"Shen Wu, this is Shen Lang Shen Catcher of the Divine Capture Hall. Don't hurry up and salute Shen Zhutou. ”

Hearing what Master Zhou said, Shen Wu, the tall and heroic disciple of the head of the family, was slightly stunned, and waved his hand at Shen Lang:

Shen Wu paid a visit to Shen Zhutou. Shen Zhutou's prestige is like thunder, and when I saw it today, it really deserved its name. ”

Prestige like thunder?

Dude, is it already famous now?

Well, it should be.

After He Wei and Feng Wei heard my name clearly, they were directly frightened and knelt down.

When Master Zhou heard that I was coming, he hurriedly took eight elders out to greet me, as if he had been raided by a big leader.

But judging from the reactions of He Wei, Feng Wei, Zhou Zhangmen and others, the reputation of buddies may not be very kind......

Shen Lang muttered in his heart, glanced at Shen Wu's expression and posture, and secretly thought in his heart:

I Shen Zhutou shocked the rivers and lakes, He and Feng were scared by my name, and the head of Zhou was also a little too enthusiastic, Shen Wu, this kid, claimed to be "like thunder" to my prestige, but his face did not change, he was calm, and there was no abnormality at all......

Is it because when he was thirteen years old, he dared to climb the iron rope to cross the hundred-zhang deep gorge?

Or is he not afraid of ghosts knocking on the door?

Or......

He had long been mentally prepared for the arrival of the Divine Hunting Hall?

Shen Lang is now like an old catcher, and he began to habitually doubt everything, just because Shen Wu was too calm when facing him, he had some doubts in his heart, but of course his face was silent, only smiled slightly, and said:

"No need to be polite. Brother Shen is worthy of being the head disciple of the Wind Chasing Sect, and he really has the mastery bearing of Yuanting Yuezhi. ”

Shen Wu said in a deep voice:

"It should not be praised. Shen Zhutou is powerful and famous all over the world, Shen Zhutou is in front of him, who dares to boast of a master? ”

Shen Lang smiled, didn't talk nonsense, and went straight to the point:

"I came here today to ask your faction to help investigate a case. Brother Shen, Cheng Xin and Guan Yue, you are familiar with them, right? ”

Shen Wudao:

"Of course. Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Sister Guan went to the mountain to learn art six years ago, and I was responsible for receiving the new junior brothers and sisters, and I got to know them. After that, there were often contacts in the mountain gate. ”

Shen Lang nodded, and asked again:

"Cheng Xin and Guan Yue came out of the school in July last year, and went to work in the dart bureau under the name of the advanced wind chasing faction, and later found a better way, so they resigned from the dart bureau and went to Tongshan County to work. I heard that the road in Tongshan County was introduced by you? ”

Shen Wu replied honestly:

"Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Sister Guan's families have been farming for generations, but they don't have any land in their own homes, so they have to rent the fields of large households and be exploited by large households. He also had several younger siblings each, and his family was very poor.

"They work in the dart bureau under the name of our faction, although they have no worries about food and clothing, and they can save some extra money, but if they want their parents and younger siblings to live a good life, they can't do it in three or five years. So I introduced them to a new errand. ”

Shen Lang's heart moved and asked:

"It's not that they begged you to help them find a way, but that you took the initiative to introduce them to an errand?"

Shen Wu said calmly:

"As the head of the family, it is my duty to help my younger brothers and sisters."

Hearing this, all the elders bowed their heads and showed approval.

Although Master Zhou didn't have much expression on his face, there was a faint sense of pride in his eyes, and some disciples were angry, and he felt a sense of relief.

Shen Lang remained silent and said lightly:

"What errand did you introduce them to Tongshan County?"

Shen Wudao:

"It was to introduce them to the mine of Hu Yuanwai's family in Tongshan County......

Tongshan County has had a lot of copper mines since ancient times, and it has not been mined to this day.

Of course, after years of mining, the mines that are easy to mine have been excavated, and the remaining mines are mostly in the deep mountains and old forests, not only many poisonous insects and beasts, but also occasionally some strange beasts and even low-grade demon beasts that are quite threatening to ordinary people.

From time to time, bandits and thieves wander the mountains.

The government thought that the mining cost of those mines was too high, so they contracted them to the big families in Tongshan County.

Shen Wu happened to know a big family surnamed Hu who had contracted the mine, so he introduced Cheng Xin and Guan Yue to work in the past, mainly responsible for maintaining the safety of the mining area, expelling strange beasts and demon beasts, and preventing bandits.

Although the work is a little hard and a little dangerous, the income is many times higher than working in the dart game.

Cheng Xin and Guan Yue were very satisfied with this job, and went to Tongshan County to do things in September last year.

