A sheep's intestine path covered by wild grasses and small shrubs, winds and winds from the official road to the depths of the northwest mountains. On a hillside not far from the trail, a few low thatched huts face south, hidden in a lush forest of ancient trees.

The owner of the hut is an old man and a young woman. The old woman is sixty years old, although her white hair is soothing, but her face is ruddy, her body is light, and a little wrinkle can not hide her delicate face, and it can be seen that she was a stunning beauty when she was young. The young woman is in the prime of her life, and she is even more beautiful and beautiful, although she has not applied powder, she is still stunning and glamorous.

The two lived in seclusion in the mountains and forests, came out with hanging pots, and took turns to practice medicine and sell medicine in some surrounding towns.

Early this morning, the white-haired mother-in-law asked the young woman, "Xiang'er, it's time to go to Xie Baobao today, right?"

"Mother-in-law, there are many patients these days, and the herbs are almost used up, so we should pick herbs in the mountains today." The young woman known as "Xiang'er" replied crisply.

The white-haired mother-in-law smiled and said, "It's still Xiang'er's good memory, if you don't say it, I'll forget." You go outside and get your basket and medicine hoe ready, and I'll change my clothes and come out. ”

"Oh. "Xiang'er" agreed and walked outside the hut.

"Don't forget to bring 'Lei Gongsan'. The white-haired mother-in-law shouted from behind.

"Don't worry, mother-in-law, I can't forget it. "Xiang'er" replied outside the door.

This "Lei Gongsan" is a unique powdered anesthetic secretly made by the white-haired mother-in-law, no matter what people and animals smell it, the light ones are weak and drowsy, and the heavy ones can't wake up within twelve hours. Because she lives in the mountains and mountains all the year round, wolves, insects, tigers and leopards are impermanent, so the white-haired mother-in-law developed this unique anesthetic powder and hung it on the doors and windows of the hut to prevent wild beasts from breaking into the hut and hurting people.

The white-haired mother-in-law changed her clothes, carried a medicine basket on her shoulders and a medicine hoe with "Xiang'er" on her shoulders, and walked out of the hut and went all the way east along the mountain beam, digging medicinal herbs as she went.

The mountain is rich in medicinal materials and can be seen everywhere, but the two of them specialize in picking up and digging medicinal materials that are used in large quantities on weekdays, so the effort is not small. Seeing that the day was getting westerly and the medicinal herbs had been dug up, the two of them put down their baskets, rested for a while, and then set off to return to the hut.

As they walked, they suddenly heard the sound of a fight in front of them, and the two carefully took a closer look and found that three old men on the official road were besieging a weak-crowned young man.

"Weeping willow dancing wind sword?" blurted out the white-haired mother-in-law.

"Mother-in-law, what did you say?" asked Xiang'er.

"Be silent. The white-haired mother-in-law pulled "Xiang'er" and lay down in the bushes, looking at the fight scene with a solemn expression.

"Flaming Palm. The white-haired mother-in-law screamed again, and then exclaimed, "Not good." ”

"Xiang'er, stay here and don't move. ”

Before the words fell, the man had already bounced, and at the same time, his hands were raised, and a puff of yellow-brown dust was sprinkled in the air.

In the middle of the field, the young man fell to the ground, motionless, an old man with half of his body as if stained with blood, facing the sky on his back, gasping for breath, and the other two old men were also stunned by the young man's palm, and sat on the ground for a long time before he slowly got up, only to hear the old man with the meteor hammer in his hand say to the old man with a folding fan in his hand: "Second brother, you quickly wrap the wound of the fourth brother, and when I capture the surname Chen, I will rush to Etuoke overnight." With that, he staggered to the young man.

These people are Chen Wenqi and Yin Feng, Wu Yun, and Ji Dianshi's brothers.

"Stop. Yin Feng was about to mention Chen Wenqi, when he suddenly heard a shout in his ears. When I looked up, there was an old woman with fluttering white hair standing in front of me.

Yin Feng saw that it was an old woman, so he didn't care, and continued to mention Chen Wenqi.

