The name of the largest inn in Knife and Axe Town is Xiangmanlou, and it seems that the roast duck in it is very famous.

Zhan Zhao and Xiao Sizi came all the way, and the two talked and laughed and exchanged experiences in eating roast duck. The fourth son doesn't look small, but he is very interested in food, and because Gongsun loves him too much, he always changes his way to get some delicious food for him, so he is a glutton at a young age. Not to mention Zhanzhao, food is a big hobby in his life.

The two of them were originally in a good atmosphere, and they were also a little hungry, so they hurried to the door of Xiangmanlou, but they felt a little strange.

What's wrong? It's not that it's bloody, it's ...... There was no one in the huge inn, but there were a few curious onlookers and passers-by outside.

This is unreasonable, this time is just the right time to eat, and there should be a lot of people eating.

Zhan Zhao leaned behind a man who looked like a man, and looked curiously with him, and the fourth son also looked at him.

But there was no one on the first floor, and I don't know what they were looking at.

The guy felt that there was someone behind him, and when he turned his face, he saw Zhan Zhao and Xiao Sizi two faces, one big and one small, but both pairs of big eyes.

"What are you looking at?" Zhan Zhao asked the guy puzzled, "Isn't Xiangmanlou in business?" ”

"It's ......," the guy nodded stupidly.

Zhan Zhao and Xiao Sizi glanced at each other, and entered the building together to find Bai Yutang and Zhao Pu.

"Alas!"

The guy stopped Zhanzhao, "This son, don't go in with a doll, there are martial artists fighting inside." ”

Zhan Zhao was stunned, "Who is fighting?" ”

"It's scary, it's flying!" The guy said vividly, "The tables and chairs upstairs are all lying on the ground, a man in black and a man in white." ”

Zhan Zhao and Xiao Sizi glanced at each other - didn't Zhao Pu and Bai Yutang fight?

Zhan Zhaoxin said that this is still okay? I didn't take the stairs anymore, jumped up to the second floor, and shouted, "Harmony is precious!" ”

……

On the second floor, except for the table in the middle, it is true that the tables and chairs around are lying on the ground, Zhanzhao is an expert, and it was collapsed by the internal strength.

However, there was no tense scene, the table in the middle was still intact, and at the table, Zhao Pu and Bai Yutang were sitting opposite each other, one holding a wine glass in his hand, and they turned their faces together to look at Zhanzhao on the railing of the balcony on the second floor.

Beside them, Ouyang was holding chopsticks, Ziying was holding a rice bowl, and Ochre Ying was holding a soup spoon, and all three of them looked at Zhanzhao.

Zhanzhao blinked—didn't there be a fight?

"Exhibition."

Zhanzhao twisted his face, and saw Xiao Sizi poking him on the shoulder, "The slippers are going to fall off!" ”

Zhanzhao looked down and saw that the wooden slippers on the little four's feet were "hanging by a thread", so he quickly reached out and fished them, jumped into the railing, put the slippers on the little four, and when he arrived at the table, he was puzzled, "The guy downstairs said you were fighting!" ”

Bai Yutang and Zhao Pu were both stunned, and after glancing at each other, they seemed to understand.

Ouyang Le, "There was no fight, they knew how to knife." ”

Bai Yutang poured Zhan Zhao a glass of wine and asked him to sit down.

Zhan Zhao sat down and put the little fourth son aside, Ziying dragged the little fourth son over and fed him, and liked the appearance of a child very much.

Zhan Zhao understood, Zhao Pu and Bai Yutang both used knives, and Yun Zhongzhi and Xintinghou should be monsters in knives. Looking at the second floor again, almost all of them were destroyed, Zhan Zhao was dissatisfied, "You two remember to lose money." ”

Zhao Pu smiled, "Naturally." ”

After drinking a glass of wine, Zhan Zhao saw that Zhao Pu and Bai Yutang seemed to get along well, and he was relieved, so he asked Zhao Pu, "What are you looking for Bai Yutang to inquire about?" ”

"Brother Zhan, have you ever heard of the Sword Demon?" Zhao Pu asked.

