The next morning, with a gentle breeze, I awoke from my slumber to find my surroundings completely changed. There was no stream, no sea of flowers, and no forest.
The desolation and decay around me mirrored my current mood. I stood up and gazed at the desert below the concave valley, both distant and yet within reach, contemplating whether to go there.
Perhaps after such a great blow, death would have been the way to express my feelings, but I didn't think so. Life always holds many beautiful things; death means nothingness.
Since we can't predict the future in love, nor know if we'll reach the end, but now that I know his true feelings, I should learn to let go, keeping only the beautiful memories of him in my heart.
With these thoughts, I smiled slightly, adjusted my mindset, and with my own feelings in tow, I descended the mountain along a small path. Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, I was surprised to find that the horse I had ridden with Master Zhang was still waiting foolishly at the foot of the mountain.
I sighed softly, walked over to the horse, untied the reins of one of them, and said to it, "You've run so far with me, you must be tired. Today, I'll let you go. Go wherever you wish; you are free."
After speaking, I patted its back to signal it to leave. The horse seemed to understand my words, neighed loudly, and rubbed against me.
Subconsciously, I reached into my clothes and pulled out a grass ring. I looked at the grass ring in my hand, and memories surged back like a gushing spring.
Recalling that just yesterday I had exchanged grass rings with Ali, and the next day we parted ways. In an instant, tears welled up in my eyes, falling one by one onto the grass ring. I caressed it again and again, realizing that some things no longer belonged to me.
I handed it to the horse and said, "Can you take this away? It has nothing to do with me anymore."
The horse nodded slightly, lowered its head, took the grass ring in its mouth, rubbed against me, and then turned to leave.
I wiped away my tears, leaned against the other horse, and wondered where I should go next. Anywhere would do; perhaps this way I could forget him.
So, I mounted the horse and rode aimlessly forward.
As I rode along the road, not yet having decided where to go, I often stopped. Then, I suddenly saw an old man in the distance, carrying firewood and walking towards us.
The old man walked while leisurely singing a folk song: "Sunrise, up the mountain, chop a basket of firewood. Sunset, down the mountain, home so leisurely."
Listening to the vivid and lively lyrics of the old man, and seeing his happy face, I couldn't help but ask, "Grandpa, why are you so happy?"
The old man looked up at me. Seeing the bitterness and helplessness on my face, he asked, "Little girl, do you have something on your mind?"
I nodded slightly.
He guessed, "I suppose it's about someone you like."
I was slightly taken aback and asked, "Grandpa, how did you guess?"
The old man put down his firewood, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and laughed heartily, "Don't all you young people get sad over matters of love?"
I felt a little embarrassed and said, "Grandpa, you're amazing, you know everything."
"When I was young, I was often troubled by love. It was better when I saw through it. Perhaps the first person you meet isn't the best; the one who comes later is the one who can truly accompany you through life."
Listening to the old man's guidance, my heart felt much lighter. I was very happy to have met Ali, but Ali ultimately couldn't accompany me to the end.
The old man said, "Don't underestimate me because of my age; I'm quite good at going up and down the mountain. I walk several kilometers almost every day."
"Grandpa, your health is truly good."
"You young people should also go out and about, see the vast world. You look lost. Why don't you go to Cherry Blossom Valley first? The flowers should still be blooming there now."
"Cherry Blossom Valley? Is it there?" Hearing the old man say this, I knew it must be a valley full of cherry blossoms.
"Go straight ahead from here, and you'll see a winding mountain path leading all the way to the summit. Cross the summit, and you'll see a large cherry blossom forest."
"Thank you, Grandpa."
"You're welcome. Hurry along now."
"Okay."
After bidding farewell to the old man, I headed towards Cherry Blossom Valley with great anticipation. Walking along the main road, I indeed saw a winding path winding up a grassy slope.
Leading the horse, I walked all the way up the small path. Carefully reaching the summit, I saw a patch of tender pink cherry blossoms at the foot of the mountain.
Happily, I led the horse down the mountain. It was already afternoon when I entered Cherry Blossom Valley. The sun was gradually setting in the west, revealing only half of its crimson glow.
The setting sun's crimson light reflected the fiery sunset clouds in the sky. I looked up at the sky, deeply moved by this beautiful scenery, and couldn't help but exclaim, "So beautiful."
After watching for a while, I turned back and patted the horse's head, saying, "It seems we made the right choice coming here. We'll stay here tonight."
