It was the end of July, and although it was already autumn, the weather in the fields was still as hot as a steamer. However, Cheng Mingzhen didn't feel the temperature in the wind at all, he only felt that the blood vessels up and down his body were full of ice water, and every inch of muscles and bones was cold like pins.

He risked offending Wang Mazi and Du Scarqi and others to save Zhou Ning, but on the contrary, Zhou Ning tried to put him and Du Juan to death. He tried his best to create an opportunity for Wang Ermao to make meritorious contributions, so that his good brothers could return with a beautiful woman as he wished. Unexpectedly, Wang Ermao knew that the cuckoo was waiting for the antidote, and still secretly hid the poisoned murderer Zhou Ning! This betrayal is one betrayal after another, if all the good brothers who live and die together turn against themselves for a woman, from now on, who else in this world can believe?

"Nine, don't worry, let's search again!" Startled by Cheng Mingzhen's hideous expression, Zhou Fan, the master of the Jinzi Camp, stammered and proposed.

"No need!" Cheng Mingzhen reluctantly turned his mind, sighed, and responded in a low voice, "I know a secret place, and there are not too many people to put it, Ban Hao, you take the ten brothers to follow me." ”

After saying that, looking at the confused eyes of the minions in the Jinzi camp, he sighed again, and hesitantly added: "Zhou Fan, you can also pick ten brothers to follow!" The rest of the brethren are tired of waiting here. In half an hour at most, I'll be back from there! ”

"Alas, alas! Yes, sir! Zhou Fan and the others were overwhelmed by Cheng Mingzhen's confused order, and agreed with a frown. Before the words fell, Cheng Mingzhen was already holding a torch in one hand and a spear in the other, brushed aside the reeds, and went straight to the depths of Zedi.

Juluze is the most dangerous place in Hebei, and some of the places that are covered by reeds all the year round, if no one leads the way, you will definitely not be able to get out after entering. Putting aside the risk of being bitten all over by some unknown poisonous insects, if you are unlucky enough to step on a dark pit full of mud, it will sink to the bottom, and the gods will not be able to help.

But Cheng Mingzhen, who is not afraid of death, took the lead, and everyone had to follow hard. One foot deep, one shallow foot soles walked for I don't know how long, the reeds around suddenly thinned, and under the starlight, there was a three-zhang square island exposed in front of me.

In the middle of the island, there stood a small shed made of branches and reed mats, only four feet wide and narrow, running in the wind and rain, indescribably dilapidated. If it weren't for the fact that there was a fire in the shed at the moment, it would be impossible to believe that someone would hide in such a harsh environment. While the minions were in shock, Cheng Mingzhen, who was walking in front, turned his head and waved his hand, extinguished the torch, and leaned over. Ban Hao, Zhou Fan and others immediately saw the same, threw the torch into the puddle, pulled out the horizontal knife at their waist, and tiptoed around the grass hut.

The people in the shed were noisy, and they hadn't been targeted by everyone at all. Faintly, the minions heard a familiar voice shouting, "Don't dream! The entire Juluze people are looking for you and want to escape, unless you have wings! Hurry up, and give me the prescription before they find it. I secretly went to beg Brother Xiaojiu, maybe he can help you intercede for the sake of my face! ”

The other person sneered in a low voice, with an indescribable poignancy in his words, "It's a shame that you keep saying that you want to protect me, but that's such a way to protect me!" Intercede? What if he won't intercede for me? Am I going to kneel down and beg him? The villain who lost his conscience failed to poison him to death, because God didn't have eyes. Let me beg him? Dream! If you Wang Ermao are really a man, find a way to take me with you. In this life, whether you eat bran or lick blood, I will be your woman. If you are willing to be a lackey for the rest of your life surnamed Cheng, you will cut me down, and even if I die, I will die happily. No more bullying from others! ”

It's Wang Ermao and Zhou Ning! If they hadn't heard the conversation between the two with their own ears, no matter who told them later, Ban Hao, Zhou Fan and the others would definitely think that the other party was talking nonsense. For several months, Zhou Ning, who was following the cuckoo, walked like a frightened kitten, and even the sunlight that suddenly seeped through the treetops could scare her. Who would have thought that her usual weakness and cowardice were disguised, and she tried every means to get close to and curry favor with Du Juan, in order to find an opportunity to kill Du Juan and Cheng Mingzhen together!

