Under the leadership of Shi Lei, everyone successfully left the Laoshan area, and then took the "floating flying boat" and returned to Laizhou Mansion.

A veil-like cloud swept swiftly past them.

The endless East China Sea, rolling mountains, and barren and dilapidated villages also became smaller and smaller in their field of vision, and finally disappeared completely into the distant skyline.

During the flight, Shi Lei often called Gu Xu to his side to chat with him.

The content of the conversation between the two included Gu Xu's daily life, cultivation experience, past tasks, and so on.

Of course, Shi Lei didn't forget to ask Shi Xiaohan how he was doing in Yishui County recently, whether he was happy, whether he was bullied, whether he was hungry......

Gu Xu answered truthfully.

As the conversation gradually deepened, Shi Lei was surprised to find that Gu Xu not only had an amazing talent in cultivation, but also had an extremely wide range of knowledge.

All kinds of exercises, the characteristics and weaknesses of various ghosts, and even unpopular knowledge such as divination, fortune telling, feng shui, etc., he can speak the truth.

But he didn't show off because he knew a lot of things, but behaved introverted and humble, not at all like a seventeen-year-old boy at the age of bragging.

This made Shi Lei's evaluation of him a few points higher.

Seeing that these two people were talking and laughing, Chen Yanping next to him was very uncomfortable.

He couldn't help but remember that a year ago, he asked Shi Lei to marry Shi Xiaohan on the grounds of mutual benefit between Chen and Shi.

At that time, Shi Lei didn't say a word, and directly kicked him out of the door, refusing without leaving any room.

Chen Yanping once lost face.

But now, Shi Lei and Gu Xu had a good chat - they mentioned the name "Shi Xiaohan" more than once during the conversation, and it was obvious that Gu Xu's kid was also most likely coveting Shi Lei's daughter.

Shi Lei's attitude towards Gu Xu was obviously much better than when he treated Chen Yanping.

Although after marrying Yao Sirou of the Yao family in Longxi, Chen Yanping has long had no thoughts about marrying the Shi family.

However, such differential treatment still made Chen Yanping extremely depressed.

"What is this kid Gu Xu better than me?" He thought sullenly in his heart, "Isn't it just a little more handsome than me, a little more talented than me, and a little farther than me on Laoshan Mountain......

"But I'm richer than him......"

Shi Lei and Gu Xu didn't notice Chen Yanping's unhappy expression at all.

Before they knew it, they were talking about a mysterious massacre that took place in a village near Laoshan 23 years ago.

Gu Xu asked: "Lord Shi, I heard that the Exorcism Division of Laizhou Mansion has been investigating this incident in recent years, dare to ask if there has been any progress in the near future?" ”

Shi Lei shook his head and replied, "No." For more than a decade, all the practitioners who were sent to investigate the massacre had abandoned this task for a variety of reasons.

"For example, someone was suddenly seriously injured and had to quit halfway through, someone was given a more urgent task during an investigation, and someone was dismissed for violating the discipline of the Exorcism Division or damaging important documents......

"So we still don't have a clue about this case."

The series of coincidental reasons that Shi Lei said aroused Gu Xu's curiosity.

Gu Xu wanted to continue to ask, trying to learn more about it.

However, at this moment, Shi Lei suddenly stretched out his hand and pointed forward: "Look, we are about to land in Laizhou Mansion!" ”

Gu Xu looked in the direction he was pointing.

He saw the city of Laizhou Mansion on Siqu and Eight Streets appear in his field of vision, looking far away from the sky, the rows of houses are like block-like building blocks, and the majestic city walls have become lines on the wilderness.

Gu Xu overlooked this shocking scenery, was stunned for a moment, and unconsciously forgot the question he was about to say.

…………

Meanwhile.

Luojing City, the headquarters of the Exorcism Division.

Chu Fengge was standing in the corridor, reprimanding his subordinates sharply.

"These poems you have written are still as bad as ever!" He slammed a stack of papers on the ground, "Have you read the Yongmei poems I gave you last time?" Why can't you write even a tenth of the poems you write?

"What do you do besides eating?"

Hearing Chu Fengge's angry scolding, his subordinates all lowered their heads and stood in place trembling.

"I'm sorry, Lord Chu, our ability is limited, and we really can't meet your requirements, and I ask Lord Chu to forgive me......"

Recently, because they couldn't write enough good poems, their subordinates had been reprimanded by Chu Fengge more than once.

Although Chu Fengge only symbolically deducted a few copper plates from them, he did not "punish the whole month's fortune" as he said before.

But this still makes the subordinates feel a lot of pressure.

Those Yongmei poems are too good.

