[Chapter 25 - Return to the Village] monstrous fire

In the dead of night, Duan Baiyue lay on the bed with her legs crossed, staring at the top of the bed.

There was a big spider lying next to the pillow, innocent, innocent, and innocent.

In the next room, Chu Yuan tossed and turned, so he casually picked up a book on the table and wanted to kill the time - it was brought back when Sixi bought dim sum before, saying that it was the secret history of the King of the Southwest, which was very good-looking, everyone liked it, and they had to queue up if they wanted to buy it.

When you open the first page, you will find a large painting, which paints the southwest palace as a nest of insects, not only spiders, but also various snakes, insects and poisonous ants. Duan Baiyue was painted as a scorpion-tailed monster, tearing the leg of mutton with his bare body, with a hideous face.

"Snap" closed the book, and Emperor Chu felt that it was necessary for him to issue an order to clean up the people's customs and let the people see something that should be seen.

……

Both of them tossed and turned all night, and early the next morning, Chu Yuan heard Sixi talking outside. After a while, the courtyard door creaked, and it was the voice of Duan Baiyue.

Chu Yuan got out of bed in his clothes, Sixi came in to serve and wash, and asked cautiously by the way, the king of the southwest has already bought breakfast, do you want to use it, or let the post house make another one.

Chu Yuan wiped his face with a handkerchief, pushed the door out, and saw Duan Baiyue holding a knife, leaning on the stone platform under the pillars. There was a large food box in front of him, and it was still steaming.

"Do you want to eat?" Seeing him come out, Duan Baiyue asked, "Roasted leg of mutton sandwich cake, it is said that the restaurant owner specially invited the cook from the Western Regions." ”

Leg of mutton...... Chu Yuan remembered the painting from last night again.

"What's wrong?" Seeing that he was standing and not speaking, Duan Baiyue asked.

Chu Yuan pursed his lips and couldn't help but smile: "Eat." ”

Duan Baiyue had some doubts between her eyebrows, so happy?

Chu Yuan had already entered the house.

Sixi's father-in-law followed behind, and repeatedly glanced at the king of the southwest, and the emperor looked very happy, but don't take out the spider again, looking at it in a panic.

The golden and crispy scones and the roast mutton sprinkled with chili powder are too greasy for ordinary people to eat in the morning, and Chu Yuan has always had a light taste. But this time he wasn't picky, and he ate quite a lot.

The prince who grew up in the palace since he was a child, his demeanor is naturally regular. The scones that others held in their hands were all over the place, but he could eat them beautifully, and there was no sound at all.

Duan Baiyue felt that even if she didn't eat it, it would be good just to look at it.

Chu Yuan drank the last spoonful of soup, and his whole body warmed up.

Duan Baiyue asked, "Regarding the gold mountain outside the city, how to deal with it?" ”

Sixi's father-in-law shook his head outside, and so did the king of the southwest, how could he discuss business as soon as he finished eating.

"Huh?" Chu Yuan wiped his mouth.

"Lan Ji will leave in three days, and before that, she will definitely find a way to empty Xu Zhiqiu's private treasury." Duan Baiyue said, "Although even if it is transported back to the Tiansha Sect, she can grab it if she wants to, but if she can not take it out of the city at all, it will be even better." There are too many things, and it is one thing to be able to save one. ”

Chu Yuan nodded: "It's not difficult, I originally thought about it." It just so happens that there are rare forests near the cliff, which the government has spent a lot of money to attract from the South Seas to cultivate, but they have not yet grown into a climate. Xu Zhiqiu has also reported his political achievements a few times before, and if I want to see it, it will not be abrupt. "When the time comes, bring more soldiers and horses, even if Lan Ji has the courage to do so, he won't dare to rob it under the nose of the imperial court.

"Okay, then do it." Duan Baiyue said, "I will also do my best to find out the whereabouts of those old men and wooden idiots." ”

"Do you want to be disguised as Wei Ziyi again?" Chu Yuan seemed to be playing with the teacup, and his tone was casual.

"Of course not." Duan Baiyue said, "Wei Ziyi's purpose is just to get rich, and now that Lan Ji has promised to get a piece of the pie, if she comes to the door twice in three days to find it, it will be easy to teach people to feel strange." ”

Chu Yuan asked again: "Do you still want to be someone else?" ”

Duan Baiyue smiled: "Why do you keep changing your face?" ”

Chu Yuan thought to himself, naturally it will be easy, seeing how happy you were last night.

