Lei Qi and Zhang Ji came out of the empty house where the Qinglin python was placed.

Lei Qi thought for a while and said to Zhang Ji: "This male snake Neidan has been lost, and now it is just a piece of rotten meat." I think it's a fire. When the weather is hot, rot here, and the plague is more than worth the cost. ”

"I'll seal this house with a talisman first. It might be useful to keep the body around. Zhang Ji said.

"Are you done?!" Ji Cunyan was already waiting impatiently outside the door, and when she saw the two of them coming out, she immediately greeted them, and she asked Zhang Ji, "Is there anything I can't listen to?" ”

"You can't listen to it, you're still asking around." Zhang Ji said to Ji Cun, "Anyway, it doesn't matter if you know it or not." ”

"But I really want to know. So after thinking about it, when you come out, I will coerce and lure you, torture you to extract a confession, and pry open your mouth to ask for it. Ji Cunyan also waved his fist at Zhang Ji threateningly.

Zhang Ji frowned and pointed at Lei Qidao; "Why don't you torture your brother?"

"Do you think I can beat him?" Ji Cunyan said aggrievedly.

Lei Qi only glanced sideways at Ji Cunyan helplessly.

Zhang Ji and Ji were still talking, and Jin Zhutou came over with his subordinates.

He hurriedly arched his hand to the three of them and said, "Lord Lei, Miss Ji, and Xiao Zhang Tianshi, something happened again." ”

It turned out to be in the light sound painting boat of Tianxianglou, and there was another life lawsuit.

If it was an ordinary case, Jin Zhutou would naturally not come to inform Xuanjingtang and Zhang Ji. It's just that the death of the person is too bizarre.

The light sound painting boat is the industry of Tianxianglou, which is naturally the same as Tianxianglou, and it is a business of Qinglou. It's just that in the past few years, Suzhou boat banquets have been popular, and the boss of Tianxianglou has seen the business opportunities and made the Qinglou business on the river, bringing forth the new, and making more tricks to make more money. It is different from the Hong boat, since the boat has been around the city of Suzhou since noon, it has been circling the city of Suzhou non-stop, and even all night long, singing all night. When the curfew arrives on the second watch, the boat dances and plays for a while, but there will still be guests who stay overnight, and they will not get off the dock until dawn on the next day.

Today, as usual, the day was three poles, and the maids on the boat expected that the guests had already disembarked, so they began to count the various wings, clean and remove the dust, and then had to set sail again at noon, and the cycle repeated.

The two little maids found the body while cleaning a closed wing room on the third floor.

The corpse's face was blue and purple, its eyes were closed, and its eye sockets were deeply sunken, which was described as withered.

The three stood in front of the corpse's bed.

Ji Cunyan and Zhang Ji were surprised.

Ji Cunyan lost his voice and said, "Isn't this what Zhuang Gongzi is?" ”

Lei Qi turned back to her and asked, "Do you know the deceased?" ”

"He's a disciple, and he's very hateful. I was going to find the third brother to sue him, but I didn't expect him to die first. Ji Cun said, "But even if you die in the Qinglou, there is no accident." If you do a lot of unrighteousness and are greedy for wine, you will naturally have a shorter life than others. ”

Jin Zhutou said behind Lei Qi: "Lord Lei, please lift the quilt and take a look." ”

Lei Qi also felt that if it was just a dead prostitute on the flower boat, Jin Zhutou would not be able to mobilize the crowd to call all three of them. But in the boudoir of the Qinglou, lifting a male prostitute quilt is always not very elegant. Who knows what it looks like under the covers?

He looked at Ji Cunyan, who was still standing beside him curiously, and hesitated when he lifted the quilt.

Zhang Ji was much more direct, and he said to Ji Cun: "What are you still doing here?" Turn your face away. The man is lying on the bed and lifts the quilt, and you, a girl, come over to see. ”

Ji Cunyan's face was flushed by Zhang Ji's words, and he pinched him angrily before turning around, and covered his face with both hands.

Lei Qi smiled, and then lifted the quilt.

But the scene inside the quilt really scared Lei Qi and Zhang Ji.

There is no Zhuang Gongzi's corpse under this quilt, only a bed clothes, soaked in pus and blood, under the neck of half a truncated neck, the chest, abdomen and limbs have been dissolved by blood and water There are no slags left, and there are blood bubbles coming out of the broken neck, and Sen Sen's vertebrae are exposed outside the muscle skin, and there are pustules bubbling up.

Zhuang Gongzi's oligopoly head, with half of his neck, rested on a soft pillow. His clothes and trousers, laid flat on the bed, were already dyed red and yellow, but he could still pose as a human figure.

It's horrific and disgusting.

A few young people around Jin Zhutou couldn't stand it, and two or three reacted, couldn't help but feel nauseous, ran outside the house, lay on the wooden fence in the corridor, and vomited into the river.