A hoe stretched out, and the tip of the hoe was facing Yin Feng's tiger's mouth. Yin Feng hurriedly withdrew his hand, looked at the old woman and said, "Please don't meddle in your affairs." He received a slap from Chen Wenqi, and his skills were only thirty percent left, and he didn't want to have another incident, so he advised him calmly.

How do you know that the white-haired mother-in-law didn't appreciate it, and said disdainfully: "I don't know shame, the three old ones bullied a young offspring, and now they want to take advantage of the danger of others?"

In addition to the master, how could the "Lingnan Eight Murderers" ever tolerate people? Just now, she had already suppressed her anger and "persuaded each other with good words", but this woman still didn't buy it, Yin Feng immediately became angry and shouted: "You old woman is impatient? You dare to meddle with the old man's affairs." If you don't get out of the way, you will eat the old man's hammer. After speaking, he shook the meteor hammer with one hand and called the white-haired mother-in-law's front door.

The white-haired mother-in-law stood still and laughed, "I'm afraid you don't have enough strength." ”

Sure enough, the meteor hammer flew halfway and fell limply to the ground. I saw Yin Feng drunk and crumbling.

"You...... Are you secretly poisoning?" Yin Feng asked in surprise.

"I wanted to go back to detoxify as soon as possible, but I was hopeless after a few hours. "The white-haired mother-in-law is hell-bent on scaring them away.

"Second child, it's not good, let's go. Yin Fengxin thought it was true, didn't dare to delay time, and hurriedly walked to Wu Yun, and the two of them held Ji Dian's left and right sides, and staggered away.

The white-haired mother-in-law didn't chase after him, leaned over Chen Wenqi, and saw that his face was pale and angry, and many wounds on his body were still bleeding.

"Xiang'er, quickly pound a few wolf sprouts. "Wolf sprouts have the effect of astringent and hemostasis, and after the white-haired mother-in-law applied it to Chen Wenqi's wound, she finally stopped the bleeding.

The white-haired mother-in-law asked "Xiang'er" to chop two wrist-thick bamboos, weave a stretcher with wild rattan, put Chen Wenqi on it, and carefully carried it back to the hut.

The white-haired mother-in-law wiped off all the wolf sprouts that had been applied to Chen Wenqi's wounds, disinfected them with spirits, and then applied a secret hemostatic medicine. After treating the wound, he checked Chen Wenqi's pulse and found that his internal injuries were very serious, Yin Feng's fatal blow had already injured his lungs, and the last full force of the palm would deplete the true yuan in his body, and if he was not treated in time, he was afraid that his life would be in danger.

Chen Wenqi has many wounds on the surface of his body, and the medication must stop bleeding and build muscles, but the intra-abdominal injury is very serious, and the medication must promote blood circulation and remove stasis. The white-haired mother-in-law had never encountered such a serious and complicated injury, so she had to think hard about the Qihuang technique in her brain, and prescribed a set of prescriptions that not only invigorated blood and dispel blood stasis, but also replenished qi and nourished blood, so as to prolong Chen Wenqi's life.

"Mother-in-law, is he saved?" Seeing Chen Wenqi unconscious, "Xiang'er" was very worried and asked cautiously.

"There should be no major danger to life, but it will take some time to recover. The white-haired mother-in-law replied.

Hearing that there was no worry about his life, "Xiang'er" took a long breath and looked a lot more relaxed. She picked up the "Painted Shadow Sword" and asked, "Mother-in-law, what did you just say, is this the sword?"

The white-haired mother-in-law shook her head and said, "Weeping willow dancing wind sword." It's not a sword, it's a sword move. ”

"Sword moves, mother-in-law, do you still know sword moves? Xiang'er never knew that mother-in-law knew that you could do martial arts. "Xiang'er" asked curiously.

"Why don't I know? That's my dad's unique skill. The white-haired mother-in-law said lightly.

"Ahh......h Daddy's apprentice?do you know him?" Xiang'er asked excitedly.

"Bah, who knows him? When my father died, he wasn't born yet. The white-haired mother-in-law said disdainfully.

"Then who taught him sword moves?" asked Xiang'er, puzzled.

