Gu Xu, the director of the Exorcism Division, Jin Yangzi, Master Fu Dao, guest teacher of Longmen Academy, and the leader of this year's "Luoshui Conference", secretly colluded with ghosts and monsters, intending to rebel!

As soon as the Great Qi Imperial Court announced the wanted warrant for Gu Xu, it caused a strong sensation in Luojing City.

At first, Luo Jing's cultivators and ordinary people were incredulous.

After all, in the past few months, they had heard too many legendary stories about Gu Xu - such as his face-to-face confrontation with the "fierce god" level ghosts on the top of Yishan Mountain to save Qingzhou Mansion from danger; For example, he single-handedly killed all the ghosts near Dagu Pass, bringing peace to the villagers in the suburbs of Luojing; Another example is that he created the "fire character", so that monks who don't know the way of runes can also have the ability to draw runes to kill ghosts......

It can be said that in the eyes of everyone, Gu Xu is already a hero who fights against ghosts, and he is also the most dazzling new star of the younger generation of the Great Qi Dynasty.

But now, the legendary hero has been transformed into a traitor who plots treason.

Such information shocked everyone, and it was no less than the treason committed by Lu Huan, the first assistant of the cabinet.

However, as the Great Qi Imperial Court posted notices to the people, people quickly learned about the whole incident-

Gu Xu secretly colluded with the Ghost King of Bishan and the Zhao clan of Youzhou, intending to break into the royal treasury through the "Luoshui Conference" and seize the "Jingshan Bi" of the Great Chu State Seal, so as to manipulate the evil qi and destroy the "Tianlong Great Array".

As long as the "Heavenly Dragon Array" is destroyed, the ghosts outside the city will break through the city walls and wantonly hunt and kill the people in the city.

After that, the Ghost King of Bishan and Zhao Changying, the Duke of Yanguo, also broke into the palace and tried to kill the emperor.

In order to stop them, both the Great Qi National Master and the Exorcist Division's Leader, Luo Chuan, were seriously injured and unconscious during the battle.

Fortunately, at the most dangerous time in Luojing City, His Majesty the Wise and Martial Emperor broke through the barrier, with one enemy and two, with strong strength and the blessing of God, killed the ghost king of Pishan, severely injured Zhao Changying, repaired the "Tianlong Array", and rescued the people of Luojing from the dire situation.

"Kill the traitor Gu Xu" was the first order personally issued by the emperor after leaving the customs.

If it weren't for the emperor's sharp eyes and discernment to expose the identity of this fang, I am afraid that this traitor would still be lurking in Luojing City and continue to plague the people of Daqi.

…………

For His Majesty the Emperor, the people of Daqi generally cherished an almost god-like worship.

In addition, the three of them became tigers and all of them were golden.

The people were quick to accept the imperial court's claims.

In the past, the praise, praise, and admiration for Gu Xu have turned into belittlement, rejection, and spurning.

For example, Longmen Academy, the moment he saw this notice, immediately crossed Gu Xu's name from the teaching roster to clear his relationship with Gu Xu.

For example, the Xiangyang Chen family, after learning this news, immediately burned the wedding gift that was going to be given to Gu Xu to ashes to show that he was not at odds with the national thief...... In other words, to show loyalty to the emperor.

There are also many people who have made up many different versions of stories around Gu Xu's identity as a "traitor", and talked about them after dinner.

Some people say that the reason why Gu Xu has a shocking speed to break through the realm is because he practiced the "Ghost Cultivation Method" of obtaining the true yuan by devouring other people's souls.

Some people say that the reason why Gu Xu is well-informed and knows all kinds of Dao moves in the world is because his true identity is a thousand-year-old ghost disguised as a human being, with a long lifespan and rich experience.

Some people also say that the reason why Gu Xu was able to escape death on Yishan Mountain was because he was originally a lackey and accomplice of the Kongxuansan people - he defeated many Tianjiao and won the inheritance of Laoshan Ruins, which is evidence. If it weren't for the saint arriving in time, I'm afraid that the entire Qingzhou Mansion would have been plagued by him.

……

These stories are more outrageous than the other, but there are many people who want to believe them and listen to them with relish.

