle of the night, as if he was afraid that he would abscond in fear of crime... Fortunately, the three elders consulted with him last night Things, I was lucky enough to escape...

"Nephew Lian Yi," the swordsman already had a plan in mind, and said short and long: "The head of the sect must have found out that I am no longer in Shen Dongxie, and I must hurry up and leave here. If I am arrested now, I am afraid I will not be able to say anything clearly. gone."

Lian Yi looked worried, and handed out the tightly packed things in his arms, "Uncle Ling, since you insist on leaving, I can't help you, this is a little money I prepared for you and on the way. Things to use. There are plum blossom balm and mint cooling lotion that you like. There are many mosquitoes on the way, so it may be useful. But there is not much money, I usually save a little bit, and it can only last for a short period of time , the rest is up to the uncle to figure out a way for himself." Turning to look at the package in his hand with red eyes, he said worriedly: "The uncle has always stayed in Pingchuan, never suffered, and I don't know..."

Seeing that he was still going on, the swordsman hurriedly took over the burden and interrupted him, "Nephew Lianyi, it's hard for you to have this kind of heart, uncle made it down. The situation is urgent now, I have to hurry up, and I will come back in the next day." I want to thank you." After saying that, he shook the reins, and in an instant, the horse had already galloped five or six zhang away.

The swordsman threw the burden on his shoulders, only to hear a voice behind him: "Uncle Ling, when are you coming back?"

The swordsman turned the horse's head, and the horse stamped a few steps anxiously.

I saw him lift up the black veil, revealing a handsome face, with rolling eyes, and the cinnabar mole at the end of his eyes made people tremble even more.With a smile on his lips, he replied loudly: "Nephew Lianyi, I will be back soon!" Then he put down his veil again and rode away.

If there is a third person present, seeing the swordsman's face, he will exclaim: This person is Ling Guyue!

Ling Guyue is known to everyone in the Jianghu, and she is usually accompanied by her fellow disciple Shen Luo.It's just that the former is outstanding for its appearance, while the latter is well-known for its martial arts attainments.

Eighteen years ago, Ling Guyue and Shen Luo were sent to Pingchuan with 18 young children at that time. Because the previous head, Gu Huasong, was picky, only these two were left as closed disciples to inherit the mantle.

When the two came, one was seven years old and the other was five years old. When they were young, they both looked round and round, two small white and tender balls like glutinous rice balls.Who knows that when they grow up, they don't look much alike.

Ling Guyue's appearance is exquisite, her face is like a crown of jade, and her eyebrows and eyes seem to have been carefully carved.His eyes seemed to be affectionate, there was a little light in his eyes, his lips were slightly parted, his face was half a smile, and the cinnabar under the corner of his eyes added a bit of tenderness to him.

Because of her handsome appearance, Ling Guyue has drawn a lot of romantic debts in Pingchuan before she went down the mountain.Even the heroes of martial arts who came to ask for advice on Pingchuan's swordsmanship, after seeing him, some of them would inevitably lose their souls, and even fell into lovesickness after leaving Pingchuan.

Later, there were rumors in the world that the number one beauty in martial arts was not Fan Shiyao from Jiaochen Pavilion, but Ling Guyue from Pingchuan.

Regarding this, he just lay on Shen Dongxie's carved wooden couch shaking his head and smiling, "Your beauty is withered bones, it's just a skin." The sandalwood mouth opened, and a child put freshly peeled lychees into his mouth.

Lian Yi stared at the deserted mountain path, his eyes were red, and after a long time, he wiped away the few tears hanging from his face, turned his horse's head, and prepared to leave.

But when he just turned around, the horse he got off stumbled for some reason, causing him to become unstable and fell to the ground.

Before they got together, a cold light flashed in front of their eyes, and they felt the chill on their necks, and the hairs all over their bodies stood on end instantly.

Someone put a sword on his neck!

"Yes, who is it?"

Lian Yi trembled with fright, and looked up along the edge of the sword less than half an inch away from his throat.

I saw a man in black standing in front of him, holding a five-foot green blade, his face was gloomy and cold, his eyes were cold, and his thin lips were tightly pursed.

Lian Yi's mind went blank, and he stammered, "Master, sect master?"

The man he calls the head is naturally the head of Pingchuan, Shen Luo.

Shen Luo, a legend in the world.Some people say that he is a genius in martial arts, and from the battle with the old man Jingshan, he can know that he will be limitless in the future; Tenth floor.But no matter what other people said, in the hearts of all Pingchuan disciples, when it comes to the person they admire the most, Shen Luo is still the number one. Even the three elders have to admit that this young man is more skilled than theirs.

However, not only admiration, but also fear after actually seeing the person.

Why be afraid?Is it because Shen Luo looks scary?No, not at all, he could even be called handsome.Two sword eyebrows flew into the temples, eyes like cold stars, heroic.It's just that he frowns all the year round, and it seems that people are staring normally.Coupled with his sharp eyes, just a light sweep is enough to be intimidating.

This person is cold from the beginning to the end, even his sword that never leaves his body is also cold, named "Cold Light Sword".

At this moment, the sword on Lian Yi's neck was naturally Shen Luo's Cold Light Sword.

While Shen Luo was looking at Lian Yi coolly, he saw his thin lips move slightly, and uttered a few cold words, "Where is he?"

