Le paysage est comme une peinture

Chapitre 49

She glanced at Tuosang, then strode out. Tuosang followed behind her. The two left the secret chamber, and Tuosang stepped onto the stone slab in an even stranger posture. Behind him, the stone slab closed completely.

A cold wind swept up snowflakes and blew them onto her face. Only then did Junyu realize that outside the secret passage was a hillside, and the outside world was vast and boundless, making it impossible to tell where she was.

"Junyu, I'll see you off."

"You have five more days until the end of your seclusion, you can no longer go out."

"I will definitely come back before I clear the border. I want to see you off."

Junyu's mind was a tangled mess. She had never felt so entangled in her emotions before. She knew this irrational behavior would lead them both to ruin, yet she found herself increasingly unable to control herself. Like a traveler trapped in the desert, dying of thirst, knowing the golden goblet was filled with poison, she willingly drank it to quench her thirst. That fervent voice was filled with despair: "Junyu..."

Junyu nodded, then suddenly chuckled softly: "Okay, Tuosang, if there really is a hell, let's go to hell together."

Overjoyed, Tuosang grabbed her hand, and the two of them raced off into the distance through the snowy night.

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Chapter 132: The Madness on the Eve of the Great Calamity (2)

Bajiao Town is a bustling town more than 100 miles away from the Holy Palace.

This place was once a famous fortress for tea and horse trade, a melting pot of various ethnic groups. The streets were lined with shops of all sizes, a paradise for merchants and travelers from the north and south. Every day, the bustling crowds included people of all kinds, with different identities and purposes. Walking on these ancient streets filled with the aromas of yak butter, tea, and various kinds of fishy smells, even emperors and nobles or notorious bandits would not seem out of place.

Tuosang was dressed entirely like a local layman, wearing the thick, furry hat that local men often wear.

Junyu also changed into a similar outfit to Tuosang's, and from a distance, the two looked almost like brothers.

Although the winter sun had already set behind the mountains, the shouts of vendors selling various goods still rose and fell.

Ahead were several stalls selling various brightly colored gold hairpins and hair ornaments. A few very young girls gathered around and browsed for a while before each taking their favorite pieces and leaving. Two men who looked like merchants from a foreign land were also attracted and went up to each pick one out, perhaps for their wives or lovers waiting at home.

Tuosang kept staring at the various trinkets on the stall. Once no one else went up to ask, he gently tugged at Junyu's sleeve. Junyu understood what he meant, and the two walked over together.

Tuosang picked up a very unique jade hairpin in the shade of turquoise, with a small pearl set at the end. He seemed quite satisfied and said softly, "Junyu, what do you think of this?"

Upon closer inspection, Junyu noticed that it bore a striking resemblance to the bamboo-carved hairpin that the Demon of Love had collected in Hanjing Garden—a gift from her father to her mother.

Junyu smiled and nodded.

Tuosang had never known how an ordinary man should treat the woman he loved, but seeing her unprecedentedly charming smile, his heart ached, knowing that he would never have the chance to see what she truly looked like wearing that hairpin.

The two continued walking amidst the hustle and bustle. Junyu gripped the hairpin tightly. She had never used any women's jewelry since childhood, nor did she know how a woman should treat the man she loved. However, she also deeply understood that she would never wear this jade hairpin in this lifetime.

It was getting late when the two sat down in a small room on the second floor of a bustling little shop. Soon, piping hot oil tea, strong barley wine, two plates of flavorful mutton and beef, and thick tsampa were served.

The waiter left and closed the door.

Junyu poured two bowls of barley wine and said softly with a smile, "Drink up."

Tuosang nodded, drank a large bowl of barley wine, and felt completely relaxed. He smiled and said, "Junyu, this is truly a wonderful place."

Junyu nodded and drank a large bowl as well.

Tuosang poured her another bowl of piping hot oil tea. She took a small sip, and in the steaming heat, she felt a sense of ease and joy she had never experienced before.

Downstairs, a large group of people were drinking and singing. This is a people who are skilled in singing and dancing; singing, like drinking, is part of their daily lives. All sorts of pedestrians and merchants were already familiar with their loud, resounding songs, and now, completely infected by their enthusiasm, they all joined in singing loudly.

Despite the noise and commotion, it sounded like heavenly music to my ears.

Tuosang picked up two plates, tapped them together, and laughed, "Junyu, I'll sing you a song..."

Junyu laughed heartily, took out two pieces of silver and tossed them around: "The ancients sang by striking the rhythm, you sang by striking the plate, so sing with your heart, and if you sing well, you'll be richly rewarded... hahaha..."

Tuosang smiled and nodded, then began to sing:

That month

I turned all the prayer wheels.

Not for the purpose of salvation

Just to touch your fingertips

That year

I prostrated myself on the mountain path.

Not for an audience

Just to feel your warmth

That life

I circle the mountains, the rivers, and the stupas!

Not for the sake of the next life

Just to meet you on the way

…………

This is the second time Junyu has heard him sing this song.

At this moment, although there were no chords from the guqin, his innate voice, imbued with the essence of the nation, was even more profoundly and fully manifested.

Perhaps it was the exquisite melody, or perhaps it was the singer's deep emotion, but the distant singing actually drowned out the hustle and bustle outside.

