was ridiculed by Qi Jingzhi twice, but instead of being annoyed, he shook his head with a smile and said: "Our brothers' seven Dao deeds are lowly, and the previous body was suppressed under the Xiema Bridge, how can we have the ability to be overbearing?" On the contrary, in order to get out of trouble, we have begged the passing spirits all these years......"

As he spoke, it turned its head to look around in the lobby of the inn, and its words carried a bit of injustice: "It's a pity that there is no one who is willing to help, and there are many who gloat and ridicule, especially those road gods and road ghosts are the most hateful!" At this time, the days are long and the number of times is too much, what is there in our hearts that we don't understand? It's easy to stop talking about it! ”

When he said these words, he spoke loudly, obviously not paying attention to the spirit sitting in the hall at the moment.

Qi Jingzhi also turned his eyes, and saw that in addition to the four dead clothes sitting in the northwest corner, there was a strange snake coiled on the square table by the window on the east side, with a rabbit head and a snake body, about three feet long, and a circle of white fluff under his head.

was stared at by three fiery eyes with angry eyes, and the rabbit-headed snake immediately closed the pair of red eyes and ignored them.

Seeing this, he immediately opened his mouth as if no one was around: "That rabbit-headed snake is named Banbi, and it usually lives in the mountains, and sometimes goes down the mountain to attack lonely travelers, and likes to bite people's armpits and suck human blood. ”

Hearing this, Qi Jingzhi's eyes immediately turned cold, made a note in his heart, and then looked in the southeast direction.

In that corner sat alone sat something barely human, with a body as thick as a bowl-thick stake, no more than four feet high, and the tattered cloth robe on his body was propped up, and the exposed body was covered with sarcomas and scabies, large and small, and there was no good skin in sight.

The top of its head was hairless, it was equally rugged, and its face was strangely swollen, and its features were squeezed into the cracks of the tumor, and it looked disgusting and horrible at the same time.

Sensing Qi Jingzhi's gaze, this sarcoma freak slowly turned his face around, the corners of his mouth slowly cracked, revealing an extremely ugly smile.

Qi Jingzhi was slightly stunned, and then bowed his head lightly to the other party.

"That's the maple ghost, a parasitic twig from an old maple tree nearby."

Spoke Da was obviously very familiar with the spirits around Xiema Bridge, and introduced the head of the road: "I have heard people say, maple people, where the wind gathers, and if there is a gall, the wind god gathers, and it is called the maple ghost." ”

"The so-called maple old has a gall, the maple tree is easy to give birth to a gall when it is old, if there is a gall tumor in the thunderstorm to attract the essence of the wind, it may give birth to spirituality, overnight into a parasitic branch three or five feet long, shaped like a human ghost, mouth and eyes, called a maple man or a maple ghost."

"The things on it look like sarcomas, but they're just galls made from the bulging bark of a tree. Don't look at it as vicious and ugly, but it's a coward, it can't make a fart with three sticks, it never fights with people, and there are no evil traces to circulate. ”

He paused and added: "Our brother also begged this maple ghost to be rescued, but it may have been afraid of the head of the water beast, or it didn't dare to offend those road gods and ghosts, so it couldn't bear to refuse, and didn't dare to nod and agree. Our brother also knows its temperament, so we no longer have to trouble it. ”

Qi Jingzhi immediately withdrew his gaze from the Fengzi Ghost, looked down at the spoke, and asked with a chuckle, "Since the spirits are unwilling to come to the rescue, why don't you try to ask the human race for help?" ”

"The Shema Bridge was built by the Terrans, and you just said that the mothers-in-law will go to the stream to wash their clothes, and I think that the head of the water beast on the bridge will only have a suppressive effect on the spirits, but it will not hinder the Terrans."

