170

The next day, after breakfast, everyone packed up and headed for the inner city.

Along the way, I met many groups of people one after another, including martial arts people, princes and nobles, and envoys from various candidate countries, all of whom obviously came to participate in the heroes' gathering.

When I arrived at the gate of the inner city, someone had already picked me up.

When I entered the inner city, I found that although the inner city was small, it was very clean and neat.

What's more, everywhere is very simple, and there is no luxury.

Long Zixi said in his heart: This Shen Hou is really a good monarch who is honest and loves the people.

While walking and watching, the soldier led everyone to a martial arts arena for a while.

However, he saw that two or three hundred sets of tables and chairs had already been prepared on the east and west sides of the martial arts field, and behind him stood a samurai with a halberd.

On the north side of the martial arts arena, there is a viewing platform facing south.

On both sides of the platform, there is a big drum on one side, and a gong is hung on the other, and there are two big men next to the big drum, holding drums.

When one of the officials saw the crowd coming one after another, he struck the gong on the stage and shouted:

"Princes, nobles and envoys from various countries, please take a seat on the right side, and martial arts people are seated on the left side!"

The group found a seat on the left side and sat down.

Long Zixi looked to the opposite side and saw that the group of immortals from the Western Regions were sitting there protecting the prince.

I wanted to find Lu Zidan, but I didn't see it.

I was suspicious in my heart, and I continued to look, and there was Bao Hongde, the son of Bao Jun, who was sitting next to him, and there was also a group of samurai to protect him.

Heart, Hong Deshizi is also here?

But Hua Dining was not seen.

Looking further back, there are still forty or fifty people, but they don't recognize them, they are nothing more than some sons and adults.

Looking at his side again, Taiyuan Jigang, Camel Dongzhuang Yin Qiu, Jingmen Yang Pu, Tianshan Mu Wan, etc. were all seated, and there were also seventy or eighty people, but Pei Zhen was not seen.

There are many people who have reunited after a long absence, greeting each other, gossiping, and it is noisy, so lively.

After a while, about the beginning of the hour, two big men beat their drums.

As soon as the drum stopped, I saw a team of people walking into the arena from the side of the stage.

At the head were four warriors, armed with broadswords.

The next person, slender and magnificent, wearing a crown, the beads on the crown are shining, wearing a silk suit, with a jade belt around his waist, and behind him is a group of civil and military ministers.

Seeing this person, it is Shen Hou.

Everyone stood up and shouted in unison:

"I've seen Kimihou Chitose!"

When they arrived at the stage, the four warriors who took the lead were divided into two, two on each side of the stage, and the rest of the people came to the stage with Shen Hou.

Na Shen waited to sit in the center, and a group of civil and military officers sat on both sides and in the back row.

Shen Hou waved his hand, and everyone sat down again.

The officer sounded another gong and said in a loud voice:

"Please wait for the master's lecture!"

Shen Hou nodded, looked at everyone in the audience, and said slowly:

"Today, the princes and envoys of many countries have arrived, and many martial arts heroes have come.

"Actually, the dog girl is stubborn, how can she be a hero and a talented broom? There are two reasons why the widow did this. ”

Everyone cheered up, and listened to Na Shen Hou continue:

"First, the country is now unstable and there are many grievances.

"Although the widow is only a candidate, he does not dare to be ungrateful, and always has the heart of serving the country.

"Today, I invite the heroes of the world to gather here, with the intention of watching their bravery, knowing that our people are strong, and I hope that the martial arts will flourish everywhere, and strengthen my Chinese body and soul.

When everyone listened to the Shen Hou self-presentation of his own aspirations, the discussion began, and many of them agreed with the Shen Hou, and some people shook their heads frequently.

Long Zixi secretly thought: This Shen Hou is really a generation of masters who are worried about the country and the people, and his worries are really reasonable.

But seeing that Shen Hou waved his hand, everyone paused, and continued:

"Second, the widow and the little girl, when she was young, she had to meet a master to learn martial arts, but she had no intention of boudoir, she was determined to practice martial arts, and non-martial arts people did not marry, and the others were not valued.