At some point, the chaotic harmonies outside all stopped. The crowd gathered from all over the country listened quietly to the wonderful yet slightly melancholic song. On this cold night, everyone was deeply moved and felt a pang of sympathy.

The singing slowly faded away; the lights slowly dimmed; the night slowly deepened.

They drank all the wine, one glass after another.

The drunken travelers fell asleep together in this drunken little town.

Junyu, who was lying on the table, slowly raised his head. Tuosang, who was opposite him, was completely drunk and had fallen into a deep sleep on the table.

She stood up, walked over, and gently touched his head; he was still fast asleep.

She took off the thick hat she was wearing, slowly took out the emerald green hairpin from her bosom, and awkwardly stuck it into her hair, saying with a soft laugh, "Tuo Sang, it's a pity you can't see it."

At this moment, there was no sadness of parting in her heart. Even though Tuosang couldn't see her, she still waved gently: "Tuosang, goodbye, goodbye."

She walked out the door, and soon her figure disappeared into the darkness outside the town.

In the distance, there was a long neigh from Xiao Shuai, who had been entrusted by Tuosang to a safe place nearby. The owner of that house was an expert in treating livestock, and Xiao Shuai's leg injury had been almost completely healed, although it still limped a bit when running.

Junyu smiled and patted its head: "Old friend, thank you for your hard work."

Xiao Shuai's tongue rubbed affectionately against her palm. Junyu leaped onto the horse's back, and Xiao Shuai galloped off into the night.

Tuosang, who was already "drunk," stood in the darkness, watching her leave, feeling neither joy nor sorrow.

Under the distant night sky, that's the direction of the Holy Palace.

Tomorrow is the day "Bokdo" will leave the pass.

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Chapter 133: Disaster Approaches (1)

At midnight, the area around the Holy Palace was deathly silent.

Tuosang hurried towards the secret passage. The closer he got to it, the more nervous he became.

Under the cover of night, he discerned a line of footprints on the snow-covered ground of the secret passage. With their combined skills, they would never have left any footprints when they left.

His heart sank. He looked around, but all he saw remained dark and deathly silent. The entrance to the secret passage in the snow seemed perfectly normal.

Tomorrow is the day he "emerges from seclusion." Early in the morning, his servants will bring him his formal attire. If he doesn't see anyone, who knows what kind of chaos it will cause. At this point, there is no turning back. He hesitated for a moment, but still turned the entrance stone slab on the snow in that strange posture.

Tuosang leaped into the secret passage, and the stone slab immediately closed. Without further hesitation, Tuosang quickly walked towards the secret chamber.

The moment the stone slab closed, in the shadow of the mountain behind, a "snowman"—wearing a ferret cloak—stood on the ground, breathless and almost as if dead. Only then did he slowly stand up, his body ice-cold, his heart frozen, a cruel and resentful smile playing on his lips.

Five days ago, he saw the two of them run out hand in hand from here. At that moment, he felt cold all over and was completely desperate, but his heart was like boiling magma, fervently clamoring to destroy everything, to drown everything, and preferably to perish together with heaven and earth.

At that moment, he wanted to shout loudly, to stop them, to kill them immediately, but he suddenly heard that faint, flower-like laughter that made his heart ache. Before he could react, the two had completely disappeared into the night.

Now, finally, that familiar, blossoming laughter is no longer by Tosang's side. This unruly "Bokdo" has finally returned to the secret chamber alone. The pain in his heart has turned into numbness, and utter despair has driven him mad.

He smiled, stood at the entrance of the secret passage, and gave a simple signal. Immediately, seven or eight experts from the Thousand Machines Sect surrounded them from several hidden directions.

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Chapter 134: Disaster Approaches (2)

Tuosang stood frozen at the door of the secret room.

There was the presence of living people inside.

There was even a living presence in the meditation room of "Bokdo".

He lit a candle, and in its light, a person lay on the sheepskin rug—a woman.

The woman had her eyes closed and seemed to be fast asleep.

His mind went blank for a moment, but he quickly calmed down and stepped forward to try to wake the woman. However, the woman kept her eyes closed and he couldn't wake her no matter what he did.

Tuosang was extremely anxious and didn't have time to think. He immediately picked up the woman and ran towards the secret passage. At this moment, he had only one thought: no matter what, he had to get the woman out as soon as possible.

As they approached the entrance to the secret passage, the woman who had been unconscious seemed to murmur something and instinctively hugged his neck.

Tuosang didn't even bother to pull her away, and used his foot to turn the mechanism of the exit.

The wind and snow hit him in the face, and Tuosang stopped in his tracks.

Seven or eight torches illuminated this once desolate place as bright as day.

Several experts from the Thousand Machines Sect gathered around. Zhu Yu looked at the deep and shallow footprints on the snow, stared at Tuosang, and laughed: "Holy Bokdo, where are you going?"

Tuosang met his gaze and nodded: "Lord Zhu, you've really put your heart into this."

Zhu Yu glanced at the disheveled, lustful woman he was still holding. At that moment, the woman groggily opened her eyes, still clinging tightly to Tuosang's neck. Zhu Yu laughed loudly: "A young man who isn't a bit of a playboy is a wasted youth, Bokdo. You'd better think about how you're going to explain this to Buddha..."

“Bokdo…”