Chapter 16 Chapter Sixteen

In the early morning, a thick layer of mist rose in the forest, like a boundless tent, covering the entire forest tightly.The group of people only walked a few steps, and when they looked back, the scene behind them had already changed, and the way they came from was no longer visible, only the blue and white mountain mist layered on top of each other, rising densely. An hour later, the fog thinned a bit, and the surrounding scenery gradually emerged.The mountain road is narrower, with moss marks and cracks criss-crossing on the stone slabs, hidden in the weeds, as if no one has stepped on it for hundreds of years.After walking for a while, the mountain road was suddenly interrupted, and a spring gurgled from the cracks in the underground rocks, stretching across the eyes.The faint morning light in the sky seems to be blocked by this spring, and the clouds and mists on one side of the spring are transpiring, and the sun is getting stronger;

Walking into the dense forest, I found that the trees here are not very tall, but the vines are extremely thick and winding, wrapping the trunk tightly.Some are almost embedded in the trunk, and the bark is propped up from the center of the tree, protruding thick lines like meridians, and the bark is stretched, as if it is extremely thin, and it seems to be elastic at any time. It is pulsating slightly with some unknown rhythm. The few people have experienced a lot in this wild forest, and they should be familiar with it, but this forest has an indescribable weirdness for some reason.The dew brought the cold wind that swirls from time to time in the forest, and fell on everyone.The surroundings were surprisingly quiet, but they seemed to be able to feel a strong rhythmic sound coming from the air and the ground, as if the hearts of these old trees were beating in unison.

Qianli Zishi gradually regained consciousness after receiving the powder of the inner alchemy of the Great Flood Dragon God.But her body was in an abnormal state of excitement. Without saying a word, she left Xiaoyan and walked in the front alone, and walked faster and faster, but her face was covered with a sickly blush. Others are alright, but Xiangsi can't keep up, and falls to the end, leaning on a branch to rest for a while from time to time, then hastening to catch up. Yang Yizhi glanced at Xiangsi, her cheeks were flushed, she seemed to be really tired, but she gritted her teeth and persisted, following behind everyone.

Yang Yizhi stopped and said to Zhuo Wangsun, "Everyone is a little tired from the long journey, why not rest here." Since several people entered the mandala formation, except for Xiaoluan who slept a few times in Zhuo Wangsun's arms, the others never closed their eyes at all.Although Acacia didn't say it, she was exhausted physically and mentally. Zhuo Wangsun pondered for a while, he already felt by instinct that this forest is not simple, the vines protruding from the trunks are like invisible tentacles, spying on these uninvited guests in the dark, and waiting At the moment of attention, gently touch their bodies - and even precisely penetrate every thought that is running fast in their brains.

If this jungle also belongs to a strange tribe in the mandala array, then its owner must be far more powerful than the Wuzhen, Xishe, and Xuying tribes. Zhuo Wangsun hesitated for a moment, and finally asked Xiangsi to take Xiaoluan to rest on a big tree in front, while Xiaoyan watched Zishiji from the tree on the left, and he and Yang Yizhi took turns on duty under the tree. There is a faint fragrance from the surroundings, not the fragrance of flowers, but the special smell of trees growing.Maybe they were really exhausted from working for days; maybe this forest had some kind of secret magic power, and several people actually fell asleep in the forest.

They were woken up by Bu Xiaoluan's scream. When Zhuo Wangsun opened his eyes, he felt the sun in the jungle piercing through the gaps in the leaves like sharp knives.It seems that it is almost noon, and the surrounding woods are actually colorful, some are fiery red, some are golden, some are as blue as jade, and some are like pear blossoms.These colorful trees are shrouded in a thin layer of water mist in mid-air, and countless colorful lights circulate around them, dazzling and beautiful. "Someone...someone." Bu Xiaoluan screamed as she stomped on the branch, and the surrounding leaves fell like a rain of colorful flowers.

