tick knife

Yao Ye was lying on the hammock, so when he woke up, his eyes were full of the strong and smooth leaves of the orange tree.The flowers had almost faded, and there were only a few left. The white petals fell by his side, and they were crushed flat as they tossed and turned.There was a person sitting beside him, his back was a dark mass in the weak green light, and without turning his head, he said with a smile: "Get up."

Yao Ye tried, but he couldn't move his hands and feet, as if he was pressed by the invisible air, and he had nowhere to use his strength.He didn't want to be discovered by that person, so he asked nonchalantly, "What are you doing up?"

The man said: "Get up and teach Yuan Bao martial arts."

Yao Ye thought about it. "Hey, don't get me wrong. I never spread rumors about your peerless martial arts. I only taught him some basic fists and kicks so that he won't be bullied."

The man said, "Yuan Bao can't even beat Sanmao's dog. Do you now know how difficult it is to be a teacher?"

Yao Ye pouted. "Tch, I'm so smart, what's the problem." He thought unhurriedly, "How can this hammock support two people. It must be a dream." He only felt that his body was getting heavier and his breathing was slow It became more and more difficult, he clenched his teeth decisively, bit down on his tongue, and vaguely heard the man say, "Why are you in a hurry."

Yao Ye struggled to open his eyes, lifted a cat nestled on his chest, and panted heavily.He has lived here in Qidiaoming for nearly a month.He is very conscious of the guests; when facing the lacquer carving, it is impossible to feel as comfortable as facing the fifth person.Qi Diao made it clear that what he said must be done, and he did not interfere with his whereabouts except for teaching skills, and even asked him if he was short of money (he was quickly declined by Yao Ye).Even so, maintaining an obedient image is really tiring.Even the jokes that he is used to to adjust the atmosphere are occasionally contrived in retrospect.The fifth person is also a teacher, a father, and a friend. He has been with such a sword day and night, and he knows it well. The lacquer-carved sword has the breath of death.At the same time of being afraid, he was even more worried that he would not be popular in his eyes.If things go on like this, there is no reason not to be tired.

But lacquer carving is not the same.And a little fresh.This novelty made him happy, but also made him tired.Maybe he still refuses to give up his imagination, and always feels that there are flaws that only he can see through under Qi Diao Mingyuan's Ting Yuezhi's appearance.This vague thought made him laugh at his own arrogance, but he thought again: I just think about it, can't it work?

He washed his face hastily and went outside.Spring is also gradually deepening. The grass and trees are tough and their roots are solid. Although there is still wind and sand, there is also a layer of scruples.Yao Ye went from south to north, saw two winters and springs, as if he had earned more time, and felt a little joy in his heart.Qi Diaoming was wiping the iron claw of his left hand with a cloth, looked him over, and asked lightly, "Aren't you awake?"

He might be dissatisfied with Yao Ye's laziness, so Yao Ye had no choice but to pretend not to understand. "I dreamed of Master."

"Did he write you back?"

"No. Maybe I haven't received it yet, maybe I have. I'm too lazy to reply."

Qi Diaoming said: "Yes." He hesitated for a moment, and then said: "After you go back, tell your master that I will send my greetings to him."

Yao Yi is at a loss: "Isn't that right, senior wants to drive me away again?"

Qi Diaoming: "...I don't mean that. But you will go back one day."

Yao Ye: "Yes, one day."

He never saw Yao Yi again.But the commitment to her cannot be avoided.He was afraid of asking the fifth person face to face, and subconsciously always wanted to delay.But how long can he procrastinate?

"Because of the attack last time, we are moving. If you want to find me, please send a message to the boss here. Remember, I don't have a lot of patience." Yao Yi said when we met for the last time.

Yao Ye said: "Do you know who is coming to kill us?"

Yao Yi shook his head expressionlessly. "I don't know. So I can only avoid the limelight for the time being. If I want to know, I will kill them all."

Yao Ye couldn't help but listen.Then the girl disappeared out of thin air as if she had appeared out of thin air. Yao Ye later went to the small courtyard said to be her mother's former residence, and there was no trace of anyone there.

He suddenly came back to his senses, and found that Qi Diaoming had been watching him silently for a long time.Yao Ye felt ashamed for a moment, and blurted out: "Senior, don't you really want to go back to Jiangling with me? Don't you get bored of always being in one place?"

Qi Diaoming said: "No. I am insignificant to Shuozhou City."

Yao Ye suddenly felt playful, and said with a smile: "There are memories of seniors here, are seniors reluctant to leave?"

Qi Diaoming's face froze for a moment; cold sweat broke out on Yao Ye's back suddenly.But before he could respond how to remedy it, Qi Diaoming's expression had returned to normal, and he said flatly: "No."