After listening to Shen Wu's story, Shen Lang asked again:

"How did Brother Shen get acquainted with that Hu Yuanwai?"

Shen Wudao: "This matter is quite a coincidence......

Listening to him, his experience of getting to know Hu Yuanwai was not an ordinary coincidence, but a coincidence that it was like a story.

The year before last, Shen Wu traveled down the mountain, passing through Tongshan County, and encountered a flower thief who wanted to plot against a young girl.

There were also a few guards around the girl, but they were all mediocre in martial arts, and they were easily put down by the flower thief.

However, when the flower thief was about to drag the girl into the grove to do whatever he wanted, he happened to be bumped into by Shen Wu, who happened to pass by, and knocked down the flower thief in a few tricks and saved the girl.

And that girl is the daughter of Hu Yuanwai's family in Tongshan County.

Shen Wu is tall and heroic, with extraordinary bearing and strong martial arts, although his original background is not good, he is the head disciple of the first major faction in Wuyang Mansion, and he will be able to inherit the mantle of the head of the sect and take charge of the sect in the future, and now this status is not low.

So when Shen Wu sent the flower thief to the Tongshan County Ya and escorted Miss Hu home home, Hu Yuanwai was extremely enthusiastic about him, and his words were quite a bit of marrying a daughter.

But Shen Wu's martial arts at that time were already the best of the five grades, and he was concentrating on the four grades, and his travels down the mountain were also for the accumulation of the four grades. Therefore, he politely rejected Hu Yuanwai's good intentions.

Hu Yuanwai is also an open-minded person, and he is not angry because of this, and still regards Shen Wu as a great benefactor.

With this relationship, Shen Wu wrote a letter to introduce Cheng Xin and Guan Yue to go to Hujia Mine to do things, and Hu Yuanwai arranged it happily.

After listening to this introduction, Shen Lang bowed his head quietly and asked:

"When is the Hujia Mine on vacation before the Chinese New Year? When will work after the year? ”

Shen Wu hesitated:

"This ...... I don't know how to take a vacation during the New Year of Hujia Mine. However, the customs of Fucheng, folk workshops, industrial and mining, are generally 25 days off before the year, and they will only go to work after the 10th day of the Lunar New Year. ”

Shen Lang stroked his chin thoughtfully.

He and his senior sister returned to Jingshi from Xianwu Mountain, and the night they found the victim of the Four-Winged Demon Owl halfway was the sixth day of the Lunar New Year. Judging from the condition of Cheng Xin and Guan Yue's bodies, they have not been dead for more than two days, and they should have been killed on the fourth or fifth day of the new year.

If the New Year customs of Tongshan County are the same as those of Fucheng, then Cheng Xin and Guan Yue should be celebrating the New Year in their respective homes when they were killed.

But the conclusion of Venerable Liuli's calculation was that the last place where they appeared was in Tongshan County.

In other words, during the New Year vacation, Cheng Xin and Guan Yue did not go home and were still stranded in Tongshan County?

However, judging from the family background of Cheng and Guan, as well as their willingness to urgently help their families and improve their family situation, during the Chinese New Year, they should go home with the salary they earned last year and let the family have a good New Year.

Therefore, Cheng and Guan went home for the New Year, and on the first and second days of the Lunar New Year, they couldn't wait to return to Tongshan County?

After groaning for a while, Shen Lang looked at Shen Wu and said:

"Brother Shen, do you know where Cheng Xin and Guan Yue's family are?"

Shen Wu nodded:

"Yes. It is in Pingpo Township, less than fifty miles away from Fucheng. ”

"Okay, then ask Brother Shen to accompany me to Pingpo Township." Shen Lang stood up and looked at Master Zhou: "Master Zhou, borrow your eldest disciple to assist me in investigating the case, no problem, right?" ”

Master Zhou also hurriedly got up, with a smile on his face:

"Absolutely. Being able to assist Shen Zhutou in investigating the case is a blessing for Shen Wu. ”

Shen Lang bowed his hand to Master Zhou:

"In this way, thank you to Master Zhou for your hospitality. Shen was busy with official business, so he didn't bother and said goodbye. ”

With that, he arched his hand to the elders and strode towards the door.

Zhou Zhangmen and the elders hurriedly got up to see him off, not only sent him out of the mountain gate hall, but also sent him all the way to the deep gorge rope bridge, and even wanted to send him down the mountain, but was repeatedly dissuaded by Shen Lang, Zhou Zhangmen and others stopped in front of the rope bridge, and watched Shen Lang and Shen Wu cross the bridge and leave.

After the backs of the two disappeared, an elder whispered:

"Boss, Shen Wu assisted Shen Zhutou in handling the case this time, if he can be favored by Shen Zhutou, join the Shen Zhutou Hall......"

