Liu Yan hugged him into her arms, although she hugged him tightly, she didn't know when he would open his mouth again and bite herself again. He is not afraid of being bitten, the pain is nothing more than superficial to him who has passed through the battlefield, he is just worried instinctively, like a person walking under the scorching sun, suddenly the sky above his head changes suddenly, and the rainstorm pours down. What he was worried about was that moment, the confusion of not knowing what to do.
Of course, he would not say these words, and no one could say these worries. He couldn't imagine himself saying to the snake in his arms: If you want to bite me, you can bite me right now, or kill me. Just don't, after I thought you trusted me, bite me off guard.
He was afraid that he would be desperate in pain.
Liu Yan just didn't say the word "fear", but he never escaped it in his heart. He was always afraid. Be afraid of this world.
The mountains stand tall, the world of mortals is ten thousand feet high, and the heavens and the earth are the sky. If you have nothing to fear in your heart, you should not be a human being.
Even Yi Mo, the snake demon, was afraid in his heart. Even with thousands of years of Taoism and the ability to call wind and rain, he never had the idea of disobedience, otherwise he might not be obedient and let others beat him back to his original shape, but he would have fled around with Liu Yan and ended up in this life.
Liu Yan and Yi Mo understood these reasons, but Shen Jue couldn't figure them out.
Shen Jue said, "I don't believe that father has no other way."
Liu Yan said: "Is there any other way, can it be better than now?" After a short pause, Liu Yan repeated: "Now, it's very good."
At least we can still be together.
Being together is enough. For the rest, Liu Yan is not greedy. When I heard this ending for the first time, I also thought about whether there could be variables. Liu Yan thought that with Yi Mo's ability, it might not be impossible to escape. But what about escaping? He is just a mortal, and being by Yi Mo's side is also a burden. If you don't follow, it will be a life-long pain of separation. Or, on the way to escape, they have to watch their dearest people get hurt and die in front of them. Such an ending was too tragic, and they couldn't bear it.
Compared with these, they would rather choose to spend their whole life in this way—to be together, even if they can’t recognize each other, they are staying together until the end of their lives.
Liu Yan closed her eyes, gently embraced the black snake in her arms, and pressed him to her heart. After a few days, Black Snake got used to it, he didn't resist, and let him hug him lazily, and felt comfortable.
Shen Jue looked at them, unable to refute Liu Yan's words, he knew that even Yi Mo might not have talked about Liu Yan, let alone himself. Or maybe he didn't want to argue.
As a son of man, I watched the cruelty of reality befalling my loved ones, but there was nothing I could do. This kind of powerlessness has appeared too many times in his life, and every time, it was his closest relatives, and every time, he repeatedly realized his powerlessness.
As if he hadn't grown up, as if he was still a toddler, watching his father grow old overnight, life dried up before his eyes. He stretched out his hand and tried to do something again and again, but each time, he realized his incompetence more deeply than the previous time.
He can't do anything. He can't do anything. Just to watch them suffer while he's on the sidelines... just to watch.
The hand he stretched out was retracted again and again slumped, with wind that couldn't be held back.
He knew that he was powerless to change anything, and resentment and annoyance could only deepen this powerless despair.
At this time, only Liu Yan, who has insight into everything, can comfort him and tell him that there is no need to do anything, you are fine, because this is fine.
Even though he knew that this was not the best ending, but Liu Yan said it, Shen Jue silently convinced himself. He believed it, and Liu Yan didn't have to worry about what he would do rashly in his grief. Deeply understanding this point, Shen Jue convinced himself that such an ending is the best ending for a transvestite. No one is unhappy, no one is unwilling. Can't, don't dare.
A long time ago, General Ji on the battlefield also said that one must be in awe. Shen Jue didn't quite remember why he said this sentence and under what circumstances he said it. But he always remembered that Ji Jiu's hands were covered with blood that day, and he was covered in blood, but he said these words solemnly.
Shen Jue didn't ask what to be in awe of, maybe it's a person in awe, maybe it's something in awe, or maybe it's a kind of nothingness.
Because there is awe in the heart, people dare not do evil recklessly; because there is awe in the heart, the general will not easily kill the unworthy.
Because of the awe in my heart, from the beginning of birth, the first lesson of enlightenment is that at the beginning of human beings, nature is inherently good.
Because of awe, knowing that the ending is not ideal, there is still no hesitation. Such as the end of a hero and the twilight of a beauty, the former loses to an invincible opponent and is convinced; the latter loses to an irresistible fleeting time and has nothing to say.
Ji Jiu said so, and Liu Yan also said so.
