Chapter 25: Rare Quietness

from Qiuluo City , Shen Kuang and Su Yao slept in the open air, and their food, clothing, housing and transportation were very simple, which was very unfriendly to Su Yao who was still recovering. Therefore, it’s natural to have a good meal when you get home.

After clearing away the mess, Shen Kuang cleaned the house inside and out, dusted it and paid attention to every detail. For Shen Kuang, the courtyard is his home. Now that his master has left, he should take better care of this home.

After everything was cleaned, Shen Kuang started preparing lunch for the two of them. It was just after noon at this time. Since they arrived at Plum-Mist City around 4 o'clock , they had been delayed all the way until now, so they never had lunch.

In addition to being good at swordsmanship, Shen Kuang is also good at cooking. It can be seen from Su Yao's appetite at this time that the dishes on the table taste good.

The originally tense atmosphere in the small courtyard has gradually eased. Although the master left, he did not leave forever. Just as the master said, what Shen Kuang needs to do now is to practice his sword well and reach the status of a master as soon as possible. A gentleman's revenge is never too late. Everything needs to be done step by step and slowly.

Three rooms with two compartments, one in the outer corridor, and one in the outer corridor. This is where Shen Kuang lives on weekdays. Shen Kuang tidied up his original room and gave it to Su Yao, and he stayed in the master's room by himself.

In the afternoon, many neighbors in Red Clay Alley came to Shen Kuang's residence in twos and threes. They all listened to Butcher Zhu's words and knew that Xiao Kuang'er had brought back a woman, who seemed to be his wife.

this kind of thing was like their own nephew doing something big, so they couldn't help but be curious and wanted to come over and have a look. The neighbors were all empty-handed, and they had some things in their hands as gifts for the girl they met for the first time.

Shen Kuang welcomed the arrival of the neighbors. Su Yao could only sit aside awkwardly and couldn't say anything except laughing all the time. The neighbors' words basically focused on things about Su Yao. Some asked her how old she was, some asked where she was from, and some asked with a smile when she and Xiao Kuang'er planned to get married. In short, they are paying attention to their marriage, both covertly and covertly, as if they can't do anything unless they get married.

Because of her injury, Su Yao basically didn't move much. She occasionally stroked her hair, which made her look like a lady in the eyes of her neighbors, and they couldn't stop praising her. Su Yao's face turned red at what her neighbors said. Shen's situation was better, but she still had to keep explaining.

Originally, he just wanted Zhu Huyue to misunderstand and give up the idea of fighting him. But now everyone in the alley knows that he has brought a woman back, and they all believe that Su Yao is his wife. No matter how he explains it, The neighbors just thought it was the shyness of the newcomers and laughed and said they understood.

There were also some who comforted Shen Kuang and told him that it was already too late to get married at the age of twenty. In short, they still couldn't do without their marriage in a few words.

It was like this. After several rounds of visits from neighbors, the two of them became numb. Listening to the aunts talking and laughing, they no longer explained, just stiff and awkward giggles. Slowly, the sun set in the west, and after sending away the last wave of neighbors, Shen Kuang and Su Yao sat at the stone table under the willow tree with relief.

Not long after, the two people in silence spoke at the same time, "You...!"

"You speak first." The two of them spoke almost at the same time.

"I'd better say it first." Shen Kuang said with a smile.

Su Yao also smiled and nodded, "These mothers-in-law and aunts are very interesting, but why do they always talk about our...marriage?"

Shen Kuang shook his head and smiled bitterly, "Do you still remember the Uncle Zhu I met at the alley when I came back in the afternoon?"

"Remember, what happened?"

"Do you still remember his daughter Zhu Huyue?"

"I remember too."

"Actually, Zhu Huyue has always hoped that I could marry her."

After saying that, Shen Kuang smiled. Su Yao couldn't help but laugh, "Didn't she marry you?"

