In the early morning of the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, a group of people beating gongs and drums stood outside the gate of the Xufu mansion, and the festive atmosphere replaced the tranquility of the past. Pen fun and pavilion www.biquge.info

In the front yard, Xu Zhuoshu was chatting and laughing with a few old men; In the other corner, a carriage had already been prepared, and more than a dozen sturdy men were on standby.

"What are they doing?" Lin Xinyin, who was standing on the other side, saw that Xu Zhuoshu took the long strip of red paper handed over by an old man, but he couldn't see what was written on the paper because of the distance, so he asked Liu Qianli beside him curiously.

"The Buddha Festival is coming, the old sacrifice of Sanmen Township washes the dragon head, and the rich families need to jointly venture and build dragon boats, and what is written on the paper should be the cost that each family needs to bear." Liu Qianli remembered what he heard when he was chatting with Xu Zhuoshu and the harsh winter a few years ago, so he recalled: "Xufu is a big local household, and it is said that it will build a dragon boat as a sole proprietorship over the years. ”

"Dragon boats? Is it related to the Buddha Bathing Festival? Lin Xinyin felt a little strange. The dragon boat in her impression seems to be only related to the Dragon Boat Festival.

"Huh. This Buddha bathing festival has been passed down for hundreds of years, and now it has been integrated into many secular customs. Liu Qianli explained: "In Jingchu and Guanzhong, there is also the custom of praying for rain and praying for the sky; In these places in eastern Guangdong that attach importance to the inheritance of ancestors, the dragon boat will be built on the eighth day of the first month of April, and the dragon boat will be played on the day of April 28, which still symbolizes the harmony of yin and yang......"

"Yin and Yang Harmony?!" Lin Xinyin's brain turned around a few times and she didn't figure it out: What kind of jumping thinking is this?

"The Buddha Bathing Festival originally had the meaning of the birth of the Buddha, and over time it became the ......custom of the world to pray for an heir," Liu Qianli looked at the ignorant Lin Xinyin, and said with a smile: "Xinyin also knows that Wen Qiu is going to the Big Buddha Temple to pray for blessings today, right?" In fact, the nearby Niangniang Temple is the real destination. And ah, does Xinyin remember a group of small stone lions at the feet of the two big stone lions outside the gate? That's also a metaphorical ......"

"Oh oh......" Lin Xinyin finally suddenly realized. She originally felt that the Xu Mansion was a little deserted. No wonder Xu Zhuoshu cares so carefully about Wen Qiu, who is pregnant......

"What are you talking about?" Wen Qiu also came over at some point: "It seems that someone mentioned my name?" ”

"Ahem. It's nothing, it's nothing, just mentioned that Wen Qiu is going to the Big Buddha Temple, that's all. Liu Qianli avoided Wen Qiu's eyes slightly embarrassed.

"Really?" Wen Qiu turned to look at Lin Xinyin, with a hint of anticipation in his tone: "Xinyin, do you want to go to the Big Buddha Temple with me to pray for blessings?" Today, the Cuiying happens to have something to do and can't go along, and I'm the only woman, so I always feel a little weird. ”

"Huh? What about this......" Lin Xinyin already knew Wen Qiu's actual whereabouts, so she was embarrassed to go with her, so she hurriedly excused: "It just so happens that I have some things to do, and it's really inconvenient to go." ”

"What is so important?" Wen Qiu continued to work hard to agitate: "The scenery around the Great Buddha Temple is also quite beautiful, there is a crystal clear stream at the bottom of the mountain, on the occasion of today's incense meeting, there are many people, there are many juggling, tea pavilions and other stalls by the stream, it is also very interesting to have a leisurely play." ”

"Well...... Lin Xinyin shook her head and said, "Because we're going to leave Yuepu in the next two days, we really have to prepare our itinerary." ”

"Okay...... Wen Qiu sighed helplessly: "Then, Xinyin has to wait for me to come back." If you leave tomorrow, maybe I'll be able to see you off. ”

"Okay." Lin Xinyin agreed this time. Because she thought about it so far, it didn't seem to make much difference whether it was a day earlier or a day later.

Wen Qiu nodded with satisfaction. She looked around and asked, "...... What about the stone man? ”

"Is it winter?" Liu Qianli said with a smile: "This person drank half of the tavern's inventory last night, and I have to find a few big men to carry him back." He would have collapsed on the bed. ”

"I really don't care about myself at all. Do you still think it's the stunned youth ten years ago? Wen Qiu twisted his face to the side and reproached in a low voice, "He deserves to suffer." Forget it, leave him alone. ”

Lin Xinyin suddenly noticed Wen Qiu's headdress. At this time, Wen Qiuqiao's face tilted, and she just shook a butterfly-shaped step hidden deep in the clouds towards Lin Xinyin's eyes.

The step shakes, the size of the pearl embedded in the body, with a small movement of the owner, is the wings trembling slightly, the butterfly whiskers lightly, like a silver butterfly about to fly lifelike.