The minions were furious in their hearts, raised their horizontal knives, and were about to rush in and capture Wang Ermao and Zhou Ning alive on the spot. But he saw Cheng Mingzhen waving his hand backwards, forbidding everyone to make any moves. However, he himself knew that Suo Suo was closer, and as long as the spear in his hand pierced the reed mat that was used as a wall to protect him from the wind, he could stab Zhou Ning and Wang into a string.

"Are you crazy today!" Although Wang Ermao didn't feel the danger that was close at hand, he was still in a hurry, "Brother Xiao Jiu and Juanzi, when did they bully you?" How many times have I told you that you were able to get out of the camp thanks to the help of the two of them. You can't be a man without a conscience, even if you can come out of Guantao County alive, thanks to Brother Xiao Jiu's intercession in front of the big boss! Hurry up and give me the prescription, delay a little longer, and maybe someone will find here! ”

Zhou Ning glanced back at him, the corners of his mouth were full of contempt, "Find here, just to verify your promise!" Isn't your hall master a great hero? Can't even protect your own woman? ”

"However, but Brother Xiao Jiu ......." Wang Ermao's sharp teeth were all gone, and he was so anxious that he was sweating profusely, but he couldn't say a proper reason to ask Zhou Ning to hand over the formula for the poison.

Seeing his helpless appearance, Zhou Ning was contemptuous and angry, "They did treat me well, but who didn't hide evil intentions behind them?" The reason why the surnamed Cheng saved me was not to give me away as a bag in the future? The person surnamed Du takes care of me everywhere, isn't it because I want you to work hard for the two of them after I marry you? Even you, my lord of the hall, are you not here to take me up and satisfy your lustful desires? Actually, you don't have to put that much effort into it, even if you reach out and tear my clothes. It's not that I haven't been torn apart, and if you are missing, can I still build a chaste archway? ”

Thinking of the days when she was stared at by countless two-colored eyes in the prison camp, always worried about being **, her voice was raised higher and more poignant, "Come on, go to me, just like you did when you went to my mother and my aunt." Then kill with a knife, take my head to curry favor with your Cheng Jiu brother. Don't you just want my body? Before anyone searches for it, hurry up! If I am caught, I'm afraid no matter how it turns, it won't be your turn to be touched by Wang Ermao! ”

Knowing that this woman was playing tricks, the minions lying outside the grass hut stood on end. Break through the walled city, and then ** women, kill men, and take away those girls who look a little beautiful and return to Zedi to be wives and slaves, for the heroes of the green forest, it is simply commonplace. If all the women who were robbed were like Zhou Ning who were scheming to avenge their original family, I am afraid that everyone would not be able to eat and sleep peacefully in the future.

Cheng Mingzhen, who was closest to Zhou Ning, was also at war with heaven and man at this moment, and he hesitated. For the sake of the cuckoo, he had 10,000 reasons to rush in immediately, take Zhou Ning down, arrest her back to the camp and torture her, and force her to tell the recipe for the poison. But if you really do that, I'm afraid that Zhou Ning's fate will only be a dead end. Good friend Wang Ermao will inevitably be sad, and if the two of them work together in the future, I am afraid that they will be embarrassed by each other.