Zhuo Wangsun frowned, even if he really fell asleep just now, his true energy would come out automatically, covering the whole audience, if any living thing broke in, he would be vigilant, even a butterfly is no exception, let alone a person ? Bu Xiaoluan yelled, but she didn't show any fear at all. On the contrary, she was very happy and excited: "Look, there's a child over there!" Everyone looked along where she was pointing, and saw that the big tree she was in was dark purple in color, with several vines hanging down from the top of the tree, and an oval rattan ball hanging from the top, which looked like a huge purple silkworm chrysalis from a distance. .The lower half of the pupa's body has been split open, and a child's head hangs upside down from the crack, with a pair of small hands hugging its chest, and its legs seem to be still entangled in the pupa.The child was about two or three years old, and there was still a few inches of fetal hair on the top of his head, which was gently draped in the sun, and it was slightly golden.The child's skin is fair and rosy, like a newborn lotus flower, and her eyebrows are delicate, like a girl.

Although she was hanging upside down in the chrysalis, she slept very peacefully, with a blush on her pink cheeks, breathing slightly in the moist air, as if this was the most natural and comfortable posture for her. Bu Xiaoluan stood on the branch, waved her fists happily, and shouted: "What a beautiful sister, tell her to come down and play with me!" Although she was talking to Zhuo Wangsun, her eyes never left the place for a moment. girl's face. Zhuo Wangsun had never seen Xiao Luan's ecstatic expression before, and felt a little strange, he said to Xiao Luan: "Xiao Luan, you come down first."

Bu Xiaoluan unexpectedly turned around and glared at Zhuo Wangsun, and said angrily, "No!" Before she finished speaking, she suddenly jumped up, jumped high, and stretched out her arms to hug the girl in the chrysalis. This change came so suddenly, everyone was stunned, Bu Xiaoluan jumped onto the wisteria like a ghost.She hugged the little girl's body and wanted to fall, but she was surprised that the girl's legs seemed to be still entangled in the chrysalis, and she couldn't pull it out no matter what.Bu Xiaoluan hugged tightly and refused to let go, both of their bodies were hung on the tree by vines, and they could not stop floating.

Xiangsi said in shock: "Xiao Luan, let go!" From nowhere, Bu Xiaoluan got a stubbornness, and he was obsessed with trying to win the little girl into his hands.She hadn't learned martial arts such as the thousand catty fall, she only used a lot of strength, holding the chrysalis tightly, swinging her body in the air, her little face was flushed red.In an instant, purple leaves fell all over the sky, as if the sky was dyed purple.Suddenly, an extremely strange sound came from the ground, and it seemed that countless people were moaning in unison. Everyone was shocked for a moment, Zhuo Wangsun reached out and plucked a purple leaf floating in the air. With a snap of his fingers, the purple leaf drew a colorful arc and flew towards the chrysalis.

