Le paysage est comme une peinture

Chapitre 29

Although she hadn't found a place to stay, Junyu wasn't too worried. This was the first time in five days of her journey that she hadn't found a place to rest. She surveyed the surrounding terrain, preparing to find a sheltered spot to spend the night.

Junyu walked along a valley facing south. By this time, it was completely dark. The high and deep sky reflected the cold light of the snow. Junyu suddenly pulled on the reins. In the valley ahead, patches of ghostly light emitted a green glow in the darkness.

Upon closer inspection, these green, gleaming eyes turned out to be pairs of eyes.

The owners of these pairs of eyes had already spotted the people and horses opposite them, their breaths heavy with the smell of blood, and they remained motionless.

It turned out to be a crinkled lion.

So many crinkled lions have gathered in this valley.

Junyu felt a chill in his heart, and the battle-hardened "Little Commander" also stood still, motionless. The chrysanthemums, exhaling hot, fishy breath, were also very patient, their green eyes wide open, remaining completely still.

After an unknown amount of time, "Little Handsome" suddenly let out a long neigh, and Junyu immediately turned his horse around and galloped away. Immediately, a deafening roar and howl came from behind, and the tranquil Namcha Barwa mountain suddenly emitted a hellish roar.

The closest of the three swirling lions lashed out at "Little Handsome's" abdomen with a gust of cold wind in its forelimbs. Jun Yu struck out with a palm, and the lion immediately retracted its forelimbs, then, like a skilled fighter, changed direction and pounced.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, "Little Handsome" immediately leaped another two zhang away, only to be met by two more green-eyed, cunning lions rushing towards him.

Junyu leaped off her horse and attacked the first of the cunni beasts. The cunni beast immediately retreated and did not bar its teeth or howl at her.

Junyu had already realized that the group of cunni were not attacking her, but were fighting "Xiaoshuai" relentlessly. She found this very strange, so she stayed by "Xiaoshuai's" side, but she couldn't bear to kill the few cunni that had surrounded her but were not attacking her. She only wanted to save "Xiaoshuai's" life.

Junyu struck out with both palms, and from the left, three enormous, swirling lions pounced. Junyu was caught off guard, and "Little Handsome" let out a mournful cry...

Suddenly, a strange chant was heard: "Mahaghama Wula, Chabasamstiya..."

The few hunchbacked that had surrounded them retreated in panic. The sound grew more and more urgent, and the hunchbacks behind them let out terrifying long howls in unison, turned around in a frantic rush, and retreated towards the valley.

Junyu pulled the trembling "Little Handsome" back to a stop, making him stand still.

Under the moonlight, a few feet away, stood a man dressed in plain clothes as white as snow, wearing a large hat like those worn by local mountain people, which covered his entire head and face.

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Chapter 89: Paradise in the Clouds (1)

After a long silence, the man suddenly turned around and strode forward. Junyu didn't say anything, but pulled his horse and followed behind the man.

After walking for about two hours, the man stopped. Under the moonlight, the night was cool and still. Junyu looked around and saw a valley with excellent terrain, facing south and backing north. Deep in the valley stood a small wooden house, quietly standing alone under the cold sky, surrounded by clumps of evergreen shrubs covered with white snow.

The man reached out and pushed open the door, quickly lit a fire, then stepped back out and said softly, "Come in."

Junyu didn't tie up his horse and went straight in. In the firelight, the hut was filled with dried beef, dry food and water, obviously a supply station set up by local hunters.

Junyu drank some water and walked to the door. The man was already two zhang away, with his back to the small wooden house, walking in the opposite direction.

"Takusan."

Tuosang stopped walking, but still did not turn around.

Junyu sighed, "You've been traveling for several days now, you should come in and have a drink of water first."

Tuosang's body stiffened, and he slowly turned around.

The firelight in the basin warmed the wooden house. Tuosang stood straight by the door, and outside, the wind passed silently.

Junyu raised her head from the firelight. Across from the brazier, at the doorway, a pair of eager eyes looked so firm, persistent, and filled with pain.

Both remained silent for an unknown amount of time until the fire died down. "Little Handsome" let out a long neigh, and the first rays of dawn pierced into the small wooden house.

The rising sun illuminated the white snow on the mountaintop, making it dazzlingly white and brilliantly red.

Junyu grabbed a handful of snow from the bushes and rubbed it on her face. It was instantly icy cold, yet infinitely refreshing.

A gentle breeze blew by, and Junyu looked up. The clouds in the sky flowed like banners, and the mountains below were enchanting.

She turned around and saw that Tuosang had also grabbed a handful of snow, and couldn't help but laugh: "Everyone says that Namcha Barwa is a paradise in the clouds. You can be my guide and show me this paradise in the clouds."

Tuosang nodded, his eyes immediately sparkling with a captivating light, his expression filled with boundless joy.

This is the steepest valley in Namcha Barwa, completely covered in snow, with no roads to climb. For thousands of years, travelers have stopped here, and birds and beasts have gone around it.

