The Bashan Sword School is located in the northwest, and the contemporary head Huo Zhongyuan is also quite famous in the martial arts. Although Xiao Yunfan is close to him, he also has a little reverence for this martial arts celebrity.

Several people stood at the foot of the hill and looked up. The stone steps are built along the mountain and are majestic. The pines on both sides stand tall and proud. The mountainside is shrouded in clouds and mist, and there is a bit of the taste of the immortal holy realm.

It took a long time to reach the top of the mountain. When several mountain guarding disciples saw Yin Zhonghao coming back, they hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Yin Zhonghao said to one of the tall young men: "Fang Hua, you quickly go to the palace to inform the head of the house, and ask him to wait for me in the main hall." When the disciple received the order, he galloped away.

Xiao Yin and the others walked slowly through the wall and came to the square. Flagpoles are erected around the square, and green flags flutter on the poles. In the octagonal stone altar in the center of the square, stands a black boulder, about three zhang high, like a sharp sword, piercing the sky. On the boulder, there are engraved the four big characters of the Bashan Sword School, which are vigorous and powerful. Forty or fifty disciples lined up in a phalanx and practiced the sword formation under the guidance of the teaching.

Xiao Yunfan followed behind Yin Zhonghao and entered the main hall. A colorful statue in the hall, with crane hair and a childish face, wearing a Taoist robe, with a sword on his back, is sitting in danger. On the left and right are two pendulum boys. In front of the statue, the yellow cloth curtain hangs down, and the table below is placed with tribute fruit and incense burner.

Five old men in gray robes greeted them. The old man at the head was tall, with a ruddy complexion, and a long snow-white beard that perpendicular to his chest. His eyes are bright, and he has the air of a grandmaster. The old man arched his hands and said loudly: "Old man Huo Zhongyuan has lost his welcome, forgive me!"

Xiao Yunfan also saluted: "Junior, Xiao Yunfan, meet the old-timers!"

Huo Zhongyuan stretched out his hand to introduce the people behind him, these four people were Chu Fangzhou's father Chu Zhongliu, mother Miao, father-in-law Ji Zhongming, and mother-in-law Wei. After everyone sat down, Huo Zhongyuan smiled and said, "Friend Xiao, why do you have time to come to my Bashan as a guest?"

Xiao Yunfan got up and said, "There is a reason for it, and the juniors have to come." Senior Chu, Senior Ji, please mourn!" Chu Zhongliu heard this, his eyes widened, as if he had heard it wrong, and shouted loudly: "What kind of mourning? You make it clear to the old man!"

Xiao Yunfan said with a straight face: "Senior Brother Chu and his wife were killed by traitors. The juniors are here to report the news. The four old men were taken aback and stood up at the same time. Yin Zhonghao's expression was sad, and he said in a low voice: "Senior brother, Zhou'er and Yun'er were killed, and now the bodies are in the guest room at the bottom of the mountain. ”

Mrs. Miao suddenly heard the bad news and fainted. Mrs. Wei was even more tearful and cried bitterly. Chu Zhongliu's body trembled, and he hurriedly reached out to pinch his wife's acupoint.

Huo Zhongyuan calmed down, stood up, and said slowly: "Fang Hua, you take a few disciples, help your uncle and uncle to take a look, Fang Bei, you leave me and I have something to ask you." ”

Xiao Yunfan looked at the stumbling backs of the four old men, and his heart was sour. These four people are all in their last years, and they suddenly encountered the disaster of losing their son, who can bear it?

Huo Zhongyuan sighed and said, "Brother Xiao, please tell the old man the ins and outs of this matter." Xiao Yunfan stated the matter to Huo Zhongyuan, he pondered for a long time, and asked Yin Zhonghao, who was standing aside, "Senior brother, what Xiao Daxia said is the truth?"

Yin Zhonghao said: "Senior brother, when my disciple and I arrived, Zhou'er was already dead, and the perpetrator was gone, Brother Xiao came to explain the matter to everyone!"

Huo Zhongyuan stared at Xiao Yunfan and asked, "You said that it was the rich businessman Xu Shou who killed Zhou'er, do you know the details of this Xu Shou?"