This butterfly-shaped step shake gave Lin Xinyin a peculiar sense of familiarity. She suddenly remembered that on the night road to Qimu Mountain, the step that Lan Cui'er gave to Ling Yueyuan seemed to be very similar to the gold ornament in front of her.

How could it be such a coincidence? Clothes have a clashing shirt, and so does jewelry?

Lin Xinyin turned her head a little curiously, but found that Liu Qianli was actually staring at Wen Qiu's steps, and his lips were still silently reading, as if he was counting: one, two, three......

At this time, Wen Qiu also noticed the eyes of these two people. She smiled a little embarrassedly and said: "This step shake is a gift from Zhuo Shu at the beginning of this year, and I don't know when he ordered it, so I didn't say it when I asked him." I like it tightly, but I never put it on. I don't know why today, I always feel that it seems to have been hidden for too long, so I want to let it see the sunshine too...... "She is also dressed in plain clothes now, and the step shake does look a little luxurious in comparison." But perhaps because there is always a little willingness to show the treasure in time in her heart, her tone still has a hint of joy.

"Very delicate thirty-six pearls and jade butterflies are shaking in golden steps. Zhuo Shu is really good at picking gifts. Liu Qianli exclaimed. It turned out that he had just shaken the beads in a few steps.

"There? Seeing ...... smile," Wen Qiu's cheeks flushed. Hearing the praise of the treasure keeper made her feel happy.

After a while, Xu Zhuoshu finally bid farewell to the respected villagers, and turned to carefully instruct the horseman who was about to set off and the group of strong men escorted by the car. He also explained a lot of trivial things to Ah Hai, until the other party kept nodding his head, and then he came to Wen Qiu's side with confidence.

"Anyway, be careful all the way." Xu Zhuoshu looked at Wen Qiu affectionately.

"Got it."

"It's still a little cold this morning, wear more clothes."

"Got it."

"Does your throat still hurt? Drink plenty of water.

"Understood."

"Go early and come back early."

"Clear."

Stand. Liu Qianli on the side saw that Xu Zhuoshu and Wen Qiu were endlessly immersed in the world of the two and couldn't extricate themselves, so he turned to Lin Xinyin and sighed: "It seems that this place is not suitable for a long time." Xinyin, let's withdraw. ”

Lin Xinyin nodded immediately when she heard this. She felt that the temperature in the vicinity seemed to be getting hotter and hotter, so she quickly turned away with Liu Qianli.

……

Walking along the corridor for a while, I vaguely heard the sound of horse whistles. It seems that Wen Qiu's convoy has already set off.

Lin Xinyin and Liu Qianli walked side by side, speechless for a while.

After being silent for a while, she remembered the trivial matter mentioned by Cuiying yesterday, so she took the lead in asking, "Qianli, I heard that you have been looking for me these days?" What's the matter? ”

"Oh, it's nothing, it's just a guess that Xinyin will be bored here, and I'm just thinking about making an appointment to talk." Liu Qianli said: "But in those days, I saw that Xinyin seemed to be busy with her friends, so I was embarrassed to disturb. By the way, is Xinyin planning to leave Yuepu in these two days? ”

"Maybe tomorrow." Lin Xinyin asked rhetorically: "Then, when are Qianli going to leave?" ”

"It should be tomorrow too." Liu Qianli replied.

As soon as the words fell, it happened to be at the end of the corridor.

A fork in the road ahead led to the Liyuan and Banyan Gardens respectively.

Lin Xinyin was hesitating whether to go back to her guest room or walk a little longer with Liu Qianli, but she saw that the other party coincidentally found a stone bench and stone table in a nearby garden.

"Come and sit down here." Liu Qianli invited Lin Xinyin to sit down on two round piers, and continued: "It seems that we are going to say goodbye tomorrow." ”

Lin Xinyin listened, and a trace of melancholy appeared in her heart. She doesn't spend much time with Yanagi, but she has made her a trusted friend. So, she said to Liu Qianli very sincerely: "Qianli, thank you really for this time." ”

"Meeting is fate, and there is no need to thank each other for helping." Liu Qianli knew what Lin Xinyin meant, so he replied: "What's more, having Xinyin along the way is also an unforgettable experience." If Xinyin has to thank Xinyin, then I also want to thank Xinyin......"

"Huh. I just feel that when we meet and get together, we always have to part in the end, which is inevitably a bit emotional. Lin Xinyin remembered that after she and Ling Yueyuan came to this world, many good people they met along the way also parted one after another in the end, and she suddenly felt even more sad.

"Even if we part, maybe we can see you again." Liu Qianli seemed to be comforting Lin Xinyin, but there was a confidence in his tone: "Xinyin, is Fuzhou the end of your journey this time?" ”

"Well, it shouldn't be. I went to Fuzhou, just thinking about meeting the moon first. ”

"And after that, where are you going?"

"After that, it's hard to say. Hangzhou, perhaps? Lin Xinyin never thought about where she would go after reuniting with Yueyuan. She remembered that Ye Youyou and Su Ruoyun had said that they were going to Hangzhou, so they might follow with them then, right?

