Under the sky

Chapter 236 Chaoyun Chuxiu

Xie Yunyan came to the cliff with a torch in each hand. The moonlight reflected on the snow was very bright, but he still held two torches.The torch illuminated only a few feet around him. He carefully came to the edge of the cliff, raised the torch, and looked at the platform about a foot away on the left.

His heart beat faster and he felt uneasy. As soon as he lost his footing... He lowered his head, and there was endless darkness like an abyss under his feet.

With a slight flick, he threw the torch onto the opposite platform, making it brighter and confirming the place to stay.

It can be done. He has tried it countless times. As long as he runs fast enough and jumps high enough, he can jump over a foot without danger.Although he couldn't practice martial arts, the book explained how to jump far and how to land safely. He knew it and had practiced it.

He cannot be afraid or timid. If he loses his footing, he will fall to his death.

He couldn't hesitate for too long. Master Jin would get up at Yinshi, and he might soon find out that he was not there. If he hesitated any longer, he would have no chance.

The torch falls right on the edge of the platform below, which can be used as a reference.He held another torch and retreated to the other side of the platform, looking up at the sky, which was filled with stars.He took a few deep breaths to suppress his restless heartbeat, then took a deeper breath and ran towards the edge of the cliff, towards the fire, towards the light, and jumped.

At this moment, his desire for the sun far exceeded his fear of death.

He followed the movements recorded in the book and practiced them many times. He stretched his arms, dropped his toes, bent his knees, retracted his legs, and rolled forward. With a "pop" sound, he rolled over and over the torch at his feet. Out some distance.

He did it!He really did it!
He was so ecstatic that he wanted to laugh, but then he felt a contraction in his stomach, his whole body felt numb, his feet became weak, and he sat down on the ground.Chills surged up, like waves of cold wind that made him shiver. His body felt hot and cold, and he gasped for air.

With trembling hands, he used a torch to look around, and after confirming that it was safe, he lay back on the platform.The view was much better here, he could see more stars, but there was still part of the sky obscured by the overhanging cliffs.He wasn't sure if he could see the sun here, probably not. If he could see the sun when he came here, Master Jin would help him.

What to do next?He stood up and walked towards the cliff with a torch.There was another platform below, not far away, about one to two or three feet, but a little low. The height difference between the two sides was nearly three feet, which was a height that would break his legs, and he couldn't see the terrain clearly.

He couldn't stop here, otherwise his efforts would be in vain. He had to find an open and unprotected place, preferably before dawn, so that he could watch the sunrise.

He threw out the torch in his hand. The torch rolled twice on the platform below and stopped. After confirming its height, he turned back and picked up the torch on the ground.

The second jump, he felt the pressure on the soles of his feet when he landed. He was only a few feet taller, and it was as if the force was doubled and his feet were numb.When he landed on the ground, he rolled twice more, and suddenly the ground was empty at his feet. He threw the torch and grabbed the bump on the ground with both hands, and his calves fell outside the cliff.

Xie Yunjin broke out in a cold sweat. He crawled to a safe place using his hands and feet. He held his chest and gasped for a while. Then he picked up the torch and looked around.There was a platform in front of him, but it was three feet away. He was a little disappointed. This was not a distance he could cross, and he didn't even have to risk it.

There is a steep slope at the back, only four or five feet wide, with a cliff on one side and a cliff on the other.It was already April, and the snow was gradually melting. Xie Yunjin took a torch and shined it. He was not sure whether it was safe. The slope was too steep and it was easy to lose his footing.

He first slid a torch down the steep slope, then sat down, holding the mountain wall with his left hand and holding the torch in his right hand as he slid down little by little.The ground was slippery and he couldn't hold on. He slid down the slope like a ladder. Fortunately, he stabilized his body immediately and passed another level.

He looked up and saw that the platform in front of Guigu Hall was just above his head, only about ten feet high.I can't go back there, but it's still so far away from the foot of the mountain...

There is no road here, only naturally formed gaps in the slippery mountain wall. He must observe very carefully, because if he takes the wrong path, he may not be able to turn back.

Has Yin time arrived?Is it time for Master Jin to get up?

He was still naive. How could a 14-year-old boy be able to climb a mountain wall that top-notch experts dare not climb?When he walked with his back against the mountain wall through a rugged path that was only one foot wide, he dropped a torch. The light fell into the abyss and was extinguished. After a long time, he heard the echo of a very light "thunk".