"Hehe, the widow is not afraid of all kinds of difficulties and dangers, but he can't take this stubborn girl, so he has to let her.

"Any man between the ages of 15 and 35 can try it as long as he does not think that dogs and girls are stubborn.

"The final winner, as long as he has a good character, the widow will marry his daughter to him!"

When everyone heard this, they all became interested in the daughter of Shen Hou, and looked around, obviously eager to catch a glimpse of the princess.

Long Zixi's heart was also beating faster, eager to confirm whether the princess was Miss Tian or not.

I saw Shen Hou make a move, and two maids came out of the corner door with a girl.

Long Zixi really saw it, who is it if it's not Miss Tian?

Seeing that she was dressed in red, with a flower bun on her head, smiling generously, the lotus step moved lightly, went to the stage and waited for Shen to say a thousand blessings, and bowed down to everyone in the audience.

The person sitting in the distance simply stood up, stretched his neck and couldn't stop looking.

And when the princess had saluted them all, she withdrew.

Long Zixi watched her back leave, and her heart couldn't stop jumping suddenly.

171

As he was looking at himself, he heard the officer struck the gong again, and said:

"Heroes! Before the start of the competition, I was ordered by the monarch to make a rule with you, please listen to the truth and not violate it! ”

When everyone heard that they were going to make rules, they all came to their senses.

The officer continued:

"First, Jun Hou has a military will just now, and the test focuses on martial arts, rather than being brave and ruthless. For this reason, as long as the superior and the inferior are distinguished, the point is reached, and no human life is indiscriminately harmed. At the same time, if one of them misses and is injured, he is not allowed to seek revenge in the future. Do you know that? ”

Everyone said in unison:

"Clear!"

The officer said:

"Second, all the heroes here today, no matter what festivals they have had in the past, are not allowed to pick quarrels and provoke troubles in the country. went out of the Shen Kingdom, but it was at your disposal. Is this one possible? ”

And they all replied in unison:

"Ed!"

The officer said:

"Good! Article 3: In order to avoid accidental injury, when competing in martial arts, it is limited to fists and feet, not weapons, nor is it allowed to use hidden weapons, and it is not allowed to help others. ”

This also makes sense in everyone's hearts, and there is no objection to it.

Then the officer said:

"At the behest of the king, the competition was divided into two groups, with the sons of various countries as a group and the martial arts warriors as a group, and they were crossed. The winner of the two groups will face off against each other. The order of appearance is determined by lot. Interested parties are invited to come and cast lots. ”

After speaking, the voices of the crowd rose again.

Many people stood up early and were eager to try, while others stepped forward to cast lots.

Fourth Brother Fang praised:

"This martial arts tournament is really fair, so it can be seen that Shen Hou must be the king of justice!"

Long Zixi looked around, but he never saw the figure of "jade-faced hot hands".

Xindao: He clearly said he was coming, why didn't he come?

Qin Shijie saw that Long Zixi Wu was not moving, and shouted:

"Brother Zixi, go and cast lots, what are you waiting for!"

Third Brother Fang smiled:

"It's not you competing, why are you in a hurry? It's okay for Third Brother Qin to go. ”

Qin Shijie said:

"I'll go, I'll go!"

said that he really ran to cast a lot for Long Zixi, but he was the fifth to appear.

Qiu Shan smiled:

"Third Brother Qin is so lucky!"

The fifth appearance will not consume too much physical strength because of the appearance too early, and will not be fully displayed because it will end too late, it is indeed a good sign, and everyone likes it.

After a while, after the casting of lots, the competition began.

Two groups of yours one, me one, crossed.

At noon, a light lunch was arranged by the official family nearby.

Long Zixi's group competed one by one, and at the beginning they won and lost each other, and when Long Zixi appeared, which one was his opponent?

At the end of the day, one person played a total of 18 games.

Although I also met a few hard hands, I also won very smoothly, and I was really skilled, all of them were convinced, and I don't know how many cheers I won.

