Obscuris Labyrinth

Although Zhao Yuxuan had never applied the "Anti - Beard - Growth Powder" given to him by Li Yuexuan's grandmother in order to prolong his stay at Tianwang Fort, time slipped away quietly, and his injuries gradually healed under the daily recuperation. His handsome face, which had been previously obscured by the injuries, was gradually revealed like the moon emerging from the clouds. This change was like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing ripples of surprise among the unmarried girls in Tianwang Fort.

You know, when people often say "Hunan women are amorous", what they actually refer to is "Miao women are amorous". Love between men and women is human nature. As Zhang Zekai once said, there are three major human instincts. The first is the instinct for survival, the second is the instinct for death, and the third is the sexual instinct. In the long history of the Han Chinese, from the Xia Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty, the attitude towards love between men and women was relatively tolerant. However, during the Song and Ming Dynasties, Confucianism proposed the dogma of "preserving heavenly principles and eliminating human desires". Under the influence of this concept, women were regarded as men's appendages, like forbidden delicacies and playthings. As a result, Han Chinese women could only bury their deep - seated love in their hearts and dared not express it easily, which also led to many lamentable love tragedies.

The Miao people, on the other hand, have attached great importance to love between men and women since ancient times. They take ordinary social activities as opportunities and are able to freely choose their mates. For example, in the Xiling area, there are activities such as "Going to the Border Market" or "Meeting Girls"; in the east of Lingnan, the Miao people call this kind of activity "Youfang"; on the banks of Rongshui, it is called "Sitting with Girls" or "Visiting Villages"; in the northwest, it is called "Stepping on the Moon"; in the central area and some western Miao areas, it is called "Jumping - Flower", "Jumping - Field", etc. In these social activities, young men and women can choose to go in groups of three or five, or alone, and they can sing and talk to each other openly and generously or shyly and quietly. Singing in antiphonal style as a form of courtship is a very representative and ethnic - characteristic custom in Miao marriage customs. In some Miao communities, there are even special places for young people to court, such as Youfangping in the east of Lingnan and Girls' Rooms in the northeast corner. Therefore, once an unmarried Miao girl meets a man she likes, she will not hide her feelings because of shyness. Moreover, once the two sides are in harmony, they will often stay together for a lifetime and never abandon each other. This is where the meaning of "amorous" comes from.

Since ancient times, Han Chinese men have been relatively popular among Miao girls. These Han Chinese men are usually handsome with fair complexions and refined and polite in their manners, which are in sharp contrast to Miao men who grew up in the mountains.

Zhao Yuxuan was such a typical Han Chinese man. His facial features were delicate and handsome, his skin was as white as snow, and courtesy and self - cultivation seemed to be his inborn qualities. His highly affable smile, when he was at school, was like the warm sun in spring, which could easily melt others' hearts. Not to mention in this simple - and - rustic Miao village, he was like the most dazzling flower among thousands of flowers.

Because of this, he had some more friends around him, and all of these friends were extremely enthusiastic. As soon as they saw Zhao Yuxuan, involuntary smiles would bloom on their faces like flowers in the early morning, and then they would unhesitatingly put down the work they were busy with and happily accompany him to chat. Unfortunately, perhaps because of the so - called "like repels like" principle, all these friends were female. Among the girls who had the closest relationship with Zhao Yuxuan, there were two named Wu Chenyang, two named Zheng Haotian, one named Zhou Yuxuan, one named Chen Jiahao, and another named Liu Junhui. Although this Liu Junhui was also petite, compared with Lin Yaxuan, she was far inferior in both appearance and temperament.

Zhao Yuxuan did not reject the enthusiastic treatment of any girl because he knew very well that in this strange Miao village, he needed friends, and more importantly, friends who could teach him Miao culture. The elderly in Tianwang Fort were okay, but those single men, every time they looked at him, their eyes were like two fighting roosters, full of vigilance. In their eyes, it seemed that Zhao Yuxuan would, at any time, like a robber, snatch away their most precious things. Such hostile eyes made Zhao Yuxuan very resistant in his heart and unwilling to approach them. Therefore, whenever he had a question to ask, he could only rely on those enthusiastic and kind - hearted Miao girls. And for his questions, the girls always answered in great detail. Even for a matter that could be explained clearly in ten minutes, they would always hold Zhao Yuxuan and talk to him endlessly for most of the day until finally they reluctantly let him go, looking like they were reluctant to let go of their beloved kites.

In the blink of an eye, two months passed like a fleeting white horse. During these two months, Zhao Yuxuan had learned some simple Miao language based on Yao language, and also had a deep understanding of Miao's customs and traditions. Every two days, like a pious believer, he would quietly go alone to the huge stone with the inscription of the ancestor of the Miao nationality under Lingjiu Peak and observe it for a long time. However, every time he found nothing. But when passing through that extremely dangerous place like a "thin blade", his steps had become much lighter and faster, like a nimble deer.

