Ding Jianliang left the temple with Fang Xiaodao, looked around the royal court for a while, and came to a magnificent palace. Fang Xiaodao had seen the building of the Qinglong Palace, although it was gorgeous, but the momentum was much worse. The masonry is not new, but the walls are comparable to the strongest walls in the world. These bricks and stones have gone through three hundred years of vicissitudes, and they have seen the glory days of three hundred years ago.

It seemed very easy for Ding Jianliang to get in, and everyone along the way knew him and was very respectful. couldn't help but make Fang Xiaodao start to think, this Ding gradually improved, could it be the leader of a certain department or family in Daomachuan!

After bypassing the palaces, Ding Jianliang stopped in front of a palace, first went to let the guards report, and then said: "The prince is busy now, but Madame has met Shaoxia before." She is very kind, so Shaoxia doesn't have to be restrained. ”

This sentence actually shows that Ding Jianliang doesn't know much about Fang Xiaodao. A person like Fang Xiaodao is rarely restrained in the face of a strange honorable person. What can make him restrained can only be the person who makes his heart broken, no matter what the reason, he must be admired, so that he can be in awe from the heart.

After a while, the guard stepped out and let the two in.

The Sword and Horse Palace is not extravagant, but it is not comparable to ordinary sects in the rivers and lakes, among which there is no shortage of jewelry and jade. But it doesn't give people a feeling of unattainable, but the layout is elegant, which makes people feel a lot calmer.

A maid walked in with the two of them, only to see a screen, and a burst of fragrance wafted from behind it.

Ding Jianliang suddenly knelt on the ground and said, "Sinner Ding Jianliang, please see Mrs." "In Daomachuan, there is no princess to say, they call the woman of the prince Mrs. But this lady will become a concubine when the time comes, called the princess of the sword and horse.

Behind the screen, Zhi Simei said: "Commander Ding, as the first general of the black lord, should you kneel down to me?"

Ding Jianliang said: "After separating from his wife, he lost his brothers, and even caused him to fight in the same room, I am really sorry for the son of the world, sorry for the wife." ”

Zhi Simei sighed and said: "You kneel, it's not your own people who are lost, it's the people who are swordsmen and horses." My son of Dao Ma Chuan, you should do things clearly, it's not your fault, you have to impose it on yourself, how is this not a kind of confusion between black and white!"

Ding Jianliang was ashamed for a while, stood up and said, "Madame taught me a lesson." ”

Fang Xiaodao was a little surprised, this lady was really extraordinary, and her words were unexpectedly reasonable. not only exempted Ding Jianliang from self-blame, but also taught Ding Jianliang how to behave.

Zhi Simei said: "Fang Shaoxia, this big coat and this clothes, are they still comfortable?"

Fang Xiaodao was stunned for a moment, looked at Ding Jianliang and said, "Could it be that the one who exchanged clothes for knives is actually Mrs.?"

Zhi Simei said: "Naturally, it's me." ”

Fang Xiaodao's eyes were cold and said, "Lao Ding, I remember you said that you didn't kill the people in the inn, shouldn't you have left a long time ago?"

Ding Jianliang didn't know how to answer, so he only said appeasefully: "The young man is angry!"

Zhi Simei walked out from behind the screen and said, "If you don't say it, I don't know that the innkeeper is dead." ”

Fang Xiaodao looked over and saw that Zhi Simei's figure was not very big, and her body was also thin. But standing there is as if she should be an unattainable woman, with the hardness of a big husband and the ethereal spirit of a woman. And her appearance is also extremely beautiful, in Fang Xiaodao's eyes, he is already comparable to Su Ruoyao. You must know that "in the eyes of the lover", it is not easy for an infatuated man to admit that a woman's appearance is on par with his sweetheart.

Fang Xiaodao was really a little restrained, as if it was wrong for him to blame others. When she reacted, she said, "Since there is a dead person in the inn, the young man should have seen it." Shaoxia is also an expert, do you think it should be my sword and Ma Chuan's hands?"

