- They did not ask, because they saw that the countenance of the aged wine was slightly haggard. The thing that can make her sad is obviously not the wine shop she opened in the town that has a lot of customers but was voluntarily closed by her, but probably related to their boss, Lord Lin, who seems to have an abnormal temperament these days.

And if Chen Jiu's sadness is related to Lord Lin, no one needs to remind him of anything, and no matter how curious anyone is, all the guards in the residence will consciously choose to shut up.

However, although they were very "well-behaved" and shut up, after Chen Jiu was alone for a few days, his nerves unconsciously became sensitive, and he felt that these people who knew him well suddenly became "silent", and a not quite right atmosphere was obvious.

But she didn't pay too much attention to these small details, and only briefly inquired about Lin Shan's physical condition today, as well as his work and diet in the past few years, and got where he should be at the moment, so she went to find someone alone.

In fact, the residence occupies a small area, only two courtyards. Except for the two main halls, the rest of the living room, utility room, corner room, etc., totaled no more than twenty-four squares, and the doorman did not have to be so meticulous with the old wine as he did to report the location of the prisoner. It's just that they want to say a few more words to Chen Jiu, but they feel that her expression is different, and it is difficult to say anything else, so they have to talk a few more words on this kind of topic that can be said or not.

Thinking that the separation was imminent, even the guards in the residence were reluctant to give up on this hard-working, kind and wise wine sister.

But when I think about my own adult, I really don't know how he raised it in his heart.

――

In fact, there is no need for the guidance of the doorman, if Chen Jiu wants to find Lin Shan, the first place he will go is his study.

But when she reached the old place, she was astonished by what she saw.

The study is long gone, but the houses next to each other are still there, so the scene looks a bit like a row of tooth bones missing a door. The original study was demolished. The stone bricks, tiles, and beams were all sorted and laid aside, and three piles were piled up, but it seemed that they were to be rebuilt immediately. For there were already a few familiar guards who had changed into burlap robes, and their sleeves were pulled up to their elbows. Acting as a mason, he is squatting on the foundation of the original study to build the foundation of the wall.

A guard in charge of carrying the plaster just turned around and saw Chen Jiu, he was slightly stunned and then smiled happily, and called "Sister Wine", and the rest of the guards who were squatting down to scrape the ashes with a brick knife and clanging were busy looking up when they heard the sound, and then they stood up one after another, with almost the same happy smile on their faces, and a few "Sister Wine" called.

Chen Jiu nodded. Then he asked, "It's only been a few days, what's wrong with the study?" ”

A guard said helplessly: "If someone wants to, no matter how good the house is, it won't be like playing if it is demolished." ”

Another guard continued, "However, it is only necessary to rebuild a house, and a few of us can complete it in less than half a day. ”

The twenty or so guards in the residence, in addition to their superb martial arts, half of them also have the ability to scout and scout, and the other half have learned the skills of masons.

Don't ignore these masons, who have been trained in harsh environments for their ability to build forts. It is possible to build a fortress wall several feet high without the need for a ruler line, and at the same time, it also has speed. In addition to their ability to build masonry, they also have a keen eye for architecture. It can also help them to dig deeper and more into some information about the enemy fortress when they are patrolling the outposts.

Chen Jiu also knew about this, but it was only today that she had the privilege of confirming which guards were who knew how to do the masonry.

Let these people repair a private house, so simple that it can be easily reached. But they probably didn't even think that before leaving this small town in the Northland, Lord Lin would really let them try the feeling of repairing a private house. Therefore, although it was a very simple matter, the few of them somehow ignited a very high enthusiasm, and naturally reached a unanimous decision without words and deliberations, and used all their skills. Leave a little trace of their uniqueness in this town.

Chen Jiu has seen the process of renovating the Dongfeng Building in Kyoto from the inside out, and it is somewhat similar to the scene in front of him. That's why she was surprised: Do these people want to build a study into a fortress with the function of defending against the enemy? However, due to the limited space space, this is absolutely impossible.

Seeing the old wine, his eyes were full of suspicion. Several guards thought she was going to ask where Lin Shan was, so one of them pointed her to the East Corner Courtyard.