Master Zhou put his hands behind his back and said lightly:

"Join the Divine Hunting Hall? Shenzhutang does have an excellent reputation among the people, but in the martial arts of the rivers and lakes, it has a mixed reputation. As for officialdom...... Hey, that's a god-abomination! It is said that even the emperor did not want to see them.

"If you enter the Shenzhu Hall, don't think about getting promoted and getting rich. However, it is bloody and bloody, cold knives and dark arrows are often accompanied by him. In short, those who can continue to do it in the Divine Capture Hall are not normal people. ”

The Foreign Affairs Elder sighed:

"The head is right, many people in the rivers and lakes say that the people in the Divine Hunting Hall are all crazy and crazy. But there are also many people in the rivers and lakes who say that the people in the Shenzhutang are all heroes. As for who they are, it is up to the wise to see what they are. ”

Master Zhou smiled:

"In short, Shen Wu is neither a madman nor a madman, nor can he be a hero like the people of the Divine Hunting Hall. Once in a while, when the road is uneven, reaching out to do something good is already very good.

"Let's not worry about having a relationship with the Divine Capture Hall." When Yan Tianying, the head of the heroes, is here, the Divine Capture Hall will naturally be majestic, but what if Yan Tianying will fly up in the future?

"Without Yan Tianying, we will rely on the three evil stars...... Oh, now it's the Big Four. Relying on the four evil stars, can the Divine Capture Hall continue to exist despite the hatred of the Manchu Dynasty's civil and military forces, and even the royal nobles? I look hanging! ”

……

Shen Lang and Shen Wu performed light skills, and soon went down Xiaoyue Mountain, and then rushed to Pingpo Township under Shen Wu's lead.

On the way, Shen Wu opened his mouth and asked:

"Shen Zhutou, what happened to my senior brother Cheng and senior sister Guan?"

Shen Lang said lightly:

"They're dead."

"Dead?" Shen Wu was shocked and lost his voice: "How can this be? ”

And in an almost questioning tone, he asked:

"How did they die? But to be killed? Who killed them? ”

Shen Lang glanced at Shen Wu out of the corner of his eye, and his tone was flat:

"I'm looking it up."

“……”

Shen Wu's face was ugly, and he was silent for a while before he said astringently:

"I'm sorry, Shen Zhutou, Shen lost his temper."

Shen Lang's tone was calm and unwavering:

"It's okay, the same siblings were killed, and Brother Shen was angry and lost his temper, which is really human nature."

Shen Wu was silent for a while and said:

"Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Sister Guan were killed, Hu Yuanwai didn't tell me."

Shen Lang said lightly:

"If Tongshan County had only resumed work on the tenth day of the first month, Cheng and Guan should have been on New Year's holiday when they were killed. Today is only the seventh day of the first lunar month, and it is not yet the day to resume work, and the Hu family may not know that Cheng and Guan have been killed and disappeared. ”

Shen Wu asked:

"Where were Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Sister Guan killed? Why did it alarm the Divine Capture Hall? ”

The manpower of the Divine Arrest Hall is extremely limited, so ordinary homicide cases are basically only handled in the nearby capital.

Ordinary homicides in the local area generally do not work out of the court.

The heads of the Shenzhutang went out of Beijing, and they were basically big and important cases, or some extremely vicious, extremely cruel and cunning murderers and bandits who could not be handled locally.

A local sect like the Wind Chasing Sect has two ordinary disciples who have died, and the case can reach the level of the government at most.

Recently, the "cold-blooded massacre" who became famous in the rivers and lakes went out of Beijing to investigate the murder of Cheng Xin and Guan Yue, and Shen Wu felt that this case may not be simple.

"The facts of the case are confidential, and it is inconvenient to say them clearly."

Shen Lang said lightly:

"As for why it alarmed the Divine Capture Hall, I can only say that it coincided with the meeting."

Shen Wu sighed and said:

"My younger brother and sister were killed, and I was sad and angry in my heart, and I took the liberty to inquire into secrets, and I also hoped that Shen would catch Haihan."

"Nothing. Brother Shen has a deep brotherhood, how can Shen blame? ”

After chatting casually all the way, Shen Lang fell silent and concentrated on hurrying.

Shen Wu has a four-grade entry-level cultivation, and he is also a big disciple of the Wind Chasing School who specializes in light skills and leg techniques, and his feet are extremely fast, and within half an hour, he took Shen Lang to Pingpo Township and found Cheng Xin's home.

Cheng Xin's house is a small farm yard nestled in the woods, with earthen walls, thatched roofs, and fences made of bamboo, and it looks really poor.