Although Ji Cunyan didn't see the corpse, he also smelled a foul smell.

The stench was just covered by the brocade quilt, and it was suppressed by the thick smell of fat powder in the room, and it was not obvious. Now that the brocade has been lifted, the stench has exploded in the house, and it has come up all of a sudden.

Ji Cunyan couldn't help but turn around and saw this terrifying scene. She was also too frightened to speak, so she just hid behind Lei Qi and looked at the lone human head on the bed.

Lei Qi looked at Zhang Ji and said, "Zhang Zhenren, you said that if the person is not dead and the blood meridians are still running, the snake venom Neidan can dissolve the whole person, leaving only one head." I didn't believe it at first, and I can't help but believe it now. ”

Jin Zhutou said: "This is simply worse than those girls' deaths...... How can there be an ordinary case where this kind of death is done? It must also be a demon. ”

Coming out of the light sound painting boat, the three of them found a small teahouse to sit in, and no one spoke for a long time.

In this teahouse, there is a storyteller who is telling the story of "The Legend of the White Snake".

Speaking of the section where Bai Suzhen's water flooded the Golden Mountain, it was a wonderful place, and the rest of the tea guests forgot to eat and drink, and only stared at Mr. Storyteller.

Xiao Er served hot tea to the three of them, and ate melon seeds and peanuts, so he also sat aside and listened to the book.

Ji Cunyan said: "It's better to go to Leifeng Pagoda and ask the White Lady to come out and help us subdue her disciples and grandchildren!" ”

She was joking.

Zhang Ji took a sip of the tea bowl and began to peel the peanuts. He glanced at Ji Cunyan and said, "You're dreaming." Bai Suzhen is not a person, she really asked her to come out, she knew that you were going to kill her good grandson, first eat you in one bite, and then eat your senior brother in one bite. ”

Lei Qi only glanced at Zhang Ji and didn't speak.

"Phew! The White Lady is not that kind of person. ”

Zhang Ji said: "So you little girl, just embroider more at home and read books." Is your copy of "Bai Ze Supplement" still there? That's a good thing, and my brother even went to borrow it. ”

Ji Cunyan said: "It seems that there is a copy of "Bai Ze Supplement". But I haven't seen it, maybe it's the treasure of the town! Senior Brother Lei Qi, have you read it? ”

Lei Qi shook his head.

It is true that that book is a family heirloom of the Ji family.

The ancient divine book "Bai Zetu" [Note 1] was once as famous as the "Classic of Mountains and Seas", but it was lost in later generations and never seen by the world again. And "Bai Ze Supplement" is even rarer, and it is rare for people to see this book, even the half of the Ji family's book is also a remnant. is a general like Lei Qi, who has been raised in the Ji family since he was a child, and he has never seen it.

Zhang Ji said: "Folklore is mostly nonsense, maybe there are one or two of some origins that catch the wind and catch shadows, but after a long time, it has long been passed on by these word of mouth, and the tea shops in the market have been fabricated beyond recognition." If nothing else, let's talk about the fox demon! In the early years, the fox demon was an auspicious beast, and if there were nine tails, it would have to be a role that would be offered to the temple with the unicorn. It's a pity that the Nine-Tails are almost extinct now. …… Let's talk about "The Legend of the White Snake", today's version is just a happy ending that the people love to hear. But do you know what the original version looked like? [Note 2]"

"What does it look like?" Ji Cunyan asked.

Lei Qi said lightly on the side: "The white snake was beaten to death by Xu Xian. ”

"Huh? Senior Brother Lei Qi, you know it too! However, isn't Xu Xian the husband of the White Lady? Why did you beat your wife to death? ”

"The story of "The Legend of the White Snake" was originally just used to warn the world not to covet beauty and power, otherwise it will lead to death. But do the people like to hear this story? Naturally, I don't love it, and over time, the white lady has become a good goblin who saves the world. But don't talk about it, just say that the water is full of gold. Diverting water to flood Jinshan Temple sounds like a powerful spell, but if you think about it, how innocent are the people and farmers under Jinshan Temple? ”

Ji Cunyan tilted his head and thought for a long time before saying, "I really haven't thought about this." It turns out that there are still these claims. ”

When they walked into the teahouse, the three of them still had in their minds the terrible and tragic situation of Zhuang Gongzi's only one head left, and the smell of fishy and stinky carrion, so they really didn't have much appetite. Now that we have talked about some side things, the atmosphere has eased a little.

"There's one thing I'm still a little confused about." Lei Qi said, "Why did it take a few days for Dingkang Shizi's body to melt, and only his legs turned into pus and blood. But this Zhuang Gongzi, overnight, only has one head left? ”

Zhang Ji said: "I also have doubts about this matter and think it is strange. If you ask me why the two deceased died in different circumstances, there are many explanations. Either the physique of each person is different, maybe the prince of Dingkang is of royal blood and has the protection of the true dragon, so the road is shallow. Maybe it's that the snake demon who killed them is different, and the one who killed Zhuang Gongzi has better mana. It can digest a person's essence and blood overnight and integrate it into its own use. ”

"Huh? Could it be that there is a snake nest in Suzhou City? Ji Cun said.

