novelhk Chapter 269 His body stands firm like a green bamboo, his spirit like a long wind sweeping away the
Chapter 269 His body stands firm like a green bamboo, his spirit like a long wind sweeping away the
Lin Yan traversed the clouds on his Star Sword, aimlessly heading south. After flying for an unknown amount of time, the scenery beneath his feet suddenly changed—the mountains were covered by an endless expanse of green, with layers upon layers of bamboo groves, ripples spreading out as the wind passed, making the entire mountain range seem to come alive.
He landed on the highest mountain peak. Standing before this sea of bamboo, the heaviness that had accumulated on the banks of the Yellow River dissipated somewhat.
Lin Yan closed his eyes and focused his mind, his consciousness slowly sinking into the ground.
This exploration took him by surprise. The underground world was completely different—bamboo roots intertwined, weaving a giant net several meters deep. Some were as thick as a child's arm, others as thin as a hair, densely embedded in the rock crevices and seeping into every inch of soil.
"Wow..." he couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.
These bamboo stalks appear independent, yet underground they form a unified whole. The root systems of century-old bamboo stretch for miles, and younger bamboo stalks draw nutrients from this network. When the wind blows, they rely on this underground network to support each other and weather the storm together.
He reached out and touched a green bamboo stalk, feeling its warm, smooth texture against his fingertips. This bamboo grew in a crack in the rock, its roots carving a path through the stones. Three years of taking root, one day it broke through the soil—this forbearance and resilience moved him deeply.
As I was deep in thought, a mountain wind suddenly arose.
The entire bamboo forest rustled and swayed. Lin Yan released his spiritual sense, letting his mind drift with the wind.
He understood the language of the wind—gentle as a whisper when light, howling like a battle song when heavy. The wind is formless, yet it manifests itself in the bamboo forest. Wherever it passes, the bamboo waves surge, tracing the wind's path.
The wind taught the bamboo to stand tall, while the bamboo gave the wind its shape. They are like two old friends, depending on each other for support.
Lin Yan sat cross-legged on the mountaintop. After an unknown amount of time, a green light and a small cyan vortex appeared next to the illusory image of humanity in his sea of consciousness. The essence of wood and the essence of wind—entry level!
Lin Yan opened his eyes, took out his Rolex date watch, and saw that a whole week had passed.
He tried to take a step, his body as light as a breeze. He moved among the bamboo branches, his clothes fluttering, the thousands of green bamboos becoming his support.
"Its body stands firm like a green bamboo, its spirit like a long wind sweeping away the clouds..."
This verse naturally came to mind. Spiritual practice requires both the steadfastness of bamboo and the freedom and ease of a gentle breeze.
Once his mind had calmed down, he bowed solemnly to the bamboo forest. Before leaving, he broke off a bamboo branch and put it in his sleeve, then rode away on his sword.
As the setting sun painted the bamboo forest a golden-red hue, Lin Yan found a secluded hillside to descend. He walked down a small path and soon encountered a couple carrying bamboo poles.
"Stop!" The dark-faced man walking in front suddenly stopped, looking him up and down warily. "Young man, which production team are you from? I've never seen you before?"
His wife quickly shrank behind the man, gripping the machete tightly in her hand.
Lin Yan calmly took out his camera from his bag and hung it around his neck, then took out his press pass and handed it over: "Uncle, I'm a reporter from Beijing, here to cover the double harvest season. Here, this is my credentials."
The man took the small blue booklet and examined it repeatedly, his rough fingers tracing the stamped seal. His brow furrowed deeper and deeper. "I didn't finish school. You're coming with me to the brigade headquarters!"
"Of course," Lin Yan said with a smile, putting the camera into his bag. "I also need to report to the brigade headquarters."
The three walked down the winding mountain path. The bamboo shadows swayed, and the setting sun cast dappled light through the bamboo leaves.
"Uncle, I've been walking through the mountains for ages, and I still don't know where we are," Lin Yan asked casually. "When I write the article, I'll have to clearly state the location."