When Shen Lang followed Shen Wu to the outside of the courtyard, a little girl with slightly dark skin and a thin body, wearing a new large red cotton jacket and a red head rope, was feeding the chickens in the yard.

When she saw Shen Lang through the fence, there was obviously a hint of timidity in the little girl's eyes, but when she saw Shen Wu, she suddenly became happy, put down the dustpan and came over to open the door:

"Senior brother, why are you here?"

Shen Wu introduced Shen Lang:

"This is Cheng Xin's youngest sister Cheng Qiao'er, I have visited here twice with Cheng Xin before, and the Cheng family knows me, and Cheng Xin's younger brothers and sisters also call me senior brother with Cheng Xin."

As she spoke, Cheng Qiaoer had already come over and opened the courtyard door, warmly welcomed Shen Wu and Shen Lang in, and ran to the front of the main house and shouted:

"Father, mother, second brother, third brother, second sister, senior brother is here!"

Soon, the door of the main room opened, and a large family came out, all wearing brand-new cotton jackets, but two lean teenagers who looked thirteen or fourteen years old, twelve or thirteen years old, and a thin girl of fourteen or fifteen years old, both had cotton jackets one size larger.

Cheng Xin's parents are honest old farmers, and they have to kowtow to Shen Wu when they come out.

Shen Wu hurriedly helped him up and said in a loud voice:

"I can't do it! I am the same generation as Senior Brother Cheng, and you are my elders, how dare I accept this great gift? ”

With a wrinkled face, dark skin, and gray hair, Cheng's father, who looked like a little old man in his sixties, was speechless. Cheng's mother, who is also old, but more able to speak, said gratefully:

"Thanks to the elder brother who found a good way for Xin'er and made a lot of money, our family was able to pay off the loan, and after a good year, they made new cotton clothes for the second and third children, and also ate pork dumplings......

"If it weren't for the kindness of the elder brother, how could our family live such a good life? Senior brother is the great benefactor of my family, I have to kowtow to senior brother! The second, third, grain, Qiao'er, don't you want to kowtow to the senior brother? ”

A few small ones hurriedly bowed their heads, Shen Wu hurriedly waved his hand, and a wave of invisible qi lifted them up, his eyes were complicated, and he said with a smile:

"You don't have to be so polite...... I, I just happened to be passing by Pingpo Township, and I came to see you guys by the way. What about Cheng Xin? Why is he not at home for the New Year? ”

Cheng Mu smiled:

"Xin'er only arrived home on the 28th of last year, helped pay off the debt, bought New Year's goods, built a fence, repaired the roof, and went out on the first day of the Lunar New Year."

Shen Wuqi said:

"Going out on the first day of junior high school? Why leave so early? ”

Cheng's mother replied:

Xin'er said that the second year of junior high school on the east side will start work, and he must go over to do things earlier. Although the New Year's work is a little unkind, but the owner of the salary is good, these days of the New Year, the daily salary is three times that of weekdays, Xin'er wants to make more money, for the family to build a big house......"

Speaking of this, a proud smile appeared on her face, but her eyes were a little red, and there were faint tears in the corners of her eyes, obviously proud of her eldest child's sensible and capable, and distressed about her eldest child's hard work.

This scene, with Shen Lang's soft heart, he couldn't stand it at all, and turned around and walked out of the yard.

Shen Wu also smiled very reluctantly, his voice was a little weak, and he forced himself to talk to Cheng's mother, who didn't know anything.

Shen Lang walked out of the fence yard, with his back to the gate of Cheng's courtyard, raised his eyes to look at the mountains in the distance, and the sound of Shen Wu and Cheng's mother talking in the back came into his ears from time to time.

"Senior brother, that senior brother...... Why did you go out? But did we snub him? ”

When she said this, Cheng Mu's voice sounded a little panicked.

"Nope. That Brother Shen is not a member of our Wind Chasing Sect, he is a friend I made on the rivers and lakes, but I don't know Senior Brother Cheng...... He has a cold temperament, or he can't stand your enthusiasm, haha, in fact, I can't resist it...... By the way, did Cheng Xin come back with Guan Yue? ”

"yes. Xin'er and Yue'er came back together, and they also walked together. On the official side, it was also the blessing of the elder brother, who paid off the debts, bought New Year's goods, and put on new clothes. The two of them went up the mountain to learn art together, and after the art was completed, they also came out to do things together...... We discussed it with the old men of the official family, and at the end of this year, when they went home for the New Year, we took care of their affairs......"

Hearing this, Shen Lang couldn't help but walk farther away.

After a while, the voices of Cheng's father, Cheng's mother, and Cheng's younger brothers and sisters came from the rear:

"Senior brother, let's go after dinner! Today I ate leek pork dumplings and pancakes with pork ......"

