Diao Beidou said: "Elder Tang is bent on avenging the old gang leader, why should he be too harsh on himself, this matter can be discussed later, the hour is not early, and I and the brothers who split the rudder will no longer be sent away, you should hurry up and get on the road." With that, he waved his hand, and the two men in the carriage raised their whips, and with a "snap" slashed in the air, and the horse neighed and rushed forward, and the three of them also nodded, and followed closely behind the carriage.

As soon as he entered Chang'an, there were already a number of beggar disciples with white cloth wrapped around their waists waiting at the city gate, a disciple holding a tray, a white belt and a white hairpin flower on the plate, Lin Jianlan immediately jumped off the horse, picked up the white belt, wrapped it around his waist with a solemn expression, and pinned the white hairpin to the placket.

It was the first time he came to the capital of the Tang Dynasty that he had heard of, and it was really a prosperous scene, looking far away, he saw a forest of pavilions on both sides of the long street, one higher than the other, the flags of various businesses and shops were flying in the cold wind, and the pedestrians on the street were also densely packed, which made the cold a few points less.

Lin Jianlan turned around and saw that Tang Zimu had dismounted, and he also looked forward, but there was a sense of loneliness in his eyes, but he did not show it for a moment, changed into plain clothes with Qi Fan, explained a few words, and accompanied Lin Jianlan to lead the way to the helm.

Along the way, I saw some plain beggars walking sporadically on the street, and there were many people in the martial arts, with white flowers on their clothes, all with sad expressions, thinking that Tang Zimu had sent someone to post the rivers and lakes, Lin Jianlan said in his heart: "Even so, Uncle Qing must have received the news, I don't know if he will come here in person." ”

After walking for more than an hour, Fang came to a place, but it was not as dilapidated as Luoyang, facing a temple, wrapped in white cloth everywhere, a disciple guarded outside the door, two places set up a number of tents, there were already many people in the rivers and lakes sitting on the ground, I think that Nian Yongshou was very respected by his peers before his death, so although the number of people who came to worship was large, they all followed the rules and regulations, and there was no noisy sound.

Tang Zimu made a gesture of please, Lin Jianlan Fang stepped forward, looked carefully at the side, and saw that there was a wooden sign hanging in the corner of the spirit shed, on which each said Jianghu Sect, which was respectful and not chaotic, and secretly admired in his heart that although the beggar gang looked like some poor and begging people with a big grin on the surface, in fact, many people inside were thoughtful.

Those people from all sects in the rivers and lakes were all waiting in the spirit shed, but when they saw the two elders Tang and Qi personally leading a young man straight in, they were all surprised in their hearts, and they didn't know what the identity of this young man was.

Lin Jianlan entered the mourning hall, but saw that above the mourning hall was a clay carved general, but he was holding a flute in his hand, and on the table below was placed the tablet of the year gang leader, and there was a bamboo cane in front of him, which was black and shiny, with ten bells hanging at one end, and the other end was already a little cracked because he was often stationed, which was used by the master of the beggar gang. But there were no offerings on either side, only three pillars of incense burned in front of the spiritual seat.

After the three of them entered for a while, a disciple walked in softly and quickly, and whispered: "Lei Kan has been properly imprisoned, just wait for all the martial arts fellows to arrive, and then pay tribute to the old gang leader." ”

Lin Jianlan turned his head suddenly, saw Tang Zimu smiling and shook his head and said, "When is the memorial time you said, go down." The disciple immediately looked extremely nervous, bowed down and said, "Forgive your subordinates for being rude." He hurriedly pushed.

Tang Zimu said: "Lin Gongzi, there are some things that are inconvenient to talk about at the time, since you are suspicious in your heart, I ......" said this, but suddenly stopped, and said: "You go out first!"

Lin Jianlan heard what he said strangely, and was about to ask a question, but saw that something behind the spiritual platform arched and climbed out, but it was an extremely thin little beggar, who couldn't tell his age, and he couldn't see the size of six or seven years old from his body, his eyes were blank, holding a small bamboo pole, but there was no bell, "tuk-tuk" touched the ground, and the other small hand groped and walked forward slowly.

Lin Jianlan saw that he was blind, hurriedly walked over, held the hand, and slowly led him out of the door, only to let go of the hand, only to feel that the hand was as thin as a firewood stick, and saw that he was holding a bamboo pole and staggering forward, his heart was sour, and he retracted his gaze and re-entered the mourning hall after staring at him for a long time.

Tang Zimu saw that he was paying attention to the little beggar, and said: "This child was only taken in a few days before the old gang leader died, and after the old gang leader went, he was only in front of the spirit, and no one called him and refused to leave, but I can still listen to my words." ”

Lin Jianlan sighed: "This kid is also very benevolent. Brother Tang, it's just a few of us here now, can you tell me the details?"