After all, for these monks with mediocre qualifications and inaction, they are more willing to accept a monk who cultivates evil laws and has a bad character than a young Tianjiao who is extremely enlightened and wise.

It seems that pouring a stain on Gu Xu's glorious image can make them feel psychologically balanced.

…………

At this moment, Shi Lei, a thousand households in Laizhou Mansion, was pacing around the house, feeling irritable.

finally fell in love with an ideal son-in-law, and he was already preparing for the wedding with great fanfare, so that his daughter could marry decently and beautifully.

Unexpectedly, in one day, the son-in-law who was both talented and beautiful and had a promising future became a traitorous thief.

Shi Lei only found it difficult to accept.

He thought from the bottom of his heart that Gu Xu was a person with good character and could not do such a despicable thing.

If he was twenty years younger, he would definitely risk being beheaded, go to the Zichen Palace to meet the emperor, and ask him for evidence of Gu Xu's treason, so as to return Gu Xu's innocence.

But now, Shi Lei is older, and he is no longer the hot-blooded teenager who would fall out with his clansmen for love and report to the supervisory agency that superior officials accepted bribes.

He has been wiped out of his lust by many years of officialdom, and has been swept away by complex interests and personal contacts.

The grid in the chest has also unconsciously changed from "self-cultivation, family harmony, governing the country, and leveling the world" to "carefully sailing a boat for ten thousand years".

Now that he is an official, he no longer seeks to be promoted to an official position and make meritorious contributions, but only wants everything to be safe, not to make mistakes, not to offend people, and to do it safely and soundly.

Even for the sake of his daughter's future, he considered bringing gifts and privately going to say hello to the chief examiner of the promotion assessment - such an act was undoubtedly very despised by him when he was young.

Such a middle-aged man whose edges and corners have been smoothed out naturally would not risk angering the emperor in order to clear Gu Xu's grievances.

The emperor only ordered Gu Xu to be killed, without implicating his relatives and friends, which was already a great mercy.

If he annoys the emperor because of this matter and is regarded by the emperor as Gu Xu's comrade, then Shi Lei and his daughter Shi Xiaohan will not be able to save their lives.

Shi Lei certainly admires Gu Xu very much.

But appreciation, after all, is just appreciation, and it can't compare to his love for his daughter from the bone marrow.

As a father, as long as he can protect his daughter's life from danger, he is not afraid to sacrifice himself and does not mind sacrificing anyone else.

Therefore, after pondering for a long time, Shi Lei invited the matchmaker who had previously matched him to his home, and in front of them, took out the marriage letter of Gu Xu and Shi Xiaohan.

In the Great Qi Dynasty, marriage focused on "the order of the parents, the matchmaker", whether it was an engagement or a divorce, the presence of parents and matchmakers was required.

At the time of engagement, the matchmaker is responsible for writing the marriage book, and after it is written, it will be written in duplicate, and both the man and the woman will press the fingerprints and keep it separately.

Marriage between a man and a woman verbally in private has no legal effect.

At the time of divorce, if the two families reach an agreement, the matchmaker will also write a document to contact the marriage contract, and the man and woman will press their fingerprints, and then destroy the original marriage certificate and return their respective relatives.

Of course, if there are special circumstances, then special treatment is required.

For example, today, Gu Xu was not present, and Shi Xiaohan was still lying on the bed recuperating from his injuries, unable to wake up because he had taken the elixir to repair his soul.

Shi Lei took the marriage book, walked to the fireplace, took a deep breath, and threw it into the raging fire.

I only heard him say in a slightly trembling voice: "Gu ...... Gu Xu is a fang, monstrous and rebellious, without a father, a dog with a wolf's heart, collaborating with the enemy and treason, I ...... My whole family is old and young, and I vow to break with them and not share the sky.

"This marriage contract was signed by my daughter and I who had been deceived by his clever words and did not know his true face. Right now...... Now let's just think it never existed. ”

In the furnace, the blazing tongue of fire greedily licked the bright red wedding letter, and the black handwriting and two finger prints close together instantly turned into ashes.

