Chapter 2 Young man with a book and sword

After several times of provocations and testing the military strength of the Menghua Dynasty, Yu Yihe attacked the Central Plains in six years. Xinguo was originally a nomad, brave and good at fighting. However, because Menghua Dynasty did not prepare for war seriously, coupled with the arrogance and laziness of the army, many generals escaped from the battle and were vulnerable. Wherever the Xinguo army went, they all burned, killed and looted, and the century-old prosperity of the Dream Dynasty in the Central Plains was scorched. What's more, without stopping the sudden attack of Xinguo, Emperor Yihe and the palace ministers were captured by Xinguo. Yesterday was the son of heaven, and he became a prisoner on a different day.

Xinguo's soldiers came to the Yangtze River and suffered relatively fierce resistance. Due to the chaos in Xinguo's country, Xinguo returned to the north.

In the same year, Shao Kang, the same brother of Emperor Yihe, who was only 23 years old, succeeded to the throne in Jiangnan.

The war is burning vigorously on a large area of land in the north. Life is covered with charcoal, and white bones cover the plain. However, in the distant southern Xinjiang, in the mountains, you can't smell the smell of war.

The Mu family has lived in a small town since Kaifeng to southern Xinjiang. Most of the ethnic minorities gather here, and the folk customs are simple. The Mu family has more than ten mu of thin fields, and the family works hard and barely survives. In his spare time, Mu Xiangdong personally taught Han Xing to read. Mu Xiangdong is educated by Confucianism. He is quite talented and helps the world. If he is poor, he has a good temperament and is not decadent. Han Xing is a smart and well-behaved child. He has never complained because of great changes in his circumstances. Instead, he works harder and studies harder to make his parents feel at ease. However, Mu Xiangdong is increasingly aware of the change of this child. After all, he is not the carefree and simple teenager in the capital. After experiencing these things, he has matured and has his own thoughts and will, and he vaguely feels that Han Xing is hiding something and has been hiding it for a long time.

Try to read in the morning. Han Xing looked completely absent-minded and listless. His eyes were covered with blood. This is not the first time that such a situation has occurred. There are almost a few days a month. Rao Mu Xiangdong has always respected the child's privacy, tried his best to give him freedom, trusted his choices and actions, and did not feel confused.

"Han Xing, what's wrong with you?" Looking at Han Xing again involuntarily lowering his head and closing his eyes to doze off, Mu Xiangdong put down his book and asked.

Han Xing heard his father's questioning, suddenly excited and stood up.

"I'm fine. I'm a little sleepy. I didn't have a good rest yesterday."

Mu Xiangdong hesitated, looked at his thin but increasingly mature son and asked slowly.

"Do you think it's meaningless for your father to teach you to read sages and learn the way of Confucius and Mencius? Or tired or too tired. I know you are still young, but you work a lot for your family.

"Dad, no. Working for the family is the son's job, and the son doesn't feel hard. It's just that I didn't have a good rest these days, which worried my father. The cold star said respectfully. As if he had made up his mind, he raised his eyes and looked directly at his father. Dad, I don't think the way of Kong and Mencius is meaningless, but the current situation is not the time to practice martial arts, but the time when martial arts are needed. It was his father's successful impeachment that could bring down several traitors, but he still couldn't reverse the defeat. The military strength is weak, and it is difficult for a country to support! Moreover, Dad, you were maliciously framed by degraded officials and exiled by natural traitors, but isn't this the reason why the emperor appointed a sycophant and believed in slander? Isn't it difficult for Dad to read poems and books with only one person's strength? There is no even to protect yourself. Now that we understand that the current situation is already like this, why don't we choose a more favorable way to survive?

Mu Xiangdong looked at his son in a daze. Yes, he grew up and had his own acquaintance, and even his father questioned it... He laughed at himself.

"Is that what you think? What is more beneficial to yourself? Settle down here at ease and think nothing, or why don't you learn from those swordsmen and swordsmen?

"At least you can protect yourself." The cold star's voice is a little weak.

Mu Xiangdong seemed to be stimulated by this sentence and leaned weakly on the chair. In the years of exile in southern Xinjiang, life has become increasingly difficult. His scholar is weak, and he is often sick. Everything in his family is supported by his young son, and he is still strictly required to read this useless book as always. After all, he also has some resentment.

"It's Dad who didn't take good care of you..." Mu Xiangdong's voice suddenly became old and weak.