Zhang Ji glanced at her and said, "You want to be beautiful!" If there really is a nest of snakes, and you slaughtered someone's grandson the night before yesterday, can they keep you to this day? That didn't flood Suzhou long ago. ”

This "The Legend of the White Snake" was finished by the storyteller, and the tea of the three of them was also drunk.

Out of the teahouse, Zhang Ji stopped Ji Cunyan and said, "My son will borrow you for two more days." ”

After speaking, the Gu King got out of Zhang Ji's collar and flew to Ji Cunyan's shoulder.

Ji Cunyan touched the Gu King's wings and said, "Really borrow me?" Thank you then! Good friend, help me thank you dad! ”

Who knew that the Gu King had already turned around and pointed his ass at Zhang Ji.

"You rebel!" Zhang Ji said angrily.

Ji Cunyan was amused by the two of them.

Zhang Ji said to Ji Cunyan: "I borrowed you because you are shallow, and I kept it to protect you." lest you be swallowed by some snake mother, snake grandmother for revenge. It's not for you to teach my son badly. What a tea bowl bath! I've never gotten used to it. Now I drink tea every day, and when I open the lid of tea, I have to see if it swims in it! ”

"Hahahaha......" Ji Cunyan smiled even happier.

Lei Qi shook his head slightly, but the corners of his mouth were raised by the two dolls, and he couldn't help laughing.

The three of them walked away. But no one noticed that a man dressed in black had been staring at them in the corner of the teahouse for a long time.

This man is not very old, and he is probably only a few years older than Zhang Ji. He has a handsome appearance, and his facial features are slightly feminine compared to Zhang Ji, but there is a dull and murderous aura between his eyebrows and eyes.

Two young women passed by him, because he was so good-looking, and he couldn't help but look back. Who knew that at this time, he suddenly frowned and raised his eyes to look at the two of them. The two women were so frightened that they walked away quickly.

There was also a young man beside him, who looked about the same age as Lei Qi.

The man picked up the teapot placed on the table, filled the man's teacup, and said, "That little Taoist priest in white looks not very old, but he speaks in an old-fashioned manner, and he has some good opinions. It doesn't look like an ordinary magic stick. ”

The man in black didn't say anything, but he looked at the backs of Lei Qi and the other three and disappeared across the corner.

"I didn't expect Xuanjing Hall to be there. With them stirring up the situation, I'm afraid this matter will be a little more difficult to do. ”

"Are these three people spies from the Xuanjing Hall?"

"Ah, the young master rarely deals with Xuanjing Hall, but I don't know. That very beautiful woman, the daughter of Ji Rufeng, the master of Xuanjing Hall, is named Ji Cunyan. Her third brother is the famous Ji Jingyang. The older one next to her was Lei Qi, one of the top ten masters of Xuanjing Hall. As for that little Taoist...... I haven't seen it yet. I listen to his accent, and I'm not from the capital. Master, what are we going to do next? ”

The man in black picked up the tea bowl, but put it down again, and only said: "Ji Jingyang didn't come, this matter is not difficult to do." It's going to take some work to deal with that giant snake. Since someone wants to come out, let them go! ”

[Note 1] "Bai Ze Tu" (also known as "Bai Ze Spirit Map") is a Chinese book of monsters, the history can be traced back to the Yellow Emperor period, it is said that the Yellow Emperor toured east to the seashore, encountered a mythical beast Bai Ze, Bai Ze is an auspicious beast, can speak people's words, through the feelings of all things, know the appearance of all things in the world. Bai Ze told the Yellow Emperor about the situation of monsters in the world, a total of 11,520 kinds, and the Yellow Emperor ordered someone to record it, which is "Bai Zetu". The version of this story is from the Song Dynasty Taoist book "Seven Notes on the Clouds".

"Bai Zetu" was already popular in the world in the last years of the Warring States period, and when the Han and Tang dynasties were most popular, this picture almost reached the level of one volume. It is said that if you can shout the name of the yokai in the picture, the yokai will disappear or be used by humans. But Gu Ben didn't know for what reason, it was lost. Fragments of Bai Zetu were unearthed in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, and now there are only two fragments, which are collected in the National Library of France and the British Library.

[Note 2] At the beginning of the story of "The Legend of the White Snake", the white snake was indeed not the image of the white lady today. And it is a poisonous snake that eats and harms people. In the early days, there was a version that the white snake was stoned to death by Xu Xian. And in some versions, there is a person named Li Huang, who was killed by the white snake, and his whole body turned into blood, leaving only one head......