Out of Qingzhou City, twenty miles to the north, an old and a young lying on the mule cart, humming a fashionable tune, looking at the sunset, evaporating a faint sense of wine, if it were not for the two wearing shabby clothes, this leisure and elegant, it is not an exaggeration to say that it is a tourist.

The rice on both sides of the road is golden, the grains are full, it is already very ripe, many farmers bend down to harvest, from time to time take out the water bottle in their hands to take a big drink, and then wipe the sweat beads on their faces to continue to work with peace of mind, there are some ploughing cattle in the fields to reclaim new land, and their tails are constantly shaking to drive away mosquitoes.

Except for the occasional sound of mule carts brushing over the rice leaves, a radius of a few miles, it seemed to be silent.

Of course, except for Qin Chuan, who was drunk, there was a slight snoring sound, as well as the sound of grinding his teeth from time to time, it must be that he was dreaming again and was having a full meal.

Lao Dao was very uncomfortable at the moment, and he rubbed a trip with Qin Chuan to catch up with the mule cart back to the countryside, less than 20 miles away, saving some physical strength, and having such a beautiful scenery, it was uncomfortable to sway.

"The fragrance of rice flowers, saying that the harvest year, the cold comes and the summer goes back and forth, and the autumn harvest and winter hide win for several ......years", this situation, Lao Dao couldn't help but start humming the autumn harvest song, overjoyed.

"Autumn harvest and winter storage, spring ploughing and summer planting, good poetry, I and other vulgar people, I am really envious. The guy who drove the car exclaimed.

"Haha, it's just a folk tune, and you've ever studied in a private school?" asked Lao Dao grinning.

The guy who was driving the car was driving slowly, and replied without looking back: "The Taoist has good eyesight, and he has read the study hall for three years, and he probably doesn't recognize a few words, but later he worked hard and the poems he learned were completely forgotten. ”

"Haha, the so-called idle clouds and wild cranes are actually just idle. We have lived in the mountains for a long time, often do not interact with outsiders, and when the mountains are covered by heavy snow, there are few pilgrims, and when we have this leisure time, we have nothing to do but read some miscellaneous books to pass the time. Fashionable songs, poems, and poems, what you have, you can see. As soon as I saw the autumn harvest and the farmers getting busy, I couldn't help but think of the folk tunes, which are really not worth mentioning." Lao Dao lay on the mule cart without a roof, looked at the sky and said.

"The peasants are getting busy, getting up in the morning and sitting, and resting at sunset, so hard, but they can't fill their stomachs, hey, this troubled world ......." Looking at the smoke curling in the distance, it was probably the woman who began to make a fire to cook, and in the rice fields on both sides, the peasants were working, and the guy who was driving the car couldn't help but sigh.

The mule cart had been gone for a few hours, and Lao Dao had begun to get acquainted with the chauffeur guys.

"In this troubled world, there are many harsh taxes and miscellaneous taxes, and it is you who suffer, and those old men who have not been engaged in farming, but have surplus food every year, and the farmers on the side of the road have worked hard for several years, and the final income is only food and clothing. Lao Dao looked at the beautiful scenery on the side of the road, and couldn't help but sigh when he heard the answer of the guy who was driving the car.

"No, it's not! There are few Taoist grows, and some things are naturally unknown. "It's a long way, only the old man is sober, and the guy who is driving the car wants to say something to pass the time.

It was probably because the sunset was getting late and the sky was not early, and before the old man could reply, the man who was driving the car shook his whip heavily and replied, and the mule cart sped up a lot.

Lao Dao felt a slight cool breeze, blowing away a faint sense of wine, and there was no other interest along the way, so he was also willing to talk to the guy who was driving the car: "You can talk about it, there are things I don't know, this way is just you, me and him, I know something, but it doesn't hurt to say it." ”

After the old man finished speaking, he pointed to Qin Chuan, who was sleepy, and said, "This sleeps like a pig." The implication is that you don't need to pay attention to Qin Chuan.

When the guy who drove the car saw this, he also smiled. "This excesses and miscellaneous taxes have been there since ancient times, but in recent years, they have increased year by year, and the new state guards are insatiable, and even their old mother's eightieth birthday has to reach out from the rich businessmen outside the staff to ask for money, and at the same time from everywhere to loot precious medicinal materials, pearls and jade, which in the end, the unlucky nature is us poor people, and I heard that there have been frequent turmoil in recent times, the number of displaced people has increased, and the fortresses everywhere have to increase their strength, so that ...... it", said the tax, and the guy who drove the car was weak.