"Dad!" Han Xing was shocked and knew that his father had misunderstood him. He left the desk and knelt down on his knees: "Dad, my son didn't mean to blame his father. He really didn't! The son is just unwilling, but his father is upright and dedicated to the country, but he has fallen to this point! So where is the so-called righteousness? Does such loyalty make sense?

"Child," Mu Xiangdong looked at his son kneeling in front of him and calmed down slightly. "Child, indeed, not all integrity and justice are understood, and not all the time truth in all places can work. Father does not have the ability to protect himself and protect you, but the child My father has been teaching you, and my father has been pursuing to do his best to achieve justice in the greatest extent and eliminate corrupt officials and darkness to the greatest extent. If the darkness is eliminated, fewer people will be hurt. We can indeed choose a more favorable lifestyle and protect ourselves as much as we can, but under the sky, too many people have no power to protect ourselves. I teach you the truth of being a human being, which is to have the spirit of trying your best to protect others! This is the true spirit of Confucianism! Do you understand?"

"My son knows." The cold star said with admiration. It's the son who is wrong, and he is narrow-minded for a while. The son will definitely uphold his father's will, and it will never be violated.

Mu Xiangdong helped his beloved son with his own hands.

"Speaking about it, what are you going to do? Why are you so listless?"

The cold star hesitated for a moment. My father was born as a literati and has always hoped that he could be angry and read to win fame. However, the Menghua Dynasty valued literature over martial arts and secretly worshipped his teacher to learn art, which would inevitably anger his father. However, my father has always been famous and reasonable. Although he punished him when he was a child because he was greedy for playing and not reading, he finally trusted him kindly and generously. How can he deceive his father?

"Dad, I happened to worship a Miao master to learn martial arts. First, I came to practice martial arts and strengthen myself, and second, I can defend myself. Because I'm afraid that my father won't agree and I haven't dared to tell my father. It's my son who is unfilial. Please punish him!"

Mu Xiangdong suddenly realized that his son was secretly learning martial arts, because he was afraid that he would know that it was so hard to practice at night. Studying and practicing martial arts, and there is work in the field for him to do, which makes this child suffer.

"There is nothing wrong with practicing martial arts, and I don't object to it as my father. However, if you are armed with martial arts, you can't bully the weak. Justice should be the first. Mu Xiangdong paused for a moment and said in a harsh tone, "You shouldn't hide your father. This is your fault. If you are honest today, I won't punish you. Remember not to neglect reading because of martial arts practice!"

"Yes, my son knows." Han Xing was grateful for his father's tolerance.

"I won't read today. You're tired. Go and have a rest." Mu Xiangdong's breath eased.

Looking at his growing old father, Han Xing's heart was boiling, but he suppressed himself. He didn't say more, but simply responded. Yes." But the voice was choked.

In the southern Xinjiang in early spring, the mountain wind is still a little cold. The lonely moon is hanging high, and the trees are shadowy under the wind. Mu Hanxing stood on the rock, pointed to the sky with his sword, and suddenly took a breath to concentrate his inner strength on the sword, and stroked from top to right. I only felt that the sky was dim, and then the sword immediately stabbed the dazzling light, which was comparable to a peerless sword, as if it could pierce the sky.

A woman stands on the edge of the rock. The woman's plain gauze floated up in the wind, like a fairy. The woman under the veil has a beautiful and cold face, and her bright eyes are as peaceful and quiet as the moonlight.

"Han Xing, your lightsaber has been practiced, and your internal strength is also very good. Your mind is firm and pure and good-hearted, and you don't like things or grieve about yourself. No matter what you encounter, you have a restless and unwavering spirit. This is the true chivalrous demeanor. The woman praised. Although it was appreciated, there was no expression of joy, and the voice was cold and distant.

Han Xing stopped his sword and bowed to salute his master.

"Thank you for your praise. There are still many shortcomings of Hanxing, and you need to ask Master for more guidance.

The woman sat slowly on the rock and looked at the cold star fixedly.

"You will be an excellent chivalrous man, and there is not much I can guide you. You are smart and easy to learn. I have a book for you. If you read it carefully, you will always achieve great success one day.

Han Xing was shocked. Although the master only guided him to study and practice by himself for a few days every month, today's words will not be seen again.

"Why did Master say this? Why did you leave?"

