Chapter 4: Twisting Medicine into Strings to Bridge the Gap

Liu Zhuiyi smiled as she obediently climbed onto Bian Zhen'er’s back, who was carrying her while searching for the way back. Liu Zhuiyi playfully teased Bian Zhen'er by her ear, asking: "Little monk, since I haven't gone back, are you particularly worried about me?"

But he does not know whether being moved feels this way; as soon as he sees her, his heart beats like a hammer, and when he cannot see her, he misses her all the more

Oh dear little monk, you are so dull, don't you feel restless at all

Miss Xun Yan mentioned that you did not return all night. Bian Zhen'er suddenly stopped as he walked, slightly turning his head, and said earnestly, "The matter of the Jiao Wei Qin has already passed, why do you still take the risk to gather the Ling Man? What if something goes wrong?"

Bian Zhen'er did not dare to look her in the eye, only saying: "If you are unwell, just rest properly and do not act recklessly"

What on earth is this? Liu Zhuiyi is bold again, but still feels timid in the face of the night and evil spirits

Bian Zhen'er cast a glance at Liu Zhuiyi, unable to help but lean forward slightly, gently exhaling over Liu Zhuiyi's wound

Yun Yao listened for a while, and seeing that Bian Zhen'er remained silent, he muttered, "A monk who does not love cleanliness"

Xun Yan thought for a moment and said, "I have been somewhat influenced by it, but I do not have a particularly deep understanding."

Liu reminisced and continued: "I was brought back to Ruyi Tower by Sister Nian. Sister Nian said that when she was ten years old, she went to see the lantern festival with Ruyi Tower's mother and found me in the river filled with lotus lanterns. After that, I stayed at Ruyi Tower. When I was young, I was mischievous; I didn't like singing and dancing, but rather climbing trees and catching fish. Every day I would go to the river to catch fish to eat, and over time, Sister Nian allowed me to do as I pleased. I do not know who my parents are, but I was very happy because the sisters at Ruyi Tower treated me very well. Now that I have left Ruyi Tower, I do not feel sad because I have the little monk by my side. So, little monk, do not miss Master too much, for he likes you just as the sisters liked me. I hope you are doing well."

Liu reminisced and asked, "Little monk, what do you call me?"

Liu Zhuiyi lay on Bian Zhen'er’s back, glancing at the well-bandaged area on her arm, and asked, "Little monk, how did you find me?"

"I will." After a long time, Bian Zhen'er finally said these three words with a heavy heart

Xun Yan nodded slightly, her voice like that of a bird: "I just forgot, and have caused you trouble."

She cautiously took out the spirit vine she had picked last night from her bosom, sat by the table, meticulously removed the leaves, and rolled it in her palm to prepare the strings for the zither.

What are you saying? Having known Liu Zhuiyi for so long, even when teased, Bian Zhen'er still feels a pang in her ears. Yet, before this sentence could finish, a string of a musical instrument appeared before Bian Zhen'er's eyes

Liu recalled, revealing half of her face as she looked at Bian Zhen'er, whose eyes sparkled with a light that Liu could not comprehend

Yun Yao was momentarily stunned, then said, "Oh, oh! Good!" After that, he immediately ran out of the inn to collect the medicine again

Bian Zhen'er suddenly realized that there was someone behind the screen, and hurriedly sat down at the edge of the bed, saying: "No, I want to rest!" After saying this, he lay down. Yun Yao shouted from inside, "Hey, don't get on the bed without taking a shower."

Bian Zhen'er quickly set aside Liu Zhuiyi, helped her to sit properly, and then carefully looked at her, asking: "Where does it hurt? Let me take a look"

Bian Zhen'er completely ignores her

Bian Zhen'er stood up, confused and unable to comprehend the situation

Bian Zhen'er felt a warmth in her expression and said: "Alright"

As soon as the words were spoken, both individuals were taken aback

Xun Yan shook her head and said, "No, I live in a small town with my parents. Both of them earn a living through their skills. My mother makes incense, and I have learned a bit of it too"

Xun Yan walked in from outside, holding a new piece of clothing. Bian Zhen'er quickly stood up and said, "Miss Xun Yan, please help her clean her wound and change her clothes. I will step outside for a moment." After saying this, she immediately ran out of the room. Liu Zhuiyi couldn't help but want to laugh, but quickly turned to Xun Yan and said, "Thank you for your hard work."

Xun Yan lowered her eyes and said: "I am not arguing for the sake of arguing, it is just that Sister Liu's medicine has been spilled, and she is still waiting to take her medicine"

Outside, Bian Zhen'er sat on the railing of the second floor, observing the guests of various appearances on the first floor, lost in thought about something.

