It was also late at night, and Yuxing City, which was dimly lit, was shrouded in a thick slaughter. Now it is the time of the ice and snow winter, and a cold wind of "Huh-", mixed with sparse and chaotic ice and snow, wantonly invades this lonely city with cold shadows and people. "A few people don't sleep in the cold night, and the empty shadow is haggard", this night city leaves people with no longer the bustling city of the past, but cold and desolate.

"Click-click-click-click-", there were no pedestrians on the street, but there was a constant sound of the beating of armor and iron. Occasionally, a column of officers and soldiers bowed their heads and walked side-by-side, walking through deserted alleys and bleak streets. In fact, these soldiers are not really just patrolling the streets, because Xu Da's army is on the verge of Yuxing City Gate, and the prefect Wuluo Belt Todo has ordered the whole city to be on guard, and the city government is strict, so there are almost no pedestrians on the streets in recent days, and the city is full of soldiers and armor in a hurry......

In a compound next to the gate of the city hall, the lights are already bright, although it is not very lively and noisy, but there are also many guards guarding each porch, you can see that this gathering place is not simple. Going deeper, you can see the three big characters "Tang Yinghui" written on the door number. Without asking too much, this is where the main base of the "Tang Ying Association" is located......

In the door of the courtyard of the "Tang Ying Society", many people were still discussing something in the late night lights, and the person standing in the middle of the upper position was dressed in a magnificent attire and seemed to be the leader of these people. This person is Dou Deyong, the leader of the "Tangying Society", during the day, he led his generals to attack Wangjia Village, but was completely humiliated by Tang Zhan and others who came back in time. Shi Wang, Tang Zhan, Lu Jing and others did not take their lives, although they had palpitations. But Dou Deyong was still unwilling, and after returning to the house, he couldn't eat or sleep well, and he was just thinking about how to take revenge.

"Helper. When you came back, you didn't care about anything, you didn't even drink a sip of water, and your brothers couldn't bear to see it......" said one of the guards in the audience.

"Hmph, if you don't get out of this bad breath, I, Dou Deyong, really can't sleep—" Dou Deyong paced back and forth, and kept babbling. "I didn't expect that kid surnamed Tang to actually learn to 'split the empty palm' and break the 'snow wolf array' that I have been studying for many years...... Although today he didn't kill me. But I'm the only one who still has one breath left, and I must return the favor with a tooth for a tooth!"

"But you have seen it today, the two or three hundred of our men are no match for them, and this includes the elite soldiers under the Ura Belt......," the guard said again. "That being the case. We have nothing to do, what can we do to get revenge?"

Dou Deyong paced and thought for a while, and then said: "At the moment, it seems that the only way to ask Lord Wuluo to send reinforcements is ......"

After Dou Deyong finished speaking, another subordinate said: "However, now that Yuxing City is facing a tight war, will Lord Wuluo add more men to us?"

"If it's an unrelated trivial matter, of course Lord Wuluo will not ......," Dou Deyong smiled first. Then he added, "But." The secret of this Tang family is not trivial, it is related to the life and death of the Mengyuan Imperial Court, I believe that Lord Wuluo will not ignore this matter. ”

"In that case, do you still want to go to Lord Uror?" asked the guard again.

Dou Deyong nodded, acquiescing. Then, Dou Deyong turned his head to look at Lao Jiu, who had been bowing his head and not saying a word, and asked casually: "Lao Jiu, what do you think of this matter?"

Since Lao Jiu came back today, he has been silent, and he has been messing with Dou Deyong during the day, and until now Lao Jiu can't let go of it. Originally, if Dou Deyong didn't ask a word today, Lao Jiu could choose to remain silent, but Dou Deyong came to ask himself again at this time, Lao Jiu raised his head slightly, there was no smile on his face, and his face was slightly pale: "Subordinate...... There's nothing the subordinates can do, so let's just go with it......"

Lao Jiu's answer was obviously not in his heart, Dou Deyong saw it, walked down the steps slowly, then looked at Lao Jiu's face, and asked while approaching: "What's the matter, Lao Jiu, this answer is not like the tone of your staff officer on weekdays...... Now that you're the counselor of the 'Tang Ying Society', you have to give advice to this gang leader wholeheartedly, instead of bowing your head here and sighing-"

"What else can you come up with?" Lao Jiu didn't react, and said calmly, "The old man is not young, so he can't use it for Dou Gang Master...... What's more, the 'Tang Ying Society' has already taken the wrong path, and no matter how much the old body makes suggestions, it will only lead the 'Tang Ying Society' into an even more inextricable abyss......"

Lao Jiu's tone was a little pessimistic, but in Dou Deyong's ears, he understood that Lao Jiu was still struggling with things during the day. So, Dou Deyong suddenly said: "Hmph, I understand, Lao Jiu, you are still sullen about the things during the day. As I said before, my father is dead, and it turns out that the path he took did not lead his brothers out of trouble, but rather that their lives became more and more miserable...... Now I am the leader of the 'Tangying Society', and I advocate defecting to the Mengyuan court, so that the brothers can have food and wine. A thief is a thief, what we do is robbery, what do we do with so much morality? I really don't understand, why is there such a simple truth, Lao Jiu, you always can't see clearly, but you have been obsessed with believing the wrong words of your dead father?"