"The younger generation and Xu Shou are also friends, and he was originally going to win the golden snow carp. And if something happened to our carriage halfway down, he must have planned everything. ”

Huo Zhongyuan stroked his beard and groaned: "Your Excellency, then Xu Shou killed my disciple first, and blamed you later, but this Xu Shou traveled with him, is it too risky for him to do this?"

Xiao Yunfan responded: "There is only one Jinbo snow carp, and he naturally does everything in order to save his mother." ”

Huo Zhongyuan said: "So where is the Jinbo snow carp now?"

Xiao Yunfan untied his burden, took out the box and put it on the table, and said slowly: "Master Huo, I will make an appointment with Brother Xu Shouchu and his wife for three chapters, and I will take care of this Jinbo Snow Carp, and each of them will take a key." ”

Huo Zhongyuan nodded and said, "Since this is the case, Zhou'er and his wife must have another key on them."

Brother Xiao, before the matter is clarified, please spend some more time in the house. Senior Brother Yin, you take Brother Xiao to the guest room first, and I'll go to see the situation down the mountain. ”

Yin Zhonghao led Xiao Yunfan out of the main hall, and many Bashan disciples whispered in front of the main hall, all with angry faces, obviously hostile to Xiao Yunfan. After turning two corridors, the two came to a secluded courtyard. There are two laurel trees planted in the courtyard, and flower beds are lined with the road.

Yin Zhonghao walked in front, opened the door of a guest room and said: "Xiao Daxia is here to rest for the time being, and I hope to bear with me if I don't entertain well." With that, he left on his own.

Xiao Yunfan clasped his hands behind his back and looked around. On the east flour wall are several near-human landscapes, and on the west wall stands a three-story bookshelf full of ancient books. The house is clean and elegant.

After tossing for a long time, he was really tired and was about to sleep.

Suddenly, he heard the footsteps outside the door, and he rolled over and rushed to the window. Dipping his fingers in saliva, he gently punctured the window paper and looked out. I saw that about 20 people outside the house were holding swords and surrounding the guest room.

Xiao Yunfan was annoyed in his heart and scolded secretly: Okay, you Huo Zhongyuan actually played this hand with Lao Tzu!

In the side hall of the mourning hall at the foot of Bashan, the candle has a high fever. Huo Zhongyuan wore a white cloth on his head, sat on a chair and closed his eyes in contemplation. Chu Ji's two families also sat down, their expressions abrupt.

Suddenly, Chu Zhongliu's eyes were red, he slapped the table, and said angrily: "Senior brother, this dog thief surnamed Xiao killed Zhou'er, I'll go and dismantle him in eight pieces!" Hearing her husband's righteous indignation, Mrs. Miao's heart was even more sour, the tears on her face were not dry, and she gritted her teeth and said, "Yes, senior brother." ”

Huo Zhongyuan shook his head and said, "If this Xiao Yunfan is a murderer, how can he go up the mountain with Senior Brother Yin?" Senior Brother Yin, what do you think about this matter?" Yin Zhonghao said in a deep voice: "Senior brother, I also feel strange about this matter. When my disciple and I arrived, Xiao Yunfan was outside the car. We fought him, and he was really good at martial arts. It's a shame to say that the younger brother is not his opponent. If he is really my opponent of the Bashan faction, he can kill me on the spot, how can he follow me up the mountain?"

Ji Zhongming glanced at Yin Zhonghao and sneered: "Senior brother, senior brother, we are a family, why do you turn your elbows outward, but help him talk to an outsider? This person has the courage to come up the mountain, but he is afraid that he has another plan." Have you ever thought about this layer?" Huo Zhongyuan's heart moved slightly, and he said secretly: What Senior Brother Ji said is right. If this person pretends to go up the mountain, he is actually spying on the secrets of our faction, but he must not be guarded against.

Leaving him alive is tantamount to giving away the century-old foundation of my Bashan faction. When I really arrived at this field, wouldn't I, Huo Zhongyuan, become a sinner of my own faction? As soon as he thought of this, he was shocked to sweat and sweat his clothes.