Chen Jiu was actually about to ask Lin Shan directly about the study, so he stopped lingering next to the rebuilt study. Moving to the East Corner Courtyard, the courtyard is not large, but it is full of evergreen pines and cypresses, which is quite quaint.

Most of these pines and cypresses transplanted by the guards in their leisure time to the countryside and mountains are as dense as a cover, and at this time, it is the season of new pine branches, and a cluster of light green pine needles has newly grown on the top of the dark blue old pine needles, and the pine needles that are also verdant but overlapping with light and dark are like cattails. Looking at the new and old pine needles that seemed to be blooming like flowers, Chen Jiu suddenly remembered the question that the scholar under the flower tree in the inn asked her seriously not long ago.

How many ways are there to deharvest flowers?

How to deflorate ......

A few strands of old pine needles that had been squeezed out by the new pine needles fell gently in the breeze, and the thoughts flashed in Chenjiu's mind, as if he was very close to the answer that was gradually becoming clearer.

But at this moment, a gentle voice came from the oblique angle, and suddenly disturbed the thought that was about to take shape in her mind.

"Doctor Wu, if you don't move again, I may have to accompany you to become a stone man."

"Don't rush, don't you think I'm here?"

"Are you really here?"

"Oops! There is no way to return to the sky, there is no way to return to the sky......"

Chen Jiu moved his gaze slightly with the sound, only to find that Lin Shan and the former imperial physician Wu Xue were sitting under the tree and talking. Or maybe the two of them had been too engaged before they spoke, and the smoke of the battle was all in their consciousness, so although they sat and played against each other, they were as quiet as no one; Or maybe I just watched the replacement of the old and the new pine needles, and I was so distracted for a moment that I ignored the two people who were only about ten steps away.

The cypress branches are dense and cover the shade of the stone table below, if in the middle of summer, this is indeed a good place to cool and sleep, otherwise the few guards in the residence will not aim at this courtyard, and spend so much effort to select and transplant these rare and dense old pines from the sparsely wooded mountains in the suburbs.

But it's only late spring, and the climate in this northerly town isn't as warm as the south, so shaded. Sitting for a long time will inevitably feel a little cool.

Wu Xue seemed to have made a mistake, and the expression on his face was both a little regretful and a little unwilling. Maybe this move was unexpected, so his emotions fluctuated a little. I forgot my demeanor for a while, and I couldn't sit still on the stone bench. He jumped up and squatted on the stone bench, kicking all the cotton pads that had been resting on the stone bench to the ground.

He looked a little like a monkey climbing a rockery and looking down the mountain, but his condescending perspective still couldn't change the defeat caused by a mistake on the chessboard.

Wu Ze rubbed his palms a little anxiously, and shouted a few times in a row, "Returning to the heavens", and Lin Shan, who was playing against him, finally couldn't help but remind: "Doctor Wu, this kind of verbal habit can't be formed. You're a doctor, and you know where to go to practice medicine. Suddenly, he said, 'There is no way to return to the sky', no matter how good-tempered people are, I am afraid that they will change their faces and drive you out of the house with a broom. ”

"I know this......" Wu Ze stared at the chessboard, verbally agreeing quickly, but there was no 'I know and understand' on his face. After pondering for a moment, he suddenly looked up at the man sitting with his hands in his sleeves on the opposite side and smiling, and said angrily: "You know how to urge, you see, I made a mistake, and now I will lose to you again!" ”

Lin Shan smiled and said: "A game of chess can be stalemate to this stage, and you are still glorious even if you are defeated." ”

"To win is to win. Defeat is defeat, and I admit it no matter what. Wu Ze said very seriously, "Hmph." There is a victory in defeat, and I finally see the cunning of your victories every time! Again, this time I'll be calm enough to beat you once! ”

As soon as he finished speaking, he was ready to collect the chess pieces.

A wry smile crept up the corner of Lin Shan's eyes, and another plate would have to be consumed for half an hour, to say the least. His mind was racing, and he suddenly said, "Doctor, you are too quick to admit defeat. It's not the next set yet. ”

When Wu Ze heard this, the hand that picked the chess pieces just dropped his fingers and then let go. With a slightly surprised expression, he said: "It's impossible, looking at this formation, it will be difficult for me to win again." ”

"That's all. I'll swap hands with you. Lin Shan stared at him and said seriously: "The third son will decide the winner, if I overturn the situation for you, today's hand talk will end here, what do you think?" ”

Wu Xue hesitated and said, "The third son ......"

