Something weird today.
After sending off Qiu Ji Gulu's two children yesterday, Ning Ning and Pei Ji made an appointment to go to Wangyue Peak to watch the snow the next day. However, at the appointed time, Ning Ning waited in front of the door for a long time, but did not see his shadow.
On that day, the thunderstorm was raging, and she knew that Pei Ji's old injury had not healed, and she was inevitably worried, so she knocked on the door of his room.
No one answered, only the snowflakes fell from Shushu in the courtyard, which was almost eerily quiet.
Ning Ning subconsciously realized that something was wrong, took out the key from the storage bag, and hurriedly pushed the door in.
There was no one in the main hall and the study, she looked around, and finally came to the bedroom.
Pei Ji's bedroom is clean and tidy, without any fancy decorations as a shield, Ning Ning can see the entire empty space at a glance.
No, not "empty".
On the wooden bed in the corner, in the thick off-white quilt, hides a undulating arc.
It looked like someone was lying under the quilt, but that person was too small, not like Pei Ji, but like a child.
Ning Ning frowned and hurriedly approached the bed, Xu heard her footsteps, and the person in the quilt trembled slightly—
Immediately, Ning Ning lifted the quilt, his eyes stinging from the sunlight, and his body curled up tighter, like a bowed shrimp.
It was a thin little boy.
And it's... a little boy in Pei Ji's nightgown.
The scattered black hair was as black as ink, as if it had not been trimmed for a long time, and was laid out in a messy way, like a rugged and winding path of running water.
Some long hair draped over his face, covering most of his face, and through the gaps between the hair strands, one could see pale skin with no blood.
Like fragile porcelain, it will shatter at the slightest touch.
I don't know why, although most of his face was covered, this child always gave Ning Ning a strange sense of familiarity. She leaned over and tried to speak warmly, "Are you okay?"
The boy lowered his eyes and said nothing.
Pei Ji is tall and slender, and his clothes are inevitably too wide for a child. The boy's slender neck seemed to be covered with only a thin layer of flesh, and his collarbone was exposed beyond the front of the shirt, which was too jagged.
Even if he tried his best to suppress it, he was inevitably shaking slightly.
Ning Ning caught a glimpse of the old scars that had scabbed over his body, and the location of each one was very familiar.
A grotesque thought came to her mind, and she called out ghostly: "Pei Ji?"
The boy flinched again, burying his head lower.
… No way.
"Do you remember who I am?"
Her heartbeat was fast, and she reached out to brush the black hair on his side face. When her fingertips touched the boy's skin, she clearly felt that he was shaking even more.
The black hair fell suddenly, and as expected, Ning Ning saw a familiar face.
When he was a child, Pei Ji was so thin that he couldn't see any excess flesh on his face, and was almost starved to the point of losing his appearance.
His facial features have not yet grown, but he already has a stern and stern outline of the future, with sharp eyebrows and a high nose bridge, his expression is timid, his eyes are tightly closed, and his thin lips are stretched into a straight line.
So what is the situation now? If this is Pei Ji when he was a child, the wounds on his body are clearly scarred—
Ning Ning was startled.
Could it be that Pei Ji, like the sect master, suddenly turned into a child due to the damage to his sea of consciousness and poor spiritual power
But what about memory impairment? Judging from his appearance, it was obvious that he no longer remembered Ning Ning's last name.
"...don't be afraid."
Seeing that he was afraid to touch, Ning Ning retracted his right hand knowingly: "I won't hurt you, your name is 'Pei Ji', right?"
The boy lying on his side on the bed moved his long eyelashes.
He still hasn't figured out what's going on at the moment, and for him, everything that happened today is like a dream.
Last night, my mother routinely scolded and whipped him. The whole body was aching and cold. Pei Ji lay in a trance in the cellar, shivering from the freezing cold of winter.
He fell asleep in a daze, and he never thought that when he opened his eyes the next day, what filled his vision was not the dark cellar, but a long-lost bunch of glimmering light belonging to a winter morning.