Yin Zhonghao saw Huo Zhongyuan hesitate, and hurriedly said: "Senior brother, the jade lion has become famous in the rivers and lakes in recent years. It doesn't hurt if he dies elsewhere, he dies in our Bashan faction, and it is difficult to guarantee that his master will not seek out the bad luck of my Bashan faction!"

Chu Zhongliu looked disdainful, and snorted coldly: "Old Five, how can you grow the ambition of others, Mo your own prestige? Zhou'er Yun'er is your own teacher and nephew, and she keeps calling your fifth uncle, and now that they are dying tragically, what is the reason for you to defend Xiao Yunfan in every possible way?"

Yin Zhonghao's face changed slightly, and he said astringently: "But...... It's ......"

Huo Zhongyuan stood up, motioned to Yin Zhonghao not to say any more, walked up to Chu Zhongliu, stretched out his hand and pressed on his shoulder, and said in a deep voice: "Second junior brother, don't worry, the enmity between Zhou'er and Yun'er, I, as a master, will definitely avenge them." I have already sent someone to take care of Xiao Yunfan, and forgive him that he can't escape from the palm of our hands. However, Senior Brother Yin's words must be listened to, if you want to kill this surnamed Xiao, we have a proper name. The sneak attack is not our decent work. Even if the result is for this person, it will lead to disaster. ”

Chu Zhongliu glared at Yin Zhonghao and walked away. Ji Zhongming said: "Everything is up to the senior brother. ”

Huo Zhongyuan nodded and said, "Third child, you go and persuade the second child." Mrs. Miao and Mrs. Wei also stepped out of the room.

Yin Zhonghao lowered his head, and his heart was very uncomfortable. Huo Zhongyuan said gently: "Fifth brother, don't take your second brother's words to heart. Zhou'er and Yun'er died horizontally, and parents naturally cut their hearts like knives. You have a lot of patience. ”

Yin Zhonghao nodded and said, "Senior brother's words, the junior brother will naturally take care of it, and I won't complain about the second brother." However, whether Xiao Yunfan is the real murderer still needs to be investigated in detail, our Bashan faction is above board, and neither let go of a bad person, nor can we wronged a good person. ”

Huo Zhongyuan sighed, looked at Yin Zhonghao, and said slowly: "What is the truth of this matter, we have to investigate it in detail." According to Xiao Yunfan, they stayed at the Huangling Town Inn,

I've sent my capable disciples over there, and I might be able to find some clues. In addition, tonight you will set off, go to Jiming Temple to invite the abbot of Hongyuan, Lianhuaguan to invite a Qing Taoist, Jin Kezhai to invite the master of Huangzhai. For the rest of the martial arts colleagues, I will send someone to invite. ”

Yin Zhonghao nodded yes, and said busily: "It turns out that the senior brother has already made arrangements, and the junior brother will leave." ”

Huo Zhongyuan looked at his resolute face, as high-spirited and upright as he was back then. Reaching out and gently pressing it on his shoulder, he instructed, "Be careful on the road."

Approaching the Mid-Autumn Festival, it was a day of family reunion, but the poor Ji Chu family had broken their hearts and intestines, and tears rippled. Huo Zhongyuan, as an elder, watched this Chu Fangzhou and Ji Yun grow up, thinking of the past, and his heart was also full of grief. But as the head of the house, he can't show a lot of emotions. Chu Ji and the others have already lost their way, and he has to preside over major events. He comforted the two families, and went to the mourning hall in person to examine the wounds of the deceased.

The sword part of the two men was in the throat, and the wound was thin and sharp. After his death, he had a calm expression on his face, obviously being killed by a master of swordsmanship in an instant. According to Xiao Yunfan, the two of them were fine before getting into the car, but they were killed halfway, which means that the murderer killed them halfway.

Strangely, Xiao Yunfan didn't hear the screams. If the murderer said it to Xiao Yunfan, it was intended to take the fish. Killing Zhou'er and Yun'er is for the key. The iron box should be his target, but why didn't he do it for a long time? Could it be that he was afraid of Xiao Yunfan's swordsmanship? After thinking about it, he still hadn't figured it out.