"It was all a bad idea given to her by my master. The master told her that as long as she beat me, I would marry her. So later on, she was always keen on looking for me to fight. As for me, I could only avoid her and ask for help. Isn’t it just to find an excuse to get over it?”

Su Yao smiled again and said , "So you tell them that I am your wife?"

Shen Kuang waved his hands in embarrassment and said, "No, it was at that time that Uncle Zhu made a mistake. Zhu Huyue was nearby at that time, so I didn't explain. I didn't expect Uncle Zhu's tone of voice to be so casual. It's better now. Everyone in the alley knows. Sorry!"

The smile on Su Yao's mouth never stopped, she didn't care about it. "It's actually good to have a group of elders who care about you. It's okay. I don't mind."

The sunset in the evening was beautiful, and the fiery red afterglow spread over the earth and onto the faces of Shen Kuang and Su Yao. In a rare moment of silence, the two of them sat at the stone table, staring at the sunset in the distance. As Su Yao said, having a group of elders who care about you makes your heart really warm .

Su Yao suddenly felt that she hadn't been so quiet for a long time. She never thought that one day she could be like this. She didn't have to worry about being caught up by bad guys, and she didn't have to be homeless. She just needed to quietly watch the sunset in the distance. . However, no one else in the clan could see this scene except her.

After a long time, she turned her head and looked at Shen Kuang beside her, and found that he was also staring at the sunset in the distance, wondering what he was thinking. Su Yao did not bring up the topic. After a while, she turned her head again and stared at the sunset in the distance like Shen Kuang.

Su Yao, who was tired, slept very soundly that night.

The same is true for Shen Kuang. If you think about it carefully, the master's departure should have been planned before he went to Qiuluo City . He should go alone on the next journey.

The days in Red Clay Alley were simple and comfortable, and May passed quietly like this before I knew it.

Su Yao has lived in the small courtyard for more than ten days. She really likes it here. On weekdays, the mothers-in-law and aunts living around the alley would occasionally come to chat with them. The mothers-in-law and aunts could not hide their smiles on their brows and often looked at her and Shen Kuang's silly smile. This made Su Yao sometimes even There was a feeling that she really was Shen Kuang's wife.

Thinking of this, she often shakes her head and chuckles, but she is not shy. Getting along with Shen Kuang is quite similar to the pool of spring water in the small courtyard. Calmness is the norm, and occasionally there will be a few ripples, but they all add a bit of interest to this peaceful life.

She has recovered well from her injuries and can basically live a normal life now. The internal injuries this time were very serious, and he needed to rest for a long time, so he would not be able to exercise again for a short time. The medicine for the left shoulder injury had to be changed once, and it was Shen Kuang who took care of it. It was normal for the two of them to blush, but they were no longer as coy as before. It was natural to finish things with red faces.

Shen Kuang likes to practice swordsmanship, which is Su Yao's biggest feeling these days.

Every morning she could see Shen Kuang practicing his sword under the big peach tree by the river. The river surrounded the red mud alley. The residents in the alley usually got their water from there, so she often met many people in the morning. Neighbor.

Su Yao occasionally goes to the river to watch Shen Kuang practice swordplay. She is no longer embarrassed when she meets the aunts passing by because they are all familiar with them. If you say hello with a smile, the aunts will praise you for a long time.

The Zhu Huyue Su Yao whom Shen Kuang was talking about has been seen several times, always at the big peach tree in the morning. Zhu Huyue has been there several times, and coincidentally, she was there all those times. At first, because they were not familiar with each other, she couldn't talk much. As they met more, she would occasionally talk to Zhu Huyue.

The last time Zhu Huyue came to see Shen Kuang was yesterday morning to say goodbye to him. At the beginning of the month, an old Taoist came to Plum-Mist City . He met Zhu Huyue while passing by Red Clay Alley, and he had the idea of accepting her as his disciple. Although the seventeen-year-old Zhu Huyue has passed the best time to practice martial arts, she still had to be given some advice by Master Shen Kuang when she was a child, so it is still too late due to her talent.

