red and white

Chapter 23

When the dawn broke, the monks rang the morning bell, and the long chirping was heard all over the city.

There is a pond in the Ginkgo Study, which is full of water lilies. A long bridge of ebony is built on the pond, leading to the water pavilion at the end.When the master of Ginkgo House was alive, he liked to rest here most, the breeze moved the curtains, and the room was cool.

Wu Zixu stood on the promenade, looking at the water pavilion in the distance, "I remember that when my husband was alive, he called the water pavilion here 'the sound of autumn. Naming it, and when I got older, I thought that my husband had read all kinds of things in the world, so my eyes were cool."

"When I was young, I guessed it myself, and I didn't ask my husband to clarify it. Now, it has become an unsolved case." He said with a warm smile: "Master, I just laughed."

Standing beside Wu Zixu was a monk, the abbot of Baishui Temple. The old man recited the Buddha's name in a low voice, and said, "Amitabha, Impermanence knows something."

"Oh? Please enlighten me, Master."

"When the Ginkgo Study was first built, the old monk was still young. At that time, Mozi, the previous generation, was still alive, and he presided over the construction of the whole study. When it was roughly completed, Baishui Temple brought several carts of burnt wood. Mozi asked the monks for help. The current water pavilion has been built in the pond." The abbot said slowly: "The old man is also one of them. At that time, I heard from Mozi that the water pavilion here was built in another place, and its original name was 'Fan Qiusheng'."

"So that's how it is." Wu Zixu was stunned, "The master said that the charred wood was transported back then. Could it be that the water pavilion was burned?"

"I didn't know it, but when it was shipped, it was indeed scorched black. It was restored by relying on Mozi's ingenious workmanship." The abbot said: "After years of wind, frost and rain, it is hard to see the original appearance."

Wu Zixu pondered for a moment, then saluted the abbot, "Thank you, master, for clarifying the confusion."

"In this world, we often encounter confusion and obstacles. I am impermanent, but it's okay to say." The abbot clasped his hands together, "It's been a long time, and it's been many years since the last time the disciples gathered in the study."

"Yes, the last time my husband passed away, Penglai Changshengzi had something to do. After careful calculation, since I took over as Wuchangzi, I have never seen all the disciples gather together." Wu Zixu looked at the water pavilion in the distance, and said with a wry smile: "Today Also, if Xingxiuzi has not arrived, the fourth child may not come either."

Wu Zixu is wearing an ancient costume today, white shirt and white socks, wide robe with big sleeves, this is the tradition at gatherings.The water pavilion in the distance was several times larger than usual, and the mechanism on the floor was opened and extended outward, almost occupying half of the pond.There are seven white paper screens placed in a circle on the sandalwood floor, an incense table and a copper stove in front of the screen.

The three copper stoves had already been lit with incense, and the smoke drifted away. There was a man in white sitting in front of the screen, who was dressed the same as Wu Zixu.There are also many people standing behind the screen, lined up in a row, with their respective family crests embroidered on the skirts of their clothes.

The eldest son of Penglai cannot be painted.

The elder of the Zhu family, Zhu Baizhi.

Yaojia Lingshuzi, Chai Shuxin.

Wu Zixu stood there watching for a moment, shook his head, and walked into the water pavilion.The other three stood up one after another to salute, and after greeting each other, Wu Zixu sat down in front of a screen, took out a stick of incense from his sleeve, lit it and inserted it into the furnace.

The smoke filled the air, and after a while, there were two more people behind Wushi's screen.A judge in Tsing Yi held a wat, and the other girl had her hair in a bun and wore a white face mask. It was Wu Nian, Tai Sui Ye.

Seeing this, Zhu Baizhi stroked his white beard, "Today is the day when the seven families gather, why did the judge of Fengdu show up here?"

Before Wu Zixu could speak, Wu Nian yawned and pouted back: "Yo, old brother, are you still alive?"

Zhu Baizhi is one of the elders with the highest seniority in the Suzaku lineage, with a cultivation base of nearly a thousand years, and Wu Nian is also a Tai Sui who settled in Fengdu more than 900 years ago. Both of them can be regarded as the oldest among the seven.Zhu Baizhi was thin and hale, with a red streak on his forehead. Hearing this, he glanced at Wu Nian who was lying on the screen, and said calmly, "Sister, you seem to be in good health."

"No way, it can't compare to my brother's loose-shaped crane bone. Once you go out, outsiders will still think that our family is your granddaughter."

"Don't dare to bully my sister's seniority."

