The fairy is fierce

In the early morning, the morning glow shone on the top of the sea of ​​clouds, and the window facing the east opened in the spring breeze, revealing a fresh and elegant face. ♦♦  ♦♦

Compared with the past when she was born in the world, there is a hint of spring between the beauty's eyebrows, just like the touch of pink on the lotus, full and soft, clearly elegant and noble, but also charming to the extreme.

Recalling the unbearable experience last night, even the beauty herself felt that she was a crazy person.

The scholarly lady who has not yet left the court, who is new to Yulu, actually dares to see the fox-tailed blood droplets. She comes in all directions, and even takes her precious apprentice into her.

If this experience were spread back home, I don’t know how many little girls would have their eyes widened in disbelief.

But is she Mei Jinshui? Just like the beloved plum blossoms, the plum blossoms are the first to bloom and she is born to be different. On such an important occasion, it is natural to "not mix the fragrance with peaches and plums", even if it is free, she must Bai gave the strongest posture and showed his own excellence...

Mei Jinshui faced the spring breeze and waited for a long time before finding many excuses to comfort herself. She suppressed the shame in her heart and returned to her usual calm demeanor.

Mei Jinshui lowered his head and glanced at the folded handkerchief in his hand, then quietly put it into the small wooden box where love tokens were stored in Zuo Lingquan's Linglong Pavilion. He also placed it at the front of all the girls, then turned around and looked at The bed.

Cui Yingying was wearing a black tulle nightgown, lying on her side on the bed. She didn't know whether she was fainted or pretending to be asleep. Anyway, she covered her head with a thin quilt and made no sound.

After Zuo Lingquan experienced the big waves, his thoughts that were about to float to the sky have not yet been suppressed. He lay on the pillow and looked at the top of the curtain. He seemed calm, but in fact the smile on the corner of his mouth looked a bit silly. He must still be thinking about last night. The aftertaste of 'Sai Shen Xian'.

Mei Jinshui lifted up her long hair and draped it behind her back. She walked slowly to the front and glanced at him with a slightly teasing look:

"Master Zuo, can't you get up now?"

? !

Zuo Lingquan came back to his senses, sat up hurriedly, and said with a smile:

"Why can't I get up? I'm just lying down and relaxing. Hmm... Still calling me Zuo Gongzi? Didn't you change your name to husband-in-law last night?"

Mei Jinshui sat down beside the bed, covered Yingying with a thin quilt and said calmly:

"You are so arrogant. In order not to disappoint you, of course I have to satisfy you. Now that everything is over, it's not that easy for me to change my tune. I don't have more than a dozen poems..."

Zuo Lingquan came forward and tapped on his red lips:

"Okay, I just promised you. I'll think about it slowly and I'll definitely honor it. Good lady, please call me first to let me know my heart."

Mei Jinshui licked her lips lightly, thought about it for a while, and finally fulfilled the little thief's wish:

"My dear husband, it's time to get up. I'd like to ask Yingying to help you get dressed."

Zuo Lingquan immediately laughed, a bit silly, but immediately became extremely happy and sad, and his waist was twisted.

Sister Yingying, who was pretending to be asleep, pulled back the thin quilt to reveal the remaining blush on her cheeks, and said angrily:

"I'm not a maid. You don't know how to dress him yourself? You want me to do it..."

Mei Jinshui raised her hand and slapped Sister Yingying behind her:

"You're not old or young, are you? Yesterday, if I wasn't protecting you from disaster for my teacher, you would have cried so much. Are you so heartless?"

Cui Yingying felt a little ashamed when she heard this. After all, as someone who has been through this before, she couldn't bear the thought of "finding another way" last night, so she actually pulled the master who had just been tortured to block the gun, and forced him to beg for mercy.

Out of gratitude, Cui Yingying was more filial at this time and did not talk back to her master. She sat up and threw her robe into Zuo Lingquan's arms: "Put it on yourself." Then she picked up the wooden comb and helped Mei Jinshui comb her hair. .

Zuo Lingquan didn't float to the point where he stretched out his hands and opened his mouth. He sat up with a smile and put on his robe:

"Are you exhausted last night? Do you want something to eat or drink? I'll get it for you? If you want to drink some Dongzhou wine, I'll run over and buy it for you."