Yao Ye felt that he had crossed a precarious boundary without any danger; this temptation has its value.He breathed a sigh of relief and said with a smile: "Senior, you are really weird today. It seems that you are easy to talk to."

Qi Diaoming: "Is it hard for me to talk usually?"

Yao Ye: "Seniors are not angry and prestige, and juniors naturally have to be cautious in their words and deeds."

He was just playing lip service, but Qi Diaoming frowned, and said very seriously: "I am dull by nature, withdrawn, and not good at communicating with others. If there is anything that made you unhappy before, it will be regarded as my fault. Don't take it to heart."

Yao Ye's knees were a little weak: "Senior, what you said... I can't bear it."

Qi Diaoming said: "It's nothing. You are so restrained these days, you are pitiful. Today is the last day for me to teach you sword skills. After practicing, you and I will go out for a walk."

Yao Ye said: "The last day?"

Qi Diaoming said: "I have nothing to teach you."

Yao Ye nodded.He still felt bad.Every word of the lacquer carving has a vague and ominous air of farewell.But he instinctively and wishfully thought that Qi Diaoming had no reason to lie to him.He had also considered before that it was impossible for him to get along with Qi Diaoming for a long time (although no one asked him to do so), a year or a half is probably the limit; like his treatment of Shuozhou, after all, a tourist, he just took a quick look at it. Once again, it seems that I have a little understanding of everything, and when I leave, I still have something to say, looking forward to the next visit.This is not bad, and he vaguely understands that this is the only way to go. If he really wants to know himself and the enemy like the fifth person, the benefits will become worthless.Therefore, he was not mentally prepared for this day, but when he actually arrived, he felt very sudden, as if he arrived yesterday, found nothing, knew nothing about lacquer carving, and hadn't had time to do ten thousand things.But there's really nothing special to do; he's done learning the knife, too.

Although he has these thoughts in his heart, his knife is as beautiful as ever, without any faults, and he is extremely clever, and he often has ingenuity in the changes of moves.A person like Qi Diaoming who cherishes words like gold sometimes can't help but want to praise him for being extremely clever.But often at this time, he could see the sly look in Yao Ye's eyes, as if he had expected his evaluation, Qi Diaoming thought that the most important thing this young man lacked was praise, and he was not used to such things as icing on the cake. Therefore, it is often silent again.

The last lecture went more smoothly than in the past, and it ended at the turn of Shen You, and the red sun that faded from the treetops was not dazzling, so harmless that it almost seemed false.Qi Diaoming closed the courtyard door, and really went to the market with Yao Ye.He usually walks very fast, coming and going in a hurry, the soles of his feet are blown by the wind, today he consciously slowed down his pace to show that he is in harmony with each other, but it made Yao Ye feel suspicious, but he didn't say anything, just smiled and talked to him If it matters.

After January, Yao Ye's understanding of the surrounding terrain is as good as that of Qi Diaoming. The aunt of the host family, the aunt of the Xi family, and even the dim sum sellers, stalls and curators, greeted them all the way, and imitated their accents vividly, as if they were already in the village. Having lived here for decades, Qi Diaoming saw it and thought it was funny.After Yao Ye greeted him, he brought a paper bag to him. "Senior, do you want to try it?"

There are drunk dates in the paper bag, and a clear aroma of wine and sweet smell of red dates hits the nostrils.Qi Diaoming picked one up and said, "What a coincidence, your mother also likes this very much."

Yao Ye was taken aback for a moment, a layer of bitterness that was too sweet and greasy suddenly came out of his mouth.He sucked the sharp date stone and was about to say something when Qi Diaoming turned around and walked forward.At a loss, Yao Ye followed him into a shop where he couldn't tell what it was selling. There was a guy behind the counter who said clearly, "I'm here to pick up what I agreed to."

The guy looked up at him, and quickly fetched a long bundle.Qi Diaoming took it, nodded, turned and went out.Yao Ye didn't speak anymore, just followed him quietly.They walked through the noisy market, and then through the quiet alleys, and gradually came to an abandoned mansion. There was a gap between the overgrown walls, and half a rotten door panel lay at the bottom of the wall.

Yao Yi followed Qi Diaoming to push aside the long grass, and entered the wall, looking up at the collapsed houses, dry ponds and broken bridges, it was indescribably desolate and dilapidated.There is a jujube tree with thick branches in the northwest corner, and there is a solitary mound under the tree.The words "Yao Honglian's Tomb" are engraved on the tombstone, but it has not been signed.Yao Ye's eyes flickered, and he suddenly said, "Someone has been here."