After passing the passage, there is a relatively wide platform, which is no more than two feet wide.There was no way, and it was the end here. He raised the remaining torch to illuminate the left and right sides, trying to find if there was any protrusion that he could jump to.

There was a piece, just a foot away, not far away, nine feet below, not high. He could even see the reflection of the firelight on the snow.

But it was very small, less than a foot in diameter, and he had to dance very accurately.Xie Yunjin threw down the torch first as usual. He jumped a few times and it was fine. I believe it will go smoothly this time too.He took a few steps back, took a breath, ran out quickly, and jumped up.

He accurately landed on the protrusion, but felt his foot sprained, and a sharp pain came. His right foot could not support his body, and he fell to the right, almost hitting the torch he had just thrown down.This didn't stop, the slippery snow surface caused his body to slide to the right, and then he felt his body was empty and falling downwards.

Oops!Xie Yunyan quickly stretched out his hands to grab the ground, but his body was already hanging in the air and fell. His hands were not strong enough to support him to get up. He could only shout in panic: "Help!"

Before the sound reached the mountain, his hands slipped and he fell into the abyss.He remembered what Jin Fuzi said: The reason why special cases are regarded as special cases is because they are not the norm.I was adventurously walking in this steep valley. The first few times I was able to escape danger were just good luck.

Treating the exception as the norm is your own ignorance.

■

It was so cold, so painful...it hurt so much that he couldn't move a finger, and it hurt so much that he wanted to cry.

Xie Yunjin opened his eyes and it was dawn.The blue sky and white clouds were right in front of him, and he landed on a snowy ground.He didn't know what was happening, so he hurriedly turned to look for the sun.

No, I can't see it. There's still no sun here.Where is the sun?He wanted to get up, but his whole body hurt as if it was not his own. The pain in his legs made his whole body twitch.

It hurts, it hurts so much... What happened? Why am I here?Shouldn't he be hiding in that dark cave, waiting for the sun to wander and fall in front of him one day?

Dad...save the child...help...help...

It was so cold...it hurt...he wanted to sleep so much. When he fell asleep, the pain disappeared. When he woke up, he went back to the cave. When he woke up...his father came...

He passed out again.

He couldn't remember how many times he fainted from the pain and woke up again.In the days that followed, he only remembered the experience before he jumped, and how painful it was. It was so painful that he didn't want to experience it a second time. He couldn't remember the rest.

"Master! Master!" He heard a familiar voice with a crying tone. Although his body was still in severe pain, it felt much warmer.It was already late at night, but the fire was shining brightly, and he saw Jin Fuzi's face full of tears.

"Master, what are you doing? Why have you suffered like this? Why have you suffered like this!" Jin Fuzi's old face was full of tears, complaining and feeling distressed.

"The moon...the moon..." Xie Yunjin asked, "Where is the moon? Today...is there a moon?"

"You can't see it from here. You have to go around the back of the mountain to see it." Jin Fuzi cried, "Just look at the sun and the moon. Is it worth it? Is it worth it? Is it worth it?"

"Carry...carry me over." Xie Yunjin groaned, "I want to take a look before I die..."

"You can't move now." Master Jin said, "You have broken many bones."

It is said that when Jin Fuzi found him, there were some thick branches beside him. He probably pressed against the trees to slow down his strength, and then fell on the snow. He was not dead, but he was seriously injured, including his legs, left arm and four ribs. fracture.

Jin Fuzi tore off his clothes to bandage him and removed the branches and bones. Xie Yunjin looked at Jin Fuzi's old face, his vision was blurry, but it felt like it was the first time he saw the teacher who had been with him since childhood so clearly. .

"Bear it." Jin Fuzi made a mistake with his hand, causing Xie Yunjin to scream in pain.

"We can't stay here, you are too injured." Jin Fuzi carried him on his back, "Master, let's go."

"Are we going back?" Xie Yunjin asked, he was worried.

"We can't go back," Master Jin replied, "We can come down, but we can't go up."

Jin Fuzi looked for the young master along the platform outside the cave. He first searched along the platform, but couldn't find anyone. Then he remembered that the young master didn't know martial arts, so he shouldn't be able to jump over the platform that was more than three feet away. He turned around to look for the fallen man. The torch on the platform judged that the young master made a mistake here.