The woman looked up at the sky, and her face was beautiful and exquisite in the moonlight.

"This time I came back as a casual trip, and I stayed because of your master-apprentice relationship. It's time for you to go. Although this is my hometown, it will not be my home..."

"Master!" The cold star fell to the ground.

"Chan Xing, I pass on your moonlight sword. Remember, be a man who integrates the sun and moonlight!" The woman's voice was far away and did not look at the apprentice kneeling in front of her, as if she had sunk into a long memory. Yue Huajian has not appeared in the Central Plains since ten years ago. I'm afraid many people have forgotten it. After all, you have to go back to the Central Plains. Bring this Yuehua Sword to the world. The descendants of the Yuehua Sword have always been the most wonderful! Even if he can't be defended, he is the best after all!" The woman's voice was a little vague.

The memory is so far away. At that time, she was only 18 years old, lively and cheerful. She was never defeated in the battle of visiting the Central Plains with unique skills. But when she met him, he was arrogant, cold and brave. Their martial arts are comparable, but she is willing to be defeated by his long spear when her thoughts turn over. The mind could not be single-handed, Yue Huajian was messy and weak, and his long gun was under her jaw. She failed but didn't care. She doesn't care about the reputation of the martial arts disputed by those Central Plains chivalrous men. They are keen on martial arts and even plot against each other, but she is just a woman. What do you want to do with these? Miao Jiang's woman couldn't hide her mind and forced her to stay in his army for a few days. She told him that she fell in love with him. However, he refused, saying that he didn't like her and that his family had a weak wife and children. Although the woman she has seen is a little beautiful, she is far from her beauty. She was confident that she could get his love and did not force him to get married. She is not a person who cares about fame and interests. She just wants him to have her in his heart and keep him for a lifetime. She stayed with him and accompanied him to kill the enemy, bleeding and sweating, and invincible. She thought that after keeping him for so long and doing so much for him, he should always have her in his heart. But she was still disappointed. He refused her again and resolutely wanted to drive her away and even humiliate her. Desperate and helpless, she complained that he even hated his ruthlessness and even wanted to kill him with a sword, but after all, she couldn't do it! She left, taking away her broken heart and broken self-esteem. For a long time, she couldn't hold a sword. She is still wandering around. In the wandering, she is increasingly indifferent and lonely, and she is not the hot woman at that time. Her indifferent personality helped her practice swords more, and finally, she became the master of Yuehua Sword. Yuehua Sword is the secret biography of Yuehua Sect. Only the successor of the leader is qualified to practice this sword, and only by practicing this sword can he become the master of Yuehua Sect. Three hundred years of Chinese education, under her leadership, went to the peak. However, she no longer wants to stay in Yuehua Education. She handed over the executive to the guardian and has been wandering. From Mobei to Jiangnan, she enriched her life and diluted those memories by wandering. Maybe it's not to dilute it. Although she never walked to the city he guarded, isn't she looking for his story in the Central Plains? He was recited by people, which warmed her memory and life countless times. For ten years, there has been no hatred or resentment. Her heart is like water. He is her first and last concern. He is the best, and that's enough.

Han Xing quietly listened to the master and seemed to be telling a distant story that had nothing to do with him. But his heart trembled a little. Master, it turned out that there was such a sad past.

Qing Yao, the head of Yuehua, has such a humble mood, but she can't get it. And she can still appreciate the man from afar and bless him without complaint.

"Han Xing, that day, I was devoured by bamboo leaves. I wanted to force poison with hard, but it happened that you helped me take drugs with your mouth. A stranger who was willing to help like this was naturally a kind and upright man. Only such a person deserves this moon sword. Do you understand my deep meaning when I pass on your swordsmanship?

Master is such an arrogant person. What she wants is the best.

"Master, the disciple will definitely live up to the master!"

"Good. Although you refuse to join me, I still don't regret accepting you as an apprentice. I hope I won't regret it in the future!" Qingyao's voice is beautiful but heavy. At first, Qingyao asked him to enter the Chinese religion in order to conform to the rules of the teaching. But he refused, taking the reason that his parents were here and not far away. She secretly observed him for a few days, took a fancy to other people's character, and decided to pass on his martial arts as an exception. And he is indeed the disciple she admires. Even the dream of learning Yuehua Sword in teaching may not be like him. Han Xing, put away the book. Without my permission, Yuehua Sword will never be passed on. You should practice hard and not relax. I'm leaving. I'm predestined to meet you." As soon as the words fell, Qingyao flew into the air and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

"Master!" Han Xing shouted in surprise, but the master disappeared, and only the book in his hand was slightly warm with the temperature of the master's fingertips. Be a chivalrous man and uphold justice. Master wants him to become the man he likes. He sighed.