Lin Shan nodded, and said, "I can't think too much, there is so little room on the chessboard." ”

Wu Ze no longer hesitated, and immediately responded: "Then you are optimistic, I will take your last territory with one son!" ”

He doesn't care that because of the change of players, his current advantages are actually all derived from Lin Shan's step-by-step in the first half, and his so-called "last territory" is actually tossed out by himself. He just immediately turned proud, thinking that he could win steadily this time, not only to be mentally successful, but also to have a reason to fight with Lin Shan again.

It's just that to his great surprise, he fell with one son, and then the momentum created by the first few strokes caused a strong impact on the opponent's chess formation, but he did not really win all the opponent's positions with one son, as he said.

Lin Shan seemed to have figured out the place of the fall in his heart, and after Wu Xue fell, he didn't think about it for too long, that is, his body leaned forward slightly, and the hand that had been in his sleeve reached out, put it down, and then withdrew it into his sleeve.

Wu Xue looked at the chess board and couldn't help but gasp.

Not only did he not achieve the wild words just now, but at this time, although the opponent's disadvantage was not completely reversed, the remnant formation seemed to be cut off, making a group of chess pieces faintly alive.

The centipede legs are not useful, and the scorpion poisons people.

Looking at Wu Ze in surprise, as if he was about to enter into that kind of long thinking again, Lin Shan couldn't help but say: "It's not good if the fall is too slow, your opponent has time to see through the layout of your thinking." The chess formation contains a heavenly calculation, but there are also some officers who are well versed in this way, and the face of the soldier formation can be more changeable than the chess formation, and hesitation may be to miss the opportunity. ”

Wu Xue shook his head and said abruptly: "Don't urge, I'll be here soon." ”

Lin Shan slowly breathed a sigh of relief, then reached out and put it down, and stood up.

Wu Ze was puzzled: "I haven't fallen yet?" ”

Lin Shan said with a smile: "No matter where you land next, in short, you only have those positions to choose from, and I am the same, who comes first and who comes later has little impact on the ending." You continue, no matter how you fall next, my place will not change. ”

"Don't go." Although Wu Xue understood what he meant, he still refused to relax. hurriedly shouted: "Who told you to let me, we can talk about it just now, if I win this game." You're going to have to serve another plate. ”

"You've got to give me a breather." Lin Shan's face was helpless, "Just leave for a while." ”

Wu Ze looked at Lin Shan and left the stone table. His gaze turned as he moved, and then he saw the old wine standing not far away, not making a sound to disturb their conversation.

He was stunned for a moment, then he made up his mind, said no more, and sat back silently at the chess table with his back to the pair of people who were approaching each other, and his eyes reintegrated into the smoke-filled chess chess battle.

Walking out of the shady pine shade and into the increasingly dazzling sun, Lin Shan looked at the slender * who was also walking slowly on the other side, and said with a slight smile: "You are here." Why do you keep standing so far away without prompting? ”

Chen Jiu said softly: "Actually, I have just arrived, so I am afraid of disturbing you." I know that Mr. Wu likes to be quiet when he plays chess, and I am afraid that he will be annoyed. ”

He didn't feel anything when he looked at him in the shade of the pine just now, but when he approached and stood in the sun, he saw that his face was still a little pale, and Chen Jiu only felt a little sad. The blood that was finally cultivated some time ago was tossed off in just one day, and after a few days, I didn't get much back.

"Dr. Wu is really not in a good mood today. Because he had lost four sets in the morning, it wasn't because anyone bothered him. ”

Seeing Lin Shan's walk to the front of him, Chen Jiu didn't want to pay attention to playing chess. She grabbed Lin Shan's forearm. Pulled out the hand that was tucked into his sleeve and pasted it with the palm of his hand, and then her eyebrows frowned slightly before she could sweep it, and said quietly: "This Mr. Wu is really a careless person, will he lose his soul as soon as he enters the chess realm?" At this time, it is not yet summer, and the cool breeze is gusting in the thick shade, how can you sit for a long time? ”

As soon as she said this, she saw Wu Ze, who was pondering chess moves not far away, suddenly turned around and shouted: "I thought of three moves, all of them are draws." How do you calculate a tie? ”

Lin Shan was about to answer. Suddenly, he felt a tightness in his wrist, and it turned out that Chen Jiu was holding his hand and dragging him away.