"Last night, Lan Ji said that there will be a Hundred Gu Festival in the Three Days of the Church at the beginning of next month, and it sounds huge, and as the sect leader, he is bound to rush back." Duan Baiyue said, "She won't stay in the city for long, and if she wants to leave, even if she can't take Jinshan with her for the time being, she will definitely take those old people with her." ”

Chu Yuan asked, "Do you want a helper?" ”

"The people of the Southwest Mansion should be more than enough to deal with the Demon Sect." Duan Baiyue said, "After those old men are rescued, it's not too late to investigate Xu Zhiqiu." ”

Chu Yuan said, "Hmm." ”

"In the next few days, I'm afraid I'll keep watching the geese back to the inn." Duan Baiyue said again, "Although Lan Ji will not dare to attack the imperial court, she must also strengthen her vigilance when she goes to the mountains. ”

Chu Yuan continued: "Okay. ”

Duan Baiyue smiled: "Then I'll go." ”

Chu Yuan nodded, and watched him go all the way out of the small courtyard, only then did he call Sixi to pass Xiang Yan in.

Out of the post house, Duan Baiyue went back to his inn first. Duan Nian was eating breakfast at the table, and saw that he was almost choked by noodles after entering the door, is the prince evil, why do you want to buy such an ugly new set of clothes to wear, goose yellow and willow green.

Duan Baiyue's expression was calm, and he slashed over with one palm.

Duan Nian hugged his head, feeling that he was very innocent.

In the palace, Xu Zhiqiu was on fire recently, his mouth was full of bubbles, and he was rushing down to get angry at this moment, and suddenly changed to the housekeeper to pass the legend that the emperor had arrived, so he hurriedly changed into an official uniform and went to greet him.

"Xu Aiqing doesn't look very good." Chu Yuan slowly and methodically, skimming off the foam of the gaiwan tea.

"Back to the emperor, the lower officials have indeed been a little weak in the past few days." Xu Zhiqiu said, "I've already seen the doctor and prescribed a few medicines." ”

"Aiqing is a pillar of the country, but you have to take good care of yourself." Chu Yuan put down the tea bowl, "I have also been in this wild goose city for a while, and last night I suddenly remembered that Aiqing once said that there is a new wood forest from the South Seas on the mountain outside the city, and the growth is gratifying, I don't know if it is still there now?" ”

"Yes." Xu Zhiqiu said, "They have grown up a lot, and they will be able to become forests in a few years." ”

"It is difficult for a southern piper in the imperial garden to survive when it moves north, but I didn't expect that it can really grow Nanyang wood species here." Chu Yuan said, "I have nothing to do today, I wonder if Aiqing would like to go with me to have a look?" ”

"Nature, nature." Xu Zhiqiu agreed again and again, "Xiaguan will go and prepare." ”

When the Son of Heaven went out on patrol, the leader was naturally not small, so at noon, the people saw a mighty team of royal forest troops out of the city, and the team was so long that it could not be seen at a glance. At the beginning, there was something important, but later he said that he was going to the mountains to check the growth of the trees.

Xu Zhiqiu sat in a sedan chair and followed behind, sighing with a sigh in his heart. He wasn't afraid that his private treasury would be discovered, after all, the mechanism was so exquisitely designed, and Lan Ji shouldn't be stupid enough to know that such a large number of Imperial Forest Army had entered the mountain and had to run to dig gold. He was only annoyed that he was too lascivious on weekdays, and he was too careless, and he actually fell into the way of the Demon Sect Demon Maiden, and was robbed of such a huge amount of money, and he was busy for so many years.

But fortunately, Qiufeng Village is still there, and the Wu family car dealership is still there, as long as the city stops again, it can turn the ghost wooden box into money again.

The trees in the mountains are in the season when they sprout, and the green color is pleasing to the eye. And in a large open space specially carved out, those trees attracted by the South Seas are really growing strong and vibrant.

