The day before the ceremony, the entire altar was lively. The ceremony also allowed men who were over fifteen years old in the capital to participate, because of the large number of people, one out of every fifteen households, and the people all wanted to see His Majesty's true face and see the emperor's grace. Naturally it is very lively. Many people stayed outside the altar at night, waiting for the door to open the next day, and went in first to grab a better place so that they could see the ceremony more clearly.

At night, the sacrificial altar fell silent, and occasionally a few bird calls pierced the quiet air, Zheng Wan lived in the sacrificial altar today, after all, the next day was the ritual of sacrificing to the sky, she arrived there with her father, and was arranged to the guest room inside. "Tomorrow, success or failure is here." Zheng Nangong was still a little worried.

"Father is relieved. Tomorrow, Wan'er will be by the side of the fourth sister. The medicine of delay has been tried, and it lasts for an hour. If the antidote does not work. It doesn't hurt either. I've thought about every step of tomorrow's sacrifice, and I've arranged for someone to go down. ”

"Rest earlier today."

"Father walks slowly." Zheng Wan closed the door and took out the pill from her arms. Just this little thing buried a generation of eagles. Rumors that this thing can really kill. General Ji, have you ever regretted it?

A small stone pierced the window and flew straight towards the burning candle. The candle flame went out at once. Zheng Wan shook her head helplessly and laughed silently, "Master is still here." ”

Zheng Wan, who was dressed as a teenager, pushed out the window, and went to the grove outside the sacrificial altar with a few light strokes, an old man sat alone under the tree, the whole person was a little decadent, and a few jars of wine were placed next to him, and the old man held a pot of wine in his hand, snoring and pouring wine to himself. Hair was messy and covered his eyes. But Zheng Wan could feel his loneliness. It was the first time Zheng Wan saw him like this, so she didn't make a sound, just stood quietly and looked at the old man.

"I'll toast you." The old man waved his hand and flew a jar of wine towards Zheng Wan, and Zheng Wan took it easily.

"Thank you. I don't drink. Zheng Wan has always been sensible and terrible, she has to stay sober enough, and any possibility of slackness will be strangled in the cradle.

The old man finally raised his head, his eyes full of mixed emotions. "I haven't seen you for a long time, but I miss you for my teacher."

Zheng Wan maintained a faint smile on her face, "Master misses General Ji, tomorrow General Ji's grievances will be cleared, Master is happy?"

The old man's face changed, and then returned to normal, "You still did it." ”

"Isn't that why you asked me to be your apprentice?"

"Back then, I was the cell boss with no status, watching Daqin's pride suffer injustice. Naturally, he wanted to clear his grievances, and I think people with lofty ideals in the world must have the same idea. ”

"Master, why bother to explain. I'm not a man of ambition, I'm just a weak woman. Zheng Wan's eyes were very bright, and she looked at the old man fixedly, as if she could see through the old man.

"Then the Buddha will remember your merits too." The old man grinned, and changed back to the old naughty boy he used to be.

"General Yao." Zheng Wan's words made the old man's face change slightly. "Huh? Who are you calling? ”

"I'm calling you, Master." Zheng Wan sat on the ground, also leaning against a lesson tree, and put the wine aside. "Looks like I guessed right. Master. “

"I don't know." The old man tilted his head and took another sip of wine.

"Don't be so nervous."

The old man leaned against the trunk of the tree, his brows furrowed slightly, Zheng Wan rarely saw such a serious expression of this person, and there was always something that could not be touched in people's hearts. The moonlight was dappled and scattered from among the leaves, and the old man looked hazy. "Why don't I understand what you're saying? What General Yao. I don't know. ”

"Zhong Zi died, and Boya never returned to the piano for life." Zheng Wan didn't pay attention to it, but sighed lightly, "Master and General Ji are like this?" ”

The old man's expression cracked slightly, "Why do you think so?" ”

"Because the look in the master's eyes when he mentions General Ji can't deceive people. It wasn't the eyes of a cell boss who worshiped and respected General Ji, but the loneliness of being ignorant in this life. ”

"A look? Don't think it's ridiculous? The old man shook his head.

"Of course it's not all, not only that, not long after General Ji's accident, the most prestigious General Yao of the Southern Chu State was missing, and there were many rumors. However, there is no existence of General Ji in all these rumors. ”

"I've never heard of the two of them knowing. Nanchu has always been neutral, and the terrain is easy to defend and difficult to attack, so it is generally not boring to be bored, and Nanchu and Daqin have always been good friends, and the two are afraid that they have never really fought against each other. The old man raised his head high, and seemed to disagree with this statement.