Lao Jiu didn't say much serious words, he just shook his head slightly, and then said silently: "What the old gang leader said is right, failing to educate you well is the biggest regret in his life...... No matter what, the fate of the 'Tang Ying Club' is not in the hands of the old man, he has no ambitions, but he is quite old. Rise or fall, it's up to you......"

Dou Deyong was not happy when he heard this, he turned his head fiercely, and then pointed at Lao Jiu and said sternly: "Lao Jiu, you listen to me, I am now the leader of the 'Tangying Association', and I have the final say in the affairs of the gang, big and small." If you still want to stay in the 'Tangying Society', you are not allowed to mention the matter of your father. If you mention it again, don't blame the gang leader for ignoring the situation and driving you out of the 'Tang Ying Association'!"

Dou Deyong was ruthless this time, but Lao Jiu didn't care too much when he heard it. Because he knew in his heart that no matter how much he dissuaded, he couldn't change Dou Deyong. Dou Deyong did not respond to any words. He shook his head slightly, then turned around and left the main hall and walked slowly towards the gate of the courtyard.

Dou Deyong was also merciless, seeing the lonely back of Lao Jiu leaving, Dou Deyong not only did not have any regrets, but added fuel to the fire and said: "Hmph." At a young age, he still kept the precepts of his father. My father had been dead for more than ten years, and they had all turned to ashes, and those things were useless for a long time. What are you still doing with crutches?" As he spoke, Dou Deyong waved his sleeves fiercely and walked towards his seat in the middle.

Dou Deyong said bitterly, and many of the "Tang Yinghui" subordinates in the audience listened. There seems to be a faint anger in my heart. From time to time, he looked at Dou Deyong's back with resentful eyes......

After Lao Jiu walked out of the main hall, he kept walking in the direction of the outside of the gate. The night was cold and windy, and Lao Jiu had no habit of wearing Huashi in his life, just wearing a few old and torn linen clothes, and his vicissitudes of life trembled slightly in the wind and snow from time to time.

I walked to the gate of the courtyard and looked at the dilapidated and dim lights hanging on the doorrail, and felt a little in my heart. Thinking of the day and what Dou Deyong said to himself just now, Lao Jiu himself was not only embarrassed. recalled the time when the old gang leader Dou Jinshun was still alive. Lao Jiu couldn't help but feel a lot of emotion.

"Old gang leader, the old body has done his best. But I can't go back to the sky...... Lao Jiu suddenly squatted at the door and sighed softly, "You said that you wanted me to assist your son and change the brothers in the gang, but the old body can't do it anymore......"

Lao Jiu kept squatting on the side of the gate like this, staring blankly at the patches of snow in the aisle outside the door. Occasionally, a few crystalline snowflakes fell between Lao Jiu's eyebrows, and Lao Jiu did not wipe them away, and the memories of the past 18 years were like the residual warmth in his heart, constantly melting the coldness in his heart......

(in recall)......

On Wild Wolf Mountain, a woman in yellow was standing in the middle of the subordinates of the "Tang Ying Society", and there were scattered scattered scrap iron beside her, it seemed that she had just experienced a fierce battle......

The woman in yellow turned around and wanted to leave, and said later: "Dou Gang Master, the little woman has already won the bet. According to the agreement, the people of the 'Tang Ying Society' are not allowed to invade Wangjia Village for half a step from now on, this is what Dou Gang Master promised before——"

"I know the truth, I, Dou Jinshun, promise with my personality that I will never disturb half an inch of land in Wangjia Village for the rest of my life—" said a man who was half-lying on the snow, and then slowly stood up with the support of a guard.

The person on the snow was Dou Jinshun, the leader of the "Tangying Club" back then, the person who helped him up was his staff officer Lao Jiu, and the woman in yellow in front of him was Wang Yuping, a girl who only went up the mountain to bet with him.

Wang Yuping listened to it and responded softly: "Okay, I hope Dou Gang Master can keep your promise......" After speaking, he wanted to leave.

However, Dou Jinshun knelt down and added, "Miss Wang, please stay—"

Wang Yuping listened and stopped. But she didn't turn around, just turned her back and responded, "Is there anything else going on with Gang Master Dou?"

Dou Jin eased his nerves, and then asked: "The old man really admires Miss Wang's courage, I didn't expect Miss Wang to really keep her promise, and she came to Wild Wolf Mountain alone to bet with the old man...... What the old man wants to ask is, Miss Wang, you haven't been worried before, today you came to challenge our 'Tang Ying Hui', is it very likely that you will never be able to go back alive?"

Wang Yuping paused for a moment, and then said softly: "Today, the little girl came alone, and she already has the determination to die......

"Since you know that the Dao is in danger, why do you still come to the appointment alone, Miss Wang?" asked Dou Jinshun again.