Upon hearing this, the man unconsciously straightened his chest a bit: "We are from an old revolutionary base area, Zhuxi Village, Cuiwei Brigade, Jinggangshan!" He pointed to the woman beside him, "You can just call me Uncle Xiao. This is my wife, surnamed Li."
"Uncle Xiao, Aunt Li," Lin Yan greeted them readily, casually pulling a few fruit candies from his bag. "After walking for so long, try these."
Aunt Li hesitated as she looked at the candy, but Uncle Xiao waved his hand, saying, "No, this is too precious..."
"This will help you relax on the road." Lin Yan stuffed the candy directly into Aunt Li's hand. "I heard in Beijing that the bamboo in Jinggang Mountain is good. I'll have to take a good look at it this time."
When the topic turned to bamboo, Uncle Xiao started talking non-stop: "That's right! The bamboo here was praised by the Red Army back in the day..."
As the three talked, the outline of the village gradually emerged from the bamboo forest. Wisps of smoke rose from chimneys, and occasionally a dog barked.
Aunt Li quietly peeled a piece of candy and put it in her mouth, her eyes squinting from the sweetness.
Before the sun completely sank into the bamboo forest, Uncle Xiao led Lin Yan into an adobe courtyard at the east end of the village.
"Uncle Ronggen!" Uncle Xiao called into the house, "We have guests!"
A lean old man stepped forward in response, a pipe tucked into his waistband. He squinted at Lin Yan, his gaze lingering for a moment on the camera on Lin Yan's chest.
"This is a reporter from Beijing." Uncle Xiao handed over his press pass. "He said he's here to cover the double harvest season."
Squad leader Xiao Ronggen took the identification document and carefully examined it in the last rays of daylight. He pressed his finger on the stamp, then looked up at Lin Yan: "From Beijing? How did you manage to find your way into this remote mountain village?"
"I've heard that the harvest season in our old revolutionary base area of Jinggangshan is going very well," Lin Yan replied with a smile. "I'd like to come and see for myself and write a report."
Xiao Ronggen handed back the credentials, his wrinkles smoothing out. "Thank you for your hard work, reporter." He turned and called to the kitchen, "Xi Mei, add another dish. Cut up that piece of cured pork on the beam and stir-fry it with dried chili peppers!"
A response came from the kitchen. At that moment, two teenagers peeked out from the inner room, their eyes fixed on Lin Yan.
"These are my two grandsons," Xiao Ronggen greeted them. "Call them Uncle Lin."
"Hello, Uncle Lin," the two children called out timidly.
The food was served, with a plate of stir-fried cured pork with dried red chilies placed in the center, glistening with oil and smelling delicious. Lin Yan picked up a piece with his chopsticks and noticed that although the two children were sitting properly, their eyes were practically glued to the plate.
He subtly pushed the plate of cured meat towards the children, saying, "I can't eat too much spicy food. You're all growing, so eat more."
The two children stared longingly at their grandfather.
"Eat up, eat up." Xiao Ronggen waved his chopsticks, then turned to Lin Yan and said, "Please don't laugh, reporter. Mountain kids don't have much manners."
"Very sensible," Lin Yan said, placing a large piece of cured meat into each child's bowl.
After the meal, Xiao Ronggen poured Lin Yan more tea: "The double harvest won't start for another two or three days. If you don't mind, reporter, you can stay at my house. There's a spare room; it's simple, but clean enough."
"Then I'll have to bother you," Lin Yan readily agreed.
"I'll have Shuisheng show you around the village tomorrow." Xiao Ronggen pointed to his older grandson. "Our Zhuxi Village is famous for its bamboo, if I may not mention anything else. Back when the Red Army was fighting here, they even used bamboo baskets woven by us."
As night deepened, the bamboo forest rustled in the wind. Lin Yan lay on a bamboo bed, listening to the distant croaking of frogs, pondering how to learn about this small village hidden deep in the bamboo forest in the next two or three days.
Xiao Ronggen whispered to his wife in the main room, "Go to the supply and marketing cooperative to buy a pound of meat first thing tomorrow morning. There are reporters from Beijing; don't neglect them."
These words drifted into Lin Yan's ears through the crack in the window. He gently turned over and stared blankly at the bamboo shadows outside the window.