He thought Xie Yunjin was dead, so he looked for the young master's body in great grief. He jumped down, climbed the rock wall and jumped into the deep valley. However, he saw the unconscious and seriously injured young master still breathing.

But he couldn't go back. At first, he jumped down the valley with a courage that was not afraid of death. There were a few footholds in the middle where he could jump, but it was impossible to climb up, not to mention the young master who was seriously injured on his back.

"I'm sorry." Xie Yunjin felt guilty for this master, and how worried he was about his willfulness.

"Go to sleep, young master." Master Jin said, "It won't hurt if you sleep."

"Will dad come find me if he finds out?" Xie Yunjin asked.

Jin Fuzi felt distressed, felt sorry for the child, and somewhat... also felt sorry for himself.

It was getting dark and getting colder. The snow-capped mountains in April were fine during the day, but it was freezing at night. However, there were few branches to break in the valley, making it difficult to start a fire to keep out the cold. Master Jin only left simple clothes and trousers and took off the rest of his clothes. On the young master.

"Aren't you cold?" Xie Yunjin asked in a low voice.

"I have practiced internal strength and can withstand it." Jin Fuzi replied.

Xie Yunjin fell asleep again, her body felt cold and hot, and she screamed in pain, but she couldn't wake up, as if she was trapped in a nightmare that couldn't stop.He dreamed of his father's back in the night, leading another young man as he walked, refusing to look back no matter how he was called, until the young man looked back at him impatiently.

"Master, wake up!" Jin Fuzi's big face blocked his sight. Before he could see the young man's appearance, he was woken up by Jin Fuzi. In the darkness, he only saw Jin Fuzi's big face facing him.

"It will be dawn later." Master Jin pointed to the mountains in the east, "Don't you want to watch the sunrise?"

Is it going to be dawn?He looked up.The night is very deep, how can there be any sign of dawn?

Then he saw a little light seemed to be brewing in the distance, gradually brightening, and it was slightly pale white, looking lonely and weak among the mountains.He originally thought that he was dead, and he wanted to remember this moment even more greedily. This sight was indeed etched in his heart forever.

Only after a long night can the dawn be worth looking forward to.When everyone takes the day for granted, not many people will remember the gift of the sun.

He gasped for air, his heart beating faster. Although the broken bones hurt, it did not distract him. He seemed to have forgotten the pain.

He found that his surroundings were getting brighter and brighter without realizing it.As soon as the sun appeared, the entire scenery changed. A more dazzling light slowly climbed up from behind the mountain, a golden light.

"There are enough clouds, Master, it will be a beautiful sunrise." Jin Fuzi said.

By the time Xie Yunjin noticed it, the light had already revealed a small rounded corner.

The sun...is this the sun?It is indeed brilliant and dazzling.

His eyes blurred and he fainted again.

The bird's blood was warm, and Master Jin asked him to drink the blood.It was much warmer during the day, and Jin Fuzi could hunt rare prey, but how to get out of this vast white snow desert?From time to time he looked up at the sun, which made his eyes dazzled. Master Jin said that it hurt his eyes, and he would be able to see it more often in the future, so there was no need to worry.

"Where are we going?" Xie Yunjin asked, if they can't return to the cliff, where are they going?
"It's a very bad place." Jin Fuzi carried him on his back and walked west, "But if you don't go there, you won't be able to find a place for you to rest and recuperate."

"Where?" he asked.

"The barbarians are the territory of the Sa religion." Jin Fuzi said.

They walked for three days, and Xie Yunjin couldn't help but have a fever and fell into a coma. As soon as he woke up, he looked at the sun and the moon.

They finally walked through the snowy desert and came to a place with flowers, grass and trees. Xie Yunjin looked at it greedily, everything was novel.Such a big tree stood vividly in front of him, and he had seen flying birds before, but the snow leopard he glanced at still surprised him, and the hare... didn't jump as fast as he thought. It's not that a rabbit that jumps too fast can be killed head-on. On the tree?

When we got here, the weather got warmer and there was firewood to keep him warm at night. Master Jin pulled out some herbs and boiled medicine for him to drink, but he didn't get any better.After walking for another two days, they were about to go down the mountain. Xie Yunjin was sleeping on Master Jin's back when he suddenly heard Master Jin shouting: "Hey! Hello!" Xie Yunjin looked up and saw a girl holding a water bag in the small Fetching water from the stream.