When Lao Dao heard this, he also sighed deeply in his heart: "Then you are located in a remote area, and you don't need to rent land from outside the staff to make a living, so it stands to reason that self-sufficiency is not a problem." If it really doesn't work, what's the harm in running to the deep mountains of Qingzhou to hide for a while every few days when the rent is collected? I can't spend manpower to go deep into the mountains and old forests to chase you, right?"

The guy who was driving the car frowned, as if he had something to say, and turned around and said: "The Taoist chief doesn't know, we, ordinary people, are the opponents of those officials, and I heard that among them, there are cultivators, and it is even more difficult for us to refuse to pay. Even if we run into the mountains, we will inevitably encounter bandits, and murder and goods often happen, and we have no power to protect ourselves, and we really want to escape but can't get it. Besides, I have to come back here in the end, there will always be a time to be encountered, and I grew up here, how can I leave it casually?"

"Such a beautiful day, you and I have known each other, don't say such a disappointing thing. Lao Dao was greedy, took out a large piece of sauced beef from the cloth bag, and handed it to the guy who was driving the car to share it with.

This was purchased from the time he left and went to the city with Qin Chuan, after all, on the way back to the Taoist temple, there was always some physical strength.

The beef is cut into thick slices and has the most original coarse mineral taste.

The guy who drove the car took a bite and put it away, smashed his mouth and asked: "This beef, quite strong, has a long aftertaste, dare to ask where to buy it?"

"What's the matter, do you want to take it back to your mother-in-law to eat?" Lao Dao quipped, and casually picked up the wine bag and poured a few sips, which was filled with a strong pine basket wine.

"Hehe, don't make fun of me, the villager, I said I wanted to bring something home, but I didn't expect to be too busy today, patronizing the sale of wild vegetables, and not having time to purchase items, this doesn't bring something back, it must be noisy when I go back, this woman, if I don't coax, it must be another noisy, headache is very. Speaking of his own woman, this strong man with a bare chest and back scratched his head, and he also began to be shy, and his face blushed urgently.

"Haha, don't be ashamed, this is the braised beef of Sanhuangji in Qingzhou City, which is an old cattle, fragrant and chewy. I heard that the brine used has been passed down for a hundred years, and I also bought some tooth beating sacrifices on the way to replenish some physical strength on the way. Otherwise, I would have to go back to the Taoist temple to eat wild game in the mountains. After that, Lao Dao took out a package of kraft paper-wrapped sauce beef from the cloth bag, looking at the size, it weighed about half a catty, stretched out from the cargo bed of the mule cart, and put it on the waist of the driver guy, "No, take it back, don't make your daughter-in-law unhappy, the sauce beef is just a taste, I bought a lot this time, and I happened to rub the mule cart again, so it should be the carriage and horse fare!"

The guy who was driving the car thanked him repeatedly, excused himself a few times, and asked, "The Taoist chief came here today to catch up with the market?"

"Yes, thinking that most of the year has passed, it will not take a few months, it will be a heavy snow to close the mountain, and wait until the next time you want to come out to catch the market, and it is the time of spring plumbing, take advantage of the autumn day, and the apprentices come to the city to fight tooth sacrifices, and by the way purchase some winter items, otherwise the winter night is long, I am afraid it will be difficult. The old Taoist replied if he didn't have anything, and deliberately omitted to go to Zhang Dayuan's house to sing praises and joys.

If you know that the two of them went to Zhang Dayuan's house, they must be curious, and they are noisy, so it is better not to say it.

The guy who drove the car was slightly sorry: "The Taoist chief doesn't know, today is the day of the eldest lady of Zhang's foreign family, heh, that's a lot of anger." Qingzhou City took several years to see it. I heard that there are several carriages just for the valuables of dowry. If the Taoist leader misses such a grand scene today, it is a pity, and I don't know what year it will be next time. ”

"I just glanced at it from a distance and looked at the formation, which also scared the old way. And because I was in a hurry to buy winter items today, I took the inferior to stand for a while and left, my uncle was so angry, it was really a spring breeze and horseshoe disease, and one day I saw Chang'an flowers. Lao Dao still lay down and answered, watching the migratory birds migrating in the sky, his fingers tapping on the mule cart and making a subtle gurgling sound.

The guy who was driving the car couldn't help but be overjoyed when he saw that Lao Dao didn't have a grand scene to welcome relatives today, waved his whip, sped up the speed of the mule and said: "I heard that this uncle, this trip is not just to welcome relatives, but more importantly, to get back the treasure." ”

After hearing this, Lao Dao couldn't help but ask curiously: "Treasures? What treasures does this Qingzhou City have that made Ningzhou's Grand Prince Li look at them?"