"Why do we have to meet on the battlefield?" Zheng Wan paused and continued, "Twenty-five years ago, two chivalrous young heroes suddenly appeared in Great Qin. The two hit it off at first sight, regarded them as confidants, and traveled together in the streets, punishing evil and promoting good, so unhappy, the master knew these two. ”

"I've heard a little." The old man looked at Zheng Wan quietly, Zheng Wan threw the wine to the old man, and then said, "One of them is called Ma Ji, and General Ji is called Atractylodes, and they happen to refer to the same medicinal herb. A call for Bai Liu, General Yao is the sixth child of the king of Southern Chu, and his mother's surname is Bai, are these all coincidences? Zheng Wan took the branch and drew it casually on the ground. Master, can a cell leader's martial arts be so powerful? The four masters of the Tingwei Division may not be your opponent, right? ”

"It's not necessarily a coincidence."

"Master, don't be in a hurry to explain. I'm not done yet. Isn't it funny that the martial arts are so strong but the wish to clear General Ji's grievances was imposed on a teenage girl? ”

The old man didn't respond, just picked up the flask and took another sip.

"When you want to clear your name for General Ji, but you don't come forward yourself, I think maybe your identity is not suitable. You need someone to do it for you. And I was the one who came to be. Zheng Wan stood up and threw away the branch in her hand, Zheng Wan actually felt upright in the moonlight. Master. I don't care who you are. Since you taught me martial arts, to me, you are the master, and it has nothing to do with any of your identities. Calling you Master, that's what I mean. ”

The old man opened his mouth leisurely, "When did you find out?"

"When you gave me the poison and the antidote called Bewitchment. The antidote wasn't made by Mr. Mu. Time is so short, and you still have time to make poison? Master, you're really not very good at lying. ”

"I've searched a lot of places over the years, and finally found something that killed Atractylodes in the Western Regions. Bewitchment is not deadly, but it is terrifying. The old man's eyes were full of loneliness.

"In any case, Master, you still justified General Ji's name. General Ji has a spirit in the sky, and he will be pleased. This is probably the reincarnation of the Heavenly Dao. Master, don't be too upset. ”

"You don't blame the teacher? The old man's brow was full of guilt.

"Why? Does Master feel that he is taking advantage of me? No, I'm also using Master, we're just taking what we need. Zheng Wan's expression was cold and indifferent, and she didn't care at all.

"I was looking for your brother."

Zheng Wan shook her head as she spoke, "He's not suitable, he's practiced the Zheng family's swordsmanship since he was a child, and it's easy to be discovered when he learns your set, and if you use him like this, you may not be able to get his understanding." I'm different, everyone thinks I don't practice martial arts, it's going to be my hole card, and I don't care about being used. There is always a price to be paid for what you get. I understood this at a very young age. My brother is pure and kind, but I'm not. So Master chose the right one, and I was the most suitable person. ”

"You can connect this matter, it seems that the teacher really underestimates you."

"Master is humble."

"It is enough to have a confidant in life, I got acquainted with Cangshu when I was young, and I didn't know that he was the concubine of the Ji family at that time, and he didn't know that I was the sixth prince of Southern Chu. At first, we were not convinced by each other, so the two of them fought for righteousness, once I was besieged by dozens of people, and the blood stained my eyes red, I thought that I might miss that time, but I didn't want that guy to appear, and it became his sarcasm every time. But in fact, I was happy in my heart, and I thought at that time that it would be a blessing to have such a noisy person in this life. Although I later returned to Nanchu, he also joined the army and became a general, but some friendships will not fade, when I heard that Cangshu was burned alive in Nanchu, I suddenly felt that there was any meaning in living the rest of my life. I came to Daqin, I want to avenge him, I want to kill Emperor Wen of Qin, but I know Cangshu's mind very well, he will not want me to kill the Qin family. If I really did this, I wouldn't have the face to see him under the Yellow Springs, and he wouldn't want to come to see me. I thought I'd help him clear his name. After that, I looked for you, originally I thought that the power of the Taiwei Mansion was great, but then I was surprised to find that you are a good seedling of martial arts, and now it seems that my choice is not wrong. Zheng Wan, I thank you for him. ”

Zheng Wan patted the fallen leaves on her body, "Master, you and I have different purposes, no need to thank you, I'm leaving, don't always pick up like an old man, look bad." ”

"Ha," the old man couldn't help but smile, with a little warmth. "Wait."

Zheng Wan looked at the old man sitting on the ground again, and a small white jade bottle was thrown over quickly. "Take it. This is the antidote pill I refined some time ago, which can cure all kinds of poisons. Count it as a thank you. ”

"Master is really generous. Thank you, Master. Zheng Wan put the bottle away and hurried back to the house with light work.

Closing the window, looking at the window, in a daze, Zheng Wan seemed to be relaxed, but her heart was like a big stone, she was just blowing up the old man, but he really said everything. It's far more sad to hear than to guess. Zheng Wan held back her tears, the coolness of the late night slowly crept up, and she couldn't help but shudder, Zheng Wan sat down by the window, wandering in her thoughts, and her eyes closed unconsciously.