She was a skinny girl, about eleven or twelve years old, with two strange red lumps on her face covered with white flakes of skin.Xie Yunjin was surprised to see a huge monster holding her head behind her. It was probably not more than seven feet long and six feet tall. It was all white, with long hair and horns.

Master Jin ran quickly, and the little girl was also surprised to see a stranger.Master Jin shouted: "My young master is injured, can you borrow a place to rest?"

The girl looked at the two of them timidly, and after a while she said, "I want to ask my dad!" After saying that, she picked up the kettle and led the monster and turned around to leave. Jin Fuzi followed quickly.

"What is that?" Xie Yunjin asked, he was really frightened by this monster.

"It's a cow, and it looks different from the ones in the pass." Master Jin ordered, "Master, from now on, you can no longer be called a barbarian. Remember, when you step into the territory of the Sa religion, you are a Sa tribe member, and you believe in the Sa god."

They followed the little girl outside a wooden house. There was only this wooden house and no other houses nearby.Outside the hut, a sturdy middle-aged man was hoeing the ground. The little girl pointed at the two of them. The middle-aged man turned to look at Mrs. Jin and walked forward.

"Who are you?" the middle-aged man asked. Seeing the seriously injured Xie Yunjin, he hurriedly said, "Why is this kid so injured? Come with me."

The middle-aged man led the two of them into the hut. Jin Fuzi quickly put the young master on the bed and covered him with a quilt.The middle-aged man shouted: "Lika, go boil a pot of hot water!" The girl hurriedly ran to get water.

"God bless you, my name is Sired. Who are you? What happened?" the middle-aged man asked.

"We went hunting in the mountains, and my young master accidentally fell into the valley. He managed to rescue him with great difficulty," Jin Fuzi said.

"Falling off a cliff while hunting?" Sired was a little confused, "Why do you go hunting in the mountains?"

Master Jin was at a loss for words. He knew too little about the barbarians and was afraid of saying the wrong thing.

"I... disobedient... kept going up the mountain, up the mountain..." Xie Yunjin said, "I got lost on the mountain and fell into the mountain stream. Jin... the housekeeper found me and also... lost his way, and... My father...is separated."

"Which noble family are you from?" Sired asked again.

Although he lives in a cave, the clothes Xie Yunjin wears are not poor people's clothes.

"The Xie family is a Han family. My father is the guard of the priests." This was based on the few knowledge he got from books about the Sa people.But he thought of one thing. Since this person was far away from the tribe, he might not know what happened at the foot of the mountain. He had to answer, and he had to answer in a way that would not raise any suspicion.

Sired was dubious: "I have never heard of a bodyguard named Xie in Gil's sacrifice, and he doesn't have as good a cloth as you."

"My father is not protecting the little Ji Jiji, but the priest who is farther away." Xie Yunyan said.

Sired thought for a moment and took out a small vat from the corner of the hut: "This is my herbal soup. I drink it when I am injured and apply it on the wound." He poured the medicinal soup into a small bowl and served it. Come on, the smell of medicine is pungent. Master Jin doesn't know the origin of this medicine, but medicine is precious in the wilderness, so this man is kind-hearted, so he helps the young master and feeds him to drink.

It's sour, bitter, and has a pungent grassy smell, all of which Xie Yunjin has never tasted before.

Lika came in with a basin of hot water and soaked it with a towel. Jin Fuzi quickly took it and said, "I'll do it." She helped Xie Yunjin wipe the dirt on his face.

Sired said: "His clothes are very dirty, so wear mine, although they are a little looser. Are you hungry? We will get you some food."

Master Jin hurriedly said: "Thank you! Thank you very much!"

Lika smiled and said: "The Sabado Sutra says that you should be kind to guests from far away, and you should give charity to those in need. You are guests and also people in need."

Seeing her daughter listing the meanings of the scriptures, Sired touched her head and said, "My baby, Lika is so smart."

Xie Yunjin had to pay attention to this action and couldn't help but be curious. His father had never touched his head or praised him.

Sired said: "Go get some food."

Like an excited bird, Lika said happily: "I'll heat up yesterday's haggis soup and barley cakes!" Then she walked out of the house.

"Is Madam here?" Master Jin asked.

"My woman died early, may God Sa let her rest in peace." Sired said, "It's just me and Lika here."

