"The scenery is full of yin and qi potential, like peaks and clouds. The glow holds the sun to the sky, and Dancai rides the wind into the eaves of the temple. ”（1）

Gu Xu suddenly felt that it was quite appropriate to use this poem to describe the scenery at this moment.

The Ghost King of Bishan is certainly strong, but its strength is limited after all.

Like the morning sun dispelling the darkness of the night.

The black smoke in the alley quickly dispersed in all directions under the strong light and gradually faded.

The speed of Hu Yun's body repair slowed down suddenly.

I don't know if it's Gu Xu's illusion - he also noticed that in Hu Yun's originally cold and empty eyes, a trace of painful emotions faintly emerged.

Such a look, even when Hu Yun was tragically scorched by the fire just now, did not appear.

After the black smoke in the alley became thinner, Gu Xu mobilized the true yuan of his whole body, preparing to cast "Sui" again, and completely incinerate this "ghost servant" who dared to hurt his fiancée.

As a person who holds grudges, Gu Xu has long remembered the ghost king of Bishan and his "ghost attendants" in the small book in his heart. It's just that limited by cultivation, he can't deal with the "Mountain Ghost King" deity for the time being, so he can only get rid of its minions first.

However, at this moment, like lightning piercing the night, the dark sky suddenly flashed with a silvery white dazzling light.

Immediately after, a sharp sword light fell from the sky, dispersing the black smoke in the alley in an instant.

Gu Xu couldn't help but look up and saw that a huge hole suddenly appeared between the thick clouds, revealing a clean and clear blue sky. The sun shone through the hole, stabbing his eyes.

In that ten thousand rays of light, Gu Xu saw a flying figure of the imperial sword.

It was a thin, cold woman.

She was dressed in a black suit, with long boots and a bamboo hat with a light veil on her head. Although her face was obscured by a light veil, Gu Xu could feel her sharp sword-like gaze.

Shi Xiaohan blinked even more, looking forward to it.

Her dream has always been to become a heroine who slays demons and destroys demons and does the right thing for the sky. This black-clothed woman with a sword volley is undoubtedly her ideal self.

But the most unexpected thing was the reaction of the "ghost servant" Hu Yun.

When this black-clothed woman appeared in his field of vision, Hu Yun suddenly covered his head with his hands and sat on the ground, his brows tightly knit and his teeth clenched, as if he was experiencing extreme pain.

In the blink of an eye, the woman in black put away her long sword and landed steadily beside Gu Xu and Zhao Yan.

Gu Xu took a step forward and arched his hand towards the woman in black: "Gu Xu, the head of the Exorcism Division, has seen Lord Xu Ge. ”

The cold and neat woman in front of her is Xu Man, the master of the Shu Sword Pavilion, one of the "Five Saints" of the Great Qi Dynasty, and Su Xiao's master.

Although Gu Xu had never seen her, he knew her appearance and consistent dress through portraits and descriptions of others, combined with her cultivation, so he could recognize her at a glance.

Xu Man glanced at him and said lightly: "It turns out that you are the young genius Gu Xu who has become famous recently." It is indeed extraordinary to be able to use "Seven Styles of Burning Sky" like this. No wonder Su Xiao always wants to find an opportunity to learn from you. ”

While speaking, Xu Man's gaze swept over Shi Xiaohan's body - the petite girl was lying on Gu Xu's back like a koala, and a pair of big apricot-like eyes were staring at her curiously.

It seems that Shi Xiaohan's appearance awakened some of Xu Man's memories. Behind the tulle, a soft sigh came.

As for Zhao Yan, she took a step back and remained silent.

After all, after Zhao Changying, the Duke of Yanguo, committed treason, her identity as the "daughter of a traitor" also became very sensitive. And Xu Man is the head of the big sect, and he also has the title of "Taibao" in the court. Officially, the two are undoubtedly on opposite sides.

Of course, everyone present didn't know that Emperor Tianxing had already issued a holy decree to "kill the traitor Gu Xu". Otherwise, even if Gu Xu was given ten dares, he would not dare to take the initiative to greet Xu Man.

"Senior Sister Xu, are you here......" At this moment, Hu Yun, who was sitting on the ground and covering his head, suddenly spoke, his voice painful and hoarse. m..

Xu Man finally turned his head to look at him.

Through the white light veil, no one could see her expression clearly.

She took two steps forward, and her attention suddenly fell on the silk flower pinned to Hu Yun's chest - Hu Yun was scarred and ragged, but the silk flower was brightly colored, clean and new, which looked particularly abrupt.

Just as she was about to speak, the black qi on Hu Yun's body rose again, and the painful struggle in his eyes disappeared without a trace, becoming cold and gloomy again.

Gu Xu could probably guess that this was the will of the Ghost King of Bishan and Hu Yun himself, who were fighting for control of this body.

