Chapter 2131: A Lotus Heart, All Red

Chapter Five Hundred and Ninety: Lotus Heart, One Piece, Red

In a small mountain village deep in the mountains of Nanyang, at the crack of dawn, smoke rose from the chimneys.

Villagers carried farming tools and headed towards the fields.

Among them was a young woman carrying a hoe and a woven basket, humming a little tune as she walked. She had an agile figure, and her skin was a healthy tan, a result of working under the sun.

As she walked, her bright, dark eyes spotted a piece of red cloth tied to a tree branch by the roadside.

She picked it up and unfurled it.

It was a red kerchief, finely embroidered with a lotus flower.

A smile bloomed on the young woman's face. This was the first time she had seen the red thread for half a month.

She quickly tied the kerchief back onto the tree branch.

Before tying it, she hesitated for a moment, then took a few stitches from the embroidery needle and added a half-bloomed lotus flower to the edge of the kerchief.

After adding the stitches, she quickly tied the kerchief back onto the tree branch and hurried towards the fields.

Deep in the mountains, a young man dressed in a coarse linen shirt stood by the roadside, watching the young woman walk away.

A smile appeared on his lips.

He reached out and untied the red kerchief from the tree branch. He lifted it and carefully examined the newly added half-bloomed lotus flower.

His smile deepened.

He lifted his foot and quickly disappeared into the deep mountains.

The young woman's name was Lianzixin. She was from a small mountain village. Her parents had died early, and she lived with her elderly grandmother.

The young man's name was Hong Yipian. He was an orphan who had lived in the mountains since childhood. He had no relatives and survived by hunting.

Lianzixin and Hong Yipian had met during a flood.

That year, a massive flood struck, and Lianzixin's house was swept away. Hong Yipian rescued her and her grandmother from the raging waters.

Since then, Hong Yipian often helped Lianzixin with her farming work and brought them wild game from the mountains.

Lianzixin was grateful to Hong Yipian, and over time, a different kind of feeling developed between them.

Hong Yipian had no family, and Lianzixin's grandmother was old. They relied on each other for survival.

Lianzixin's grandmother knew about their relationship and was very pleased. She felt that Hong Yipian was a good person, kind and honest, and she entrusted her granddaughter's future to him.

Although they didn't say it out loud, everyone in the village knew that Lianzixin and Hong Yipian were a couple.

However, Lianzixin's grandmother had one condition for their marriage: Hong Yipian had to give them a betrothal gift of a piece of red silk.

This was the custom in their village. Without the red silk, the marriage was not considered valid.

Hong Yipian had no money. The red silk was an expensive item. He had been saving up, but it was still not enough.

Lianzixin knew about Hong Yipian's situation and didn't pressure him. She was willing to wait.

She secretly worked hard, growing vegetables and raising chickens, hoping to earn enough money to buy the red silk herself.

Hong Yipian also worked hard, hunting in the mountains every day, trying to get more game to sell.

One day, Hong Yipian went into the mountains to hunt. He heard a strange sound and followed it.

He found a cave and inside, he saw a strange stone. The stone was red and glowed faintly.

He felt a strange energy emanating from the stone. He reached out and touched it.

As soon as he touched the stone, he felt a surge of energy flow into his body.

He felt stronger than ever before.

He knew this stone was extraordinary. He decided to take it back with him.

He carefully wrapped the stone in a cloth and carried it out of the cave.

As he walked back, he felt the energy from the stone flowing through his body, making him feel warm and powerful.

He couldn't wait to tell Lianzixin about this amazing discovery.

When he returned to the village, he found Lianzixin. He excitedly showed her the stone and told her about the energy he felt.

Lianzixin was also amazed. She had never seen anything like it.

They decided to keep the stone a secret and find out more about it.

They spent days studying the stone, but they couldn't figure out its origin or purpose.

However, they noticed that the stone emitted a faint red light, and it made the air around it feel warm and comfortable.

One day, Lianzixin's grandmother fell ill. She had a high fever and was very weak.

Lianzixin and Hong Yipian were worried. They tried everything they could, but her condition didn't improve.

Lianzixin remembered the stone. She wondered if it could help her grandmother.

She carefully brought the stone closer to her grandmother.

As soon as the stone was near her grandmother, the red light from the stone intensified, and the air around her grandmother became warm.

Slowly, her grandmother's fever subsided, and she started to breathe more easily.

Lianzixin and Hong Yipian were overjoyed. The stone had saved her grandmother's life.

From that day on, they knew that the stone was not just a strange object, but a precious treasure.

They called the stone "Hong Yipian," meaning "One Piece Red," because it was red and it was a single piece.

They also decided to use the stone's energy to help the villagers.

They discovered that the stone's energy could heal illnesses and injuries.

They started using the stone to help the sick and injured villagers.

Word spread quickly, and people from nearby villages also came to them for help.

Lianzixin and Hong Yipian became known as the village healers.

They were happy to help others, but they also knew that they had to be careful with the stone. Its energy was powerful, and they didn't fully understand it.

One day, a group of bandits attacked the village. They were after the Hong Yipian stone, which they had heard about.

The villagers were no match for the bandits. They were about to be defeated when Lianzixin and Hong Yipian stepped forward.

They held the Hong Yipian stone and unleashed its energy.

A powerful red light erupted from the stone, engulfing the bandits.

The bandits screamed in pain as the energy hit them. They were quickly defeated and fled in terror.

The village was saved.

After the battle, Lianzixin and Hong Yipian were exhausted, but they were also relieved.

They knew that the Hong Yipian stone was not only a healing stone but also a powerful weapon.

They realized that they had a great responsibility to protect the stone and use its power wisely.

They decided to learn more about the stone and how to control its energy.

They spent years studying the stone, experimenting with its energy, and training themselves to use its power.

With the help of the Hong Yipian stone, they became powerful protectors of the village.

They healed the sick, protected the innocent, and fought against injustice.

Their love for each other grew stronger with each passing day.

Finally, the day came when Hong Yipian had saved enough money to buy the red silk.

He went to the market and bought the finest red silk he could find.

He brought it back to the village and presented it to Lianzixin's grandmother.

Lianzixin's grandmother was very happy. She accepted the red silk and gave her blessing to their marriage.

Lianzixin and Hong Yipian got married in the village temple.

The whole village celebrated their wedding.

They were finally together, officially husband and wife.

They continued to use the Hong Yipian stone to help others and protect the village.

They lived a long and happy life together, their love for each other as strong and radiant as the Hong Yipian stone itself.

The story of Lianzixin and Hong Yipian, and the powerful Hong Yipian stone, became a legend in the mountains.

People remembered them as the couple who saved the village with the power of the Hong Yipian stone, and whose love was as deep and enduring as the mountains themselves.