Wu Zixu watched the two talk to each other, he breathed a sigh of relief, Wu Nian didn't often come to Qijia gatherings, he found it bothersome and boring.But Xingxiuzi is still young, the previous gatherings of the seven families were all attended by Zhu Baizhi, Zhu Baizhi is a senior, and he never likes to talk and laugh, even the owner of Gingko Zhai is polite when he sees him.Mu Gesheng has always been ignorant of the heights of heaven and earth, Wu Zixu was worried that the other party's words would collide, so he specially invited Wu Nian here, the two evils are in power, Zhu Baizhi will never get angry with the younger generation.

The dialogue between Wu Nie and Zhu Baizhi has always been a joke among the seven families. Both of them are too old, and no one can tell how old they are. Let alone doing evil, being called sister by an old man sounds like an old woman with white hair and chicken skin.Neither of them would give in. It's kind of funny that people who seem to be grandparents call each other brother and sister.

But after counting seven families, only Wu Nian dared to tease someone like that.She wore a white paper mask on her face, which changed into different patterns every now and then, sometimes she grinned, and sometimes she was about to cry, and then she made a funny face, pouted at Zhu Baizhi and bared her teeth, it was so lively.

The silence in the water pavilion was slightly broken, and the atmosphere eased up a bit. Wu Zixu looked around, and happened to meet Chai Shuxin's eyes. The other party's eyes turned to signal Xinxiang in front of him.

The letter incense in the copper furnace is very particular. When every family arrives, the incense burner will be lit until the last family’s letter incense is lit. If there are still people who have not arrived, it will be counted as absent.

Wu Zixu had just lingered outside the water pavilion for a long time, seeing that the incense sticks of Chai Shuxin were about to be lit, so he walked in slowly, but he couldn't delay much time, there was still more than half an hour at most for a stick of incense.

Wu Zixu sighed, and shook his head at the other party, he really couldn't tell if Mu Gesheng would come or not.

At this time, Mu Gesheng was training soldiers on the outskirts of the city.

He introduced the training methods from Western military academies. Although it is advanced, it is new to them after all, and it takes time for officers and soldiers to adapt.Although Commander Mu told him to defend the city, it was like leaving all the big and small matters of the whole city to him. Apart from military training, there were a lot of things to do every day, so he was too busy to get up early and stay late.Fortunately, he is no stranger to these things, and there are many brothers in the barracks who he knew well back then. Apart from the hard work, he got started quickly.

Mu Gesheng had just finished watching the training, explained what should be explained, and went back to take a shower.As soon as he came out after washing, he saw Song Wentong standing outside the door, holding white clothes in his hands.

"What for?" Mu Gesheng looked at the things in Song Wentong's hand, "Who died? Come to cry early in the morning?"

"Go to Ginkgo Study."

"I'll go back in a few days. I've been busy for the past two days, and I still have a lot of documents to read later... By the way, my second son, if you are busy, help me train my soldiers. There are a few recruits who don't accept it. You Go beat you to death."

Song Wentong stood there without moving, just looked at him and didn't speak.

Mu Gesheng was taken aback by him, scratched his head and said: "No way, I was beaten just a few days ago, my waist is still green, and I want to be beaten again?"

"I know we fought a few days ago." Song Wentong finally opened his mouth, "You won."

"Second, don't be so polite, I'm not used to it..."

"If you win, I will accompany you." Song Wentong interrupted him, "You understand me, don't be so fucking stupid."

Mu Gesheng choked on a word in his throat, and looked at him with his neck stuck.

Four eyes facing each other.

In the end, Mr. Muge was defeated first, and sighed: "Those who know me say that I am worried, and those who don't know me, say what I want." Then he looked at Song Wentong with a wry smile, "I have convinced you, knowing me If you don’t want to go, it’s only because you can do it.”

"Whether you want to go or not is one thing, but it's another thing if you don't count on the day." Song Wentong said calmly, "It's Mozi's responsibility. I'm only responsible for bringing you there. If someone forces you to do the rest, Ask about the knife in my hand first."

"Yes." Mu Gesheng grabbed the clothes in Song Wentong's hand and rubbed them casually, "Go to the foot of the mountain and find another place to change. Wear this in the barracks. The two red circles are a living target."

In the waterside pavilion, Wu Zixu's incense is about to burn out, and the painting is impossible: "The time is coming."

Hua Bucheng is the current eldest son, who is also the head of Penglai. The face of a cultivator is young, and the other party is dressed in white and has the appearance of a young man. His eyes are neither sad nor happy, like a white crane in the snow.

The Penglai lineage is dominated by sects, and they are people of immortality. If they can't paint well, they are the oldest among the schools, and they almost have the power to dominate.But the painting failed, but he has always been quiet and inactive. Over the years, he has rarely been born. Even when the master of Gingko Zhai died, he would come to mourn. Wu Zixu saw him for the first time, and he was not sure what the other party meant. A blank sheet of paper.