Pei Ji has not seen the sun for too long.
In that dark cellar, he had been madly longing to see it, but now that he was really in the sun, the boy was a little scared and flustered—
Like a mouse in a gutter, it is only fit for sneaking around at night. Once you see the light, you will understand how miserable and pathetic you are.
He was accustomed to the darkness, his eyes were pierced by the sun, and he could only smell a wisp of incense that was approaching.
That voice didn't come from my mother, who would never speak to him so tenderly and softly.
- Did she finally get bored of him and leave him to someone else
Cheng Ying's voice no longer existed, and his eyes were pitch black. All that surrounded him was confusion, panic, despair, and endless fear. Unprepared, the scent came closer to him.
Something warm fell on Pei Ji's forehead.
"Pei Ji."
The man's voice was very light and unbelievably soft. It slowly slipped from his eardrum and landed directly on his heart: "Don't be afraid, keep your eyes open."
The boy clenched the sheets with his fingertips.
In the past, in the cellar, his mother would occasionally order him to beg for mercy or apologize, but Pei Ji rarely responded.
But the voice at this time was like a bewitching, with an indescribable sense of familiarity, which made him want to get closer.
Pei Ji slowly opened his eyes.
The dazzling sunlight before had dissipated, replaced by a soft shimmer that enveloped the entire bedroom.
When the window was closed tightly, the man put his thumb on his forehead and tilted his palm downward, casting a thick shadow in front of his eyes, blocking the unbridled light.
"My name is Ning Ning."
Ning Ning smiled at him, because with her back to the light, her dark almond eyes were like a puddle of water in the night, the waves swaying lightly, and she was too gentle: "Your mother is not here, I will not hurt you."
After she said it, she thought about her words and asked him in a low voice, "Can I touch you?"
Pei Ji pursed her lips, but still didn't answer.
The stranger in front of the bed hesitated for a moment, sighed silently, and suddenly bent his body even lower, his voice almost whispering: "Come here."
Seeing her stretch out her hand, he instinctively wanted to cover his head to avoid it, but unexpectedly, neither cursing nor slaps fell.
One hand wrapped around the back of his head, the other lightly wrapped around his arm, and pulled up with a little force, and the boy's entire body fell into Ning Ning's arms.
Pei Ji was overwhelmed with nervousness, and her heartbeat began to speed up like never before.
He was still trembling, his small body was very thin, and Ning Ning hugged him like a thin skeleton.
Pei Ji looked like this when she was a child. She grew up unloved and ignorant about everything, like a quiet little beast that has not yet grown its fangs.
Ning Ning felt stuffy and uncomfortable, her left hand covered his raised butterfly bone, and her right hand touched Pei Ji's head.
The touch of being touched is very wonderful, and Pei Ji can't tell whether it is comfortable or itchy. This is the first time anyone has done such an action to him.
The warm embrace with a hint of fragrance gradually calmed the trembling. Pei Ji didn't dare to move, but heard her voice: "How old are you this year?"
He bit his lower lip.
The boy's voice was tender and clear, carrying a hoarseness that did not match his age, and timidly resounded in his ears, so low that he could not hear clearly: "Twelve years old...or thirteen."
*
"Tsk tsk, was Pei Ji so soft and cute when she was a child?"
He Zhizhou looked at Xiaodouding sitting on the stool, and raised the corners of his lips with interest: "Come on, Pei Ji, call me brother."
Pei Ji lowered her head and didn't look at him.
"Don't bully him."
Ning Ninghu stood in front of Pei Ji: "Be careful that he recovers his memory and draws his sword towards you."
After discovering that Pei Ji had become smaller, she quickly found Master for help. Tian Xianzi has a lot of experience in this. After some investigation, he just said that there is no serious problem, and he can recover after a period of cultivation.
Then, because Pei Ji was too thin, Tian Xianzi insisted on taking the two to the dining hall, just in time to meet He Zhizhou and Zheng Weiqi.