Zhu Huyue's departure was unexpected by Shen Kuang. This time he didn't avoid her anymore, but sat with her under the willow tree and talked for a long time. Shen Kuang made an agreement with her that when she returns from her studies, the two of them would have a good fight. Regarding this strange girl, Shen Kuang felt that he might not be her match the next time they met.

Zhu Huyue's master is an old Taoist with a white beard and a fairy-like appearance. I heard that his name is Cheng Ziqiu, and he comes from Qiyun Mountain, the Taoist holy land, or in Nanliang. Although there were frictions between the Northern Wei and Southern Liang states, the rivers and lakes were never bound to one country.

Shen Kuang and Su Yao have naturally heard of Qiyun Mountain, a Taoist holy land. Chengzi Qiu Shenkuang didn't understand, but Su Yao did. He is the younger brother of Qi Yunshan's contemporary Celestial Master. He is a master of marksmanship and a fire spear that is known to everyone in the world.

Shen Kuang, Su Yao and Cheng Ziqiu met. The old man was amazed when he saw the two of them for the first time, and he immediately had the idea of accepting a disciple. But since Shen Kuang and Su Yao had a master and a family, neither Shen Kuang nor Su Yao were willing to accept him as their teacher, so Cheng Ziqiu had no choice but to give up.

The feeling that Cheng Ziqiu gave Shen Kuang was somewhat similar to that of his master. It seemed that the other person was also a master-level figure, but a little worse than his master.

The people in Red Clay Alley don't actually know anything about martial arts, but they still know what they should know about the martial arts. For Uncle Zhu who only wanted a boy, it was their blessing that his daughter was so lucky to be favored by a big shot in the treasure land. Although it was a long way to go, Zhu Huyue agreed and he accepted it. The thoughts of my own girl.

In the past, even if there was such an opportunity, Zhu Huyue would probably not be willing, because in her eyes, Xiao Kuang'er who lives in the alley is the one she likes wholeheartedly. However, since seeing Su Yao that day, there have been waves in her heart.

When seeing Su Yao, Zhu Huyue understood a lot of things at once. Xiao Kuang'er may not like her, Xiao Kuang'er has been avoiding her.

On the day before leaving, Zhu Huyue told Shen Kuang what was in her heart. Although she knew that there would be no result between her and Xiao Kuang'er , she still said it. Xiao Kuang'er talked to her for a long time for the first time, and the beautiful girl named Su Yao sat beside her and listened.

Zhu Huyue knew that she was indeed much worse than Su Yao.

On the day of sending my best wishes to Hu Yue, many neighbors in Red Clay Alley came.

After sending the old man and the young man to the entrance of the alley, a group of people watched them slowly disappear from sight. Until nothing could be seen in the horizon, the farewell people slowly dispersed, leaving Uncle Zhu alone in a stunned state of sadness.

Before leaving, Zhu Huyue always had a smile on her face. Only when chatting with her father for a few words, both father and daughter shed tears unconsciously.

Looking at Zhu Huyue's retreating figure, Shen Kuang was filled with emotion. After going out for a trip and then coming back, two familiar people around him left in a row.

Of course he doesn't hate Zhu Huyue. They have been friends who grew up together. As for this sister, he heard his master say when he was a child that Zhu Huyue has a good foundation. It's just that the master doesn't accept apprentices casually, so apart from occasionally giving some advice when he was a child, he didn't give Zhu Huyue any systematic teaching, which is a pity. But now I wish Huyue can have such an opportunity, which can be considered a good ending.

Before leaving, Shen Kuang told the white-bearded old man that if Zhu Huyue suffered a loss in Qiyun Mountain, he would definitely attack Qiyun Mountain.

At that time, Cheng Ziqiu stroked his beard and smiled and said, "This is my disciple. Who dares to bully me on Qiyun Mountain?" In this way, he agreed to Shen Kuang's request.