"Who else is there besides Liu Mufeng? Don't ask, my mother-in-law is upset. The white-haired mother-in-law said unhappily.

"Xiang'er" stuck out her tongue secretly, not daring to ask again.

Five days and nights later, Chen Wenqi finally woke up. "Xiang'er", who was waiting beside her, saw Chen Wenqi's eyes open, and hurriedly shouted excitedly: "Mother-in-law, come on, this son has woken up." ”

The white-haired mother-in-law walked in, grabbed Chen Wenqi's wrist and checked the pulse for a while, and said, "The pulse is gentle, calm and powerful, well, it's not bad." ”

"Old man, you saved me? What is this place?" Chen Wenqi asked very weakly, remembering what happened before he fell unconscious.

"If you hadn't met your mother-in-law, I'm afraid you would have died a long time ago, and you would have been in a coma for five days and five nights. "Xiang'er" hurriedly said, and then realized that the other party was a young man, and couldn't help but blush with shame.

When Chen Wenqi heard this, he wanted to get up and thank him, but he didn't know that his body had no strength, so he had to lie down and say: "I can't thank my mother-in-law, please forgive me." ”

"The old body didn't save you for you. Compared with before, the white-haired mother-in-law judged the two of them at this time, and she said coldly: "What's your name?"

"Under Chen Wenqi. ”

"Your master is Liu Mufeng?"

"That's right," Chen Wenqi said curiously: "Seniors know my master?" Since he knows his master, he must be a person in the martial arts, so Chen Wenqi changed his mouth and called her "senior".

"Hmph," the white-haired mother-in-law didn't answer Chen Wenqi's question, and said thoughtlessly, "That's good." Recuperate in peace. With that, he turned and walked out.

"Senior, there is something to ask for below. Chen Wenqi hurriedly shouted.

"What's the matter?" asked the white-haired mother-in-law stiffly without turning around.

"The right one...... The girl said that after being in a coma for five days and five nights, the 'family' must be very anxious, can you trouble the senior and this girl to send her back?"

"Send you back? Can you move like this now? unless you don't want to live. The white-haired mother-in-law turned around and said, "Even if you are fully recovered, you are not allowed to leave this place unless you ......."

"Unless what?"

"Unless Zhu Banyun, that little girl comes to pick you up in person. ”

Chen Wenqi was shocked, how did she know the name of Shi Niang? And she seemed to be quite unkind to Shi Niang. Chen Wenqi remembered someone, could it be her? No, how could she be here? In order to find out what was going on, he asked tentatively: "How did the seniors know Shiniang?"

"It's none of your business, take care of your injuries. The white-haired mother-in-law put this sentence aside and turned to leave the hut.

Chen Wenqi shook his head with a wry smile, and said to "Xiang'er": "This girl ......"

may be because her mother-in-law was a little apologetic for Chen Wenqi's bad attitude, "Xiang'er" smiled and said: "Don't 'this girl, this girl', my name is Han Xiang, and Chen Gongzi can call me by my name." ”

"Yes, Miss Hanxiang, can you help me next?"

"What's the matter?" you say. "Except for the patient, Hanka hasn't interacted with anyone, so her words are more straightforward and less red tape.

"I want to ask Miss Hanxiang to go to 'home' to spread a message and report safety. ”

"Where is your 'home'? If it's too far away, I'm afraid my mother-in-law won't agree. Hanxiang said a little hesitantly.

"Phoenix, I don't know if it's far from here?" Chen Wenqi didn't know where he was, so he didn't dare to be sure of the distance.

"Phoenix? I've heard of it, I'm afraid it's sixty or seventy miles away from here, right?" Han Xiang obviously hadn't been to Phoenix, and then said: "No, listening to Chen Gongzi's accent, he shouldn't be a local, right?"

"It's true that I'm not a local, it's ...... I'm here for some business. Sixty or seventy miles is not far, is it?" Chen Wenqi said hopefully, he was afraid that Hanxiang would not agree to the distance.