Mei Jinshui held the bronze mirror, watched Yingying combing her hair, and said with a smile:

"I feel like my skin is not moist enough, so I want to take Guiling Cream to nourish it. The biggest black turtle at the back is old enough, so go ahead and take it."

ah?

Zuo Lingquan's expression froze and he thought to himself: The biggest turtle is Aunt Xie's spiritual pet. If he uses it to make Guiling ointment, he may not be related to Taotao...

Fortunately, Sister Yingying still doted on her husband. Knowing that Master was teasing him, she quickly helped to rescue him:

"Aren't you moist enough? If you add more, be careful and become the Dragon King like Ling Ye."

"What Dragon King?"

"that is……"

Cui Yingying wanted to explain to her master, but Zuo Lingquan was listening in front of her, feeling a little embarrassed.

Mei Jinshui saw Zuo Lingquan's strange smile and frowned:

"You have to listen to what a woman says in private?"

Zuo Lingquan nodded quickly: "Okay, I won't eavesdrop. You guys chat, I'll go out for a walk first. (-_-) (-_-)"

After Cui Yingying watched Zuo Lingquan go out, she leaned into her master's ear and talked about the private matter of Lingye being bullied into the water-spouting dragon king...

----

The journey of three days and two nights was fulfilling and happy for Zuo Lingquan. After coaxing Ah Shui and Sister Yingying, he went to coax Qiutao and Guagua. Before he could get enough of it, Beishouzhou was in front of him.

The suspended attic and the ferry full of spirit turtles stopped at the Xuanwu Platform on the seaside. The vast land behind the sea sacrificial platform has already broken ground and begun to lay the foundation. Many monks from the Kunji Sect are busy in it.

Zuo Lingquan and Qiu Tao together sent Aunt Xie and his wife to the farmyard on the cliff, and then went to the back mountain to worship the Xie family ancestors. After a short visit at the construction site, they continued their journey and rushed back to Xiangyang Mountain.

After returning from the Land of Eternal Night, the heavy official work has come to an end. Shangguan Yutang is still having a meeting in the main hall, while the girls who serve as staff in the back have some leisure time and have begun to pack things and buy souvenirs in preparation for returning home.

Zuo Lingquan's trip to Kuibingzhou was regarded as a business trip. After setting up the Huangliang Blessed Land and returning, he went to the main hall of Xiangyang Mountain and returned to the dignified Lord.

The outside of Xiangyang Mountain was still crowded, and the people standing in the square in front of the palace were all ancestors of the Xian family, and Lao Lu was among them as the ancestor of Zhenyang Mountain.

In the majestic hall, all the people sitting there were acquaintances. The Lord Sword Emperor of Dongzhou, the Demon Sword Gu Chen Zhang Zhilu, the Taoist leader, etc. were all giants of the immortal family who could influence the situation of a continent.

Zuo Lingquan entered the main hall from the rear and did not show up. He only stood behind the mural of the rising sun. The dignified empress in a dragon-scale dress sat in front of the mural, standing above thousands of people and commanding the heroes alone.

Seeing his wife being so domineering, Zuo Lingquan just found it pleasing to the eye, so naturally he would not rush out to steal his wife's limelight, nor would he dare.

Zuo Lingquan took a brief look across the wall and saw that his second uncle Wu Zunyi, his in-law Qiu Boyue, Guagua's uncle Huang Yuhe, etc. were all among them.

Guagua's identity as the "Second Generation Top Immortal" can also be reflected from this; because the old sword god has a wide network of contacts and a strong fragrance, there are five or six uncles, uncles, aunts and other relatives in the hall, and There are even more elders with whom the Huang family has friendships, and they have patrons almost everywhere.

By the way, the spiritual path attaches great importance to the 'respect of the elder and the younger'. A monk who is not strong enough will never dare to sit in front of the boss. Even if the boss doesn't care, he feels guilty. Therefore, the hall is in good order. Who is older? Xiao, who is strong and who is weak can be seen from the seating arrangement, with the exception of Qiu Boyue.

Miss Qiu's ancestor Qiu Boyue, based on her Taoism and age, had to sit at the door; based on the size of the sect, she could barely enter the hall, but at this time, she was forced to sit in the first row by many fellow Taoists, and Taoist masters and other behemoths stood side by side.

The reason for this is that Qiu Boyue's seniority is too exaggerated.

