In the dead of night, in the deserted suburbs outside the city, Zhao Xiao stood in front of the stone wall, holding a green pen in one hand and a military roster in the other. The tip of the pen condenses the golden sha, and the names of the fallen soldiers are engraved on the surface of the stone wall.

On the side, Zhang Yanshou held a candle in his hand, looking at the familiar or unfamiliar names on the stone wall, and couldn't stop his eyes from sour.

After burning all the names of the fallen soldiers, Zhao Xiao gently brushed his sleeves, blowing away the gravel all over the ground, and he looked back to see a large tomb in front of him, where the remains of those soldiers who could not find their families were buried.

The soul flags provoked with bamboo poles are like the big banners that command the three armies on the battlefield, and they move in the night wind.

In a trance, Zhao Xiao seemed to see the group of heroic soldiers who were desperate for their lives, and their souls seemed to be unable to stay here, and the military formations were lined up, and the momentum was overwhelming.

Zhao Xiao's eyes were hazy, standing in front of the mound of water and fire refining instruments, the law water cleansed, the Dan fire broke the filth, and all the soldiers were refined one by one.

"Goodbye to Deacon Zhao."

"Marquis Zhenming, take care!"

"Zhao Tou'er, you are a man who stands up to the sky!"

"Let's go first."

A goodbye, a word of cherishment, echoing between heaven and earth, the flat wind suddenly rose, blowing the soul flag flying, as if turning into a ladder to the sky, carrying the heroic soul up. The soldiers floated up and bowed to Zhao Xiao on the ground.

Zhang Yanshou didn't have the eyesight to see yin and yang, but at this moment, he also noticed a trace of abnormality, and couldn't help but pray silently.

When the wind stopped, the surrounding mounds were as quiet as ever, and there was not the slightest ghost, only ethereal and solemn.

After the ritual was completed, Zhang Yanshou saw Zhao Huang Muran standing for a long time, and carefully stepped forward to visit, and found that he was in tears.

"Zhao Changshi, you ......"

Zhao Xiao wiped away his tears, no matter how relieved others were, he always felt that it was his own incompetence that caused the death of the soldiers.

"It's all my fault." Zhao Xiao said: "I couldn't let the soldiers return to their hometowns safely. ”

Almost all of the villagers who came out of Qiaozhang Village died from the big snake candle. It was only because Zhao Huang was used to letting Zhang Yanshou be responsible for delivering letters to General Wei, so he was not in Pujia Pass at that time, and he was lucky to escape.

Only now he is going to return to his hometown alone, with the remains of everyone and the bereavement. Zhao Xiao couldn't even imagine how Zhang Yanshou would face his fellow countryman Paoze's family after returning to Qiaozhang Village? How do you tell the news?

Even if the refining soul rises, it senses the blessing of the deceased. But the families of the soldiers only hope that they can return home safely, and they may not be grateful to Zhao Xiao, only vicious swearing, and no amount of compensation is enough to recover.

Zhao Xiao's steps were heavy, and he came to a nearby tomb, where He Dangguan rested. Zhao Xiao took out the Jie Wei Jue, took the silk of clear gas and turned it into immortal brew, and then poured it in front of Hedangguan's grave.

"When we first met by chance in Longzangpu, you and I became acquainted with each other." Zhao Xiao's tone was heavy: "I originally planned that after this battle, I would promote you to the position of lieutenant, and ask for a good background that is justifiable, so that you don't always have to follow me as a guard." ”

In fact, after getting along with each other during these days, Zhao Huang also understood that He Dangguan did not have the qualifications and comprehension to cultivate immortals and learn the Tao, and the "Sumai Dan Heart Formula" taught to him did not have obvious progress.

The cultivation thing is barely coming, and if the qualifications are not suitable, there is no need to waste years here. Zhao Huang knew that He Dangguan wanted to get ahead and glorify his ancestors, so he originally wanted General Wei to include He Dangguan in the Wukui Army, but unfortunately the change in the situation caught people off guard.

