Chapter 23 Chapter 23: Bo Yuntian

Although the old man couldn't stand up straight anymore, he still had an indescribable majesty in his expression, and kindness in the majesty, but his piercing and powerful eyes seemed a little tired. The girl was supporting him beside him, her body was still trembling. Ma Fangzhong has bowed to the ground. The old man said: "Get up, get up quickly, you must have forgotten that I never want others to give big gifts." His voice was still steady and powerful. His words are still orders. Ma Fangzhong stood up and stood with his hands down. When the old man looked at him, with a smile in his eyes, he said: "I haven't seen you for more than ten years, and you have gained a lot of weight!"

Ma Fangzhong lowered his head and said, "I ate well and slept well." The old man smiled and said, "It can be seen that you must have married a good wife." He glanced at Mrs. Ma and said, "I should also thank her for taking good care of you." Ma Fang said: "Come and see the old man soon." Mrs. Ma has always been obedient, but at this moment her legs are weak from fright, how can she stand up? The old man said: "There is no need to come here, I..." He clenched his fists suddenly, and the muscles at the corners of his mouth were already tightened due to pain!

No one can imagine how much pain the old man is enduring at the moment, and only the old man can endure this kind of pain. Ma Fangzhong's eyes showed grief and indignation, he gritted his teeth and said, "Who is it? Who did it?" The old man didn't answer, the grief and anger in his eyes became heavier, and the cold sweat broke out! Ma Fangzhong didn't ask any more questions, turned around suddenly, and ran towards the stable. He harnessed the two fast horses to the cart as fast as he could and led them to the front yard. Only then did the old man let out a long breath and said, "You prepared well, these two are good horses."

Ma Fangzhong said: "I never dare to forget your old man's order." Mrs. Ma looked at her husband. Only now did she understand why he liked to grow flowers and raise horses. It turned out that everything he did before was for this seriously injured old man. She just hoped that the old man would get in the carriage quickly and leave quickly, so that he would never disturb their peaceful life again. The giant finally got into the front seat. The old man said, "Do you know which way to go?" The giant nodded. The old man asked, "Is there anyone outside?" This sentence should have been answered by Ma Fangzhong, but the giant rushed to nod again.

Because he has a pair of sensitive ears, no matter there are people or ghosts outside, he can hear it. The ears of blind people are always much more sensitive than those of non-blind people. Mrs. Ma's heart sank! Are they going to wait until there is no one left?How long do we have to wait? Unexpectedly, the old man sighed for a long time and said, "Okay, you can go now." Since their actions are so secretive, why do they leave when there are people outside? Mrs. Ma was just feeling strange, but she didn't expect that there was something even more strange going on. The old man didn't get in the car!

"Why doesn't he leave? Does he want to stay here?" Mrs. Ma's heart sank again. "Isn't he afraid that others will come here from the tunnel?" Although she is not a very smart woman, she is not too stupid either. Of course, she has seen that the old man is avoiding the pursuit of her enemies. If he didn't go, it would mean that their former peaceful and peaceful life was over. She wished to drive all these people away, the farther the better, but she didn't dare, she just lowered her head silently, not even daring to shed tears. Ma Fangzhong had already opened the gate, and looked back at the giant driving the chariot.

The giant's dead-fish-like eyes stared blankly ahead, starlight shining on his bronze face, a face that would not have expressed any expression, but which was now twisted with pain. He jumped out of the carriage suddenly, ran over, and hugged the old man tightly. Ma Fangzhong happened to be able to see his face, and saw two lines of tears streaming down from his eyes full of darkness and despair. It turns out that the blind will cry too. The old man didn't speak or move. After a long time, he sighed and said sadly, "Go, we may have a chance to meet again in the future."

The giant nodded, as if he wanted to say something, but held back. Ma Fangzhong couldn't help showing a miserable look on his face, and said: "These two horses know the road nearby, and they can carry you all the way to Fang's second's house, and he will send you outside the pass when he gets there." The giant suddenly knelt down, kowtowed three times, and said in a low voice, "I will leave everything here to you." Ma Fangzhong also knelt down, paused, and said: "I understand, you can leave at ease." Without another word, the giant jumped into the carriage and rode off.