Fang Xiaodao thought about it for a while, those who were killed by Dao Ma Chuan in Xiong Dongqing's Mansion were all killed by slashing with knives. Moreover, the knife technique of the person who went under the knife seems to be very consistent and fierce. Just like the only short man who survived, his arm was cut off by someone in the fight, and it belonged to a very fierce way. However, although the people in the inn also died under the knife, the wounds were also very tricky. But it's more like a master's hands-on, not the way of a knife and a horse. Swords and horses should not return to the martial arts all the way, they are a brave army, so when they kill, they will definitely leave a battlefield. The most intuitive difference is that there is no trace of the art of war in the military formation when the master kills people, and the place where the person is killed may be neat and tidy. And if the sword horse kills someone, it will be a mess like the bear family. They start killing people from the moment they enter the door, but they do not break into the crowd when they are outnumbered, but they take a steady and steady attack. And in the inn, it seems that the master slammed the killer in the middle, and then solved everyone on the spot. Qualified swords and horses are not reckless men, they are forbidden cavalry. A person who knows the art of war will not put himself in danger when he kills, and he will definitely put an end to all possibilities of success and failure.

After getting this conclusion, Fang Xiaodao didn't want to apologize, because he killed so many people in the Xiong family, and he thought that the people of Dao Ma Chuan were too cruel.

Ding Jianliang said: "Young Xia, Madam is by no means coveting your sword, there is one thing in this, but I have never dared to explain it to you. ”

Fang Xiaodao said: "Yes, what is the origin of this useless blade." This knife is indeed a very powerful sword, but there are many divine weapons in the world, why is this knife so mysterious. Could it be that this knife is the same as the boning knife of the Yin Slayer Ghost that few people even know the name of, what treasure does it matter?"

Zhi Simei asked Fang Xiaodao to sit down, and let people serve refreshments and fruits, and retired the maid. Only then did he say slowly: "It's not a treasure, but it's about hundreds of thousands of swords and horses in Daomachuan." ”

Fang Xiaodao was taken aback and said, "Ah, why is this?"

Zhi Simei said: "What is a useless blade? The world is flat, and the four seas are one." The general's sword is thirsty for drink, and the blade is useless when he returns from the battle. So, the ancestors invited famous craftsmen to cast daggers with treasure knives, slaughter strong cattle and share food with the owls. This is the origin of the useless blade. ”

Fang Xiaodao suddenly realized: "In this way, the useless blade is the knife in the hand of the god statue! No wonder, such a knife should indeed be able to forge several small knives." ”

Zhi Simei was surprised: "The young man is young, and he even knows that there is no useless blade, which is really insightful!"

Fang Xiaodao nodded and said, "This can be regarded as a coincidence!"

Zhi Simei said: "However, there is only one truly useless blade. For the useless blade is the iron essence of the sword in which you see the idol in his hand. And it wasn't until many years later that we found out that the craftsman, with the remnants of the sword, had created four other useless blades. ”

Fang Xiaodao frowned and said, "In other words, it's really sharper, isn't it?"

Zhi Simei said with a smile: "The real one is a sword and horse river holy relic, so it can't be tasted by the young man." If Shaoxia can't bear the sword, I can also return it to Shaoxia. ”

Fang Xiaodao shook his head, pulled out his puff and said, "The sharper the weapon, the better, and the quality is also very important. This sword is not as sharp as a useless blade, but a useless blade will never hurt this sword. ”

Zhi Simei said, "Oh?"

Fang Xiaodao smiled: "Don't hide it from Madame, I tried to chop." ”

Zhi Simei's heart suddenly moved, people in the martial arts love divine weapons, and once they have them, they must be regarded as treasures. Where would anyone go to chop each other in order to know the quality of two weapons! Therefore, he thought that Fang Xiaodao was a person who was not obsessed with foreign objects, and he was very free and easy. And this kind of person is terrible, because he will not be addicted to external objects, and it is difficult to indulge in a person to the point of being unable to extricate himself. So, Zhi Simei gave Fang Xiaodao a definition, this person is ruthless.

