劍問蒼天 - 第99章 故人情 - 清風書屋

Beyond the Dead Mire, on the ancient road that led west from D awang Village, Zhou Yixuan and little Wan walked slowly along.

Little Wan cast her bright eyes about her. The old road was overgrown with weeds and utterly desolate. They had been walking since they left Dawang Village, and she had not seen a single soul.

Looking far into the distance, she saw that they were in a wild, open country, with no mountains anywhere about, the sky high and the grass tall. Now and then the wind swept across the fields, and the green wild grass rolled in waves—a fine sight, one that widened the heart.

Zhou Yixuan's voice drifted over lazily from beside her. "What are you looking at?"

Little Wan smiled. "Grandfather, when we came this way some days ago, we were in such a hurry that I never really took in the surroundings. Today the weather is fine—look, the scenery here is really quite lovely!"

Zhou Yixuan glanced at the open country beyond the old road and felt his spirits lift as well, though a moment later he muttered to himself, "It's nothing but a patch of wild grass. What's so fine about it? If it were made of gold, now that would be..."

"Grandfather!" Little Wan cut him off, glaring at him in exasperation. "Why is money all you ever think about, day in and day out? And you have the nerve to call yourself Xuan—an immortal! You're so vulgar!"

"Vulgar?" Zhou Yixuan was furious. "You dare call me vulgar? I am a master above this world, renowned throughout the land, a living Buddha to the myriad families, a benefactor of the common people, a savior of all living..."

Little Wan fixed her eyes on him. Under his granddaughter's bright gaze, Zhou Yixuan somehow found his voice growing smaller and smaller, his words more and more hollow, until at last he simply lifted his head, gave a snort, and said, "What would a little girl like you know of your grandfather's prowess?"

Little Wan burst out laughing. Shaking her head, she turned her gaze away. Mocked by his own granddaughter, Zhou Yixuan felt a wave of gloom. He heaved a long sigh. "Why did I ever have to run into you? If I'd known, I'd have left you there by the roadside to cry yourself to death!"

Little Wan stuck out her tongue, her fair face all innocence and charm. "Wasn't it because Grandfather is kindhearted?" she said with a smile.

Zhou Yixuan glared at her. "Kindhearted, my foot! I raise you to this size, and all you do is vex me day in and day out!"

Little Wan was neither frightened nor angry; she seemed long since used to such talk. She stepped closer to Zhou Yixuan, rolled her eyes, and suddenly said, "Oh—Grandfather! What made you take me away in the first place, way back then?"

Zhou Yixuan paused. In truth, he and little Wan had always been easy and informal with each other, and he was never truly angry. But her question stirred a few old memories, and his face grew wistful. He gave a soft sigh. "That year, in He yin City, I saw a little girl no more than two or three years old lying by the roadside, starving and barely breathing, her cries gone hoarse. My heart softened, and I picked her up."

Here he suddenly shot little Wan a glare. "At that age you were clever enough, I'll grant you—you stopped crying at once, and made this old man think the two of us were truly fated. Once that thought took root, I could never bring myself to let you go."

Little Wan made a face at him and caught hold of his sleeve, coaxing, "But isn't that just Grandfather being kindhearted? You're sure to be repaid for it someday. Oh! Think about it—all these years, I've done physiognomy readings for people, and how much money have I earned for you?"

Zhou Yixuan nodded unconsciously, his face breaking into a smile. "Mm, that's true enough..." Then he snapped to attention and turned on her angrily. "True enough what? Nonsense!"