"Hehe, the Taoist is a simple man, and this head is naturally not as good as the people who are on our side. The guy who drove the car saw that Lao Dao didn't know about this secret matter, and began to get angry: "I was selling goods in Dongshi at noon, and Liu Laosan next door to me told me, hey, this guy can't hide his words, saying that there are relatives in the family who are working in Zhang Dayuan's house, and that today Zhang Dayuan's foreign house has dozens of bright and secret sentinels, all of whom came from Ningzhou, listening to their conversation, saying that in addition to escorting Miss Zhang, they also have to protect other treasures." ”

Lao Dao still didn't lie up and replied: "Zhang Dayuan married a daughter, naturally there are countless treasures, the Li family in Ningzhou attaches great importance to this matter and sends a lot of people to help, so what's the matter?"

"If it's just to welcome relatives and escort treasures, it is reasonable, I heard that the new uncle Li Xiuyan, the feud in Ningzhou also rushed to give gifts, and it is said that he also got the news to come." The weather gradually became colder, and the guy who was driving the car tightened his coat again, so that those who worked hard could not catch a cold casually.

When Lao Dao heard this, he thought that the secret matter in Zhang Dayuan's foreign mansion had spread so quickly, except for the legend of this guest, there must be an inner ghost among them, and after thinking about it carefully, it had nothing to do with him. Previously, together with Qin Chuan, he blew "Phoenix Seeking Phoenix" festively enough, and took the money from the main family, and the deal was completed, and the relationship was broken. As for what happened to the main family after that, it was not his own concern.

Seeing that Lao Dao was not interested, the guy who drove the car said mysteriously: "I heard that the treasure that Li Xiuyan came to get is related to Mrs. Li." ”

"Oh, I didn't expect it to be related to Old Lady Li?" Old Dao seemed to be interested: "I heard that this Old Lady Li has been in Ningzhou for decades, whether it is the official eunuch's house, or the martial arts rivers and lakes, it is famous, the last time I rushed to the market, I heard that Old Lady Li was in poor health, listening to this situation, I am afraid that it will not be able to pass the New Year a few times." ”

The guy who drove the car was also overjoyed: "It turns out that the Taoist chief also knows Mrs. Li." I heard that the treasure Li Xiuyan took this time was related to Mrs. Li. As for what it is, I'm afraid no one knows. ”

"In the name of welcoming relatives, doing the thing of protecting the treasure, this Li Xiuyan is worthy of being a member of the Li family in Ningzhou!" Lao Dao secretly figured out in his heart, but said: "This may be just nonsense in the rivers and lakes, not credible." ”

This martial arts rivers and lakes, there are always false rumors, although it is a conversation after tea and dinner, but people with a heart listen to it, I am afraid that it will mean something else.

"Whatever he does, if there really is such a treasure, if it is picked up by a rough man like us, it will be enough to be prosperous and rich in this life. "The guy who drove the car was a little worried.

Hearing this, Lao Dao thought to himself, if this is the case, Li Xiuyan's journey will not be peaceful.

Glancing at Qin Chuan, Lao Dao sighed, there are more things to worry about, life and death are fate, and wealth is in the sky.

The mule cart walked for two more hours, the sky was getting dark, and when it came to a narrow place, behind it was a dark dense forest, and there was a broken stone tablet next to it with the three characters of Guan Shankou written on it, and its stone tablet, I don't know the age, and its words, I don't know who wrote it.

Lao Dao woke up the sleeping Qin Chuan, took the cloth bag, separated from the guy who was driving the car, and the two walked forward.

When the guy who drove the car chatted with Lao Dao before, he knew that Lao Dao lived in the depths of Ma Ta Ling, and before leaving, he told him: "Dao Chief, there is Guan Shankou in front of you, and you can reach the Taoist Temple by walking along the path, but here jackals, tigers and leopards often haunt and often hurt nearby mountain farmers. ”

Lao Dao kicked Qin Chuan and said, "Did you hear it, cheer up." After that, he shouted to the guy who had just walked a short distance: "Thank you, man, he will meet again in the future." ”

Guanshankou, the shortest way for Qingzhou to communicate with the outside world, the woods here are luxuriant, and the moonlight cannot completely shine through the leaves, making the woods even darker. The pine trees are the most common in the mountains, and the leaves are like needles, which turn brown in autumn, and it is common for nearby farmers to collect fallen pine leaves for cooking. Stepping on it, there is only a slight sound.

There are many jackals, tigers and leopards here, more people and prey on goods, and turn over the pass of the pass, and then go forward for dozens of miles, in order to reach the Taoist temple of Mataling.