He hesitated. In an instant, he was relieved, ignoring the chess idiot who was waiting for him to reply not far behind. With the power of the infatuation in front of him, he trotted out of the East Corner Courtyard.

It wasn't until he stopped that Chen Jiu realized that he had just made a little too bold in his actions.

But when she met the bright eyes that she was also looking at, she suddenly felt that the wanton in that moment just now actually gave people a wonderful and enjoyable feeling.

I really want to be like this, I can hold your hand at any time, wherever I lead you, you are willing to follow my footsteps.

Chen Jiu thought silently in his heart.

Lin Shan had been watching her quietly, and it could be clearly observed that although she had left her residence to recuperate for a few days, she was still tired and haggard between her eyebrows. Even when she smiled, the smile didn't quite stretch out.

After staring at each other like this for a long time, Lin Shan finally spoke out for a moment, breaking the tranquility like warm water: "What are you thinking?" ”

Of course, Chen Jiu would not say what she thought in her heart just now, she was stunned for a moment, she only complained: "It's not that I'm worried about you, I don't know how to take care of myself." With that, she took his hand and sighed, then rubbed it.

Maybe even she didn't realize it, but since the incident in the kitchen a few days ago, and then when she faced Lin Shan, she had grown a lot of initiative.

"When the ice melts and the snow disappears in the spring, these cold are just passing by the skin, and you are too worried, which is not good for you." Lin Shan habitually spoke against him.

However, in some of the things that have happened in the past few days, there has been a slight change in his inherent state of mind. The thought turned slightly, and as soon as his voice raised, he called a guard close and gave a few orders. After a while, the guard came back with a jacket, he stretched his sleeves on his sleeves, straightened his placket again, and then looked at Chen Jiu and smiled and said, "You see, in fact, I am very fast at learning anything. ”

Seeing this, Chen Jiu was slightly stunned at first, and then said with a smile: "Learn quickly, forget quickly." ”

"Yes?" When Lin Shan heard this, there was a rare innocent expression in his eyes, which made Chen Jiule laugh.

Speaking of forgetfulness, Chen Jiu suddenly remembered that she had something to tell Lin Shan, and hurriedly smiled and carefully recounted the whole process of the scholar she had just met in the inn.

Lin Shan has been looking for his junior brother Cen Chi for more than ten years, but he has not been able to find an accurate trace. This matter lasted for a long time, and Chen Jiu also learned a little, because she had a lot of eyes and ears in Kyoto before, and Lin Shan had also entrusted her to rely on her eyeliner to search for a period of time in Kyoto. For the strange scholar I met in the inn. Chen Jiu was extremely suspicious, suspecting that he was the junior brother Lin Shan was looking for.

Originally, even she herself was a little surprised by this speculation, but the misty falling flowers blurred her vision. But the outline of the scholar's actions and demeanors was clearly reflected, which was a temperament that was very close to some of Lin Shan's mannerisms and habits. It is very likely that he and Lin Shan have sat and eaten together, and studied with the same teacher for several years.

And if you don't look at the positive face of the scholar who seems to be Cen Chi, just look at his back riding a horse, it is even more like Lin Shan, who was weak at the age of more than ten years ago, when he first came to Kyoto. This image does not refer to physical features, but to behavioral habits.

It's like a veteran who has been in the army for many years, even if he is ordered to unload his armor and blend into the peasant's ranks, the bow and arrow he carries on his shoulders become a plowshare, and the lance he holds in his hand becomes a hoe, but his steps are wide. The posture of the shoulders and waist when walking can still reflect the model of the marching army.

Cen Chi is not from a military background, but he is one of the descendants of the Beili School, the rules of this ancient school are very strict, and if you stay in this school for a few years, both your knowledge and behavior will be more obvious and the traces of this school will be more obvious.

After listening to Chen Jiu's speculation, Lin Shan's expression suddenly became solemn. It seemed that the inference in his mind at this time was close to the same as hers, but because of this, his mind became a little complicated.