Hearing this, Spokesman sighed: "Naturally, I tried it!" In fact, as Engong said, if we want to save our brother from trouble, even if it is a mortal who is not through cultivation, it is much easier than ordinary spirits. ”

"The Nachema Bridge is an important road near the left, and every year I don't know how many pedestrians, cars and horses pass by above, and over time, the humane suppression power gathered in the head of the water beast is quite considerable. Our brother was so crushed that he couldn't move, and only in the middle of the night when there were few people walking, could he transform into a body and breathe. ”

Speaking of this, he shook his head, and his face showed an indescribable expression: "However, there are few people in the human race who rush at night, and occasionally there are a few who see us from afar, and they either turn around and run away in fright, or shout and shout to kill, slash and shoot arrows, causing our brother to fake his death several times." ”

"Tonight, we also see that Engong is not like a mortal, and he is handsome and good-natured, and he still has ...... on his body."

He paused suddenly, and after considering the words, he whispered: "With that eye-catching aura, our brother appeared to stop him, but he didn't dare to expect to be rescued from under the bridge by Engong. ”

Qi Jingzhi nodded and muttered: "Listen to the meaning of the old plaque monster outside, the inn here should also be opened by the human race, but it was used by the Dao Chenghuang for a banquet tonight, so it didn't entertain the living, so where did the original shopkeeper, the shopkeeper, and even the travelers who stayed here during the day go?" ”

"They usually fall asleep in their respective rooms and don't wake up until dawn. The spirits who come to the banquet know the rules and will not easily touch the living people in the store. ”

Spoke replied without hesitation, it was not the first time that the Spirit Night Banquet had been held at the Xiema Inn.

Qi Jingzhi was a little relieved at this time, jumped off Bannu, walked to the empty table under the west window, and occupied a bench alone.

Madara Nu lay down behind him with great interest, consciously acting as a backrest.

This guy is also very powerful, and his talent is also extraordinary, but now the Tao is just ordinary, especially after getting the Don Wu Banner and eating a lot of good things in the Crane Valley, the gold and tiger in its body are gradually purified, and they are not leaked out at all.

Seven boys with wheels followed, and sat in twos and threes, filling the other three benches.

Qi Jingzhi glanced at the empty counter in the lobby, and couldn't help but ask curiously: "The old plaque monster outside is responsible for welcoming guests and blocking people from entering, I don't know who will fill the shopkeeper and the hall?" ”

Hearing this, he grinned, and then shouted loudly: "Chengdeqi, you old man is lazy again, why don't you hurry out to greet your guests!" ”

It had only called twice, only to see the curtain separating the lobby from the back kitchen suddenly move, and a Humpty Dumpty man lifted the curtain and came out.

Qi Jingzhi could see clearly that this short and fat man named Chengdeqi was wearing a soapy coat and a black hat, and even his complexion was dark and swarthy.

It is no more than three feet tall, much shorter than the maple ghost, but compared to the maple ghost who is not more than the mouth of the bowl, the waist circumference of the Chengde device is extremely wide, and it looks like a vertical stone stone, which is very similar to the mountain bone lang who sent the letter for the three-eyed stone puppet at the beginning.

The spirits of this Great Qi are more or less influenced by humane legal principles, and there are really many people who turn into human forms, but it is difficult to say if they can resemble each other.

Cheng Deqi saw the seven spoke boys and the hardwood wheels, and couldn't help but be surprised: "How did you come out?" ”

"What are these words! Why can't we come out? ”

Spoke Da Deng was not happy, and even the other six boys glared angrily at Chengdeqi: "Our brother has been suppressed for so many years, after all, we have to meet a noble person and the time will come!" ”

Cheng Deqi heard this, turned to look at Qi Jingzhi, looked up and down for a long time, and then supported his fat belly with both hands, and paced towards the position of the west window step by step, and there was a faint sound of water in his body when he walked.

Seeing it coming, Qi Jingzhi quietly stretched out his hand and wiped it on his waist, and the gold medal of the Hook Chen Academy immediately disappeared into the Xuan Robe and disappeared.

