Chapter 10: The Valley of the Ghosts
Zhang Xiaofan came up the mountain, came to the familiar and incomparable bamboo forest, but saw the mountains full of verdure, layers and layers, the mountain wind over, the bamboo sea undulation, such as the sea waves, extremely spectacular, his heart was suddenly a broad.
He deeply inhaled a mouthful of fresh mountain air, activity body, take the wood knife into the bamboo forest. He went to the place at this time and three years ago when he first came to different, is in the deepest part of the bamboo forest, where the large bamboo forest, bamboo quality is also more hard.
Early in the morning light mist floating in the forest, such as a light veil, both sides of the trail on the green bamboo leaves, there are crystal dewdrops, beautiful and translucent.
After walking for a while, he was in the middle of the green ocean, most of the black knotted bamboos here were towering, with lush branches and leaves that plunged straight into the sky, the light penetrated down from between the gaps of the branches and leaves, leaving a patchwork of shadows on the ground. Zhang Xiaofan looked left and right, and picked a large black section bamboo, drawing a picture, then raised his sword to cut.
"Poof", suddenly a muffled sound, Zhang Xiaofan only felt a pain in his head, but was hit in the forehead by an object. He looked down and there was a pine cone rolling on the ground. The front and back of this place was full of black knotted bamboo, and there were many bamboo shoots, but pine cones were definitely not there.
He thought for a moment, a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth as he looked around and said loudly, "Senior sister, is that you?"
His voice traveled far among the bamboo forest, but no one answered for a long time. Zhang Xiaofan knew that his senior sister had always been naughty and loved to tease people, and was about to shout again, when suddenly there was another pain in his head, the pain was extreme, actually being thrown by a pinecone again, and above his head, there was also a "squeak squeak squeak" scream.
Zhang Xiaofan endured the pain and looked up, only to see in the black section of the bamboo, do not know when to climb a gray-furred monkey, grasping a few pine cones in his hands, his tail hanging upside down on the bamboo branch, "squeak squeak squeak" shrill laughter, there is a look of gloating.
Zhang Xiaofan stayed for a moment, these three years he has never seen monkeys in the bamboo forest, and the big bamboo peak is almost all bamboo forests, only the shade of the deep valley there is a pine and cypress wild forest, it seems that the monkey is living there, today I do not know how to run up the mountain.
Big Bamboo Peak is tall and steep, although not as high as Tongtian Peak over the clouds, but also straight into the sea of clouds, from the foot of the mountain to climb up, there is no way to feasible, the disciples of the Qingyun door is more than the air to go.
Zhang Xiaofan shallow cultivation, in addition to the daily cut bamboo, daily also heard the brothers talked about, the big bamboo peak deep valley in the pine and cypress wild tree forests, deep and unfathomable, rare.
When the grandmaster of the lineage of the Great Bamboo Peak also had someone to go to the deep valley of the sword to explore, but there is just a primitive forest, no strange things, but the beasts of the poisonous insects more than a little, but never out of the valley, so all these years are also safe and sound.
He was thinking, suddenly saw the monkey hand raised, his heart jumped, hastily moved away, really is a pine cone smashed down, if not dodge, and to suffer.
That gray monkey saw him dodge away, screamed twice, face with anger, seems to blame Zhang Xiaofan should not dodge like.
Zhang Xiaofan made a face at the monkey, not to care about it, walked away, thinking that this monkey actually to smash people for fun, but also rare, really ignorant beast.
He walked two steps, suddenly heard the sound of wind behind the ears, dodge too late, "puh" sound, the back of the head and was hit by the hard pine cones, this time the force is not light, Zhang Xiaofan only feel a black, can not help but scream.
Only to see that the monkey in the bamboo branch clapping and laughing, swaying around, great joy. Zhang Xiaofan heart furious, rushed over to shake the bamboo, a large black section of bamboo was shaken by him to swing around, but the gray monkey only with his tail wrapped around the bamboo trunk, let him swing around, completely unafraid, but instead, "squeak" laughs non-stop.
Zhang Xiaofan see can not help that monkey, the heart is even more annoyed, pull out the wood knife cut bamboo. The monkey is not afraid, only on the bamboo interested in watching him.
Zhang Xiaofan cut his head full of sweat, and easily cut seven or eight points, see the success of the imminent, suddenly heard a scream on the bamboo, looked up and saw that the gray monkey tail swing, body flying up, actually jumped to the side of another black section of bamboo, and then "snap" sound, and threw a pine cone down.
Zhang Xiaofan was furious, regardless of whether the monkey could hear and understand, pointed at it and said loudly: "If you have the guts, you can come down."