Chu Yuan was pleased: "Xu Aiqing is really a talent. ”

"The emperor has a good reputation, Weichen just bought the seedlings, and the cultivation method depends on a few forest guards in the mountains." Xu Zhiqiu said, "They have guarded the mountains and forests all their lives, and these saplings have died and fallen when they come after a long journey. ”

"Oh?" Chu Yuan became interested, "I don't know where these forest guards are now?" I'd like to see you,"

Xu Zhiqiu hurriedly sent the officials to the back mountain and invited the forest guards over. There are seven people in total, and they all look old, but because they are active in the mountains all year round, their bodies are very tough. Dayan City is a carpentry city, to do work must have mountains and forests, to be able to serve as a forest keeper, the first thing is to have rich experience. Chu Yuan chatted with him for a few words, and found that he was indeed quite insightful in the method of raising seedlings, so Long Xin Dayue, not only immediately gave a reward, but also ordered the Imperial Forest Army to stay here, guarding these elders to write a summary of their experience into a book, and even specially invited a painter from the city to classify and plant different forms of saplings, and drew them all.

Xu Zhiqiu complied one by one, and there was still a little schadenfreude in his heart. In this way, Lan Ji is afraid that she will not dare to come again, although it is impossible to get back the silver herself, but it is also a good thing to be able to add some blockage to her.

All of a sudden, the mountains outside the city were full of Imperial Guards. The people of the Tiansha Sect went to see it three times, and then knocked on the side to talk to the people in the city, but they all said that it would take at least a month, and it might not be finished.

Lan Ji was annoyed when she heard this, but there was nothing she could do.

"Master." The maid said, "It's better to stay here for that batch of gold mountains first, and Xu Zhiqiu won't dare to use his brains, and after the imperial army leaves, it's not too late for us to come and get it." ”

Lan Ji waved her hand impatiently: "Just do as you say, and in two days, set off back to the southwest." ”

Duan Baiyue heard it outside the window, and the corners of her mouth raised slightly.

Of course, in order to have a beginning and an end, he still pretended to be Wei Ziyi and came to the door again and asked when the silver would be given. Lan Ji was upset, naturally she didn't have the heart to think about anything else, and when she heard him open and shut up about money, she felt that her brain hurt, so she hurriedly drank a few glasses of wine and sent the person away. After going out, Duan Baiyue was relieved, and threatened Duan Nian again, not to tell anyone.

Duan Nian lowered his head and promised, and finally couldn't hold back his laughter.

Two days later, the Tiansha Sect members really took a few large carts of carts, disguised as vendors, and left, and rushed back to the southwest to hold a hundred Gu celebrations. The guards at the East City Gate were Xu Zhiqiu's people, so they were easily let out. Duan Baiyue followed silently all the way, and in the evening two days later, the group stopped at the side of the road and set up a fire, looking as if they were going to cook here. Caitian took the other five maids and hurried into the forest, and walked for about a stick of incense before stopping at a mass grave, and I don't know where to press the mechanism, I saw a lonely grave slowly cracking open in the moonlight.

Duan Baiyue hid in the shadows, watching them jump in one by one, and then come out after a while, there was really a group of old people. All of them were gagged, but they didn't tie their hands and feet, and they felt that they were old and couldn't escape.

Duan Baiyue counted them one by one, there were exactly twenty-six people, and he still didn't know where the old man was.

"Hurry up!" Cai Tian urged, "As long as you are obedient, you will be able to survive in the future." If you want to escape, don't blame your aunt for being polite! ”

The old men had worked as carpenters in the city all their lives, and they had never seen such a battle. That night, the big guy was sleeping, and suddenly he felt a sweet aroma, and then his brain was dizzy, and when he woke up, he had been imprisoned underground, I don't know when, and I don't know what happened. I haven't seen the sun for the past few days, and now I am being intimidated by the demon girl, and I have long been trembling, and I can't even walk steadily.

Although Caitian said that he was fierce in his mouth and irritable in his heart, he did not dare to be as ruthless as ordinary prisoners, after all, he had worked hard to tie up these old people, and he had to bring them back to the sect to be a mechanism, so he could not make a mess.

They are all old people, and if they want to rob hard, they will inevitably get hurt, and before they find out the whereabouts of the old man, Duan Baiyue didn't want to do it, so he followed him all the way back to the camp.

