Chu Li sat quietly in front of the window, watching Xiao Qi walk onto the snow lake, along the plank road and into her waterside pavilion, and her graceful figure disappeared.
It was as if a piece of his heart had been forcefully dug out, and his body was so limp that he couldn't exert any strength.
The morning sun shone on me, but I couldn't feel any warmth at all. The world seemed to have lost its color. The originally beautiful valley became empty and lonely, and the intoxicating atmosphere disappeared.
He sat for a long time until Suru came over to invite him to eat.
Following Suru to her waterside pavilion, Xiao Qi, dressed in white as snow, sat quietly by the window, looking at him lightly and saying nothing.
Chu Li smiled and sat opposite her.
Su Ruming's eyes rolled.
The two of them behaved the same as usual, but they always felt that there was a strange atmosphere between them, which was different from usual.
She looked carefully and found that the young lady seemed to be more active and staring at Chu Li. Chu Li was not to be outdone, and the two looked at each other from time to time.
She smiled secretly, and it seemed that the affection between the two had greatly increased.
After finishing the meal, Chu Li said: "I'm going to pay a visit to the seniors today, and I'll leave tomorrow."
"Leave?" Su Ruming's eyes widened: "Why are you in such a hurry?"
"Those who should leave will eventually leave." Chu Li said, "There are still things to do."
"Stay for a few more days and wait until senior sister goes into seclusion before leaving." Suru glanced at Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi said calmly: "If he wants to leave, just let him go!"
Suru was extremely reluctant and stared at Xiao Qi.
Xiao Qi said: "He has to do business, and it's not like we won't see each other again."
"But this is too urgent!" Suru snorted.
Chu Li smiled and said: "I plan to raise an eagle and let it come to deliver messages when the time comes."
"This is a good idea!" Suru said with a smile: "I wish the golden eagle raised by the old man is very spiritual. I will ask him for the secret method of taming it."
Chu Li nodded, took a deep look at Xiao Qi, stood up and left.
He visited Wang Wensi, Jiang Chunyue, and Li Qingluo one by one, bid farewell to them, and finally arrived at the waterside pavilion of Chenying Lake.
Shen Yinghu is sitting in the pavilion. Looking lazily at the lake, motionless in a daze, there seems to be sadness in the corners of his charming eyes.
Chu Li walked into the small pavilion and sat opposite her.
Shenying Lake supports the lower jaw. Looked at him lazily.
Chu Li said: "I have made it clear to Xiao Qi that she will continue to practice the Supreme Sword Sutra."
Shen Yinghu looked him up and down, his clear eyes darting back and forth, and shook his head: "You will regret it."
"I hope so." Chu Li smiled: "I'm looking forward to meeting her, a master of the gods!"
"By then, she has no feelings for you anymore."
"It doesn't matter. I will let her have it." Chu Li smiled: "When she first entered the Duke's Mansion, she also practiced the Supreme Sword Sutra and would not be tempted by men."
"You have courage!" Shen Yinghu showed a charming smile: "No wonder Xiaoqi likes you!... But you have to understand that when you entered the Duke's mansion, the Taishang Sword Sutra was just a layer of cloth wrapping her heart. When she becomes a master of the gods, there will already be a wall surrounding her heart."
"I can break through this wall." Chu Li took out a letter from his arms and handed it to Shen Yinghu.
Shen Yinghu took it and touched it. There was a jade pendant sandwiched in the letter.
Chu Li said: "Senior knows when to give it to her."
"Okay. When are you leaving?"
"Leaving tonight."
"You can come here often to see that girl Xiaoru." Shen Yinghu said: "Xiaoqi is in seclusion. She is very lonely."
Chu Li nodded.
He stood up and clasped his fists. Shen Yinghu sighed and waved his jade hands lightly.
Chu Li slowly left the pavilion.
Not long after returning to the pavilion, Suru came wandering over, holding a baggage in her hand.
Chu Li sat on the couch and looked at her with a smile.
Suru stared at Chu Li: "Are you at odds?"
"That's right." Chu Li smiled and said, "It will be fine after a while."
"I don't know what you are doing." Suru shook her head and said, "But she is in a very bad mood."
Chu Li nodded.