"What about after Hangzhou?" Liu Qianli continued to ask.

"I really don't know, I haven't thought about it yet." Lin Xinyin really asked. The original purpose of her and Yueyuan was to find every possible way to return home. The legend of the soul jade she had heard in the past few days was perhaps the most promising possibility she had obtained. But this clue is too bleak, and she doesn't know if she can really use it to achieve her way home, let alone how to find all the legendary soul jade. The world is so big, where should she go? She really couldn't think of it, she just felt that the more she thought about it, the more sad she became.

"It sounds like Xinyin is traveling the world, but it doesn't seem to be very interested in the customs of various places." Liu Qianli seemed to see the worry in Lin Xinyin's eyes: "So, Xinyin is looking for someone?" Looking for something? Or something else? ”

"I don't know what I'm looking for." Lin Xinyin was very helpless: "Perhaps, I'm just looking for a hope that doesn't exist." ”

"Does this hope have anything to do with Soul Jade?"

Lin Xinyin looked at Liu Qianli in surprise.

"I remember when I first mentioned the matter of soul jade to Xinyin that night, Xinyin was very puzzled at first, but then she looked quite energetic." Liu Qianli recalled the details of that night, and then concluded: "Xinyin is neither a martial arts practitioner, nor does she know anything about soul jade, the reason for which is inconvenient for me to speculate, but I believe that Xinyin is not one of those people who harbor selfish desires to dominate soul jade. If Xinyin just wants to know the secret of the soul jade, she may be able to come to Guanzhong. ”

"Why?" Lin Xinyin was aroused by Liu Qianli's interest.

"Because, Guanzhong is the land of Longxing, and there are many capable people, or they can solve the confusion of Xinyin. And more importantly......"

Liu Qianli cleared his throat, lowered his voice and continued.

"In Chang'an, Guanzhong, there is a soul jade."

……

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

At the end of the day, a clattering sound of cutting leaves echoed in the front yard of the Xu Mansion that was deserted again.

In the harsh winter, I don't know when I was buried deep in the branches and leaves of the mulberry tree to work.

He was actually very good at drinking, but he waited until after noon, when the crowd had dispersed, and he walked out of the room.

Thinking that Ah Hai was going to travel with the convoy today, and no one would come to pick mulberry, he continued this endless boring operation with peace of mind.

But today, he is just thinking about it by picking mulberry.

The business network is well developed, and in addition to freight, news is also one of the important objects of transmission. Since the beginning of this year, the conflict with the Guanghong Gang has become more and more intense, and he knows that the Qingyuan matter is by no means over. In fact, there has been information that the Guanghong Gang has recently gathered a lot of outlaws in Huadu, and it is said that they are going to make a big fuss. Although Ah Tian was already in charge there, he was still a little worried.

If there is nothing big today, then he must also prepare to leave for Huadu.

Suddenly, he heard a creak of the door opening. Has someone entered Xu's Mansion?

Vaguely, on the other side of the house, it seemed that the voices of people suddenly became noisy.

There was a rush of footsteps coming in this direction, and it was getting louder and louder.

Yan Dong's heart was shocked, he stopped what he was doing, turned around and looked, and was stunned.

Ah Hai, who was being supported by two family members, followed by a few people, was already standing in front of him at this time. It's just that his face was covered with blood, the three thick and long blood marks on his chest were shocking, and the calves of his pants were almost shattered into rags.

"Madame...... The convoy is under attack! Ah Hai said in a trembling voice.

The heart almost stopped beating in the harsh winter. His attention has been all about the possible conflicts in Huadu recently, and he never thought that something earth-shattering would happen near Yuepu, the core of the Chamber of Commerce!

"Splice the scissors!" To make a long story short, Harsh Winter went down the ladder first, and at the same time stretched out the hand that held the scissors.

Although Ah Hai looked seriously injured, he was not slow to react. He came down the ladder in a few steps, and this time he took the harsh winter shears without any problems.

The harsh winter soon landed, and he took a few closer glances at Ah Hai, as if he was observing Ah Hai's injury: "Bandage it." Where was the attack? ”

"Twenty miles to the east of the city." Ah Hai hurriedly reported.

"Good!" Yan Dong turned to the other two men and said, "Ah Sheng, hurry up and prepare your horse and set off with me!" Ah Feng, inform Shang to help Uncle Zhang, pick twenty juniors and then follow! ”

"Understood!" The two of them were also neat, and immediately ran away quickly.

Within a few moments, several fast horses galloped out of the city.

……

……

On the eastern outskirts of the city, at a fork in the main road, a small road zigzags to the foot of an inconspicuous mountain.

An equally humble restaurant, lying under the mountain forest.

The roof of the restaurant is broken, the walls are gray and yellow, the weeds are overgrown all around, the pole in front of the door has fallen to the ground, and a few dirty and broken strips of cloth are no longer visible.

It seems that this is just a dilapidated shop that has been abandoned for a long time.

The windows and doors of the shop were wide open, somewhat dispelling the smell of decay, but there was another pungent fishy smell.