They feel that even if they have exhausted their life's learning, it will be difficult to keep up with it.

"The authors of these Yongmei poems are either people who are equal to their writings, or talented people who have learned to be rich and rich," the subordinates guessed in their hearts more than once, "It is impossible to be an unknown person." ”

At this moment, a handyman in a cloth shirt suddenly hurriedly walked in front of Chu Fengge and said to him, "Lord Chu, Lord Si Shou is waiting for you at the stargazing platform now. He has an important matter to explain to you. ”

Hearing this, Chu Fengge immediately put the poem and his subordinates aside and walked straight in the direction where the stargazing platform was located.

Luo Chuan, the head of the exorcism division, was still sitting alone by the railing as usual, playing the guqin.

The sound of the piano is gentle and continuous, as if a mountain spring is gurgling in a deep valley.

However, after seeing Chu Fengge's figure, Luo Chuan stopped what he was doing, and the sound of the piano stopped abruptly.

"How is your cultivation lately?" Luo Chuan asked Chu Fengge in a flat tone.

Chu Fengge bowed and replied respectfully, "It's much better than I expected." I am now proficient in using the fourth form of the "Cloud Sea and Galaxy Sword", 'Tianxiao Moon Shift'. ”

"It's really a little progress," Luo Chuan looked at him seriously, nodded, and then changed his words, "Besides, Chu Fengge, those companions in your 'Shenji Camp' have successfully returned from the Laoshan Ruins. ”

Because Luo Chuan was proficient in the art of heavenly deduction, it was not surprising that he could know about this matter in the first place.

"Lord Si, how did they get it?" Chu Fengge asked with some curiosity.

Not long ago, Chu Fengge had taken the initiative to give up his qualification to explore the ruins of Laoshan Mountain on the grounds of cultivation, and gave this precious opportunity to Shangguan Jin—of course, the fundamental reason was that he didn't want to see Gu Xu's annoying guy.

As long as he stays by Gu Xu's side, he can only be a foil forever, and he can't appear happily in front of people.

However, even if Chu Fengge gave up the opportunity to go to Laoshan Mountain, he was still thinking about the group of companions in the reserve of the "Shenji Battalion" all the time - if the companions got a great opportunity on Laoshan Mountain, then Chu Fengge's dream of "becoming the first in the world in the future" would undoubtedly become more difficult to realize.

"Only one person successfully climbed to the top of the mountain and obtained the inheritance of the Kongxuansan people." Luo Chuan replied lightly.

"One ......"

Hearing this, Chu Fengge suddenly had an ominous premonition in his heart.

"Lord Si, can you tell me who that person is?" He couldn't contain his curiosity and couldn't help but ask.

"It's Gu Xu," Luo Chuan smiled and didn't hide it, "However, with my Heavenly Technique, I can't see what he got on the mountain for the time being." ”

Gu Xu!

It's Gu Xu again!

It's this nasty guy again!

Chu Fengge was stunned in place, his thoughts were in a trance, and his eyes instantly lost focus.

In his mind, he couldn't help but conceive an extremely terrifying picture-

Gu Xu climbed to the top of Laoshan Mountain under the watchful eyes of everyone, overlooking the land with the sea breeze and the posture of King's Landing, enjoying the envy or admiration of everyone......

"Why ......"

"Why wasn't the one who climbed to the top of the mountain ......?"

Chu Fengge thought bitterly, and at the same time felt extremely regretful about his decision to give up going to Laoshan in the first place.

He thought that if he was also there, he would definitely not let Gu Xu's kid steal all the limelight.

Just as Chu Fengge was in a trance, Luo Chuan smiled again and said, "Chu Fengge, in my opinion, your current cultivation progress is still too slow. You see, it took you more than two months to barely master the fourth form of the 'Yunhai Xinghe Sword' - with your talent, you can do it better.

"If you don't want to let go of those crooked thoughts and calm down and cultivate well, I'm afraid that in less than three years, Gu Xu will far surpass you in cultivation.

"By then, you'll probably have to guard the gate for him."

Luo Chuan obviously knew Chu Fengge's character very well, and knew how to use words to spur him to practice hard.

Sure enough, after hearing Luo Chuan's words, Chu Fengge immediately said with a serious face: "Lord Si Shou, I'm going to retreat!" If I don't practice the fifth style of the 'Yunhai Xinghe Sword', I will never get out! ”

The words fell, and without waiting for Luo Chuan to respond, he turned around and left the stargazing platform, and disappeared without a trace.

Luo Chuan looked at his distant back, smiling and silent.

After a moment, Luo Chuan restrained his smile and took out a golden envelope from his arms.

This is a secret letter sent by the Great Qi Emperor earlier today.