It's just that he didn't expect that Hu Yun had been a "ghost attendant" for so long, and his own will still existed, and he was not completely wiped out by the Ghost King of Bishan.

Moreover, the relationship between Hu Yun and the Sword Pavilion Pavilion Master must have been extraordinary—after all, when Xu Man appeared, Hu Yun's self-consciousness became extremely active and tenacious, and he even faintly resisted the control of the Bishan Ghost King over him.

"Get out."

Xu Man glanced at the black smoke and said in a cold tone.

She didn't draw her sword.

But a silver sword flashed, smashing the black smoke to pieces.

Hu Yun raised his head and looked at her in a daze, with no emptiness and coldness in his eyes.

In front of him, Xu Man slowly squatted down, reached out to grab the silk flower on his chest, and said softly: "Senior Brother Hu, these years...... Do you wear it all the time? ”

"yes," Hu Yun chuckled dryly like a fool, "I haven't taken it off since that year, when you pinned it to my shirt. ”

Xu Man was silent and did not speak immediately.

Over the years, Hu Yun was expelled from the sect and wandered the world, and then somehow became the "ghost attendant" of the ghost king of Bishan, and then went to Luojing City and worked undercover for many years...... He's been through so much. He had a broken arm, and his clothes were tattered and smelly, but the silk flower was still as fresh as a wash.

Xu Man clearly remembered that this silk flower was made by herself with ordinary silk cloth when she was a girl, and there was no special spell attached to it.

It can be preserved intact to this day without the slightest dust, only because Hu Yun has been subconsciously taking care of it with his heart.

"At the beginning, I was quite happy for you when you came to Luojing City to teach at Longmen Academy," Xu Man sighed again and continued, "I thought that you had broken away from the Law of the Sword Pavilion as you wished, walked out of your own way, and stood out in the Great Qi Dynasty and won the respect of the world...... Well, as you said back then, you slapped Shizun in the face.

"I didn't expect so many things to happen in the middle that I didn't know about.

"Alas, if there had been no battle of ideas between you and the master at the beginning...... If you are willing to bow your head to the Master for a while, if I have pleaded for you to do so, if ...... How great would it be if you could stay in the Sword Pavilion and stay by my side all the time? ”

"yes, how nice would that be?" Hu Yun smirked, looked at her, and repeated her words.

Then he lowered his head, looked at his bruised body, and sighed, "Unfortunately, time can't be turned back, and I'm dying...... Spirit, this thing, really kills people and doesn't pay for their lives. ”

Hu Yun is not a saint after all.

Gu Xu's spell "Sui" caused fatal damage to his internal organs.

Just now it was the power from the ghost king of the mountain.,Maintain.

with his vitality and combat effectiveness.

Now, he has severed the connection with the Pishan Ghost King, and is free from the control of the Bishan Ghost King, and naturally, he has no ability to stop the passage of his life.

It's just that he didn't expect that he would be able to see Senior Sister Xu again on his deathbed.

This made him feel joy, regret, and a little inferiority.

"Come back to the Sword Pavilion with me," Xu Man said, "There are still many heavenly treasures in the sect. I don't believe I can't save you. ”

Hu Yun looked at her with a smile, then shook his head slightly.

"No," he said, "a ghost accomplice like me is guilty of a terrible crime. If you live in this world, you can't live with the dead people in Luojing City. Your natural treasures should be reserved for those who need them more.

"Actually...... Senior Sister Xu, for me now, if I can die soberly and happily, it is already the happiest thing. It's better than living in a mess and being a puppet at the mercy of ghosts. ”

Xu Man didn't open his mouth to refute again.

She lowered her head, and with her slender hands that held the sword, she silently arranged the dirty and tattered placket of his clothes and the bright silk flowers.

"By the way, Senior Sister Xu," Hu Yun suddenly said again, "Can I look at your face again?" ”

Xu Man nodded, and then slowly uncovered the light veil on the hat.

Under the light veil is a delicate, plain face.

Joan nose, thin lips.

The eyebrows are thin and the eyes are quiet, and the facial features are picturesque.

Although it is not stunning, with her cold and neat temperament, it has a unique charm.

"You're so young," Hu Yun sighed, "After so many years, you haven't changed at all, and you are still like a young girl, worthy of being a genius sword cultivator who was promoted to a saint at the age of thirty-six."

"And I'm only a year older than you, but I'm already a bad old man with white hair and a white beard."

Once a practitioner is promoted to a saint, he or she will be able to maintain his physical condition for a long time until his or her longevity is exhausted, and he will not age again.

Therefore, although Xu Man has passed the age of sixtieth year, his cheeks are still fair and smooth, without a trace of wrinkles.