The towering main peak pierces the sky, shrouded in clouds and mist, with the occasional exposed jagged rocks blunt like right angles, and even more unusually, weeds and twigs trembling precariously.

Tuosang leaped onto a rock and immediately turned back. Junyu smiled and nodded, then followed suit. Beneath their feet were precarious weeds and twigs, while behind them roared the treacherous river like boiling water, crashing against the shore and creating countless sprays of mist. The two climbed step by step, as if flying through the air.

The sun was already high in the sky, but Junyu's vest was getting colder and colder. Junyu turned around and saw that the rushing river below had become a blind spot. At this moment, Tuosang had already leaped onto a huge rock, and Junyu did not hesitate to leap onto it as well.

The rocks are very wide, and the sound of water roars from all sides amidst the vast and desolate mountains. A huge icefall bursts out from the sky and plunges straight down for thousands of miles, with no end in sight, which makes people suddenly feel scared and dare not make a sound.

At the end of the rock was a steep and precipitous mountain wall, but Tuosang walked straight ahead. Junyu followed behind him. When they reached the end, Tuosang pushed his hand, and suddenly a narrow crevice appeared in the steep and precipitous mountain wall, just wide enough for one person to pass through.

The two filed through the crevice in the rocks, as if passing through the last barrier before entering paradise. Junyu leaned against an unknown tree and remained silent for a long time.

This is a sky completely otherworldly, free from the harshness of the world, where the sun shines brightly and the weather is like springtime. Looking up, the clouds are white, the leaves are green, and the flowers are red; underfoot, the grass is lush and green, and in the distance, a stream flows; all around are various kinds of trees, some towering high, some laden with fruit, and some with purple leaves like sculpted statues. Among them, various animals, both known and unknown, roam and play.

However, what surprised Junyu was not these things, but a small hall in front of him, with incense smoke curling from its roof.

In the legend of Namcha Barwa, one must traverse the road to heaven to reach a divine palace, and the swirling smoke from the incense sticks is a signal that the gods are gathering.

The two went straight to the hall, but their steps were light, and their expressions and hearts were as solemn as if they were afraid of disturbing the heavenly beings.

The roof of the hall is filled with the natural smoke of incense, offering a panoramic view of the interior and exterior. The stone chairs and wooden tables are naturally formed, without any trace of human intervention.

"You've been here before?"

“No.” Tuosang shook his head. “I don’t know why. Along the way, it was as if I was guided by a god, and I naturally arrived here.”

Tuosang's eyes sparkled, radiating joy, his brows and eyes beaming with delight: "Junyu, do you like this place?"

Junyu smiled and nodded, sitting down on the soft, green silk-like grass, feeling an unprecedented sense of peace and tranquility in her soul.

Tuosang gazed at the smile before him, a smile redder than flowers, greener than leaves, as pure and fragrant as the white clouds overhead. And so, he smiled too, and sat down beside this person, as ethereal as white clouds and smoky smoke.

The sun has set, and the moon is slowly rising.

The moonlight overhead was so gentle, and the unknown fruit was so sweet. Tuosang lay quietly on the grass, gazing at the clear blue sky. At this moment, he had completely forgotten the temple and his identity, forgotten the struggle and pain, and only felt a kind of tranquility that required no cultivation.

A gentle breeze swept away all worldly distractions and past events. He looked at the person beside him who was also quietly gazing at the sky. At this moment, those dark, jade-like eyes were so clear and pure, like the most sacred flower blooming in such a sacred place.

He smiled and slowly closed his eyes, a fragrant breeze wafting by.

Above them, the gods smiled, watching the two children sleep peacefully.

As the sun rises overhead again, wildflowers bloom in the woods, and deer leap in the stream.

Junyu walked forward slowly, her steps firm. Tuosang followed beside her, silent.

After passing through the narrow crevice, Junyu took a long breath. The outside world was covered in ice and snow, with towering peaks and a desolate atmosphere.

Tuosang looked up at the cold, lifeless sun overhead, and in that instant, ten thousand years passed. His youth had faded away.

Upon seeing its owner, "Little Handsome" at the foot of the mountain let out a long, affectionate neigh.

Junyu pulled Xiaoshuai over and smiled, "Goodbye, Tuosang."

Tuosang remained silent, then suddenly reached out and, for the first time, eagerly and firmly grasped those hands that were so close yet so far, gentle yet strong.

The hands that were parting were so forceful that Junyu felt his heart tremble.

Tuosang lowered his head and slipped a strangely shaped ring onto the thumb of his hand: "Put on this ring, recite the incantation to the Cunni, and they will obey you completely."

Junyu looked at the very peculiar ring on her left thumb, raised her head, and smiled again, saying, "Goodbye, Tuosang."

Tuosang nodded. Ahead, the horse's hooves clattered, and the young man in the blue robe galloped into the vast, desolate world without looking back.

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Chapter 90: Paradise in the Clouds (2)

The last shift of soldiers arrived at the mess hall, sat down around the table, and picked up their bowls. The cooks were scraping the last bit of leftover food from the buckets and were about to finish when a bowl was handed to them, and someone smiled and said, "Luckily, there's still food left."