Shen Jue had nothing to say, and said in a low voice: "Father thinks it's good, then it's good."
Liu Yan really thinks this is good. With him, he can enjoy the same flower blooming, which is gorgeous; see the same wheat field, which is full of fruits; perhaps, he can take him to travel around and taste the world's fireworks. Then on Huangquan Road, talk about the road you have traveled, the flowers you have enjoyed, the wine you have drunk, and the people you have met.
There, I can tell Yimo frankly that I have lived up to these years, I have not lived up to this time, the four seasons have passed together, and the fleeting years have passed together. You and I walked together without separation.
Liu Yan thinks this is good. No more greed, contentment.
He was sitting in the courtyard, holding a snake with a round belly that was eating in his arms, shaking slightly with the rocking chair, watching the flowers blooming and falling outside the courtyard, the branches bearing green fruits and gradually turning rosy, watching the chicks Spread out the immature wings and fly for the first time. He looked at it calmly, with a smile on his face, and the years were quiet and beautiful.
Shen Jue went down the mountain to do some shopping. Autumn is about to pass, and winter is approaching. The quilts at home need to be refurbished, and some winter clothes need to be bought. The charcoal fire was used up last year. It burns endlessly, keeping the hut warm all the time, as if the heart is also warm, and it will never be cold again.
There are a lot of things to buy, Shen Jue can't come back for a while, Liu Yan is sitting in the courtyard, remembering that she forgot to tell him not to buy too many things, next spring, when Yi Mo's hibernation is over, they will leave.
The last time I visited, I lost my way and hurried back. This time, Liu Yan wanted to take the black snake in his arms and walk again, to see all the mountains and rivers before returning.
When he came back, the snake in his arms might already be an old snake. There is still a long time in between, but Liu Yan doesn't want to waste any more.
At that time, the wheat seedlings were fragrant, the peach blossoms were bright, the apricot pollen was white, the pomegranate flowers were fiery red, and the rapeseed flowers were golden and splendid. After one season, there would be another season. I always feel that time is too long to be squandered. But I never thought that even if the next season's flowers are exactly the same, they will not be the same flowers as before.
He is so ignorant.
His gaze fell tenderly on the black snake in his arms, Liu Yan thought, fortunately, after three lifetimes, he is still here, and there are people who have been persistent all the way and never give up, so that he can hold his hand back and have the opportunity to change himself The ignorance of each other, stay together, start over, and spend the rest of your life together.
The autumn sunshine, warm and bleak, shone on him silently and without breath.
In the evening, there was a wind blowing in the mountains, and the chill suddenly picked up. Liu Yan got up and was about to enter the house, but when she turned around, she caught a glimpse of a green shadow outside the low courtyard wall from the corner of her eyes, in the gradually withering and yellowing scene.
The little pine tree spirit, whom I hadn't seen for a long time, stood outside the courtyard wall again in this season when everything was about to be silent, hesitating whether to come in or not.
Liu Yan instinctively wanted to walk over to open the door for him, but her footsteps froze for a moment just before she stepped forward. There was no possibility, how could he give hope without authorization? After hesitating for a short time, Liu Yan opened the courtyard door in an instant, looked at the somewhat stunned but still innocent face, and said, "I haven't come for a long time, I said you left the mountain."
The little pine tree spirit shook his head, looked at him for a moment, then looked over his shoulder into the courtyard, but didn't see the person he was thinking of, with a hint of disappointment between his brows, and said: "I can't stay too far away, just go back Practiced."
"Don't you want to come in and have a sit?" Liu Yan said, "There is osmanthus cake that you like to eat."
"... No way." The little pine tree spirit said, lowered his head, and saw the snake's body protruding from the skirt of his clothes. With just one glance, the little pine tree spirit noticed the abnormality. Shocking, he was startled, and he didn't know how to hide his face, pointing: "What happened to him? Was he injured? How did he become so small?..."
He still wanted to ask, but Liu Yan cut off his question, and said lightly: "He's not a demon anymore, he's just a snake." Clothes are tightly packed.
The little pine tree spirit didn't expect this answer, but after a few months, many things seemed to have changed. It was only then that he realized his abruptness, the little pine tree spirit didn't know what to do for a moment, apologized hastily, turned and ran away.
Liu Yan watched him leave in a panic, lowered his head and sighed to the snake in his arms: "Your original appearance scared many people, but now that you are smaller, why are you still scary?"
The black snake moved its tail unconsciously, and circled around his back, but ignored him and was still asleep.
Sleeping after eating, waking up and climbing around, or climbing a tree, or turning around a corner, eating something, and continuing to sleep, this is his current life.