Subsequently, Shi Lei instructed the servants to take out the dowry gifts that Gu Xu had sent before, including bridal cakes, seafood, tea, sesame seeds, cloth, etc., and stack them in the courtyard.

Gu Xu has now become a prisoner of the imperial court, and it is naturally impossible for the dowry to be returned the same way.

Therefore, Shi Lei used the fire of Zhenyuan and burned them all to ashes, to show that the Shi family and Gu Xu were cut in two, and they had nothing to do with each other from now on.

As for the "Nacai gift" sent by Gu Xu - two wild geese, Shi Lei opened the cage and released them into the sky, and they will go wherever they like in the future.

Just when Shi Lei was busy burning the dowry, Shi Xiaohan, who was lying on the bed to recuperate, had a nightmare.

In her dream, she saw Gu Xu walking along a narrow and rugged road, heading into the distance.

She ran as hard as she could, trying to catch up with him, but found herself standing still, only to watch him go farther and farther away before disappearing from view.

She shuddered and woke up from her nightmare.

Then she climbed out of bed in a white single dress and stumbled out of her room with her white and delicate feet.

She had a lot of questions in her stomach - such as where Gu Xu was now, whether he had been injured in the battle, and when he would come here to visit her...... I was going to ask my father one by one.

However, as soon as she walked into the courtyard, she saw her father burn all the dowry gifts that Gu Xu had sent before with the fire of Zhenyuan under the witness of the matchmakers.

The father looked tired, his eyes were red, and in a hoarse voice, he was repeating over and over again words such as "I want to break off relations with the national thief" and "I will not admit that this son-in-law who has committed a great crime of treason".

Looking at the dowry gifts turning into ashes in the raging fire, Shi Xiaohan's mind suddenly went blank.

She stepped on her weak legs and rushed forward, while shouting loudly over and over again: "Gu Xu is not a national thief!" He saved my life! Don't break the engagement! ”

But just a few steps after running, her legs went limp, and she fell to the ground, hurting her knees.

Seeing the baby daughter who fell, Shi Lei immediately frowned in distress.

He hurriedly stepped forward, stretched out his hand to help Shi Xiaohan up from the ground, and asked with concern, "Where did you fall?" Does it hurt terribly? Do you need me to help you get some medicine? ”

But Shi Xiaohan didn't pay attention to him at all.

She struggled, wanting to pull away Shi Lei's hands that were holding her and rescue Gu Xu's pile of dowry gifts from the raging fire.

But Shi Lei's arm was like steel, firmly encircling her, making her unable to break free.

"Xiao Han, don't do anything stupid," Shi Lei said to her bitterly, "I'm doing this for your own good." Gu Xu's current identity is a prisoner of the imperial court. There's no way I'm going to let you marry him again.

"My precious daughter is the most beautiful and wonderful girl in the world, and I will definitely meet better people in the future—

"-Except for Gu Xu, I won't marry anyone!" Shi Xiaohan shouted in a crying voice.

Shi Lei sighed silently.

He felt that this was his stupid daughter who couldn't accept the change in Gu Xu's identity for a while, so he was so excited.

But he believes that time can dilute everything, and it will also make ignorant young people mature.

When Xiaohan grows up, she should understand her good intentions, and she will gradually forget this youthful relationship and step into a new life.

So, he took out a bottle of sleep-aiding potion from the storage magic weapon and poured it into Shi Xiaohan's mouth.

The petite girl soon fell into a deep sleep and no longer struggled.

Then, Shi Lei carried his daughter back to the room, put her on the bed, and covered her with a quilt.

"I'm sorry, Han."

Looking at his daughter's sweet and quiet sleeping face, Shi Lei said softly, his eyes revealing complex emotions.

After staying for a while, he returned to the courtyard and said to the matchmakers around him: "The little woman has a simple personality, and she is not a good thing, she was deceived by Gu Xu's traitor, and she still remembers her...... Let everyone laugh. ”

The matchmakers said one after another that Gu Xu was good at disguise, and even the saints couldn't see through his true face, let alone a little girl who didn't know the world.

At the same time, they did not forget to take care of their business: if they wanted to choose another husband for their daughter in the future, or if they wanted to marry a wife for themselves, they must remember to contact them.