Her intuition told her that if she did not run, the ghostly fire would surely float in front of her. Liu Zhuiyi, frightened and unable to care about the height of the tree trunk from the ground, ran to the rope, grabbed it, and slid down. The rough rope burned her arms and palms, causing a sharp sensation of heat and pain.

Bian Zhen'er, upon hearing this, hurriedly continued on her journey

"That is indeed the case." Xun Yan hesitated for a moment before nodding

The dark blue object suddenly split into two masses in front of Liu Zhuiyi

To the southwest of the county town lies a vast canyon, and Liu recalled hearing people mention it on the way to Macheng.

Xun Yan followed Liu Zhuiyi and advised, "Sister Liu, you really shouldn't go. If anything happens, Bian Zhen'er and Young Master Yun will blame me."

"Little monk, you are always so shy. When will you dare to look me in the eye with confidence?" Liu Zhuiyi tilted her head, her little legs swinging back and forth.

Bian Zhen'er hurriedly searched for Liu Zhuiyi, and when she finally found her, she discovered that Liu's clothes had been torn by thorns, leaving numerous bloodstains on her arms and calves. Bian Zhen'er quickly tore off a piece of her own clothing to bandage the wounds on Liu's arms and calves, then gently patted her shoulder and softly called out: "Miss Liu."

What happened? Where has Liu'er gone?" Yun Yao rubbed his eyes and said.

Bian Zhen'er shook her head and said, "It is not your fault."

In the empty forest, only the sound of the wind rustling through the leaves can be heard. The gentle morning sunlight gradually illuminates this woodland, yet when one looks around, the figure of Liu is nowhere to be seen, nor can her response be heard.

This is the Eye of the Brow; using it once will weaken the body by one third. Master Mingyang once prohibited Bian Zhen'er from using it

Liu Zhuiyi lazily wrapped her arms around Bian Zhen'er’s neck and said, "You are worried about me." Before the words had fully left her lips, a dull pain in her forehead began to resurface. Liu Zhuiyi reached up to touch it and realized that her hair was sticky.

This is jasmine, the darling of the bedroom. I know you have been quite weary on your journey, so I went outside to pick some jasmine flowers and ground them to make incense

Yun Yao reached out and ruffled Liu Zhuiyi's hair, saying, "You can go out now." After that, he stood up and walked outside, glancing back at Liu Zhuiyi with concern as he closed the door

Bian Zhen'er glanced at Liu Zhuiyi and Xun Yan, then followed Yun Yao into the kitchen

She bit her lip in contemplation and strode towards them with large steps

Liu Zhuiyi walked over to Bian Zhen'er and asked him: "What do you think, little monk? You haven't held many women's hands, have you?"

Bian Zhen'er did not pay any attention

Thank you for your trouble, Xun Yan, Yun Yao expressed his gratitude

Bian Zhen'er showed a slight change in expression and was unwilling to respond

"You little monk, how bashful you were when you were with me, I truly thought you were innocent! I didn't expect you to be such a seasoned deceiver! Hmph!" Liu reminisced, muttering about Di Gu Zhe, with a strong expression of dissatisfaction on his face

Xun Yan followed Yun Yao to the backyard and asked the shopkeeper for the kitchen, which was used to prepare medicine for Liu Zhuiyi.

Xun Yandao: "It's all my fault. Last night I mentioned that Lingman could be used as the strings for the guqin, and Sister Liu went to the canyon gap to look for it. She hasn't returned yet. Could something have happened?"

Liu recalled with a surge of anger in her heart, she walked over, ignoring Bian Zhen'er’s astonished gaze, reached out to separate the hands of Bian Zhen'er and Xun Yan, and said: "Get away."

"Rest assured, it will not implicate you." Liu Zhuiyi said with slight displeasure, turning around and placing a hand on Xun Yan's shoulder, "Just stay here peacefully. If anything happens to me, I will take responsibility myself. I will return before dawn." After saying this, she took several large strides to the window and jumped down.

Xun Yan walked in from outside the inn, holding a bundle of medicinal herbs in her arms. Yun Yao approached her, and after exchanging a few words, he took Xun Yan to the backyard. Bian Zhen'er thought to himself that after his master left, he had been all alone, but now with so many friends, he no longer felt the same loneliness as before.

The thorns on the ground pierced her all over, causing her immense pain. She did not know when she had reached the bottom. Liu Zhuiyi's forehead struck against the stump of a tree that had been felled. She struggled to get up, but in the end, she could only weakly struggle for a moment before losing consciousness and fading away

The cliff is steep and rugged, with no easy footholds. Liu Zhuiyi looked up and saw a horizontally growing pine tree on one side of the wall. He took a thick rope from his waist, tied a curved knife to one end of the rope, and threw the rope in a parabolic arc, securing the curved knife firmly to the trunk of the pine tree.