"For the villagers to no longer ......suffer," Wang Yuping replied quietly, "Even if I can't defeat you today, the leader of the Dou Gang, and die at your hands, I am not afraid, at least for the sake of the villagers and the people, I will die without regrets!" Confucius and Mencius said, 'Success or failure is not about gains and losses, but about integrity.'" Instead of escaping success or failure like a gang of bandits, it is better to stand up and take the initiative to face it, success or failure, with a clear conscience-" As she spoke, Wang Yuping took two more steps forward, as if she was about to leave again.

"Miss Wang, please stay-" Dou Jinshun listened to Wang Yuping's words, and seemed to be touched, so he added, "Actually...... If there is an afterlife, the old man is willing to be like Miss Wang, to be a person with clear morality and a heart for the common people, and lead the brothers of the 'Tang Ying Society' on the right track...... It's a pity that the old man is old, and I'm afraid he doesn't have this opportunity anymore......"

Wang Yuping listened and paused for a long time. Then, Wang Yuping slowly turned around, faced Dou Jinshun, and said with a smile: "Meng Deshu said, 'The old man is in the bush, and his ambition is thousands of miles, and the martyr is in his twilight years, and his heart is strong', and it is not too late for anyone to be reborn and lucky. As long as Dou Gang Master, you still have a moral heart, perseverance, and you are not old-"

After speaking, Wang Yuping stepped forward in a few steps, and slowly helped Dou Jinshun who was lying on the ground with both hands. Dou Jinshun listened to Wang Yuping's words, and looked at Wang Yuping's eyes that believed him, and he showed a surprised gaze. Lao Jiu, who was on the side, also felt a lot of emotion when he saw it......

(In reality)......

"As long as you have a moral heart and persevere, you are not ......old yet," Lao Jiu recalled the past eighteen years ago, and couldn't help but chuckle, "Hmph, it is precisely because of listening to Miss Wang's words that the old gang leader has not forgotten to pursue this unfinished volunteer in your life even when you are old...... Now you have pinned this unfinished volunteer on the old body and the other brothers of the 'Tang Ying Society', but it is a pity that your son is obsessed and wants to repeat the mistakes of the 'Tang Ying Society' in the past, how to go on this road, the old man is also very hesitant......

Thinking of this, Lao Jiu slowly stood up, looked at the desolate street snow scene outside the door, and sighed in his heart......

"Click-click-click-click-", after a while, the sound of armor and iron was heard at the entrance of the street outside the door, and not long after, two columns of Mengyuan soldiers patrolling passed by the gate of the "Tangyinghui" compound.

Lao Jiuyi was dressed in shabby clothes, and he was standing at the gate of the compound, and the soldiers who were patrolling did not pay attention, thinking that he was a beggar begging at the gate of the rich compound. When a soldier saw this, he didn't say anything, he thought it was out of kindness, looked at the ground, took advantage of the situation in the direction where Lao Jiu was standing, kicked the bones on the ground that might have been eaten by a dog raised by a rich man's family, and then turned around and walked away.

Lao Jiu looked at the scene in front of him and didn't say anything, the expression on his face was still so cold and numb. Looking at the infinite desolation in front of him, and feeling the tragic fate now, Lao Jiu stared and sighed: "The cold wind and evil bones, the old threshold of the broken fence, and countless iron armor in the snow. The dim lights, desolate and shadowless, I don't know what his day will be. Eighteen years of empty ambition, now as far as the eye can see, full of frozen soil. Looking forward to the past, I will see if I can get it, if I can get it......"

Lao Jiu glanced at Chuangliang outside the door, and felt that there was nothing worth remembering outside the hospital. Although tonight recalls the past of 18 years ago, there is an aftertaste, but looking back in the blink of an eye, and looking at the present, it is an extremely cruel fact. Dou Deyong wants to completely surrender to the Mengyuan court, work hard for the court, and harm the people of the world for his own interests. This not only violates the instructions of the previous gang leader, but also leads the "Tang Ying Society" to the abyss of death. Helplessly, as an old and weak "staff officer", there is no way.

But Lao Jiu still has faith in his heart, Wang Yuping's good words eighteen years ago and the instructions of the old gang leader Dou Jinshun have always supported Lao Jiu Nian all the way. Lao Jiu believes that after any difficulty, there will eventually be a definite answer, so no matter what difficulties and obstacles he encountered, Lao Jiu has never given up......

Just thinking about it, suddenly Lao Jiu looked sideways, and saw that at the side door of the compound, a figure was sneakily leaving from there - Lao Jiu saw that it was Dou Deyong's back, it seemed that Dou Deyong had finished explaining things in the main hall and was hurriedly preparing to go somewhere.

"Dou Gang Master is going out so late, where will he go?" Lao Jiu thought to himself, muttering in a low voice, "According to Dou Gang Master's temperament, he must not give up because of his failures during the day, according to this, he should go to find ...... so late The prefect of the Ulo belt Todo—"

A very definite idea poured into Lao Jiu's mind, although he was powerless to change the "Tangying Society" under the management of Dou Deyong, but as the staff officer of the "Tangying Society", and entrusted by the previous helper, Lao Jiu could not just sit idly by. So Lao Jiu was sure in his heart and decided to follow quietly to see what tricks Dou Deyong still wanted to play...... (To be continued......)