"I'll go talk to my mother-in-law. Han Xiang said that, got up and came to the outside of the hut, whispered a few words to the white-haired mother-in-law, and then returned to the house and said to Chen Wenqi: "Mother-in-law promised me to go to the arraignment, but I was not allowed to reveal where you were. Do you want to go?"

Chen Wenqi said: "If you want to go, as long as the 'family' knows my news." ”

"Alright then, I'll leave early tomorrow and come and go for a day. ”

"Can you please ask the girl to go now? Without any news from me for many days, the 'family' must be in a hurry. Chen Wenqi said pleadingly.

"I can't see that you're in a hurry. But I can't go back now. Hanxiang said angrily.

Chen Wenqi pointed to the "Painted Shadow Sword" next to the bed, and said to Han Xiang: "You take this sword with you, if the soldiers guarding the city gate don't let you enter the city, you let them send this sword to the General Soldier's Mansion to present it to General Soldier Xia, General Soldier Xia will definitely arrange for you to rest in the post house when he sees this sword, and he will send you back tomorrow." ”

"Yo, Childe is from the government......? But ......" Hanxiang seemed to have some scruples about the government, and was a little hesitant for a while.

"Miss Hanxiang, although I am from the government, I am also a good person. Moreover, Mr. Xia is also a good person, and the girl knows when she sees him. ”

"That'...... All right. Hanxiang hesitated for a moment, but still agreed.

"No, Xiang'er, you should come back by yourself tomorrow, don't want the officers and soldiers to send you, understand?" said the white-haired mother-in-law outside the house, and it seemed that their conversation was clearly heard by the mother-in-law.

"Got it, mother-in-law. Then I'll leave now?" Hanka asked.

"Go ahead. lest he be 'anxious about his family'. ”

Chen Wenqi was suspicious when he heard it, this mother-in-law was as cold as ice for a while, and she was amiable for a while, I really don't know what's going on?

pressed Chen Wenqi to heal his injuries in the hut, but said that Miss Hanxiang took the "Painted Shadow Sword" on the road, walked for about three or four hours, and rushed outside Phoenix City before the sun set. Looking from afar, there were no pedestrians entering or leaving the city gate, she sighed, and was about to enter the city before the city gate was closed, when she suddenly saw a young girl hiding her face and crying not far from the side of the road, as if she was extremely sad. For many years, he has followed the white-haired mother-in-law to practice medicine and accumulate goodness, "close to Zhu is red", and Hanxiang is also a chivalrous heart. At this time, seeing the girl crying sadly, I couldn't bear it, so I hurriedly walked behind the girl, stroked her back, and asked with concern: "Little sister, why are you so sad?"

This girl is Shen Lingshan, who misses her brother-in-law and is sentimental.

As soon as Shen Lingshan saw someone "moving his hands and feet", he immediately became infinitely vigilant, instinctively took a few steps forward, and asked sharply, "Who are you?"

When I turned around, I saw that it was a beautiful girl who was a few years older than me, and the heart that was beating "suddenly" was a little calmer.

"Little sister, why are you so sad?" Hanxiang asked again.

"I ...... Nothing, suddenly a little homesick. Shen Lingshan said in disguise.

"Oh, looking at the depressed scenery at dusk, you will inevitably feel homesick. Han Xiang knew that she had no big deal, and she was relieved, and Wen Yan said: "Does my little sister live in Phoenix? With that, he walked towards the city gate.

Shen Lingshan saw that the sky was getting darker, and she also collected her mood, glanced at the official road that was getting hazy again, followed behind Han Xiang, and slowly returned.

"Pass the talisman?" the soldiers defending the city asked, waking up Shen Lingshan, who was preoccupied, and when she looked up, she had arrived at the gate of the city.

"Master Jun, I don't have a pass talisman, only this sword. ”

"Sword? No one can enter the city without a pass charm. The soldier did not look at it and flatly refused.

"Painted Shadow Sword?" Shen Lingshan exclaimed, hurriedly stepped forward, snatched the sword in Han Xiang's hand, and saw that it was indeed the "Painted Shadow Sword" of her righteous brother, she suppressed the excitement in her heart, and asked nervously: "This sister, where did this 'Painted Shadow Sword' come from?"