Liu Zhuiyi continued to embrace Bian Zhen'er with great satisfaction, feeling the warmth of his flushed cheeks. Liu Zhuiyi whispered softly in Bian Zhen'er's ear, saying: "Little monk, you have become infatuated with women."

Just as she was about to turn back, a wisp of ghostly fire suddenly floated from the dark end of the canyon's gap

Bian Zhen'er said to Xun Yan: "Miss Xun Yan, you stay at the inn and do not go anywhere." After saying this, he grabbed Yun Yao's arm and ran outside, saying, "You come with me to find Miss Liu!"

Um. Xun Yan's face turned slightly red, but she quickly realized and said, "I have no other intentions. Bian Zhen'er is my savior, and I only wish to serve him well and ensure he does not encounter any danger"

As dawn broke, the door of Bian Zhen'er and Yun Yao's house was knocked on with a resounding thud.

Liu Zhuiyi finally twisted the spirit vine into a string for the zither, gently lifting one end with her fingertips and carefully examining the new string, feeling a sense of comfort.

"You are a doctor; can you take care of yourself now?" Bian Zhen'er sighed, turned around helplessly, squatted down, and said, "Get on."

After the medicine was prepared, Liu reminisced as she entered the kitchen, seeing Bian Zhen'er and Yun Yao busy starting a fire to brew the medicine. She deliberately said loudly: "Ah, Xun Yan's hands are truly soft; as a daughter, I am afraid to hold them too tightly lest I break them."

How can the will-o'-the-wisps make a sound? Liu reminisced as he crouched in the tree, his body curled up tightly, nervously staring at the will-o'-the-wisps that were getting closer and closer.

Hmm. Liu Zhuiyi noticed Yun Yao's low spirits and smiled at him.

"Why are you acting like a woman?" Liu Zhuiyi said with a laugh

She raised her hand and placed it on Bian Zhen'er’s knee, softly saying: "Little monk, it is my fault"

She fell down the slope, her emerald green dress stained with starry red mud

Yun Yao scooped a handful of ash and threw it into the stove, extinguishing the fire

Bian Zhen'er let out a slight sigh of relief, her hand gripping the strings of the instrument trembling gently

"No!" Liu Zhuiyi excitedly grabbed Bian Zhen'er’s arm and said, "Little monk, you just called me Liu'er, you called me Liu'er! Haha, little monk, I am so happy."

As the hour of the pig draws to a close, the road becomes dim after leaving the market. Moonlight falls from above, casting eerie shadows on the leaves. Liu Zhuiyi walks slowly, looking around, and with hands clasped together, says: "Various ghostly grandmothers, I, Liu Zhuiyi, have never committed any major wrongdoing in my life, please do not come to catch me!"

Bian Zhen'er poured the medicine into the bowl, blew on it, and said: "Let it cool for a while before drinking, it is too hot now"

Liu reminisced as he walked forward, taking a deep breath and said, "It smells quite good"

After much effort, she climbed to the edge of the treetop. As she stood trembling on the branch beneath her feet, she reached out and plucked a long vine. Remembering the broken qin with a burnt tail, Liu Zhuiyi pulled a long vine to keep as a spare.

Little monk, will you take me to see it in the future? Huh? If you don't speak, I'll take it as your consent

"I am fine, it just hurts a bit here." Liu Zhuiyi pointed to the injured spot on her forehead. Yun Yao quickly turned to the doctor and said, "Doctor, doctor, please take a look at my sister and see what medicine would help her heal quickly. Make sure there are no scars left."

Thus, Xun Yan was in the kitchen stoking the fire to brew medicine, Yun Yao was in the backyard wielding a branch as a sword, Bian Zhen'er was sitting on the second floor watching the comings and goings of people, and Liu Zhuiyi was hiding in the house weaving strings for his zither.

He is unaware of Liu Zhuiyi's background, does not know that she understands his innermost thoughts, and is even more oblivious to the fact that as he wanders alone in all directions, he holds such an important place in someone's heart

Several times, my feet slipped, but fortunately, Liu Zhuiyi reacted quickly and tightly grasped the tree trunk

Even when injured, one remains restless; in this world, is there only Liu who is remembered?

Xun Yan took the prescription and said, "I will go prepare the medicine for Sister Liu, Young Master Yun, you take care of Sister here."

You see her curious expression, yet she is clearly very concerned deep down

The two individuals went to different places in search of Liu Zhuiyi. Bian Zhen'er furrowed her brows so deeply that she herself did not even notice. He had already stopped blaming her, so why did she still take the risk to search for the spiritual herb?

"What do you mean? Here are the strings for you. In the future, when you miss your master, you will be able to play the piano again," Liu Zhuiyi glared at him with resentment and anger as she spoke

As she walked through the thicket, the sound of her shoes splashing in shallow water reached her ears. Liu Zhuiyi glanced down under the moonlight and realized that she was standing on a sandbar. She lifted her leg to shake off the water from her shoe soles, but her gaze was inadvertently drawn to a distant object that was glimmering with light.