The horse responded with two hums. I let the horse go and lay down under a cherry blossom tree. My stomach grumbled unseasonably, and I touched my belly, lamenting, "It seems I'll starve before I can see all the wonders of the world."
With a sigh, I slowly closed my eyes.
Suddenly, I heard something fall near my ear. I opened my eyes and turned my head to see an apple land beside my head.
I picked up the apple and looked up at the tree, but saw nothing. Just then, a breeze blew, and petals detached from the wind, drifting down from the tree like a shower of cherry blossoms, enchanting and beautiful.
Although I didn't know who sent it, I didn't care. I picked up the apple and started biting into it, feeling very grateful to the stranger who sent it.
After eating my fill, I lay down under the tree again to sleep.
At night, a gust of wind arose, and the sky was dotted with stars. A cold wind blew, and I yawned. Opening my eyes, I saw a cloth printed with cherry blossoms covering me.
Confused, I pulled off the cloth and got up to look around, but saw no one. Then, I looked questioningly at the horse not far away and walked over to it, asking, "Did you cover me?"
The horse shook its head, lay down on the ground, and closed its eyes.
Confused, I said to it, "Hey, I'm telling you, I think this place is a bit strange. First, they sent apples, then they covered me with a blanket. Could there be monsters here?"
I originally wanted to say, "Could there be ghosts here?" but felt that half my spirit had already fled just by saying it, so I chose a more conservative term: monsters.
The horse hummed dismissively twice.
Feeling a bit scared, I sat down and leaned against its belly, patting the horse and saying, "Do you think someone might have taken a liking to me?"
The horse turned its face away, clearly thinking I was being narcissistic. I also smiled a little sheepishly, "Hahaha, you're turning away. I was just saying. Tonight, I'll sleep on you."
With that, I covered myself with the cloth again and fell into a deep sleep.
The next morning, I heard two "dings" by my ear again. I hurriedly opened my eyes to see two apples and a banana beside me.
I quickly woke up the horse and showed it the apples and banana, saying, "Look, look, someone really sent me things. Do you think they really like me?"
The horse looked disdainful, opened its mouth, and ate one of my apples. I was surprised and said, "Hey! Why are you eating my apple? This was given to me."
But the horse didn't listen to me. After chewing for a few bites, it swallowed, then stretched its head out and ate the apple and banana in my hand.
I hurriedly protected them, stood up, and ran to the side, eating them greedily, afraid the horse would snatch them again.
Seeing me taking big bites, the horse lost its urge to snatch and hummed twice before getting up to graze.
My suspicion grew. I didn't know who was so kind as to send me fruit.
After eating the fruit, I suddenly heard a girl's voice from the tree ask, "Where are you from?"
I followed the sound and saw a beautiful woman with disheveled hair, wearing a fluffy pink floral dress, sitting on a cherry blossom tree and looking at me.
I asked her, "Did you also send those fruits and this blanket?"
"I sent them to you."
"What's your name?"
"Sakura."
"Sakura?"
Isn't that the same name as cherry blossoms?
She asked me, "Who are you? And why are you here?"
I told her, "My name is Liu Muye. I heard there was a cherry blossom forest here, so I came to take a look."
At this moment, a breeze blew, and petals were stirred up by the wind. She stepped on the floating petals and walked down step by step.
"I am the guardian of this cherry blossom forest. Some of these cherry blossoms were planted by me, and some by people nearby."
Guardian? I asked curiously, "Are you a demon?"
She nodded.
I thanked her, "Thank you for the fruits and blanket. Where did you get the fruits from?"
"From the village."
"From the village? Did you take them from people's homes?"
She shook her head and said, "I picked them from the trees in the village."
"Do they know?"
"Yes, I got their permission."
"That's good."
I looked at her, as beautiful as a flower. My restless curiosity drove me to ask, "You're so beautiful, surely many people like you."
She nodded and said, "Everyone in the village likes me."
"I mean, do many boys like you?"
"Boys and girls both like me."
She clearly didn't understand what I was saying; she seemed to be a simple little flower spirit.
She suddenly extended her hand and asked, "Can we be friends?"
I was a little surprised and excited. I quickly took her hand and said, "Of course, I don't have any friends either."
She smiled slightly and pointed forward, saying, "Good friends, there's a beautiful depression ahead. Let me take you to see it."
