Chapter 22: Journey into the Forest (3)

  The sky gradually darkened, and after a vote, they unanimously passed, deciding to camp by the lake tonight.

  The moon is bright and the stars are sparse, with a gentle breeze blowing occasionally mixed with the calls of unknown animals. They set up a bonfire, sit on the empty land by the lake, set up a rack, and happily roast the fresh fish they just caught in the lake.

  "Wow! It smells so good! I'm about to drool!" Han Fei roasted while greedily sniffing the aroma filling the air.

  Liu Qingfeng's movements were elegant, his hands skillfully flipping the fish skewered on the tree branch. The fish's skin was golden brown and fragrant, emitting a tempting aroma. He picked up the roasted fish, with a gentle smile like the wind, and handed it to Lan Ruoxue. "Ruoxue, eat!"

  Lan Ruoxue smiled slightly and took the fish he handed over. "Thank you!"

  She didn't refuse, so Liu Qingfeng was delighted, his mouth curled up in a smile, and he was even happier than when he ate.

  Mei Lin picked up the charred fish, looking distressed. "Ah......my fish has turned into carbon, how can I eat this?"

  She slowly approached Liu Qingfeng, looking at him with a shy expression. "Teacher Liu, can you please teach me how to roast fish? Look, mine are all charred." She held up the fish in her hand for him to see.

  Liu Qingfeng shifted his body, trying to keep a distance from her. With a gentle smile, he looked at the crowd and asked, "Who can teach Meilin how to roast fish?"

  "Mine." Zhao Bin held up his hand with a happy smile. He sat down beside Meilin, handing her the golden roasted fish, smiling ingratiatingly. "Lingling, look at how well this fish is roasted! Have some."

  Mei Lin threw the fish on the ground, biting her lip and glaring at him fiercely. "Who wants your fish? I want to eat my own roasted fish."

  "Then I'll teach you." He smiled shamelessly.

  "No!" She turned her head and ignored him.

  Han Fei sympathetically glanced at his fellow sufferers and suddenly an idea popped into his mind, he excitedly proposed to everyone: "Why don't we have a bonfire party, what do you think?"

  "Hooray! I'm all for it!" Melin beamed with a bright smile and raised her hands in excitement.

  "What about you?" he asked, turning to a few others nearby.

  "Okay!" Zhao Bin nodded in agreement, as long as Meilin agreed he would agree too.

  "Good!" Lan Ruotong nodded in agreement.

  "Alright!" Lan Ruo Xue also expressed her agreement.

  "What a great idea!" Seeing Lan Ruo Xue agree, Liu Qing Feng happily agreed too.

  "Then let's get started. What shall we play first? Does anyone have a good suggestion?" Han Fei scratched his head, unable to think of anything.

  "We'll spin the wheel, whoever it points to will have to perform a talent. Singing, dancing, anything goes, just let loose. What do you guys think?" Melody said excitedly.

  "Great! Great! I agree with you, Linlin. You're really clever!" Zhao Bin chimed in from the side, flattering her.

  "Good idea! Let's start. But what can replace the compass?" Han Fei looked at everyone with a difficult expression.

  Liu Qingfeng took out a dagger and placed it on the ground, spinning it around. "Let's use this one, but be careful when spinning it, don't cut your hand." He reminded gently.

  "It's started, who goes first." Han Fei took over the dagger and raised it.

  Mei Lin carefully picked up the dagger, laughing with excitement. "I'll go first, I'll go first." She glanced around at everyone, her big black eyes spinning. "Let's start."

  The dagger spun around on the ground and stopped at a position pointing to Lan Ruotong.

  "Haha... Blue Ruo Tong, hurry up and perform, hurry up and perform." Meilin clapped her hands excitedly and said loudly.

  Lan Ruotong wore a proud expression and glanced at the crowd. "Then I'll recite a poem." She cleared her throat and slowly began to recite:

  The bright moon shines at night, and the prompt weaving sounds come from the eastern wall.

  The Jade Balance points to the first month of winter, and the numerous stars are all in their proper places.