At that moment, the debate was as bright as the sun, and looking at the charming and lovely woman before him, his heart was filled with intense emotions. However, he had no time to ponder; such emotions were what one would call affection.

The doctor approached Liu Zhuiyi while carrying a medicine box, carefully examining her wound, and said: "Young lady and young master, do not worry. I have excellent medicine here that, once applied, will leave no scars." As he spoke, he took the medicine box off his shoulder and retrieved a bottle of medicine for treating bruises to apply to Liu Zhuiyi's wound.

Liu Zhuiyi looked at him curiously and said deliberately: "You can't walk, can you? Let me tell you, a little monk should have a clear mind and a heart like a bright mirror. Although you are carrying an unparalleled beauty on your back, you still need to find a way to walk for me; otherwise, you must admit that you like me."

Bian Zhen'er used a gourd ladle to scoop cool water to soothe the burn on Xun Yan's skin, and advised, "Be careful, the pot just taken off the fire is very hot. Next time, use a cloth as a barrier, so you won't burn your hands."

"Bian Zhen'er, have you encountered a ghost?" A voice came from behind the screen; he was sitting in the bathtub, the white steam causing his cheeks to flush.

In the courtyard, Bian Zhen'er and Xun Yan sat under the willow tree, the green beads above their heads round and swaying in the wind, while Yun Yao leaned nearby, curiously staring at Bian Zhen'er and Xun Yan, creating a lively scene.

"It’s me, come on, get up first, I will carry you on my back." Bian Zhen'er carefully helped Liu Zhuiyi to her feet, then lifted her onto her back, standing up and walking slowly.

He actually held Xun Yan's hand

Liu reminisced, resting a hand on his chin, gazing out the window, and said: "Do you know what kind of strings are better for the guqin? I have heard that there is a type of herb that can be used to weave the strings of the guqin. Do you know which herb it is?"

The young monk... Liu Zhuiyi straightened up, as if recalling something, and quickly shook her head, "No, no." She moved in front of Bianzhen, cupped his face, and asked, "You are not a true monk; I will no longer call you the young monk. Instead, shall I call you Liu Wuduan? Hmm... no, that feels so unfamiliar. I will still call you the young monk; it sounds nice, and the name feels endearing.

Liu reminisced with her head slightly bowed; even though the wound ached, she couldn't help but smile. This was because Bian Zhen'er treated her with tenderness, which brought her joy.

Bian Zhen'er felt bored and wanted to see what Yun Yao and Xun Yan were doing. However, as soon as she arrived, she heard Xun Yan's scream and the sound of a medicine jar shattering on the ground

He believed that after following his master for so long, he could achieve a heart as clear as a mirror, unbound by any worldly emotions. Yet, he did not realize that his master, having spent a lifetime, could never forget Yao Ru. How could someone whose heart is entangled in the mundane world teach him to have a heart as clear as a mirror

It seems that Bian Zhen'er is quite attentive to herself. Reflecting on this, Liu Zhuiyi couldn't help but smile. Xun Yan entered carrying a hot book basin, and Liu Zhuiyi quickly returned to normal.

Afterward, the doctor left several names of medicines on the prescription, specifically to regulate Liu Zhuiyi's body. She was terrified last night and fell from such a great height; it is essential to adjust her condition for recovery

"I am sorry, the medicine jar is too hot, I didn't pay attention to it," Xun Yan said with considerable self-reproach

Yun Yao was the first to see Liu Zhuiyi and quickly called out, "Liu'er, why haven't you taken a break?" As he spoke, he approached to support Liu Zhuiyi, but Liu Zhuiyi waved his hand, his gaze never leaving Bian Zhen'er.

When Master missed Yao Ru, he would play the qin. He also told me that in this world, the word 'emotion' is something that cannot be touched. Later, Master died in that heavy rain, and I became a solitary person. I began to carry the焦尾琴 and walked the path that Master had walked. As Bian Zhen'er recalled the scenes of the past, her eyes were filled with tears.

Yun Yao was speechless, feeling an indescribable taste in his heart

Xun Yan thoughtfully helped Liu Zhuiyi change into clean clothes, and also wiped the dried blood from her arms and legs. Just as she finished tidying up, Yun Yao entered with the doctor. Yun Yao, unable to contain his urgency, hurried to Liu Zhuiyi's side and asked with concern: "Liu'er, are you hurt anywhere? Does it hurt?"

Miss Liu! Bian Zhen'er arrived in the jungle, calling out while searching.