After a few breaths, Cheng Deqi walked close and stood still, and when he had even breathed, the sound of water in his body had calmed down, and then he raised his head unhurriedly and asked respectfully: "Please forgive Cheng for being clumsy, I don't know what to call your guest?" ”

Qi Jingzhi didn't answer and asked: "You are the shopkeeper of this Xiema Stack?" ”

Cheng Deqi nodded slowly: "Cheng Mou practices in this Xiema Stack on weekdays, and only comes out to support one or two at a time like tonight." ”

Qi Jingzhi asked again: "In addition to these demons and ghosts in front of you, who else is coming to the banquet tonight?" ”

Cheng Deqi seemed to be completely unsuspecting, and he answered questions without hesitation: "Cheng only opened the door to welcome guests, but he really didn't know what was going on." However, according to the experience of the past, if the Dao Chenghuang Master posts an invitation, the gods and monsters on this road in the north of Meizhou will give some face. ”

"Among them, there are not many who can be ranked, first of all, the four black and white gods, these eight are the most intimate with the Dao Chenghuang Master, followed by the nearby mountain spirits, and there are three of the biggest names, namely the high heavenly man of Biling, the vertical eye woman of Xia Mountain, and the golden bottle child of Baqiu."

When Qi Jingzhi heard this, his eyes widened: "How are the temperaments of these three mountain spirits?" ”

Spoke Da thought for a moment before he said: "These three are not small, our brothers didn't dare to get too close to each other before, and we don't know much about them. The reputation of the high heavenly lord and the golden bottle child is acceptable, but the vertical eye woman is notoriously tyrannical and cannibalistic. Because the eyes of the human race are horizontal, the woman called the living 'cross-eyed meat'. ”

Qi Jingzhi couldn't help frowning, first the alien snake Banbi who sucked human blood, and then the vertical eye woman who treated the human race as a meat-eater, this demon suppression courtyard in Meizhou is all corpse vegetarian food? There is also that Dao Chenghuang, who does not distinguish between good and evil, and makes friends with bandits, which is really not like a righteous god who has been enshrined.

Thinking of this, he bowed lightly to Chengdeqi, who was standing quietly aside: "Good to teach the shopkeeper to know, this surname is Lu Qiyun, the name of Linshan Ke, and the number of Skinning Demon King, this banquet is invited by the two road gods of Niutouya. ”

Cheng Deqi was a little surprised when he saw the seven car spoke boys, and then he had an attitude that it was not about himself and that the person who came was a guest, and he bowed down when he heard the words: "It turns out that the Demon Lord is from Linzhou!" In a while, it will be time for the feast, and I don't know what the Demon Lord is particular about eating, so the small shop should hurry up and prepare. ”

Qi Jingzhi smiled and asked gently, "Is there any cross-eyed meat at today's banquet?" ”

Cheng Deqi raised his head when he heard the sound, facing the three angry eyes, and immediately shook his head and said: "This place is the territory of the human race after all, and the master of Dao Chenghuang has always been strictly controlled, and he does not allow small shops to cook with raw people. ”

Qi Jingzhi's tone remained unchanged, and he waved his hand and said, "Then forget it, as long as it's a human diet." ”

Without waiting for the other party to agree, he followed and asked: "The shopkeeper Cheng is practicing in the Xiema Inn, and he has seen a lot of guests from the south and the north, and the knowledge in his chest is definitely comparable to that of ordinary gods and monsters, can you solve the confusion for this seat?" ”

Cheng Deqi was stunned for a moment, and his tone was a little puzzled: "What does the Demon Lord want to ask?" If it can be said, Cheng will definitely know everything. ”

Qi Jingzhi asked: "I have been to many states and counties, but I have only heard the names of the Dao Chenghuang and the Road God in Meizhou, I don't know why?" ”

Cheng Deqi suddenly heard the words: "It turned out to be this." It is good to teach the deer demon lord to learn that this place in the north of Meizhou is crisscrossed by mountains and ravines, and there are many forks in the mountains, and there are forks on the forks. ”

"Over time, those divergent roads have endured a lot of fear and confusion, breeding many spirit road monsters, and even gradually spreading southward, so that the ordinary roads outside the mountains have also many divergent roads and dead ends. In order to cope with this situation, the local officials and people thought of many methods, and the Dao Chenghuang and the road god came into being. ”