"She is still pretending to be fine." Suru snorted: "You must have made her angry! ... You are the only one who has this ability!"
Xiao Qi practices Taishang Sword Sutra, has a cold temperament, and always maintains a calm mind, making it difficult for others to make her angry. The mood will not fluctuate.
Chu Li sighed and smiled.
"She asked me to deliver this." Suru opened the bundle.
Inside is a moon-white robe, flawless and not conspicuously white. Again spotless.
"She said it would look good on you." Suru took it out, shook it, and handed it to him: "Try it on to see if it fits you."
Chu Li took off his outer shirt and put on a white robe.
The material of the white robe is strange, soft and heavy. It feels like Xiao Qi's skin, cool yet moist, delicate yet flexible.
"This is made of moon hemp. It is very rare and has many benefits. It is invulnerable to water and fire, and is invulnerable to swords. The most important thing is that it is spotless and will not get dirty. Little... She has one, and I will make this one for you. I took off the robe, it seems to fit well." Suru said, looking at it.
Chu Li said: "Does she still have such skills?"
"What do you think?" Suru said with a smile: "Her needlework skills are extremely high. She made her clothes herself. This is the first time she makes them for others. They fit very well. Just wear them like this."
Chu Li smiled and nodded.
Suru clapped her hands: "Okay, what do you have in return?"
"No." Chu Li shook his head.
Suru gave him a blank look.
Chu Li smiled and said, "Say thank you for me."
"I won't tell you!" Suru snorted, waved her hand and walked away.
—
The moonlight was like water, Chu Li stepped out of the pavilion and onto the plank road, carrying a baggage with a white robe inside, and walked out slowly.
When he came to the mouth of the valley, he suddenly felt something and turned around.
The waterside pavilion in Shenying Lake is two stories high, and standing on the roof is Xiao Qi, dressed in white, looking at him quietly, looking like a flawless white jade statue under the moonlight.
Chu Li smiled at her, turned around and strode away.
Watching his back disappear at the mouth of the valley, Xiao Qi trembled slightly, feeling empty, as if her heart had been taken away by him.
The sun was rising, and a ray of golden light shone on him. He stood all night without knowing it.
Shen Yinghu came to her side and sighed softly: "Silly girl, it's not a matter of life and death!... You are better than your mother, and you didn't choose the wrong man."
Xiao Qi remained silent.
Shen Yinghu patted her shoulder: "Think about your mother, think about the Duke's mansion, and think about Chu Li's hard work. It's time for you to make a decision!"
"I want to retreat." Xiao Qi's voice was hoarse and dry.
"Okay." Shen Yinghu held her wrist, and the two of them drifted away from the waterside pavilion and headed deeper into the valley.
We reached the end of the valley and stopped in front of a cliff that reached into the sky and couldn't see the top clearly.
The two of them climbed up the cliff until they were submerged in the clouds and mist. She bit her index finger and pressed it on a certain spot.
There was a "boom" and a hole appeared on the cliff.
The two entered the cave and walked through a road in the cave. Suddenly, another valley appeared in front of them. It was the same as the valley in Xue Yuexuan. It had snow lakes, woods, and flowers. It was so beautiful.
The only difference is that there is only one waterside pavilion and one small pavilion on the lake.
Xiao Qi stood in the small pavilion, looking at the clear and calm lake water with a cold expression.
"Have you thought clearly?" Shen Yinghu leaned on the railing and asked casually: "Continue to practice Taishang Sword Sutra?"
Xiao Qi was silent.
Shen Yinghu didn't rush her, she leaned on the railing and looked at the lake.
Time passed slowly, from morning to noon, and then to evening.
Xiao Qi remained motionless as if he had turned into a statue.
Shen Yinghu looked at her from the window in the waterside pavilion and shook his head helplessly.
The sunset fills the sky, the lake is like a huge piece of red satin, the valley is dyed rose color, everything becomes magnificent and charming.
Xiao Qi's body was shaking.
Shen Yinghu sighed, floated to her side, and handed her a letter: "This is what he left for you."
Xiao Qi's face was as pale as paper, her eyes were scattered, she took the letter and slowly opened it with trembling hands. (To be continued.)