The door was immediately shut tightly. Suddenly, a boy and a girl ran out of the house holding hands, and grabbed Ma Fangzhong's clothes. The boy raised his face and said, "Daddy, why did that big monster take our horse away?" Ma Fangzhong caressed the child's head, and said softly: "The horse was given to him by father, and he is not a monster." The boy said: "What is it if it's not a monster?" Ma Fangzhong sighed: "He is a very good person, he is loyal and loyal. When you grow up, if you can learn half of him, you will be a man in vain."

Having said this, his voice suddenly choked up, and he couldn't speak any more. The boy nodded half understanding, but the girl asked, "How loyal is he?" The old man sighed, and said: "For his friends, he can live alone in the dark for more than ten years. Apart from your father, he can be regarded as the most loyal person." The girl blinked and said, "Why does he talk about loyalty? What is loyalty?" The boy rushed to say: "Loyalty is enough to be friends, a man must be loyal, otherwise even a woman is inferior." He puffed out his small chest and said loudly: "I'm also a man, so when I grow up, I have to be as loyal as him, Dad! Do you think it's okay?"

Ma Fangzhong nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. The old man took the boy's hand and said softly, "This is your son? How old is it?" Ma Fang said: "Ten... not even ten years old." The old man said: "This kid is very smart, how about you hand him over to me?" Ma Fangzhong's eyes lit up, but immediately filled with pain, he said sadly: "Unfortunately, he is still too young. If it takes another ten years, maybe..." He suddenly patted the child's head and said, "Go, go find your mother!" Mrs. Ma had already opened her arms, waiting for the child to fall into her arms. The old man looked at the mother and son with a miserable expression, and said slowly, "You have a good wife, and the child has a good mother... What's her name?" Ma Fangzhong said: "Her surname is also Ma, and her name is Yueyun." The old man nodded slowly, and murmured: "Ma Yueyun...Ma Yueyun..." He repeated the name a dozen times, as if he wanted to keep it in his heart forever. Then he sighed again, and said, "Now I can go too." Ma Fang said: "Over there, I have already prepared, please come with me!" There is a well in the backyard, the well water is very deep and very clear. A large bucket hangs from the pulley of the derrick. Ma Fangzhong put down the bucket and said, "Please." The old man slowly got into the bucket. Fengfeng kept biting her lip, watching from the side, and she couldn't help showing surprise in her eyes at this moment. She couldn't figure out why the old man wanted to sit on this bucket?Do you want to go to the well? The well is full of water, doesn't it mean he doesn't want to live anymore? When she realized that the old man was staring at her, she immediately lowered her head again. Ma Fangzhong looked at her, then at the old man, and asked tentatively, "Is this girl going down with you too?" The old man pondered, and said lightly: "That depends on whether she is willing to follow me." Ma Fangzhong turned his head, but before he could speak, Fengfeng suddenly said: "Is there any other way for me now?" The old man looked at her, and suddenly there was some warmth in his eyes, but when he turned to Ma Fangzhong, his expression darkened again, and he said sadly: "This time, it's thanks to you." Ma Fangzhong suddenly smiled and said: "You old man don't need to miss me, I have lived a good life for more than ten years." The old man stretched out his hand, shook his hand tightly, and said, "You are fine, and I have nothing else to say—well, maybe there is only one sentence." Ma Fang said: "You old man just talk." The old man's face was very sad and serious, and he said slowly: "Although I missed a few people in my life, I finally made a few good friends." Both the old man and Fengfeng had gone down from the bucket and disappeared into the well water. Ma Fangzhong was still standing by the well, staring blankly at the water in a daze. The ripples on the water had gradually disappeared, and Ma Fangzhong finally turned around slowly, and saw his wife holding two children standing far away waiting for him.I don't know how much tenderness and concern are contained in those gentle eyes. Having been a husband and wife for more than ten years, no one can understand her better than him. He knew that she had entrusted her entire life to him and the children, and no matter what hardships she endured, she would never complain. They were getting old now, but sometimes, after the children were asleep, they were as enthusiastic as they were when they were newlyweds. He knew that the greatest luck in his life was to marry her. Now all he wanted was for her to understand what he had done, for her to forgive. The children ran over again, and Ma Fangzhong took one of them with one