Just as he was hesitating, he suddenly saw Wang Ermao striding forward and slapping Zhou Ning with his hand, "You blind little girl, how can Lao Tzu be that kind of person." If Lao Tzu is just for you, when can't he go, why wait until now? If you don't delay your efforts and don't hand over the prescription, Lao Tzu will chop you with a knife, so that you don't fall into the hands of others, and make Lao Tzu look uncomfortable! ”

This slap was quite forceful, and a red handprint immediately appeared on Zhou Ning's face. She paused for a moment, reached out and wiped the corner of her mouth, wiped the blood that flowed out, and then suddenly giggled and sneered, "It turns out that your ability is used to beat women." Bad seeds! You're not my relative, who did I die at, it's your business?! ”

Wang Ermao slapped her because she was forced to be helpless. Seeing that the other party was soft and hard, he raised his hand high, thought for a long time, and then slowly fell down, holding down the handle of the knife. "I'm not your relative!" He shook his head, his heart stirring, "But I can't let you die too dirty." Anyway, you won't live for a few days, so I'll fulfill you! ”

When the words fell, he quickly raised the horizontal knife, and was about to slash Zhou Ning in two. Seeing this, Cheng Mingzhen hurriedly waved his palm away and pushed away the reed mat, holding the blade with a spear, "Ermao, don't be in a hurry to kill her." There is still residual poison in the body of the cuckoo! ”

Seeing that Cheng Mingzhen finally made a move, the minions who were ambushed around the grass shed couldn't hold it back, and they all gathered around, trapping Zhou Ning and Ermao in the center. "Tie her up and go to see the sixth master, pour a few bowls of medicine, and I'm afraid that I won't be able to ask anything?" The angry Zhou Fan shouted loudly. "The surname Wang, the nine masters will take you as a brother!" Ban Hao and the others looked at Wang Ermao coldly, with a face full of disdain.

"Little Brother Jiu!" Wang Ermao was scolded so red-faced, and almost instinctively asked Cheng Mingzhen for help. As soon as the words came out, he suddenly realized that what he did today could not be explained clearly, lowered his head, and muttered: "I only want to save her once, I don't want to be sorry for you!" ”

"I know!" At this point, Cheng Mingzhen's voice was extremely tired. The reason why he delayed for so long just now to eavesdrop on the conversation between Wang Ermao and Zhou Ning was to verify whether Wang Ermao would betray him. Now that he had seen the answer, he was not happy at all.

Since suspicion has begun, whether the betrayal exists or not, the rift has already been created between the two, and it will only get bigger and bigger, and it is impossible to turn a blind eye. "Take her away, it's none of the king's business!" Unable to look his good friend in the eye, Cheng Mingzhen gritted his teeth and made a decision. "Hall Master Wang is just trying to force her to confess as soon as possible, don't chew your tongue after everyone goes out!"

"Little Brother Jiu!" Wang Ermao shouted in a low voice, his voice was a little grateful, but more pleading. "She, she's also confused. Just now, she had promised to hand over the prescription just now. Ningzi, you've promised me, you've promised me, haven't you? ”

He was answered with an awkward silence. Cheng Mingzhen, Zhou Fan and others didn't want to open their mouths to expose the lie, and Zhou Ning, who was surrounded by minions, refused to appreciate it. just smiled coldly and said loudly, "I didn't poison her to death, I was stupid!" More than 140 members of my Zhou family died in her hands, and she wanted me to save her, but there was no door! The surname is Cheng, if you have any evil tricks, you can use them, see if my aunt and grandmother will make you satisfied! ”

"Take her away!" Cheng Mingzhen waved his hand and ordered someone to tie Zhou Ning with a rope. He didn't want to waste any more words with Zhou Ning, and he didn't have the strength to argue anything for Du Juan. The Zhou family is a big family of pavilion pottery, and Du Juan and himself are bandits. Bandits kill big households, big households kill bandits, haha, it is a matter of course, it is justified. It's just that I was stupid at the beginning, and I always wanted to repay my kindness and revenge. Grievances are clear, try not to harm the innocent. But I didn't expect that in this world where black and white are reversed, what will be innocent? It's nothing more than life and death. If you cut someone more, you will be slashed less in the future.

Seeing that his woman was about to be dragged to the court, Wang Ermao was angry and anxious, and his forehead was bruised. Although he knew that if he continued to intercede for Du Juan, he would only provoke Cheng Mingzhen and the contempt of his peers, he gritted his teeth and caught up with him, stretching out his hand to block everyone's way. "Little Brother Jiu, I beg you. She was really confused. She is not a vicious woman, she sold it to us at a loss! You forget, he only took less than half of our money! You have always said that the great husband should be repaid with a spring for the grace of dripping water......."