Cheng Deqi paused, and suddenly asked: "Actually, if you want to explain this clearly, you must first talk about the division of roads in this world, especially the various names of divergent roads, I don't know if the Demon Lord knows?" ”

Qi Jingzhi simply shook his head: "I want to hear about it!" ”

Cheng Deqi held the big belly that fell down, and said eloquently: "According to the saying handed down since ancient times, if a road does not fork, and a road goes to the dark, there is only one destination in the end, it is called a reach, and a reach is called a road." ”

"If there is a fork in the road, there are two destinations, it is called Erda, and Erda is called the divergence, which means that the road is next to the road, also called the divergent road."

"The three-way intersection is Sanda, which is called next to the drama, the word 'drama' means many, and 'beside the play' means many ambiguities."

By analogy, the crossroads are four reaches, which are called Qu; There is a divergence in the four thoroughfares, just like the plum blossom five petals, that is, the five dars, called Kang, there are many Kangqu in the mountains of Meizhou, which is the origin of the name of Meizhou; The intersection of the three roads in one place is Liuda, which is called the village. ”

"Nowadays, 'Kangqu' and 'Kangzhuang' are often used to refer to the wide, flat and accessible roads, which is the origin. I heard that there are many Kangzhuang in the capital of Daqi, which is known as the road and is invincible; The car is on the same track, and it is suitable everywhere. ”

"It's just that such a humane scene is only available in the national capital, and the local mountains are full of five petals and divergent roads, which will only make it difficult for people to get lost. It is said that at the beginning of the creation of Meizhou, there were many road spirits rampant in the mountains in the north, its name was 'taboo', like a wild man, and there were thousands of years of road breeding monsters, its name was 'Zhao', like a wild girl and black. ”

"These Daojing Road Monsters are not small but they have been repeatedly suppressed, until the people of Meizhou set up a monument to block arrows in order to prevent evil, and raised the black and white road gods by mistake, which gradually disappeared and blocked the southward spread of taboo and Zhao."

"Later, there was a Dao Chenghuang lord ascending the throne, and several generations of Dao Chenghuang succeeded each other, and finally took this road as the boundary, isolating most of the Dao Spirit Road Monsters from the people along with other mountain spirits."

"Today, Meizhou is humane, and even has the spare strength to go north into the mountains, so that the spirits in the large mountains in the south are extinct, and ordinary people may have heard of the name of the Taoist City God and the black and white road god, but they don't know what to do with taboo and Zhao."

For a while, Qi Jingzhi was in a state of mind when he heard it.

He has the heaven and earth Xuanjian in hand, walked a trip to Liaozhou in the East China Sea, and worshiped into Xianyu Mountain, and asked himself to see many kinds of spirits, but this is the first time to hear of the Dao Jinglu monster born from the fork in the road, and according to Chengdeqi, the Dao Chenghuang and the black and white road god are not useless, although the latter is also harmful, but for the people of Meizhou in ancient times, it is the lesser of two evils.

The two pairs of black and white road gods of Budai Stream and Niutou Cliff were refined by the Xuanjian of Heaven and Earth, and at this time the spirituality was known, and I was afraid that it would give birth to the indignation and grievances of the birds and the dead dogs.

Thinking of this, Qi Jingzhi nodded, and asked curiously: "Cheng Shopkeeper, is there anything else to say above this road?" ”

"Naturally, there is."

Cheng Deqi continued: "The intersection of the three roads and the divergence of the way into the seven reaches are called dramas; The four ways are handed over as Bada, which is called the Chong period; The four ways are handed over, and those who have a bypass are Jiuda, and the way of Jiuda is called Kui. ”

"Legend has it that the more divergent the road, the more powerful the spirits that breed, and it is a strict order from Meizhou that no matter the official and civilian roads, they shall not exceed five points, otherwise they will be punished with obscenity to worship evil gods! Even in the middle of the national capital, the road only ends at the broad village, so as not to breed giant demons. ”

(End of chapter)