"May God Sa rest her in peace." Jin Fuzi imitated the sentence and then asked, "Is there a village near here?"

"Don't you know?" Sired wondered, "You didn't see Gil's village when you went up the mountain?"

"We don't know how to go and are lost." Master Jin said, "I'm ashamed to say that I'm a blind bird and can't tell the difference between east, west and north."

"There is a small road here. If you go east, you will reach the mountain road. There is a small village below." Sired said, "If you are nobles, they will receive you. If your master is looking for you, he will also be there." Waiting for you."

Master Jin cupped his hands and said, "Thank you very much."

"I still have to work." Sired said, "You guys take a break."

Lika brought the haggis soup and watched Xie Yunjin drink it one mouthful at a time. She rarely saw children of the same age, so she stared at Xie Yunjin attentively.

The mutton soup has a strong fishy smell, which is another brand new experience for Xie Yunjin.

Too many, too many new things.After arriving at the foot of the mountain, every experience is brand new.

"Are you the child of a noble?"

This is also the first time Xie Yunjin talks to a girl.He thought for a moment and nodded.

"Are you from Batu?" Lika asked again.

Batu?The book records that it was... a big city of the Sa people?Xie Yunjin didn't know what to answer for a moment.

"Why don't you speak? Which Batu are you from?" Lika asked.

"No, I'm not from Batu." Xie Yunjin answered with the surest lie, "My father is the guard of a certain village priest, the Kasha priest."

"Southern, northern? Which classic do you read?" Lika couldn't help but ask.

Jin Fuzi put down the soup bowl in his hand and said, "The young master is very tired. Girl, please let my young master rest for a while and then answer your questions slowly."

Lika chuckled and said, "I'll give you daddy's clothes to change." After saying that, she ran out, brought two sets of clothes in, and ran out again.

"Master, let me help you change your clothes." Jin Fuzi changed Xie Yunjin's clothes and wiped off the dirt on his body with a towel dipped in water. Xie Yunjin screamed in pain every time he moved his body.

"Master Jin, when will dad find out that I'm missing?" Xie Yunjin asked, "In a few days, the food delivery guy at the foot of the mountain will find out that we're missing. Will he come find me?"

Master Jin felt a pain in his heart. This child... He patted Xie Yunjin on the shoulder and said, "Young Master, please take a nap first."

When Xie Yunjin fell asleep, Master Jin was also exhausted and fell asleep leaning against the wall.

Xie Yunjin was awakened by the aroma of roasted lamb.On the small square table were large pieces of roasted mutton, barley cakes, haggis soup, and unknown vegetables.

When Lika saw him waking up, she giggled and said, "You can't eat it yet. We have to wait until dad comes back."

After a while, Sired returned to the house, put the hoe to the corner of the house, and opened his hands.Lika stepped forward and Sired picked her up: "Why is my little baby so light? You are going to be blown away by the wind."

Hug... Dad has never hugged him, not even once.

"Thank God Sa for giving me food and warmth, a house to live in, and land to cultivate." Sired prayed, and Master Jin imitated her prayer.Lika cut a plate of mutton and handed it to Xie Yunjin, who ate it with his hands.

Why can their father and daughter be so close?He thought about the hugs, head touches, and praises he had never received from his father.He turned his head and wanted to ask the answer from the father and daughter. Master Jin happened to stand up. Sired advised him to eat more. Master Jin declined and said, "You are generous and good people. God Sa will bless you."

Sired laughed heartily, his eyes narrowed as he laughed.

Master Jin picked up the hoe by the door and hit Sired on the head, making a loud "pop" sound.This time, he was lucky, and blood spurted onto the roof. Sired's head was smashed into his neck, shrinking his head like a turtle without a shell, which was even a bit ridiculous.

All this happened so fast, Lika's eyes widened and she didn't know what was happening. It wasn't until Jin Fuzi looked over that she screamed: "Dad!"

The hoe chopped off half of her head and hit the wall. It became sticky and limp and fell along the wall.Lika's body was rushing toward her father, knocking over tables and chairs, and she and her father hugged each other on the ground.

Xie Yunjin then exclaimed: "Master Jin, what are you doing!"

"Young Master... I won't come to save you. Master, he... he hates you..." Jin Fuzi threw down his hoe, "We have to find a way back to the pass by ourselves."

(End of this chapter)