Chapter 22 Chapter 21 Soul of Sword and Soul of Flower

There is a small flowerbed behind the hut. The spring flowers have bloomed one after another, and they can be worn on the temples and inserted into bottles. Ding Ning was wearing Tsing Yi, and he was wearing high-toothed wooden clogs in the style of the Tang Dynasty, and even a pair of girl socks on his feet. Under the warm sunshine in the early summer afternoon, although his face looked pale and bloodless, his demeanor carried an indescribable leisure and elegance. This demeanor made his pale face more prominent and nobler among the brightly colored flowers. The only thing that didn't match his elegant attitude was the knife in his hand.

But this knife is also very elegant, a very simple elegance, what is not commensurate is the murderous look on this knife. There is a tall ginkgo tree in the garden, under the shade there is a table and a futon. On the table, there is a vase imitating the "rain after the sky" of Song Ruzhou's Ge kiln, and a person is sitting on the futon. This person is not a monk, but Ding Ning. ——The person sitting on the futon is not necessarily a monk, and the monk is not necessarily sitting on the futon. Ding Ning was trimming the flowers he had just picked from the flowerbed, using a simple but elegant silver dagger in his hand.

Such a suitable knife, a silver knife for trimming flower branches, how could there be a murderous look on the knife? The afternoon sun was still golden yellow, and had not yet reached the brilliant red of the setting sun before night. Jiang Duanxian stood far away beside a clump of red flowers, quietly watching Ding Ning pruning the flower branches, as if he was fascinated by it. His face was always so cold and indifferent, but his eyes burned like a setting sun like fire, like a beast saw another beast that could threaten its life. But Ding Ning was just pruning a few flowers that had already been picked.

How could such a leisurely thing arouse hostility from others. The golden yellow of the sun has gradually faded, and the bright red of the fire has not yet dyed the setting sun. Jiang Duanxian, who stood still like a stone statue, suddenly walked towards Ding Ning slowly. Ding Ning didn't seem to realize that there was such a person in front of him.A man who could threaten his life and existence anytime, anywhere. He still used his iron knife to trim the bunch of flower branches, and his movements were very slow and careful. The knife he used was a blunt sterling silver knife. What he did was a very common thing, a person who is recovering from illness would often do this kind of thing.

But Jiang Duanxian was watching him wholeheartedly, like a person who is addicted to sculpting, watching a master he admired the most, sculpting a beautiful, kind and true masterpiece.More like a curious child looking at a strange game he had never seen before. It was really strange that Jiang Duanxian would have such an expression on his face. But those who really know Jiang Duanxian will know that the reason he looks at Ding Ning like this must be because he has seen something that others cannot see, and only he can see it. what did he see Flowers are plucked as if fish had been netted out of water.

The flowers are picked and still look the same bright, and the fish in the net are still moving.Even more vigorously. But in the eyes of someone like Jiang Duanxian, it was different. The movement of the fish in the water is a kind of leisurely movement, while the movement of the fish in the net becomes a struggle for survival. The flowers on the roots are natural and lively, but after being picked off, they will inevitably look haggard.Even if it has been pruned and kept in the most exquisite vase, it is just a woman whose age has passed and who is about to use thick powder to cover up the wrinkles on her face. A simple village girl?

The strange thing is that the flowers that Ding Ning picked off and put in the vase after pruning are still the same bright color, no one can tell the difference, not even Jiang Duanxian. What kind of technique did he use to pick off these flower branches? Ding Ning didn't raise his head or speak. Jiang Duanxian used two fingers to pick up a flower branch lightly and quickly, staring at the cut on the flower branch. His eyes immediately became more strange. That kind of wink is like a cat seeing a mouse, but like a mouse suddenly seeing a cat. ——The Chief Deacon of the Ministry of Punishments, Jiang Duanxian, the most brilliant executioner ever.

——Peng Shisandou, a swordsman who suddenly became famous in the world overnight.Peng Shisandou, who has never been dissatisfied. How could such a person become so strange when he saw the cuts of some flower branches? It was not until the last flower was inserted into the vase that Ding Ning found Jiang Duanxian standing in front of him. Jiang Duanxian was still staring at the incision of the flower branch in his hand, and after a long time, he slowly said: "Cut wood with a hairpin knife, but it is like cutting rot with a sharp knife. "Jiang Duanxian looked directly at Ding Ning! "With such a sword technique, how many people can there be in this world?"

Ding Ning's attitude was very calm, and he said in a very flat voice: "Mr. Jiang, you shouldn't ask this question." "why?" "The merit of a single sword is not enough to demonstrate the sword skills, let alone determine the outcome," Ding Ning said, "The time of the decisive battle, the location of the decisive battle, and the mood and physical strength of the people in the decisive battle can all affect the strength of the sword skill." "But the saber technique itself will not change." Jiang Duanxian said: "The saber will not change either."