In the former hall, a few tables and chairs with broken legs and corners lay scattered on the dusty floor, but one table was still intact, and four faded benches were arranged diagonally around the square table, as if someone had once sat on it.

There are also a few plates of peanuts and melon seeds on the table, and peanut shells and melon seed shells are piled up on the table. There were also a dozen or so small porcelain bottles scattered around on them, and some foul liquid seeped through the mouth of the poured bottle into the cracks of the scratched wooden table, exuding a smell of wine.

There were also a few small cups still in good condition on the table, but more often than not, the pile of broken porcelain pieces at the foot of the table and chair.

A gust of wind blew, and suddenly several flipped bottles rolled along the wind.

After a few thuds, there was another pile of debris on the ground.

Drinks dripped down the edge of the table.

The cloudy white droplets flowed as hard as they could, until they blended with the other puddles of dark red liquid.

That's blood.

Eight or nine big men, lying on the ground, dead and blinding.

But there were still living people in the house. A woman and two men are looking around.

"It's a rabble after all." The woman commented.

"Yes. Within a few moments, they were all subdued. There will only be one living mouth left, and Wang Qing is dealing with it. A man replied. This person's appearance is no different from Zhao Bao of the Guanghong Gang before.

"That'll be fine." The woman looked at the man, frowned, and said, "It's time to unload." ”

"Yes, yes." The man bowed his head and bowed, then ripped off the human skin prop from his face.

That man turned out to be Cheng Ming.

"Suzaku, you always like this kind of fuss." Another man, with a look of disdain on his face.

"I prefer the tedious process, Feichen." Lu Xiaoying said with a smile, and asked Cheng Ming beside him: "I have been mixed with this group of bandits in the past few days, but have you found anything else?" ”

"Listening to what they boast about day and night, all they boast about are murders and robberies, and there is no valuable information. However......" Cheng Ming took out a delicate small seal and a letter from his arms, and respectfully handed it to Lu Xiaoying: "I accidentally obtained this thing, although I don't know what it is for, I also ask Suzaku to take a look." ”

"What is this?" Lu Xiao greeted the object handed by Cheng Ming, and first observed the small seal: I saw that this object seemed to be carved from white jade, and it seemed to have a colorful streamer in the sun; It's just that the jade color is slightly thick, and it seems that although it is well maintained, it has been some years. She turned over the bottom of the chapter and saw that it seemed to be engraved with the coat of arms of a certain family, and then looked closely at the lower right corner of the inscription, there was the word Ouyang.

This is the coat of arms of the Ouyang family? Lu Xiaoying saw that the family pattern at the bottom of the chapter was obliquely revealing a shocking crack, which was half an inch deep, as if it had been broken by some surging energy. Is this a waste stamp?

"Several of the Guanghong gang members gathered this time are horse thieves near Huadu. According to them, one day when Huadu was about to make a pile deal on Qujiang Road, he was ruined by three young men and women with strong martial arts. Not willing to stop there, the thieves called in a few accomplices and waited for an opportunity to steal the horses and parcels of the nosy fellows. But the three teenagers and girls also chased very closely, and they were so tired that these horse thieves ran all the way to the rear of Qingyuan before they could get out. Cheng Ming recalled: "Later, a few of the horse thieves came here with the gang, and because they didn't have time to rest, they even brought the package. The gold and silver, valuable things, and medicinal herbs in it have been divided in the past few days, but this letter and the waste jade, the thief is illiterate and illiterate, and is planning to throw them away at will; But when I saw that there seemed to be something about it, I asked for it. ”

"Or those three teenagers and girls are the juniors of the Ouyang family's outing. I've heard some rumors these days. It's really interesting......" Lu Xiaoying turned to look at the letter. When she saw the letter, she was stunned, and when she looked at the payment, she was even more surprised: "Huh, it's still a handwritten letter from Old Man Ouyang?" I'm afraid this is a suicide note......"

After she read the letter carefully, she couldn't help but reread it several times, and Fang was full of emotion.

"Hey, affection. Even rebellion, which is despised by the whole world, can be tolerated in the end......"

A sigh.

Lu Xiaoying took out a handkerchief, wrapped the carefully folded letter and small seal together, and put it in his arms.

……

Outside.

Under the Yellow Wall.

"Brother Tiger, Brother Tiger......"

A member of the Guanghong Gang sat on the ground, leaning against the wall, and there was no way out. He looked at Wang Hu opposite in horror, thinking about some hope to redeem something.

Originally, the Guanghong Gang who were ambushed in the eastern suburbs of the city, saw that there were many strong men of the Shang Gang escorting Wen Qiu's convoy this time, and they were thinking that they would lose both sides in this fire, but they didn't expect that Wang Hu and Zhao Bao, who had already been on the side, took the initiative to attack like a god, and killed all the guards of the Shang Gang after dozens of moves. Although these two people were very vicious, and even their group of bandits who claimed to be outlaws were a little afraid when they saw it, there was no doubt that he was there at that time, and he simply thought that he was a talent valued by the boss of the gang, and he had something extraordinary.

