I said, "Thank you, thank you and your whole family."
I took a few steps and discussed with him, "Why didn't Wang Sheng take Xiao Jiu down the mountain? Didn't he see that booklet? No way, that booklet is quite conspicuous."
Lou Xiyue thought for a moment and said, "Perhaps he is illiterate."
I looked up and thought about it for a moment, and I felt that his explanation was more plausible.
I said with regret, "That's such a pity. He waited for Xiao Jiu for so many years, but he didn't know that the little fox beside him was the one he was waiting for. This is the most heartbreaking tragedy in the world: I am by your side, but you don't know that I love you."
Xiao Jiu let out a soft squeak, then bury its head again listlessly; its hind legs were curled up, where a scar was still visible, and it just wouldn't heal.
Its voice had a slightly seductive tone, soft and gentle, reminding me of the White Snake Lady on the stage, dressed in a moon-white skirt adorned with mandarin ducks, dragging out her melodious singing, flicking her water sleeves forlornly, and calling out in a sour and pitiful voice: "My lord."
Lou Xiyue stroked its tail and whispered, "In old age, we forget many things, but we will never forget our love."
I summarized this heart-wrenching love story of being so close yet so far, saying, "This is all the result of a lack of education."
Lou Xiyue glanced at me, rubbed her forehead, and with background music playing, we returned through the snow, bringing our trip to Northern Xinjiang to a successful conclusion.
[40] Raising a glass in laughter
Two more ingredients are needed to obtain the medicinal guide: Red Dragon Embracing Pillar and Deer Antler Lingzhi. Lingzhi grows in Medicine King Valley, and the master has already returned to the valley to retrieve it; but Red Dragon Embracing Pillar is also a rare medicine that can prolong life.
Several plants are cultivated in the Flowing Wings Pond of Qingshan Pavilion, which are considered treasures of the pavilion.
Lou Xiyue's junior sister, Shen Yunshuang, is the apple of the eye of the Green Mountain Pavilion Master.
I told him that the time for me to sacrifice my sexuality might be coming soon.
Lou Xiyue's expression was somewhat complicated after hearing what I said, and she remained silent for a long time.
Because I had never encountered wolfsbane, a poison, in my short but glorious medical career, even after gathering all the necessary ingredients, I still needed to test the medicine. Every medicine has its side effects; perhaps if the dosage was too high, the antidote would turn into a poison.
After careful consideration, I feel that one red dragon embracing the pillar is far from enough.
If conditions permit, I hope we can take as many trees as Qingshan Pavilion has.
When I told Lou Xiyue about this expectation, his expression became even more solemn.
I expressed my concern for him, asking, "Is there anything difficult about this?"
At that moment, we were walking on a rushing stream in the mountains, stepping on the stones in the stream to cross the river.
He walked ahead without saying a word, fanning himself.
I stepped on the stones with great interest and said, "Just tell me if you have any difficulties."
He shook his head, indicating that there were no difficulties.
I said, "Even if there are no difficulties, we should create them and talk about them."
He stopped on the rock in front of him, turned around and said calmly, "I am engaged to Yun Shuang, and I returned to Yangzhou last time for this matter."
I asked in surprise, "Didn't you say you weren't married?"
He nodded, saying nonchalantly, "The engagement has been called off."
Lou Xiyue narrowed his eyes, looking at me with a half-smile. After a moment, he said jokingly, "Because of you."
The stream was flowing rapidly, and I could hear the rushing sound of water. My mind was in a state of panic, and I slipped. "..."
"Splash—" I landed smoothly in the water.
While Lou Xiyue was scooping the clothes up, I coughed up two mouthfuls of water and looked at my soaking wet clothes, speechless. Since Lou Xiyue no longer had her protective magic, we could only build a fire and sit cross-legged to dry the clothes.
I lay down with my hands under my arm, and as darkness fell, I decided to spend the night in the mountains.
Ever since Xiao Jiu bit me, I've been easily lethargic, and I fall asleep almost immediately with heavy eyelids.
This sleep felt quite long; I had two dreams.
The first one was a memory from a year ago when she and her master left the valley and encountered a natural disaster.
At that time, a disease was rampant in Laiyang Town, affecting people of all ages and genders, with similar symptoms, and thirteen out of ten people died.
The doctor, entrusted by the town's clan chief, broke with tradition and did not charge a consultation fee, and took me westward.
When we arrived in Yangzhen, the town was shrouded in gloom; the plague was rampant, and many families had died with their doors closed, weeping and wailing.
The doctor went from house to house in the town, sleeves rolled up. I stayed by his side for more than seven days without sleep, and he never even frowned.
There was a family where both parents had died, leaving only a girl about my age. She had blisters on her back and was writhing in pain all night. I revealed myself as a girl and helped her apply medicine while I applied it. As I did so, I thought to myself, "If only I had blisters on my back too, maybe the master would treat me." I silently repeated this to myself several times, and perhaps God was in a good mood at that moment, because the next day I indeed collapsed and couldn't get up.
But the blisters were a mishap.
I caught a fever, and in the hazy night, a pair of hands held a damp cloth and wiped my sweat. Though my mind was hazy, my thoughts were still filled with romantic fantasies. I grasped those hands and whispered, "Master..."
The hand paused, but didn't withdraw, which made me overjoyed. I closed my eyes, my heart pounding as I pondered how to express myself next. In that bleak environment, in this terminally ill state, I actually managed to come up with two versions for reference. I must say, I am actually a rational and talented person.
The two versions are a vernacular version and a poetry version.
The one in front of me shyly said to my master, "Master, I like you so much, would it kill you to like me back?"
The one behind me shyly said to my master, "Master, I admire you so much, but do you admire me even more?"
To demonstrate my exceptional poetic talent, I planned to say the second line first; if the master didn't understand, I would then say the first line. Before I could even open my mouth, I felt the couch sway slightly, accompanied by a dull thud as if a stool had collided.
I heard someone exclaim in surprise, and I pulled my hand back.