"Senior brother, don't go, tell us the story of martial arts."

"Senior brother, this is my embroidered handkerchief......

When Shen Wu said goodbye to the Cheng family, he still had a smile on his face, but as soon as he left the sight of the Cheng family and came to Shen Lang's side, the smile on his face disappeared, and he said in a gloomy voice:

"Shen Zhutou, there is a reluctant request below......"

Shen Lang said lightly:

"If it's a reluctant invitation, don't say it."

Shen Wu was stunned, and a flash of anger flashed in his eyes:

"I just want to avenge my younger brothers and sisters, why is Shen Zhutou so unkind? You also saw it, Cheng Jia......"

"Needless to say." Shen Lang interrupted him, his face was calm, and his tone was flat: "You can't afford to mix the case that the Divine Capture Hall interfered in, and you can't afford to mix it up with the entire Wind Chasing Sect." ”

“……”

Shen Wu clenched his hands into fists, his eyes were red, he gritted his teeth for a while, and finally sighed gloomily and said gloomily:

"Shen Zhutou is right, it's me who can't help myself."

Shen Lang raised his hand and patted him on the shoulder:

"Don't be frustrated, assisting me in investigating the case and looking for clues is also avenging Cheng Xin and Guan Yue."

Shen Wu nodded, raised his hand to wipe his face, cheered up, and said:

"Are you going to the official's house next?"

In fact, when he came to Cheng's house, he had already asked for the news that Shen Lang wanted to know.

But in order to ensure that the news was correct, Shen Lang still went to the official's house with Shen Wu, and saw a scene that he couldn't bear to see.

The news from the official family is the same as the Cheng family, Guan Yue went out on the first day of the New Year and returned to Tongshan County with Cheng Xin to start work.

When he said goodbye to the official family and left, Shen Wu's face became even more gloomy, and his eyes became more and more depressed.

Shen Lang didn't say anything, left Pingpo Township, and went straight to Tongshan County.

Shen Wu followed silently, was silent for a while, and suddenly said:

"Shen Zhutou, I think there is something wrong with the Hu family."

"Oh? What do you think? ”

"I entrusted Cheng Xin and Guan Yue to Hu Yuanwai, and Hu Yuanwai should also promise to take care of them, but since the second year of junior high school started, Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Sister Guan should have returned to Tongshan a long time ago, and the two of them were killed, why didn't Hu Yuanwai know me?"

"The bodies of Cheng and Guan are not in Tongshan County."

"But that's missing too! Hu Yuanwai should inform me! ”

"It may also be that they have just returned to Tongshan County and disappeared in the middle of the mine before they have even entered the mine to report. Hu Yuanwai didn't know that the two of them had returned to Tongshan. ”

Although the date of death of Cheng and Guan was the fourth or fifth day of the Lunar New Year, it does not mean that they disappeared on those two days.

It may also be that he was taken away and locked up for a few days when he returned to Tongshan on the first day of the new year, and he was not fed to the four-winged demon until the fourth or fifth day of the first month.

"But they didn't go to work in the second year of junior high school, don't Hu Yuanwai think it's strange?"

"Maybe it's because it's all voluntary? They didn't go to work, Hu Yuanwai thought they were going to accompany their families during the New Year, and they didn't want to earn three times their salary? And now it's not yet the day of normal work, Hu Yuanwai thinks they are still at home for the New Year? ”

"What does Shen Zhutou mean is that there is no problem with Hu Yuanwai?"

Shen Lang hurried away like a lightning bolt, and said lightly:

"No, I'm just listing the possibilities."

Is there any suspicion outside Hu Yuanwai?

The suspicion is too great!

But Shenwu is also suspicious.

But Shen Lang will not arbitrarily conclude that Shen Wu has a problem, and he will also list various possibilities to rule out Shen Wu's suspicion.

"When I arrived in Tongshan County, I personally went to question Hu Yuanwai. If he has any questions, just ask! ”

"Nope. Let's not go to Hu Yuanwai first. ”

Shen Wu was stunned: "Why? ”

Shen Lang said: "If he insists that he hasn't seen Cheng Xin and Guan Yue, how will you stay?" ”

Shen Wu was unconvinced: "How dare he lie in front of us as an ordinary person?" Even if you lie, you can't hide it from me! ”

Ordinary people lie, even if their faces do not change, their heartbeat and pulse will change.

With the entry-level martial arts cultivation of the fourth rank of Shen Wu, under the concentrating perception, it is impossible to hide the subtle changes in the heartbeat and pulse of ordinary people.

Shen Lang said lightly: "If he is really related to the deaths of Cheng Xin and Guan Yue, then he will not be an ordinary person." ”

If Hu Yuanwai is related to the deaths of Cheng and Guan, then he is related to the murderer who raised the four-winged demon lord, how can he be just an ordinary person?