Yun Yao had not yet reacted when Bian Zhen'er pulled him out of the inn

The warm breath disturbed Bian Zhen'er, making his cochlea itch, and it further stirred his heart's desire

Perhaps, contemplating the past, or perhaps, pondering the future

Just as Liu Zhuiyi stepped to the stairway on the second floor, she saw Yun Yao hurriedly running from outside towards the backyard, and she did not have time to call out to him. Liu Zhuiyi, feeling suspicious, held onto the handrail and walked downstairs, following Yun Yao to the backyard

Liu Zhuiyi heard a sound, let out a muffled groan, slowly opened his eyes, and weakly said: "Little... monk?"

Liu quickly stepped back, nodding like a chick pecking at rice, saying, "Alright, alright, alright!" Then, she picked up the bowl of medicinal soup and gulped down the bitter potion in one go

She went to find the spirit vine that can weave strings for the zither! Bian Zhen'er exclaimed in shock, "When did she go?"

Liu Zhuiyi asked again: "As long as it is a gap in the canyon, will there be spiritual vines?"

"In other words, we can only see Lingman at night, right?" Liu Zhuiyi asked

Xun Yan pondered for a moment and said, "I have heard my father mention it before, but this herb is quite peculiar and not easy to find"

Xun Yan anxiously shouted outside: "Little Master, Young Master Yun! Something is wrong!"

Liu's gaze suddenly turned terrifying as she looked at the reflection of the will-o'-the-wisps in the shallow water. Struggling to get up, she turned around and shouted at the ghostly fire, "What a useless thing! Why do you always follow me!"

Bian Zhen'er disregarded Liu Zhuoyi, lifted the lid of the medicine jar, and said: "The medicine is ready, no need to light the fire."

Too noisy

Bian Zhen'er quickly stood up and said, "The sky, the sky... it is getting late! I must rest now, Miss Liu, you should also rest early." As he spoke, he turned and walked down from the rooftop. Due to his nervousness, his steps were somewhat disordered, and he nearly stumbled. Liu Zhuiyi, watching from behind, couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Bian Zhen'er took it over as if it were a treasure, carefully cradling it in his palm. He looked at the string woven from spiritual vines in disbelief, and suddenly seemed to recall something, exclaiming: "This string... Liu'er, your hand..."

Even the master has never told him what to do in such situations

After Liu Zhuiyi and the others left, Zhen'er jumped down from the roof and returned to the house. Xun Yan lit an incense in the room, claiming it had a calming effect

This won't do; we still need to go back and see a doctor. Bian Zhen'er is not at ease.

Unexpectedly, Liu Zhuiyi did not receive the response she desired. After listening to Liu Zhuiyi's words, Xun Yan smiled and said: "It seems that the benefactor is indeed remarkable; Sister Liu and I, both have been rescued by Bian Zhen'er."

After Xun Yan left the room, Liu reminisced as he sat on the couch and said to Yun Yao: "Alright, there is nothing more for you to do, you may leave now, I need to rest. Xun Yan's medicine is ready, she will come in when she knocks on the door."

Liu reminisced and looked up, innocently saying: "I am the doctor."

After much effort, Liu Zhuiyi was finally brought back to the inn. The search for Yun Yao on the northeast side was fruitless, and Xun Yan was anxiously waiting at the inn. Upon seeing Bian Zhen'er returning with Liu Zhuiyi on her back, Yun Yao hurriedly approached and asked anxiously, "Is everything alright? Is Liu injured anywhere?"

Liu Zhuiyi happily hugged Bian Zhen'er tightly, nuzzling his head and said: "I knew you were worried about me, don't use Yun Yao and Xun Yan as an excuse, I understand, haha..."

In the depths of the jungle, it remained pitch black, with only a fragment of the spiritual vine that Liu Zhuiyi had revealed in his embrace, glowing with an ethereal white light

"Not only I, but also Yun Yao and Xun Yan are worried about you," said Bian Zhen'er

Hearing the noise, Bian Zhen'er got up to open the door. As soon as the door was opened, Xun Yan couldn't help but say: "Little Master, Sister Liu hasn't returned yet!"

Bian Zhen'er hurriedly ran into the room, closed the door, and began to silently recite the scripture: "Amitabha, Amitabha"

Xun Yan extended her hand, while Liu Zhuiyi applied the burn ointment to her hand, spreading it little by little.

Xun Yan bit her lip and said, "This medicine is called Lingman, which grows in the crevices of the canyon and emits a strange white light at night. However, this is also when its resilience is at its best. After dawn, Lingman will crawl along the mountain wall, indistinguishable from ordinary vines."

He had never known that there were women like Liu Zhuiyi in the world, unbound by the constraints of worldly laws, living freely and comfortably, and not confined by the distinctions of gender, being candid and sincere

She rubbed her eyes and ran in to take a look, only to realize that the glowing objects were vines climbing on the rock face. They covered the walls on both sides of the crevice, their long stems shining brightly, surpassing even the stars and the moon.