At this moment, no matter how remorseful it is, it will not help, the big snake and the dark candle have been killed, and the ten witches of abundance and frustration have been destroyed, and after this frustration, the gods of the southern soil have no movement.

After packing up his things and leaving, Zhao Huang couldn't help but look back, on the desolate suburbs, the graves were undulating and overgrown, and only the lonely shadows of himself and Zhang Yanshou remained.

"Are you worried that no one will take care of this place in the future?" Suddenly, a voice came.

Zhao Xiao instantly held the Qingxuan pen, and saw an old man carrying a lantern on the side of the road, the light was dim, and his eyes were faintly visible.

Before the old man appeared, Zhao Xiao was unaware, and the experience of these days made him afraid that the person who came would not be good, so he asked vigilantly: "Who is Your Excellency?" Why is it here? ”

"My child is buried here, I want to come and see." The old man said.

Zhao Xiao didn't believe it, and said: "It's dark now, the old man might as well wait for dawn to come again." ”

The old man pointed to his covered eyes: "Little brother, do you think there is a difference between day and night for me?" ”

"It's a mystery." Zhao Xiao snorted coldly in a low voice, now he was in a bad mood and didn't want to debate with others.

The old man smiled: "The little brother has excellent eyesight, and he can see ghosts and gods, so I don't know if he can distinguish whether the world is dull or not?" ”

Zhao Xiao heard that there was something in the other party's words, so he frowned and asked, "Who are you?" ”

The old man chanted: "Wuwei is clear inside, the scene is bright outside, and it is really the way of prosperity, so it has become a high immortal." ”

Zhao Huang was well versed in the study of scriptures, and immediately understood what the other party was referring to, and asked slightly, "Are you ...... Mr. Jing Ming, one of the three elders of Chiyun? ”

"Exactly." The old man nodded.

"Why are you here?" While Zhao Xiao asked, he was on guard, while Zhang Yanshou looked shocked and puzzled.

"Rest assured, no one is watching nearby." Mr. Jingming said: "I am here to pay tribute to the deceased, and by the way, I would like to apologize. ”

"Excuse me?" Zhao Xiao was puzzled.

Mr. Jingming sighed: "Before, the Ten Witches of Fengfu raided Pujiaguan and Jiaoyu Cave, and we were also aware of it in Cangwuling. At that time, Huaiming was bent on going down the mountain to help you, but I dissuaded him. If he had helped, he might have been able to save more lives. I boast of giving up my naked eyes and gaining heavenly eyes, but I still have blind and short-sightedness. ”

Zhao Xiao said: "Your Excellency is serious, haven't you Chiyun already sent that faceless swordsman to rescue you?" Even the great snake possessed by the evil god was slain by him. ”

"I was about to explain this to you." Mr. Jing Ming said: "That swordsman is not a member of my Chiyun Capital, he is a member of his own opinion, and it is not something we can order and dispatch. ”

Zhao Xiao was taken aback, and hurriedly said: "But Chiyun is all cast into a divine sword in Xingluo County, how can outsiders be allowed to hold a sword?" ”

Mr. Jingming raised his hand lightly, motioned for Zhao Xiao and the two to sit down, and did not let Zhang Yanshou avoid it, he said: "You should know the identity of Yang Liujun, he is a clan relative of Huaxu State, and he was rescued by me Chiyundu after the Three Princes Rebellion. His wisdom and strategy are extraordinary, and after he joined the Red Cloud Capital, he assisted us in defeating the enemy several times, so he was deeply respected by his colleagues.

But Yang Liujun has an extreme temperament, and has a bitter hatred with Liang Tao, ten years ago after Chiyun was robbed and led the crowd to avoid Cangwuling, he was unwilling to be trapped in the poor mountains and bad waters, and always thought that he would raise troops in various parts of Huaxu State.

