After an hour of long trekking, Yu Qiyi and Xiling Yue passed through countless connected underground caves, climbed up a steep rock step, and suddenly saw the golden setting sun pouring down from above their heads.

.

Yu Shiqi stood there with his head raised, his heart inexplicably filled with a feeling of emotion. This feeling was just like the day when he groped through the long dark rock passage with a torch and finally saw the bathing house bathed in the moonlight.

It's the same as the Moon Spring.

The difference was that this time he was closer to the white bird.

Xilingyue was standing two or three steps in front of him, holding up the brilliance of the setting sun with her hands like holding running water, with pure joy on her face.

The pale golden light made her look like an immortal believer blessed by the Queen Mother of the West, or perhaps the goddess herself.

Yu Shiqi thought this, and suddenly realized that his idea was a bit ridiculous. Since Xilingyue is a saint of the spiritual tribe, she must believe in the Queen Mother of the West. He also has no doubt that the Queen Mother of the West is protecting this girl.

Give her wisdom and courage.

So when you are with her, you can always turn bad things into good fortune.

"It seems we can climb up from here." Yu Shiqi observed the gap on the top. The rock wall extending diagonally upward was not smooth, and there were many uneven places for landing.

Xilingyue actually discovered as soon as she climbed the rock steps that there was a way out to get back to the ground. Her eyes did not stay above, but looked around.

"Ah, I have it." She whispered happily and ran to the side.

Yu Shiqi followed her and walked over, and saw a large area of ​​strange and rare plants growing in the corner. The light green stems and leaves were crystal clear, and a small part of them still had unbloomed flower buds.

"Is this the soul-fixing grass you're talking about?"

"Yeah, I didn't expect to see it here." Xilingyue turned around excitedly, "Let's stay here all night. If the flowers bloom tomorrow morning, we can collect some morning dew and go back."

"But what to wear?"

"Don't we have it?" Xilingyue stretched out her hand and patted her waist, letting Yu Shiqi look at the bamboo tube tied there.

Yu Shiqi suddenly realized that he took out the bamboo tube he was carrying. There was some honey and sugar water in it, which could relieve their thirst and help them survive until tomorrow.

"Then I have to feel sorry for the young shopkeeper to spend the night in such a difficult place tonight." He said with a wry smile, and after stroking his body for a long time, he found tinder and flint: "It's a pity that there is no dry firewood here, so we can't build a bonfire. Otherwise, we can't build a bonfire."

I'll climb up first and look around..."

"Don't go." Xi Lingyue pulled him worriedly, "It's not too cold down there, I'll be fine..."

Yu Shiqi thought how could this be possible? When night falls, the temperature will drop very quickly. He took Xi Lingyue's hand away from his sleeve and smiled slightly: "Don't worry, I'll be back as soon as I go.

You won’t go far on the edge.”

Xilingyue hesitated for a moment, took out the pair of bells from the pocket of her fleece jacket, untied the two pieces of red rope tied together, and handed one of them to Yu Shiqi: "Just in case, if you can't find me, just in case."

Ring the bell. Both it and the 'wind bell' I left behind have been cast with secret magic, and they can sense each other no matter how far away they are."

Yu Shiqi held it in his hand and shook it, and sure enough, the one in Xi Lingyue's hand also rang.

"It turns out they are called wind bells. They are really magical." He had been in the Western Wilderness for a while, and he was used to these magical things, so he immediately put the bells away with a smile.

After hearing these words, Xilingyue looked at him strangely, with an expression on her face that she was hesitant to speak.

Yu Shiqi scratched his hair: "What's wrong?"

"The one in my hand is called 'Fengdong'." Xilingyue smiled evilly, "The one I gave you has another name."

"Then what's my name?"

“Have you ever heard the Zen story about the flags blowing in the wind?”

"No... I don't understand Zen Buddhism." He smiled, "Master and Mistress are both believers."

Xilingyue's eyes sparkled with brilliance. She held back her smile and said to Yu Shiqi with her hands behind her back: "You go up to find firewood before the sun sets. I'll tell you when I get back."

Yu Qiyi thought what she said made sense, and time was precious, so he fastened the transparent blade made of secret techniques around his waist, and then climbed up the rock wall vigorously using his hands and feet.

