Chapter 6 Sunset at Jingyang Ridge

Chapter 6 Sunset at Jingyang Ridge

Chapter Summary: "You seem quite familiar with Jingyanggang?"

Two hours later, the evening sun shone brightly on Jingyang Ridge. The pines rustled in the breeze, the mountain streams flowed like ribbons, and birds chirped merrily in the woods.

Halfway up the mountain, where the stream flows gently, a sudden splash is heard, and the dense, screen-like reeds spontaneously part to both sides.

Bathed in the gentle glow of the setting sun and carried by the soft evening breeze, a human and a fox journeyed one after the other along the winding mountain path.

"Wu Song, how did you know that the two of them were hiding on Jingyang Ridge?"

Pan Yue was curious about what Jingyanggang looked like a thousand years ago. She looked up and saw Wu Song walking with his head held high and his steps as swift as the wind under the evening sun. She remembered what had happened at the Zhao family's hall not long ago. After thinking for a long time, she couldn't help but quicken her pace and ask for the reason.

Two hours ago, at the entrance of the Zhao family's house.

Upon hearing that Fan Cheng was not there and Zhao Xiaoniangzi had disappeared, Fan Bo immediately collapsed to the ground, throwing a tantrum, screaming and crying, refusing to leave no matter who tried to persuade him.

At that time, finding Zhao Wan and Fan Cheng was the top priority, both for the sake of the Zhao family and for the sake of Uncle Fan.

Pan Yue was at a loss as to where to begin her search when Wu Song walked around the hall and confidently declared that he knew where the two of them had gone.

Concerned about Zhao Wan's whereabouts, Pan Yue instructed Yun Ge to return to Zishi Street and convey a message to Wu Da. Then, she volunteered to go up the mountain with Wu Song.

After winding through the mountains for more than half an hour, Pan Yue was already panting when she reached the stream halfway up the mountain.

Seeing that she was out of breath, Wu Song looked around, parted the tall reeds, and gestured for her to follow.

Another incense stick burned.

Clear streams flow, accompanied by the sound of wind through the pines.

Wu Song cupped his hands and drank two mouthfuls of the cold spring water. Then he sat cross-legged on the flat rock, looking at the sky, the earth, the birds flapping their wings, and the clouds drifting over the mountains, until he met Pan Yue's serious gaze. His expression immediately froze.

"Why do you say that?"

He sat up, tilted his head to look at Pan Yue, and said with a puzzled expression, "Of course, it's from smelling it."

"Smell?"

Pan Yue looked puzzled. Seeing his serious expression, she hesitated for a moment before asking, "You... can smell the difference in everyone's scent?"

Is it the legendary dog ​​nose?

"What's so difficult about that?" Songsong's bright eyes were full of confusion. She tilted her head and thought for a moment, then said with a matter-of-fact expression, "Brother is like the aroma of a steamed bun, while Yunyun is like the fragrance of grass and leaves from Su Dongpo in March!"

"Grass leaves...smell?"

Perhaps it was because the sunshine in the mountains was too intense, but when their eyes met, a hint of unease suddenly appeared on Pan Yue's face.

If it weren't for Songsong's exceptionally clear eyes, she would have almost thought it was a captivating love confession.

"you……"

She instinctively looked away.

Looking up, he saw a lone bird soaring in the sky. A long wind swept through the pine forest, accompanied by the babbling of the stream and the wafting fragrance of the breeze… He paused, then turned to Wu Song and asked, “The Dongpo you’re talking about, is it the Dongpo of Jingyang Ridge?”

"nature!"

Songsong followed her gaze and looked into the distance, his eyes faintly reflecting the March of yesteryear. He smiled and said, "After the rain in March, the Dongpo is a scene of blooming flowers and unfurled grass, a picture of pure elegance and nature!" He turned back to look into Pan Yue's eyes and said matter-of-factly, "Just like Yunyun!"

A hint of helplessness flashed in Pan Yue's eyes. She glanced around and casually remarked, "You seem quite familiar with Jingyanggang?"

"nature!"

A hint of confusion flashed across Songsong's eyes, but he quickly shook his head and said cheerfully, "Songsong grew up in Jingyanggang. Every flower, leaf, blade of grass, and tree in the mountains is a dear friend who has been with Songsong since childhood! Speaking of which," he tilted his head to look at Pan Yue, his eyes shining, "where is Yunyun's mountain?"

"My mountain..."

Pan Yue was taken aback and subconsciously said, "How did you know I lived in the mountains—no, you grew up in the mountains?!"

Pan Yue leaned forward, wondering why Wu Song, who was from Qinghe, would grow up on Jingyanggang in Yanggu, when suddenly a strong wind blew through the mountains.

Dark clouds gathered, reeds swayed, and a storm seemed imminent.

"It's raining!"