There were also a group of disciples in Chiyun Capital who had a fierce hatred, so they ran away with Yang Liujun, and finally chose to raise another army in Xingluo County. As for the matter of the Excalibur, it was more that Yang Liujun planned and arranged it with others, although he heard about it in Cangwuling, he did not interfere. ”

Zhao Xiao thought for a moment and said: "I actually suspected for a long time that Yang Liujun had a relationship with a certain high-ranking person in the court. The Gangfeng Post Banner they refined in Xingluo County was based on Yunjin, and such things were not available to the Emperor of the Central Dynasty. In this way, Yang Liujun forged the divine sword in Xingluo County, and he also got the help of this big man? ”

"You guessed it yourself." Mr. Jing Ming was noncommittal.

Zhao Xiao's eyes were deep, Mr. Jingming should know the identity of this person, but he obviously didn't intend to say it.

"Your Excellency has come to inform you of this, I don't know what to advise?" Zhao Xiao asked.

"I can't talk about advice." Mr. Jingming said: "I want to ask you, what do you think of Liang Tao? ”

Zhao Xiao really didn't know how to answer for a while, knocked on his knees and muttered: "If you talk about the realm of cultivation, even if Liang Guoshi is not the first person in Kunlun Continent, there are few people who can compare with him in the world. It's just that he is not as quiet and inactive as the immortal family outside the world, he has great plans and deep scheming. ”

"With transcendent cultivation, you will naturally have desires that are far superior to those of mortals." Mr. Jing Ming said: "Even if they are immortal families, they will inevitably give birth to their own profound mystic methods and intentions to promote the vast mind.

For example, in Liang Tao's generation, what he did was not out of the desire of ordinary people to satisfy their own selfish desires, but believed that what he cultivated and realized pointed directly to the avenue, and believed that only he could enlighten sentient beings. What's more, only the door he opens is authentic, and everything else is a side door. ”

Zhao Xiao was not shocked when he heard this, but had a feeling of enlightenment. In the past, he always lacked a deep enough understanding of Liang Tao's intention to create a human dao country, and felt that with Liang Tao's cultivation realm and status, there was really no need to get involved in the mortal world in order to satisfy his own selfish desires, so that he was a little troubled.

But now listening to what Mr. Jingming said, Liang Tao created a Taoist kingdom on earth, although he also had selfish desires, but it has gone beyond the pursuit of ordinary people's reputation and power, and is almost an "ideal".

"However......" Zhao Xiao's doubts were not dispelled: "Liang Guoshi can be said to be unscrupulous in order to achieve his goal. In order to prove one's own enlightenment, one does not hesitate to kill and even persecute others, can one still preach in this way? ”

Mr. Jing Ming shook his head lightly: "If he wants to prove his own enlightenment and ignores the good and evil he has created, and is proud of all sentient beings and does not think of others, if he can preach the Tao, he will become a great harm to heaven and earth, and a thief of the immortal path." Liang Tao's genius lies in his cultivation realm, but the harm also lies in this.

Just like a high-ranking person, if he has the people in mind, he will naturally benefit all the people and protect the country and the country; If you only seek to satisfy your selfish desires, bend the law for bribes, and steal public weapons, you will have endless consequences. ”

Zhao Xiao pondered for a long time when he heard this, and then asked, "Do you want me to do anything when you explain this matter?" ”

Mr. Jingming said: "With your cultivation, if you want to directly rebel against Liang Tao, it is difficult to do it, and we will not force others to do it." But I hope you think about it, where will you stand on the day when Liang Tao's enlightenment is successful? Is it possible to have the names of many unknown people inscribed as we do today? ”

Zhao Huang didn't answer, Mr. Jingming got up slowly, and handed the lantern in his hand to Zhao Xiao: "The road ahead is dark and dangerous, you have to be careful." ”

"Thank you." Zhao Xiao took the lantern and bowed down to thank him, but he didn't wait for the other party to go away, and hurriedly said: "The person next to me is called Zhang Yanshou, who is also from overseas Chinese Zhang Village, I don't know what Mr. Jingming thinks?" ”

"The roots and bones are indeed good, and it is rare to have a stable heart." Mr. Jingming patted Zhang Yanshou on the shoulder: "Returning to Qiaozhang Village first and appeasing the villagers is the test before spreading the Fa." ”

Zhang Yanshou bowed his head and said yes, but he didn't get carried away. Zhao Xiao knew at a glance that this person was a rare immortal cultivator, and if he made a good allocation, his achievements in the future would be limitless.