It was Chai Shuxin who said, "There is still half an hour."

Zhu Baizhi's expression was hesitant, "My teacher passed away, and I didn't come to express my condolences. The seven families gathered together, but I haven't arrived yet. The fortune teller..."

Hua Bucheng's expression was indifferent: "He is not lucky yet."

Chai Shuxin followed suit: "Xiang Weijin, it's not considered late."

"Lingshuzi is right." A figure strode into the water pavilion. It was Song Wentong. He was dressed in white and still carried a red knife on his back. Wait another half an hour."

The expressions of all the disciples were different, and a whisper came from behind the screen.Song Wentong flipped up his sleeve robe and sat in front of the desk. The Mohist family has been passed down for many generations. He has no relatives and no children. He is the only one who is empty behind the screen.

Wu Nian looked at the waterside pavilion, his mask turned into a big laugh.

The Ginkgo Study that Mu Gesheng and Song Wentong entered together is in Xiangtang.

It is still summer, the ginkgo is still green outside the window, the rustling of branches and leaves can be heard through the window, the sun shines through the window lattice, light dust floats, and the shadows of the trees are mottled.

Mu Gesheng respected a stick of incense and said, "Master, I will burn this stick of letter incense with you, so I won't bring it into the water pavilion."

"Back then in the study, everyone thought that the elder brother was much more promising than me. I knew that I would not stay in the study for long, so I took a few years as a leisure time, and I never knew how to make progress. I was young and mad, and I passed it by, and I will drink too much in the future. Being drunk is also a rare good dream.”

"I really didn't expect that you would pass on the position of fortune to me. You know that soldiers fight for fate, and they don't believe in fate. The disciples are ashamed to accept 49 mountain ghosts for money."

"That year, I received a letter from my second child and learned that Master had passed away. I dreamed back at midnight, remembering what you said when you accepted me as an apprentice."

"I don't want to understand righteousness, but I hope to be ashamed of my heart."

"Nowadays, the world is full of divergences. Students consider every step of the way, and they cannot judge right from wrong by asking themselves."

"Thousands of words, just for one family and country."

After a cup of tea, a long chant came from outside the waterside pavilion.

"Green Zijin, Youyouwoxin."

A young man came, he was wrapped in big white sleeves, his clothes fluttering.It's like a tourist returning after spring, bathing in the water, dancing in the wind, singing and returning.

The surroundings suddenly fell silent, everyone's eyes focused on one place, the young man stepped into the water pavilion slowly, stood in front of Tian Suanzi's screen, bowed down, turned around and cupped his hands at everyone, and smiled quietly.

When everyone saw the ceremony, Zhu Baizhi was the first to speak: "Mr. Mu, why don't you take your seat?"

"Master is in a high position, disciples dare not sit down." Just now Caisong Wentong had introduced the people in the water pavilion to him, and Mu Gesheng performed a junior salute, "Elder Zhu, forgive me."

Zhu Baizhi didn't meander when he spoke, and said straight to the point: "So, you don't want to accept the position of fortune teller?"

"It's not that I don't want to, it's that I can't."

Hua Bucheng said: "You are the heir appointed by the Ginkgo House Master during his lifetime, and the disciple he picked out will definitely be impossible."

Zhu Baizhi sneered: "I'm afraid I don't want to."

"Changshengzi." Mu Gesheng couldn't hold his hand, and said: "My senior brother lives in Penglai, and his senior brother's ability is several times better than mine. He is really a better candidate than me."

"Lin Juansheng has entered my Penglai sect." Hua Bucheng said indifferently, "I came here this time, and he asked me to bring you a sentence—— I would like to obey my master's order."

"Since I have entered your sect." Song Wentong said suddenly: "I don't know if this teacher's order is obeyed by Mr. or yours?"

"There is no difference." Hua Wucheng said: "Back then, Penglai went to Ginkgo Study to ask for a person, and there was a ten-year period. After arriving in Penglai, he was not allowed to leave the mountain gate for ten years. Tian Suanzi has no plans, and it is impossible not to predict this. "

Song asked Tong Yi and frowned: "What do you mean?"

"Mozi also studied in my Penglai. He has always been smart, and he will not fail to understand." Hua Bucheng glanced at Song Wentong and looked around at the people in the water pavilion, "In the year when Penglai signed the contract with Gingko Study, the master of Ginkgo Studio was The candidate for the next Sky Operator has been determined."

It's just not stated.

Mu Gesheng also had guesses in this regard, but he didn't want to think too much about it. At this time, someone suddenly mentioned it, and he was a little stunned for a moment.He vaguely remembered that day, he made a fortune in front of Yuelao Temple, it was an auspicious day for traveling.