In the past, when the old sword god married his daughter to Qiu Fengqing, Qiu Boyue could already call the old sword god "Xiao Huang"; now his great-granddaughter is married to Zuo Lingquan, the Immortal Emperor, and the Valkyrie is also Zuo Lingquan. Taoist companions, both immortal emperors are four generations younger than Qiu Boyue.

In the entire Jiuzhou, who dares to discuss seniority with Qiu Boyue? Calling Qiu Boyue 'Grandpa' in person is arrogant and dares to be above the Immortal Emperor. This is considered a hammer.

Therefore, Qiu Boyue's current title is very special. All monks call her "Qiu Xianzhang", which means "Guo Zhang".

Qiu Boyue is a pure swordsman. After a lifetime of prowess, he has not become famous in swordsmanship. Instead, he has become the "strongest relative in Jiuzhou". His mood can be said to be very complicated.

Zuo Lingquan was watching from behind the main hall, accompanying Yutang. About half a day later, Yutang finished his closing speech admonishing the heroes of the Nine Continents, got up and retreated, and came behind the mural.

Shangguan Yutang disappeared in front of people, and the overwhelming momentum subsided. He walked slowly to the back and breathed a sigh of relief:

"Finally done, let's go home."

After holding meetings for more than ten days in a row, Yutang, who was very capable of handling pressure, looked a little tired when he appeared in front of the man.

Zuo Lingquan walked in front, put his arm around Yutang's shoulders, raised his hand and stretched out to the heavy place:

"Are you tired? Let me relax for you..."

Shangguan Yutang's eyes were as dark as ever, and he glanced at Zuo Lingquan. He looked like he had been holding back for too long and wanted to beat him up with something to relax his body and mind.

Zuo Lingquan sensed that something was wrong, quickly stopped his hand, changed into a serious look, and intertwined his fingers with Yutang.

Only then did Shangguan Yutang put away his gaze. Zuo Lingquan held his hand while walking and said in a deep voice:

"Last time in the Land of Eternal Night, you announced my relationship with you without my permission..."

Zuo Lingquan said with a smile: "Isn't this good? Is there anyone who dares to laugh at me? I'll deal with him."

"That's not true. Anyone who dares to laugh at me hasn't been born yet."

Shangguan Yutang originally wanted to look majestic and cheer up his wife, but he has been busy since the war and really lost his energy, so he said instead:

"I see that Mei Jinshui, after living in the eternal land with you, her attitude toward you has changed, and she seems to want to come in..."

Zuo Lingquan was very frank, holding Yutang's hand and said seriously:

"I was isolated and helpless, and I tried my best to protect Jin Shui. She must have been moved. Well... aren't you afraid that outsiders will laugh at you? Mei Jin Shui is a generation older than you, so I let her in, so that she won't be you in the future. Standing alone on the cusp of the storm..."

?

Shangguan Yutang paused and turned his head:

"Have you already let her in? Are you just going out for a few days?"

"Well, a real man should do things vigorously and resolutely, hiss..."

Before Zuo Lingquan finished speaking, Tangtang grabbed his waist and quickly raised his hands to beg for mercy.

Shangguan Yutang stared at Zuo Lingquan, remained silent for a moment, and asked:

"Aren't you afraid that Yingying will poke you to death?"

"Sister Yingying agreed."

"..."

Shangguan Yutang expected that Xingtang would not be able to fight Mei Jinshui, and was also surprised by the speed of Xingtang's surrender. Judging from this situation, there was not even a tentative resistance, which was far worse than Lingye.

Cui Yingying, who was the apprentice, accepted it, so Shangguan Yutang naturally stopped talking, put away her hands, and hummed softly:

"That's fine. I used to treat her as an elder, so I shouldn't be rude. Now that she's under my command, if she dares to be willful and unruly, I'll let Lingye torture her to death."

"Well……"

"Uh what?"

"Lingye may not be able to fight against the water..."

Shangguan Yutang naturally knew that Lingye was no match for Mei Jinshui on his own. She said calmly:

"Don't you still have me? As long as you don't turn your elbows that way, even if she has great skills, she will still have to be an honest husband and godfather to me when she gets home. The same goes for everyone else..."

Shangguan Yutang adheres to his own style and makes bold statements seriously. The meaning is roughly - I don't fight for the boss, but in the family, no one can treat me as the second child, and everyone has to listen to me...