This is obvious.The yard was almost deserted, only this corner was cleaned up, and it was so eye-catching. There was a bouquet of flowers in front of the tomb. It was a wild rose that could be seen everywhere, but it was blooming vigorously, and there was almost anger. It didn't take long to pick the fold, maybe it was this morning, or maybe it just happened to miss.Yao Ye vaguely had an answer in his heart, but he asked unnecessarily, "Senior, is that you?"

Qi Diaoming said: "I haven't been here for many years."

He landed on one knee, squinting at the words on the tombstone.The font was deep and scrawled, and the dried blood on the stele had long since turned black.Behind him, Yao Ye also knelt down and kowtowed three times towards the tombstone.

This is the basis of his trip to Shuozhou.To his mother, whom he had never met, there was only so much he could do, and no one expected him to have a more violent reaction, but his mood was extremely chaotic.

As a son of man, he cannot kill his enemies with his own hands, and he doesn't even want to pursue the truth.Yao Honglian knows, what is she going to do with this son whom she gave up her life to protect?

He stood up in a daze, and Qi Diaoming handed him a knife.Yao Ye took it, only to realize that it was what was in the bag.This knife is not long, the blade is as white as frost and snow, the ebony scabbard has no decoration, and a red coral is inlaid on the handle.

This is the gift that Qi Diaoming wanted to give him on the day of Yicheng.Yao Ye was overjoyed at the beginning with a wooden knife, but now he was given a sharp weapon, but he couldn't even say a word of thanks.

Qi Diaoming said: "Your mother has done me a great favor back then. I can't repay you. I taught you the sword technique, but it's just in case. I haven't seen her face for many years. Fortunately, you have grown up. Now I bring you to worship. Hope she can rest in peace under the Nine Springs."

Yao Ye looked at the knife in his hand, then looked up at Qi Diaoming. "What's the name of this knife?"

Qi Diaoming said: "This knife has no name. It is your knife, and you decide the name."

Yao Ye gritted his teeth and said, "Senior, please give me a name."

Qi Diaoming said: "Okay, then you wait."

He slowly stroked the cracks in the stele with his good right hand, his eyes and fingers were extremely gentle. "This is the place where I first met your mother. After your mother got married, I never saw her again. Until one day when she was dying, she said that your father was dead and entrusted you to me. I don't know you I haven't found my father's name, his whereabouts, and he hasn't appeared again in the past 20 years. I think it's more or less ominous. But things in the world are unpredictable, maybe your mother is not telling the truth; maybe you still meet One day."

Yao Ye smiled and said, "Senior, do you hate my mother?"

Qi Diaoming: "I don't hate your mother."

"Then you hate my father."

"I don't hate it either."

Yao Ye said: "You are so strange, why you refuse to admit your hatred."

His words were too rude, already offensive, Qi Diaoming frowned.It's not that he couldn't see the boy's unruly nature under his well-behaved appearance, but for a moment he also wondered where this hasty provocation came from.So he just looked at Yao Ye calmly, the inquiry in his eyes was enough to make people tremble.Yao Ye raised his head fearlessly and stared at him, the only remaining afterglow fell on his bright and clean face, even his stubbornness seemed familiar.

They were within walking distance, Yao Ye suddenly stood on tiptoe, raised his head suddenly and almost broke the lacquered bridge of his nose.

Yao Ye likes to be clean.The lacquer carving is obviously wind, sand, wood and stone.There is nothing cleaner than wind, sand, wood and stone.

For a moment he closed his eyes.Maybe he was afraid of Qi Diaoming's gaze after all, maybe he was afraid of the name on the tombstone behind Qi Diaoming.He didn't make any plans, and he made all plans.Maybe he subconsciously knew that the separation was a foregone conclusion, so he dared to put all his eggs in one basket at the last moment; after all, he couldn't imagine a suitable time to bid farewell to Qi Diaoming.

After all the ruins, the general situation is gone.Yao Ye took a step back, completely losing the courage to face Qi Diaoming.Under the twilight, the blurred words Yao Honglian are like three cold eyes.

He waited for Qi Diaoming's anger, disappointment or reprimand, but Qi Diaoming didn't say a word, turned around and walked towards where he came from.Yao Ye followed behind him in despair, the two of them left the corner door in silence, and when they returned to the main road, Qi Diaoming said: "I have an appointment with someone tonight, you go back by yourself."

Yao Ye asked desperately, "Will you come back?"

Qi Diaoming said: "I still owe you the name of the sword."

He walked forward, and his tall figure disappeared into the darkness in an instant.Yao Ye stood there for a while, before realizing that the setting sun had already set, and the last ray of clear light was struggling to support the gap between the dark world and the earth.Most of the shops have door panels, and a few of them hang lanterns. The dark red color attracts people's reverie, too much to refuse and welcome, and it seems tasteless.