Liu Zhuiyi couldn't help but smile when he heard Bian Zhen'er say this: "Then let's not argue anymore, shall we?"

Originally intending to spend quality time with Liu Zhuiyi, Yun Yao, upon hearing this, felt disappointed and said: "Alright then, you rest well. I will go out, call me if you need anything"

Bian Zhen'er carefully examined the shallow beach beneath his feet and noticed the pale, dried mud footprints on the shore. It seemed that Liu Zhuiyi must have run off in a certain direction. He dared not think too much and hurriedly followed the pale mud footprints.

Upon hearing the name Liu Zhuiyi, Yun Yao, who was still sound asleep in bed, immediately woke up

Bian Zhen'er lay on his back on the bed, his mind filled with the image of Liu Zhuiyi. He was unable to sleep, unable to calm his thoughts; in all his years of living, he had never encountered such a situation.

"Yun Yao, go get another packet of medicine, and while you're at it, ask the doctor for some burn ointment," Bian Zhen'er said, turning to Yun Yao.

As expected, using the brow center pupil truly allows one to see Liu Zhuiyi

Bian Zhen'er was taken aback, speechless, and said: "You... you... you..."

What does your father do? Liu reminisced casually in conversation

She was afraid that the ghost fire would catch up, so she ran wildly. The clouds at night covered the moonlight, plunging the world into darkness. Liu Zhuiyi could not see the path, and her feet slipped as if she had stepped into thin air on a slope, causing her body to roll down.

Bian Zhen'er watched him walk out, then turned to Liu Zhuiyi and asked, "Your complexion still doesn't look very good, why did you come out?" Liu Zhuiyi glared at him and replied with righteous indignation, "If I hadn't come out, you probably wouldn't have just been holding Xu Yan's little hand, would you?"

Xun Yan slightly furrowed her brows and asked, "Sister Liu, are you going to gather the spirit vines?"

Yun Yao gently nudged Bian Zhen'er and said softly, "Go prepare the medicine."

"Good." Liu nodded in reminiscence

Only too serious, she lost the time to rest. At this moment, Liu recalled her lips, pale as white wax, and cold sweat dripped down. She stuffed the strings of the zither into her bosom, feeling dizzy as she walked to the bedside and collapsed into it.

After the master departed, he believed that he was dispensable in the world. However, now there is someone who, like the master, cares for him in their heart

Liu Zhuiyi glanced at Xun Yan, and couldn't help but smile, saying: "Please, have a seat."

Liu Zhuiyi said that he had not held the hands of many women. In fact, Bianzhen'er had not encountered many women either, let alone shake hands with them. During the time he wandered with Master Mingyang, he had almost no contact with women. After Master Mingyang passed away, Bianzhen'er spent three years before meeting Liu Zhuiyi, and then Xun Yan.

Liu recalled witnessing everything, and his expression immediately darkened

Bian Zhen'er's pupils were gradually constricting, while Liu Zhuiyi remained completely unaware that the face she was cradling had already turned bright red, the warm temperature swirling in her palms

Liu reminisced and inexplicably scolded Bian Zhen'er, who swallowed hard but said nothing. However, Yun Yao, upon seeing the situation, immediately understood what was happening. Look, she was feeling sour again

The ghostly blue flames slowly drifted towards the willow, evoking memories.

Yet even so, Liu Zhuiyi still felt a chill in her heart. She was like a frightened wildcat, hunching her back, her toes lightly tapping, both shouting and running.

The will-o'-the-wisps continued to follow, and Liu reminisced as she ran towards the thicket, but she stumbled on the shallow bank, getting entangled in the water plants and fell down. In an instant, her face and clothes were splattered with a bit of mud

Bian Zhen'er and Yun Yao rushed to the kitchen, where they saw Xun Yan reaching her hand into the cold water, and on the floor lay a broken medicinal jar.

The candlelight by the window flickered faintly, as if reminiscing about the fleeting figure of Liu, only to instantly return to its original state.

Liu reminisced too intimately, while Bian Zhen'er stumbled in her steps, hurriedly saying: "Don't move around!"

His eyes slightly lowered, he murmured: "Master, I am sorry"

"Making the zither!" Xun Yan replied with a proud expression, "Father's zither and Mother's incense are the best things in the town"

She lay injured in the room, ignored by everyone, while the three of them were quite well, staying closely together here without knowing what to do

"Alright, I won't move around; I'll just hold you tight." Liu Zhuiyi obediently complied, yet his arms did not leave Bian Zhen'er’s neck. Bian Zhen'er felt her cheeks flush slightly and stammered, "You... you can't do this; I can't leave like this!"