hand, and said softly, "Are you hungry?" The child immediately rushed to say: "Hungry, so hungry!" Children's stomachs never seem to be full. Ma Fangzhong smiled, looked up at his wife, and said, "It's rare for the children to eat late at night, so let's make an exception today, shall we?" Ma Yueyun nodded obediently, and said: "Okay, there are still noodles and braised eggs left tonight, I'll cook the noodles." The noodles are very hot! The children rolled the long noodles on the chopsticks and let them cool before eating. The children seemed to be able to find their own fun no matter what they were doing. As long as he sees a child, Ma Fangzhong will always have a smile on his face, but the smile on his face today seems a bit special, and his appetite seems not as good as usual. Ma Yueyun's hands were picking the thorns out of the fish for the child, but her eyes were fixed on her husband's face.Finally, he couldn't help but asked tentatively: "Why have I never heard you say that there is an old man?" Ma Fangzhong pondered, as if he didn't know how to answer this sentence, after thinking for a long time, he slowly said: "He is not my real old man!" Ma Yueyun said: "Then who is he?" Ma Fangzhong said: "He is my brother, my friend, and my parents. Without him, I would have been killed when I was sixteen years old, and I would never see you, so..." Ma Yueyun smiled softly and said: "So I should also be grateful to him, because he left me a good husband." Ma Fangzhong put down his chopsticks slowly, and she knew that when he put down his chopsticks to speak, it meant that what he had to say must be very important. She has already prepared. Ma Fangzhong said: "Not only should you be grateful to him, but you should also be like me and do everything for him." Ma Yueyun said: "I understand." Ma Fangzhong said: "Now you understand that I live here to guard the tunnel exit for him." He sighed, and said dejectedly: "I just hope that he will never need this tunnel. I have gradually thought that he will never have such a day, but I never thought that this day will come after all." Ma Yueyun lowered her head and was listening. Ma Fangzhong said: "Since he has reached this point, sooner or later someone will come after him." Ma Yueyun couldn't help but said: "In that case, why didn't he escape in that carriage?" Ma Fangzhong said: "Because the person chasing must be a very powerful character. No matter how fast the two horses are, they will always be caught up. Besides, he was seriously injured. Can you bear the pain of the bumpy carriage?" He continued slowly: "Now, even if someone chases after him, he must think that he has already left in that carriage. He will never think that he can stay here, let alone that he can hide in a hole with water. In the well." Only now did Ma Yueyun know why he asked the carriage to leave when there were people outside. He just wants to be chased by others. The two horses raised by Ma Fangzhong were not prepared to be used as tools for him to escape at all, but to divert the target of the pursuers. This plan is not only complex, but also careful. Ma Yueyun sighed for a long time, and said, "It turns out that you have already planned these things." Ma Fangzhong said: "Eighteen years ago, it was planned. No matter where the old man goes, he will definitely leave a safe escape route first." Ma Yueyun couldn't help showing awe on his face, and sighed: "It seems that he is really a remarkable person." Ma Fang said: "He is indeed!" Ma Yueyun said: "But what about that well? Can he hide in the water like a fish?" Ma Fang said: "He doesn't need to hide in the water, because there is also a way out under that well..." Ma Yueyun said: "What kind of retreat?" Ma Fangzhong said: "Before the well was dug, he had already built a house underground. Every month when I came back from the market, I would always exchange a batch of fresh grains into it. When it doesn't come, it never stops." He went on to say: "Those grains can not only be preserved for a long time, but they can also be eaten by him for three or four months." Ma Yueyun asked, "Where's the water?" Ma Fangzhong said: "There is inexhaustible water in the well." Ma Yueyun said: "But...the well is full of water, how could he get into that room?" Ma Fang said: "There is an iron door on the wall of the well. Once you press the button, the door will slide to the side and slide into the wall of the well." Ma Yueyun said: "In that case, wouldn't the well water rush in?" Ma Fangzhong said: "Behind the door is a small pool, and the water in the pool is as high as the well water, so even if the well water pours in, the pool water will not come out...the water will never flow to a high place, You should understand that." Ma Yueyun sighed: "This plan is really seamless, it's thanks to you how you came up with it!" Ma Fang said: "The old man came up with it." No matter how complicated and meticulous