The other end had already cooked the meal, and the old people were divided into a cake and a bowl of soup by one person, and they all squatted on the ground to eat. Duan Baiyue flicked his hand casually and threw a pill into the bowl of one of them. The other party looked at him and was in his seventies, and it was very difficult to swallow, and he was afraid of being beaten if he didn't eat, so he relied on the soup to pour it down, and drank a bowl of soup in a short time.

"Sect Master, do you want to continue your journey tonight?" Caitian asked.

"Let's go another hour." Lan Ji said, "There are fewer people in the mountains. ”

Caitian nodded yes, beckoned everyone to pack up their things, and drove the troika over to let the old people go in batches.

"Ahh Exclamations were heard from the crowd.

"What's it called!" Caitian raised his eyebrows, and he was about to hit someone when he raised his palm.

An old man clutched his chest, fell to the ground with a spasm, his face was pale and panting, looking like he had a heart disease, and he closed his eyes and swallowed his breath after a while.

Caitian kicked the old man twice, but there was no sound, so he asked what to do.

Lan Ji shook her head: "Throw it back to the grave, bury it deeper, don't be found." "After all, the person who should have died in the good hall can't reappear on the side of the road.

The Tiansha Sect killed a lot of people, but they still buried people for the first time. Several maids worked together to dig a big hole and bury the old man tightly before turning to leave.

The torches got farther and farther along the way, and in the darkness and silence, Duan Nian led people to dig up the soil and take the old man back to the city wrapped in a cloak. The □□ of the Southwest Palace, which can make people fake their death for three days, will wake up after taking the antidote.

Seeing their companion killed, the rest of the old men became even more depressed, and sat in the carriage with their heads bowed, without saying a word. Lan Ji is very satisfied with this, as long as people don't die and don't go crazy, it's a good thing to be quieter - if they are all chattering like the old man of the wood, and they have to yell from time to time, it will be a headache.

Duan Nian waved his whip, and the horse galloped all the way down the mountain road, and it only took one day to send the old man back to the Dayan City Inn, and handed a letter to Sixi. Only half an hour later, Xiang Yan personally came to the door and took everyone to the post house.

The imperial doctor was holding the medicine box and waiting early, the old man had already taken the antidote before, wiped it with hot water and drank hot soup, and it didn't take long for him to wake up. It's just that when I first opened my eyes, I saw a group of people next to the bed, and I was inevitably frightened, and I almost fainted with fright.

Sixi's father-in-law hurriedly stepped forward to support the person and comforted him for a long time before he was appeased.

"Your Majesty?" The old man was shocked when he heard this, and he couldn't believe it.

"Yes, it's the emperor." Sixi said, "Don't be afraid, old man. ”

"Your Majesty." The old man burst into tears, and he knelt despite his weakness, clutching his chest and coughing repeatedly. Xiang Yan hurriedly held him up and brought another cup of hot tea.

"No need to be polite." Chu Yuan said, "What happened in the past few days, the old man just has to say it, and I will make the decision for you." ”

The old man's name is Chu Fu, an old craftsman in this city, who has no children and no daughters and has been living in Shantang. Although he is over the age of old, he is neither deaf nor blind, and his thinking is quite clear. Although I experienced a catastrophe this time, after drinking a few bowls of hot soup, I also came to my senses and roughly recalled the events of the past few days.

"A thousand rings?" Chu Yuan frowned.

"yes." Chu Fu said, "After we woke up, someone came to ask who would make a thousand loops, and the big guys shook their heads, but she said that we were cunning." ”

"The old man really doesn't know what this is?" Chu Yuan asked.

Chu Fu nodded: "The old guys in this city usually make some benches, tables and chairs, even if they are organs, they are all common hidden weapons." No matter how big it is, the government doesn't allow it, no one buys it, and there are few drawings. What is this thousand loops, don't say it's done, the big guy hasn't even heard of it. ”

"If not, why does the Demon Sect take you away?" Chu Yuan frowned.

"When we said no, they drew their swords and tried to kill, and when someone was frightened, they said they could try." Chu Fu said, "The big guy nodded in confusion, thinking about saving his life first." Besides, I heard that the wood idiot was also arrested by them, maybe he could really do it. ”

"Wood idiot old man?" Chu Yuan asked again.

"It's him." Chu Fu nodded, "The wood idiot is different from the big guy, he doesn't make tables, chairs and benches, he knows kung fu, he is only interested in hidden weapons, he has studied them all his life, and the hidden weapons in the Nine Mysteries are from him." ”

"Did those people ever say, where is the old man?" Chu Yuan asked.