Tang Zimu sighed: "Lin Gongzi is so profound, I really admire it, if there is no real evidence, the beggar gang will not frame their own disciples out of thin air, please come with me." After saying that, he whispered a few words to Qi Fan, Elder Qi left in a hurry, Tang Zimu bypassed the clay statue, behind it was a corner door, but after entering, it was an extremely simple hut, very messy, only in the corner of the wall there was a cushion made of straw, on which a bed of cotton wool was exposed.

Looking carefully, there were a few drops of dark red scattered on the ground next to the cover, and on the opposite wall were a number of blood arrows rushing on it, which was shocking, Lin Jianlan was shocked in his heart, and said, "Could it be ......?"

Tang Zimu nodded and said mournfully: "Yes, this is where the old gang leader was killed." The beggar has no fixed residence, if the helper returns to the helm, he will live here, everything has not changed here, Lin Gongzi, you look here. ”

Lin Jianlan looked at his fingers, and saw that there was still some faint handwriting on the ground, so he hurriedly stepped forward and squatted down, but it was a word that had not been written, only horizontal and vertical, and there were some slight scratches next to it, and the blood stains had already dried up and solidified.

Tang Zimu asked, "What might Lin Gongzi think?"

Lin Jianlan didn't get up, and said in a deep voice: "If I were Brother Tang, I would naturally be the first to think that this was the clue to the murderer left by the old gang leader, but unfortunately, among the people close to the old gang leader, the first three strokes of the word 'thunder' in Lei Kan are one horizontal, one vertical and one fold, but it is difficult to say that this is not a blame after the death of the old gang leader." ”

Tang Zimu said: "What Lin Gongzi thought, we also thought about it that day, after all, the old gang leader treated Lei Kan very well. Although this word is only three strokes, it has been confirmed by several elders and Dharma protectors in the gang that it is indeed the handwriting of the old gang leader, and you will know it if you take a closer look. ”

Lin Jianlan looked at the handwriting again, but his face was a little pale, the ground with the handwriting was shallow, and there was a broken nail next to it, presumably he used extremely hard to write, and he split his nails Shengsheng, he couldn't help sighing, got up and said: "If someone writes with the old gang leader's fingers stained with blood after his death, he will definitely not use so much force, and this nail will never break, this must be his old man who gathered the last strength to write it himself, but before he finished writing, he died of exhaustion." ”

Tang Zimu said: "Even so, we didn't immediately identify it as Lei Kan, after the old gang leader's accident, the gang was first a mess, and then it was divided into two factions, a group of people advocated immediate burial first, and then traced down, and I strongly advocated postponing the burial, and sent someone to invite the 'Shenbing Zhang' to check the wounds of the old gang leader." ”

Lin Jianlan said: "But is that Master Zhang who knows all kinds of weapons in the world?"

Tang Zimu said: "Yes, the old gang leader was injured in the back, the wound was round, not very large, less than half an inch, neither a sword wound nor a knife wound." Master Zhang couldn't confirm it after that, and asked for an opening of the opening, and most of the people in the gang were against such a desecration of the gang leader's body at the moment. Although there was only a small wound on the surface, there were three extremely deep internal wounds inside, and the heart and intestines were cut open, as if they were blooming inside. Lin Gongzi, if it were you, you might have imagined what this blade would look like?"

Lin Jianlan saw that he had the intention of taking the school examination, but he didn't dare to be careless, and thought carefully for a while before he said cautiously: "I have only practiced martial arts in the past few years, my knowledge is still shallow, and there are many strange sect blades in the world, I can't even name them, listening to Brother Tang's description, I only have a guess." The blade is probably a bundle of three extremely thin and sharp blades, but it looks like a sharp awl, and after piercing into the body, there are some doorways that can bounce the blade open!" Speaking of this, he looked at the bloodstained wall, and shivered: "The murderer is too vicious, after this blade pierces in, he closes the blade and pulls it out...... alive."

Tang Zimu said: "Lin Gongzi, do you probably understand my situation now? The death of the old gang leader is already very tragic, but I still have to ask for an autopsy despite everyone's disobedience, and I have already committed public anger, if I can't give an explanation to my brothers at this moment, Lin Gongzi, do you think I can still stay in front of the beggar gang brothers?"