"I have already repaid the kindness of the medicine gift back then!" Cheng Mingzhen frowned and interrupted in a low voice. Things have come to this point, and they are out of his control. If he agrees to Wang Ermao's conditions, I am afraid that not only will he not be able to face Juanzi, but the entire Juluze brothers will also feel cold for his behavior.

Without waiting for Wang Ermao to continue to plead for Zhou Ning, Zhou Fan couldn't bear it anymore, stepped forward and shook him, and scolded him sharply, "The surname is Wang, you are still a big man!" Three-legged toads are hard to find, two-legged people are! ”

"The surname is Wang, what is good about this girl, so that you are so fascinated that you don't even recognize your home! Marry her and go home, you don't know how to die yourself! ”

"Get out of the way, get out of the way, or don't say we don't recognize you as a brother!" Other minions were also very dissatisfied with Wang Ermao's short-term behavior, and scolded him gossipily. The more than 20 people who came were either Cheng Mingzhen's subordinates or Du Juan's descendants. No matter from which point of view, they would not have the slightest sympathy for Zhou Ning. Moreover, Cheng and Du are the two owners of the village, one of whom has won a hundred battles, and his prestige is like the sky, and the other is generous to his subordinates, and his kindness is like a trickle. Think about it, how many catties and taels is the face of a mere Wang Tang master? If you are interested, you shouldn't mention it at all.

Wang Ermao refused to be interested, staggered back a few steps, and quickly rushed back, blocking in front of everyone. "Little Brother Jiu, as you said, God has the virtue of a good life. If you don't want to let her go, you can kill her here, don't let her suffer those bits and pieces! ”

"Are you going to rebel? The surname is Wang! "All the minions are clamoring in unison, drawing knives and wanting to split." She is self-defeating, the seventh master is so good to her, but she will take revenge! ”

Whether it was questioning or scolding, Wang Ermao couldn't move his feet. As if he had lost his mind, he stared at Cheng Mingzhen with red eyes, "Little Brother Jiu, why don't you speak." Isn't that what you taught me? When Childe and Xiao Xinghua treated you like that, you let the two of them go. Now that Zhou Ning has been replaced, why can't it? ”

"Ermao, this time is not the same thing as that time!" Cheng Mingzhen was forced by Wang Ermao's gaze to have nowhere to escape, and responded stubbornly, "You get out of the way, I can't help you if you don't ask about the whereabouts of the antidote!" ”

"How is it not the same thing?! Tell me why it's not the same thing! Xiao Xinghua likes Tuesday Childe, I like Zhou Ning! Wang Ermao defended loudly, his eyes full of despair. He asked himself if he was Cheng Mingzhen's opponent, and he knew that he didn't have the strength to save his sweetheart. But like a drunk who fell into the water, even if it was a straw floating in his hand, he did not hesitate to clench it. "I saved your life last year, and today you will give me back your life. From now on, we brothers should not owe! ”

Hearing that Wang Ermao put his past friendship with Cheng Mingzhen on the gambling table, Zhou Fan, Ban Hao and others hesitated, looked back at Cheng Mingzhen, who was pale, and looked forward to the nine masters making a decision as soon as possible. Almost everyone in Juluze knows that Cheng Mingzhen and Wang Ermao have a fateful friendship. Last year, in order to rescue Cheng Mingzhen, Wang Ermao fought hard for a few days and nights without eating or sleeping, and ran from Wuyang County to Juluze, ignoring the traps inside, and went directly to Zedi. If he hadn't happened to catch the cuckoo out to inspect, he might have fallen into the mud to feed Wang Ba before he saw Zhang Jincheng.

"Ermao!" Unexpectedly, Wang Ermao actually said such heartless words, Cheng Mingzhen rushed forward a few steps and almost fell. For a while, all the past of the two flashed in front of their eyes. To say that you don't take this friendship seriously at all would be to deceive yourself. But at this moment the cuckoo was lying on the bed, staring at him to take back the formula for the poison.