  Dew moistens the wild grass, and the seasons change suddenly.

  Cicadas chirp between trees, a mysterious bird flies away at ease.

  In the past, I and my fellow students lifted high the six wings of our teacher.

  Don't think of hand in hand as good, abandon me like a relic.

  The Dipper is in the north and the Oxherd is in the south, but the Oxherd does not bear the yoke.

  Good name without reality is like a stone pedestal with no statue on it; what use is an empty reputation?

  "Clap, clap, clap......" The crowd applauded loudly.

  "Great, great! You're really a fashionable girl!" Han Fei excitedly applauded and praised her.

  "It's really great!" Melin also applauded and said.

  Lan Ruotong raised her proud head and gave Lan Ruoxue a provocative look. "Alright, let's continue the game, I'll start turning now."

  This time the dagger was passed to Lan Ruo Xi. Lan Ruo Tong looked at her with a mixture of surprise and delight. "Ah! It's your turn, little sister!"

  Lan Ruoxi stood up and gave everyone a slight smile. Who's afraid of who? "Then I'll sing a song for everyone, don't laugh if it's not good!"

  "Hurray! Hurray!" Melin exclaimed excitedly.

  Liu Qingfeng's gentle black eyes looked at her, full of expectation, what kind of surprise would she bring to him again?

  Her face is as delicate as jade, light and beautiful, ethereal and fleeting, like a forest spirit. She sings softly with a melodious voice that slowly intoxicates people, her airy voice making them drunk.

  It's just because I glanced at you more than once in the crowd

  Never been able to forget your face

  Dreaming of meeting again someday by chance

  From then on I began to think of you in solitude

  Missing you when you're at the horizon

  When I miss you, you appear before my eyes

  When I miss you, you're in my mind

  Missing you when you're in my heart

  Would rather believe we had an appointment in our previous life

  The love story of this life will no longer change.

  Would rather spend this life waiting for you to realize

  I've been by your side all along

  Never far away

  It's just because I glanced at you more than once in the crowd...

  The scenes of that night kept flashing before her eyes, and her eyes gradually became blurry. The deep thoughts were torturing her all the time. The feeling of wanting to forget but unable to forget was always with her.

  Until the song ended, everyone was still immersed in it. The melodious and moving singing voice seemed to still linger around their ears for a long time and couldn't disperse.

  Liu Qingfeng gazed at her with a complex mood, the melody filled with thick nostalgia and unforgettable sorrow. He understood that it was all her love for Ye Nong. His heart was full of bitterness, and he deeply envied him.

  He looked up at the sky. Oh, how lucky you are to have received her deep and unrelenting love.

  "Clap, clap, clap......" Everyone gradually woke up from her singing voice, applauding vigorously.

  "How wonderful! It's so nice to hear." Melin applauded excitedly. What kind of love is that? That thick longing, that deep expectation moved her deeply.

  Liu Qingfeng held her hand and whispered in her ear: "Don't worry! He'll be fine."

  Lan Ruoxi gave him a grateful smile, picked up the dagger on the ground and turned to the crowd, winking her eyes with a mischievous smile. "Alright, let's continue, I'll start now."

  The dagger rotated again and stopped in the direction of Liu Qingfeng.

  "Wow, great job, Teacher Liu! Come on, Teacher Liu!" Melody jumped up excitedly.

  "Teacher Liu, come on..." The crowd cheered and shouted.

  Liu Qingfeng took out the sheng from his bag, wiped it clean. "Then I'll play a piece of 'Mountain Dwelling at Dusk' for everyone." He put the sheng to his lips and played, the melody echoing through the forest.

  Everyone was enchanted, as if they had seen the continuous green mountains after the rain, the bright moon shining through the pine forest casting dappled shadows, and the clear spring water flowing over the rocks. There were also the sounds of laughter and chatter from the bamboo forest, where women were washing clothes on their way home, a picturesque scene that made people linger and forget to leave.

  Celestial music-like whistling echoes through the forest, and the night continues...