It would be a lie to say no regrets, but regrets are useless.Yao Ye wanted to explain very much now, and was afraid that Qi Diaoming would misunderstand, but his behavior was too appalling, to the point where no misunderstanding could be tolerated.He can't say that this unmistakable arrogance is just that he can't tear off the mask of lacquer carving, clay sculpture and wood carving no matter what.

But these are trivial matters.The name of the knife counts as an implicit promise.But can he really still see Qi Diaoming?

Yao Ye walked slowly through the street market that became unfamiliar under the night, and walked back to the lacquered residence, anticipating that the night would be difficult.He didn't want to talk to people, he just wanted to be by himself.But when he was alone, he felt lonely again.He turned out to be such a difficult person to serve.

He turned a street corner, and suddenly felt that the vermilion-lacquered gate on the left was somewhat familiar.

He thought of the night when he first arrived in Shuozhou, the elegant lily fragrance that dilutes the smell of blood, and immediately after the killing at Baimen Restaurant, it was like a dream with dark willows and bright flowers.

Yao Yi stretched out his hand out of nowhere and knocked on the door knocker.

Soon he got his wish, surrounded by spotless vase swords, incense burners and flowers.The fragrance of the flowers is clear, the fragrance of the aloes is sweet, and it doesn't look cumbersome when mixed together. Yao Ye only feels that his heart is extremely calm and sober, as if this is the only reality, and the days and months spent in Shuozhou before have turned into illusions.

Baimen Liu poured tea and said with a smile: "Since we met that day, I have been looking forward to Mr. Yao's coming. But Mr. Yao never comes. I think it's because my place is simple and unattractive to Mr. Yao."

Yao Ye took the teacup with both hands, and said with a smile: "Madam said so, the younger generation is terrified. Madam is beyond the ordinary, and I really can't forget it all the time. It's really complicated. I only have time to bother you today. I hope Madam will not be offended. .”

After entering the door half a moment later, he became very calm and smooth again, regaining control over himself.Baimenliu looked at him with great interest, and asked, "Where's the lacquer carving?"

"He has other things to do."

Baimenliu clapped her hands. "That's right, otherwise how would you think of coming here?"

Her tone was meant to be teasing, Yao Ye blushed and felt suspicious, so he lowered his head and took a sip of tea.Baimen Liu said again: "Do you know where the lacquer carving went?"

Yao Ye said: "Senior naturally has senior plans."

Baimenliu seemed to really feel aggrieved for him: "The lacquer carving is really meaningless. You came all the way to find him, but he left you alone to have fun. Obviously if he is short of money, he can ask me to borrow it. What's the matter with you?"

Yao Ye: "Ma'am, do you know where he went?"

Bai Menliu said: "Naturally, it's a place where all men go."

Yao Ye sat neatly with his hands on his knees, looking at his nose, nose, and heart. That aura of ignorance of worldly affairs and not listening to indecent words was purer than the green calyx in a bottle.Bai Menliu said politely: "Qi Diao is also a man, and he has never married a wife for so many years, and he has never heard of any relationship with anyone."

Yao Ye thought: "I know why." He almost wanted to shout: "I know why!"

Baimenliu sighed. "But having said that, it's not that I can't understand lacquer carving. I've spent many years in vain, and I've never seen a woman who is more like a woman than the girl Nongyu from Mingfeng Tower."

With a pair of small scissors she snipped off the ashes from the wick. "You may think that this kind of thing is just a transaction for pleasure. But everyone who has seen Nongyu would never think of using gold and silver to measure her value. There are hundreds of people who want to redeem her, There are quite a few vacant seats in the family, and they look forward to getting married with her one day."

Her voice is kind and gentle, as if Yao Ye is not just a young boy, but a friend who can discuss such things with her. "Even General Lu Jisheng, the current Zhenwu Jiedu envoy, bows down under her pomegranate skirt."

It was nearly three o'clock, and there was no one on the street.

Yao Ye ran on the deserted street, like an agile and restless deer, with a lump of burning coal in his chest, neither the white moonlight nor the fragrance of Sophora japonica flowers could relieve his burning breath.

He once asked Qi Diaoming if he had gone to see Mr. Zhang.Qi Diaoming did not deny it.

He asked Qi Diaoming again if he had made a deal with Mr. Zhang.Qi Diao said clearly that he was going to kill someone.

For the rest, Yao Ye didn't ask much.He is smart enough to know that this matter is beyond the scope of his beak.

And tonight, Qi Diaoming was going to a place that didn't look like he would set foot there.Lu Jisheng will also go to this place.

This person, he already knew from Yao Yi - is his father!