the plan is, it is still boring to the children. After eating a bowl of noodles, they couldn't open their eyes and fell asleep on the table. Ma Yueyun glanced at the child, forced a smile and said: "Now, since he is hiding in the well, I am afraid that no one in the world will be able to find him!" Ma Fangzhong was silent for a long time, and said word by word: "Indeed, it won't, unless we say it." Ma Yueyun's face turned blue, but he still forced a smile and said, "How could we say that! Not to mention you, even I will keep my mouth shut!" Ma Fangzhong's face became more and more serious, and said: "Of course you won't say it now, but when someone wants to kill our child, can you still keep your mouth shut?" The chopsticks in Ma Yueyun's hand suddenly fell on the table, his fingertips began to tremble, and he said in a trembling voice, "Then...then let's run away as soon as possible!" Ma Fangzhong shook his head and said sadly: "There is no escape." Ma Yueyun said: "Why...why?" Ma Fangzhong sighed: "How can someone who can drive the old man into such a miserable situation not catch up with us?" Ma Yueyun was trembling all over, and said: "Then... what should we do?" Ma Fangzhong did not speak, not a single word.He didn't have to say it. He just stared at his wife silently, with infinite tenderness and infinite grief in his eyes. Ma Yueyun was also staring at her husband with indescribable pity and awe, because she had discovered that her husband was much greater than she had imagined.After a long time, her expression suddenly became very calm, and she slowly stretched her hand across the table, took her husband's hand, and said softly: "I have lived a good life like you for more than ten years, so no matter now No matter what happens, I will never complain." Ma Fang said: "I...I'm sorry for you." This sentence is superfluous at this moment, but his throat is already choked up, and tears are already in his eyes. Besides this sentence, what else can he say? Ma Yueyun said softly: "You didn't apologize to me. You have always been very kind to me. I am content with living with you. I am also very happy to die with you." She didn't let Ma Fangzhong speak, and quickly continued: "I have been with you for more than ten years, and I have never asked you for anything. Now, I just want to ask you for one thing." Ma Fang said: "Say it!" Ma Yueyun's tears suddenly flowed down, and he said embarrassingly: "These two children...they are still young and ignorant, you...you...can you let them live?" Ma Fangzhong turned his head, couldn't bear to look at the child again, choked up and said: "I also know that the child is innocent, so when they are alive, I always try my best to indulge them and try to make them happy." Ma Yueyun nodded and said, "I understand." She didn't understand until now why her husband spoiled the child like that. He already knew that the child would not live long. What could be more tragic than this for a father? Ma Yueyun said with tears: "I only now understand how much pain you have been enduring." Ma Fangzhong gritted his teeth and said, "I have been praying to God not to let us go down this road, but now, now... we have no other way to go." Ma Yueyun hissed: "But we can still send the children away and let them find their own way of life. No matter how good or bad they are, whether they can survive or not, as long as you let them go, I will... I die without complaint." She suddenly knelt down, knelt down in front of her husband, and cried bitterly: "I never begged you, I only beg you for this matter, you must promise me...you must promise me..." Ma Fangzhong didn't speak for a long time, and then he slowly moved towards the bowl in front of the child.The noodles in the bowl have been eaten! Looking into her husband's eyes, Ma Yueyun's expression suddenly changed, and he said in a broken voice, "You...you have...you are in front of you..." Ma Fangzhong said sadly: "That's right, so even if I want to promise you now, it's too late!" Is there a more miserable place in the world than hell? Have! Where? Right now, right here! There is only one bed in the room, and the old man sleeps on the bed, so Fengfeng can only sit. The chair, like the bed, is made of stone and is very uncomfortable, but Fengfeng's sitting posture is still very graceful, which was taught by Boss Gao. "If you want to grab a man's heart, you have to pay attention to your posture anytime and anywhere. Not only should you look good when you walk, but you should try to maintain your best look when you are sitting, standing, eating, and even sleeping. Attitude, even if you are just a prostitute, men must think you are noble, so that men will like you wholeheartedly." I don't know how many times Boss Gao has said these words to them. "But what kind of man have I caught now?...an old man, a seriously injured old man." As long as you can really catch a man, you have a chance to climb