I didn’t know anything about Lao Linzi, and I found it novel, interesting, and filled with some inexplicable awe. Lao Zhang’s behavior made me full of questions, but Lao Zhang didn’t seem to want to answer me at this time. He just gestured to let me know. I kept silent, and then bowed respectfully to the big bird.
Naturally, it is impossible for me to worship. After all, I am a Taoist. Even if the big bird is successful in cultivation, in my eyes, it is considered a demon cultivator at most. There is no reason to worship, but this does not prevent me from exploring with full of excitement. I looked at it with my eyes, because I have grown up and experienced magical things, but I have never seen what a monster looks like.
At first, I couldn't identify what kind of bird it was. Now, in the cold moonlight, I looked at the faint outline. I could roughly tell that it looked like an owl, but I wasn't sure. First, in my impression, the owl cannot be that big. Second, because its 'eyebrows' are really very long like those in some cartoon shapes, so much so that they cover the entire face, making it look extremely majestic. , and its eyes are extremely bright. In the night when the outline is not very clear, I can still clearly see its eyes, even those eyes that have a distant meaning. How bright do you think they are
Next, something surprising happened. After Lao Zhang bowed to the owl, the owl nodded towards Lao Zhang in an unusually humane manner. Lao Zhang was in awe and did not speak. After suffering this, After the first bit of recognition, he just lowered his head, as if it would be blasphemy to look at him again.
But I didn't have any scruples, so I still looked at the bird. It wasn't annoyed, and turned to look at me. It was also a sign of looking at it, but its eyes were calm and not malicious. After looking at it for a while, its eyes There seemed to be a sense of understanding in it, and it stayed like this for about ten seconds before it flapped its wings and flew away.
I don’t know how this big bird flies. One moment I saw it flying towards high places, and I could hear the flapping of its wings. The next moment, it had disappeared. What a shame for such a big bird. Birds still have this ability.
The bird flew away for about a minute, and then Lao Zhang relaxed and said to me: "Let's go, it doesn't mean any harm, as long as you don't disrespect it."
I got interested and kept asking Lao Zhang: "Old Zhang, what is a 'stick', and why is a bird the 'stick' here? Is there any legend in it?"
Lao Zhang turned the flashlight to strong light, then touched a stick and held it in his hand. While looking at the traces in the snow, he answered me: "The so-called 'stick' means that it is a stick in this ridge." The boss. Calling it a 'stick' has been passed down from my grandfather's generation. How old do you think this boss is? People who often come to this mountain for a walk say that it is almost a sperm! With its body shape and spirituality, no one believes it even if it’s said that it can’t become a spirit?”
Lao Zhang said it very calmly, as if people from the mountains talked about it just like people in the city talking about which department store is the best.
But I was curious and couldn't help but ask: "Is it powerful? Can it hurt people?"
"I don't know if it's powerful or not. I just know that no animal or person dares to hurt it in this area, and the older generation says that the sticks in this area are the most kind. If you are polite to it, it will If you are too polite to you, it will not bother to pay attention to you or care about you, unless you annoy it, but who in the mountains would annoy it? My grandfather once said that in this area, there is such a " "The stick' is a blessing, because this part of the mountain, which is the closest to where people live, is protected by such a stick. No ferocious guy comes down to hurt anyone, so we have no reason not to respect it." Lao Zhang's tone remained the same. Calm, but extremely serious.
I nodded, I believed it, because I had just witnessed the owl nodding to Lao Zhang. I was just curious, didn't it mean that the owl sounded like a child crying? Why didn't it sound like the sound I heard just now? On the contrary, it is cool and grand. Is this a sign of successful practice
While we were talking, Lao Zhang and I walked a few hundred meters further. Lao Zhang observed the traces on the snow more carefully and followed the traces to a place. He began to search around and motioned for me to stop moving and stop talking.
Actually, I still have a lot of questions to ask Lao Zhang, such as are there sticks in every mountain? Are they all monsters and goblins? However, I know I shouldn't disturb Lao Zhang at this time.