"What about people?" Ding Ning said, "Do people change?" "yes." "Since people change, the unparalleled master of swordsmanship may also become vulnerable overnight." Ding Ning said: "This kind of thing is neither eternal, and the person who can use this kind of swordsmanship may be only Three or five people, today there may be eight or nine people, and tomorrow there may be only one." Jiang Duanxian was speechless. As the sun fell, there was a long silence, and then Jiang Duanxian said: "Yes, people will change, and things are impermanent. The changes you have experienced are beyond my imagination." He said: "Even I think you have changed." , is no longer my opponent."

Jiang Duanxian sighed: "But I was wrong. With your physical strength today, you can still perform such a saber technique. When I have a decisive battle, I am afraid that I am no longer your opponent." Ding Ning actually smiled, and said lightly: "I understand what you mean, you must be surprised, I lived such an unbearable life in that dark ghost prison, how could the sword skills still have advanced? ?” "Yes." Jiang Duanxian said, "I was just about to ask you this question." "Actually, if you think about it carefully, you will understand." "Oh?" "After the saber technique has reached a certain level, it can be practiced without using the body," Ding Ning said. "If you don't use your body to practice, what will you use to practice?" "Use your mind, look for the changes and flaws in the knife technique in your mind, and find a method that best suits you." Ding Ning said: "When a person is suffering from extreme pain in the body, his mind is often more sensitive. .” Jiang Duanxian's attitude suddenly became very serious and full of respect, and he even said to Ding Ning with the attitude of a disciple to a teacher: "I would like to be taught." Of the eleven flowers that were picked off, nine were already in the bottle, and only one was still in Jiang Duanxian's hand. Ding Ning stood up slowly, looked at the flower branch in his hand, and then at the vase. "Does Mr. Jiang want to take this flower back?" He asked Jiang Duanxian. "In no mood." "Then, Mr. Jiang, please put the flowers in the vase." This is also a very common and ordinary sentence. The flowers that are picked should have been inserted into the vase. The strange thing is that Ding Ning, who has been seeing more and more ordinary things in the world recently, said this with a clear sense of challenge in his tone, as if he wanted to do something very difficult by himself. What was even more strange was that after hearing this sentence, Jiang Duanxian, who had always been serious and calm, suddenly became very excited, as if he was already on the battlefield, facing a murderous knife. ——What is this for? The flower branches are in the vase, with a very sparse and desolate feeling, there is still a lot of space left, one flower can be inserted in any place, even ten flowers can be inserted casually. But Jiang Duanxian held a flower in his hand, but he was like a student who wanted to write an article. Although he had pen and ink in his hand, he didn't know where to start. His knife-like eyes have chosen many places in the gaps between the flowers and branches in the vase. But the flower branch in his hand was not inserted. His expression became more dignified, not only the veins on his forehead were exposed, but even on the back of the knife, this piece of flower branch, which was as light as a feather, seemed to have become heavier than a thousand catties. ——What is this for? After a long time, Ding Ning sighed softly: "Mr. Jiang, you are really clever." Jiang Duanxian smiled wryly. "I don't even know where to put this flower. How to start with the word "Gao Ming." "The three-foot boy can also arrange flowers," Ding Ning said, "Mr. Jiang, why doesn't he know how to arrange this flower?" "It's like playing chess. Brother Ding's vase of flowers is like a game of chess, it's a foregone conclusion," Jiang Duanxian said, "If my piece falls, if it ruins the game, it will not only be boring, And damn it." Ding Ning smiled. "Mr. Jiang's words alone are enough to show his wisdom." Suddenly, the sky was full of colorful clouds, and the setting sun was burning like a flame. A light suddenly appeared in Jiang Duanxian's heart, and he casually inserted the flower branch in his hand into the bottle. The flower branches in the vase suddenly presented an indescribable and delicate style, all the space and gaps between the flower branches seemed to have been filled by this flower at this moment, even a fallen flower The remnants of the ladle can no longer float in. Not even a gnat can fly in anymore. Ding Ning's expression suddenly became as serious and respectful as Jiang Duanxian just now.The disciple ceremony is also performed in the same way. "I would like to be taught." Ding Ning said. There is a very strange legend in the martial arts. Some people can hurt people with flying flowers and fallen leaves, and even with a grain of rice. Of course, this kind of person's martial arts has reached a level that is hard to imagine, even unbelievable. However, among the high mountains, great swamps, deserts, and seas of clouds, there are hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and strange people emerge in large numbers. No one can deny the existence of this kind. If there are people in the world who can use flying flowers and fallen leaves to hurt people from three to five feet away, they will not be able to hide their movements. If there are people in this world whose martial arts have reached this stage, then Ding Ning and Jiang Duanxian are undoubtedly this kind of people. But on this evening in the early summer of April, they didn't realize that when they were concentrating on the spirit on the knife and the flower spirit in the vase, there were two people watching