The envelope has a special rune seal on the top of the envelope, which can only be opened by the designated recipient - if someone else tries to force open the envelope, the envelope will instantly self-immolate along with the letters inside.

Luo Chuan carefully opened the envelope and took the letter out of it.

On the letter paper is a simple sentence:

"Can Yishui Gu Xu become my humerus in the future?"

Luo Chuan stared at this sentence for a long time, and couldn't help but think: Gu Xu still attracted the emperor's attention after all.

However, Luo Chuan was not surprised.

After Gu Xu inherited the "Shocking Pen" of the Lu clan in Qingzhou, he got the inheritance of the Kongxuansan people - it would be strange if the emperor had no reaction to this.

And Luo Chuan can probably guess the emperor's thoughts: now that the young generation of various major valve families and sects are full of talents, the emperor also needs a talented and talented young cronies to fight against these big families and big sects.

Gu Xu, who can overwhelm all walks of life and climb to the top of Laoshan Mountain, is undoubtedly a good choice.

It was only because Gu Xu and the Qingzhou Lu clan and Kong Xuansan people were involved in cause and effect that the emperor would have some concerns about him in his heart, so he would write to ask Luo Chuan's opinion.

The emperor hoped that Luo Chuan could use the Heavenly Machine Technique to calculate what kind of person Gu Xu would be in the future, and whether he was trustworthy......

Luo Chuan closed his eyes and pondered for a few minutes, then opened his eyes and replied:

"Your Majesty, the minister looks at it with astrology, Gu Xu is the 'Heavenly Machine Star' sitting in the palace.

"The Tianji Star was called the 'Good Star' in ancient times, which is the star of wisdom, benevolence, and auxiliary, and belongs to the 'Machine Moon and Liangge'. Gu Shuyun: 'Seven kills and broken troops should go out, and the machine and the moon are the same as Liang'. If it is used properly, it can be used as a loyal minister, a cadre and a humerus......"

…………

In the afternoon of that day, the "floating flying boat" landed steadily in the open space outside the city of Laizhou.

Subsequently, Shi Lei led the young people of the "Shenji Battalion" reserve to return to the Yamen of the Exorcism Division of Laizhou Mansion.

On the way, Shi Lei had already written to Princess Zhaoning and told her about the assassination and poisoning of the fourth prince Xiao Shangzhen.

Therefore, as soon as everyone arrived at the yamen, they saw Cao Tong, the eunuch of Bingbi who was wearing a dark blue robe and hurried over.

I saw Cao Tong bowing his head slightly to Shi Lei and said, "Lord Shi, I am on the order of the princess to come to pick up His Royal Highness the Fourth Prince back to Beijing." ”

As she spoke, Xiao Shangzhen stood at the back of the line, her face pale and her thoughts in a trance.

He was very afraid to meet his sister Princess Zhaoning at the moment.

It's like a student who doesn't dare to go home to see his parents after a test performance is out of order.

He didn't dare to imagine what kind of expression his sister would have on her face after knowing about this.

Disappointed? Angry? Or is the heart like ashes?

He felt more and more apprehensive.

"Your Highness, come with me!"

At this time, the eunuch Cao Tong quickly came to Xiao Shangzhen, bowed to him first, and then dragged the unrelenting prince, left the yamen, and walked straight towards the gate of Laizhou Mansion.

As a Fifth Realm monk, Cao Tong mastered the art of flying with the sword, which was enough to send him to the headquarters of the Exorcism Division in Luojing City before the "Life Devouring Pill" completely devoured Xiao Shangzhen's vitality.

Immediately afterwards, "White Tiger" Su Xiao also left Laizhou Mansion.

Before leaving, he came to Gu Xu and said seriously: "You are an opponent worthy of attention. I look forward to the day when you catch up with me in the realm of cultivation. ”

Then Su Xiao walked towards the city gate without looking back.

Except for Gu Xu, he didn't say goodbye to anyone else.

In the process of chopping firewood in Laoshan, Su Xiao gained a lot.

He couldn't wait to return to the Sword Pavilion to test the power of his newfound swordsmanship.

As for the others, they returned to the "Tongfu Inn".

After the trip to Laoshan, each of them was physically and mentally exhausted, and just wanted to lie on a soft bed and sleep comfortably.

ps: It's the end of the month, ask for a monthly pass!

…………

Exegesis:

(1) "Seven kills should go out, and the machine and the moon should be the same as Liang's officials." - "Bone Marrow Fu"

(In Ziwei Doushu, people with seven kills and broken armies are suitable for going out for development, and people with stars of Tianji, Taiyin, Tiantong, and Tianliang are suitable for stable civil servants.) ）

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