Pan Yue looked up at the sky, and before she could react, Songsong leaped up like a little tabby cat whose tail had been stepped on, shouting "Yunyun, wait for me!" before disappearing into the mountains without a trace.

"Martial arts..."

Pan Yue stretched her hand out into the air, her words caught in her throat, her expression blank.

Fortunately, the splashing sound of water started again after only a moment.

Songsong braved the large raindrops and returned, holding two large banana leaves in his hands. He couldn't wait to cover himself with them, so he used one to shield her head while saying, "My cave is not far up above. Yunyun, come with me to take shelter!"

"Your...hole?"

Pan Yue paused as she took the banana leaf, then looked up and saw Wu Song panting heavily, his head dripping with sweat, whether from sweat or rain, right in front of her. She was speechless for a moment.

"yes!"

Songsong didn't give her a chance to pursue the matter. Seeing that the rain was getting heavier, he grabbed her hand and, familiar with the route, bypassed the stream, avoided the rocks, and walked through the dense forest...

"arrive!"

About an incense stick's time later, after passing a clear spring, a tall, ancient pine tree with a canopy suddenly appeared before the two of them.

"This is?"

Pan Yue looked up and her expression immediately froze.

The ancient pine tree seemed to possess a spirit, sensing the approach of the two, and rustled its branches and leaves, scattering down showers of fine, cool rain.

Cold raindrops dripped into her collar, and Pan Yue instinctively shivered.

"Grandma Song!"

Before she could utter a sound, Wu Song held up a banana leaf to shield her head, glared at the swaying ancient pine, and angrily said, "Yunyun's hand is injured! She can't get wet in the rain!"

Pan Yue was pulling her collar tighter when she heard his words. She lowered her brows, her eyes flickered, and her thoughts suddenly became complicated.

Wu Song is different from the one described in the book, and he is also different from the scoundrel she initially thought of who took advantage of his sister-in-law, yet he seems to genuinely have some inexplicable trust and dependence on her.

It's similar to the "baby bird complex" we learned about in biology class.

Could it be the saying "the eldest sister-in-law is like a mother" that's causing this?

Pan Yue looked up.

A slanting spring rain dripped onto the pine branches, soaking his temples. At first glance, he looked like a cat or dog returning home in the rain, a pitiful sight that truly made one feel sorry for him.

How can the same person have such completely opposite and contradictory sides?

On one hand, she is resilient and strong, having grown up in the mountains and capable of fighting off a tiger single-handedly; on the other hand, she is easily embarrassed and often jumps three feet high in fright at the approach of strangers, hiding behind them...

It's even more ridiculous now.

Their eyes met, and a faint smile unconsciously appeared in Pan Yue's eyes.

No matter how much she regarded flowers and plants as her close friends... she was also a child who grew up in the mountains, and she had also confided her secrets to the flowers and plants in the mountains, but she had never seriously discussed right and wrong, strength and weakness with the ancient trees in the mountains like he had.

"you……"

Pan Yue pressed his hand down, about to speak to stop him, when suddenly everything went quiet.

She looked up blankly, only to see the wind and rain still raging, but the ancient pine tree above her seemed to understand Wu Song's accusations and suddenly stopped trembling.

Moreover, the drooping pine branches all came together, making the entire canopy appear more expansive.

To shield her from more storms.

The strange thought only lasted a moment. Wu Song put away the two banana leaves, pulled her along, and said, "Yunyun, hurry into the cave!"

"...There shouldn't be any dust here, and the fallen leaves need to be thicker!"

After passing a wall of lush and expansive roses, a hidden world was revealed inside.

A little moss grew at the entrance of the fox den, and the further you went in, the drier and more open it became inside.

In the inner room, against the wall, there was a stone bed about half a person's height, covered with withered branches and fallen leaves, which at first glance looked like a nest left by some animal.

Pan Yue had only come to take temporary shelter from the rain and didn't care much about the environment inside the cave. However, for some reason, ever since she entered, Wu Song seemed like a host opening the door to welcome guests for the first time, restless and anxious.

"There shouldn't be any cobwebs here... Whose kid has sneaked in again..."

Could it be that they've taken this place, rather than the Qinghe Wu family's, as their own home, and since it's rare for someone to visit, they're hoping to gain some recognition?

Pan Yue couldn't help but chuckle. She looked around carefully, then looked up at the figure pacing uncertainly at the cave entrance and said, "Very good!"

Wu Song paused, and using the sunlight streaming in through the cave entrance, he glanced at her again and again, his eyes filled with an unconscious expectation. He asked timidly, "Really?"

"nature!"

Pan Yue smiled, glancing around as she nodded in approval, "Clean, spacious, and tidy... better than any cave I've ever seen before!"

"really?"

Wu Song's eyes shone with bright joy. He took a few steps forward to her seat, looked into her eyes, and asked with a smile, "Yunyun, are you truly happy?"

"I..." Happy?

Upon seeing his expression, Pan Yue choked up.

