Chapter 43: The Protector
How can you say that you have encountered a demon? Brother Zhang Yan died in the mouth of a demon? How can you make the other party believe it? Chi Tang decided to slow down first, but pointed at Xue Yang: "Rong introduced, this is Chi's friend, Xue Yang." He pointed at the big man again: "Brother Xue, this is also my best friend, Pengcheng Xu Meng, known as Pengcheng rhino sword." ”
Xue Yang stood up and smiled slightly: "Xue Yang, a disciple of the Jing Chu Qian's family, has seen Brother Xu. ”
Xu Meng had never heard of the Jing Chu family, but if he could become a friend of the swordsman, he must also be an extraordinary person, and he was polite at the moment: "Pengcheng Xu Meng has seen Brother Xue." ”
After a few pleasantries, it happened that the shopkeeper was angrily sending the noodle soup and pastry ordered by Xue Yang.
Xu Meng saw that the food was rough, and invited repeatedly: "The two of you will come to the younger brother's table and talk about the wine, how about it?"
Chi Tang hadn't figured out how to explain the question, and he was a little hesitant for a while, but Xue Yang had already answered: "Very good, very good." ”
Chi Tang thought about it, after all, it was an old friend, he came to invite, and he had no reason to refuse, so he also nodded: "Okay, let's go to Brother Xu's seat." ”
Xu Meng happily pulled Chi Tang straight to his seat, he had too many questions to ask this negative swordsman, Xue Yang first drank the noodle soup sent over, and then carried four dough cakes, and signaled to the shopkeeper: "Let's change to that table." ”
The three of them sat down, Xu Meng asked the shopkeeper to add more wine utensils, and then poured a bowl of spirits for Chi Tang and Xue Yangman.
"Blanch the star anise again, and cut a leg of lamb. Xu Meng instructed the shopkeeper, and then saluted the two of them with a bowl: "I can meet Brother Chi here, the younger brother is overjoyed, come, Brother Chi, Brother Xue, drink this bowl!"
The bowls touched, and the three of them drank it all with their necks up, Xue Yang was not polite, put down the wine bowl, and tore off the stewed chicken and chicken legs on the table, chewing happily.
"Why did Brother Xu come here?" Chi Tang decided to ask before Xu Meng asked.
Xu Meng sighed: "Brother Chi hasn't walked the rivers and lakes for a long time, right?
"What's the matter?"
"The first thing is that in half a year, many famous chivalrous masters have disappeared, oh, Brother Chi, you are also one of them, but when I saw Brother Chi at this time, my little brother's heart was relieved. ”
Chi Tang immediately understood what the big thing Xu Meng was referring to, and his heart shook wildly, but his face was silent, and he motioned for Xu Meng to continue.
"These chivalrous masters also include my cousin, as well as Pengguan Absolute Iron Gun Chen Song, Dicheng Quick Knife Huo Kuang, Langzhong Iron Gun Yu Tao and other long-famous figures. ”
Chi Tang nodded secretly in his heart, yes, these are the people, these swordsmen and knights who ambushed the tyrant of Qin in the middle of last month, just like himself.
"Originally, my cousin often went out and didn't return, and my aunt was used to it, but every year during the Chinese New Year, my cousin had to go home, and the whole family was reunited, without exception, but this year until the second year of junior high school, my cousin still hasn't returned, and my aunt is in a hurry, but I heard that my cousin went to Chang'an City last year, so I came out, went to Chang'an to inquire, and see if there is any cousin's whereabouts, by the way, Brother Chi, I heard that you also went to Chang'an with my cousin last year, can you know everything?"
Chi Tang immediately heard the clue in Xu Meng's words: "Brother Xu, where did you learn about our Chang'an?"