Shen Wu was speechless for a while, was silent for a while, and said in a muffled voice:

"If we don't go to Hu Yuanwai to question, we go to Tongshan, where should we start?"

Shen Lang said: "Let's go to the Hujia Mine first." Do you know where the Hujia Mine is located? ”

"The year before last, I rescued Miss Hu and when I was drinking and chatting with Hu Yuanwai, I heard him mention it. But I only know the approximate location. ”

"It's good to know the approximate location. It's a huge mine, and it's not hard to find. Construction started on the second day of the Lunar New Year...... Oh, miners earn all the money they earn, and they work hard in the mine all year long with their heads, and finally make money, and it is when they reunite with their families, recuperate and relax, and enjoy the harvest of the year, they are willing to give up their annual leave and start work early? How much is triple daily wage? ”

Shen Wu's expression moved:

"Shen Zhutou means...... Miners are not free? ”

Shen Lang said lightly: "Maybe." ”

At dusk, the two rushed to Tongshan County and took a turn in the county first.

After visiting the county, the two went out of the county and went into the mountains in the dark.

On the way, Shen Lang asked Shen Wu:

"What do you think of Tongshan County?"

Shen Wudao:

"It's clean and tidy, it's colder on the street, but it's normal, it's only the seventh day of the Lunar New Year today, and on the streets of Fucheng, there are a few percent fewer people than usual, not to mention the small county?"

Shen Lang Road:

"Don't you realize that there is something missing in the city well of Tongshan County?"

"What's missing?" Shen Wu frowned and groaned for a while, and suddenly a flash of inspiration: "That's right! On the streets of the county seat, there are almost no beggars and homeless people! ”

Under normal circumstances, however, this is not possible.

Around the New Year's Festival, a large number of peasants will be forced to sell their sons and daughters because they cannot repay their debts, and even their homestead land will be taken away, and they will be reduced to beggars and homeless people.

This situation was only less common in the first 20 years of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Twenty years after the founding of the Great Chu, there are more and more such situations, and they are not uncommon now.

Shen Wu had been a homeless beggar, and he knew very well that during the New Year, a large number of bankrupt farmers would join the ranks of the beggars.

During the Chinese New Year, there are a lot of leftovers in large households, and the rags and rags must be cleaned up. Some large families will even steam white flour steamed buns and distribute them to beggars.

Therefore, in the city, near the streets and alleys where large families live, there are often many beggars and homeless people who gather and wait for opportunities.

But this Tongshan county is too strange.

Didn't you see any beggars?

"In a place like Tongshan County, where there are many mines, you can't see any beggars and homeless people on the streets."

Shen Lang smiled and said:

"Those who dare to go to the mine to work hard, they take the initiative to go to the mine to find work. Those who dare not go to the mine, since someone forced them to go to the mine, the best thing is that no matter whether they take the initiative or not, as long as they go to the mine, they can squeeze as much as they want, and they don't have to pay the wages, let alone the New Year's holiday. Who called them rootless beggars and outcasts? ”

Not to mention the use of beggars and homeless people as mining slaves, even if they are foreigners from good families, or even locals with no roots, they may be abducted or even forcibly tied up to be miners when they encounter those who open black kilns.

This kind of thing is not uncommon even on the earth in the 21st century, let alone the other world in this imperial era?

The corners of Shen Wu's eyes twitched slightly, and he stopped talking.

Shen Lang glanced at him and said lightly:

"Are you thinking that Cheng Xin and Guan Yue went to work in the mine, not as they said, but just responsible for driving out wild beasts, fierce beasts, and bandits? And the task of suppressing and guarding the miners? Are you playing for the tiger? And you, who introduced them to work in the mines, also indirectly helped the tiger? ”

Shen Wu was silent for a while, and said in a muffled voice:

"Shen catches his head like a torch, I do ...... I didn't expect this to happen. But Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Sister Guan are all honest people, how can they ......?"

Shen Lang said leisurely:

"I remember that Cheng's mother said that Cheng Xin 'made a lot of money'. Cheng Xin only came to the mine in September, right? When I went home before the Chinese New Year, I only did it for three months.

"Even if Hu Yuanwai looks at your face and gives him a very high salary, how can 'make a lot of money'? I can pay off the loan, buy New Year's goods, and even prepare to save money to repair the mansion......"

Shen Wu Ne said:

"The uncle and aunt of the Cheng family have never seen much money in their lives, for them...... A few hundred copper dollars may be a lot of money, and ten silver dollars may be a lot of money...... How much can a tenant farmer owe when he borrows, even if the donkey rolls?