Chen Jiu stared at him for a moment, and couldn't help but whisper, "Is there anything tricky?" ”

Lin Shan didn't say it directly, but said slowly: "Actually, when my injuries were generally better last year. I received a secret letter from my brother from Kyoto, knowing that he was going to look for me near western Sichuan. According to what you just said, that young man with a knife should undoubtedly be the head of the ten generals of the Prime Minister's Mansion. The surname is high, and the single name is a subtext. As for the person who looks like a Taoist priest, you don't know it, but I can roughly guess that it should be the descendant of the Beili School. ”

As early as three years ago, when Lin Shan returned to Kyoto, he had a mind about the hermit alien in the house that the Prime Minister raised in the name of making friends, and now he has investigated most of it, and the information of the ten generals of the Prime Minister is of course the first to obtain.

According to the law, the Beijing officials can raise a certain number of private soldiers to protect the house, which is also a rule created by the turbulent situation in the last years of the previous dynasty. There have been no corrective measures until now. However, of course, the details of these private soldiers had to be kept on file in both Kyoto Prefecture and the Ministry of War.

The intervention of the powers on the side of the Governor's Office. It was easy for Lin Shan to find out who had kept which private soldiers. The Prime Minister's Mansion was the place he paid close attention to, and of course he had repeatedly browsed the information of the ten generals who were not weak in comprehensive ability. Including their portraits.

Of course, Chen Jiu also knew about this, so she was not surprised to see that Lin Shan could easily identify the name of the young swordsman she had just seen in the courtyard of the inn, but she was surprised by the middle-aged Taoist with eyes like electricity.

Why did you see a descendant of the North Fence School again?

Thinking about it a few days ago, the old pharmacist Liao Shi, who had just left, was also a descendant of the Beili School.

It seems that there are not many descendants of this school, but why is the rule of the inappropriate person only firmly tied to Lin Shan's head?

Chen Jiu hesitated for a moment, and finally couldn't help but knock on the side: "Actually, there are really a lot of your fellow disciples and brothers." ”

"The same door you are talking about, that Taoist you mean?" Lin Shan looked at the old wine, and there was a hint of surprise on his face.

Chen Jiu looked at him, although she didn't speak, her eyes were obviously asking: Isn't it?

Lin Shan shook his head lightly and said, "The heirs of the side sect are the side branches of the division, and after the branches are scattered, they will no longer return to the backbone of the Northern Fence faction. In the future, I may have intersections with these collateral descendants, but there are almost zero places where I can be constrained or interfered with by door rules. ”

He never mentioned it to outsiders about the Shimen School, but today in the face of Chen Jiu, he has something he wants to explain a little. After pondering for a moment, he slowly continued: "My mentorship school only transmits two formal disciples in one generation, and these two disciples will conduct a revised wisdom and art competition within the school after completing their studies, and one of them will be in charge of the ion token, use all the resources of the school, and will no longer be restricted by the school's regulations. The other disciple sat in the school and did not go out lightly, and the task of staying behind was to teach the next two disciples, and so on, for more than 300 years.

Just now I said that the Daoist is a descendant of the Northern Fence School, because it is only the disciple who lost in the same competition. With the responsibility of the qualifications of the disciples, the disciples he passed down can be regarded as the main line of the North Fence. As for the one who won the competition in the same year and inherited the ion token, of course, he can also accept apprentices. And his disciples can be unlimited, but they are no longer the main descendants of the Northern Fence School. Those who are not eligible to participate in the competition to obtain ion tokens belong to the sideline. ”

Chen Jiu frowned slightly, this explanation of the internal structure of the Beili School, she heard Lin Shan mention it for the first time, and for a while she felt both novel and confused. She tried her best to analyze what Lin Shan said word for word in her heart, and then she rubbed her forehead and said slowly: "Only two disciples in a generation? What if misfortune happens to one of them? Such a harsh rule can be passed down for more than 300 years. What a miracle. ”

Lin Shan smiled slightly when he heard this, and said: "People like my generation of Beilimen have left the sect to walk around before they have passed the guò wisdom and art competition, which is also the only special case since the twenty-second generation inheritance. As for the kind of accident you mentioned, if it hadn't been for the fact that you had left the protection of the Shimen School and encountered an attack by some evil force outside, and you were beheaded to death, you would never have died unprovoked. What's more, the main disciples of the Shimen School must learn a certain amount of martial arts, and ordinary bandits can't help it. ”