With Yutang's aura, he can indeed control most of the girls in the house, but Mei Jinshui is doubtful, and there is one who is completely disobedient.

Before Shangguan Yutang finished speaking, a figure appeared in the corridor behind the main hall and said from afar:

"Mother, what you say is a bit crazy. Do you really think of yourself as the boss? We have been helping you these past few days. As soon as you finish the work, you are here to cross the river and burn the bridge. Isn't it appropriate?"

Zuo Lingquan raised his eyes and saw Jingxun trotting towards him, followed by the cute group behind him.

Shangguan Yutang quietly released his clasped hands and regained his boss momentum:

"You have been sleeping for half a month, and I am preoccupied with my work. How can you help me?"

Tang Jingxuan quickly came to the front, hugged Zuo Lingquan's arm, touched him to see if the injuries from the last battle were healed, and responded at the same time:

"I lent you my body, not to help? Did you give me money?"

"I have never lent you my body?"

"Can it be the same? You lent me to have sex, and you were secretly comfortable; I lent you to do business, and you are still exhausted and exhausted..."

…

Zuo Lingquan walked between the two of them, without interrupting, but focused on Tuanzi.

Tuanzi changed his arrogance like "Mom is not at home" when he went out. He followed behind with a straight step and did not dare to "ji" randomly. His calm appearance was similar to that of Zuo Lingquan in front of Yutang.

The three of them walked together for a while, but after a while, they saw the plum blossom forest by the lake. The girls were walking back and forth on the gorgeous ferry, packing their things and preparing to return home.

Shangguan Yutang saw this scene from a distance, stopped talking, and a daze flashed in his eyes.

This time when I went back, my real new daughter-in-law came in and completely became the Zuo family.

She finally put down the burden she had carried for three thousand years, returned to her hometown, and became a carefree little woman again, with a family, a career, a father, a mother, a husband, and brothers and sisters.

About to embark on the journey back home, Shangguan Yutang couldn't help but think of the time when he was four years old, when he lost everything about his "home" and embarked on this long journey alone. He recalled the hesitation and helplessness he felt when he first walked out of the mountains. .

She had never taken a step back in her life, not because she was not afraid, but when she wanted to look back several times, there was only despair and desolation behind her.

But now there is an additional harbor behind it.

I once gritted my teeth and crawled around, searching all over the world, trying to find the way back home, but I kept running into obstacles until I reached the top of Jiuzhou and looked away, but found nothing.

But now's 'homecoming' comes so suddenly, as if everything I lost in my childhood has come back naturally.

Shangguan Yutang looked at the ferry that was about to return home. After a long silence, he took Zuo Lingquan and turned towards the south:

"Come out with me and relax."

"Where to relax?"

Shangguan Yutang was speechless, rising up in the wind and drifting towards the southern sky.

Tang Jingxuan and his ancestor had a close connection, and felt the complex emotions in Yutang's heart. He also flew up and followed with Tuanzi.

When the Immortal Emperor goes out to relax, the entire Jiuzhou can be said to be his back garden.

Zuo Lingquan was pulled by Yutang and soared in the sky. He could see the light and shadow changing below, and the mountains, rivers and seas retreating silently. In just a moment, he passed by Juejian Cliff, Barren Bone Beach, Spring Tide Lake, Eight-Armed Xuanmen, Luojian Mountain... …

Shangguan Yutang paused for a moment above the Eight-Armed Xuanmen, and looked at the old grave of his ancestor below. After all, the surname "Shangguan" came from there, and then continued to fly south, like a swallow returning home, once again arriving at the vast South China Sea.

Zuo Lingquan had never been to this sea area, and he only felt that it was slightly hotter here than in the north. It was only February in spring, and the islands he saw were already covered with green trees.

Three people and one bird silently watched the beautiful scenery of the vast world. When the continent appeared again, they had already arrived on a deserted continent.

Half of the mainland is an arid desert. Only the line near the sea has mountains and green fields. Animals and plants are sparse. Some villages are scattered in the deep mountains and old forests. Small cities can only be seen from a long distance away.

Shangguan Yutang, who was flying in front, lowered his head and carefully looked at the plants and trees below. He flew a little slower, probably recalling every step he took carefully while wearing straw sandals and carrying an iron rod when he was a child.