Junior Brother Pei is usually like a killing god, but now he is well-behaved and shy. Zheng Weiqi sees the overflowing mother's love, and her face is full of strange aunt's smile: "Little Jiji, ignore that uncle, come and play with my beautiful sister."
He Zhizhou: "Don't think I didn't notice that you deliberately changed your generation!"
"Pei Ji's sea of consciousness has not yet recovered. He must have secretly practiced the sword, causing his spiritual power to be disordered, his meridians to be turbulent, and his body to look like when he was a child, and his memory will return to that time."
Tian Xianzi touched his chin and looked at him: "This is not a big deal, as long as he is well cultivated and his spiritual power is back on the right track, he will be able to return to normal - come on, Pei Ji, call me Master!"
The more he talked, the more he enjoyed it, and squatted in front of Pei Ji and made a face: "Read with me, the number one in the world, Master-Zun-"
Ning Ning stood by Pei Ji's side, and didn't hear him saying "No. 1 in the world" following Tian Xianzi, but it was as if someone suddenly grabbed the sleeves, and the force was so light that it was almost imperceptible.
She bowed her head and saw Pei Ji's dark eyes.
He was not used to such a noisy environment, and it was even more awkward to be stared at by so many strangers.
The children's eyes were clear, without a gloomy murderous aura, like unpicked black grapes soaked in the morning dew. He seemed a little scared, he pinched her cuff with his thumb and index finger, his face turned red the moment he looked at Ning Ning, and he hurriedly lowered his head.
Super cute crit.
Ning Ning's heart turned into a puddle of water.
"Damn, even if he becomes a child, this stinky boy will only stick to Ningning."
He Zhizhou ate lemons madly, his face twisted with sourness: "Aren't we sisters, uncles and grandpas bad?"
Grandpa Tianxianzi kept hammering his head.
"It's a fledgling plot. He's not familiar with the place, and he will be very dependent on the first person he sees."
Ning Ning squatted down and looked up at him: "Are you hungry? The porridge will be ready soon."
As soon as she finished speaking, she heard Zheng Weiqi shouting: "Hurry up, hurry up, the porridge is ready!"
Pei Ji doesn't like greasy food, and according to his current physical condition, he can't bear the too spicy taste. A group of people thought about it and finally ordered him a bowl of sweet rice porridge.
"Be careful, be careful, come, come, Master, give you a blow."
Tian Xianzi rarely takes care of children, and is very unskilled in feeding porridge with a spoon. When the porcelain spoon touched the boy's pale lips, Pei Ji's long eyelashes trembled slightly, and he froze as if hesitating.
Suddenly his right hand was gently held, and in a reassuring temperature, Ning Ning whispered to him, "It's alright, don't be afraid."
So Pei Ji opened his mouth and swallowed the sweet rice porridge.
Tian Xianzi was so happy as if he had obtained this peerless sword manual, the corners of his mouth were about to go to the sky, and he laughed wildly with a sound transmission: "Look, he ate he ate! I fed it!"
The sweet porridge was a little hot, but not uncomfortable, but spread the heat just right. The sweet fragrance of white sugar overflowed, making him look blank again.
So warm.
The warm warm current flows down from the tip of the tongue, passes through the mouth, esophagus and stomach in turn, and overflows out in full, filling every cold and dry corner of the body.
Pain, bitterness, hardship and loneliness were all washed away by this warm current.
Ning Ning put his little hand in the palm of his hand and asked in a warm voice, "How does it taste? Do you like it?"
He must be dreaming.
Pei Ji nodded confusedly, the tip of his tongue lifted up quietly, and licked the sweet fragrance left in his mouth.
How dare he expect such fragrant and warm food. In winter, as long as he can eat a steamed bun to fill his stomach, it is enough for Pei Ji.
Not to mention... There are several people around here, all of them grinning and being incredibly close to him.
He is clearly a disgusting, inhuman and non-demon monster, how could anyone be willing to smile at him and treat him so well.