But on the same day, Lin Juansheng left, Xing Xiuzi came to Ginkgo Study, and everyone except Master went down the mountain.Everything that happened in the study that day was what they heard from their master later.

What happened that day?So many things happened on the same day, he never noticed.

Did Master do it on purpose?

If yes, what bureau was laid out?

Mu Gesheng quickly came back to his senses, now is not the time to think about these things, the most urgent thing is to shirk the position of the fortune teller.He straightened his back and raised his voice: "I think you all know that I am from the Mu family, and my family has been in the army for generations."

"No." Zhu Baizhi said: "I have seen your family tree, the Mu family was a teacher before the nineteenth generation."

Everyone was dumbfounded, Mu Gesheng: "..."

"Brother, you were a chicken at that time, right?" Wu Nian interjected, "It happened hundreds of years ago, so why bother?"

"Elder Zhu knows very well, and he must also understand my current situation." Mu Gesheng smiled: "I will definitely join the battlefield when I return from overseas. If I rashly inherit the seven families of the masters, my sword and gun will have no eyes. Once I die, I'm afraid it will be a bigger trouble for everyone."

"These two things are not in conflict." Zhu Baizhi said: "There are not a few Tian Suan who have joined the army in the past. You are born under the Tian Suan family, so you should understand this."

"Junior understand." Mu Gesheng nodded, and changed his voice: "The seventh generation of Tian Suanzi, born in a noble family, went on an expedition with the army and defeated the enemy country, and has since been stationed at the border; the No. 17 generation of Tian Suanzi, from a poor family background Joined the army, and finally became a general; No.20 The third generation of heavenly fortune tellers, entered the army account as a counselor, and later rebelled into other camps, and killed the old master with his own hands; , and was eventually beheaded by the rebellious army..."

Mu Gesheng was eloquent, Tian Suanzi continued for hundreds of generations, among them, the soldiers were brought by him one by one, the room was silent, only one person made a sound.

Finally, he breathed a sigh of relief and said slowly: "However, counting the ancestors of the previous generation, whether they advanced or retreated, attacked or defended, loyal or rebellious, the motivation is only one word - destiny. All the choices during the period are made by Shan. The fortune-telling image that the ghost spends money decides."

"Heavenly fortune teller is destiny." Zhu Baizhi said, "What's wrong?"

"The seven schools of thought have lasted for thousands of years, taking the destiny as their purpose, making decisions at important moments, and steering the helm for all living beings." Hua Bucheng said: "This is the foundation of the seven schools, and the hexagram of the fortune teller, all the seven schools follow .”

"You're right." Mu Gesheng smiled: "This is the root of the seven families, but not the root of the soldiers. Fortune tellers count the destiny, follow the trend, the soldiers don't believe in fate, and they don't accept their fate."

Zhu Baizhi's expression darkened: "Shu Zi, stop talking nonsense."

"Mu Gesheng was born in the Mu family." Chai Shuxin said indifferently: "He is telling the truth."

"What the junior said is sincere." Mu Gesheng said: "If one day I made a fortune and told me to turn my back on my subordinates and run away, I would never be able to do it. The lives of tens of thousands of people are not 49 A mountain ghost spends money to decide."

"When the sky is out of season, the sun and the moon will have no light; if the earth is out of season, the vegetation will not grow; if the water is out of season, the wind and waves will not stop; if people are out of season, luck will not flow." The painting could not be done, with a wave of the dust, with a calm expression: "Time is also fate. Yunya—you're too young."

"The eldest son is laughing." Mu Gesheng raised his voice, "The younger generation is young and frivolous, so I dare to fight."

Under the sun, the young man shook off his sleeves and threw away his white clothes. He was dressed in military uniform.

There was silence all around for an instant, followed by a loud commotion behind the screen.

"All living beings are quiet." Hua Bucheng flicked his whisk, his voice spread far away like water waves, then he looked at Mu Gesheng and said: "The position of the masters has never been forced, if you insist on this, we will not be able to force it."

Just as Mu Gesheng was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard the other party say again: "It's not that there has never been a faction like you, but the position of Tiansuan has never been inherited - it's not that there are other choices, but those who People finally returned to the track of fate."

"Everything is fate, and you can't control it at all." Hua Bucheng stood up and looked at Mugesheng, "Sometimes the price of frivolity is not just blood and tears. You have to be prepared to fight against the sky."

Mu Gesheng smiled, did not take a step back, cupped his hands and said: "The junior is taught."

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The author has something to say:

If the sky is out of season, the sun and the moon will have no light; if the earth is out of season, vegetation will not grow; if the water is out of season, the wind and waves will not stop;Time, Fate, and Destiny——Lv Mengzheng's "Fu of Time and Fortune"