At this moment, a stocky girl also appeared from Shangguan Yutang, lowered her head to look at the familiar earth, and said:

"Hey! We've arrived at Shenxianling. There used to be a broken Taoist temple here. There was a Taoist priest living inside. He pretended to be a god and cheated people out of paying for incense. He came here to become a disciple. He carried water and chopped firewood and worked diligently for three months. He made the old man The Taoist priest was so embarrassed that he explained that he was not a god and asked her to look for her elsewhere. She also thought that the old god felt that she was not strong enough and insisted on helping others chop wood and carry water..."

When the little female dragon appeared, she started blathering blindly and reciting the dark history of Yutang's childhood.

Shangguan Yutang rarely didn't beat the little dragoness. After all, it was too long ago and she couldn't remember some things. Every word the little dragoness said represented the hardships and perseverance she had experienced.

Tuanzi hated the little dragoness very much. When he saw her, he started to get angry and turned into a red ball. He wanted to spray the little dragoness with fire, but unfortunately, his mother pinched his mouth.

Tang Jingyan knew that Yutang had a hard childhood, so she asked while holding Tuanzi:

"What happened in the end?"

The little female dragon was very naughty, and she lay directly on Yutang's back, hugged her neck and let her be carried, and continued:

"In the end, the old Taoist priest was moved, and he taught her a bunch of tricks and asked her to go to the beach to find it; Tangtang relied on the tricks she learned to set up a stall to perform and make money, but she was a dull person who couldn't shout, so few people watched her. In the end, she played the flute and I danced, and only then did I have a meal. I'm telling you, she played the flute so badly, and I twisted more than 2,000 miles because she was hungry. Until now, when I hear the flute, I want to shake my head..."

The story is very interesting.

But Zuo Lingquan couldn't laugh, because he knew that Yutang was less than ten years old at that time, illiterate and had never left the mountains. How much hardship and perseverance she endured on the road to survive was unimaginable to ordinary people.

Shangguan Yutang never spoke, but just listened quietly to the little female dragon telling about the bitterness and pain of the past. After flying along the coastline for a long time, he finally stopped in a mountain range.

Three thousand years have passed, and the village that once made a living by hunting has long been buried under the dust. Dead trees and vines cover the mountains and fields. There has been no trace of human beings for hundreds of years.

But on the hillside of a small hill, you can see a farmyard, surrounded by vegetable fields and fences. There is also an old grave behind the yard, and there is an unlettered monument in front of the grave.

The little female dragon followed Yutang to the yard and pointed to a hillside a few miles away:

"That's where I was caught by Tangtang. Good guy, you kept guarding me for several hours..."

Zuo Lingquan landed in the farmyard, which shows that no one has been here for a long time. Only the formation was arranged to keep the yard clean and tidy; but from the traces, it was built later.

Shangguan Yutang landed in the courtyard, took out the incense, came to the wordless monument at the back, lit three incense sticks, and then returned to the main house, took three small wooden stools, sat on them, and looked at the mountains in the distance.

Shangguan Yutang was very tall, sitting on the small stool in his childhood memory, his posture was not much different from sitting on the ground, but his eyes were very serious, he should be recalling the scene when he first had memories in his childhood, sitting here looking outside the mountain, imagining what was behind the mountain.

Zuo Lingquan and Jingxun sat in front and did not disturb Yutang.

Tuanzi was also relatively well-behaved, but he couldn't sit still. After waiting for a while, he found the chicken coop in the yard, trotted over, got in and tilted his head to look, probably recalling the chicken coop at Jingxun's home.

As a result, the little female dragon ran over and closed the cage!

"Ji?!"

"Lululu~ Little Fatty Chicken, can't you come out?"

...

Shangguan Yutang saw this scene, curled up the corners of his mouth and smiled, and said softly:

"This place is prepared by me for retirement after someone takes over. I thought I would end up alone in this life, and I would be able to return to my roots in my twilight years, plant an acre of land, raise two chickens, and guard the graves of my clansmen. I didn't expect that I would walk to this day."

Tang Jingxun ignored Tuanzi's call for help and responded with a smile: "Life is long, there are ups and downs, there are bitterness and sweetness, how can it be bitter all the time. Keep this place well, in case you are bullied and cry at home in the future, at least you have a mother's home to go back to."

Shangguan Yutang didn't think anyone could bully her to tears, but this place really had to be kept.