Tian Xianzi fed it spoon by spoon, and Pei Ji ate it bit by bit. Zheng Weiqi probably knew about Pei Ji's childhood experience, and whispered: "His mother is really... Junior Brother Pei is so thin, I wanted to touch him before, but he subconsciously retreated to hide. How many times has he been abused?"
He Zhizhou sighed: "After his mother passed away, Pei Ji has a hard time."
Both of them were born in a family of comprehension, and it was like holding a golden key, growing up smoothly and never suffering.
Ning Ning listened without saying a word, her right hand tightened and clenched Pei Ji's palm tightly.
It's all bones, covered with scars and calluses. Novels and movies and TV series always say that children feel "soft and waxy" to the touch, but how can he have such a shadow.
Pei Ji didn't like crowded places, and was too cautious to speak in front of everyone. Tian Xianzi and others were very knowledgeable. After feeding the porridge, they said goodbye to the children warmly.
Zheng Weiqi loves the child the most. Before she left, she warned him a thousand times, and looked at Junior Brother Pei's pale face from time to time: "Ning Ning, you must take good care of him. It's cold, remember to add clothes and quilts to him and call him more. Drink hot water."
Ning Ning smiled and replied "Okay".
After they left, only she and Pei Ji were left in the dining room.
The boy looked awkward and quietly raised his eyes to look at her. When Ning Ning turned to face him, he hurriedly lowered his head.
He heard footsteps getting closer and closer, and his heart hung in the air with the sound.
Ningning said, "it's time to go. Is there any place you want to go? Um... reading, drinking tea, sleeping, etc."
Pei Ji didn't know.
In the past, he spent almost every day in the cellar, either falling asleep in pain, or in a daze or talking to Chengying.
"Do anything...you can."
He answered awkwardly, annoyed by his hoarse voice, and tried to jump off the stool while considering his words: "I—"
The word was stuck in his throat awkwardly.
Before Pei Ji left the wooden stool, her waist and back were suddenly held down. The soft touch made his mind blank, and when he reacted again, he was already picked up by Ning Ning.
He was stiff and didn't dare to move.
It's a very close hug.
When he was younger, Pei Ji was very eager for this action. The children of the neighbors are always easy to get, and every time they are held in the arms of their parents, they will smile sincerely.
But the mother never bothered to give it to him.
Even the simplest touch with him would make her feel sick.
"Let me think, this action should be..."
Ning Ning's breath fell on the side of his neck, accompanied by her smiling voice: "You have to wrap your hands around my neck, or it will fall off."
So Pei Ji raised his hand timidly.
The bony little hands swept over the clothes and came to the girl's fair and slender neck. When his fingers touched the skin, he held his breath nervously.
It turned out to be such a feeling to be gently hugged by someone.
The hard thorns on his body dissipated, and he didn't want to think about anything, let alone make any resistance, and was willing to drown in it.
Pei Ji quietly took a breath.
So fragrant.
"Where should I go?"
Ning Ning thought for a while, and finally asked him with a smile: "Pei Ji, do you want to see the mountains and snow?"
*
Ning Ning brought Pei Ji to Wangyue Peak.
They agreed to watch the snow here. Although Pei Ji was with him in a smaller version today, they both went to the appointment.
The topography of Wangyue Peak is high and the temperature is extremely low. After arriving at the destination, Ning Ning put Pei Ji down from his arms, and his right hand tightly held the palm of his left hand, continuously transmitting warm spiritual power.
"follow me."
She was very familiar with this place. She walked through a bamboo forest with overlapping branches and leaves, and took Pei Ji forward step by step to the highest and steepest mountain.
The bitter winter wind came hurriedly with a whimper, and in the snow, the boy opened his eyes wide in surprise.
He has lived in the dark underground for a long time, and the only place he has seen is the mountain village where he has lived for many years.
The scenery in front of him was majestic and vast, with endless mountains and valleys, like a deafening twilight drum and a morning bell, knocking his small world to smithereens.
