Chapter 4 Chapter Three

The moonlight, like a silver ocean, soaks in a large number of blooming begonias. The begonia garden stretches for several miles, quietly blooming in the night, like a gorgeous brocade floating in the sea of ​​moonlight. In the center of the flowerbed, a thick crabapple tree with intertwined roots.The tree is not tall, but the canopy is huge. It holds a huge umbrella in the depths of the flowers, and it seems to have grown more than a hundred years old.Scarlet, vermilion, bright red, orange, pink, pink and white, and purple red, there are seven kinds of crabapple blooming on the tree at the same time. Under the urging of special prescriptions and medicines, they bear flowers that are several times larger than other crabapple. Because of this, the branches were bent.

The night wind caressed, and for a while, the moonlight seemed to ripple. Flowers are more beautiful than moonlight, and people are more beautiful than flowers. Yun Xiang clothes, Hua Xiangrong. Under the crabapple tree, Qiuxuan leaned against the coiled trunk and sat with her knees hugged.A white jade hairpin slanted down on her slightly open collar, her long hair hung down, brushed on her shoulders, and was picked up by the night wind again, but she didn't realize it. She gazes at a flower.It was a weak crabapple, raised alone in a crystal bowl, and looked so lonely under the full blooming crabapple tree.

In her hand, she held a glazed cup at a slant, in which was blood-like wine.She took a sip and poured a sip on the flower.The glazed cup gently slid over her lips, reflecting the wine pulp like blood, all kinds of charming. Guo Ao walked slowly through the flowers and sat opposite her. Qiuxuan acted as if she didn't see him, pouring, drinking, and watering the flowers on her own. Guo Ao stared at her with all kinds of emotions in his eyes. After a long time, he said slowly, "How have you been all these years?" Qiu Xuan stretched out a finger and put it on her lips. "Hush..."

Her voice was soft and gentle: "Don't scare it." It refers to the flower. At this moment, Qiuxuan seemed to only have that flower in her eyes, and it seemed that Guo Ao's escape from prison was not enough to surprise her at all. Everything in the world is so boring, only this flower can catch her eyes. What's so special about this flower? Compared with other blooming begonias, it looks so slender and pale, like a deliberate blank in an ink painting.The light coldness of the moonlight can easily penetrate it, making its muscles and bones thin, as if transparent. Its leaves are a little tired, and a bud that has just bulged is hidden in the middle of the leaves, as if it is too strong to drink, and it is drunk.No matter how you look at it, this is a crabapple flower that is so ordinary that it cannot be more ordinary.

There was a hint of deep thought in Guo Ao's eyes, and he also stared at this crabapple. The moonlight shines on the buds, and as the moonlight moves westward, the buds seem to grow a little bit. Qiuxuan was still drinking the wine one sip at a time, every sip was watering the flowers. The moon was sinking, and the sky was turning red.The clouds in the sky were blown by the long wind, rolling and changing, and condensed into a little blue color. It seems that dawn is not far away. The weak flower bud suddenly gained energy at this moment, becoming full and thick.The buds seem to be full of strange vitality, and they will bloom graciously when the sun rises.

Qiu Xuan's eyes finally showed a gleam of color, and she stopped drinking.Her body also sat upright, welcoming the opening of the flower with a rare solemnity. What is so important about this flower that Qiuxuan cares about it so much? Guo Ao's eyes were indifferent, and he also stared at the flower. If Qiu Xuan was waiting, he waited together. There was a smile on Qiu Xuan's lips, as if the flower was about to bloom and she was in a good mood, she said leisurely: "Do you know how long I have been waiting for this flower?" "I had a lot of ways to make it bloom overnight, but I didn't. I'd rather wait until the day it wants to open."

She stared at the flowers in front of her eyes, and a smile appeared on her lips: "So, I spent six years and three months." Guo Ao nodded. Six years and three months, what an accurate time.At that moment, something must have happened. Meet a person, encounter a scar, or happy, or unhappy. Guo Ao: "You planted this flower to commemorate the six years and the other three months?" There was a little sadness in Qiu Xuan's eyes: "No. I'm divination." Guo Ao repeated: "Divination?" "Yes. Divination. Six years and three months ago, a miracle doctor gave me a strange flower seed, which can judge the future outcome based on the color of the flower."

Qiu Xuan smiled lightly: "She said that the more unpredictable the future, the longer it will take for flowers to bloom. Six years and three months, my future must be difficult to predict." Guo Ao nodded and said, "What color will this flower bloom in?" Qiu Xuan: "Blood red, or pale." Guo Ao: "What does red indicate?" Qiu Xuan said softly: "It indicates that I will die badly." Guo Ao was slightly startled: "What about white?" Qiu Xuan smiled: "We will die together." Guo Ao was silent.This is not a prophecy, this is a curse.