"I can't go back tonight, so while the moon is still early, let's go first, find a place to rest when the time comes, and then hurry tomorrow morning." Lao Dao looked up at the moonlight faintly visible in the leaves, and said to Qin Chuan, who was awake from sleep.

When he got off the mule cart, Qin Chuan hugged the cloth bag tightly, needless to say, it must be the four treasures of the study. Qin Chuan asked as he walked: "You said, when we were shopping in Taoli Ji, you said that we were from the Guiyun Sect, what, are you very familiar with the Guiyun Sect?"

"Familiar fart, it's just that I see that you like it very much, but that guy is too deceitful, I don't bother to talk to him, so I moved out and returned to the Cloud Sect to scare and scare him. Lao Tao explained disapprerovingly, but the pace did not stop.

"Is Guiyun Sect very powerful, how do you feel like a guy being scared like that?" Qin Chuan continued to ask.

"It's okay", an indescribable look began to appear on the old man's face, "This Qingzhou City, or this radius of thousands of miles, this Guiyun Sect can be ranked first, relying on the smelting of pills, prolonging life, and increasing the effect of strength, the reputation is outside, whether it is black and white, it is highly admired, and it also has many believers and followers." Therefore, I called the name of Guiyun Sect, and others didn't dare to ask, but the most important thing is my demeanor, quite a fairy wind Dao bones, although it is tattered, but the Dao image looks good. The old man stopped, touched his beard, turned back to Qin Chuan and grinned, "You say, isn't it?"

Hearing the front, Qin Chuan was still very interested, and when he heard the last few words, he stuck out his tongue, "I will be one of the people in the world who know you." If you talk about blowing suona and bragging, I'm afraid it's hard to meet opponents, and the others, if you can't drink enough, you will get drunk after half a catty; you can't make money, and I will play wild meat for half a month, so you can't learn from other Taoist temples, and make an interpretation of dreams, and we won't be ...... together."

The autumn weather changed abnormally, and after walking into the depths of the dense forest for half an hour, the temperature dropped suddenly, and dew could already be seen on the leaves.

Seeing that it was getting late, Lao Dao said: "I will definitely not be able to go back tonight, the mountain road is winding, and the danger is very high, so I will rest here for one night tonight and set off early in the morning." ”

The two took advantage of the moonlight to find a clean place and sat cross-legged, probably because the mule cart was too bumpy before, and fell into the fire, and there was nothing to cause fire, and the two of them did not care, and prepared to find a high tree to rest.

Lao Dao had just taken out the sesame cakes and was about to have a full meal with sauced beef and pine basket wine, when there was a slight sound of footsteps in the distance, about dozens of people.

Lao Dao covered Qin Chuan's mouth and nose, and whispered softly beside him: "Don't speak, hold your breath, someone." With that, he let go of Qin Chuan and pressed him to the ground.

The place where the two rested was about fifty meters away from the path under the moonlight, and they were afraid that they would be touched by the thieves when they slept at night, so they found a hidden place to rest first.

The other party did not light the torches, but vaguely saw dozens of people coming in the distance, seemingly wearing a nocturnal face towel, one of the leaders was bloated, listening to the voice of a man in his twenties, probably a long-distance run, wasting his physical strength, and kept holding his sleeves and sweating and said to the people next to him: "Ningzhou Li Xiuyan, today is tired of traveling, is resting in front, that thing is very important, no one can afford to lose, otherwise, no one wants to go back." ”

A person next to him asked, "Young Master, how did you know that Li Xiuyan would take this route." There are many dense forests in this pass, if he doesn't take the big road, will he take the small road, will we chase the wrong direction?

The bloated man said angrily: "Don't doubt me, you just have to do things with peace of mind."

"Yes," the crowd stopped talking, and seeing that there was no movement around them, they hurried forward, only to see at the front of the procession a diminutive man, who was lying on the road sniffing something, and leading them forward.

Seeing the black-clothed masked man leaving, Qin Chuan was about to ask Lao Dao: "Old ......", only halfway through the words, he was covered by Lao Dao's mouth again, and in the place where dozens of people disappeared, two people with masked faces suddenly appeared. One of them said, "Looking at it, I'm afraid we're not the only ones staring at this thing. Let's go, don't let others take the lead. Suddenly, the two disappeared.

Waiting for the two of them to go away, Lao Dao let Qin Chuan go, "I'm afraid that we won't be able to sleep tonight, and we won't know if we can't be done by others." Looking at it, there is something big happening in front of you, so it's better to go and take a look. ”

Without waiting for Qin Chuan to respond, Lao Dao stuffed the things into the cloth bag, pulled Qin Chuan, and bent over and walked forward.