Zhan Zhao was originally holding chopsticks and preparing to eat, but when he heard Zhao Pu's words, the chopsticks were put down, "I turned out to ask him this, does this have anything to do with your sudden coming to Sword and Axe Town?" ”

"A little." Zhao Pu drank a glass of wine, and when he saw Xiao Sizi looking at the wine glass in his hand curiously while eating, he handed it over, "Do you want to taste it?" ”

"Oops!" Purple Shadow hurriedly grabbed the wine glass, "How old is he, let him drink!" ”

"Taste it and you won't die." Zhao Pu pouted, "When you were a child, didn't you steal a sip of wine, will you know how to drink later?" ”

Purple Shadow Flat Mouth.

Zhao Pu smiled and teased the little fourth son, "Taste a little bit, don't tell your father that it's okay." ”

Xiao Sizi took the wine glass with a smile on his face, tasted it, and stuck out his tongue, "Bitter!" ”

Everyone amused him, Zhan Zhao smiled with a wine glass, glanced at Bai Yutang beside him, and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised, it seemed that he was in a good mood.

"That's what happened." After Zhao Pu finished teasing the little fourth son, he turned back to Zhan Zhao and talked about serious things, "A while ago, something strange happened near my military camp. ”

Zhan Zhao listened carefully.

"Near the fortress in the northwest, a temporary shed is erected at this time of year." Zhao Pudao, "I will invite a lot of knife casting masters to go there, on the one hand, to create some new weapons, and on the other hand, to help the soldiers repair the gaps or rusty knives." ”

Zhan Zhao nodded, there was basically no war at this time of year, and repairing and stockpiling weapons was a must, so he asked, "And then?" ”

"Then something strange happened." Zhao Pudao, "This batch of ironstone mines was transported from the west, and it was not good enough, and those few knife casting masters said that the knives they made must be defective, so I want to find another batch of ironstone back urgently." A local guide told me that there was a hematite mine on the edge of the desert in the northwest, which had been mined before, and a batch of knives were said to be red knives, and the iron was cut like mud. But then the iron mine didn't know how to be barren. ”

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang both nodded—this is indeed a good thing.

Zhao Pu seemed to be talking dryly, and hooked his finger at the ochre shadow, which means - you continue, I will rest for a while.

Ochre Ying served soup to the little fourth son, and said, "I took someone to explore, and I also brought a few blacksmiths who cast knives, and after a few masters saw it, they said that it was a good hematite, and they were all dug up, and we brought back a lot of good mines, and I wanted to make more weapons." ”

Zhanzhao drank the soup and wondered, "This is a good thing, what does it have to do with Knife and Axe Town?" ”

"The problem is that after the batch of iron ore was brought back, the knife was cast, but three knife casting masters died."

"For what?" Zhan Zhao was surprised.

"The cause of death of the three knife smiths is the same." Ochre Ying said, "When the knife is cast, it is day and night, and the eyes are bloodshot, and when the casting is finished, when the knife is tested, it suddenly goes berserk, and he kills himself at the end." ”

When Zhan Zhao heard this, he didn't remember to drink the soup, "Are the three people who use knives like this?" ”

Ochre Shadow nodded, "At that time, we felt that something was not right, all the knife casting projects were suspended, and we checked with Lang Zhong, and all the knife casting masters had some changes, and their temperament began to be irritable, and their eyes were bloodshot and refused to rest, just like the devil." ”

Zhan Zhao is so smart, he understood as soon as he heard it, "Could it be that there is something wrong with that batch of iron and stone?" ”

"I thought so at the time, so I looked for a few Lang Zhong." Zhao Pu shook his head, "But I didn't check out any problems."

"I've even invited the dancing gods." Ziying carefully picked out the boneless roast duck meat for Xiao Sizi and stuffed it into his mouth, and said, "What wizards, great gods, and great immortals from all walks of life have come to see, and everyone understands what's going on." ”

"It wasn't until later that an old local guide told me about the legend of the evil mine." Ouyang seemed to be full, hugged the little fourth son, fed him, and let Ziying eat his own.

Zhan Zhao wanted to listen to them intently about this bizarre thing, but watching these famous generals holding their little four sons and feeding them in rotation like a kitten, how could they move so skillfully.