……

Zhao Xiao knocked on the door, and after a while, he heard Lu Wangji in the house say, "Marquis Zhenming, please come in." ”

When I pushed the door into the house, I saw Lu Wangji sitting on the couch, still wearing a hat and not showing his face indoors.

Zhao Huang once vaguely saw Lu Wangji's face scarred, seeing her like this, he sighed in his heart, and stepped forward to ask: "How is Daoyou's injury?" ”

"I can't walk on the ground yet, but I'm alive, thank you for your concern." Lu Wangji said.

Zhao Xiao looked depressed: "I dragged down my fellow Daoists, and I also caused your teacher's Yaoqin to be destroyed." ”

"Marquis Zhenming doesn't have to be like this." Lu Wangji shook his head slightly: "Tangible things will eventually decay, so you don't need to care too much." ”

"The more Daoist friends say this, the more guilty I feel." Zhao Xiao held his forehead and said: "Later, I may have to go back to Dongshengdu, if I have leisure, I plan to cut the wooden piano for Daoyou, is Daoyou willing to go along?" ”

"It's nature." Lu Wangji saw that Zhao Huang Meiyu was sad, and said: "Marquis Zhenming, it's good to have a heart, but don't be too worried." ”

"Yes."

Just as he was about to chat a few words, someone suddenly came from outside the house saying that the front-line soldiers had returned, and Zhao Xiao had to leave and be busy.

"Marquis Zhenming! Are you okay? ”

Ding Muqiu hurried to the mansion in a hurry, and when he came up, he said: "Don't you know, we heard on the front line that the Fengfu Ten Witches raided the Jiaoyu Cave and Pujia Pass, and everyone was nervous, lest you Zhenming Marquis have an accident." ”

There was a disciple of the Mingxia Pavilion next to him who covered his mouth and smiled: "Obviously, senior sister, you can't forget it, and you are clamoring to go back to Pujia Pass, or the first seat to come forward and not allow you to make trouble." ”

"If you don't say a word, you'll die!" Ding Muqiu immediately went up and blocked the mouth of the same door.

Zhao Xiao couldn't help but smile bitterly when he saw them making trouble. Although the battle is fierce, in the final analysis, it is only a matter of half a day, and when the news reaches the front line, everything is over. Zhang Duanjing then sent a message to General Wei, so he did not let the front-line soldiers and horses return in a big way.

"You guys are coming back now, so that means the battle is over?" Zhao Xiao asked.

Ding Muqiu looked unpleasant: "Don't mention it, those Jiuli barbarians run faster than rabbits." We don't have a few serious battles on the front line at all, and it's better to kill outside Dantu County! ”

"It's good if you don't have it." Zhao Xiao had personally experienced the sea of corpses and blood, and he really didn't want these fellow Daoists to face the fierce battle.

"I almost forgot, this is a letter from General Wei to you." Ding Muqiu handed a letter to Zhao Xiao.

Zhao Xiao glanced at it, it was not Yu Yu's military situation, but a personal private message. He opened it and flipped through it, and General Wei said in the letter that he would return to the court to report on his work later, and he guessed that Zhao Huang would not be able to stay at Pujia Pass for a long time, reminding him that if the court has a will, don't contradict and disobey -

"Wu Kuijun is the painstaking work of you and me, despicable people to select generals, Zhao Hou for the teacher to educate people, if you indulge in a momentary situation, I am afraid that the generals and soldiers of the army will reappear in the past Tianlu and Chiyun. Now that the war has been decided, Zhao Hou has become famous and mighty Kunlun, why not get drunk and lie in the mountains and forests and enjoy quiet and wealth? Zhao Hou is a person of extreme intelligence, and he should think about the way to advance and retreat, and be cautious. ”