Lian Yi blinked his eyes and said innocently: "Reporting to the head, the elder asked me to go down the mountain to buy Zhu Dan Guo. I just came back from the mountain and I don't know anything. I don't know who the head said..."

Shen Luo glanced at him suspiciously, and saw that Lian Yi calmly pointed to the horse lying on the ground and hadn't gotten up for a long time. land.

Shen Luo looked down at Zhu Danguo who was rolling all over the ground, silently retracted the long sword, glanced at him and said, "Go back."

Lian Yi saluted him, and dragged his half-limping horse up the mountain with difficulty.

Shen Luo stared at his back, suddenly raised his foot and crushed a Zhudan fruit at his feet, and asked lightly, "Did you see any suspicious people when you came back?"

Lian Yi froze for a moment, then regained his composure quickly, turned around and said, "Return to the head, when Lian Yi came back, everything was normal, and I didn't see anything."

"That's good." Shen Luo's eyes remained calm, and he repeated again, "That's good."

"The disciple will go first." Seeing that Shen Luo didn't ask any more questions, Lian Yi turned his head and left in peace.

It's just that the moment he turned his back, Shen's complexion suddenly became gloomy, and the cold light sword in his hand was buzzing uncontrollably.

Carrying the burden Lian Yi had prepared for him, Ling Guyue drove down the mountain with half excitement and half reluctance.The small stream converges with other tributaries along the way, and has long since turned into a fast-moving river. It is said that this river is the "chuan" of Pingchuan.

As the river widens, the terrain becomes flatter and the bamboo forests become sparser.Ling Guyue got off the horse and led it to the river to drink water, but the horse refused to drink water, uncharacteristically impatient, and kept pacing back and forth in place.

Ling Guyue stroked its mane and comforted it: "It's been a hard job for you to run all night. I'll feed you the best fodder after I get out of Pingchuan."

The horse seemed to be psychic, and lightly rubbed Ling Guyue's shoulder, and when he got on the horse, he let out a breath from his nose, and ran quickly again despite his fatigue.

Walking along the river for a stick of incense, the surrounding vegetation is barren and it looks very desolate.On the empty river beach, a quaint stone tablet stands alone among the rubble.Ling Guyue went around to look, and there were a few big characters like silver hooks painted on iron carved on the stone tablet, which was painted in red again with a vermilion brush, and it read: Pingchuanjing.

Ling Guyue thought to herself: If you pass this stone tablet, you are going out!Feeling relieved, he raised his eyes to see the bright sky, then dismounted and squatted by the river to wash his face.

After traveling all night, even though he was wearing a veil, his face was still covered with a lot of dust.He lifted his veil, took a handful of river water and splashed it on his face.The river flowed from the mountain, and it was extremely cool, and he couldn't help squinting his eyes and said to himself: Refreshing!He found out the package that Lian Yi had prepared for him, and there was indeed a clean hand towel inside.

Wiping off the water stains on her face, Ling Guyue was about to get up when she saw something wrong with the shadow reflected in the river.Isn't the black dress embroidered with billows behind him what Shen Luo often wears?

Ling Guyue suspected that her eyes were dazzled, so she dialed the river water with her hands, and there were ripples on the water surface, but the shadow stood there unmoved.

Could it be that he was standing quietly behind him?

Ling Guyue was stunned for a moment, and looked up through the skirt of her clothes, that familiar face looked a little pale today in the water for some reason.

"Brother, are you leaving?" Shen Luo asked.

Ling Guyue couldn't hear the abnormality in his tone, she just nodded towards the fine-lined water surface, "I can't go, now everyone says I'm a murderer, it seems that only my confession can calm down the public anger."

"I won't agree," Shen Luo said softly, "Brother, I will protect you."

Ling Guyue chuckled, "You are the head of the sect, so they will naturally listen to what you say, but...the deaths of Ji Tong and Bai Jing are really strange. Since they all pointed at me, it is natural that someone deliberately tried to frame me. You How many times can you protect me? What if something happens next time? As the head of the sect, you can't take the lead in violating the sect's rules."

Shen Luo shook his head, "Brother, I will return your innocence, and wait a little longer, okay?"

Ling Guyue said helplessly: "Are you going to lock me in Shen Dongxie?"

"Is Shen Dongxie okay? No one will think of you, and I will come to see you every day..."

Ling Guyue stood up slowly, sighed and said: "I'm not a little bird, I don't like being locked up." He turned around, saw a trace of loneliness flashing across Shen Luo's face, and continued: "Besides, I'm not too old anymore, it's time to go out and practice."

Shen Luo frowned, remained silent for a long time, and finally said stubbornly: "No, brother, you can't go."

"I want to go, you can't stop me." Ling Guyue took a step back, just when Shen Luo wanted to reach out to hold him, she jumped into the vast river.

"Senior Brother!" Shen Luo's face changed, seeing the snow-like waves splashing in the river, the hand that hadn't caught Ling Guyue in the future was still hanging in the air.

"I'm fine!" On the wide river surface, a wet head emerged from the center of the river. His black gauze cap had been washed away by the river, and his long black hair hung down on his face, making his face as white as jade.

Ling Guyue floated in the water, wiped her face, and smiled at the people on the bank, "Junior brother, I'm leaving!"

The next moment, under Shen Luo's astonished gaze, Ling Guyue sank into the water again, but after a while, the water surface returned to calm.

junior...

Ten years later, Shen Luo heard this familiar title again, but this time, Ling Guyue still stayed away from him.