However, what they didn't expect was that when they got their wish and captured Wen Qiu to come to this hiding place, and just when they threw the frightened woman into the firewood room, this Wang Hu and Zhao Bao suddenly attacked like an evil spirit!

By this time, the other brothers had been slaughtered, and the fate was no different from that of the people they had been gloating about. The gang only thought it was unbelievable, but they could only mumble to themselves: "Why? Why? He had just confessed to this god-killing Wang Hu that no one else knew about this hiding place, and no one else would come here again. So, will this Wang Hu let himself go?

The answer is: no.

Wang Hu slashed his claw through the throat of the gang, extinguishing the flame of hope he had hoped for.

The gang pressed their hands on the bleeding throat, coughed a few times with blood foam, their pupils slowly dilated, and their bodies tilted towards the corner.

Wang Hu ripped off the human skin props like Cheng Ming, and after stepping through the door and stepping into the house, he was already another person.

"Wang Qing." Lu Xiaoying looked at the new man and asked, "How is this place?" Can you wait? ”

"Yes." Wang Qing replied: "I have asked, but no second group of people knows." ”

"Good. Now, let's go and meet Mrs. Xu for a moment. Lu Xiaoying turned around and walked towards the firewood room.

The wooden door of the firewood room was long gone, and under the cobweb-twined eaves, a shivering young woman was curled up on a pile of weeds. It was Wen Qiu, her clothes were still intact, but they were stained; The hair was already scattered, and in the clouds that were about to fall, the steps trembled and trembled, and the brilliance was dim.

Wen Qiu's forehead was still stained with blood. On the way to be captured by those rude bandits, although she struggled hard, she was able to break free. Even when she was dragged and thrown to the firewood room, her forehead hit the door wall, and even the step was shattered.

"Who are you...... Who is it? Wen Qiu looked at the newcomer in horror, his voice trembling. She had barely spent a moment in this filthy and sloppy place when she heard a terrible scream from outside, and her heart trembled. This will, looking at the new strange woman and three men without the slightest friendliness, it makes her panic even more.

"Fortunately." Lu Xiaoying looked at the frightened prey in front of him, and squatted down with a smile: "Mrs. Xu, I'm offended." ”

"......" Wen Qiu looked at the other party's eyes, and subconsciously shrank towards the corner of the wall: "Don't come, don't come here......"

"It looks like I'm really scared." Lu Xiaoying stood up and said to Mo Feichen: "Feichen, let her calm down?" ”

"Is it necessary?" Mo Feichen said: "This woman is already scared stupid. ”

"I'm just afraid in case." Lu Xiaoying replied.

"Hmph." Mo Feichen secretly cut himself, waved his hand, and a cold wind, with a dark fragrance, drifted towards Wen Qiu.

"Cold Wind: Soul Control—"

Mo Feichen's eyes were staring at Wen Qiu: "Later, you can do whatever you want, do you know?" ”

In Wen Qiu's eyes, she gradually lost consciousness, and her physique, which was still weak, collapsed limply on the grass.

After a while.

Lu Xiaoying looked back at the three men who were still standing, and frowned dissatisfiedly: "Hey, you three, get out of this room." ”

"This counts as a room?" Mo Feichen pouted and looked at the empty doorway, and then looked up at the big hole in the roof that led to the sky.

"Then get out of the house."

"Okay, okay, okay." Mo Feichen knew what Lu Xiaoying was going to do to Wen Qiu next, but he was just a thirst for killing, and he didn't have any other special hobbies. When he turned around to leave according to his words, he didn't forget to say to Lu Xiaoying's two subordinates: "Did you hear it, your master told you to get out of ......"

But Mo Feichen's voice did not fall, and he turned around completely to find that Wang Qing and Cheng Ming had long since disappeared.

Depend on. That's good.

Mo Feichen had to secretly praise.

Less.

A suffocating silence hung over the woodroom.

Wen Qiu, who was lying on the weeds, swayed in her scattered hair that could no longer be supported, fell to the ground like a jade butterfly with folded wings, and the beads were scattered.

This step shook Lu Xiaoying's curiosity. She had an inexplicable sense of familiarity.

Lu Xiao took a closer look, and took out the step shake found outside Yuepu City and in Tan Jun's package to compare it carefully, and was suddenly even more surprised.

If it's intact, it's almost the same butterfly step.

It's just that Wen Qiu's jade butterfly has already broken its wings.

"Huh." Lu Xiaoying looked at Wen Qiu, who was already unconscious on the ground, and said meaningfully: "Mrs. Xu, you are so lucky. Here, there is even a jade butterfly that can be perfectly replaced. ”

……

……

Twenty miles outside the city of Yuepu, the official road.

The ownerless carriage was stuck in front of the ground, but the horses were gone.

On the ground, corpses were strewn all over the field.

Bitter Winter has arrived with several people, checking for survivors.