As for Lin Yaxuan, except during mealtimes, she hardly ever met Zhao Yuxuan. Zhao Yuxuan found that she was overwhelmed by heavy study tasks every day. He was very puzzled and really couldn't understand why Li Ruize made his granddaughter learn so much knowledge that seemed useless forever. It was like planting some strange seeds on a barren land, which was really puzzling.

Regarding the change in Zhao Yuxuan's appearance, Lin Yaxuan didn't show much surprise, let alone any "amorous" reaction. She still called him "Zhao Bad Egg, Zhao Bad Egg" as usual, with an attitude that was neither cold nor warm, like a calm lake, without any ripples because of his change. Zhao Yuxuan knew in his heart that Lin Yaxuan had always had a not - so - good impression of him, so he no longer took the initiative to talk to her. Every day he still slept in the firewood room, getting used to the orangutan named "Xingda" pushing the door and entering every night. Only now he no longer had the fear he had at the beginning, like a veteran who had been through many battles and had become accustomed to this situation.

One day, the sunlight shone through the window onto the floor of the hall. Zhao Yuxuan was having a quiet meal with Li Ruize's family in the hall. Suddenly, a crisp knock on the door broke the silence. Hearing the knock, Lin Yaxuan quickly put down her chopsticks and got up to open the door.

After a while, Lin Yaxuan walked back with a sullen face, followed by an old man in his sixties and three young men. Zhao Yuxuan had lived in Tianwang Fort for some time and was relatively familiar with the people here, so he recognized these people at a glance. That old man was the chieftain of Tianwang Fort, also known as the headman, named Li Yifei. And those three young men were Wang Boyu, Zhao Junxi, and Sun Ruize respectively. Li Yifei didn't seem to have any special expression, but those three young men, their eyes looking at Zhao Yuxuan seemed to be burning with raging anger, and their expressions were full of hostility, like three small beasts that had discovered an enemy. And they had never spoken to each other, and this silent hostility was even more oppressive.

When Li Yifei and the three young men saw Li Yuexuan's grandmother, they immediately bowed respectfully. Li Yifei's voice was low and respectful: "Li Yuexuan Witch, sorry to disturb you."

Zhao Yuxuan had been here for a long time, and he often saw people coming to ask Li Yuexuan's grandmother to go out and do things, mostly things like treating diseases and praying to gods. In this Tianwang Fort, everyone respected and feared Li Yuexuan's grandmother, and Li Yifei, as the chieftain, was no exception. In front of Li Yuexuan's grandmother, he was like an obedient pupil.

At this time, Li Yuexuan's grandmother had slowly stood up, and her calm eyes looked at Li Yifei as she asked, "Oh, it's Li Yifei. What brings you to my house?"

Li Yifei replied, "Li Yuexuan Witch, I myself have nothing. It's just that Wang Boyu and the others have filed a complaint against someone, and I really don't know what to do."

Hearing this, Li Yuexuan's grandmother immediately glanced thoughtfully at Zhao Yuxuan and then said to Wang Boyu, Zhao Junxi, and Sun Ruize, "Wang Boyu, Zhao Junxi, Sun Ruize, you tell me yourselves why you want to complain about Zhao Yuxuan."

At this time, Wang Boyu, the eldest, stepped forward. He stared at Zhao Yuxuan like an angry bull, his eyes wide open, then pointed at him with his finger and said loudly, "This Han Chinese named Zhao is a big swindler. We can't let him stay in our fort any longer."

Li Yuexuan's grandmother frowned and asked, "A big swindler? How is Zhao Yuxuan a big swindler?"

Wang Boyu said emotionally, "Li Yuexuan Witch, you should know that Wu Chenyang and I have always been on very good terms. But since this Zhao came here, he doesn't know what sweet - talk he used to deceive Wu Chenyang. Now whenever Wu Chenyang sees this Zhao, she is like a butterfly seeing a beautiful flower, and she can't wait to rush over to him, chatting and laughing with him, completely ignoring me as if I don't exist."

At this moment, Zhao Junxi said, "And my Chen Jiahao, she and I used to love singing in antiphonal style the most, and our voices were like clear springs in the mountains, blending with each other. But now, she doesn't even open her mouth when she sees me. I saw this Zhao secretly go to the back of the village with her with my own eyes. They didn't come back until a long time later. I don't even know what shameful things they did behind there."

The remaining Sun Ruize also hurriedly said, "Yes, yes. Zheng Haotian and I have been in love for three years. I was already ready to go to her house to propose marriage these days, and Zheng Haotian also knew about this. But yesterday she told me that she had fallen in love with someone else in her heart and asked me not to go to her house for the time being. But... but I saw with my own eyes that this Zhao kid went to her house when Zheng Haotian's parents went to the market outside the mountain. I saw Zheng Haotian greet him with such a happy smile. She... she has never smiled at me like that before."

Li Yuexuan's grandmother listened quietly. After listening, she nodded, then looked at Zhao Yuxuan seriously and asked, "Zhao Yuxuan, what do you have to say?"