Xu Meng poured himself a full bowl, and filled it for Chi Tang and Xue Yang before saying, "This is another major event that happened in the martial arts." Towards the end of the year, someone from the Jueyun Castle in Kunlun Mountain came over and said that there was one missing golden dragon talisman and came to us to inquire about it. ”
Kunlun Mountain Jueyun Castle, is the residence of Duanmu Linghong, the head of the Martial Arts Alliance, the golden dragon talisman came out, and everyone in the martial arts obeyed it, and this golden dragon talisman was missing one, which was indeed a major event in the martial arts. ...,
"The people of the Peerless Cloud Castle have visited several martial arts heroes, and I heard that in June last year, someone had invited those missing knights to Chang'an with the Golden Dragon Talisman, and it seemed that they were attending some kind of party. ”
Chi Tang's heart froze, that day the scene of the Dongcheng ranger Li Du holding the golden dragon talisman to invite him appeared in front of him again, he was bewitched by the golden dragon talisman, and he lost his mind for a while, and agreed to this matter, until he finally met the demon on a moonlit night. He had discussed with the Qianjia Demon Slayer, Ji Rui thought that the golden dragon talisman was attached to the soul dementoring technique of Fly Mountain, so that the martial arts warriors who saw this talisman were bewitched, Chi Tang deduced afterwards, the more he thought about it, the more he felt that it made sense, it seemed that the lost golden dragon talisman was this one, according to this, the two major events that happened in the martial arts now are actually one thing. If you find out the reason for the lost Golden Dragon Talisman, you can also know the reason for the disappearance of a group of martial arts warriors, but Chi Tang clearly knows the reason for the Dao, he is a witness to this matter, and he is also the only survivor who escaped.
"Now that I've met Brother Chi, it's okay, my cousin is in Chang'an with Brother Chi, right?" Xu Meng looked a little excited, after all, he saw the rumored missing swordsman, and if the swordsman could see him again, then his cousin, the giant swordsman Zhang Yan, would also be found.
Chi Tang was still hesitating whether to tell the truth, and his eyes couldn't help but look at Xue Yang, who was munching on the case, Xue Yang had already understood what he meant, rubbed his oily hand on his body, and nodded to Chi Tang. The meaning is very clear, there will always be a day when the truth of this matter will be revealed, and it is not always a long-term plan to care about the difference between demons, the second senior brother Gan Fei has already accompanied Mei Yu Guyan on the way to meet Da Sima to explain the matter of demons and ghosts, so for the martial arts in the world, it is also necessary for them to know the truth about the existence of demons.
Chi Tang's heart was crossed, and he nodded: "Yes, Brother Zhang went to Chang'an with me." ”
"Then where is my cousin now?" Xu Meng perked up.
"Brother Xu......" Chi Tang stared at Xu Meng, and his tone was very solemn.
Chi Tang's solemn expression made Xu Meng stunned: "The little brother is ......"
"What I have said below is my own experience, and there is nothing in vain. ”
"Brother Chi has been famous for martial arts for a long time, how can there be any reason to lie about it? Brother Chi said. Xu Meng also felt that what Chi Tang was about to say must be a big deal, and couldn't help but straighten his body.
"This time I went to Chang'an, led by the golden dragon order of the Duanmu League, with Chen Song, the iron spear of Pengguan as the leader, a total of fifty-six righteous men, Chi Mou was also among them, the plotter was to assassinate the tyrant of the Diren, and the day of the assassination was set in the middle of July 14......" Chi Tang told Xu Meng the beginning and end of the assassination of the tyrant.
There was a noise outside the wine shop, it seemed that a group of merchants was about to leave, and a big black man was shouting something to the group of merchants, Xue Yang stopped swallowing, looked at the group of merchants and the big man who was talking, thoughtful.
Chi Tang's narration is extremely detailed, from the moonlit night assassin to the appearance of the four spirits of Fly Mountain, from the chanting of Mrs. Ru Dan to the defeat of the heroes, and how he escaped death, how to sneak into Jingling Dongzhuang, how to repel the Qishan robbers, how to get acquainted with the demon slayer, until now, he has entered the door of Jing Chuqian's family, and is preparing to return to Chang'an to find those cannibalistic demons to seek revenge.