Ding Jianliang said: "Shaoxia, you are too nonsense." Do you know that the real useless blade, with a short knife against the Red Blood Treasure Knife, is still a win-or-loser? ”

Fang Xiaodao had never heard of such a thing, and asked curiously, "Oh?"

Zhi Simei said: "That's right, and it's not that I damage my own prestige." The martial arts of the Sword and Horse King are far behind Ye Yunqiao, but he can still use a useless blade to resist Ye Yunqiao's strongest sword. ”

Fang Xiaodao nodded and said, "I've seen Chiyue, sharpening iron like clay." If you say that, regardless of the power, just the quality of the knife is sharp, this useless blade is above Akatsuki. ”

Fang Xiaodao's conclusion is not a boast. A character like Ye Yunqiao can cut off a treasure knife with a branch, not to mention that he uses Akatsuki, which is even more difficult to resist. He also had experience in this kind of thing, and that day in the Broken Soul Valley, under his full infusion, he easily cut off Lu Shaoxiang's sword with a puff.

Zhi Simei seemed to be full of interest in the Central Plains, and asked a lot of characters in the Central Plains martial arts, as well as the beginning and end of the Battle of Broken Soul Valley. Although Fang Xiaodao has limited knowledge, after all, he knows more than Zhi Simei, so he naturally has to answer all questions. When parting, Zhi Simei instructed Ding Jianliang to treat Fang Xiaodao well.

Ding's family is not big or rich, a small courtyard of an adobe house, and there are only four or five houses when you enter the door. Fang Xiaodao looked around, and before he could speak, Ding Jianliang said: "I'm really sorry, Madame is inconvenient to stay in the palace, so I have to grieve the young man in the cold house." ”

Fang Xiaodao said: "This is excellent, my house used to be a small courtyard, and there was an old tree, a well, and a stone mill in the courtyard. ”

Ding Jianliang only said that he comforted himself, and did not say anything more. The conversation between the two alarmed the people in the house, who were wearing old clothes that had been washed white, and hairpins of wood were attached to their hairpins. The woman in front of her is really a poor young woman from a Peugeot, and the most valuable thing in her body is just a pair of bright silver earrings.

Ding Jianliang was ashamed because of the four walls of his house, but he was not depressed because of the shabby clothes of his wife, but happily introduced to Fang Xiaodao: "Shaoxia, this is my wife." ”

Fang Xiaodao said with a smile: "Mrs. Sister-in-law is very beautiful, Lao Ding, you are very blessed." In fact, she is not as beautiful as Shan Yan, Su Ruoyao and Qiu Guo, but she is very simple and virtuous. Although Ding Jianliang is worthy of a more beautiful woman than her, it is his great blessing to be able to marry such a woman who shares ups and downs.

Ding Weiliang nodded and said, "This is really my creation. ”

Na Ding smiled a little embarrassedly: "Where are the words, let the guests laugh." ”

Fang Xiaodao really didn't understand why Ding Jianliang was so poor in Daomachuan, and he was the leader of the black lord.

Just as he was about to sit down in the house, the sound of horses' hooves sounded outside the door. I only heard someone outside: "Excuse me, have Commander Ding and Fang Shaoxia gone home?"

The two of them glanced at each other, and Ding gradually said, "It's here." After saying that, the two of them immediately went out the door.

There are two carts outside the door, a cart of fresh beef and mutton and all kinds of food, and a cart of wine in a large jar. The mules used in both vehicles were pure white, with hardly a single variegated hair. Moreover, the wood of this carriage is red and bright, and it is not ordinary wood.

Ding Jianliang said to a richly dressed servant, "Why is this?"