"The dolls in the barracks are all free-range." Ochre Ying seemed to be a very careful person, saw Zhanzhao's doubts, and helped explain, "The marshal is the child king, and the little devils in the barracks like to eat with him, and we all help feed him." ”

Zhan Zhao nodded, and had a new understanding of the military camp - although Zhao Pu and these generals are very famous, they don't have much of a shelf, they are very easy-going and kind, I don't know why Gongsun of Lu Dao seems to have a holiday with them? However, Zhanzhao also has a very good impression of Gongsun, this scholar doesn't look at the weird temper, but he is benevolent and benevolent, and then he takes care of the little fourth son so well, he is definitely a good person and a good doctor! Between the two, there must be a misunderstanding.

"Evil Mine......" Bai Yutang said to himself, "Is there still evil in the mine?" ”

"It is said that the mine was discovered about 100 years ago, when many herding tribes were active in the area, and one of them stumbled upon this iron ore while looking for water, and began to quietly mine it to make blades."

"That's a capital offense, isn't it?" Zhan Zhao asked, "No matter who this place belonged to at that time, it was definitely a felony to privately open iron ore to cast weapons." ”

"So it was discovered later, and the entire tribe was wiped out, and the mines were stained with blood." Ouyang shook his head, "But from now on, anyone who mines that ironstone mine to forge weapons, whether it is a country or a tribe, as long as it is contaminated, will definitely perish within a year." ”

Zhan Zhao frowned, "Such an evil sect? ”

"That's why it's an evil mine." Ouyang nodded.

"After talking for a long time,......" Zhan Zhao looked at Zhao Pu, "Is there something in Sword and Axe Town that can suppress your evil mines, evil iron, and evil blades?" ”

"To appease the wrath of these knives, you need the first one." Zhao Pu shrugged, "That's why I said I was looking for the Sword Demon." “

"What is a sword demon?" Because he really couldn't eat it, the little fourth son who finally had an idle mouth couldn't help but raise his face and ask everyone.

"The Sword Demon is also called the Knife Soul, or the Knife Blood." Zhan Zhao said, "Usually some madmen forge knives or swords, and like to add something else to them, such as their own blood, or other people's blood, animal teeth, or simply take people to cast. In order to make the knife have a life, have the character of the owner or have the character that the master wants. ”

Xiao Sizi blinked, "Really? ”

Zhan Zhao looked at Bai Yutang, and the reason why Zhao Pu asked him for verification was because he was Tianzun's apprentice. People in the rivers and lakes know that Tianzun is a knife idiot and an expert in the study of knives, and he may have an understanding of the legend of the sword demon.

"The sword demon that the marshal is looking for is the first knife that the clan leader first forged with his own blood." Purple Shadow thought for a moment, "It is said that when the knife is melted and poured into the iron juice, the remade knife will be quiet. ”

"That knife in Axe Town?" Zhan Zhao asked Zhao Pu.

Zhao Pu didn't squeak.

Zhan Zhao glanced at Bai Yutang and raised his eyebrows slightly, which meant to ask-do you believe it?

Bai Yutang didn't speak, and when he saw Zhan Zhao asking, he put down his wine glass, "My master said that this is nonsense. ”

Zhan Zhao also nodded, looking at Zhao Pu, he is not such a superstitious person, right?

Zhao Pu looked at the two of them and was happy, "Of course I don't believe it, but I have investigated some things." ”

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang continued to listen.

"There was once an incident in Knife and Axe Town, that is, an iron mine was dug deep in the mountains, and the ore produced made a blade, and before it was transported out of the town, there was an incident where the knife casting master and the knife transporter killed each other."

Zhan Zhao was surprised, "How many years ago was this?" ”

Zhao Pu stretched out two fingers, "Two years ago." ”

"So close?" Zhan Zhao was surprised, "So many people died, and no one knew the Dao?" ”

"Because the knife casting master and the escort master are both soldiers." Zhao Pudao, "And the war was tight at that time, so in order to avoid shaking the morale of the army, it was not publicized to the public." ”

Zhanzhao frowned, "Is it the same ore......"

"The reason why I came here is because there was a blacksmith who did not die, and it is said that he was the one who taught the people what to do with the remaining ores and knives, and then the matter calmed down, and there was no more trouble and no one died. Also, do you remember what the legend says? Zhao Pu prompted.

"Legend has it that whoever has been contaminated with these iron ores or weapons will surely perish within a year." It's clear.

"Knife and Axe Town has been safe for two years, which means that there is a way to crack it." Bai Yutang asked Zhao Pu, "You are in a hurry, could it be that there is something in the army?" ”

Zhao Pu frowned slightly, as if he had been asked what was sad.