Just then, an evening breeze brushed past the cave entrance, and spring rain passed over the treetops.

The sound of raindrops is clear and melodious, like the tinkling of jade pendants.

The rain stopped and the clouds dispersed. The setting sun arrived late, sweeping across the lush green mountains. Through the wisps of rain that were about to fall, clusters of shimmering fragments of light fell before the fox den, only to be reflected in his eyes.

His eyes were as bright as stars in the sky, yet seemed to hold only her.

Their eyes met, and Pan Yue's heart skipped a beat. Her fingers, which were gripping the stone platform, clenched unconsciously. She quickly looked away and said jokingly, "Of course it's true. Why are you acting like a child?"

She met the other person's gaze and smiled, "That tiger with piercing eyes and a white forehead that killed so many people, did you really kill it?"

"nature……"

"Coo coo coo!"

Before Songsong could speak, her stomach growled, and she immediately lowered her head, her cheeks flushed.

Pan Yue couldn't help but chuckle, glancing at the sky outside, as if talking to herself, "It's getting late, I must be hungry!"

"Is Yunyun hungry?"

His ears twitched slightly. He tilted his head and glanced at her, casually tugged at the hem of his clothes, and then took out a carefully tucked-away oil paper package from his pocket. As he unfolded it, he said to Pan Yue in a flattering tone, "These are the steamed buns that my brother gave me when I left this morning. Yunyun, have some!"

"I……"

Pan Yue lowered her eyes to look at the two deformed steamed buns in the paper package, then looked at his clear eyes that clearly reflected her features. The words stuck in her throat, and she couldn't make a sound for a long time.

Whether in this world or here, who else but parents would go hungry to save food for her?

With a sudden downward curve at the corners of her eyes, Pan Yue picked up one of the steamed buns and waved her hand, indicating, "Let's eat together."

"good!"

Songsong happily agreed, sat cross-legged on the couch, and ate the delicious food with relish, bite by bite, while holding the oil paper close to her.

Influenced by his eating habits, Pan Yue's eyes narrowed, and she tore off a piece of steamed bun, protecting it with her left hand, and put it in her mouth; before she could swallow, a musty, dry taste shot straight to the top of her head. Pan Yue

"Hah!"

"Yunyun?!"

Songsong's expression changed drastically. He threw down the steamed bun, jumped off the bed, and patted Yunyun's back, asking, "Yunyun, what's wrong? Did you choke, or something?"

"Cough cough cough! It's nothing!"

Pan Yue felt nauseous and her eyes filled with tears. She finally swallowed the nausea in her mouth, looked at the cold and hard steamed bun in her hand with disgust, and then looked at Wu Song, who looked anxious. Her expression was indescribable.

"You...can you swallow this?"

I've always heard that Song Dynasty tea and fruit were famous throughout the world. The background of "Water Margin" is supposed to be the late Northern Song Dynasty. Who would have thought that the famous Dalang pancake, which has been known for a thousand years, would be so... refreshing!

"What does Yunyun mean?"

Songsong followed her gaze to the half-eaten pancake he had tossed aside, a hint of embarrassment crossing his face. He scratched his head and confessed, "I thought it was just me who wasn't used to it... Turns out Yunyun isn't used to it either!"

The fox's eyes suddenly narrowed as he looked out at the dimly lit cave entrance. Remembering something, he exclaimed excitedly, "Yunyun, wait a moment, I'll be right back!"

"Hey!"

Before she could stop him, Wu Song had already leaped out of the cave like a gust of wind.

The sound of raindrops pattered outside the cave, while the light inside gradually dimmed.

Pan Yue leaned against the stone wall, gazing at the unchanging scenery outside the cave. Unconsciously, her eyelids grew heavier and heavier...

In her hazy state, she vaguely had a dream.

She dreamt that the little fox she had rescued on the banks of the Qinghe River somehow chased after her to Yanggu, carrying a string of wild fruit in its mouth, and limped into the cave.

She dreamt that the little fox tilted its head and looked at her sleeping face, then gently put down the wild fruit in its mouth, lightly leaped onto the stone bed, circled her once, picked up a fallen leaf from the side and carefully covered her with it; then sat down beside her, its fluffy and soft tail occasionally sweeping across her half-awake, half-open eyes.

Is this... swatting away mosquitoes for her?

Truly grateful!

As this thought flashed through her mind, Pan Yue unconsciously arched her eyebrows just before entering the dream.

The moment the fox's tail swept past again, she casually caught it, pulling it close to her neck, and whispered softly, "Songsong, don't be naughty..."

At the same moment, the little fox whose tail was being held trembled all over, as if all the blood in its body rushed to its head.

Outside the cave, the pine trees rustled in the wind, as if the old woman pine was teasing them.

Songsong stared motionlessly at Yunyun's sleeping face, its tail tip trembling slightly and its ears standing up high, too embarrassed to move.