"Okay, but I don't walk fast."
"I'll take you."
Saying that, she suddenly pulled my hand and flew away like the wind. I cried out in panic, "Hey! Hey! Hey! I'll fall off! I can walk myself."
With a "whoosh," she jumped down from mid-air, and I lost my balance and fell to the ground.
"Ouch!" I rubbed my aching waist and slowly stood up, explaining, "I really can't. I can walk myself."
She looked at me curiously and pointed ahead, saying, "Look, it's right here. It's beautiful, isn't it?"
I turned around and saw a large depression filled with water. Many reeds grew in the depression, and the clear water surface reflected the surrounding tree shadows.
I immediately forgot the pain and exclaimed excitedly, "This is too beautiful!"
I couldn't help but praise her, "You have such good taste."
She smiled slightly and said, "I often come to this place. Here, I always feel a sense of peace and beauty."
I walked closer to the water and reached out my hand into it. I felt a cool sensation. It would be so refreshing in the summer.
"Can I drink this water?" I asked her.
"Yes, I drink it often."
Hearing that I could drink it, I quickly cupped my hands and drank greedily, exclaiming, "This water is so sweet, like mountain spring water!"
She smiled upon hearing me and said, "The water here is indeed sweet and lingering. Look, it's because I drink this water often that I maintain such good skin."
Saying that, she lifted her skirt and spun around in front of me. I looked at her fair skin and her big, watery eyes with envy, saying, "I want to drink more too, to become as beautiful as you."
"Okay, then drink more."
With that, I lowered my head, squatted by the water, and stuck my head into the water to drink. I don't know how long I drank, but my stomach became as bloated as a pregnant woman's.
She looked at my bulging stomach, curiously stepped forward, and poked it. A stream of water rushed up from my heart, and I turned around and vomited a large mouthful.
Smiling foolishly at her, I said, "Hehehe, I should become beautiful now, right?"
She burst into laughter, "You're really trying hard for beauty. Let's go back."
I stood up with difficulty, and walking felt inconvenient. Sakura saw me walking slowly, grabbed me by the back of my collar, and flew forward.
I hurriedly closed my eyes, worried about falling. After a moment, we were back in the cherry blossom forest. I lay on the ground, my stomach aching slightly.
I quickly asked her, "Sakura, can you help me?"
"What's wrong?"
"My stomach hurts."
"Hahaha, you drank too much water. I'll help you then."
Saying that, she walked in front of me, squatted down, and waved her hand over my stomach. My stomach slowly shrunk and stopped hurting.
I asked curiously, "How did you do that?"
"It's simple, just wave your hand."
Indeed, having magical powers makes a difference.
She leaned against a tree with me, looking up at the dense cherry blossoms overhead, lost in thought. From somewhere, she produced an apple and handed it to me, saying, "You must be hungry. Eat this."
I waved my hand and asked, "Is there anything else?"
She then produced a banana from somewhere and handed it to me, saying, "How about this one?"
I took the banana and thanked her, "Thank you. I'm so glad I met you here, otherwise I would have starved to death."
She smiled slightly and pointed to the cherry blossoms on the tree, saying, "Before you came, I lived here alone. You can stay and live with me from now on."
I happily agreed, "No problem. I have nowhere else to go anyway, and living here is quite nice."
"That's great! Now I have a companion."
"Me too."
The horse looked at us being so close and still hummed dismissively twice.
At night, a gentle breeze blew, and I sneezed, leaning against a cherry blossom tree.
"Achoo!"
"What's wrong?" Sakura asked with concern.
"I think I caught a cold, maybe I'm a bit cold."
"I don't think you're used to sleeping on the ground, and neither am I. I used to sleep in the trees."
"In the trees?" I looked up in confusion, imagining if I would fall if I slept in a tree.
"You can't fly, nor do you have any magical powers. I guess sleeping in a tree wouldn't be comfortable for you either."
"So smart." So she was even smarter than I thought.
"I've thought of a good idea."
Saying that, she got up and pointed her fingers left and right, and two hammocks suddenly appeared, suspended in the middle of the tree trunk.
I was amazed, "You're too amazing!"
Sakura smiled shyly, "This should be more comfortable."
"I think so too."
With that, I eagerly lay down to try it out. It was indeed very comfortable. I called out to her, "You try it too."
"Okay."
She lightly jumped into the hammock, and we both lay there and fell asleep.