The gray monkey scratched its head, tilted its head and thought for half a day, probably not understanding what is having the guts or not, just let out a loud laugh and made a face at Zhang Xiaofan.
Zhang Xiaofan was half dead angry by it, but there was nothing he could do about it, this day he barely finished his homework, but his head was smashed seven or eight times by that monkey, and he was in pain.
Zhang Xiaofan full of anger, hate hate down the mountain, do not care about that monkey. Unexpectedly, the monkey is addicted to play, even a few days early in the morning are waiting in the bamboo forest, once Zhang Xiaofan came to cut bamboo, will be smashed him for fun, looking at Zhang Xiaofan annoyed look, very happy.
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This day before dinner, Tian Ling'er pulled Zhang Xiaofan to one side and secretly asked: "Xiaofan, what happened to your head?"
Zhang Xiaofan has been bullied by the gray monkey for days, his head was smashed into a piece of blue and purple, pain, but he was conscious of being a monkey play is very humiliating, so he did not tell anyone, this time to listen to his sister asked, hesitated for a moment, finally told her.
Tian Ling'er red lips a flat, could not help but laugh out, face now two small dimples, really is beautiful. Zhang Xiaofan seems to be made fun of by her, but also seems to be something else, face inexplicably hot, lowered his head.
Tian Ling'er grinned broadly and patted Zhang Xiaofan's shoulder, saying: ''Don't worry about it! Junior Brother, these days Mother wanted me to enter the Taiji Cave more often to practice and prepare for the Seven Veins Martial Arts in two years, but I didn't expect to let you be bullied by a monkey. Don't you worry, tomorrow I will accompany you to the mountain and teach that bad monkey a lesson."
Her tone was old-fashioned, and she had some meaning of coaxing a child, but Zhang Xiaofan was used to hearing it since he was a child, and with a bitter smile, he didn't care.
The next morning, Tian Ling'er really get up early, and Zhang Xiaofan together on the mountain.
Mountain cool wind, blowing, Tian Ling'er body a red dress, as when she first went up the mountain with Zhang Xiaofan cut bamboo look, in the front jumping walk.
Zhang Xiaofan followed behind, look ahead that beautiful girl, like a red cloud, in the mountains gently fluttering, along with the mountain wind, seems to be faintly have a faint fragrance came.
His heart was in a trance, suddenly gave birth to a feeling of wishing to go on forever like this.
While he was lost in thought, Tian Ling'er had already walked far away and looked back, shouting, "Xiaofan, why are you so slow!"
Zhang Xiaofan woke up with a start, his face flushed red, and not daring to think any more, he hurriedly chased after her with quick steps.
The two of them arrived in front of the bamboo forest, and Tian Ling'er said to Zhang Xiaofan, "Xiaofan, you go in alone first, I'll follow behind."
Zhang Xiaofan nodded and walked in with the firewood cutter, and after taking a few steps, he suddenly remembered that he had to urge Tian Ling'er to be careful, and when he turned around to look, she had already disappeared.
He stayed for a moment, his heart inexplicably had a burst of confusion, then shook off his head, put aside those boring thoughts, and walked towards the depths of the bamboo forest. When he reached his destination, the forest was silent. Zhang Xiaofan raised his eyes and looked around, but actually could not find the gray-furred monkey. He muttered in his heart: don't think that monkey has passed the spirit, expected him to find a helper today and didn't dare to come.
He thought in his mind, looking around, but could not find the monkey trail, but also in vain, only to walk to a black section of bamboo, gesture to cut.
"Squeak squeak squeak", suddenly, a familiar scream sounded overhead.
Zhang Xiaofan immediately jumped away as a reflex, but felt a pain on the top of his head, but it was too late, being smashed squarely by a pine cone, so painful. Zhang Xiaofan looked up and saw the gray monkey hanging upside down on a bamboo branch as usual, laughing non-stop.
With a burst of joy in his heart, he jumped up and pointed at the monkey and laughed, "Haha, you're finally here!"
His voice is not loud, the monkey was scared by him, thinking that this person is usually smashed always stormy, fire, how today instead of rejoicing, is it smashed by me for a few days, actually smashed on the addiction, not smashed will not be comfortable, smashed pain instead of happy?
At this time, the bamboo forest suddenly a flash of red shadow, Tian Ling'er stepped on the "amber damask" above the air and came, fast as lightning, five fingers into claws, to the monkey grabbed.