With a soft "pop", several arm-thick vines on the chrysalis were cut off.Everyone could only hear a scream from the root of the tree, the sound was extremely shrill, as if it was right next to their ears, but they couldn't find it when they listened carefully.Suddenly, Xiaoluan and Vine Chrysalis fell to the ground together. "Be careful!" Zhuo Wangsun was about to step forward to pick her up, when Bu Xiaoluan's figure suddenly changed the moment he landed, smoothed out to the side, and landed lightly on the ground.She hugged the girl with one arm, and kept laughing as she leaned on her waist with the other, as if she was very satisfied with her prank. Zhuo Wangsun still stretched out his hand to Bu Xiaoluan with a pleasant face: "Xiaoluan, come to me." Bu Xiaoluan took two steps back, held the child tightly in her arms, and pouted, "No, I just want her to play with me alone." She seemed worried, and looked down at the girl in her hand, her face The smile on the face suddenly froze. The girl in her hand opened her eyes. Such a pair of eyes, no matter who it is, as long as they see it once, it will be unforgettable forever. Her eyes were light purple, which made her look a little sad, but not because of the sins and irritability of the world, but because of the endless speculation in the vast sea of ​​philosophical thinking.This purple is so pure, without any dross, just like the mottled red dust deposited in the Milky Way, which has been precipitated for trillions of years.When the sea freezes into glaciers, the sky condenses into stars, time piles up into clouds, and the world becomes desolate, only the remaining flickering shadows will be forged into such a moving color. However, this gaze that penetrated trillions of years came from a child who looked at the world for the first time. Xiangsi's heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly thought of those Xisheren who continued their youth by absorbing their children's aura.Could it be that this baby is also a monster who has obtained immortality because of some kind of secret magic technique?But she immediately felt that her idea was ridiculous, even blasphemous.Xisheren's eyes, which are very different from his appearance, are the darkest dregs of human beings for hundreds of years: greed, cowardice, cruelty, self-righteousness, and lifelessness.But what is deposited in these eyes is the accumulated wisdom.What's more, there is an unpretentious vitality in her divine light. Only those who see the beautiful world for the first time will have such a pure joy, and only those who have truly comprehended the meaning of life will feel this kind of joy. Wood, wind and moon have such a deep attachment. The girl smiled slightly at the strangers in front of her, and then spoke. The voice is clear and moving, but it is a strange language. A few people were frowning, but she had already changed one.The seventh type is crisp Chinese: "Here is the country of mayflies, and here is the country of mayflies, Zi Ning." Bu Xiaoluan was startled, and subconsciously let go of her hand. The girl who called herself Zi Ningzhi suddenly fell to the ground, she slowly got up from the ground without saying a word.Although there were many leaves piled up on the muddy ground, she frowned, as if the fall was not light. None of the people next to him came to the rescue.One reason is that no one thought that this person who looks supernatural like a god, her body is as fragile as an ordinary baby girl.The second reason is that she is really naked as if she was just born.Originally, no one would have any scruples about a two-year-old girl, but she talked so eloquently that it was difficult for people to treat her as a baby, so it was naturally inconvenient to rush to catch her. Xiangsi felt a little guilty, stepped forward to help her up, and took out a piece of clothing from Xiaoluan in the bundle, but didn't know how to give it as a gift. Zi Ningzhi stood up straight, lightly brushed the dust off her body, and said with a relieved smile: "I almost forgot that the distinguished guests are all from the country of etiquette, and the women's makeup is not neat, and there are no outsiders." She turned and walked to the big purple tree. Next, take a purple leaf several feet square from the root of the tree, and tie it gently around the waist. Bu Xiaoluan stared at her, surprised and said: "This is your clothes?" Zi Ningzhi smiled and said: "Thousands of miles are different, and everyone in this country wears the same clothes. But the host can do whatever you want, if you don't feel used to it, I can change into your clothes." I took the clothes and put my palms together to express my thanks. Bu Xiaoluan looked at her strangely, and said, "So you don't usually wear clothes?" Zi Ningzhi said: "Life is limited, it would be a waste to spend it on chariots, horses and light fur." ​​She smiled and looked at the snowy dress in her hand, and