"Little sister, how do you know the name of this sword?" Han Xiang was surprised.

"This is my eldest brother's sword. Sister, where did you get this sword?" Shen Lingshan's heart was beating wildly, and her face flushed with excitement.

"Your eldest brother's sword?" Han Xiang was very surprised, and hurriedly asked, "Who is your eldest brother?"

"My eldest brother's name is Chen Wenqi, have you heard?" Shen Lingshan became more and more nervous.

"Giggle......" Hanxiang suddenly laughed when she heard it.

"This sister, you are talking, have you seen my eldest brother Chen Wenqi?" asked Shen Lingshan anxiously.

Han Xiang stopped laughing, pointed to the "Painted Shadow Sword" and said, "If I hadn't seen Chen Wenqi, where would I have come up with this sword?"

Shen Lingshan was overjoyed, grabbed Han Xiang's hand, and asked again and again, "Where did you meet my eldest brother? How is my eldest brother? Where is he now?"

Hanxiang smiled and said solemnly: "Your eldest brother is seriously injured. Seeing that Shen Lingshan was in a hurry, he hurriedly changed his words and said, "But there is no worry about my life, and I am now recuperating at my house." ”

When Shen Lingshan heard this, she immediately burst into tears, and no matter whether she was raw or cooked with Hanxiang, she actually fell into her arms and let out a sad voice.

Han Xiang gently patted Shen Lingshan's shoulder and said, "Little sister, why are you crying again?"

Shen Lingshan raised her head, took out a handkerchief to wipe away her tears, and said shyly, "I didn't cry." Then he took Han Xiang's hand and said, "Sister, let's not go into the city, let's go, go back to 'home'." ”

"Now, no, it's sixty or seventy miles. Besides, my mother-in-law didn't allow my sister to bring anyone back. Hanxiang said embarrassedly.

Shen Lingshan is exquisite, and this kind of thing is difficult for her: "Mother-in-law doesn't allow my sister to 'bring someone' back, so 'that person' can't secretly follow my sister back? Sister, you come with me." After speaking, he took Hanxiang and walked to the city.

In the past few days, Shen Lingshan has gone out early and returned late, and the soldiers guarding the gate have already known that she is a guest of the chief soldier, so there is no need to check the number plate, and the two women are directly let into the city.

"Little sister, didn't you just say that you were going to 'go home', why did you go to the city again?" asked Hanxiang puzzled.

Shen Lingshan was in a good mood when she got the news that Chen Wenqi was safe, and when she saw Hanxiang asking, she replied: "Didn't my sister say that it was far away? And my sister must be tired after walking for most of the day, right? We have to think of a way to get the best of both worlds." ”

"The best of both worlds?

"Sister, don't ask so much, you'll know then. Sister, what's your name?"

Shen Lingshan and Han Xiang were talking while walking, and the girls were easy to get acquainted with each other, and they came to the door of the post house, and the two were already familiar like best friends.

When the two came to the post house, Shen Lingshan shouted from afar: "Brother Li, Brother Ren, my eldest brother has news." ”

Li and Ren were preparing to go to Etuoke early tomorrow morning, and when they heard the news of Chen Wenqi, they couldn't help but be overjoyed, and hurriedly asked, "Son, where is Senior Brother Chen?"

After coming to Phoenix, Shen Lingshan resumed her daughter's dress, but Li and Ren became accustomed to nature and did not change their words for a while, so they still called her "Yang Gongzi". They felt that it was commonplace, but they made Han Xiang puzzled: how could she call her "Childe" when she was a fairy and jade-colored pink beauty? In fact, this is because Han Xiang has lived in the mountains since she was a child and has rarely studied, so she doesn't know that in ancient times, both men and women could be called "Son", even if Shen Lingshan did not have such a thing as a woman pretending to be a man, she could still be called a "Son-in-law".

Shen Lingshan pulled Han Xiang and said, "In her house." ”

"Her family?" Li Yuan was serious, for fear that the news would not be true, and questioned: "Just rely on her words?"

Han Xiang's pretty face suddenly turned crimson, and she didn't know what to say for a while.