Lin Jianlan was asked by this rhetorical question, and was immediately dumbfounded, and said in his heart: "What Tang Zimu said is also the truth, if he didn't try his best to track down the murderer, he would never have offended the body of the old gang leader, and at that time, he also tried his best to disagree with the public, and offended many people, if the murderer can't be found, I'm afraid that he can only leave the beggar gang with guilt, and he is bent on capturing Lei Kan, and he doesn't want me to have any more troubles, which is normal." ”

Lin Jianlan was waiting to be comforted, when he heard the sound of chains mopping the floor, he looked back, but it was Elder Qi who walked into this hut with Lei Kan, Lei Kan's hands and feet were chained, he was injured, and he traveled a long distance, so he was naturally described as very haggard, seeing the situation in this house, his face suddenly lost blood, his lips trembled, and he didn't say half a word after opening his mouth for a long time, and it took a while to "knock" He knelt on the ground, although he was forced to suppress himself, first a low hoarse choked squeeze out bit by bit, slowly getting louder and louder, and finally this heart-rending cry burst out of his throat.

Hearing this seven-foot man so sad, Lin Jianlan couldn't bear it, but when he saw Tang Zimu's face was indifferent, he was not moved, and said outwardly: "Bring it!"

Immediately, a disciple walked in quickly, handed an object to Tang Zimu's hand and hurriedly retreated, Lin Jianlan looked at it, but it was the six-bell staff that Lei Kan never left his hand, and he was wondering, seeing Tang Zimu handing the staff to the front and said, "Lin Gongzi, take a look." ”

Lin Jianlan had never observed the staff held by Lei Kan so carefully before, and at this moment he held it in his hand, looked at it repeatedly, and saw that the handle of the staff was about an inch square, and it was two pieces into one, and a thin slit in the middle seemed to be loose.

Lin Jianlan unscrewed the long staff with a little force in his hand, and slowly pulled it outward, but at a glance, it was a blade like a long cone, and he suddenly gasped. The long cone is made of three extremely thin long blades, the middle end is tightly bound with a small ring, and the small ring is connected to this one bracket, Lin Jianlan gently pulled it with his hand, and the small ring instantly bounced to the upper end, and the three long blades "ding" a soft sound bloomed into three forks, although the room was very dark, but the blade was still shining with a compelling cold light, it seemed to be very sharp, and the analysis he had just made according to Tang Zimu's description was not at all different!

Tang Zimu said coldly: "Lei Kan, the wound of the gang leader that day was injured by your three-pronged twisting spurs, and it has been verified by the 'Divine Soldier Zhang', there is no second person in the gang who uses this kind of weapon, what else do you have to say? Look at the bloody words on the ground, the old gang leader has a spirit in the sky, so that you, the villain, will be captured by us after all!"

Lei Kan trembled, raised his head hesitantly, looked at his blade in Lin Jianlan's hand, his eyes were only shining with tears, and he knelt down a few steps to the word, and was silent for a moment, the brick floor below had been wet with tears, and he only muttered: "Helper, helper......"

Tang Zimu waved his hand, and the previous disciple came back in, Lei Kan didn't squeak, but as if he was dead, he listened to Elder Qi and the disciple mix him up and escort him out again.

At this moment, the wind was blowing outside the window, and the crackling raindrops could be heard, although it was evening, the dark clouds were rolling like thick ink piling up in the sky, and from time to time a few thunders, making people feel that the roof was trembling.

Tang Zimu looked out the window and said: "Outside Luoyang City that day, I once said, 'More things are better than less things, Lin Gongzi's icy person, how can he not understand the truth?' Lin Gongzi misunderstood in his heart that I intended to prevent you from investigating the truth. ”

Tang Zimu chuckled again and said: "Today's judgment of Lin Gongzi is very admirable, it is not easy to have such insights at a young age." Just ......"

Lin Jianlan was stunned when he saw that he wanted to speak, and listened to him again: "People in the world, if they have some talents, are often pretentious, thinking that they can control the fate of others, whether they are dead or alive, in fact, they are often self-defeating and can't change anything. ”

Lin Jianlan only felt extremely sour in his heart, although he knew that even so, Lei Kan would never be the real murderer of Nian Yongshou, he had promised Lei Kan, and he was also determined to find out the truth with his own strength, but today it was his own inference that convicted Lei Kan and sent him to an irreparable death, at this moment, listening to Tang Zimu's words with a faint sense of sarcasm, but he had nothing to refute, so he looked up at him helplessly.

At this time, an electric light outside the window illuminated Tang Zimu's face as white as snow, but it was not as sarcastic as Lin Jianlan thought, but there was a trace of helplessness and self-deprecation, and there was a thick sadness in his eyes, but it instantly disappeared into the darkness with the disappearance of the electric light.

The lightning was followed by a series of rolling thunder, and after the roar, the room was unusually quiet, and Tang Zimu's voice came faintly from the window: "Three days later, all the gangs will gather here, and they will sacrifice to the gang leader." ”