At this moment, the moon has set in the west, and the stars have not yet disappeared, but the morning glow in the sky is getting thicker and thicker, as thick as blood.In the rays of the sun, Qiu Xuan raised her head and said leisurely: "You said, will my fate be blood red or pale?" The rays of the morning sun shone into her eyes, and her lazy pupils were like a mirror, reflecting the desolation when the flowers were gone. Guo Ao was silent. Dawn is coming, and this flower that heralds destiny is about to bloom. Qiu Xuan watched it quietly, almost holding her breath. Six years and three months, waiting for a flower to bloom.

How long. Blood red means that there is no good death; paleness means that they will die together. The stars dragged the tail light that was about to disappear, and slowly disappeared in the sky.A tightly closed bud opens a crack.When the wind blows, you can hear the pain of the flowers blooming. Split the body, in order to picture the beautiful moment. Six years of waiting in exchange for a curse of fate. Qiuxuan stared at the stamen for a moment. The tail light of the stars, skimming the horizon at this moment. The buds are in full bloom at this moment. But has fallen. The sword energy and the dazzling brilliance of the morning sun descended at the same time, blowing the weak petals into fine dust all over the sky.

Qiuxuan watched the dust quietly, but couldn't see the original color of the petals. Guo Ao remained motionless, dust was blown into his eyes, and the desolation that saw through the world was gradually precipitated. Qiu Xuan said slowly: "Why do you want to do this?" Guo Ao was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "You will not have such a future." The blue dawn is over the flower garden.The rising sun did not bring vitality to the garden.On the contrary, the illusory beauty under the moonlight is stripped away, showing an unprecedented desolation. But Guo Ao's nebula-like eyes were even more blazing in the sunlight. "You will neither die badly nor die together." "Because I won't let you have such a fate." Qiu Xuan looked at him.His words were so firm, with indisputable force.Only at this moment did he look like Guo Ao from three years ago. Qiu Xuan sighed, and smiled: "What if I just like to die and die together?" Guo Ao seemed to be slowly chewing on Qiu Xuan's words. After a long time, he said slowly: "Kill her, and your future will be arranged according to the way you like." He stretched out his hand and slowly pulled away the crabapple bushes behind him. Remnant red scattered. The flower branches are tied together to form a simple flower bed.There was a person lying on the flower bed, her water-red clothes hanging down among the flowers, she was sleeping quietly, with a smile on her lips. Qiu Xuan stood up in surprise: "Acacia." Guo Ao's mouth gradually revealed a secret smile.He raised his hand as an invitation. "Kill her, and you won't die badly, or die together." He held a sharp blade as thin as a cicada's wing between his fingers, and handed it to Qiuxuan. Qiu Xuan looked at him and said word by word: "Are you crazy? Why should I kill her?" The dark colors in Guo Ao's eyes seemed to shine into the depths of her heart: "Because you want to." "You do divination just because you have believed that your future will definitely not end well." "Six years and three months ago, what you met was not Zhuo Wangsun, but her." "From then on, you need divination to determine your future. When you look at her, you see the scar in fate." The sharp blade slowly moved to Qiuxuan, and it was shining in her eyes.The faint light of the knife reflected the ripples in the spring water in her eyes. kill her? Killing her will no longer have an unknown fate? A gaze on the autumn river.She is watching. Watching the legend of who and who, watching the flowers bloom and fade. From then on, she knew that her future was only blood red and pale. Die badly, or die together. Want to change? Qiu Xuan lowered her head and smiled. The people in the flower terrace slept so peacefully.If she had a choice, would she be willing to be the one who fell asleep, while the one holding the knife was Acacia? Guo Ao stretched out his hand, quietly waiting for her decision. The flowers and trees cast a haze on her.Killing people in such shadows, no one will notice.Even the blood on the hands will be washed away by the darkness. Obviously she was the one who met that person first, but it wasn't her who was staring at him on the autumn river. Is this a ridiculous fate? Qiu Xuan took the knife. Shake lightly. Knife broken. Qiu Xuan had an intoxicating sweet smile on her face: "You are wrong. The future I divination is not this." She raised her head and looked at Guo Ao with some sarcasm: "Do you think I look like a little girl crying and crying for love, dying?" With a light hand, the fragments of the knife fell to the ground: "Leave with your knife and 'good intentions', you will never understand me." "No. I understand." Guo Ao slowly shook his head: "There will be thousands and millions in the future, but only the one you care about the most can be called destiny. The destiny you are asking about is her." Qiu Xuan sneered: "How do you know?" Guo Ao said: "Because I also have a destiny that I care most about." Qiu Xuan said coldly: "Then what is your fate?" Guo Ao said lightly, "It's you." Qiu Xuan was taken aback. "When I come back out of the rivers and lakes, my only wish is to make you happy. As long as you can be happy, it doesn't matter what my fate is." Qiu Xuan sneered: "I have nothing to do with you." Guo Ao nodded: "Yes. But this is still my destiny." Qiu Xuan stared at him motionlessly, as if watching a monster. Guo Ao was silent, his dark eyes were indifferent, unchangeable by any gaze. Qiu Xuan suddenly smiled: "Then why didn't you kill her? If you think that killing her will make me happy, you should kill her directly." Guo Ao said: "I want you to know that happiness or fate is only in your hands. If you really want to be happy, then kill her with your own hands." Qiu Xuan nodded: "Good reason. But what if I refuse? You can't force me, can you?" Guo Ao shook his head: "No." He leaned over and held up the flower table: "But I will take you away to a place where there is no one." "If you can't be happy, I'd rather you stay with me forever." Qiu Xuan looked at him quietly.Guo Ao's face was very calm, which made him look very serious. His words were uttered with great determination.He is also ready, and it will take great determination to achieve it. Qiu Xuan suddenly felt a little cold. spring chill. She calmly said word by word: "Congratulations, you have finally mastered the Spring Water Sword Technique." Guo Ao smiled: "Then you should know that if I want to take you away, you will never be able to stop me." He gently sent the flower table forward. "Kill her?" A trace of disdain floated up on the corner of Qiu Xuan's mouth: "No!" Guo Ao: "Then let's go." Qiu Xuan was silent. Huaying Pavilion was surprisingly quiet.Under the shroud of dawn, the pavilions, towers and pavilions are so gloomy and cold.It's like an empty shell without a soul. Qiu Xuan sighed wistfully, leaned over to pick up a jar of begonia flower wine, and a smile bloomed at the corner of her mouth. "You really want to take me away?" "yes." "Do you know that I am good at concealed weapons and poisons, if you are so close to me, if you are not careful, you will die in a daze." "yes." "You escaped with great difficulty and realized the superior martial arts. Why are you living a leisurely life and insisting on changing my fate? Are you crazy?" "yes." "Aren't you tired holding such a big flower bed?" "yes." "You can say these two words?" "yes." "..." The white-haired old man fell to his knees on the ground.He dug his head into the mud, regardless of the green mud covering his forehead. The envoy in yellow chanted aloud: "Yang Jisheng, are you convicted?" "The minister is guilty." "Your son actually worked for the Mongolian Fanbang National Teacher ①, and almost caused my Ming Dynasty to be overthrown. Are you guilty?" "The minister is guilty." "Your son colluded with Zhuo Wangsun, the evil leader of the martial arts sect, and harmed the society of this dynasty. Are you guilty?" "The minister is guilty." "Your son privately serves as the leader of the martial arts alliance, and is not controlled by the court. If he is so rebellious, can you be convicted?" "The minister is guilty." "Following the fate of heaven, the emperor's edict said: Yang Jisheng, Minister of the Ministry of War, has adopted a son who is unworthy and has brought disaster to the dynasty. He doesn't want to serve the country, but seeks fame. Show generosity to the public, but the public is not sincere and filial. If the son does not teach, whose fault is it? If you don't give rewards, you don't show your virtue, if you don't give severe punishments, you don't show your majesty. Yang Jisheng was punished to remove his crown and receive his salary. Escort to the barracks, for A small soldier. If there is any crime in the future, he shall be punished ten times, and if he endures the pain and corrects his crime, he shall be granted a title slowly. This is my honor." Yang Jisheng nodded: "Thank you Lord Long En!" The envoy in yellow closed the imperial decree and handed it to Yang Jisheng respectfully.He sighed and said, "Mr., the Holy Majesty actually has a good impression of the young master, but the young master has always refused to serve the court. If the old gentleman is willing to persuade the young master to take up an official position and serve the court, all the past will be forgotten." Yang Jisheng got up slowly, holding the imperial decree, with mixed feelings in his heart. Boundless fame, third-rank officials, waste and prosperity are all on the same page. Want that rebellious son to serve the court? Yang Jisheng frowned. I would rather not have this rebellious son! The envoy in yellow led Yang Jisheng, who was removed from the crown, into the barracks.This is a garrison in Linhai, Zhejiang, where more than 300 soldiers are stationed.In the Ming Dynasty, the sea was seriously troubled, and Japanese pirates often came to harass and plunder. Therefore, a sentry point was set up not far from the coast. Most of those Japanese pirates had their bases on the sea. Although the sea transportation was relatively developed in the Ming Dynasty, the sea was vast, so where to search for them?The Japanese pirates rode on a fast boat, and when the Ming army was off guard, they went ashore to rob.When the soldiers arrived, they retreated to the sea.In addition, they bought many spies with a lot of money, and they already knew where the Ming soldiers were.Where there is food and money, they also know very clearly.Therefore, although the Ming Dynasty sent troops to encircle and suppress many times, it didn't work. The Japanese pirates used the money they robbed to buy a large number of red-haired guns, strong boats and speedboats, and their momentum became bigger and bigger. The military camp assigned by Yang Jisheng was a sentry camp at the mouth of Zhejiang Province.

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Notes: ①Yang Yizhi, the son of Yang Jisheng and the leader of the martial arts alliance, was once exiled in the plug. In order to save Acacia and the people in the deserted city, he was severely robbed and controlled by the Mongolian national teacher.The heavy robbery forced him to become the incarnation of Brahma, the creator god, to assist him in his great cause of conquering the world.details