Shi Lei said polite words, and he just wanted to drive them out as soon as possible.

After Gu Xu and the dowry were burned, Shi Lei stood in the courtyard, looking at the clear blue sky above his head, and was silent for a long time.

Suddenly, he remembered Luo Sishou's prediction - "Gu Xu will be able to cultivate to the realm above the saint in the future." ”

Shi Lei thought: If Gu Xu is protected by God and successfully escapes this catastrophe, will there be one day in the future when he returns to Luojing City with a powerful and dazzling attitude to settle the current account?

But he quickly shook his head, banishing the ridiculous thought from his mind.

There are many strong people in the Great Qi Dynasty, and the vigilance is tight, and it is impossible for Gu Xu to have any chance of escaping safely.

Even if he really ran out of the country and cultivated to the realm above the saint, he might not be able to fight against the Tianxing Emperor.

Like Zhao Changying, the Duke of Yan Guo, isn't he the True Monarch of the Eighth Realm?

But he was still defeated by the hands of Emperor Tianxing.

"The emperor is invincible," Shi Lei told himself in his heart, "Xiaohan she...... She still has to work hard to adapt to the new life without Gu Xu in the future. ”

…………

Luojing City, Shouchangfang.

As the saying goes, "the tree falls and the tree scatters".

When Gu Xu changed from the pride of the sky to the traitorous thief that everyone shouted at, the pill workshop under his name no longer had a prosperous business and crowded scene, and became desolate and deserted.

Many monks in the workshop who came because of their admiration for Gu Xu's reputation also took their luggage and went their separate ways.

It stands to reason that Gu Xu committed treason, and all his property will be confiscated by the imperial court.

However, considering that "Shouchangfang" was originally the property of the Shi family, in order to appease the emotions of Shi Lei and his family, Princess Zhaoning, who presided over political affairs, handed it back to the Shi family.

It's just that the "Shouchangfang" plaque written by Gu Xu himself was rudely removed from the top of the gate by the officers and soldiers of the imperial court, thrown into the furnace, and burned to ashes.

At this moment, in front of the bare gate, Yang Shuo, the steward of the Shi family, was grabbing Shen Qiu's sleeve and tirelessly persuading: "Shen Gongzi, please stay!" This elixir workshop is your brainchild's work, can you bear to watch it decay day by day?

"Shen Gongzi, the Shi family is rich and has a strong foundation, and the treatment it can give you will definitely not be worse than that given to you by Gu Xu, a traitorous thief.

"Staying here, you can realize your ideals and ambitions without any scruples, and you don't have to worry about being implicated-"

"——These words were taught by Shi Qianhu!" Shen Qiu carried a light bag on his back and interrupted him in his usual sharp tone.

Steward Yang was stunned for a moment, then smiled bitterly and nodded: "You still guessed it." ”

He knew that the reason why "Shouchangfang" was able to develop and grow in a short period of time was because of Gu Xu's fame on the one hand, and because Shen Qiu was well managed on the other hand.

But now Gu Xu has become a wanted criminal.

If his disciple Shen Qiu also left, then this elixir workshop would be instantly beaten back to its original form.

Therefore, whether it is Shi Lei or Steward Yang, they all hope that Shen Qiu can stay and continue to operate this pill workshop.

Steward Yang paused for a moment, and then said, "But Shen Gongzi, you must know that Lord Shi is very sincere to you, and if you are willing to stay, he is willing to pay double the salary——"

"I refuse."

Shen Qiu said lightly as he pulled his sleeve out of Steward Yang's hand, and then turned around and walked towards the sparsely populated street.

He was very small, but the sun shone on him, and his shadow was stretched very long.

Steward Yang showed his skills and hurriedly caught up with him: "Shen Gongzi, do you really not think about it anymore?" You should know that your current identity is a bit sensitive, and if you leave here, you may not be able to find a better one in the future-"

"—tell Lord Shi for me," Shen Qiu interrupted him again, "I, Shen Qiu, will only recognize one Dong Weng in my life. ”..

As soon as he finished speaking, he disappeared at the end of the street. _&