"Ma Zhi, I remember you told me before that you did something in the City Lord's Mansion."

"Yes, Childe."

"Then you should have met the city lord?"

Wang Li's question was very direct, and Ma Zhi couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

He trotted two steps, was level with Wang Li, and whispered: "Son, you have also seen the city lord, that is, the head of Fuliu Dao, but although he is also the lord of the White Tiger Temple, he has never put down his own affairs, on the contrary, Anping Mansion has been smooth for many years, and the people live and work in peace and contentment, which can be described as thriving." It is said that the canal outside the city is getting wider and wider, and the ferry port is getting bigger and bigger, that is, the head of Fuliu Road ten years ago to dispel public opinion, and implement it vigorously, first digging a big river, and then building an official road, directly connecting to the ferry, the reason why the entire Anping Mansion can become more and more prosperous depends on this, and the people are all grateful. ”

Wang Li remained silent, and said with his head bowed: "Since you have such the ability to govern the world, why do you have to be the master?" ”

Ma Zhi said with a smile: "It is said that the elder of Fuliu Dao was abandoned when he was a child and was adopted by a group of people, so he admired the Tao in his heart, even if he became a big official later, he did not give up cultivating." ”

"I see."

"Although the imperial court does not prohibit this matter, the Taoist chief does not want others to disturb his cultivation after knowing about it, and he doesn't want the people to learn from him, so there are many people in Anping City who know Fuliu Daochang, but there are very few who know that he is the city lord."

Wang Li snorted and said no more.

On a one-day trip to the West City, Wang Lili sprinkled a lot of talismans.

In the evening, the two parted ways and agreed to meet again the next day.

After Ma Zhi left, he remembered his mother's instructions, bought some chickens, smiled brightly and carefully carried the chirping little ones, and walked quickly towards the house.

He was still far away when he heard a hoarse cry.

Suddenly, Ma Zhi's face changed suddenly, and he didn't care about anything else, so he threw off his arms and ran.

The chick in the cage crowed more urgently, like a urging note, which made his heart burn.

The earthen house was in sight, and I saw a Taoist and several servants standing in silent mourning in the simple fence, with a log coffin in front of him, and his old lady was lying on the coffin crying heartbreakingly.

Ma Zhi's face faded to blood, his lips couldn't stop trembling, the chicken coop fell to the ground with a clatter, and the chirp of the chick could not call his soul back.

stepped forward, holding the old lady, but he couldn't bear to dare but had to look into the coffin.

The pony's face was very calm, with a hint of peace in his cold whiteness, his hair was finally meticulously combed, and he no longer wore an old patched robe, but a new brocade robe lined him like a big man.

Ma Zhi couldn't help but be stunned, as if he had been immobilized, his whole body was so stiff that he couldn't move, and it seemed that even his breathing was suppressed, and his pale face soon became red and swollen.

In the next breath, the old lady's sharp and mournful cry woke him up.

Ma Zhi once again held the paralyzed mother, and tears fell in tears.

Ma Zhi hugged his mother and was silent.

"My son!!" The old lady couldn't stop crying.

Fuliu Daoist stepped forward and waved his hand gently, and the old woman's crying stopped, and she closed her eyes slightly and fell asleep.

"Da Ma'er, I've been sad for a long time, let's help her in and rest first."

Ma Zhi sent his mother back to the house in a daze, covered her with a quilt, tucked the corners of the quilt, wiped away her tears, and turned back to leave the house.

"Dao Chief, my brother ......" Halfway through, the tears couldn't be stopped.

Fuliu Dao sighed: "He was already sick a few days ago, and today he was resting at home, and when Poor Dao heard about it, he knew that your family was poor, so he wanted to treat him, but he couldn't get out of his body for a while, so he sent someone to pick him up." I don't want to see him before I see him, and the evil disease has already attacked, and when I know that I have arrived...... There is no way back. As he spoke, his white eyebrows trembled, and his grief grew.

Ma Zhi threw himself on his knees, weak.

He covered his face with his hands and cried in remorse: "He's sick...... I should have thought of it, that night...... Pony, it's my brother's fault!! ”

The other side.

Wang Li, who supervised the city.

The night market is lit up by thousands of lights, and high-rise buildings with red sleeves are crowded.