Looking along the top of the mountain, the hills with overlapping peaks are like dragons, sketching a magnificent trend that swallows the sky and covers the sun, and the giant tail swings straight into the sky.
Between the mountains, there are vast smoke and waves, the flowing water hits the stream, the white fog wraps the snow, and the tide is like the sea, and the surging is inexhaustible. Looking from a distance, like the layers of snow waves lifted by the strong wind, the sky and the earth are full of snow-white, endless and endless.
In such a scene, everyone seems very small.
Ning Ning sat on a rock with Pei Ji and turned to look at him: "Have you ever been to the top of the mountain?"
He shook his head.
"That's it."
She paused and said in a light tone, "Do you like it?"
Pei Ji stared at her blankly.
The strong wind on the top of the mountain lifted the skirt and long hair, Ning Ning stared at him with a smile, as if it would dissipate with the wind at any time.
That unreal, dream-like feeling came again.
His breath was messy, and he replied in a low voice, "Yeah."
"nice! You love it."
She smiled even deeper, and suddenly said to him, "Pei Ji, did you see that cluster of flowers on the opposite hill?"
Pei Ji didn't understand the purpose of this question, and followed Ning Ning's gaze and looked into the distance.
Under the heavy snow of goose feathers, everything was covered with a layer of moon-like white, except for a cluster of small flowers on the opposite mountain, showing a faint pink color.
He was looking at it carefully, and suddenly saw a ray of white light suddenly passing by, coming from the sky, and cutting off one of the small petals.
What's even more incredible is that in a flash, Bai Guang appeared in front of him carrying the petals.
"Take it."
It was Ning Ning who was speaking.
He stretched out his hand according to the words, the sword energy was cold and sharp not long ago, but when it approached him, it was as gentle as the wind in spring.
The petals swirled and fell, and when they fell into the palm of their hands, they also brought some fresh snow from the distant mountains.
"A small present for you."
Ning Ning laughed out loud because of his horrified look: "Am I amazing?"
Really great.
Pei Ji thought, obviously separated by a long distance, obviously she hardly made any movements, everything in the distant mountains and rivers seemed to be in her hands.
He was about to answer when he heard Ning Ning say, "You will become so powerful in the future."
The boy was stunned for a moment and looked into her eyes blankly.
He wanted to say no.
From birth to now, he has been growing up in a small village isolated from the world. He doesn't understand anything, and his body is full of diseases and scars.
He is useless, the only thing he has is a bloodline that is so inferior that he hates himself.
Ning Ning smiled, her eyes were soft and serious, she raised her hand to brush off the snow falling on top of his head, and said to him in a slow voice, "The mysterious mountains and rivers seem unattainable, but in the future, you can be far superior to that. Above these mountains and rivers, there is no distance or obstacle to block them—as they are now.”
Pei Ji froze in place.
The mountains were filled with the roar of the dark wind, but he could only hear his own breathing that became heavier.
"Your bloodline is not despicable. When you grow up, you will become a very good person."
She smiled and patted his head randomly: "No, now Pei Ji is already a very good child - everyone likes you very much."
like.
This unfamiliar word fell heavily on his heart, and Pei Ji was at a loss. When he spoke, he didn't think about it: "What about you? Do you like me too?"
The words fell in a hurry, the boy knew he had lost his words, his bloodless cheeks suddenly flushed red, and he bit his lip and lowered his head.
The top of his head was touched again, and a clean girl's voice quickly sounded in his ears: "I am the one who likes you the most."
The sound of the wind was harsh, but it was all silent.
The small, thin boy clenched the petals in his hand and drew an imperceptible arc from the corner of his mouth.
The heart that had been numb for a long time was beating rapidly at this moment.
In the cold winter, Ningning gave him a handful of fresh snow from a distant mountain, a soft petal, or a stretch of mountains and rivers, a reassuring little world.
And an unknown hazy, but full of hope for the future.