said, "If I read correctly, this kind of silk comes from the snow-capped mountains of Nepal. Although it looks like ice and snow, pure and flawless, in fact, there are more than ten kinds of patterns embroidered in the dark, which can be seen from different angles of light. I don’t know now, but according to the progress of the craftsmanship in the Sui and Tang Dynasties of your country, this small dress probably costs It took ten embroiderers a year and a half." Bu Xiaoluan said with a smile: "I don't know, but it's more convenient not to wear clothes, and I usually don't like to wear those heavy and heavy things, this place is so good, why don't we all change into leaves to make skirts. "As he said, he put his feet on his feet and tugged at Zhuo Wangsun's sleeve excitedly. Zhuo Wangsun said with a serious expression, "Don't mess around." Then he turned to Zi Ningzhi and said, "Young lady knows everything from ancient to modern times. I really admire you. I admire your country's customs and civilization even more. I don't know that young lady Can you take me to wait until your eyes open in your country?" Zi Ningzhi changed into a dress in front of everyone, but her movements did not appear cramped at all, as if this was a perfectly natural thing.She smiled and said, "I'm going to invite you all to visit the country of Bi." Although Bu Xiaoluan's clothes were small, they still more than doubled in size on her body, and most of them were dragged on the ground.Bu Xiaoluan looked at her for a long time, frowned and said, "Oh, I can't wear this dress, you should take it off." Zi Ningzhi spread her arms and said with a smile: "It must be just right soon." The sun shone on her creamy body, and the halo flowed, both illusion and reality. She seemed to feel that she had grown up, maybe He looks about eight or nine years old. After passing the colorful forest, there is a tunnel made of vines. Fortunately, the sun is already shining, and it is still falling from the top of the tunnel.The tunnel is extremely short, and at the end, the dazzling emerald brilliance shines on the front like the sun. In front of me was an open fig forest.Like the fig tree and the banyan tree, the vines can take root and grow endlessly.Over time, each plant can form a forest of its own, covering a very large area.The fig trees here seem to be more than a thousand years old, with their trunks reaching into the sky, surrounded by thousands of small trees, with luxuriant branches and vines, covering several acres, which is very spectacular.And in the tree hole, there are boys and girls of the same age as Zi Ningzhi from time to time, with various leaves around their waists, going in and out of the woods, it seems that this group of mayfly citizens live in the tree hole. There is a vine wall in the central square of this natural giant tree village, covered with various kinds of vines, which are colorful and gorgeous, and there are as many as twenty-four types in detail.Among them, the ninth species of kudzu vines is full of brocade clusters. The bowl-sized flowers are emerald green, with dots of crescent-shaped silver spots in the middle, which are extremely gorgeous. Zi Ningzhi stared at the flowers on the flower screen, and if she lost something, she sighed softly: "I didn't expect it to be so late when I woke up." Bu Xiaoluan said with a smile: "It's not too late at all, I usually don't get up until the sun is at noon." One of Zi Ning pointed to the flower screen, and said sadly: "The emerald green flowers are in full bloom, and Chi Lian is about to sprout its pistils, and it is already the time for the dew." Bu Xiaoluan was startled and said, "I don't understand what you are talking about." Zi Ningzhi said: "The earth is suspended in the universe. When it rotates for one week, we call it a day. It happens to be twenty-three fifty-six minutes four quarters, which is roughly equal to twenty-four o'clock. Each hour is roughly equal to your Half an hour of the country. And the earth revolves around the sun, and each week is roughly equal to three hundred and sixty-five days at six o'clock, nine minutes and ten quarters, which is one year." Bu Xiaoluan giggled and said, "What the earth is hanging in the universe, what is going around makes me so confused, but where do these flowers come from, they are so beautiful." Zi Ningzhi said: "These flowers are exactly the flowers of timekeeping cultivated by the peasant scholars in my country. In one day, twenty-four kinds bloom in turn to correspond to the movement of time. It is like this in four seasons, and it will not bloom through winter." Bu Xiaoluan said happily: "It's so fun, why don't my sister give it to me, let me take it home and plant it for fun." Zi Ningzhi shook her head with a smile and said: "This is not acceptable. These flowers live and die at night, and will bloom again on the dead roots the next day. They will not leave seeds, and the