Qiu Shan and the others couldn't help but be overjoyed when they saw that after this period of training, Long Zixi's experience in facing the enemy had increased, his self-confidence was stronger, and his martial arts had entered the realm again.

And although Long Zixi won consecutive battles, it was because he never saw the "jade noodles and hot hands", and he was somewhat uninterested and not very happy.

In the other group, a total of sixteen princes and sons participated in the competition, and at the beginning they also won and lost each other, and the fight was lively.

After the seventh prince of Xirong made a move, it was the same situation as here, and no one won him again.

Everyone saw that a pampered son and brother had such martial arts, and they also gave several applause.

Qin Shijie said:

"Hey, I didn't expect this kid to really have two hits! The Zixi brothers are afraid that they will meet their opponents. ”

Fourth Brother Fang smiled:

"Third Brother Qin put his heart in his stomach. Although his martial arts are not weak, I don't think he is the opponent of the Zixi brothers after all! ”

Everyone on the stage also watched it with relish.

Everyone felt that it was not easy to read this application from beginning to end.

After the two comparisons, Shen Hou saw that the day was westerly and said a few words to the officer.

Then the officer struck the gong and said:

"It's late today, tomorrow morning you have something to do, please ask the two winners to face off in the afternoon!"

And the people dispersed.

In the evening, he was waiting for the guests of the feast.

During the banquet, it was impossible to say that everyone came to congratulate Long Zixi, and Shen Hou also specially gave Long Zixi and the prince of Xirong three bowls of wine each.

Long Zixi talked with Na Bao Hongde again, only to know that Bao Hongde was not here for a martial arts competition, but for the excitement and came to watch.

inquired about Hua Dining's news again, and Bao Hongde told him that Hua Dining was all right, and had taken his aunt and uncle to Baocheng, but he missed him very much, and often talked about him, and Long Zixi put his mind at ease.

That Yin Qiu still looked at each other angrily when he saw Long Zixi, but he couldn't attack because of the scene, and Long Zixi ignored him.

It was night, and it snowed again, and everyone went home drunk.

172

Early the next morning, Long Zixi woke up, looked at the two heroes of water and fire, and couldn't wake up.

Thinking that if he won the prince of the Xirong Kingdom today, he would be with Miss Tian forever, and he was inevitably excited, so he thought of talking to the Fang family brothers next door, but when he saw that the door was closed, he didn't seem to be awake.

So he pushed the door and went to the courtyard, but saw a lot of snow.

Although it was a good day with a rising sun, it was a little cold.

I can't help but think that it would be really difficult for someone to give him thick clothes.

Thinking of the person who secretly sent him something, he naturally thought of Zhuo Ermei.

There are all kinds of signs that the person who secretly helped her is Zhuo Ermei, but why is there no trace of her?

I couldn't help but worry about her again.

Suddenly, it suddenly occurred to me, am I really determined to marry Miss Tian?

Miss Zhuo Ermei is also clearly interested in me, if she knows what I think, will she be angry?

Suddenly, I felt quite embarrassed, and I didn't know what to do.

I was in a reverie when I suddenly saw a scholar who came from the snow.

When the man arrived, he stopped to look at the sky and said with a smile:

"Good snow, good snow! Outstanding, beautiful but not demonic, it's a pity that a girl who is snowy and jade! ”

Long Zixi was surprised:

"Outstanding, beautiful but not demonic?"

was about to ask, but saw the man smile mysteriously:

"Jing Nu Qishu, I am in the corner of the city. Love but not see, scratching his head and hesitating. If you want to see the beautiful woman, please follow the cheap step. ”

After speaking, he turned around and left.

Long Zixi listened to his secret words, and he had a deep meaning, and he didn't have time to tell the four companions, and then followed.

At this time, although it was already three poles in the sun, due to the snow, the streets were sparsely populated, and there were only a few snow-sweepers in front of the door.

The man hurried all the way, leaving a series of deep footprints, and came straight to the city gate.

When he reached the city gate, he turned around and entered a room next to him.