"Brother Dong." Ah Sheng approached the harsh winter, and his voice was full of sadness and anger: "I didn't leave a living mouth, I was so ruthless!" ”

Yan Dong squatted on the ground, his left hand clenched into a fist, and his right hand lightly pressed the fist mark wound on the chest of a deceased, as if he could still feel the inexhaustible strength of the inner strength. He looked at the bloodstained scratches on the other corpses, and his expression was even more grim.

Most of them are one-trick fatal. Even a few strong men who can fight are more able to fight, but they can't fight ten moves and are killed.

The Guanghong Gang has such a powerful master? This is a far cry from the information he has obtained. He knew that the bosses of those gangs were also extraordinary, but most of his subordinates were horse bandits and thieves, just because people with a little ability disdained to be in the company of this smoky and miasma-like gang.

And he, remembering the few masters of the Guanghong Gang who can be ranked, should be near Huadu.

There are many doubts. Some associations flashed through his mind, and he asked Ah Hai, who was badly injured: "When was it attacked?" ”

"Probably shortly after noon." Ah Hai said in a trembling voice: "Those people are extremely heavy, if I hadn't been injured and passed out for at least half an hour, I'm afraid I would have seen the king of Yama." ”

"Anyway, it's good to be alive." The harsh winter has no intention of blaming Ah Hai. If he hadn't rushed back in time to report the news, the situation would have been even worse.

At this moment, a louder and louder sound of horses' hooves came. In the dust, dozens of backups from the Shang Gang arrived one after another.

"Good!" Seeing this, Yan Dong also turned over and got on his horse and commanded loudly: "Leave five people to collect the bodies of the dead brothers!" Others marched along the main road! If there is a fork in the road, the two of them will conduct in-depth investigation, and if there is a difference, send a signal immediately! We must find out the den of these bandits and go! ”

He had already judged that the horse thieves must be going in the direction of the east of the city. The official road runs through the hills for dozens of miles, and even the ferry port in the southeast section of the Rongjiang River; There are only a few forks in the road that may lead to a few remote mountain villages. According to Ah Hai, there are more than a dozen horse thieves on the other side, and even if they cross the river, they have to take boats in batches. Before he went out, he had instructed his men to release the pigeons urgently and inform the members of the merchant gang at the Dongjiang ferry to pay attention to the visitors and act at the opportunity.

Therefore, he judged that if the other party was only kidnapping for extortion, then at this time, he was hiding somewhere not far from the place where he was attacked. And within a radius of fifty miles around here, it is a terrain that is all too familiar to the people of the Shang Gang. It was still early, the sky was not dark, and he was six points sure that he would be able to find out these bold thieves within today!

These fanatics must be buried with their dead brothers!

In the harsh winter of driving horses, the fire of revenge almost erupted in his eyes.

After galloping for about half an hour, a figure vaguely appeared in the middle of the road ahead.

Who? Yan Dong tried his best to open his eyes wide to identify the person, and suddenly his heart and eyes rose to his throat.

That figure was someone he was familiar with!

"Behind, stop!" Yan Dong hurriedly stopped the galloping horse team behind him, and he took the lead in riding forward, and when he could see the faces of the comers, he immediately tightened the reins of the horse with both hands, and after stopping the galloping horse, he turned over and dismounted, and ran forward at high speed.

"Autumn!" Bitter Winter shouted.

That person was really Wen Qiu. She was faltering, her body swaying, her eyes were full of light, helplessness and confusion had eroded her mind, and even the cries of winter could not bring her back to her senses immediately.

When she saw the harsh winter that ran in front of her in a daze and breathed chaotically, she couldn't stop her tears suddenly swayed out, and at the same time, she threw herself into the arms of the harsh winter regardless of thirty-seven twenty-one, and then cried "wow"!

A faint fragrance wafted in, making the harsh winter stunned. He didn't expect Wen Qiu to lose his temper like this. After all, there are dozens of men on horseback behind him who are watching this side, even if they can't see clearly from a distance, it will not have a good impact after all. So, he hurriedly pressed Wen Qiu's shoulders and removed her from his former arms.

I just feel a chill in front of the placket. Looking down at the harsh winter, there was a wet stain......

"...... those bandits?" Yan Dong asked softly.

"They're all dead...... It's all dead......" Wen Qiu's voice trembled and frightened.

"What?" Yan Dong was extremely surprised: "What's the matter? Over there? ”

"I don't know...... I don't know! Wen Qiu shouted, his eyes lost his mind again, and he fell softly in the crook of his arm in the harsh winter.

I don't know what to do in the middle of winter. Although I don't know why Wen Qiu was able to escape, and I don't know what miracle happened, no matter what, it is a great thing that people can be safe. It's just that in full view of everyone, he didn't know how to help the unconscious Wen Qiu onto the horse. He thought for a while, and while holding Wen Qiu with one hand, trying to keep the two of them half an arm's length apart, he shouted loudly to Ah Sheng, who was dozens of feet away, and asked him to quickly pull the lone carriage behind him to pick up people.

The other Shang Gang heroes thought that there might be an unprecedented fierce battle, but they didn't expect that it would be unexpectedly and effortlessly saved people.

At this time, a cautious man came over and asked, "Brother Dong, then we will ...... this?"

