C68 (2/2)
A gloomy river lay before him. The river water was deep and blue. It flowed down and divided the rolling valley into two, forming a natural ferry beside a tall valley. Looking at this quiet and serene otherworldly realm, Yun Jiu Tang thought to himself that this was probably the legendary Wind Ridge Crossing.
Murong Kongming felt intoxicated. ”Everyone, this place isn't bad, is it? Welcome to the Wind Ridge!”
At this time, the last rays of the setting sun had already faded and the sky gradually darkened. Mu Rong Kongming turned around and said, ”Don't worry, everyone. Follow me. Let's go find Madam Peach Blossom and have a good meal tonight!”
”Madam Peach Blossom?!” Everyone muttered in their hearts, just what kind of place was this Wind Ridge Crossing? Why have I never heard of it before? As the City Lord of the Wings City, how could Murong Kongming be so familiar with this remote place?
Shen Jingyang couldn't hold himself back anymore, ”Mayor Murong, we …”
Before Shen Jingyang could finish his sentence, Murong Dawn turned around and cut in, ”I know you have a lot of questions. Eat a hearty meal first, then chat while eating. I'll satisfy all of your curiosity.”
It was already dusk. They stepped through the thick snow and arrived at a bright and spacious manor. After entering the manor, Murong Dawn raised his voice and said in a high-pitched voice, ”Madam Peach Blossom, your old friend is here to visit you!”
Just as she finished speaking, three maidservants wearing red gowns walked out of the hall. When they came to a stop, they saw a middle-aged lady wearing brocade silk clothing, with a high collar, and a benevolent expression, slowly walking out. ”So it's City Lord Murong, why did you get blown over here by such a heavy snowstorm?”
Murong Ming smiled and said, ”That's right Madam, we just happened to pass by the Wind Ridge Crossing, so we took a detour to see Madam. ”Snow, snow, cold night, we are starving, do you have any hot tea or cooked food …”
”Yes, of course there is.” Madam Peach Blossom quickly moved her body and brought everyone into the hall. ”I'll have the maids prepare everything.”
Looking at the steaming dishes on the table, Yun Jiu Tang thought to himself, on this snowy night, people are poor, hungry and cold. Having this kind of place to shelter from the cold and warm clothes is a great blessing on our journey. If he hadn't listened to Murong Ming's arrangements, he would most likely still be walking forward amidst the snowstorm.
The cold winter night had completely wrapped up all the carts and horses that everyone had come for the day. After they had had their fill of wine and food, they fell into a deep slumber.
On the morning of the next day, Yun Jiuchang, who had woken up the earliest, was incomparably depressed. Looking at the dark clouds in the distant sky, although this vast valley had not yet begun to drift with snow, the Wind Ridge Crossing not far from the garden was already filled with snow.
Such a strange phenomenon was rarely seen. The snowstorm had stopped last night, and the Wind and Mausoleum Crossing was half a kilometer away. Why did the Wind Ridge Crossing have such strange weather? Yun Jiuchang's brows tightened as he murmured, ”How can we get through such a heavy snowstorm at the ferry?”
How else can we pass? Of course we have to wait, we can only wait until the snow stops before we pass. ”Murong Ming didn't know when, but it was already behind him. His usual smiling face was also solemn, and his voice had become a lot deeper, as if he had lost the confidence he had when he first arrived.
”When you first brought us here, you didn't say that the weather here was changeable,” Shen Jingyang said as he walked over from nowhere, feeling extremely vexed at the sudden change in the weather. ”But even if the ferry-crossing is covered with snow, as long as we don't have to fear danger, we can still get through it.”
Yun Jiu Tang said, ”Shooting Sun, I heard that the Wind Tomb Ferry is extremely dangerous. Many people have been buried here, so we should put our safety first.”
Mu Rong Kong Ming's face was ashen, his eyes filled with killing intent as he stared at the distant Snow Wind Ferry and said solemnly, ”The Wind Ridge Crossing was originally known as the Number One Crossing Under Heaven. If the previous generation of Qing Qiu Mountain people wanted to cross the Floating Beam River, they would have to pass through the Wind Tomb. Currently, the other side of the river was a vast ocean, and no one could cross the river anymore. Therefore, the reputation of the Wind Ridge Crossing had dimmed down, but its dangers still existed. ”If we rush forward in this blizzard, there's a good chance that …”
”Aiya! ”Don't be so alarmist all the time, can't you say something pleasant?” Yuyin, Gu Xueluo, and Wang Qingchuan also woke up early and walked over from behind.
”I don't have any alarmist rumors. Those who are interested can inquire about it and see just how many lives have been devoured in the past hundred years …”
”Alright, alright, stop bringing up dead people all the time, we'll wait for the snow to stop before we cross the river.” Yu Yin curiously moved closer to Murong Dawn, and stared at him with a pair of curious eyes, ”Hey, what is the purpose of the Madam Peach Blossom here? I think she's not an ordinary person.”
”It seems like only the two of us are normal people here. When we come to the Wind Ridge Passage, normal people would first be attracted by Lady Peach Blossom, rather than being infatuated with the broken ferry in front of them.” Murong Mingtian's face lit up as he moved closer to the three ladies and spoke in a knowledgeable manner, ”Speaking of Lady Peach Blossom's past, no one knows it better than me …” Yet, Murong Yu stopped in his tracks, looking at Yun Jiutang and Shen Jingyang, as if he was saying that the two of them weren't interested.
Yun Jiuchang was astounded, ”Hey, talking about a man's strength behind his back, is this a gentleman's deed?”
”Then you two better cover your ears,” Murong Ming said disapprovingly as he curled his lips. ”You should know the jade ions of Taihua Altar. Lady Peach Blossom and him are a loving couple.”
Ah!” Everyone was shocked.
”Back then, the love between the two of them was extremely great, and they gave birth to a daughter. However, on a dark night, their young daughter was lost and was never found again. Madam Peach Blossom was disheartened and was not willing to stay at Taihua Cliff for the rest of her life because she did not like jade and the sad cultivation path, so she came to the Wind Ridge to live by herself and eat and recite scriptures for the rest of her life. ”
”Here, Madam Peach Blossom does not have much desire to recite sutras, but she still has a face that is not old for more than twenty years. With her peach forest as her home, and with her clever mind, and her fine wine made from peach blossoms, peach leaves, and floating beam of water — Peach Blossom, her name is renowned throughout the world, and is not the least bit inferior to the jade arm's spring color. ”
”Madam Peach Blossom is very hospitable. Anyone who has passed through the Wind Ridge will be treated with hospitality and won't receive a dime to help them cross the river. ”This kind of benevolent behavior is much better than that of that old Daoist Jade Li.”
”Then does she still have any contacts with the Jade Parasite Altar's master?”
”They can't be considered friends, but they all know each other and have nothing to do with each other. The two of them are clear-minded and lacking in desires. Old Daoist Jade Li is obsessed with cultivation, and Lady Peach Blossom is here to stay for the rest of her life. However, when old Daoist Jade Li arrived at the primal chaos city a few years ago, he would have come by this place to take a look. ”
”I never would have thought that even though the Jade Dragon Altar's master looks so meticulous in cultivating and looks so otherworldly, there's actually such a thing as a mortal thing. It actually has a daughter!” Yu Yin sighed.
Shen Jingyang solemnly smiled, a complicated look flowing through his eyes as he slowly said, ”He's also a human. He has the seven emotions and six desires, and is a young and frivolous youth. No one can avoid him.”
”Then, their daughter has mysteriously disappeared just like that? Is there no more news?”
”The world is big, and the sea of people is vast. Where are we going to find them?”