Long Zixi didn't think much about it, and immediately followed into the room.

When I entered the house, I saw a person sitting in the hall, that person had a long beard and fluttering, and he was holding a wooden crutch in his hand, it was Ma Qin, an immortal from the Western Regions!

There were two people standing beside him, and the scholar-like man also stood aside when he entered the room.

Long Zixi was surprised:

"Could it be that Zhuo Ermei's disappearance has something to do with the immortals of the Western Regions?"

When the immortal of the Western Regions saw Long Zixi coming in, he got up and said with a smile:

"Don't come to harm's way? There is Lao Shaoxia stepping on the snow to come, and the old man is far away, no wonder! ”

Then beckoned Long Zixi to sit down.

Long Zi Xi Shili sat down, not daring to be careless, and asked:

"The immortals are here, could it be related to Miss Zhuo Ermei? Where is she? ”

The immortal of the Western Regions smiled, ordered to look at the tea, and said:

"Young heroes don't have to be in a hurry. Yesterday, the young man won 18 games in a row, showing wonderful kung fu, seeing that victory was in sight, the old man had not congratulated the young man. ”

Long Zixi was afraid of Dao'er, and he didn't drink tea, and replied:

"Once the prince of your country appears, he will be invincible, so he admires him very much. In the battle this afternoon, it is not yet known who killed the deer. ”

The immortals of the Western Regions laughed:

"The young man is too modest! Although the prince has to be taught by the old man, his kung fu is not weak. However, the old man is not the opponent of the young man, how can he win the young man? ”

Longzi Xixin said, it turned out that the prince was an apprentice of the immortals in the Western Regions, no wonder he was so powerful.

But he didn't know what the immortals of the Western Regions wanted to do, and thought that he couldn't stay here for a long time, so he asked:

"Why did the immortals come here, is it just for tea?"

The immortal of the Western Regions smiled:

"Of course, it's not just for tea. Since the young man is anxious to know the reason. The old man wants to ask the young man, do you like Miss Zhuo Ermei very much? ”

Long Zixi thinks about it, that Zhuo Ermei is innocent and natural, clever and lively, how can he not like her? He nodded.

But he didn't think deeply that the "like" that the immortals of the Western Regions said meant "love".

Immortals of the Western Regions:

"Okay, in that case, the old man wants to make a deal with the young man, how about it?"

Long Zixi's heart tightened:

"What deal?"

Immortals:

"Don't worry. The old man asked the young man to look at something first. ”

As he spoke, he slapped his hand.

An attendant came out from next door, holding a plate with a silk scarf on it, and handed it to Long Zixi.

Long Zixi picked up the silk scarf, unfolded it and looked at it, the silk scarf was embroidered with a big red flower, and suddenly thought:

Isn't this a headscarf from Zhuo Ermei? Stand up:

"Zhuo Ermei! Where is she? What did you do to her?! ”

The immortal of the Western Regions smiled:

"Shaoxia is so worried about her, and he really has a deep affection for this girl!

"However, don't worry, the old man is also a person who pities the fragrance and cherishes the jade, how dare he be disrespectful to her?

"She's just a guest at the old man's place for the time being.

"Alas, the old man is a little puzzled, since the young man loves this girl very much, why should he participate in the son-in-law selection conference?

"Even if you win the prince in the afternoon, how can the princess allow you to have one person and two wives?

"Isn't it self-inflicted?"

When Long Zixi heard what the immortals of the Western Regions said, he knew that he didn't know that he had already been in contact with Miss Tian, that is, the princess, and his feelings were secret.

I wanted to tell him the truth, but why bother to let him know?

Let's see what his intentions are.

sneered at the moment:

"I'm an old man, what are you going to do?"

The Immortal of the Western Regions sighed:

"Don't hide it from Shaoxia, my prince has admired the princess of the Shen family for a long time.

"Participating in the son-in-law election this time, it is a must-win!

"Especially since I met the princess yesterday, the prince's heart has been fascinated, only on her, and he can't let go of it anymore.

"The old man is now a protector of the Xirong Kingdom, how can he stand by and watch?