Chen Jiu seemed to suddenly remember something. smiled and said, "Your master should be good at many skills, right?" Although the old medicine master is a descendant of a partial sect, retrospectively, he is also a disciple of a certain generation of ion token holders. The origin of the medicinal path learned still comes from the North Fence School. In this way, although there are few main disciples of the Northern Fence School, in addition to practicing martial arts to protect themselves, it is unlikely that they will suddenly contract a disease and die young. ”

Lin Shan nodded with a smile and did not say anything more. As for the structure of the Beili School, he was only willing to talk about this step to Chen Jiu for the time being—perhaps he would only speak to her once in his life.

At this time, Chen Jiu had completely understood Lin Shan's explanation just now, and she gradually became aware of a certain curiosity in her heart, and suddenly wondered: "No, you said that there are only two main disciples in the generation of the Beili School. But you seem to have a senior brother in addition to a junior brother. That's three people. ”

As soon as he finished saying this, Chen Jiu saw the smile on Lin Shan's face freeze. She was slightly frightened, and asked softly: "Did I say something that I shouldn't have said?" ”

"You're someone who has nothing to do with the North Fence School, so it's normal to say that." Lin Shan's gaze fell to the ground and he was silent for a moment, and then his gaze re-raised to Chen Jiu's face, his expression had become extremely serious, and he said, "Jiu'er, I want you to promise one thing. ”

Chen Jiu was stunned, because Lin Shan almost never forced her to agree to anything in such a tone, which had no choice but to be unquestionable.

But she didn't hesitate too much, and nodded quickly, although she didn't speak, but her face was already solemn.

"You remember, I only have one junior brother, but I don't have any senior brother. If it is not in the necessary environment, you can't even mention the information of my junior brother. After saying this, Lin Shan suddenly sighed again, and said in a much softer tone: "This is a secret. ”

"I remember." Chen Jiu nodded earnestly in agreement.

It wasn't until today, listening to Lin Shan's initiative to talk about his school, talking about those harsh rules, more carefully than the information revealed by the old pharmacist Liao Shi a few days ago, that Chen Jiu deeply understood why this school was so low-key and almost completely hidden.

If this is not the case, it is easy to break the dynasty by accepting only two disciples in a generation.

But this school of fortune has been able to perpetuate this rule for hundreds of years, and it is silent but in the most convincing way that it proves that it is meritorious, and that it is unlikely to be reversed in the slightest.

Although she still doesn't quite understand why the Beili School doesn't recruit more disciples, the same class of disciples is always limited to two people.

But she only needs to be clear about one thing, which is enough for her to keep her promise to Lin Shan. Regarding this rule, if someone with a heart obtains it, Lin Shan and his junior brother who have not been seen for a long time may be in danger. And if the "secret" that Lin Shan just said is revealed, then even his senior brother will probably be even more difficult to escape.

However, she didn't know that the word "secret" mentioned by Lin Shan, in addition to the ones she had deduced, really contained another secret. However, fortunately, she hadn't thought of so much, otherwise she would have doubts in her heart, but Lin Shan might not be willing to continue to answer, which only added to the trouble.

After thinking silently for a moment, Lin Shan put away his thoughts. No more on this topic. But he was ready to go to the inn for himself, so he summoned two attendants and left the abode with Chen Jiu.

Two attendants. One is the river tide that has followed Lin Shan's longest time, and the other is Shan Liang, who received Lin Shan's special attention in the incident a few days ago. Both men were undoubtedly brave men. However, Yamaliang's subtle and keen observation has made Lin Shan's admiration even more and he has already begun to cultivate it.

The two men entered the inn first, and as time passed, a pebble popped out of the window of one of the rooms and fell to the ground. Lin Shan, who was standing at the gate, saw this scene, so he calmly stepped into the courtyard of the inn, and then walked towards the room where the stone shot out.

Yamara waited in that room. Jiang Chao was nowhere to be seen, but listening to the silence in the inn, Chen Jiu, who was walking on Lin Shan's side, could probably deduce where this loyal and incomparable attendant had gone to the inn and what he had done.

