By the time Man Hengren left the princess's residence, it was already afternoon. Man Tianyun relaxed her body, she stood up and left Wang Lou Tai together with Mo Huyen Thanh. Her steps were really slow like she wanted to enjoy this comfort a little more. Mo Xuanqing was not in a hurry. He walked behind her, looked at the beautiful woman like a flower in front of him, and secretly assessed her. The more he looked at it, the more he felt that Man Tianyun resembled someone he knew. Right from the face to the lonely back, they are strangely similar to that person. In fact, he had also heard his master talk about how in this world there are many people who are very similar but are not close relatives, nor are they siblings. The person he knew was like a fairy, gentle, treating everyone well. She is completely unlike Man Tianyun.
Her name is Zhousha. Zhou means pearl, and Sha means sand. But, the people living in the village say, Zhousha is the tears of the mermaids from the sea. The mermaids, when suffering, will shed tears. Their tears become pearls. That is Zhousha. Some people say Zhousha is no different from Zhusha. Zhusha is poisonous and can be used a lot to harm people. Just like Zhousha, she is obviously beautiful, but she is always sick and weak, always just staying in a house that smells of Chinese medicine. They clicked their tongues, saying that the name was attached to people. At that time, there was an old woman in the village who could read divination, and as soon as she saw Zhousha, she wanted her to change her name, lest the name would involve her whole life's fate. But Zhousha just smiled. She said this name is very important to her, so it cannot be changed.
Mo Xuanqing still clearly remembers the first day he met Zhousha. That was when he was taken by his master to a small bamboo house next to a cool stream, separate from Qiong Lian village. The master said that the owner of this bamboo house is the one he has to protect. In fact, at first, Mo Xuanqing didn't even know who the owner of that house was—male or female, young or old. But what his master said, he couldn't forget. The next day, the long neighing of horses made Mo Xuanqing wake up from a dream. It was only three o'clock in the morning. He wondered who was going to the backcountry at this time. His master seemed to have woken up a long time ago. He adjusted his clothes and walked outside with a bamboo stick. Curiosity made Mo Xuanqing gently push the wall to look out. In the dark space of the night, he could only see faint silhouettes of people coming in and out. Among the flickering torches in the night, he could only see a girl wearing a red dress, like a flower blooming in the dark.
Perhaps his master knew these people. The Master's respectful appearance in front of others, that was actually the first time that Mo Xuanqing saw that. And the person standing in front of the master, receiving his greetings, was the girl in the red dress. They said something that Mo Xuanqing could not hear clearly. He couldn't see what the girl's face was like. In the darkness, his vision was not as clear as day. Moreover, waking up in the middle of a dream, sleepiness pulled Mo Xuanqing's eyelids down. Mo Xuanqing couldn't hold it anymore. Regardless of what was going on outside, he lay on the wooden bed, pulled the blanket over his body, and then fell back into a beautiful dream.
Until the next morning, the strong smell of Chinese medicine made Mo Xuanqing wake up. It had been a long time since he had smelled this scent. His master was a healer but at the same time a martial arts master in the Gypsy. That's what his master told him. He had also seen how powerful his master's medical techniques were. Mo Xuanqing also knew how good the old master's martial arts were. From the day he was taken care of by his master until now, it is rare for Mo Xuanqing to see his master giving someone medicine. He didn't understand why, but his master just said he had no luck with such people. However, today, the strong smell of medicine in the air caused Mo Xuanqing to push the door out. The teacher was sitting next to the fire, above which was a boiling pot of medicine.
"Wake up? If you wake up then wash your face, and make breakfast. Also, get me a box of sugar candies from the medicine cabinet."
Mo Xuanqing was still sleepy, and when he heard what his master said, he quickly prepared breakfast. A simple breakfast in the middle of the green bamboo forest, just two bowls of spicy noodles and a plate of beef. After eating, Mo Xuanqing helped Master pour medicine, and then went to the opposite small bamboo house. It's just the opposite, but that house is quite far from the house of the two monks. Stepping into the house, the scent of frankincense wafts in the air, which does not cover the strong scent of traditional Chinese medicine.
"Master Tuan, are you here?"
A small sound sounded, making Mo Xuanqing slightly startled. If it wasn't for his master's help, I'm afraid he would have fallen to the ground. In a house like this, when suddenly there is a human voice, it really scares people. Mo Xuanqing reassured herself and then entered the small room on the east side of the bamboo house.
The girl was half lying, half sitting on the bed. Her body seemed to sink completely inside the thick fur blanket. She was looking out the window when she heard the footsteps of someone entering, then turned to Mo Xuanqing. The four eyes looked at each other, only seeing curiosity. The boy saw for the first time another girl living near his house. She was small and weak, in need of someone's protection. The girl saw a strange boy for the first time, both curious and a little worried in her heart. The two stood looking at each other like that until Master Tuan walked in. He was neither fast nor slow, lightly hitting Mo Xuanqing's head.
"What are you waiting for? Put the medicine on the table. "
It was just like that when the two met for the first time. It's just a look, not a word, but it's like we've known each other for a long time. Mo Xuanqing knew that the girl's name was Zhousha, but he didn't know what her last name was, only that her master always called her Zhousha. He doesn't know who her family is. Whenever Mo Xuanqing brought medicine or breakfast for Zhousha, she only saw her there. In fact, Zhousha's body is not so weak, she is not like the other patients of his master who have to lie in bed and need servants. Zhousha is still living well in a bamboo house by herself. It's just that her health is not good. She can't let herself catch a cold.
From a small meeting, no one thought they would be together again until adulthood. Zhousha is a dignified and gentle girl who loves to pamper children. The children in Qiong Lian village often took her down to the village, sometimes to see the lantern festival, sometimes with her to mould, to make small cakes. Zhousha's boring life is also thanks to the people here who are much happier. Unfortunately, once we know each other, we will separate. No one can be together for a lifetime. The older Zhousha is, the weaker her health is. At the age of fourteen, Master Duan did not let Zhousha go out anymore. Living in a small bamboo house all day, lying down and sitting, in fact, no one wants to live a life like that. When the children in Qiong Lian village went to pick bamboo shoots, they would stop by her house and talk to her. There are also times when Mo Xuanqing will go down to Qiong Lian village to buy Zhousha some small toys. The children happily said that when she was well again, they would take her back to the village to play. Zhousha also told them that she would get well soon.
But perhaps, as Zhousha herself also knows, those are just words of the wind. She knew her health better than anyone. Master Tuan came to her every day to take her pulse and needle, and his face could not hide his helplessness.
"Master Tuan, my health, really, how long can it last?"
When Master Tuan heard Zhousha's question, he just looked at her and slowly did not speak. For him, these two words "stretching" are really like a hammer hitting his patient's head. Some people cannot accept the truth, there are even people who go crazy.
"Don't worry, I already know how my health is. Think of it as letting me prepare myself mentally."
"If you take medicine, it's almost three months away. Otherwise, it will only be a little over a month."
"Really? That's enough. Master doesn't need to give me medicine anymore. My whole life has become a pot of medicine. Now I should live for myself a little."
Zhousha smiled lightly, and she looked out. Although Master Tuan said nothing, he respected Zhousha's request. In fact, what she said was not wrong. She had to take medicine all her life, so much so that other people feel nauseous. With just over a month left, let her live the way she wants to go.