Yun Yao, who remained outside the house, heard Liu Zhuiyi's joyful voice and could not help but glance into the kitchen. However, with that glance, he saw Liu Zhuiyi happily rush into Bian Zhen'er’s embrace, rubbing against his chest and saying: "Little monk, you can call me Liu'er from now on; it makes me happy, and I fear no pain when I hear it."

Hahaha! Upon seeing the embarrassed look on Bian Zhen'er, Liu Zhuiyi burst into laughter

Even if I can't climb up, I must still try. Besides, I, Liu Zhuiyi, have climbed countless mountains since childhood. I tell you, do not inform the little monk and Yun Yao. If they come over later, do not open the door; just say I am asleep. Liu Zhuiyi stood up and looked around, gathering everything he could find, such as scissors and fire sticks, and finally tied a bundle of rope around his waist.

I am not worried about you; I am even more concerned than Bian Zhen'er. It's just that he was lucky enough to end up in the canyon where you are.

"Not troublesome." Bian Zhen'er continuously watered Xun Yan, and whenever Xun Yan occasionally looked up, her face displayed a myriad of charming expressions, her eyes resembling autumn waters

Xun Yan sat down, and Liu Zhuiyi poured her a bit of water, asking: "Was it a wealthy family in the past?"

Liu reminisced and asked, "Is your father a lute maker? Do you understand the lute?"

Liu, recalling the strength of the rope, pushed off with his legs against the right wall and laboriously climbed up to the tree

Everything is arranged by heaven, and he should accept it with pleasure

Bian Zhen'er is worried about Liu Zhuiyi

I will go to the Grand Canyon on the southwest side, Yun Yao, and you will go to the Small Canyon in the northeast corner. Regardless of whether you find it or not, return to the inn after three hours.

Ah—ghost! Liu Zhuiyi screamed and ran off in another direction. The two balls of ghostly fire did not pursue her, but through the flames, one could see Liu Zhuiyi's figure growing increasingly distant.

After a moment, once she had caught her breath, Liu Zhuiyi slowly got up. She wanted to deliver the strings of the zither to Bian Zhen'er without any delay.

I am not being ridiculous!" Liu Zhuiyi said with a pout.

Liu reminisces that she does not understand the pain of longing for someone or the suffering of missing someone, but Master Mingyang is so important to Bian Zhen'er that she will certainly help Bian Zhen'er repair the broken string of her guqin

"Shh..." Liu reminisced, his fingers brushing against his lips, and softly said, "I have to go; I broke the little monk's string and need to compensate him."

Liu Zhui recalled snatching the burn ointment from Bian Zhen'er’s hand and said: "Do you not know that men and women should not engage in close contact?"

Little monk, you have traveled to so many places, have you ever seen the scene of red plums amidst chaotic snow? I saw it once when I was young, and it was truly beautiful

"Miss Liu, what has happened?" Bian Zhen'er asked

Xun Yan smiled and said, "It's not hard, Sister Liu'er, please wait a moment, I will go fetch a basin of hot water."

However, weaving the strings of a musical instrument is not an easy task

Crossing through the vast woods and thickets, Bian Zhen'er discovered a cloth shirt by the shallow water's edge. He picked it up and, upon closer inspection, furrowed his brow: "Miss Liu?"

Bian Zhen'er turned her head to look at Liu Zhuiyi, her eyes filled with confusion

Liu recalled when he applied medicine to Xun Yan and couldn't help but ask: "Is the little monk kind?"

However, the spiritual vine is already within reach, and this minor injury is of no consequence. Liu Zhuiyi raised her eyes and saw that the tip of the pine tree's branches extended to where the spiritual vine was. She carefully got up and slowly advanced by stepping on the trunk.

What dangers could he encounter? When we first met, that little monk killed someone for me; who would dare to bully him?" Liu reminisced about the past with a hint of pride on his face

Yun Yao raised his hands and said, "Alright, I have overstayed my welcome." Then, he got up and walked out of the kitchen

Liu reminisced that there were already scars on her palms, and at this moment, as she forcefully twisted and rubbed the strings of the zither, it caused a strange pain in her palms. Yet, she gritted her teeth and frowned, persevering for a moment before continuing to weave. Beads of cold sweat trickled down her elegant cheeks from her forehead, dripping onto her clothes, rendering her complexion pale, but she showed no intention of stopping.

She is being deliberate, with the intention of making Xun Yan retreat in the face of difficulty. Bian Zhen'er is on good terms with her

After Xun Yan walked out, Liu Zhui recalled and grinned as he reached out to touch the painful spot on his forehead, where he had bumped into a tree stump last night. Fortunately, he did not die from the impact. Thankfully, Bian Zhen'er was clever and found him while he was still alive; otherwise, he would have surely ended up as a pitiful corpse left in the wilderness

Bian Zhen'er did not dare to waste any time and did not rest for a moment along the way

"Little monk, not speaking cannot avoid anything; look, your ears are all red."