She looked around, got up and went back to the bedroom she had prepared for herself.

There was a bookshelf in the bedroom, which was filled with passionate novels such as "Heroes and Gods of War". They were collector's editions prepared for retirement and boredom, but she had never read them.

Shangguan Yutang raised his hand and put these personal collections into his sleeves, then turned around and said:

"Zuo Lingquan, come in."

Zuo Lingquan got up and walked into the house, looked at the simple and tidy room, and asked:

"What's wrong? Do you need help?"

Shangguan Yutang rarely showed a girlish spirit, spread her arms, and fell on the bed with her arms and legs spread out, signaling with her eyes:

"This place is quiet, the grievances of Jiuzhou can be thrown aside, no one can hear you no matter how loud you shout, come and help me relax and vent."

? !

Zuo Lingquan was stunned, and his deep and solemn expression suddenly became a little weird.

Tang Jingxun was originally immersed in the mood of returning home, but when she heard this, her eyes became strange, and she quickly got up and ran into the house:

"Slut, I thought you really came out to relax, but it turns out that you are doing this behind Lingye and the others' backs. With your physique that can be melted by the wind, you are still so crazy to let Xiao Zuo help you vent? You will cry and wail later, don't beg for mercy."

Shangguan Yutang leaned on the pillow, and at this time she was just a woman who had completely forgotten everything and her identity, and smiled:

"I have been busy for three thousand years, so I have to enjoy myself. Zuo Lingquan, didn't Lingye promise me to reward you with a big one? Today, you are allowed to let go, and you don't have to pay attention to me no matter how much I cry. As long as I am not dead, you will kill me."

Tang Jingxun kicked off her shoes consciously and lay in front of Yutang:

"You will regret it later, don't worry, I know my limits, and when you really regret it, I will help you block two knives."

"No, I want to seek death today. Zuo Lingquan, if I stand up by myself after this is over, you will definitely be beaten to the point where you can't stand up. You can figure it out yourself."

Zuo Lingquan's eyes were very strange. He felt that with the sensitive physique of a dignified gentleman, if he really tried his best to destroy her, he might be in coma for several days and nights.

But that's it for now. Yutang wanted to vent his feelings once and for all and put an end to the repressed past. As a man, he naturally couldn't refuse.

Zuo Lingquan closed the door, came to the sisters lying together, and stretched his muscles:

"Then I won't be polite."

Shangguan Yutang curled his fingers.

Tang Jingxun was also shy and prepared.

Zuo Lingquan shook his head and smiled, and then he leaned forward without hesitation, leaning towards Yutang's cheek, not forgetting to pinch it twice at the same time...

The warm sunshine of spring shines on the lush mountains and fields.

The farmyard was silent at first, but gradually affectionate words and murmurs began to ring out.

The voice was very relaxing, and he was alone with no distractions, just immersed in the most passionate thoughts of love.

Love and concubine love, laughter and laughter, in just a blink of an eye, the deep mountains and old forests where suffering and desolation are buried have been transformed into a peach blossom garden full of spring.

The scene is very beautiful, fascinating but also confusing and mysterious.

But the only flaw is that there is a stocky girl lying secretly at the window and listening to the wall.

Fortunately, the people in the house were very alert, and within a few moments, they knocked the stocky girl to the hilltop opposite with just one finger.

"Chi! Chi! Chi!..."

On top of the chicken coop, there is a big, fluffy white ball. Seeing this scene, they can't help but "jijiji!" and burst into laughter.

As a result, he was scolded in shame and chased to the top of the opposite hill.

"grumble……"

"I made you laugh, and you were kicked out, right? This dragon is an immortal soldier. I'm not hungry. Let's see what you do..."

"Chi chi chi..."

"Let's go, I'll take you to find some fruit to eat. Remember, there's a snake fruit in front of you. It's sour and sweet, especially delicious..."

"Ji~"

…

In the gentle spring breeze, the stocky girl carried a small wooden stick and led a big white bird jumping towards the mountains where the grass grew and the warblers flew.

This scene is exactly the same as that of the four-year-old girl who took the little female snake into the mountain to pick fruits.

It was also at this moment that the little girl who had walked for thousands of years with her shoulders against the sky and her feet against the earth, helpless and gritted her teeth, really returned home and ushered in her own spring...