Seeing Lin Shan walk in, Shan Liang just bowed slightly and performed the subordinate salute, without saying a word.

Lin Shan just nodded, and then he walked slowly in this room. After walking around the wall twice, and scanning his gaze twice, he looked at Shan Liang. He whispered, "Do the three of you live in the same house?" ”

Shan Liang immediately shook his head and replied, "It's one for each." ”

"Point it to me."

――

went to the other two rooms of the attendant Shan Liangzhi, and Lin Shan stepped into them, and also walked around the wall twice. Silence swept in everything in the room, and then he silently walked out of the house.

Standing in the small courtyard of the fourth ring of several guest rooms, Lin Shan's eyes fell on the bell flower that was about to bloom, and then his gaze moved down slightly, glanced at the falling flowers under the tree, and suddenly looked sideways and said, "That's where you met, right?" ”

Chenjiu, who was standing side by side with him, nodded immediately. She had also observed that the traces of falling flowers on the ground vaguely showed two gaps. It is precisely because of this that Lin Shan has a basis for judgment. These two positions stood by people, and the pause was not short.

He hesitated for a moment. Lin Shan asked again, "Has he said anything else?" ”

When she was in the residence just now, Chen Jiu had already told the whole process of her meeting with the scholar who was suspected of being Lin Shan's junior brother in the inn. But the only thing that was left to be said was the question that the scholar asked, because it involved an undecided choice in her mind, intentionally or unintentionally.

At this time, Lin Shan also had no intention of asking, but Chen Jiu suddenly heard him ask, and his expression couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

After hesitating for a while, she finally told him the strange question that the scholar had asked.

"How many ways are there to pick flowers?" Lin Shan whispered the question relayed by Chen Jiu, which was originally the scholar's question to Chen Jiu, and the tone he repeated at this time seemed to be asking himself. At the same time, there was also a more obvious puzzled look on his face.

After he pondered silently for a moment, Chen Jiu, as she expected, heard him ask again, "Then did you answer him?" ”

"My answer is......" Chen Jiu suddenly turned halfway through, "...... Isn't it one? ”

"Your answer is not wrong, but ......" Lin Shan hesitated for a moment, and then said with a slight smile: "This junior brother of mine sometimes does things by unscrupulous means, so in his opinion, there is not only one way to solve many problems. ”

The word unscrupulous means is somewhat derogatory. Hearing Lin Shan use this word to describe his only junior brother, a slightly surprised look appeared on Chen Jiu's face.

"He asked you how many ways to pick flowers, and the question may not be the process of picking, or the result of picking. In this way, there are many ways. Lin Shan looked up at the trees swaying in the breeze, like rows of small bells, but could not really make a sound, and said leisurely: "Master gave him a single name with the word 'late', just to hope that he can act a little more slowly, and also to let him have more compassion." ”

He took his eyes off the flower tree, turned to Chen Jiu again, and said slowly: "However, I really can't figure it out, why would he ask you this question?" If it weren't for my knowledge of him, this would be an idiot, but he's a genius with great wisdom. ”

Hearing Lin Shan say that his junior brother asked an idiot question, Chen Jiu of course knew that he didn't really mean to belittle, so he only found it interesting when he heard this, and couldn't help but laugh.

Lin Shan also smiled slightly, but there was a little doubt in his smile.

"I'm back." The smile on his face gradually dissipated, and he rolled up his sleeves and walked out of the inn.

――

For the scholar who met Chen Jiu by chance, although Lin Shan's inference of his identity was only based on the description of Chen Jiu and some traces left in the inn, the actual situation was roughly the same, but he lacked a chance to witness it with his own eyes.

The scholar in plain clothes was Lin Shan's junior brother Cen Chi, who left Kyoto three years ago and went all the way to western Sichuan. After two years of wandering around western Sichuan, he found the north again.

He didn't have much confidence that he would be able to find the cedars in the Northlands, because the area was too vast, sparsely populated, and there were a lot of bandits, and it was unlikely that he would stay in this place for long. Coming back to this town to rest for a few days was also a random encounter, and he wouldn't expect to find his senior brother Lin Shan here.

But many times things in the world are so often so variable. Not all variables will make people gain, but not all encounters will end up just losing.

(To be continued)