"I really owe a lot of money, Cheng Xin's younger brothers and sisters have already been sold. New Year's goods purchased ...... It's just some padded jackets and pork...... Besides, it doesn't take much money for a farmer to build a big mansion......"

Shen Lang smiled and patted Shen Wu lightly on the shoulder:

"You're a good big brother. But there are some things that can't be explained that way.

"Do you think that the Cheng family owes the donkey to roll, so they must sell their sons and daughters? Wrong. The eldest son of the Cheng family practiced martial arts in the Wind Chasing School, but he still didn't have to pay tuition, and he was a disciple of true martial arts. With Cheng Xin here, the Cheng family's debts will be repaid sooner or later.

"The creditor wants the Cheng family to borrow more debts and roll more interest, how can they kill the chicken and take the eggs, and can't wait to pull Cheng Xin's younger brothers and sisters to pay off the debt? Not to mention how much money you make, you will offend a disciple of the Wind Chasing Sect, why bother?

"Let's talk about the 'big mansion', do you think, what Cheng Xin wants to build is an ordinary adobe wall mansion, or a deep mansion compound with a few entrances and exits, blue bricks and green tiles, and Shishi Town Gate?"

Shen Wu was covered with cold sweat when he heard this, and said:

"I, I don't know ......"

Shen Lang smiled again:

"I'm just talking about one possibility. Maybe things are not as I said, maybe Cheng Xin and Guan Yuezhen are just guarding against wild beasts, fierce beasts, bandits and thieves in the mine. The specific situation can only be determined when you get to the mine and see it with your own eyes. ”

Shen Wu was silent, but he had already believed Shen Lang's speculation in his heart.

After walking in the mountains and forests for a while, Shen Wu suddenly spoke:

"If Senior Brother Cheng and Senior Sister Guan are really fighting for the tiger...... Why did Shen Zhutou have to work hard to investigate the death of the two of them? ”

"One yard to one yard."

Shen Lang said lightly:

"Even if Cheng Xin and Guan Yue are really as I speculated, they have done something wrong, and they are only accomplices at most. They are still young and have a short participation period, only three months at most. As long as innocent miners have not been killed indiscriminately, they have not committed a capital crime, there is room for salvation, and they should be given a chance to make amends. That being the case, they should not have died without cause. ”

Especially if he was taken to feed the monster and was bumped into by Shen Lang, then he must take care of it to the end.

Listening to Shen Lang's words, Shen Wu couldn't help but feel a little strange:

Shen Zhutou, you are a famous "cold-blooded slaughter", legend has it that if you commit a crime, you can end up with a whole corpse, which can be regarded as a great virtue on your ancestors, do you want to be so bodhisattva-hearted?

Or is the title of "cold-blooded slaughter" just a smear against him by his enemies?

It's just that those who are not right, have ghosts in their hearts, and are afraid of the gods are spreading rumors and slander?

Anyway, Shen Wu had been in contact with Shen Lang for most of the day, and he didn't believe the rumors about Shen Lang's "cold-bloodedness".

How could a cold-blooded person rush from the capital to Wuyang Mansion for the sake of two people who had nothing to do with him, and went to Xiaoyue Mountain without even eating a meal, so he rushed to the countryside to investigate?

After finishing the same, I didn't even drink tea, so I walked for more than 100 miles, and then rushed to Tongshan County, walked around the county town without eating a meal and drinking a glass of wine, and went out of the city directly into the mountains in the dark?

Is this a cold-blooded person?

This is clearly a chivalrous man who is anxious for justice and righteousness!

It is no wonder that although there are many people on the rivers and lakes who say that the Shenzhutang is a madman and a ruthless star, there are also many people who praise the heroes of the Shenzhutang, and the people's reputation is even more one-sided.

With Shen Lang and other eager and righteous headhunters, Shen Wu almost knew what kind of quality the Divine Capture Hall was.

After performing light skills in the mountains and forests, and walking through the dark for half an hour, the two of them have gone deep into the deep mountains and old forests.

At this time, Shen Wu suddenly pointed to a mountain and said:

"Iron Helmet Mountain! Hujia Mine is near here. ”

Shen Lang raised his eyes and saw that the mountain was like a pair of pointed helmets, even in the night, the shape was very obvious, and it could be recognized at a glance.

"There is no cattle and horse lane in the mountains here, so the Hu family should have transported the mine out by boat. If you find the river, you can find the Hujia mine. ”

Soon, the two found a small river more than three feet wide and about seven feet deep, and traced it up the river for a while, and sure enough, they found a wharf with a large amount of ore piled up.

With only ore around the dock and no ships, and therefore no one to guard it, the two left the dock and walked along a concave track for a while, before coming to a valley.