Liu Yanyan put his hand into his clothes, couldn't help but rubbed his head, and said, "If you are raised into a fat snake, it's my ability."
The snake in his arms was being rubbed, and he was very good-tempered and motionless. After Liu Yan finished rubbing and withdrew his hand, he moved his position, put his head next to Liu Yan's neck, covered it in his clothes, and continued to be his. A big dream.
As soon as it was dark, Shen Jue rushed back to the mountain. The large and small bags piled up into a small mountain, and he carried them on his back, carrying them lightly like cotton to the small courtyard in the mountain.
Shen Jue put down his things, scooped up water and washed his hands, took out a packaged hot food and put it on the table, "Roast chicken with rice wine, daddy?"
Liu Yan asked: "Have you eaten?"
"Eat," Shen Jue said, "I rushed back after eating."
Just as Liu Yan was about to speak, the smelling snake poked its head out from the side of his neck, spitting at the roast chicken, Liu Yan tore a piece of meat and fed it, and really began to worry about whether it would burst his belly.
Seeing this, Shen Jue said: "It should be fine, he is going to hibernate, so naturally eat more at this time."
"It just swallowed two eggs at noon." Liu Yan pointed to the outside of the courtyard: "The egg shells that spit out are probably not completely dry yet."
Neither father nor son had raised animals before, even if they had become human beings, they had no idea when encountering such a thing, and looked at each other in blank dismay.
"How about..." Shen Jue hesitated and said, "Feed less?"
"Yeah." That's the only way to go. Although Liu Yan doesn't mind raising a fat snake, he is afraid of raising a sick snake due to eating too much.
Shen Jue stood aside and watched for a while, then suddenly said that someone was coming, and walked out, Liu Yan stood by the door, watching him open the courtyard door, and then a person walked in, whose face was not clearly visible from a distance in the dark night , dressed in a white robe, with shiny silver hair.
"Shen Qingxuan, I'm here to see you." The man spoke, his voice was loud, but it was old and rough, Liu Yan was stunned for a moment, feeling that the voice was a little strange, but it was a little familiar.
"Why are you here?" Shen Jue stood aside and said calmly.
"Haha, I have nowhere to go, so I'm looking for you." That person still had that old-fashioned voice, but there were many mischievous meanings in it. Only then did Liu Yan realize that it was Xu Mingshi who came.
Xu Mingshi stopped in front of Liu Yan, looked at him in the swaying candlelight in the room, and said, "I'll come and see you."
His back hunched, as if years of time had accumulated into a mountain, bending his joystick. When he said this, his eyes were narrowed, and his eyes were cloudy, which is typical of old people, and his face was covered with valleys, but he hadn't seen it for a year, and he was much older than when he saw him before.
Xu Mingshi looked at Liu Yan, then lowered his eyes, looked at the black snake in his arms, with the same hoarse and old voice, and said in a low voice: "Old snake, you don't recognize me? I want to come and see you, but you You don’t recognize me anymore, you old snake, you are very annoying.”
Liu Yan suddenly understood that Xu Mingshi came here to say goodbye.
"Shen Qingxuan," Xu Mingshi said, "I have done what I have to do, and now I have nowhere to go. Can you accept me as a guest in the mansion like you did back then?"
Liu Yan pulled the corners of her lips, and said, "When will Xu Mingshi be so polite?"
Xu Mingshi chuckled, "Then I won't be polite," he turned to Shen Jue and said, "Boy, I can't walk anymore, you can find me a room and make a bed for me."
Although there was resentment, this time, Shen Jue didn't say anything, turned around and went into the side room to clean up the room for him. Liu Yan invited him in, and the two sat at the table, drinking tea and chatting.
After a while, the house was cleaned up, Xu Mingshi yawned, and said, "Then I'll go to rest, and we'll continue talking tomorrow."
"Xu Mingshi," Liu Yan called him from behind, and asked, "Can we spend New Year's Eve together this year?"
Xu Mingshi turned his back to him, and said with a smile, "I can still get by this winter, not to mention New Year's Eve, even Lantern Festival."
"That's good." Liu Yan said.
"I'm going to sleep." Xu Mingshi said, hunched over, and walked out slowly.
Shen Jue stood aside, watched him enter the room, then extinguished the candle, the guest room was completely dark, then turned around and said to Liu Yan: "He doesn't have any friends either."
Liu Yan nodded, and after a long silence, he said, "He came to see us for the last part of the journey, so let's take care of it."
Shen Jue let out a "hmm", "I know."
"How to put it, it's also a friendship of hundreds of years." Liu Yan said softly.
Although they have known each other for a hundred years, it is inevitable to say goodbye after all.