She had no time to look back, firmly clutching Lingman in her arms, and rushed forward.

Liu Zhuiyi smiled broadly, illuminated by the moonlight, and only the delicate outline of her figure and the brightness in her eyes could be seen. Liu Zhuiyi said: "We have exchanged each other's secrets, shall we share life and death from now on?"

She shook her head and did not delve deeper

"Liu ... ... girl." Bian Zhen'er spoke with a hoarse voice, gazing at Liu's reminiscing face, feeling at a loss.

Xun Yan leisurely walked to the window, the candlelight flickering in her eyes

Bian Zhen'er remained silent all the way, silently reciting the Heart Sutra of Prajnaparamita in her heart

Liu's face was shrouded in gloom, and this Bian Zhen'er was always unwilling to heed her words

Liu Zhuiyi pointed to her forehead, and only then did Bian Zhen'er notice a wound among her hair, where the blood that had flowed out had already dried, leaving only the part that had stuck to her hair hardened and congealed

Returning to the house, Bian Zhen'er gently set Liu Zhuiyi down, who gazed at him with an unceasing smile.

"It's not a bother." Xun Yan smiled gently, turned around, and went out to fetch the medicine

"Little monk, it hurts so much," Liu Zhuiyi said with a wronged expression, pouting and speaking in a whiny tone.

"Yun Yao, go find a doctor. Miss Xun Yan, could you please bring a set of clean clothes?" Bian Zhen'er said calmly, and then walked into the room with Liu Zhuiyi on his back. Yun Yao and Xun Yan quickly reacted, promptly following Bian Zhen'er's instructions, with one going to seek a doctor and the other to find clothes.

Bian Zhen'er turned her head, sat to one side, and quietly waited for Yun Yao and Xun Yan to bring the doctor and the clothes

Liu Zhuiyi took out a string from his pocket, held it high in front of Bian Zhen'er, and said: "Take it!"

Liu reminisced, murmuring with a displeased expression, "Yun Yao, you go out first, I have something to discuss with the little monk."

The jungle is vast, and Liu has already lost her way in her memories.

"It's nothing, did your hand get burned?" Bian Zhen'er walked over, took hold of Xun Yan's arm to examine it closely, and then discovered that all five of her fingers were red from the burn

Liu Zhuiyi suddenly felt a sense of unease in her heart. She raised her gaze to look at Xun Yan, whose innocent little face appeared charming and delicate. However, Liu Zhuiyi always felt a sense of discomfort, yet she could not pinpoint what was amiss.

After Yun Yao and the doctor went out, only Liu Zhuiyi remained in the room

The canyon gap is quite steep, and very few people are able to climb up it said Xun Yan

You tell me first," Liu Zhuiyi leaned on the table, leaned closer to Xun Yan, and asked

Bian Zhen'er knew that Liu Zhuiyi was alluding to something, and remained silent.

Miss Liu ... ... Miss Liu, where are you?

As he spoke, he saw Bian Zhen'er bite her index finger, using the crimson blood on her fingertip to mark a dot between her brows. Instantly, a thread of red light swept across his tightly closed eyelids like the ripples on a lake stirred by the wind. When he opened his eyes again, he could see through the trees and gaze upon the thing he sought.

Only after realizing the situation did Bian Zhen'er know that she had misspoken, and hurriedly said: "Liu, Miss Liu!"

Liu reminisced and tightened his embrace around Bian Zhen'er’s neck, leaning closely against him, and said: "You say you are worried about me, I will not laugh at you. Hehe."

But there was not a single echo

Liu Zhuiyi withdrew her hand and sat up straight, saying: "Little monk, I would be very happy if you could share your story with me. In fact, it is not a big deal. Throughout a person's life, one will encounter many people and also lose many. Actually... actually, I am just like you, little monk." As she spoke, she hugged her knees tightly and gently bit her skirt with her teeth

Yun Yao nodded and quickly regained his composure, saying: "I understand, you should be careful."

Approximately at the hour of Hai last night

Bian Zhen'er raised both hands in the air, unsure of where to place them. He was extremely nervous and said, "Miss Liu... this, this way, oh! The medicine, the medicine is going to cool down."

Hiss... I forgot to protect my palms, and the ropes left red marks on my hands

Liu Zhuiyi sat beside Xun Yan, his gaze languid, yet his voice was commanding like that of a queen as he said: "Hand."

Liu reminisced in silence after listening

"Lingman? It really is Lingman!" Liu Zhuiyi exclaimed as she ran over, looking up at the spiritual grass on the mountainside.

It seems that each is doing their own thing without any connection, yet they have gradually become more harmonious with one another

Indeed, Liu's reminiscence seems to have touched his heart