"Just save people, and you can talk about other things slowly." Yan Dong thought that it would not be too late to find out the cause of the matter after Wen Qiu woke up, but he still left a little thought: "I'm afraid that the gang of bandits are all dead...... Ah Feng, you lead the team, still according to a team of two, check the situation at various forks in the vicinity, but pay attention to safety, do not be strong. I'll go home tonight and report on the situation. ”

"Understood." Ah Feng followed the instructions and turned around to assign tasks to the others.

……

＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝＝

Up and down the Xu Mansion, there was a churn.

The main room in the inner courtyard was constantly being entered and exited, almost breaking through the threshold.

First, a group of maids entered the room nervously with wooden basins and clothes; After a while, a few old doctors with medicine boxes rushed in.

Xu Zhuoshu had been in the room for a long time, but Wen Qiu, who was already lying on the bed, was still unconscious. Anxious, he would pace back and forth outside the house, waiting for the doctors to come out of the room.

"How?" Xu Zhuoshu noticed that an old doctor was shaking his head gently, and his heart suddenly felt cold, but he still held on to a glimmer of hope.

Yet, in the end, this hope faded like a candle in the wind.

"Gang Master Xu. Mrs. Hui was so frightened that she fell into a coma, but fortunately she was fine and she was able to wake up after resting. But ......" an old doctor thought for a moment, and then said cryptically, "this will, I can't find that ...... Pulse. ”

Xu Zhuoshu's face suddenly turned pale. He finally stabilized his figure, reluctantly sent the doctor away, and ordered Cui Ying to go in to take care of Wen Qiu, Fang looked at the harsh winter beside him sadly.

"Winter, accompany me to the study." Xu Zhuoshu tried his best to restrain himself.

Yan Dong nodded, and walked slowly with Xu Zhuoshu, who was a little chaotic.

……

"Abominable !!"

A loud shout was followed by a screeching sound.

Glazed pastel pen, Longquan kiln lotus room inkstone, white jade four rolls of lotus leaf wash, blue and white Ganoderma lucidum pattern jade pen holder...... The elegant study utensils that were neatly placed on the mahogany carved bookcase at the last moment were all broken jade porcelain scattered on the glazed tile floor at the next moment.

Xu Zhuoshu bent down and bowed his head, his clenched fists slammed on the bookcase, and his body trembled.

"Zhuo Shu." Yan Dong looked at Xu Zhuoshu, who had never been so out of shape, and comforted him: "No matter what, it's okay if people are fine." ”

Xu Zhuoshu was silent for a long time, and Fang sat down on the Taishi chair weakly. He raised his right hand and spread his palms to cover his face below his forehead, covering the sadness in his eyes. The underside of his palm was red and swollen, and the hot pain was constantly irritating his nerves.

But, the heart hurts even more.

"I know." Xu Zhuoshu was depressed like a rotten wood falling into the abyss: "Let me calm down first." ”

Yan Dong quietly retreated, closed the door of the study, and left a quiet space for the people inside.

When he turned around, his face was tense, his right hand unnaturally clutched the collar of the placket, and his fist was bruised.

……

Inside the main room. Wen Qiu, who was lying on the bed, his eyes were still closed, but his face was no longer pale, and he obviously had some complexion. Her expression was much calmer, perhaps because of the warmth of the silk quilt that covered her body, dispelling the fear that had been several hours before.

At this moment, Cuiying sat on a chair near the bed, unable to cry.

For a long time, this intermittent choking sound seemed to wake up the sleeping Wen Qiu. Her eyebrows moved, and her beautiful eyes slowly opened.

"Ah, madam......" Cuiying quickly sniffed and got up with red eyes.

"How did you cry like a tearful man?" Wen Qiu barely squeezed out a smile: "My eyes are swollen into lanterns." ”

"Madame smiled...... "Cuiying hurriedly waved her hand and painted the corners of her eyes. She also tried her best to curl the corners of her mouth, but after trying hard, it was more ugly than crying.

"Okay...... Wen Qiu tried his best to prop up half of his body, looked at the already dark sky outside the window, and asked softly, "When will this be?" ”

"It's already time." Cui Ying hurriedly supported Wen Qiu, took a pillow and put it behind Wen Qiu as a backrest, and said worriedly: "Madam has been in a coma for a long time...... It's great to wake up. But this body is still very weak, is it better to rest for a while? Doctor Lin: They'll come over later. ”

"Let them come back tomorrow." Wen Qiu said lightly.

"This ......? That's not right. Madame...... "The Oriole was stunned for a moment. When she was outside the house before, she heard the conversation between the doctor and Xu Zhuoshu, but there were still some matters that had not been dealt with for some reason. But why does the lady not cherish herself so much, don't you know that she has ......?

"Let's do it." Wen Qiu has made up his mind. After a while, she smiled again and said, "Suddenly I am a little hungry, but do you have anything to eat?" ”

"Oh, oh!" Although Cuiying didn't know what Wen Qiu was thinking at the moment, she was naturally happy to see that she still had an appetite.