"You really let go of my second brother and Xiao Xinghua?" Just as he was embarrassed, Zhou Ning, who was tied into a dumpling, suddenly raised his head and asked loudly.

"Ahh Oh. Of course! Cheng Mingzhen glanced at her angrily, eager to cut her with a thousand knives. There are no good people in the family surnamed Zhou, last Tuesday Gongzi wanted his life several times, and this year Zhou Ning tried to poison the cuckoo again. If it weren't for this sinister woman, Du Juan would not have been poisoned at all, and Wang Ermao would not have forced himself to choose between friendship and hatred at all. But this woman was saved by himself, and there is no turning back from what he has done.

Unexpectedly, after listening to Cheng Mingzhen's answer, Zhou Ning's resentful gaze suddenly softened again. smiled miserably and said, "That poison contains five flavors: toad crisp, broken intestine grass, whooping drunk, psyllium and purslane. It's a recipe for one, two, three, two, two! ”

"I told you a long time ago that Little Brother Jiu didn't kill your second brother and second sister-in-law!" Wang Ermao was surprised and delighted, and responded loudly. "Little Brother Jiu, hurry up and hand over the formula to the sixth master, he will definitely be able to find the antidote, he will definitely be able to!"

The sudden change made everyone at a loss, including Cheng Mingzhen, who has always been calm. He never expected that Wang Ermao tried his best to get the formula he couldn't get, but he actually got it because of his past thoughts. But at the same time, this formula pushed it into a dilemma, agree to Wang Ermao's request, or not? No matter what you do, it seems that it will not please everyone.

"I can't help but believe what you Wang Ermao said!" Zhou Ning replied with a simple sentence, pulling Cheng Mingzhen's mind back to his eyes, "The surname is Cheng, I believe you won't deceive people." You let go of my second brother, I let go of the cuckoo, none of us owe anyone! Kill me now, and don't let me go back to those bits and pieces! ”

"Ermao looked at her, I'll go back and dispense the antidote first!" In an instant, a ray of light rose in Cheng Mingzhen's eyes, shook his head, and whispered. Then, regardless of what the others thought of him, he used his spear to pull away the reeds and ran quickly towards the road.

"The surname is Wang, you can do it yourself!" Knowing that the cuckoo would definitely be rescued, in ecstasy, Ban Hao, Zhou Fan and others no longer wanted to follow the blind mix. Anyway, Zhou Ning couldn't escape from Juluze, how to fall on her in the end, she had her own big boss, second boss and nine bosses and others to work hard. There is no need for him to make a feud with Wang Ermao for this, and there is no need to be a villain who forces the nine masters and Wang Ermao's brothers to turn against each other.

In the blink of an eye, all the minions walked away. Only Wang Ermao, who was so happy and stupid, was left that he was stupid, and Zhou Ning, who was tied into a zongzi. "Don't untie it for me yet!" To Wang Ermao, Zhou Ning still didn't have a good face, glared at him fiercely, and ordered in a low voice.

"Alas, alas! I'll just say that Brother Xiao Jiu is a good person! Wang Ermao was so happy that he could hardly find the north, so he didn't care about being scolded for a few words. Quickly ran forward and cut the rope tied to Zhou Ning's arm with a horizontal knife.

"You actually turned against the surname Cheng for me?!" As if he didn't believe what happened just now, Zhou Ning rubbed his wrist and sneered. "If they don't say yes, what do you do? Have you ever beaten the surname Cheng? Aren't you afraid that he will be angry and even kill you? ”

"If you can't beat it, you have to fight. But Brother Xiao Jiu is not that kind of person! "Wang Ermao is a typical example of saying one thing and doing another. It's never a thing to take a woman behind your back, but in reality, you can't wait to confess your sweetheart. Back then, he said that because Xiao Xinghua liked your second brother, he let them go. Today I told him that I liked you, and his face immediately changed......"