"Alas, but the opponent is you, which really makes the old man embarrassed.

"It was also a coincidence that on the way to Shen, I bumped into Miss Zhuo Ermei, and some of the old man's men recognized her and left her behind.

"I didn't expect that she would be needed now!"

When Long Zixi heard this, he became angry:

"Senior Ma, don't say it anymore, do you want to be blackmailed?"

Immortals of the Western Regions:

"Hehe, you can't talk about blackmailing.

"The old man's requirements for the young man couldn't be simpler, just give up a move and a half when competing.

"The big thing must be, the old man will return Miss Zhuo Ermei, keep her from missing a hair, and let you fly both ways, wouldn't it be happy?

"Hehe, this is a deal that the old man wants to make with the young man."

Long Zixi put the silk scarf into his arms and stared at the immortals of the Western Regions:

"What if you don't follow it?"

Western Regions Immortal Stall:

"Then it's no wonder the old man."

Long Zixi sneered:

"You're going to kill her? I forgive you for not daring! ”

The Western Regions Immortal shook his head and smiled maliciously:

"This girl is naturally beautiful, how can the old man bear to kill her?

However, when the old man's subordinates saw Miss Zhuo Ermei, they were already salivating and ready to move.

"It's a must, it's cheaper for a few of them!"

173

At this time, Long Zixi was full of anger and almost rushed over to fight with the immortals of the Western Regions.

But after thinking about it, the martial arts of the immortals in the Western Regions are not much different from his own, and with the help of his subordinates, how can he succeed in one blow?

Moreover, even if she killed the immortals of the Western Regions, she might not be able to save Zhuo Ermei, on the contrary, she would be even more dangerous.

Thinking like this, I gradually calmed down, but I couldn't think about it for a while.

After a pause, Long Zixi said:

"Senior Ma, didn't you hear what Shen Hou said? Even if the crown prince wins, he may not be able to marry the princess as his wife, so why should the immortals bother so much? ”

Immortals of the Western Regions:

"Shaoxia is right. However, if you win, you have a great chance, otherwise, if you are not the best in the world in martial arts, how can you conquer the heart of the princess? ”

Long Zixi had no idea for a while, and he hesitated in his heart.

The immortals of the Western Regions saw Long Zixi's strange expression, and his hands were clenched, knowing that he was conflicted in his heart, and it was difficult to choose. took the opportunity to say again:

"With all due respect, although the young man has extremely high martial arts, in the final analysis, he is just a martial artist, how can he match the princess?

"Even if there is mutual affection now, it is just a juvenile feeling, and it is difficult to last long.

"The old man is a person from the past, so he naturally understands women better than the young man.

"What a noble body is that princess, how can she be reckless?

"How can the young man bear to let her wander the rivers and lakes with you and endure hardships?

"Therefore, according to the old man's opinion, instead of reluctantly making it difficult, it is like the beauty of an adult!

"Oh no, it's the best of both worlds!

"What does the young man think?"

Long Zixi couldn't help but sigh lightly when he heard this.

Since knowing that Miss Tian is the princess of Shenguo, Long Zixi often feels that she is not worthy of her, and has not been able to accept this fact with peace of mind.

I, do I really have the courage to marry her?

With me, can I give her happiness?

I actually felt inferior again.

I thought again, Miss Zhuo Ermei is so innocent and lovely, and it is because of me that I fell into the hands of the enemy, how can I not save it?

The princess and the prince are really a pair made in heaven, and the earth makes a pair.

Alas, how exactly is it good? ……

After thinking about it again, I still feel that it is important to save Zhuo Ermei first!

With a horizontal heart, he gritted his teeth and said:

"Okay, I'll promise you later!

"However, I, Long Zixi, have said first, and I will take Zhuo Ermei away this afternoon.

"If Miss Zhuo Ermei hurts a hair, she will chase her to the ends of the earth, and she will fight with you to the end!"

The immortals of the Western Regions laughed:

"Good! Readily! Although the young man can rest assured, the old man will never break his promise! ”