But tonight, Yunyu Pavilion, which used to be the most luxuriously decorated, the most beautiful girl, and the most prosperous business on this street, suddenly fell silent.

There are no more lanterns hanging high in front of the door, and there is a black hole in the building.

It caused a lot of fun-seekers to be sullen, causing the other competitors on the street to rejoice.

Ling Yue'er also came back, and she said, "It's okay today." ”

"Tick the bar and listen to the music?"

"Huh?" The kitten frowned and said unhappily, "No." Didn't Childe tell me to watch them, I found that they were in contact with the people of the tooth shop, and they had already released the news that they were going to sell Yunyu Pavilion as soon as possible, and the other Qinglou was so happy, many of them gave gifts to guests today, and they also discounted it at the checkout. ”

Wang Li nodded, waved his hand to brush away the picture, and said, "The day after tomorrow at the latest, we will see." "Let's just sit and practice.

Ling Yue'er blew out the lights, turned into a kitten, and jumped into her humanoid nest.

Following.

The morning light was faintly bright, and there was a knock on the door.

The person who came was a restaurant boy, saying that someone downstairs was eager to meet.

Wang Li's consciousness swept away, and he frowned and went downstairs.

As soon as he saw Ma Zhi, the other party immediately couldn't hide his anxiety and guilt and handed a small cloth bag to Wang Li, and bent down deeply.

"Childe, there is an emergency in the next family, and then I am afraid that I will not be able to continue to be a guide for Childe, your reward, I really dare not accept it, you take back the money first, and the rest will be returned tomorrow."

Wang Li didn't answer, just looked at the top of his head and asked, "What made you grow so many gray hairs overnight?" ”

Ma Zhi smiled bitterly, his eyes were red again, he sniffed, and then said, "Childe is smiling, younger brother below...... Yesterday, I suddenly had a bad illness, and I have gone. ”

Wang Li frowned again.

"He is not very good at playing a small body, he was born with pure yin, and there have been many ups and downs over the years. A few days ago, I found that his face was a little pale, and he talked a lot less, I just thought he was cold and tired, but I didn't want to ......" Ma Zhi lowered his head and wiped his tears, and bowed down: "Son, my mother is old and in poor health, at this time I must take care of it at home, and arrange funerals for my younger brother, and ask Childe to forgive me." ”

Wang Li paused, and the stars flashed in his eyes.

"Your brother is doing things for you in the City Lord's Mansion?"

"Yes, Childe."

Wang Li didn't ask any more, and pushed back the cloth bag he handed out, "Birth, old age, sickness and death, unpredictable, you can take these silver taels to treat your brother's funeral, and then take good care of the old lady at home, we have traveled a lot these days, and I am barely familiar with this place." ”

"Childe ......"

"Say no more, go, mourn!"

Ma Zhi was moved beyond words, and after repeatedly thanking him, the young man's body left with his body on his back.

Wang Li watched quietly, and when his figure disappeared, he turned his gaze to the distant City Lord's Mansion, and the sword in his pupils burst out.

Soon, the kitten and the big dog ran down from the upstairs, and Wang Li's heart swelled, and he walked calmly to the dock area outside the city that he had never set foot in before.

Anping Ferry.

Walking here, looking at the ships coming and going, and the bustling business travelers, Wang Li realized again.

In a word: death in a foreign land.

Ma Zhi once said that ten years ago, Anping Mansion opened a canal here, repaired a ferry, connected the official road, and went straight into the city, and the benefits of all were carried out at the same time.

This is a very reasonable and subsequently wise policy.

But is the starting point of this good thing really for the sake of the people?

There are many people who have died because of it, and how many people have died because of it?

The waves are shining, and the sails are competing.

Wang Carp isolated on the shore, his hair fluttering, and the breeze on the riverside brought the boiling noise of the ferry, as if it also blew up the scattered soul that had been silent for many years and could not even shout out grievances.

The sky is getting dark, the cool breeze is flickering, and after a while, the soft snowflakes fall, and before people come back to their senses, they turn into goose feathers and heavy snow.

Winter snow is nothing unusual, but the mood of people who look at the snow is different, and the meaning is naturally different.

Wang Lili dusted off the flying snow on his shoulders, turned around, and went straight to the City Lord's Mansion.