The man said: "Madam said that Fang Shaoxia is a distinguished guest, and he should have received it well, but the palace has been busy recently. Therefore, I can only bother Commander Ding to entertain the distinguished guests for the prince. But she felt that the hospitality was inadequate, so she ordered me to send a cart of cattle and sheep and a cart of wine, hoping that the young man could have fun in Daomachuan. ”

Ding Jianliang is poor and poor, but his status is not low, so his face must be taken into account, so he only said that he was giving Fang Xiaodao, but he did not say that it was because he couldn't afford to entertain him.

Fang Xiaodao arched his hand and said: "Please report back to Madame, and thank Madame for your generous gift." ”

The servant laughed, "Definitely." After speaking, he hugged two silk horses from the car and said: "Madame said that I haven't seen the lady of the Ding family for a long time, and I miss it a little in my heart, but I have always been busy and have no time to watch." So I sent two pieces of silk to apologize, and I hope that Mrs. Ding will not dislike it. ”

Ding Shi first looked at Ding Jianliang, and got Ding Jianliang's approval, so he took it, and then saluted the man and thanked Zhi Simei with words.

After the servant left, Fang Xiaodao looked at the beef and mutton and wine like a hill and said, "How many days will this take!"

Ding Jianliang said: "Madame is very good in all aspects, and she is very good to everyone on weekdays. So everyone respects her, and some people even think that she is better than Shizi. ”

Fang Xiaodao said: "What about you?"

Ding Jianliang said: "I have accompanied the prince to learn the art of war and martial arts since I was a child, and I am loyal to the prince and the sword. ”

Fang Xiaodao was even more strange, how could a person with an extraordinary relationship with the prince of the world live in poverty.

His strange appearance did not hide from Ding Jianliang, Ding Jianliang said: "Shaoxia will definitely wonder why I am poor, in fact, this is not something that cannot be said, I can also see it." I wasn't like that before, but I was punished by the King of Swords and Horses for doing something wrong, and I've been guilty of it for so many years, and I don't have any land and pasture. Therefore, they lived in poverty, and even their own women suffered. ”

Fang Xiaodao said: "Then, is the prince good to you?"

Ding Jianliang said: "In fact, he doesn't dare to be good to me, if he is too good to a sinner, many people will misunderstand him." The reason why I am still able to command the black lord is because there are fewer and fewer people who know how to command the army in Daomachuan, so my wife recommended me through the folding family and asked me to make meritorious contributions. ”

Fang Xiaodao didn't ask him what kind of mistakes he made to become like this, but no one is perfect, and he can make mistakes.

Ding Jianliang sighed and said: "At that time, I was really young and frivolous, and I always took the struggle of power and conspiracy too lightly. As a result, the prince of the world and the king of swords and horses were very passive. ”

It turned out that Ding Jianliang's mistake was to trigger a fight between the Buye families. He believes that the Sword and Horse King should be inviolable as a leader. The other Buno families just blindly develop themselves in the Daoma River, but the Qiu family Buno has to bear the harmony of the entire Daoma River. Therefore, the status of the Autumn Family Department should be higher than that of other departments. However, the pomp and circumstance of the past is no longer there. The ambitions of the other tribes and families on the Kayama River gradually expanded, and things happened from time to time to turn against each other, and the deterrence of the autumn family was becoming less and less powerful. So after the high priest again, Ding Jianliang made an appointment with the brother in the black owl and had a conflict with a family from afar. The reason is that he does not respect the son of the world and despises the supreme authority of the Sword and Horse King. As a result, they severely injured the son of the Ba family, and even the son of the family was punished. If it weren't for the fact that the head of the ministry and the elders of the family had their own opinions, and someone also took the opportunity to take revenge on the Ba family, his head would definitely roll down into the dust in front of the temple.

When I got up early the next morning, I heard Ding Jianliang outside shouting a rough trumpet, as if he was hoisting his throat. Fang Xiaodao went out and found out that he was practicing martial arts.