The cook saluted and immediately said, "The marshal is back. There's only this much left over. I'll prepare some more for you right away."

Junyu smiled and shook his head, took most of the bowl of rice and dishes, and went to the table. The soldiers at that table saluted, and Junyu waved and sat down.

The soldiers were not at all reserved, chatting as they ate. Since the marshal arrived at the Northwest Army, he had spent most of his time eating with the soldiers in the main hall. The food was not of very good quality because the army's pay and provisions were becoming increasingly scarce, especially in winter when supplies were relatively difficult to obtain. Therefore, Junyu strictly ordered everyone in the army not to waste food.

After years of war, the imperial treasury was already severely depleted. The first thing the new emperor did upon ascending the throne was to worry about the finances. He tried every possible way to increase revenue, even targeting powerful and aristocratic families, which of course met with strong resistance. Subsequently, he made the ability to increase fiscal revenue a criterion for evaluating local officials, but this still yielded little result.

When Junyu was in Phoenix City, the Phoenix Army had never been defeated. The imperial court's supplies were still severely insufficient. However, the Phoenix Army was fortunate to have the powerful commercial network of Phoenix Village as its economic backing, and its military appearance and equipment were excellent.

The Northwest was already a frigid region, with endless sandstorms and a struggling economy. Coupled with the repeated raids by the Red Gold Clan's army, the surrounding areas were practically deserted, and bandits were rampant.

Previously, local governments, out of consideration for Prime Minister Zhu, provided relatively ample supplies. However, since Junyu joined the army, various local governments have used various excuses to dwindle their provisions. Despite this, Junyu knew that compared to the other garrison forces, the imperial court's supplies to the Northwest Army were already the most generous. Although the victory at Yushu Town resulted in the capture of a large quantity of weapons and provisions, Junyu considered that due to the long distance, the imperial rewards and provisions would likely take some time to reach them. Therefore, he had to carefully stockpile supplies to prevent unforeseen circumstances.

If soldiers can't even afford to eat, how can they be expected to be combat-ready?

During the conversation with the soldiers, one soldier seemed hesitant to speak, more reserved than the others. This was likely because he was new and surprised to see the marshal eating leftovers with everyone in the main hall for the first time. He didn't utter a word until the meal was finished. Seeing that his face was unfamiliar, Junyu assumed he was a recently recruited soldier and asked with a smile, "What's your name?"

"I am Zhang Yuan. This is the first time I have ever seen a marshal in our dynasty. I am quite surprised."

Seeing that he was neither humble nor arrogant, and spoke frankly, Junyu suddenly had an idea and said slowly:

Seven Stars Wield Swords to Stir Up the Heavenly Pool

Reverse Galaxy Landing Machine

Three million Yulong were defeated.

Broken scales and tattered armor flew everywhere

Zhang Yuan was extremely excited and bowed deeply, saying, "The Marshal actually knows my humble poem."

It turned out that when Junyu first arrived at the Xining Prefecture army camp, he inadvertently saw a piece of paper thrown into Lin Baoshan's tent. Junyu picked it up and saw that the handwriting was flamboyant and the poem, though somewhat unrestrained, was full of ambition. He asked who the poet was. Lin Baoshan, however, casually replied that it was a self-proclaimed arrogant scholar who had already been kicked out.

This person was Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan was originally a scholar, but the corruption of the imperial examination system in this dynasty was well-known. Zhang Yuan, being upright and honest, failed the imperial examinations several times and even suffered a beating from the county magistrate. In a fit of anger, Zhang Yuan traveled far to the borderlands, initially only to admire the rugged and magnificent scenery. However, he gradually fell in love with the local Hu and Qiang people and their flutes. He then went to the garrison in Xining Prefecture to visit Lin Baoshan, hoping to find a discerning eye to recognize his talent. However, Lin Baoshan was busy enjoying the singing girls' dances and paid him no attention, immediately kicking him out.

The harsh reality dealt Zhang Yuan a huge blow. He was disheartened and was preparing to travel to other places when he heard about the new commander of the Northwest Army's repeated victories. He couldn't help but hold onto a glimmer of hope. Just then, he encountered Zhou Yida recruiting new soldiers and joined the ranks of the new recruits.

After talking with Zhang Yuan, Junyu discovered that Zhang Yuan had a very clear understanding of the Crimson Gold Clan and a profound knowledge of the situation on the border, and offered many insightful opinions.

At the beginning of the month, Sun Jia returned to Phoenix City to replace Peng Dong in his original position, leading the Phoenix Army to guard the north. Lu Ling also returned to Phoenix Village to continue maintaining the village's extensive commercial trade. Jun Yu was left with only Lu Ling by his side. Nowadays, only one or two out of ten of the generals in the Northwest are literate, and Jun Yu was worried about having no one to use. He was overjoyed and immediately appointed Zhang Yuan as a military advisor to provide advice and strategies in the commander's mansion.

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Chapter 91: Beauty is Like Clothes