Xu Meng was extremely surprised when he heard it at first, and then his eyes wandered a little, as if he didn't believe it but didn't dare to believe it, and later, when he heard that Xue Yang was also a demon slayer, and was Chi Tang's current junior brother, Xu Meng's gaze shifted from Chi Tang's face to Xue Yang, and then from Xue Yang back to Chi Tang's face. Chi Tang was sprinkled, and after half an hour of saying that he was going to come down, Xu Meng didn't say a word, even after Chi Tang finally finished speaking, Xu Meng was silent. ...,
Chi Tang picked up the wine bowl, poured the liquor into his mouth, and then felt the heat brought by the liquor in his throat and stomach, and said with a wry smile: "Brother Xu still can't believe it, right? Before I saw those demons with my own eyes, I never believed that there were really demons in the world. ”
Xu Meng took a deep breath before slowly speaking: "It's not that the junior brother doesn't believe in Brother Chi, it's just that this demonic and mysterious thing teaches the younger brother ......."
"Hearing is false, seeing is believing. Xue Yang, who had been looking outside the door, suddenly turned his head, "Brother Xu, why don't you go with us in a while?" ”
Chi Tang looked at Xue Yang in surprise, I don't know why he said this, but Xue Yang smiled and said to the team of merchants outside who were about to leave, Chi Tang suddenly realized, the demon was hiding in that group of merchants, it seems that when he said to Xu Mengchen just now, Xue Yang had already found traces of demons.
Xu Meng pondered for a long time, and only after the last thought did he raise the bowl to his neck and drink it all, and then slammed the wine bowl on the table: "Okay......! Ahem, ahem!" The liquor spoke before it could reach his throat, so that Xu Meng choked and coughed, and he didn't even finish his words.
※※※
When Chi Tang and Xu Meng walked towards the group of merchants, they found that everyone was unwrapping the package, taking out the yellow and clear gold and delivering it to the black man. Xue Yang followed behind Chi Tang, he fully carried forward the good habit of the disciples of the Qianjia family to be simple and not wasteful, he didn't have any dishes left over from the table, they were all packed into his stomach, and he also put the dough cakes that he couldn't eat into the dry food bag, Chi Tang was already surprised by this, and Xu Meng had other things on his mind, and he didn't notice Xue Yang's strong combat power at the dinner table.
"One person hardware, beautiful women are free! Just rest assured, there is Luo Lao Qi here, and there is no difference between the two hundred miles of mountain roads that cover you!" The big black man is nine feet tall, with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and a large halberd beard makes him look extremely majestic, and he wears a wide blade scabbard at his waist, and the handle of the knife is obliquely exposed half, which seems to be not light. He was speaking in a very heavy Heluo accent as he smiled and took the gold given by the merchant into his arms.
Chi Tang only listened to Na Luo Lao Qi for a short time, and then he knew that the matter was rough. Go to the mountains, there are many bandits and robbers roaring together, meet the merchants passing by, that is, the group rises up, the light is to plunder the property and go, the heavy is all slaughtered, leaving no living mouth, so the merchants often need to guard the people. However, in these troubled times, the soldiers are not stopped, and many of the guards have been conscripted into the army, even if they can recruit a few brave bandits, it is difficult to resist the enemy's many powerful bandits; but it is imperative to connect the north and the south to the port, and it is imperative to do business, and in this situation, a new profession came into being, called the protector.