roots must not move." Bu Xiaoluan just thinks it's fun, so she can't reach out and touch every flower.Zhuo Wangsun cupped his hands and said: "Your country's astronomy, calendar, planting and cultivation techniques have really advanced to an unimaginable level. This time, I entered Baoshan unintentionally. Naturally, I can't return empty-handed. I wonder if the girl can take us to Langjiao in your country to have a look at the treasures. roll?" Zi Ningzhi returned the courtesy and said: "My lord, you are being polite. It's just that - not only does the country not have a collection of books, it has never even used writing." Seeing that everyone was slightly surprised, Zi Ningzhi smiled lightly and said: "From the beginning There are words. Scholars in the country believe that language is the most exquisite and mysterious thing between heaven and earth. If it is used to create poems and prose, it will be wonderful and infinitely beautiful. If it is used as a recording tool, it will fall behind. , has the meaning of blasphemy. Therefore, in the millions of generations of my country, no words have ever appeared." Zhuo Wangsun said: "Then how are your country's poems and prose handed down?" Zi Ningzhi said: "It's just because we can directly bear all the memories of our mother's generation." There was a sense of awe in her eyes, and she looked at the distant sky, and said slowly: "Originally, the mystery of literature cannot be fully conveyed by words. Yes. As far as poetry is concerned, since "Feng" and "Sao", your country has built a strong character, a prosperous Tang atmosphere, and prosperous talents. It can also be called the best among all countries in the world. If it is not limited by the words and sentences, the achievements will be possible Standing shoulder to shoulder with the humble country, it is a pity that you still fall into the circle of using words to hurt your intentions. However, Zhuang Zhou, the great sage of your country, said that "speaking is not enough" and "forgetting words when you are proud" is similar to what people in the country see, and it is a pity For thousands of years, there are very few people who can really comprehend this language, after all, there is a layer of separation." After hearing these words, everyone felt somewhat uncomfortable.Thinking of China's five thousand years of flourishing articles, talented people came forth in large numbers, and thought that it was incomparable to the world. Unexpectedly, in this small border land, a young girl with a sash is talking here, saying that if Chinese poetry is not limited to words, it can stand shoulder to shoulder with it. , is really sensational.If he met other people, he would have put those words such as Yelang arrogant, sitting in a well and watching the sky on the girl's head, sneered and ridiculed, and then left laughing, but none of Zhuo Wangsun and his party could laugh. Zhuo Wangsun said: "Since ancient times, there has been no first in prose. The way of poetry and prose is beyond the sky. I am waiting outside Kyushu to meet sages. Fortunately, how is it? I wonder if the girl can teach you a thing or two about your country's poetry?" Zi Ningzhi looked at him, smiled sweetly and said: "Shu Ning's power is not yet grasped." Zhuo Wangsun said: "Can't the girl memorize one or two famous chapters?" Zi Ning's way: "Everyone in my country can write poems, and there are so many excellent works and wonderful poems. Although Ning's nature is blunt, he can't memorize one by one, but he can still remember one or two famous poems. It's just that Ning can memorize. It is the language of his country. Since ancient times, poetry There is no intelligibility, let alone the full translation of the whole article? Even the slightest flaws will be laughed at by the Fang family. It is a small matter for a person who is concentrating on his face, and if he tarnishes a good work, he will have no face to see the former sages in the underground." Qianli Zishi suddenly came out from behind Xiaoyan, sneered heavily, and said: "Miss Zi has been extolling your country's poetry for a long time, but she refuses to reveal the truth. I don't know if she thinks we are stupid. , or there are still other difficulties." Her words were aggressive, and her tone was very different from that of Japanese, Xiaoyan couldn't help frowning. Zi Ningzhi didn't take it seriously at all, and said with a smile: "Although Ningzhi is unworthy, it doesn't mean that there are no people who can compose poems in my country." Zhuo Wangsun said: "Dare to ask the fairy trail of the master." Zi Ningzhi said: "It doesn't matter if you are an expert, it's just that you specialize in art. The trees of different colors in the forest of the past that you have seen just now represent different academic families. If you go to the north of the village, there are three big pink trees in the extreme north. They are the only three families