Shen Lingshan hurriedly relieved her: "Brother Li, look, this is the eldest brother's 'Painted Shadow Sword', if it weren't for the eldest brother at her house, even if Sister Hanxiang picked up this sword, she wouldn't know that it was the eldest brother's." Besides, Sister Hanxiang is going to see Grandpa Xia, why did she lie to us?"

Li Yuan saw Chen Wenqi's sword, and listened to what Shen Lingshan said, so he quickly dispelled his doubts, and hurriedly clenched his fists to apologize to Han Xiang: "Li Mou doesn't choose what to say, please forgive Miss Han Xiang." ”

Han Xiang was even more embarrassed when she heard this, and said shyly: "Li Daxia is serious. ”

Shen Lingshan hurriedly changed the topic and said to Li Yuan: "Brother Li, Sister Hanxiang and I 'went home' overnight, please report to Grandpa Xia, so as not to worry about his old man." ”

"How's that going to happen? You two girls are on a journey overnight, if you meet something...... What kind of beast, then pay it back? In this way, junior brother, you accompany them to take the first step, and I will report to General Xia, and then I will arrive. ”

Before Ren Si could agree, Han Xiang was so anxious that she shook her hand again and again, and said, "No, no, my mother-in-law knows that I will take you and will be scolded to death by her." ”

Ren Si said with a smile: "After arriving home, Miss Hanxiang will go in first, and we will wait outside for a while, your mother-in-law thinks that we are secretly following us, and she will not blame you." This was exactly the same as what Shen Lingshan said, and Han Xiang had to believe it. And she privately thought that it was unreasonable not for people to visit her brother, so she didn't say anything more.

Li and Ren have been in the post house for many days, and they have long been familiar with the post house. At that moment, Ren Si found Yicheng and said that he would borrow a few horses for use. Without saying a word, Yi Cheng led them to the stable, Ren Si led a tall yellow horse, and helped Shen Lingshan and Han Xiang choose two slightly shorter horses.

Han Xiang was ashamed, how dare she reach out to take the reins? She said in a snort: "I...... Can't ride a horse. ”

Ren Si smiled dumbly and said, "It's all my fault, I didn't expect this layer." Then he asked as if discussing: "So, Yang Gongzi and Hanxiang girl share a ride?"

Shen Lingshan shook her hand continuously, and her face was embarrassed: "No, I may be reluctant to ride a horse alone, but if I bring another person, it will be difficult to move an inch." Brother Ren, why don't you take Sister Hanxiang. ”

When Ren Si heard this, he secretly glanced at Han Xiang, but Han Xiang happened to look at him as well, and as soon as the two of them met their eyes, they immediately blushed and hurriedly turned their heads.

Li Yuan on the side smiled "haha" and said: "How can the children of the rivers and lakes have many evasions? ”

Han Xiang replied shyly, and with the help of Shen Lingshan, she stepped on the back of the horse and sat behind Ren Si. Since childhood, he has never had physical contact with the opposite sex, and at this time the two are close together, although they are separated by clothes, they can still feel each other's body temperature and pulse, and their bodies tremble at the same time, and their minds are blank.

After a long while, Ren Sicai slowly came back to his senses, and he felt that Hanxiang was leaning back hard, wanting to get out of contact with his body, and he didn't know what to do for a while. If she does not hold herself, the horse will surely throw her down when she runs, and if she is allowed to hold herself, it will be a little frivolous.

In desperation, he said to Li Yuan: "Senior brother, find a thicker rope for me." ”

Li Yuan immediately understood, returned to the room, found a thumb-thick hemp rope and handed it to Ren Si, Ren Si took it and tied it around his waist, and then said to Han Xiang: "Miss Han Xiang, please hold on to the hemp rope around my waist and don't let go." ”

Han Xiang's heart was sweet, and she thought that this person was as careful and considerate as a hair, so she grabbed the rope with both hands to avoid the embarrassment of skin contact.

Shen Lingshan pursed her lips, stepped on the horse's back, and said to Ren Si, "Brother Ren, let's go." With that, he clamped his legs, and rushed out of the stable first, galloping out of the city.