I saw Ding Jianliang holding a single knife with a full twenty catties in his hand, majestic, lunging forward, and sweeping the knife. This trick seems to be specially used to sweep the horse's legs, but it is also very powerful to kill. This knife technique makes it very coherent, although it seems very simple, but it has some meaning of superior knife technique, which is purely a murderous knife technique, without showmanship. Dao Ma Chuan's knife technique, heavy power, heavy killing, simple moves, but they are all good moves to kill the enemy on the battlefield. The people of Daomachuan do not use this extremely heavy knife, but use one

After looking at it for a while, Fang Xiaodao couldn't help but praise: "Okay, good knife technique." ”

Ding Jianliang stopped and said: "If you talk about martial arts, the young man is several times better than me, which is really ridiculous and generous." ”

Fang Xiaodao said: "I vaguely remember that my grandfather said that Dao Ma Chuan has a knife technique called the Broken Dragon Knife Method, but is it true?"

Ding Jianliang smiled: "What Shaoxia saw just now is, do you think you can kill the dragon?"

Fang Xiaodao felt incredible, but he didn't know how to answer Ding Jianliang's question.

Ding Jianliang put the knife aside and said: "With Shaoxia's eyesight, it should not be difficult to see that this knife technique is very simple. Even if you don't have any talent for martial arts, as long as you practice diligently, you can achieve something. Because of this, this knife technique is the knife technique that can really stir up the world and slay the dragon. ”

Fang Xiaodao couldn't help but gasp when he heard his words. Ding Jianliang is right, advanced martial arts are only suitable for people who are extremely poor in martial arts to practice for life, and I am afraid that not many people can really learn it in the barracks. And this set of dragon breaking knife techniques, as long as you practice diligently, can also exert great power. If everyone in the world has a steel knife in his hand and practices the dragon breaking knife technique, wouldn't the high Son of Heaven be restless!

Ding Jianliang said: "The Broken Dragon Knife Method was a taboo in the previous dynasty, but in fact, it is not as simple and easy to learn as the current Broken Dragon Knife Method. When this sword technique reached the hands of Qiu Yefeng, the first sword and horse king of my sword and horse river, it was simplified again and promoted among the black lords, and finally became a real broken dragon sword method. In the sword and horse royal family, there has always been a more unfathomable dragon breaking knife technique. I've been following Shizi since I was a child, and I've learned a few things. But I'm not talented enough to practice martial arts, so I haven't been able to achieve anything!"

Fang Xiaodao said with a smile: "However, you can lead the black owl, this ability seems to be more powerful than martial arts!"

Ding Jianliang's ability to use soldiers is not as good as Fang Xiaodao, and the people of Dao Ma Chuan are not sure, because he has never fought. However, since he commanded the Black Lord, the Black Owl has strict discipline and has reached a higher level of strength. This ability, in the entire Daoma River, no one is unconvinced.

Eat and drink well every day, play with Ding Jianliang every day near the royal court, and Fang Xiaodao has lived a good life of pampering for a few days. But then, a major event in the Daoma River is coming, that is, the annual sacrifice ceremony.

The Toma River is offered once a year, a tradition that has not changed for 300 years. The Sword Horse King invites the leaders of various tribes and clans to participate, but they don't have to come. As long as you send someone to tell the King of Swords and Horses about your local population, money, food, swords, horses, and foreign enemies, you don't need to eat that bite of beef in person. This is the unquestionable rule of Daomachuan. The King of Swords and Horses will not collect money, will not accept worship, and each ministry will develop and grow on its own. But if it is done perversely, the King of Swords and Horses will definitely send troops to conscript.

And this time, the King of Swords and Horses came out of retreat, and Qiu Zhangyi presided over the sacrifice as the prince. As a result, the various ministries and families moved when they heard the news, as if they had their own ghosts, and the important people of each ministry came to the royal court one by one in advance. For a while, the three-hundred-year-old peaceful Daoma River became a little turbulent.