up. "But where have I crawled into now? At the bottom of a well, in a stinky room full of musty smells." She could hardly help laughing out loud. The house was piled with all kinds of provisions, and it looked like the cargo hold under a broken ship. A huge pile of salted fish and bacon hung in the corner, making the place even more stinky.She kept her eyes on those salted fish, trying desperately to concentrate and count how many salted fish there were, because she really didn't want to see the old man. But she couldn't help but keep looking there.When the old man was standing and wearing clothes, he seemed to be a very dignified person, but now he was lying naked on the bed, and he looked no different from other old men. The way he was lying down was more clumsy and ridiculous than other old men - his legs were bent, his stomach was raised high, like a toad trying to get his luck.In the throat, occasionally there is a "cracking" sound. If Fengfeng wasn't very hungry, she might have vomited it up. After a long time, the old man let out a long breath, and collapsed on the bed, his whole body was drenched in sweat, and the flesh on his stomach became loose. That look is uglier than salted fish.Fengfeng couldn't help it all of a sudden, and said with a sneer: "I think it's better to save some effort, don't forget that you said that there is no cure for the poison of the Seven Star Needle." The old man sat up slowly, stared at her, and said slowly: "You want me to die?" Fengfeng rolled her eyes and looked at the roof. The old man looked at her and said slowly: "You better hope that I can still live, otherwise you have to die here with me." Fengfeng began to feel a little uneasy, she was still young and hadn't lived enough. She couldn't help asking: "Is it true that there is no cure for the poison of the Seven Star Needle?" The old man nodded and said, "I never tell lies." Fengfeng's face was a little pale, and she said: "Since you must die, why bother to make such effort to escape?" The old man suddenly smiled and said: "I only said that there is no cure, but I didn't say that no one can be saved. People can do far more than a few herbs." Fengfeng's eyes lit up, and said: "Can you really force out the poison of the Seven Star Needle?" The old man suddenly sighed again, and said, "Even if it is possible, it will take me at least a month or two!" Fengfeng's eyes dimmed again, and said: "Does this mean that you will stay here for at least one or two months?" The old man smiled and said, "What's wrong with this place? There are fish and meat. When I go out, I promise to make you white and fat." Fengfeng glanced at him out of the corners of her eyes, feeling that his smile was extremely abominable, and couldn't help laughing: "Aren't you afraid that others will find this place?" The old man said: "No one can find it." Fengfeng said: "The one with the surname Ma won't tell others?" The old man said: "Never." Fengfeng sneered and said, "I didn't expect you to be so sure. It seems that you trust that surname Ma now, just like you trusted Ritsu Kagawa before." The old man didn't speak, and there was no expression on his face. Fengfeng said: "What's more, except for the dead, no one in the world can really keep their mouths shut!" The old man was silent for a long time before he said calmly, "Do you think Ma Fangzhong is someone who would die for his friends?" Fengfeng said: "He might, if he suddenly saw you being bullied, he might die for you on impulse, but now he is not impulsive." She continued: "Besides, you haven't seen him for more than ten years. Even if he wanted to work for you before, he may have calmed down now." The old man said: "Maybe it's because he has calmed down that he did this." Fengfeng said: "Why?" The old man said: "Because he has always taken it for granted and has been preparing for this to happen. This has become a part of his thinking, so when it happens, he doesn't even have to think about it. It will be done like this.” Fengfeng sneered and said, "Of course you taught him to think so." The old man laughed and said: "People often have two sides, one side is good and the other side is evil. Some people can always keep the good side. This is the kind of person in Ma Fang, so as long as it is what he thinks should be done, no matter what Under any circumstances, he will definitely do it!" He continued: "Because where you grew up, you can only see the evil side of people, so you will never understand this kind of person in Ma Fang, let alone understand what he did." Fengfeng turned her head away, not looking at him. She herself admits that there are indeed many things in this world that she cannot understand, because the things she can come into contact with and the education she receives are all one-sided, perhaps the worst side. However, she always thought she knew men well. Because that was her profession and the way she lived—if she