As expected, there is a snowfield above the cave. To Yu Shiqi, the snowfield in the Western Wilderness is no different, at least he can't see the difference...

But it doesn't matter. Xilingyue must know the way, so he doesn't have to worry about whether he can go back or not. And the sky at this time is clearer and clearer than when they set out in the morning, and it's clear and blue. I think tomorrow will be a good day.

weather.

In less than half an hour, he had collected fire-kindling materials in the nearby thorn pine forest. The naturally broken thorn pine branches and leaves in the forest that had lost their moisture after long-term sunlight are very easy to ignite, although they are not resistant to fire.

It can be burned, but combined with the cut dead branches, it is enough to burn the bonfire for one night.

Yu Shiqi shook the bell on the top of the cave to attract the attention of Xi Lingyue who was sitting in a daze below. He asked her to carefully step away, then throw down the bundles of dead branches and pine thorns, and then climb down to the bottom of the cave along the original path.

.

Xilingyue watched from the side as he quickly and neatly built a circle of stones to light a bonfire. She couldn't help but praise him: "You're very skilled at doing this."

"When you are sketching outside alone, you will inevitably have to sleep in the wilderness. The more you do it, the more you will naturally become proficient." He clapped his hands, sat down to rest, and urged: "Okay, it's time for you to tell that Zen story."

Xi Lingyue stared at him with squinted eyes: "You have taken the best land, should I tell you standing up?"

Yu Shiqi was stunned for a moment, looking around and found that the rock he was sitting on was indeed dry, flat and smooth.

Before he could get up, Xilingyue came over and pushed him to the side, pushing him to sit down. Their shoulders and arms were touching, and Yu Shiqi smelled the fragrance of her body again, and he was in a daze.

Xi Lingyue didn't notice anything strange about him, and started to tell him the Zen story about debating whether the flags move when the wind blows, or whether the flags move until the wind blows.

Yu Shiqi interrupted mid-listen: "Then one of these pair of bells is called 'Wind Movement' and the other is 'Fan Movement'?"

Xilingyue opened her mouth, stared at him with gritted teeth, and said angrily: "Yes! That one is called 'Fan Dong'! 'Fan Dong'! You are the smart one!"

She still felt upset and poked Yu Qi's cheek with her finger.

Yu Shiqi looked innocent: "Why are you angry again?"

Xilingyue snorted lightly, turned away her face in embarrassment before Yu Shiqi looked towards her, and whispered "I'm sorry".

Her sudden apology startled Yu Shiqi, which was a bit unlike her style.

Yu Shiqi rubbed his cheek: "I shouldn't have interrupted you just now, you can continue talking."

"Forget it, I suddenly don't want to say anything anymore." Xilingyue held her face in her hands and was stunned.

Yu Shiqi smiled helplessly and watched the bonfire with her.

Flames flickered and danced in their eyes, and crisp crackling sounds reached their ears from time to time.

The skylight above the head gradually dimmed, and finally turned into the darkness of night. The sky was high and the clouds were sparse, and when you looked up, you could see a galaxy of stars.

Xiling Yue was sitting silently when she suddenly felt Yu Shiqi hand a small bag towards her. When she opened it, she saw that it was crispy fried rice.

"Let's make do with some food."

"Is this what you eat when you sleep in the wilderness?" Xilingyue asked in disbelief.

"Sometimes I catch some game by myself. But as you said, you will control your hunting after the summer and autumn." Yu Shiqi smiled and said, "Do as the Romans do."

"That was really hard." She sighed in a low voice.

"Fortunately, I'm used to it. I can always find some ways for myself to enjoy the hardships." Yu Shiqi shrugged and said nonchalantly.

Xilingyue grabbed a handful of fried rice with her hand, held it carefully with her other hand, and slowly put it into her mouth.

It tastes a little bitter and salty at first, but after chewing it carefully, you can taste a faint sweetness.

"Yu Shiqi." She swallowed the food in her mouth and leaned her head on his shoulder: "Actually, I really want to leave the Western Wilderness and follow you throughout Central Continent to see all the beautiful scenery in the world."

Yu Shiqi said nothing, looking up at the stars.
Chapter completed!