"Did you start fighting?"

Zhao Pu didn't speak, and Xiao Sizi suddenly asked.

Everyone was slightly stunned and looked at the little fourth son.

"What did you say?" Zhao Pu stared at him.

Xiao Sizi raised his face, "Is it that no one fought before, and recently someone has been fighting every day to make trouble?" The temper has gone bad, and everyone is irritable! ”

Zhao Pu frowned and looked at the little fourth son, "How do you know Lu Dao?" ”

Seeing that Zhao Pu suddenly became serious, the little fourth son stopped talking and looked at Zhao Pu with wide eyes.

"Little fourth?" Zhan Zhao pulled the little fourth son, "What do you know about iron ore?" ”

The little fourth son shook his head, "I don't know what to do." ”

"Then how do you know that there are more people fighting in Ludao?" Ouyang asked seriously.

"That's what you said." Xiao Sizi looked dazed, "Didn't you say that the blacksmiths had red eyes, never sleeped, and killed each other?" ”

"Yes." Zhao Pu nodded.

"This is a manic disease, Daddy doesn't know how much Lu Dao has cured." Xiao Sizi dangled his legs, "Some may be madness, epidemics, or poisoning." In the early stage of dryness, the eyes are red, and then the energy is vigorous and sleepless, and the more serious it is, some will eat people, which is scary! ”

Zhao Pu was pleasantly surprised, "Can your father cure this disease?" ”

The little fourth son straightened his face, "Daddy can cure any disease, but let him see the patient first." ”

Zhao Pu touched his chin, "If that's the case...... You can ask the scholar to go back and have a look. ”

"Lord Wang, it's not that I don't remind you." Ouyang Shaozheng poured cold water on Zhao Pu, "What is the name of that scholar, do you remember?" ”

Zhao Pu was stunned and scratched his head, "Is it called bamboo?" Or bamboo shoots, spring shoots, and winter shoots? ”

Zhan Zhao looked at Zhao Pu speechlessly.

The fourth son was annoyed, "Daddy is not a bamboo shoot, Daddy is called Gongsun Ce!" ”

"Oh...... Right! Zhao Pu nodded.

On the side, Ouyang poked again, "He still hates us!" ”

Zhao Pu frowned, "He basically has a view of right and wrong, this is a big matter related to his life, so the nerd won't be so stingy as a personal vendetta, right?" Besides, Lao Tzu really has no enmity with him! ”

"Why does your dad hate him so much?" Bai Yutang asked the little fourth son.

The little fourth son tilted his head, puzzled, "Who does Daddy hate?" ”

"Him." Everyone stretched out their hands and pointed at Zhao Pu.

Xiao Sizi raised his face and looked at Zhao Pu for a long time, frowning and supporting his chin, "I didn't hear Daddy say that he hates bears......"

Zhao Pufu raised his forehead, thinking about whether to talk to Gongsun directly.

"It is imperative that we first find the blacksmith back then, and then find the mine, so that Gongsun can see what the problem is first, and then go to the barracks to prescribe the right medicine." Zhan Zhao proposed.

Zhao Pu nodded, Zhanzhao is really talented, well-organized!

"Where is the blacksmith, do you have any clues?" Bai Yutang asked Zhao Pu.

Zhao Pu nodded, took out a note and handed it to Zhanzhao.

Zhan Zhao took the paper and looked at it, and then showed it to Bai Yutang - there were several addresses written on it, many of which were crossed out with cinnabar, and only the last three were left.

"Ochre Shadow inquired about the location of all the blacksmiths in the town before, and we have all looked for them, and only the last three are left." Zhao Pudao, "It's better to ...... tomorrow morning"

"I'll go when I'm done." Bai Yutang and Zhanzhao spoke in unison, and after speaking, they glanced at each other again, and then spoke together, "It's late to change ......."

Zhao Pu looked at the two of them with a wine glass, and nodded with a smile, "Very good." ”

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were a little embarrassed, and Zhan Zhao put away the paper and returned it to Zhao Pu.

At this time, footsteps sounded on the stairs, and it seemed that someone had come up.

Zhan Zhao looked around, there were no seats anymore, and the diners who came up again estimated that there was no place to sit, but they had finished eating, so it was better to let the family go.