"Ermao, I owe you all my life!" Zhou Ning sighed and slowly walked towards the grass shed just now, "The one surnamed Cheng released my second brother and sister-in-law, and saved me, I released the cuckoo, and I don't owe him any more debts." But he colluded with bandits and killed my whole family, and I ...... this revenge."

Wang Ermao hurriedly followed and explained to Zhou Ning in a low voice, "The bandits were not recruited by him. It was your second brother who colluded with Lin County and wanted to put him to death. It just so happened that Zhang Jin said that he also wanted to attack Guantao, so he took advantage of this opportunity! ”

Zhou Ning was flustered again, as if he couldn't believe that what Wang Ermao said was the truth. But she knew very well in her heart that with Cheng Mingzhen's character, she would never take the initiative to collude with bandits to cause trouble. In fact, all the disasters were caused by his own family, but he has always refused to believe it.

Seeing her depressed expression, Wang Ermao thought she was worried about the future, lowered her head, looked into the other party's eyes and promised: "You don't have to worry, I have made a lot of achievements recently, and I can say a few tough words even in front of the big boss." As long as the cuckoo is not dead, they can't do anything to you! ”

Seeing his sworn appearance, Zhou Ning grinned. At the corner of his mouth, a few strands of blood flowed out. Rubbing it gently, she responded in a low voice, "Then don't I owe you more in my life?" Wang Ermao, in your eyes, am I really that important? ”

"Uh-huh!" Wang Ermao nodded again and again, "Seeing that you are going to be taken away by them, I even have the mind to draw a knife and fight hard." I was so anxious just now that I couldn't help but slap you. I won't touch you again in the future, promised! ”

As he spoke, he stretched out his hand and tried to help Zhou Ning wipe away the newly oozing blood from the corner of his mouth. This time, Zhou Ning did not refuse, and let him do whatever he wanted. It's just that the blood is getting thicker and thicker, and after a few strokes, instead of being wiped clean, it flows outward in strands, smearing Wang Ermao's big hands scarlet.

"I, I, I ......" I don't know why this happened, Wang Ermao was in a hurry. Zhou Ning smiled lightly, pushed away the other party's arm, and found a stone bench to sit down slowly.

"Silly Ermao, don't be busy. When I knew I couldn't escape, I gave myself a double dose of poison. As if saying something very simple, her voice was gentle and quiet, just like what the two teenagers heard through the gauze curtain that day. My grandmother gave birth to me and raised me, and I avenged them. The cuckoo killed my whole family, and I killed her once. Cheng Mingzhen let go of my second brother, and I will let him go again. From then on, the grievances will be cleared, and no one owes anyone! ”

"I'll look for Sun Camel to save you, I'll look for Sun Camel to save you!" Wang Ermao was so frightened that he hurriedly picked up Zhou Ning and strode towards the shore. "Sun Huozi knows that the prescription can detoxify, he has already saved the cuckoo, he will definitely save you, for sure!"

Lying in his arms, Zhou Ning could see the bright starry sky. There was a time when her life was as pure as the night sky tonight. But a sudden turn of events shattered it, and since then, she has nothing but hatred.

"He can't save me, Ermao!" Gently leaning on Wang Ermao's chest, she returned to the appearance of the gentle and virtuous girl, "I took medicine just so that I wouldn't fall into their hands." I know the weight of my own subordination. Don't run, hold me and look at the stars. I haven't seen it in a long time, but the sky is so clean tonight! ”

With that, try to keep your tired eyes wide open and look straight at the starry sky. On a night in late July, the Milky Way stretches from east to west. Between the surging stars, Morning Glory and Weaver Girl looked at each other from afar.

There was a moment when she had quietly gazed at someone.

Only, did he ever perceive it?

The end of the second volume of "Willow Words".

Note 1: The poison is apocryphal, please do not try it.

Alcoholic's note: Regarding Cheng Mingzhen's character, a seventeen-year-old boy is definitely not as mature as you. Therefore, whether it is gentle or not, it is not in the eyes of some great powers, it is just because of youth. If you think about how many immature things you did when you were seventeen years old, it will be clear.