them from outside the bamboo fence in the flower garden. two women. Outside the bamboo fence in the flower garden, there is only a small hillside.There are yellow flowers on the slope, there are butterflies on the flowers, and the butterflies have eyes. Butterfly eyes seem to be the same as human eyes, they like to look at good-looking opposite sex. The butterfly on this clump of yellow flowers is undoubtedly a male butterfly, because it is looking at two very beautiful women. Huajing Yinmeng and his companion stood on the hillside, looking at Ding Ning and Jiang Duanxian under the ginkgo tree in the flower garden. "They seem to be arranging flowers," said the companion. "seems like it." "I really don't understand, how can two men like them be so interested in flowers?" "You don't understand, just because you are wrong." Yin Meng said, "You don't understand men like them at all." Accompanied by a row of teeth that are not very neat, but very attractive, and even two canine teeth. A girl who grew up in the mountains and ate all kinds of wild animals and plants, how could you expect her teeth to be white and neat. But white and neat teeth are not necessarily attractive. A pair of very crooked teeth, growing in the mouth of a very beautiful and even flawless woman, that kind of charm is abnormal. Especially those two canine teeth. Companion gently bit her lip with a canine tooth on her left side, her demeanor was tantamount to expressing her protest, like a little girl who already understood the relationship between men and women, but her parents, relatives, friends, brothers, sisters and elders all thought that She doesn't look like that. How could Huajing not understand this kind of expression because of his dream. "I know you know men very well." Huajing Yinmeng said, "There are many men who are difficult to understand, and you have been with them before." silence. The voice that sounded again in the silence was still Huajing Yinmeng's voice. "You can understand that after you have contact with these men, of course, after contact in a very intimate and intimate situation, of course you will have a deep and intimate understanding of them." What can a buddy say? Yinmeng continued to speak. "But what can you understand about them?" Yinmeng said: "The most you can do is understand their desires, hobbies, and their physical reactions to certain stimuli." She said: "In fact, these things you know are all false." "What is it really?" "Absolutely true, almost none." "So, what you say is true, how true is it?" "Companion, there are some things I don't want to tell you, because I just want to tell you, and you won't understand." "I do not believe." "You have to believe it." "I want you to believe what I say." Yin Meng said, "I also want you to believe that in this world, there are very few men whose feelings and feelings are different from others." Although Companion already understood what she meant, she still couldn't help asking, because she had a deep understanding and believed that the answer from this wonderful and mysterious woman would definitely satisfy her vanity hidden deep in her heart. So, the companion asked again: "Then, do you think they don't even have any desires and hobbies for men?" "They have." Yinmeng replied: "They all have a man's desire and feeling, a man's understanding and reaction to a woman." "Women know how they feel," she said. The meaning of this sentence is not obvious, so Huajing Yinmeng must explain it. "Their desires for this kind of man are far stronger than most men." She said: "Women understand this, so they often automatically dedicate themselves to them." ——If a woman knows that there is a man who has a strong desire for her, it is also a very strong temptation for her. Banban understood this, and Yinmeng asked her again: "I said just now, you don't understand, just because you are wrong." She asked Banban: "Do you know where your mistakes are?" "I'm waiting for you to tell me." "You're wrong, just because you can't see their hearts." Yin Meng said: "If you look at what they do from the outside, you must not be able to see what they are actually doing?" "What we see now is that they are arranging flowers." Companion asked Yinmeng, "What are they actually doing!" "They are showing off." Yin Meng said, "I also want to give the other party a little threat and a warning before their decisive battle." "Oh!" "The flowers in the vase are like a battle formation laid down by Ding Ning, leaving only one gap." "A gap is a gap?" "yes." Yinmeng said: "Ding Ning left this gap only because he wanted to see if Jiang Duanxian could get in. That means, he wanted to see if Jiang Duanxian could fill the gap with a flower in his hand." superior." The companion stared at the flower branches in the vase, and after a long time, he said softly: "It seems that Jiang Duanxian has filled this gap." "Yes." Huajing Yinmeng said, "It looks like Jiang Duanxian has won a battle today." She looked at her companion with a very strange look: "If you want to bet with me, bet on the outcome of their last decisive battle, if you want to bet on Ding Ning's victory, I am willing to bet you 10,000 with 30,000 taels two." Suddenly, a spring flower-like smile appeared on Banban's face, and those lovely canine teeth appeared again. "I won't bet with you," said the companion, "whatever you say, I won't bet with you." "Are you afraid of losing?" "I'm not afraid of losing," said the companion, "Anyway, even my people are already yours, so what are you afraid of losing?" "Then why don't you dare to bet with me?" Yin Meng asked, "What are you afraid of?" "I'm afraid of winning." Companion happily said: "I won't bet with you, just because I am sure to win this time." She spoke very confidently and seemed very happy. The strange thing was that Huajing Yinmeng's smile seemed much happier than her.