couldn't understand men, she wouldn't be able to survive at all. "There is only one kind of man, it doesn't matter whether the noblest or the poorest are the same, as long as you know how to control them, they are your slaves." There are two ways to control a man. One is to try to make them feel that you are weak, let them take care of you, protect you, and let them be proud of it. Another way is to hit them as much as possible, destroy their dignity as much as possible, so that they will never be able to hold their heads up in front of you. Then as long as you give them a little favor, or even smile at them, they will feel very honored and grateful. If you can really make men feel that way, they will do anything for you. She has gradually used these two methods very proficiently, so no matter what kind of man she is in front of, she no longer feels embarrassed or afraid. Because she has been able to control the situation freely. But now, she suddenly realized that these two methods were useless to the old man. In the eyes of the old man, she was just a very naive person, and he didn't even treat her as a human being at all.When the old man looked at her, it was as if he was looking at a table or a pile of wood. This kind of wink is what women can't stand the most. They would rather let a man beat her and scold her, but this kind of attitude can drive them crazy. Fengfeng suddenly laughed. She has also learned to hide her fear and anxiety with a smile, so she smiles very charmingly.She smiled and said, "I know you must hate me very much, terribly." She did hope the old man hated her. Women would rather be hated than be so contemptuous. The old man just said indifferently: "Why should I hate you?" Fengfeng said: "Because you have fallen into today's situation, all because of me." The old man said: "You are wrong." Fengfeng said: "You don't hate me?" The old man said: "When this matter was planned, you were just a child, so this matter has nothing to do with you at all." Fengfeng said: "But without me..." The old man interrupted her and said, "If it wasn't for you, there would still be someone else. You are just a small tool in this plan. Now that the plan is mature, it doesn't matter who is used to make this tool." He smiled, and said again: "So instead of hating you, I pity you a little." Fengfeng's face was already flushed, she jumped up suddenly, and said loudly: "You pity me? Why don't you pity yourself?" The old man said: "When I am free, I will!" Fengfeng said: "You won't, people like you will never pity yourself, because you always think that you are great." The old man said: "Oh?" Fengfeng said: "If a person knows how to use other people's 'evil' side, know how to use other people's greed, vanity, jealousy, hatred, he can already be regarded as a very remarkable person." The old man said: "It is true." Fengfeng said: "But you are higher than those people. You also know how to use other people's 'good' side, and you also know how to use others' gratitude, sympathy and loyalty." The old man showed no expression, and said coldly, "That's why I'm even more remarkable." Fengfeng gritted her teeth and sneered, "But what happened?" The old man said: "No one knows what the result will be like now." Fengfeng said: "I know." The old man said: "Oh?" Fengfeng said: "Even if Ma Fangzhong is dead now, even if no one can find you, even if you can pull out the poison of the Seven Star Needle, what can you do?" She sneered, and said again: "Now your home has been occupied by others, and your friends have become friends of others. Not only have you betrayed everyone, but you are also nearing the end of your life. What else can I do besides death?" The words were as poisonous as a vicious rattlesnake. When women want to hurt someone, they always seem to find the most vicious words. It seems to be in their nature, just as rattlesnakes are born to be poisonous. The old man still looked at her quietly! The look still seemed to be looking at a table, a pile of wood. Fengfeng sneered and said, "Why don't you speak anymore? Is it because I said something you didn't even dare to think about yourself?" The old man said: "Yes!" Fengfeng said: "Then how do you feel now? Are you pitying me? Or are you pitying yourself?" The old man said: "I have pity on you, because you are more pitiful than me!" His voice was still calm and slow, and he continued: "I am indeed an old man, so I have lived enough, but what about you?... I know that you not only hate me, but also hate yourself." Fengfeng rushed over suddenly, rushed in front of him, trembling all over.She wanted to kill him at first, but she didn't know why, but she suddenly fell into his arms and burst into tears. After all, he was her first man. Also her only man. There was a mysterious connection between their lives. Although she didn't want to admit it, she couldn't change this fact. The truth is that no one can change it!