The so-called protector is a person who collects a fee from a merchant traveler who wants to walk on the road, and then escorts him by that person to ensure the safety of the journey. And the team escorted by the merchant guard, generally there will be no bandits and robbers to make up their minds, not that the merchant protector himself is so powerful that the bandits and robbers are afraid of not moving, but the merchant protector and the bandits and robbers along the way have contact, and it is even possible that the merchant protector himself is one of the bandits and robbers, and most of the fees collected from the business travelers will be handed over to the bandits and robbers, which can be regarded as leaving the money to buy the road, and the bandits and robbers will naturally let them go and will not be difficult. Since the appearance of the profession of merchant protector, it has been very popular with both parties, and in the case of bandits and robbers, they do not want to be so infamous that there are no business travelers passing through the territory they occupy, but where do they go to cut the path and cut off the road? It's just that each merchant has its own range of potential, and if it comes out of its own range of potential, it doesn't work, and it is often a traveler who travels through several merchants to find several protectors along the way, who are responsible for different lots. Most of these protectors appear in the realm where the situation is chaotic and thieves are rampant, but there are very few in the southern border, so Xue Yang and Xu Meng have not seen it, even Chi Tang himself, he has only heard of it, and today he has seen it with his own eyes. ...,
This big black man Luo Laoqi seems to be a protector, listening to his meaning, it seems that he has a lot of strength and can protect two hundred miles of mountain roads.
Seeing Chitang coming over, Luo Laoqi came up again: "Can you go or not?" ”
Who are these people? They are all chivalrous swordsmen who rarely meet opponents, how can they need the protection of the merchant when they walk on the way, Xu Meng shook his hand: "No need, let's go on the road by ourselves." ”
Luo Laoqi glared at Xu Meng, and muttered in his mouth: "It's me who knows how to punch and kick, there are a lot of robbers here, don't blame me for suffering when the time comes." ”
Xu Meng waved his hand: "Hugh wants Luo!" He now wants to follow Chitang Xue Yang to see what they are talking about, and he has no heart to talk nonsense with the protector, he is also a child of the family, and there is a majesty in his words and demeanor, Luo Laoqi was stunned, but he didn't say anything out of line.
Chi Tang was observing the group of merchants who were about to set off, perhaps for the convenience of traveling at night, most of these merchants were also dressed in black, or carrying thick packages, or driving donkey-drawn carts, obviously carrying goods, only two people in it were different from others, one was an old man with gray sideburns, the clothes on his body did not seem to be the coarse linen of civilians, his face was ruddy, and next to him was a young woman in a thorn hairpin cloth dress, the woman had the appearance of more than twenty years old, and when she looked closely, she actually had a good face and a moving posture. If it is said that these two are father and daughter, the age difference is a little big, but if it is said that it is a husband and wife, the age difference is a big one, how can there be a reason for the old man to take his wife to travel far away? This is a troubled time, if there is a change, the old man is weak, unable to protect his family, is not the whole family suffering?
At this time, the old man was taking out the gold and handing it to Luo Laoqi, Luo Laoqi shouted: "I have to give money to two people!" suddenly saw the color of the woman, and immediately smiled: "Okay, I will accept you alone, the beauty is free, the beauty is free." ”
Luo Laoqi spoke lightly, and the woman's head lowered even deeper.
Luo Laoqi leaned over, looked at the woman with a salivating face, and looked at the woman with a smile on her face, the woman turned her head sideways, ashamed.
"Your daughter?" Luo Laoqi asked the old man.
"yes, thank you. The old man laughed and replied to Luo Laoqi's words.
"At this time, taking such a beautiful girl out, don't you feel sorry for me, what if you are rebellious?" Luo Laoqi couldn't help it a little, and wanted to touch the woman's fine chin.
The old man leaned sideways and vaguely expressed his intention to stop: "Thank you heroes, thank you heroes, we are going to Yuzhou to vote for relatives, there is no way." ”
Luo Laoqi retracted his hand and snorted: "Cheng, your father and daughter will follow me, just rest assured, I will take care of anything good or bad." ”
Xue Yang whispered to Chi Tang and smiled: "The demon is in this caravan, it's ridiculous that this Luo Laoqi is still talking loudly, it is estimated that he will suffer when he enters the mountain." ”
Xu Meng was a little incredulous: "There are demons in those people?"
Although Chi Tang felt that the father and daughter were a little strange, he didn't notice the demonic aura, and looked at the team gathered by the merchant and said: "Then follow this team, see when the demon appears, and get rid of it." ”
Luo Laoqi was already shouting loudly: "The time has come! Everyone is leaving, just rest assured, I Luo Laoqi has collected the money, and I will send everyone to the ground safely!"
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