He found a maid in the mourning hall to ask about the whereabouts of the key, and when he sorted out the relics of the two, did he find another key?

The maid shook her head when she heard this. led Huo Zhongyuan to check in another room, and there were no other items in the relics except for the wooden comb, rouge box, and handkerchief used by the woman.

It took a lot of effort, but I still couldn't figure it out. He suddenly remembered Ji Zhongming's words again, and ordered the four personal disciples to carry the lantern to the wing room.

Not long after, Huo Zhongyuan came to the door of the wing. A disciple of the patrol leader saw the head of the house and hurriedly stepped forward to salute.

Huo Zhongyuan waved his hand, signaling that he didn't have to say anything, and then beckoned him to step forward and reply.

The disciple whispered: "Qi Qi is in charge, the disciple was ordered to guard here, and I didn't see Xiao Yunfan take a step out of the door." At this point, he must have slept. ”

Huo Zhongyuan nodded and said in a low voice, "You all withdraw." The disciple responded, and then stretched out his hand to signal the others to leave, and Huo Zhongyuan opened the personal service disciple again, leaving a white paper lantern.

With a lantern in his left hand, he walked briskly to the foot of a laurel tree in the flower garden on his left. Then he jumped and flew up the branches.

Although Xiao Yunfan was angry during the day, he still restrained his temper. I thought to myself: If you injure the people of the Bashan faction and go down the mountain, it is true that you will be free, but the charge of murder cannot be cleared. If you come, you will be safe, and lie on the bed and fall asleep with the belief that the pure person is self-purifying.

was asleep, suddenly the bed board overturned, and his whole body fell into a dark passage, the four walls of the passage were very smooth, and Xiao Yunfan was sleeping soundly, so naturally he couldn't prevent it.

The whole person slid down the passage rapidly, slammed to the ground, and fell to the ground. It turned out that there was a mechanism on the laurel tree, which connected to the bed board of the wing.

This time it was really not light, he only felt that his back was about to break, his whole body was sore, and he finally struggled to sit up. When I tried to open my eyes, I saw that there was no light in the pitch black in front of me. I was surprised in my heart and said: I, Xiao Yunfan, was assassinated by Bashan's group of birdmen, could this be the Netherworld?

He twitched his mouth, and his cheeks were burning with pain, knowing that he was not dreaming. There was a chill under the buttocks, not a mattress. He said to himself, "It's strange, I sleep in the guest room, why am I here?

He touched the back of his head, and it seemed to be swollen with an egg-sized hematoma, and it hurt when he pressed his fingers. Full of anger, he suddenly appeared, and scolded: "There is no good person up and down Bashan. There is a kind of Grandpa Xiao to get out of here, face to face, what kind of heroes are these famous people behind their backs?"

At this time, a dim light lit up not far away. Xiao Yunfan looked fixedly, half of his face was revealed in a palm-sized hole, and he recognized Huo Zhongyuan from his beard.

Xiao Yunfan said angrily: "What does Master Huo mean?"

Huo Zhongyuan said lightly: "Brother Xiao, whether my nephew was harmed by his subordinates is still difficult to determine. Although the old man has the heart to defend it, he is afraid of hurting the friendship of his peers. I have to grieve you to stay in this dungeon for a few days, and when things come to light, you can naturally leave. ”

Xiao Yunfan smiled: "If this matter is not revealed, you will lock me up for the rest of my life?"

Huo Zhongyuan said: "This is also a helpless thing. ”

Xiao Yunfan sneered: "What do you mean by helplessness? It is really a big joke to let the murderer get away with it, but to lock Xiao Mou here. ”

Huo Zhongyuan knew that this was Xiao Yunfan sneering at him, but he didn't care. Still said gently: "Brother Xiao, don't be impatient, the old man has invited dozens of fellow martial artists to come to my Bashan faction as a notary, and he will return justice to you at that time." You can rest assured that I will send someone to bring you some food these days. As he spoke, he closed the palm-sized window on the iron door, and everything fell into darkness again.