"Teenage Girl...... What you said is too exaggerated," Xu Man squeezed out a self-deprecating smile, "At least I'm a half-old." ”

"No, no," Hu Yun said with a smile, "In my eyes, Senior Sister Xu, you will always be the twenty-eighth girl who pinned the silk flower for me." ”

Even if he was a "ghost attendant", Hu Yun still remembered the situation at that time-

The peach blossoms of the Sword Pavilion are in full bloom.

He wanted to pick one and give it to Senior Sister Xu.

Senior Sister Xu kept a straight face and shook her head again and again, claiming that the peach blossoms look beautiful, but they will eventually wither and decay.

Hu Yun was very frustrated and didn't know what to do for a while.

But seeing Senior Sister Xu grinning, she took out this silk flower, and said in a mischievous tone: "Let me give you this peach blossom that will never wither!" ”

Perhaps, it was precisely because of this stubborn memory that he was able to barely maintain a trace of his self-will, and he was not completely wiped out by the Ghost King of the Mountain.

"I'm talking nonsense again," the light veil on Xu Man's hat hung down again, blocking her beautiful face, "No wonder your name is 'Hu Yun'!" ”

Hu Yun continued to giggle.

While smiling, the sparkle in his eyes gradually faded. Xu Man knew that this was his life slowly passing.

Just as he was about to close his eyes, he suddenly remembered something important.

He supported his weak body, took out a crumpled thin book from his robe, and stuffed it into Xu Man's hand.

"Senior sister, substitute ...... Give it to ...... for me Give it to the little girl," he said with all his might, "this...... This is the new path I have taken since I left the sect...... It's just that I can't go any further...... That little girl is quite talented in knife skills...... In the academy, I did not do my duty as a gentleman to teach her the true sword technique...... If she wants, maybe she can try to follow this path in the future......"

His words came to an abrupt end.

He has been a walking corpse for many years and has finally turned into a real corpse today.

Xu Man stretched out his hand, closed his eyes for him, and then stood up, looking for the "little girl" in Hu Yun's words.

Her gaze first swept over Zhao Yan, lingered for a moment on her fire phoenix wings and the spear in her hand, and then landed on Shi Xiaohan's body.

Seeing the large array destroyed in the alley, seeing the shackles on Shi Xiaohan's hands, seeing the looming bird seal pattern on the back of her neck, and seeing the "Kunwu Knife" that was thrown on the ground casually, Xu Man could already roughly guess what had just happened.

"You're a knife practitioner, aren't you?" She walked up to Shi Xiaohan and asked her.

Shi Xiaohan let out a "hmm" and nodded.

"Hu Yun is your teacher in the academy?" Xu Man asked again.

Shi Xiaohan pondered for a moment, pursed his lips, and nodded again.

By this time she had recovered her spirits slightly.

She vividly remembered that Hu Yun asked her to practice all kinds of basic sword moves day after day, which made her exhausted and panting, and her appetite increased dramatically, but he refused to teach her anything more profound; She also clearly remembered that while Hu Yun comforted her who failed to withdraw from the "Luoshui Conference", he tricked her into the formation, wanting to turn her into a "ghost attendant".

"Hu Yun should have done a lot of things that couldn't help you," Xu Man continued, "Although it wasn't his intention, as his junior sister, I still have to apologize to you for him." ”

Speaking of this, she bowed deeply to Shi Xiaohan.

Seeing a strong saint make such a big gift to himself, Shi Xiaohan was startled and almost fell off Gu Xu's back.

"Pavilion Master Xu, you don't have to-"

"—Many years ago, when Hu Yun was still young," Xu Man smiled and interrupted her, "he had some different views from the previous Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion, that is, our master, in terms of cultivation philosophy. At that time, he made a lot of trouble and made Shizun very angry. Later, Shizun couldn't bear him, so he broke his sword and expelled him from the sect.

"After that, he abandoned the sword and followed the sword, based on the "Pingtian Sword Technique", created a set of his own sword techniques, and knocked on the 'Xudu Gate', and had his own Dharma body.

"Alas, if he hadn't met the Ghost King of the Mountain, he might have the opportunity to preach and become a saint.

It's a pity that fate played a joke on him.

"I haven't read this booklet yet. But if nothing else, it records the set of knife techniques he created himself, as well as his lifelong understanding.

"Now he left it to you.

"In this way, you will be his only heir, as well as my nephew.

"If you read something you don't understand, you can write a letter and send it to the Sword Pavilion. Hu Yun's sword technique was born from the Sword Pavilion's "Pingtian Sword Technique", maybe I can help you answer some questions.

"If you want, you can also come to the Sword Pavilion to practice in the future. The lofty mountains and mountains of Shu are much quieter than the neighborhoods of Luojing. ”

…………

Exegesis:

(1) Excerpt from Tang Qibai's "Shouchang Festival Endowed with Red Cloud Table Summer"; _&