Taniguchi built a small castle building, which was brightly lit, and faintly heard the noise of people, which sounded like several people were guessing and drinking.

Shen Lang's finger tapped his eyebrows, and the spiritual power scan swept from the small castle tower and its vicinity, and said lightly:

"There's someone in the building. There are a total of five people, all of whom are martial artists, three seven-rank and two six-rank. ”

Shen Wu glanced at Shen Lang in some surprise, this is still more than ten zhang away, everyone is in the building, and the shadow can't be seen, Shen Zhutou figured out their number, and actually judged their martial arts cultivation in an instant?

It is worthy of the "cold-blooded slaughter" with a reward of up to 200,000 silver dollars on the black market!

Secretly admiring this young man who was several years younger than himself, Shen Wu said in a low voice:

"Do you want to restrain those five?"

"Not necessarily. Without alarming them, we dive right in. ”

Shen Lang said softly, and was just about to step in, when he suddenly stopped.

Shen Wu hurriedly asked, "Shen Zhutou, but what's wrong?" ”

Shen Lang shook his head: "Someone is coming to me, let's go back to the dock first." ”

As he spoke, he waved his hand and turned back the way he came.

Shen Wu only felt that Shen Lang raised his hand and waved, as if something was released, but what it was, even with his eyesight, he couldn't see clearly, only that it seemed to be a translucent shadow.

He didn't dare to ask Shen Lang what he released, so he hurriedly followed and said softly:

"Is it also a master of the Divine Hunting Hall?"

A smile appeared on the corner of Shen Lang's mouth:

"Yes, someone taller than me."

The sword talisman on his body is vibrating and heating, calculating the time, at this time, it should be Mu Qingxue who contacted him with the sword talisman of Wanfa Zhenren.

And Shen Wu heard that there was another person who was taller than Shen Zhutou, and while he was in awe, he also felt more and more that the deaths of Cheng Xin and Guan Yue were not simple, no wonder Shen Lang said that he couldn't afford to mix, and neither could the Wind Chaser faction.

He didn't ask who it was, and when he returned to the edge of the dock with Shen Lang, he saw Shen Lang take out a sword-shaped jade talisman that flashed with a faint white light, looked down for a while, put away the jade talisman again, went to the edge of the dock and found a stone to sit down, and said to him with a smile:

"Sit down and rest for a while, and you'll have to wait for half an hour."

Shen Wu sat down as he said.

Shen Lang took out another gourd, threw a stack of meat pancakes to him:

"With me running around until now, most of the day has not been in the water, and Brother Shen is also hard. Eat and drink first to fill your stomach. ”

Shen Wu didn't know where he got these things from, and he didn't dare to ask more, so he took the gourd and pancakes, thanked him, and ate and drank heavily.

Shen Lang also took out a wine gourd, a stack of meat pancakes, ate a cake, and drank a sip of wine.

After eating and drinking, he meditated and breathed for a while, and suddenly, Shen Lang raised his head and looked into the air.

Shen Wu also looked at the sky with him, and saw a golden meteor streak across the night sky.

Then, the meteor grew bigger and bigger, and it actually fell straight down towards where he and Shen Lang were.

Shen Wu was startled and shouted in a low voice: "There is a dead stone!" ”

was about to dodge, but saw Shen Lang motionless, with a smile on the corner of his lips, looking at the meteor that was getting closer and closer.

Shen Wu was a bold person, seeing that Shen Lang was not moving, he knew that this "death stone" was probably different from what he imagined, so he was not in a hurry to dodge at the moment, he stood in place and looked up, and soon, he saw that the "meteor" that fell from the sky actually turned into a human shape.

Or a woman wearing golden armor and a pair of golden wings stretched out behind her back, like a god!

Shen Wu was deeply shocked by this scene, his eyes widened, his mouth opened wide, and he couldn't say a word.

Shen Lang smiled and raised his right hand at the woman with golden armor and golden wings.

Then, under Shen Wu's stunned, shocked gaze.

The golden armor and golden wings, the face is also covered with gold armor, except for a pair of clear eyes, the woman who can't see her true face, a pair of golden wings with wings stretched wide open, like gold, and like the gorgeous feathers of light condensation gently trembling in the wind, sprinkling a little light gold fluorescence, slowly stopping the rapidly falling figure.

Then, her feet were three feet off the ground, suspended in the air, her upper body leaned forward slightly, and she reached out to Shen Lang with her slender palm wearing gold hand armor.

When he reached out, the golden hand armor turned into a solution, quickly retracted back to the wrist armor, revealing a delicate jade-like and snow-white finger skin, and gently held Shen Lang's hand.

Shen Wu, who was fed dog food, turned around silently very consciously.

[Ask for a double monthly pass~! ] 】