After all, Mrs. has not eaten a drop of water since noon! Why didn't you think of this layer?! Cuiying can't wait to give herself a slap in the face now. It's just that she looked left and right, but saw that there were only a few plates of snacks on the table, and she immediately despised those borderless maids in her heart, and then said to Wen Qiu apologetically: "Cuiying will go to the kitchen to bring some hot porridge, Madame can wait for ......."

"Isn't there some food over there? Let's get it first. Wen Qiu also found the snacks on the table.

Cuiying was stunned for a moment, but still brought snacks as she said, but still asked cautiously: "Madam, these ...... Can it really be? ”

"Why not?" Wen Qiu took the dim sum plate, picked a glutinous rice ball at random and took a bite: "If you don't eat, how can you have strength." ”

Cuiying stood stupidly, watching Wen Qiu swallow the snack with a blank expression, and suddenly felt even more sad. She remembered that Madame didn't really like sweets, but she ate one pastry after another so abnormally, could it be that her heart was too traumatized and her temperament changed drastically?

"Madam, Cuiying should go to the kitchen." Cuiying turned around, raised her hand to wipe the tears from the corners of her eyes, and was about to take a step, but heard Wen Qiu's voice behind her.

"Do you have some festive sugar water in the kitchen? Like licorice soup? ”

"There should be." Cuiying knows that licorice soup is a special soup for the Buddha Bathing Festival. The licorice soup that Buddhist monks worship and distribute to the believers of each rice also has the meaning of driving away evil spirits and removing impurities.

"Prepare some for the whole house. Go to bad luck. ”

"Hmm." Oriole nodded, crossed the threshold, and gently closed the door. In a moment, tears of anger flowed out again. She had heard that the dozen or so guards who accompanied Wen Qiu had all died, and several of them were acquaintances who had talked and laughed before. She really couldn't understand why Xu Fu, who had done good deeds and accumulated virtue for generations, would suffer such a catastrophe today?

……

Cuiying, who had not walked away a few steps, suddenly saw a pair of men and women standing not far away, but it was Lin Xinyin and Liu Qianli.

"Cuiying, Sister Wen, is she better?" Lin Xinyin stepped forward and asked with concern. The movement of the Xu Mansion in the afternoon can be described as earth-shattering, and she and Liu Qianli also learned some information, but they were worried that it would be needless to cause trouble, so they came to visit at this time.

"It's better. Madame has woken up, but says she is hungry and is eating some snacks...... I'm going to the kitchen to get some hot food. Cuiying said with teary eyes.

"Huh?" Lin Xinyin was a little surprised. She also clearly remembered that Wen Qiu said that she didn't like dim sum very much.

"Maybe it's a change of mood...... But it's still a good thing to be able to eat. I watched my wife eat several glutinous rice balls......" Cuiying's own mood, but she couldn't tell whether it was sadness or relief.

Lin Xinyin listened to it and felt that it seemed a little reasonable. After all, this terrible encounter may really change a person's state of mind.

"By the way, Sister Yin, are you going to visit Madame?" Cui Ying saw that Lin Xinyin and Liu Qianli were still standing in place, so she asked.

Lin Xinyin was thinking about saying yes, but Liu Qianli interjected and refused: "It's still not good, let Wen Qiu rest for a while, and talk about it tomorrow." Oriole, you're busy. ”

"That's fine." The Cuiying didn't want to disturb Wen Qiu either. When she left, she said to Lin Xinyin and Liu Qianli: "Yes, Madame also specially instructed me to prepare some licorice soup for the people in the whole house, which can be used to eliminate disasters." I'll send it to you later. ”

Lin Xinyin thanked Cuiying, and after the other party ran away, Fang turned around and asked Liu Qianli: "Qianli, then shall we come to visit before leaving tomorrow?" ”

For some reason, there was always a hint of restlessness in her heart. She probably learned that some gang had kidnapped Wen Qiu, but she vaguely felt that it didn't seem to be simple. Could this be related to himself, Ye Youyou and Su Ruoyun? If they had left the Xu Mansion a few days earlier, would this accident not have happened?

Unease, self-blame, and an inexplicable fear crept into her heart.

"It's okay, Xinyin." Liu Qianli seemed to see through what Lin Xinyin was thinking, and comforted softly: "Anyway, let's talk about it after tonight." I'm going to talk to Yan Dong about something first, and Xinyin should go back to the room as soon as possible. ”

With that, Liu Qianli walked away. After a while, he turned around and smiled and said to Lin Xinyin.

"Summer is coming, mosquitoes are raging, Xinyin pay attention to closing doors and windows at night."

Lin Xinyin seemed to be a little impressed by this sentence. When she reacted, she couldn't see Liu Qianli's figure anymore.

So, go back to your room?

Wait a minute.

There is always a strong sense of incongruity. It's as if there are notes in a familiar movement that have never been there before.

Night has come, the moon is dark and the stars are scarce.

A moment later, Lin Xinyin also turned to leave. However, she was heading towards the room where Su Ruoyun and Ye Youyou were staying.

……

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