But he found that Bai Yutang hadn't eaten much, and wanted to ask him if the food was not to his taste, why did this person keep drinking and not eating?

Bai Yutang also seemed to hear the footsteps, forgot the direction of the stairs and glanced at it, and frowned when he retracted his gaze.

At this time, I heard Zhao Pu shout, "Is the face I want here?" ”

The little fourth son looked at Zhao Pu with chicken paws in his mouth - it can be eaten!

Purple Shadow whispered to him, "Of course the bear eats an amazing amount of food!" ”

The little fourth son blinked - no wonder, Daddy hated the rice bucket and said...... But although the little guy is stupid, he didn't say it, and he was going to be spanked.

The one who walked up to the second floor was not a guy with a face, but a man in purple.

Zhao Pu glanced back, frowned and touched his chin by the way—it was familiar.

The man in purple was naturally Yao Ziling, he seemed very strange to see the mess on the second floor, looking at Bai Yutang's table, he didn't look at others, and asked Bai Yutang first, "Did you find it?" ”

Bai Yutang was stunned, and Zhan Zhao also remembered that he hadn't told Bai Yutang about Tan Jin, so he patted Bai Yutang's hand on the table, "You're not in a hurry to leave, are you?" I've found out about Tan Jin, it's a long time, and I may have to talk about it for a while. ”

Bai Yutang nodded, leaned over to listen to Zhan Zhao's details, and Zhan Zhao began to murmur to him.

"Tan Jin?" Zhao Pu raised his face and said to himself, "The name is so familiar......

"Don't you remember?" Ouyang reminded him, "That Tan Jin from the Ministry of War back then." ”

Zhao Pu frowned, couldn't remember, turned around, and saw Yao Ziling standing at the top of the stairs, staring at the table expressionlessly.

Zhao Puxin said that his eyes were about to bleed, is this hungry? When he turned around, he saw Ochre Shadow winking at him.

Zhao Pu followed his line of sight and saw that Zhan Zhao was holding Bai Yutang's wrist and talking very attentively.

Bai Yutang was motionless and listened carefully, there was nothing wrong with this move, but Zhao Pu could see that Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang seemed to be very compatible, in short, with Bai Yutang's character of not being close to anyone, he was indeed close to Zhan Zhao.

Zhao Pu looked back at Yao Ziling again, and a name suddenly flashed in his head—remembering the identity of this purple-clothed man.

Zhao Pu smiled faintly, "Subtle." ”

"Bear ......"

At this time, the little fourth son suddenly tugged at the corner of Zhao Pu's clothes.

"It's a hero." Zhao Pu corrected him and lifted him over by the way.

"Do you have nine dragons?" Xiao Sizi asked a strange question.

Zhao Pu thought for a moment, "Yes." ”

"I know why Daddy hates you!" The little fourth son clapped his hands.

Before Zhao Pu could speak, the two shadow guards and Ouyang gossiped over, "What are you talking about?" ”

The little fourth son sighed like a little adult, stood on the stool, stood on tiptoe, stretched out his short arm and patted Zhao Pu's shoulder, "You're finished, daddy's life, the person I hate the most is you!" ”

Zhao Pu felt his head buzz - didn't he? I've never met since we were 108,000 miles apart, so I can pull hatred like this?

……

On the other end, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were halfway through talking, when they saw Yao Ziling come over and sit beside them, and spoke, "Lord Zhan is quite enthusiastic. ”

Zhanzhao smiled and waved his hand, "Little things." ”

Yao Ziling poured himself a glass of wine and picked it up to drink.

Bai Yutang looked at him - did he take the wrong cup?

Yao Ziling saw Bai Yutang looking at him, looked down, and was slightly surprised, "Your cup?" ”

Bai Yutang turned around and wanted to ask the guy for another one, but the guy was downstairs.

"Use this." Zhan Zhao put his cup in front of him, poured him a glass of wine by the way, and continued to talk about Tan Jin.

On the side, Ouyang and Ochre Shadow glanced at each other silently.

Ouyang raised his eyebrows lightly - guess, did Zhanzhao do it on purpose?

Ochre Ying looked at Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang, who were talking and drinking calmly, and shook his head with a smile - maybe, but Zhan Zhao is really not so good-tempered and docile on the surface, he is a cat with claws, and he is less likely to provoke.