Unexpectedly that monkey is extremely smart, a glance out of the corner of the eye, immediately reacted, wrapped in the bamboo branch on the tail immediately loosened, the whole body fell down. Tian Ling'er will it before and after the left and right fleeing direction are calculated method of pursuit, but did not expect the gray monkey actually fell down, could not help but baffled for a moment, grabbed an empty.
Zhang Xiaofan in the ground for momentum to move, but see in mid-air that monkey light Shu monkey arm, grabbing the bamboo pole, immediately attached to it, and then without hesitation to stay, seems to know that the woman in red above powerful, immediately swing jumping, from a bamboo shake to another bamboo and then to the next bamboo, intends to escape.
Tian Ling'er's competitive spirit, shouted in mid-air: "Chase!" Left hand a guide, amber vermilion damask breaks through the air, Zhang Xiaofan in the underground stride on the run, stride to chase.
If in the open space, with the amber damask fast, do not need a moment Tian Ling'er has caught the gray monkey, but now in the dense bamboo forest, but it is a big obstacle.
The gray monkey is extremely smart, never straight line escape, in the forest swinging left and right, bending and folding, running forward. Tian Ling'er on the one hand to pay attention to the monkey traces, on the other hand, also have to guard against the oncoming ubiquitous black section of bamboo, a big trouble. As for Zhang Xiaofan can only chase on the ground dry anxious, can not help.
Two people and a monkey so quickly chased, in that gray monkey "squeak squeak squeak" in the screams, also do not know how long to chase, Zhang Xiaofan breathing gradually heavy, already feel tired, I think it has been chased out of a long way.
But see in front of the verdant bamboo forest, but it seems endless, layer by layer to face. Zhang Xiaofan dry mouth, suddenly saw the front gray shadow flash, actually fell straight down. He was overjoyed, immediately came to the spirit, a force rushed up, just at this moment, above Tian Ling'er suddenly shouted sharply: "Be careful!"
In front of Zhang Xiaofan, a cliff suddenly appeared, Zhang Xiaofan hastily retracted his feet, and almost fell down. He fixed his mind, but saw the cliff under a deep valley, the valley in the distance there is a thick fog filled, can not see clearly, and near the valley wall is no longer black section of bamboo, but a variety of miscellaneous trees, pines and cypresses are mostly, it turned out that they have chased to the back of the mountain far away from the valley.
Zhang Xiaofan saw that the gray monkey fell down, in the air, repeat the trick, grasping the branches of the tree body a swing a floating, will melt away the force of the fall, fleeing forward.
He was in a hurry, suddenly heard the sound of breaking air, looked up to see Tian Ling'er red clothes fluttering, came in the air, stretching out a jade also like a hand to him, called: "Come up."
Zhang Xiaofan can not think too much, stretch out his hand to grab Tian Ling'er, Tian Ling'er forcefully pull, will pull him to the top of Zhuya, "amber Zhuya" suddenly sank for a moment, but immediately returned to its original state.
Zhang Xiaofan had this experience for the first time, at a loss for words, Tian Ling'er pulled him behind her and snapped, "Hold on to my waist, quickly."
Zhang Xiaofan followed the instructions to hold, Tian Ling'er then eagerly lead damask fly away, red shadow swept, two people Royal "amber Zhu damask", rushed straight into the deep valley, toward the gray monkey figure to chase.
The wind sound biting cold, Zhang Xiaofan but feel whistling straight, almost even eyes can not open, but under the feet of the "amber damask" seems to be soft, not soft, let a person feel that accidentally will fall down generally, people worry about fear. He was a little afraid, could not help but hold Tian Ling'er hugged a little tighter, only feel the red clothes such as clouds, floating in front of the eyes, the back of the teacher sister is also like the nine heavenly fairies, clear and beautiful, there is a light fragrance, drifting into the nose, a burst of joy in his heart, when he really hoped that this time will no longer pass the best.
Tian Ling'er where thought behind the little boy all kinds of strange thoughts, a mind are in front of the gray monkey on the body. She was usually favored and praised by her parents and brothers, and was quite proud of her nature, and now she couldn't catch up with a monkey, which was unacceptable.
So in the deep valley, between the shadow of the trees, but see the gray shadow in front, the red shadow in pursuit, around and around, chasing and running.
So again chased a small half hour, that gray monkey I do not know what kind of foreign species, but actually no fatigue, still escaping fast. But Tian Ling'er after such a long chase all the way, has gradually familiarized with the method of weaving through the forest, see will be chasing closer and closer.