The sun is shining, and the mountains and hills are unevenly covered with terraces. The cold star is dressed in coarse cloth and is trying to plan the ground. Although it was cool in early spring, he was already sweating profusely. He took off his coat and exposed his bronze-colored strong skin.

"Young master, take a drink of water and rest for a while." Yang Liu brought a kettle. Pour the water into the tea bowl and pass it to him.

Han Xing took the tea bowl, took a sip, and turned back to call Yang Zhong: "Uncle Yang, come and drink some water!"

Yang Zhong waved his hand from afar: "Young master, you said I'm old, and you insisted on telling me to come an hour late every day and work early in the morning. Why did I rest when I first came here?

"Young master, you practice martial arts until so late every day, and it's so hard during the day, which makes you more tired of yourself." Yang Liuer said with concern.

Six of their masters and servants have lived in southern Xinjiang for more than five years. Although they are masters and servants, they are already a family in their hearts. Yang Liuer is the same age as the cold star. In her heart, the calm and gentle cold star is her brother and friend.

"I'm not tired." The cold star said with a smile.

"Young master, young master..." Sister Yang's urgent voice came from the distance, "Young master, go home quickly, the master fell down..."

Hearing this, Han Xing was stunned for a moment, and the tea bowl in his hand suddenly fell to the ground and ran desperately in the direction of home.

Mu Xiangdong came out of the study and fell directly on the stone steps and fell unconscious. The doctor saw that they all shook their heads and waved their hands.

Han Xing looked at his thin father, who frowned slightly and looked calm. The father in my memory is like this, worrying about the country and the people, but he is always gentle. He couldn't believe that his father slept like this and couldn't wake up. The scene of my father's education and training came to my mind. Whether in the Kaifeng shogunate or southern Xinjiang, my father always had high hopes for himself and wanted to be talented. However, now he can't get up. He doesn't know anything, maybe he will never know... And he was actually captured in the stigma of corruption...

A month after Mu Xiangdong's funeral, the imperial court issued an imperial edict for Mu Xiangdong's repity. Mu family members are free to move. Naturally, I can't go back to Kaifeng. Late recovery and freedom are meaningless.

Just two months after his father left, his mother fell ill. It's cold. After nearly a month of illness, my mother also went there. He said that he went with his husband, afraid that he would be too lonely on the road to Huangquan. Looking at the son who served the sickbed for nearly a month, Mrs. Mu was indescribably satisfied, but it was a pity that she could no longer see her daughter Hanyue... "Find, find your sister and take good care of her..." After her mother's last words, she closed her eyes. My mother was gentle and calm even when she died, as if she was tired and finally fell asleep.

Han Xing spent half a year in the pain of losing his loved ones. After his mother's 100-day memorial service, he decided to leave. The deceased has passed away, and he should continue to move forward and take responsibility. He should have toured his beautiful and lovely sister in those years. It was also because of his negligence that she was injured that led to the separation these years...

Farewell to his parents' tomb, Han Xing and Yang Liu embarked on a long way. I have been in southern Xinjiang for five years. I have to go back to the Central Plains for the first time, and I don't remember the way. Yang Zhong and his wife stayed in southern Xinjiang. On the one side, they were used to living and were afraid that they could not get used to it. On the other, they also guarded the tomb of Mu Xiangdong and his wife and sprinkled the memorial. Originally, Hanxing asked Yang Liu to stay, but the Yang couple disagreed and asked her to take care of the young master. Yang Liuyuan had a cold star on his face and naturally insisted on following him. Han Xing thought that Yang Liu was young after all, and it was good to go back to the Central Plains to see something, so he took her with him. When they came out of Kaifeng, there were seven people, but there were only two people back to the Central Plains. After all, it has been five years...

On the tortuous mountain road, Han Xing and Yang Liu kept looking back. This is where they grew up. I don't know when they will come back. From Kaifeng to southern Xinjiang, and then back to the Central Plains, they lost so much that they were afraid that it was already vicissitudes when they turned their heads...