of nine dialects in the country. The study of the philosophers is purple, speech and debate is red, poetry is green, theology is black, calligraphy and painting are white, etc. Concentration of talents is exactly the same as the hundreds of kinds of schools in the country. One of the heirs of Zixue." Qianli Zishi said coldly: "Speaking of Nine Dialects and Poetics, Leader Yang is also a well-known master in the world. This girl might as well recite the famous passages and let Leader Yang judge them." Zi Ningzhi looked at Yang Yizhi with a smile and said, "The Fang family is here, can you allow me to make a fool of myself?" Yang Yizhi said lightly: "No need, I have seen it ten years ago." Qianli Zishi said: "What does the leader think?" Yang Yizhi said: "At a quick glance, I can only see a corner of Baoshan, but I feel that the beauty is full of beauty, and it is beyond the dust, and I am amazed." Everyone was silent for a moment.Yang Yizhi seldom praised others in his life, and he was willing to make such an evaluation, which shows that Zi Ningzhi is not a self-promoting person.On the other hand, Bu Xiaoluan was confused and impatient. He yawned, pointed to the village and said, "Look, a lot of kids are running out over there!" Hundreds of ten-year-old boys walked towards the north of the village with leaves tied around their waists and some wooden branches in their hands, singing and looking extremely happy.They stopped under a row of fig trees on the edge of the village and automatically divided into groups.One group beat the branches with the trunk, one group picked up the fallen fruit, and one group simply climbed up the tree to pick figs directly. Xiaoluan blinked and asked curiously, "What are they doing?" Zi Ningzhi said: "They are picking lunch for the people of the whole country." Xiao Luan tilted her head, looked at them and said, "Why are they all little boys, and where's their mother?" Zi Ningzhi smiled and said: "All the people of Mayfly Kingdom are of the same age." Xiao Luan said in surprise: "Ah, this is fun. But what about girls?" Zi Ningzhi said: "In Mayfly Kingdom, men are responsible for picking food, building and protecting homes, and running the country; while women are engaged in the construction of civilization." Bu Xiaoluan said: "Civilization?" Zi Ningzhi said: "We define poetry, philosophy, astronomy, calligraphy and painting as civilization, while others, such as food, clothing and mansions, are called material interests." Bu Xiaoluan opened her eyes wide, as if she didn't understand what she was talking about.Qianli Zishi suddenly sneered and said, "So it's a rare custom here that women are superior to men." The waves in Zi Ning's eyes moved slightly, like turning into a pool of spring water.She stared at Qianli Zishi and said: "Miss, what you said is wrong. We have already taken life and death lightly, and we have no selfishness. We don't care about fame and fortune. It's just that the lives of people in Mayfly Country are shorter than other nations, and they want to achieve something. Therefore, there must be a clear division of labor, so that everyone can make the best use of them. Men are strong in body and women are meticulous in mind. This division of labor is most appropriate, only because of the difference in talent, there is no distinction between high and low. As far as women in this country are concerned, all material benefits We are all indifferent, but if there are no men to guard and support, is all civilization just a castle in the air?" Qianli Zishi sneered and said: "You said that women are meticulous and suitable for building civilization, but as far as I know the masters of the literary world, the masters of Taoism are all men." Zi Ningzhi smiled and said: "The girl is from the country of the sunrise? Just my humble opinion, when you come to your country, men are superior to women and women are inferior, and women do not go out of the boudoir. They have narrow vision and no education. Even if they are talented, they are just pearls covered in dust. It can be said to be sad; secondly, most of the women in your country are used to living a leisurely life, taking care of their husbands and children, and being vassals of men. If they seek benevolence and gain benevolence, they can only be vassals forever. We can only be angry. But in the mayfly country Among them, both men and women are diligent and eager to learn. If there are talented men who no longer want to serve in the service, they want to transfer to poetry and books; Never obstruct." Qianli Zishi took a deep breath, only to feel that every sentence she said was deviant and unbelievable, but at the moment, there were thousands of thoughts in her mind, chaotic and chaotic, like a galloping horse, and she was not under her control at all, let alone what Zi Ningzhi said. Where to refute. Qianli Zishi's face changed rapidly, Xiao Yan frowned and said, "Zishi Ji——"