Gray monkeys all the way to the deep valley, Zhang Xiaofan from behind Tian Ling'er look forward, only to see the front of the trees gradually thinning, light penetrated, vaguely a piece of open space, there seems to be the sound of water. At this time the gray monkey screams more and more urgently, seems to be unable to think of these two people chased half a day still do not give up, but there is no way back, can only desperately forward to escape.
After not long, the eye suddenly bright, really is a piece of open space, the ground is gravel, in the middle of a small blue pool, water ripples, flowing west. The gray monkey fled here, obviously hesitated, but behind the sound of the blink of an eye, had no choice but to fall to the ground, and ran forward.
But I do not know why, its pace has become extremely slow, where it seems to escape, said it is a walk is more or less. Despite this, it still moved forward one step at a time.
Zhang Xiaofan see in the eyes, the heart strange, but Tian Ling'er on the one hand to quickly avoid obstacles, on the other hand to pay attention to the monkey trail, the whole mind is highly concentrated, where to think about so much, see the gray monkey is in front of them, overjoyed, a rebuke, drive aya straight into the open space, to the gray monkey pounced.
See is going to catch the monkey, Zhang Xiaofan suddenly brain "boom" sound, the body involuntarily shook two, a wave of nausea want to vomit feeling from the five viscera, straight to the brain, a moment the whole body are shaking up.
Zhang Xiaofan was shocked and did not know what to do, and it was at this moment that his chest suddenly became hot, and a wave of warmth emanated out to protect his heart chakra, which then counteracted the nausea.
Zhang Xiaofan subconsciously looked towards his chest and sensed that the warmth was from the dark purple bead that Pu Zhi had given him. At the same time, Tian Ling'er's body in front of him suddenly shook twice, and her body went limp, actually falling down.
The two of them were in mid-air, once Tian Ling'er lost control, the amber vermillion damask immediately stopped, and the two of them immediately fell down from mid-air.
Zhang Xiaofan rolled a few times on the ground, greatly in pain, but he couldn't care less, before he stood up, he hurriedly shouted, "Senior sister, senior sister, are you alright?"
Only to see Tian Ling'er fall down in front of him, not moving at all, her face pale, cold sweat all over her forehead, she had already fainted.
Zhang Xiaofan was shocked, guessing that it was most likely related to that weird feeling just now, at that moment, he forced himself to endure the pain, climbed up and ran to Tian Ling'er's side, pushed her and called out several times, but Tian Ling'er still did not respond.
Zhang Xiaofan looked around again, only to see the pool of blue water as the center, within three feet, not an inch of grass, but outside of three feet, but the forest is lush. He gritted his teeth, forcibly resisted the nausea that flooded his heart from time to time, carried Tian Ling'er on his back, and at the same time picked up the amber vermillion damask that had been thrown aside, and walked outside.
This one or two feet of distance, in the usual simply not worth mentioning, but in that nausea feeling from time to time under the attack, actually walk hard incomparable. It was not easy to walk out of three feet, came to a large pine tree, that nausea immediately disappeared without a trace.
Zhang Xiaofan put down Tian Ling'er, huffing and puffing, eyes to the water pool over there, only to see that the gray monkeys remain there, no longer walking, full of pain, look here, eyes have a meaning of help.
Zhang Xiaofan frowned, finally could not bear, stood up and went in. Only after a few steps, the nausea returned, and at the same time, the warmth in his chest also reappeared, counteracting the discomfort.
Zhang Xiaofan slowly walked to the monkey's side, already sweating profusely, that gray monkey saw him come to his side and didn't move a muscle, it seemed that he was being pressurized and couldn't breathe. Zhang Xiaofan inhaled deeply, bent down and picked up that monkey, turned his body and walked out. That gray monkey was very obedient at this time, peacefully crouching in his arms.
After a long time, he walked out again and went to the still unconscious Tian Ling'er's side, and that nauseating feeling disappeared with him. Zhang Xiaofan put the gray monkey down and sat down on his butt, panting heavily, that gray monkey also breathed a sigh of relief, lying on the ground, his eyes dribbling around, but did not run away, just looking at Zhang Xiaofan.
Zhang Xiaofan unbuttoned the lapel, took out the bead with the red rope tied carefully view, only to see the original dark purple appearance has been transformed into lavender, inside the green gas seems to have been stimulated by what, hovering speed is actually ten times faster, turn non-stop, all around the bead appearance.
The same as before, the green gas every hit once, there will be a Buddhist true words "d" out of the word blocking. The warmth that saved Zhang Xiaofan just now was also coming from this true word.
However, Zhang Xiaofan clearly saw that compared to when he first discovered it three years ago, those Buddhist "d" words were much inferior in both size and brightness.