Chu Fu said: "I didn't say this, I just said that I could see it in a few days." ”

We'll see you in a few days. Chu Yuan touched his chin, it seemed that he hadn't brought out this Yanyun Prefecture yet.

One person died before he could leave, and the rest of them looked sick and crooked, so Caitian worried: "I'm afraid I'm going to have to hurry slowly." "Otherwise, if you die a few more, it will only be more difficult to crack the Thousand Loops.

"It's a long way, no matter how slow it is, I'm afraid it can't be slower than the speed of these old people who are constantly dying." Lan Ji leaned back in the carriage, "I will write a letter, you go to return to the village, tell sù Qi drunken dreams, and say that the Tiansha Sect is in trouble and will stay with him for a few days." ”

"Yes!" Cai Tian received the order and asked, "The person who was caught earlier?" ”

"Naturally, it is also brought to the return village." Lan Ji said lazily, "After all, the arrest is to crack the mechanism, and there is no need to go back to the southwest, just find a quiet place." If you stay for twenty days to hurry, you shouldn't be able to miss Bai Gu Qing. ”

Saida nodded, turned around and went out to prepare.

Return to Zhuang, drunk dreams.

Duan Baiyue raised her eyebrows, but she didn't expect that this person was actually related to the Tiansha Sect, and it sounded quite trusted.

Returning to Zhuang is not an orthodox martial arts sect, but it is quite famous in the rivers and lakes, just because the owner of the village is drunk and dreams of making a good wine, and it is difficult to find silver in his hand. The Southwest Mansion also bought a few jars, but Duan Yao's worms liked it very much, soaking in them every day, and they couldn't die in drunken dreams.

Since Chu Yuan wanted the old man who was a wood idiot, Duan Baiyue naturally wanted to do everything he could to bring people out. Therefore, he was extremely patient, and accompanied the Tiansha Sect to camp in the same place for three days before receiving a reply from Qi Zuimeng.

"It's really a businessman." Lan Ji sighed, "Knowing that this sect is in trouble, the lion opens his mouth widely, and his appetite is not small. ”

"What does the other person want?" Caitian asked.

Lan Ji said: "Bodhicitta Sutra." ”

Duan Baiyue heard it secretly, and her expression froze.

Caitian sneered: "If you want the Bodhicitta Sutra, don't you go to the half-human and half-ghost Nanmo Evil and ask us what we want?" ”

"Well, if you can catch the little prince of the Southwest Mansion in the future, you will throw it to him for interrogation for two days." Lan Ji waved her hand, "It's not a big deal." ”

"And when are we going to return to the village?" Caitian asked.

"Let's go." Lan Ji looked disgusted, "After driving for so long, my body is going to stink." ”

The return village is not far from the place where everyone stays, and it can be reached in half a day.

Qi Zuimeng seemed to know that Lan Ji would inevitably agree to his conditions, and was waiting at the bottom of the mountain. Because it is necessary to make wine, the mountain village is also very large, and there are wine jars everywhere, and even if people who are not strong enough to drink go in and smell it, they are afraid that they will get drunk.

Duan Baiyue easily followed in, and saw Lan Ji and Qi Zuimeng entering the house together, and they were going to discuss something important, but it didn't take long for there to be lewd words in the house, which sounded extremely happy.

……

The King of the Southwest felt a little unlucky.

The old men were housed in a small courtyard, guarded on all sides. After Caitian settled down and everyone stayed, he hastily ate some steamed buns to cushion his stomach, and did not wait for dinner, but went into the house to sleep before dawn, looking like he had something to do at night.

Sure enough, at midnight, I saw Caitian leaving the village alone and going down the mountain along the path.

Duan Baiyue raised the corners of her mouth, after waiting for so long, she finally waited for the old man.

The fast horse galloped all the way, and it was not difficult for Duan Baiyue's light skills to follow quietly. An hour later, Caitian turned over and dismounted, reached out and grabbed a vine on the cliff, and climbed up with dexterity.

Duan Baiyue didn't expect that Lan Ji would actually hide the old man in such a secret place.

The two climbed the cliff one after the other, but their expressions changed.

Not far away, a wooden house was burning, and the fire was raging, and half of the sky was dyed red.