And Lao Zhang is really amazing. Somehow, he found a place, and then he didn't know what he did to that place. Then he walked to a place ten meters away from that place and waited quietly. Waiting and waving at me to keep quiet.
It was silent like this for about ten minutes. In that place just now, a few snow-white rabbits really sprang out from nowhere. They started to rush when they came out. What was amazing was that one of them actually rushed towards Lao Zhang. Lao Zhang I tightened my grip on the big stick in my hand and suddenly knocked it down. I saw that the rabbit that was rushing towards Lao Zhang was knocked to death in the snow.
What kind of move is this? I think it’s so amazing. It’s not like hunting with my master. We have no technical skills at all. We just shoot when we see rabbits in the mountains. Whether we hit or not depends on luck!
Compared to Lao Zhang, my master and I are simply... Come on, let’s not compare. This comparison will bring tears to our eyes.
Lao Zhang mentioned the rabbit and walked towards me. Seeing my dumbfounded look, he smiled slightly and said: "Scaring the rabbit out of the nest is a method. As for hitting the rabbit in one hit, it is experience. You have been hunting in the mountains for decades." , you can, too, because this rabbit, even though it runs fast, just like people, it has a habit of running. Where to rush, how to turn, you know everything based on instinct. It’s time to strike.”
I don’t think I can learn this kind of hunting. How much time will it take to hone it? At the same time, I also lamented that the masters are among the people, and this sentence is not just a boast.
Lao Zhang didn't take it seriously and said, "I'm going to find out if I can get a snake. Let's cook a snake soup tonight. The more poisonous the snake, the better the taste."
Snake meat? I don't mind, because I used to eat a lot at Bamboo Grove with Master. I just understand that some snakes cannot be touched and must be respected, but some snakes are fine.
In this way, Lao Zhang and I wandered around the old forest for more than an hour, harvested a rabbit, and actually got a snake, which was very poisonous, a belly snake, and then we were ready to go back to the temporary 'shack' where we stayed. .
Along the way, I gained some knowledge. I saw Lao Zhang’s hunting skills and his method of finding prey. He could even find hibernating snakes. I also heard Lao Zhang say a lot, such as Things about 'stick', such as what is 'Xuewozi'
It's really amazing. After knowing this, I have more respect for the old forest. I also know that the mountains covered with white snow are actually dangerous everywhere. Take Xuewozi as an example, once the snow is covered, you will I really didn’t know that underneath the snow was a mountain col, a sunken valley or something like that. This matter must be judged based on experience and skills.
For another example, 'sticks' are not always the kind of spiritual animals. Sometimes they are ferocious beasts. Sometimes, they are even things you can't expect. Lao Zhang couldn't tell what it was, but he said: "This There are only so many territories in the mountains. I don't say that every ridge has a "stick", but it is true that each territory has a king. There is a legend that the deeper you go, the fewer people there are, the more spiritual energy there is in the mountains. The 'sticks' become more powerful, and some 'sticks' cannot be offended."
When he said this, Lao Zhang looked at me hesitantly and said nothing more. I understand that with his honest character, he might think that he said too much, but it seemed that he was trying to shirk the job, even if it was true. If there is danger, even very dangerous, then we can only go with him.
I felt a little guilty for Lao Zhang, and I became more and more eager to go back and clarify some things. I kept silent on the way, but I couldn't really explain it for a while, so I'll talk about everything when I get back.
Lao Zhang is really familiar with this mountain. When I came here, I felt like I had walked for a long time. When I went back, Lao Zhang took me along the trail. Not long after, I saw the warm yellow light from a distance. shack'.
Just like what Lao Zhang said, having a shack in this mountain forest is a thing that gives people great warmth and hope. Sometimes it can even save someone's life. I don't have to live in the mountains to experience this kind of life. I really can't understand this kind of mood, I am sincerely happy and moved from the bottom of my heart.