Outside the city of Baoding, 300 miles away from Kyoto

The fat man and Xiong Yitong sat on horseback and looked at the majestic city gate from a distance, and the fat man took the lead in asking: "Don't you enter the city?" All the way around the city, Baoding City is not small, it is the safest city before entering Beijing. ”

Xiong Yitong shook his head and said, "Didn't we think the same way last time? ”

"That's right, I don't want to enter this Baoding City again, it's just that Mo Shuya has been trying to find a serious inn to stop. ”

"I'll explain to her in a moment, you don't have to worry. ”

The fat man smiled and said, "Then thank you Fairy Xiong for bothering." ”

Xiong Yitong didn't care about the fat man's teasing, and said calmly: "Since you don't enter the city, don't stay longer, let's go." "Then he prepared to ride away.

The fat man seemed to suddenly notice something, and looked up at the city.

At the head of Baoding City, there is a patrol armor, which is unremarkable, but the leading general is particularly eye-catching.

The bright armor reflected the dazzling sunlight, and the general seemed to be looking at Xiong Yitong and the others. Moreover, his outfit is obviously different from the armor around him, in addition to the higher specifications, the sleeves under the armor are not the bright red of ordinary generals, but the lilac that represents respect.

Xiong Yitong looked up at his gaze and asked suspiciously: "What's the matter, isn't he just a city defender, what's there to see?"

"He's not a defender, he's a royal forester. The fat man's tone was solemn, he had stayed in the army for a while with Huaining, and naturally knew more about the military armor and clothing than Xiong Yitong, not to mention the famous Imperial Forest Army.

"Didn't the Imperial Forest Army leave Kyoto?"

"Unless there's someone in town who deserves their escort. ”

Xiong Yitong frowned, and said: "The area around Baoding City is the place where we must return to Beijing, if someone in the imperial court really wants Zuoqiu to die, whether he enters the city or not, the danger is the same." ”

"Now the matter of entering the city is more discussed, let's go, go back and have a round with Brother Huaining first. ”

After that, the fat man rode back, and Xiong Yitong followed.

At this moment, Zuo Chuning and the others were taking a nap on the tree-lined avenue in the distance outside the city.

Although I have been running for days, I have been walking slowly, and now it is close to the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the weather is gradually getting cooler.

In recent days, Zuo Chuning has always had a thought lingering in his mind, but he didn't have a chance to speak. Today, after thinking about it for a long time, he finally mustered up the courage.

He walked on crutches and slowly walked to Ping Huaining, who was meditating under the tree with his eyes closed, and asked softly tentatively, "Brother Huaining?"

Ping Huaining opened his eyes, as soft as his usual voice: "What's wrong?"

Zuoqiu was a little embarrassed, his cheeks were slightly red, he tightened his robe with one hand, and said, "I have something I want to ask Brother Huaining's opinion." ”

Ping Huaining looked at his twisted posture and said with a chuckle: "But it doesn't hurt to talk about it." ”

"I want to practice martial arts. Zuoqiu stared at Ping Huaining and said seriously.

"Good thing. ”

"What? is it, you, and you still practice martial arts?" Zuoqiu Moshu shouted in surprise out of nowhere.

This call attracted the attention of everyone around, and Fang Huyuan, who was called a groom by Xiong Yitong, and a group of domestic servants cast their eyes one after another.

Zuoqiu felt even more embarrassed, and reprimanded: "You girl, don't fight for three days, go to the house to expose the tiles!

"Fat Han, didn't you say that you can't be a master of martial arts at your age, and our father will definitely not agree. Zuoqiu Moshu added fuel to the fire.

Zuo Qiu Ning looked embarrassed, seemed to be a little angry, stared at his sister and said, "I don't live for him, and I want to try if I can't become a master." ”

Zuoqiu Moshu was not convinced, and wanted to refute, but Ping Huaining preemptively said that she was hungry and asked her to get some dry food.

Zuoqiu Moshu, who was branched out, was sullen, and muttered before leaving: "Aren't you going to be an official?" ”

Ping Huaining motioned for Zuo Chuning to sit down, seeing that his face was still a little resentful, and said with relief: "Don't think about those miscellaneous things, it's a good thing to practice martial arts." It's just that what Bazhi said is not unreasonable, the practice of martial arts is important in the bones, the younger you are, the better, you are starting at this age, and it is indeed extremely difficult to achieve our realm. ”

"I don't want to become a master, it's just that if I meet someone like Guan Zhixian in the future, I want to ....."

Although Ping Huaining was very patient, he couldn't help asking, "What do you think?"

Zuo Chuning took a deep breath, as if he had made a lot of determination, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear:

"I want to die with a backbone. ”

Ping Huaining was stunned, staring at the young man in front of him with a complicated expression, he understood.

Zuo Chuning, not afraid of death.

But it's like it, it's like my old self.

"Then who do you want to teach you? me, or Bazhi? Yitong's martial arts man can't learn. After a while, Ping Huaining asked.

"Of course it's Brother Huaining!" Zuo Chuning didn't expect that Ping Huaining would be willing to teach him martial arts in person, so he was overjoyed and responded in one bite. And after getting along for a long time, he has a deep understanding of Han Bazhi's temperament, and he is indeed reliable at critical moments, but he is by no means the material for being a master.

Ping Huaining paused and said softly:

"Good. ”

"But I can only teach you martial arts, but not your master, I promised my teacher that I would not accept apprentices. ”

"That's better, I can practice martial arts with Brother Huaining, and I don't have to be a generation lower than the fat man. Zuo Qiu Ning raised his eyebrows, ignoring the pain in his legs, and suddenly jumped up.

"What are you pleased with?" said the fat man, who had returned from the path, and after tying up his horse, he walked briskly towards the two men under the tree.

"Okay, let's stop gossiping and get down to business first. Xiong Yitong had a worried face and said after the fat man.

The fat man shrugged his shoulders helplessly, and had to inform the two of them about the existence of the Imperial Forest Army in Baoding City.

Zuo Qiu Ning's joy was washed away, and his mood instantly fell to the bottom.

After hearing this, Ping Huaining did not have any different colors, and obviously expected it: "It is still unknown whether it is an enemy or a friend, so there is no need to panic now." ”

Xiong Yitong was not so optimistic, and said coldly: "It's still the same choice as when we escorted the sisters and brothers of Jingjin, enter the city, or not enter the city, the difference is that now we are facing a city full of military armor, not a warrior and an assassin killer, and there is ....."

"Also, we're stronger now. The corners of the fat man's mouth twisted into a cruel smile and took over the conversation.

"Also, you have to take care of the horsemen and servants of the Zuoqiu family. Xiong Yitong looked at the fat man impatiently, and then said.

"Looks like you've already made up your mind. Ping Huaining looked at her with a smile, then turned his head to look at the fat man, and said calmly: "Just listen to Yitong's decision." ”

"I knew it. The fat man sneered and said, "You might as well give up the position of commander to the Great Fairy Xiong, she is much more fanned than you." ”

Xiong Yitong glanced at Ping Huaining deeply, and then said to the fat man angrily:

"After all these years, you are the only one who hasn't changed. ”