The blacksmith Lao Hong sat in his shop, the fire was out, the bellows were silent, and the tools were covered with dust, he had not touched the hammer for a year, and the cheerful clanging of the neighbors sounded to him like a strange noise from another world.

Looking back on the experience of most of his life, he found that his efforts were in vain, the people he cared about were leaving before him, the ideals he pursued were deteriorating, and even the career he had worked hard to manage was interrupted when he still had the strength to spare.

The first person came in, standing at the door with a torch, still very young, nervous and excited, his eyes swept around vigilantly, reminding Lao Hong of another young man.

The second person came in, carrying both sides and standing opposite Lao Hong, calm, as if he had something to say.

More and more mermaids rushed in, lining up on either side of the second person, forming a half circle, like a multi-fingered giant's palm, which could be squeezed into powder with a single grip.

Lao Hong knew these eleven people, and was especially familiar with several of them, they were once friends, together they were indignant at the status quo, and formed the Tianshan Sect under difficult circumstances, and now he is an outsider, and he does not even have the right to speak and defend himself at his own trial.

The person in the middle is called Du Yan, who has never been Lao Hong's friend, but now he is the suzerain in power.

Lao Hong didn't get up, he sat on the shabby chair, looked up and said, "It's been decided?"

Du gradually nodded slowly, as if it was a very difficult thing to make such a decision, "We have no choice. ”

"You're just turning a blind eye to the choices in front of you. ”

Du gradually laughed briefly, revealing a sympathy mixed with sarcasm, "You are still stubborn, the Dragon King is not trustworthy, we have discussed it many times. ”

That's right, many times, Lao Hong gradually lost his voice in this process.

Du gradually paused for a while, still holding on to the last hope of convincing Lao Hong, "You handed Lin Xiaoshan over to the Dragon King, and he died; Tianshan Sect formed an alliance with the Dragon King and was abandoned; the country of Xiangji accepted the desperate Dragon King and destroyed the country; Xiaoyaohai married the princess to the Dragon King and became a barracks, with countless casualties; Beiting invited the Dragon King as a guest and split the ......"

No one can deny this series of facts, a blacksmith beside Du Yan spoke, he thought that he was still Lao Hong's friend, and he had the obligation to pull him, "The Dragon King is insidious and cunning, with the red crow as the banner, it is clear that he is an ominous person, wherever he goes, there will be destruction, and Biyu City must not be handed over to such a person." Lao Hong, wake up, the enemy is current, and the Tianshan Sect should work together......"

Lao Hong knew that arguing would not change the reality, but he couldn't help but say, "Why don't you look the other way around? Everywhere the Dragon King went, there were traps and destruction, but he survived, which proves that he is an unusual character. Biyucheng is in crisis, why don't you ask for help from this kind of person? If I want to find a dog to take care of the home, I would rather have a fierce dog that I don't recognize. ”

"This is not a caretaker, this is looking for a master, even the old Khan King can't restrain the Dragon King, and it's even more impossible for us. Du Gradual's voice began to grow stern.

Lao Hong let out a long breath, "Why are you talking about this? Let's do it, let everyone rest early." ”

Lao Hong's justification and indifferent attitude angered the other party, and one of his "friends" said loudly: "Lao Hong, everyone has different opinions, and it is nothing, but you colluded with the Dragon King and killed many masters of this sect, don't you admit your guilt?"

"How can I confess what I haven't done?" Lao Hong lowered his head, looking submissive, but his tone was firm and tough, "What's more, the murderer is Xiaoyuetang Lotus Girl......"

"The Lotus Girl is the Dragon King's henchman, and they are in a gang!" said another "friend" exclaimed, as friends, they were more desperate than enemies to convict Lao Hong.

In contrast, Du gradually seemed very kind, "The Dragon King is in Biyu City, there is no doubt about this, you should know better than us." ”

"I haven't seen the Dragon King for almost two years, nor have I met his subordinates, that's all I have to say, and the rest is up to you. ”

Du gradually looked at both sides, Lao Hong had actually been squeezed out of an insignificant position, and he was mobilized to give an explanation to the old members of the Tianshan Sect, who still had all kinds of illusions about the founders.

The blacksmith beside Du Yan was the first to come out, his face was like a freshly cooled piece of iron, and he took out a dagger from his arms, "You let us down." He said, stabbing with his sword.

"Wait. Lao Hong said, standing up and straightening up, "Okay." ””

The dagger stabbed into his shoulder, and the steely blacksmith shuddered suddenly, and no longer had the strength to pull it out, leaving it on the prisoner, and retreated awkwardly, his gaze moving to the void.

The leaders of the Tianshan Sect came up one after another, some people inserted a new dagger in Lao Hong's body, and some people just held the dagger on his body and shook it, indicating that they also participated in the execution, and everyone avoided the vital parts and left the fatal blow to the last person.

Blood dripped at his feet, and Lao Hong still stood upright, as if the pain was not worth mentioning, but large beads of sweat were already oozing from his forehead.

Du Jian was the sect master of the Tianshan Sect, so he was also the last executioner, he sighed, stepped forward, and planned to end his surname with the dagger that Lao Hong already had, "Things shouldn't have been like this. ”

"The world is unpredictable. Lao Hong said four words with difficulty.

As soon as Du gradually raised his hand, one of the blacksmiths in the crowd suddenly said excitedly: "Maybe we are mistaken, Lao Hong looks like he is colluding with the Dragon King? The Dragon King didn't even come to save him." ”

"The dragon king never saves his accomplices, don't be fooled by rumors, unless it is profitable, the dragon king will make a gesture. Du Gradual's voice suddenly became stern, and if he had doubts, he could discuss them privately, and he could not allow him to openly express his dissenting opinions like he was now.

The blacksmith lowered his head in shame, not daring to look at the sect master, nor embarrassed to look at Lao Hong.

"If the Dragon King comes to me, I choose to unite, but it hasn't been realized yet. Lao Hong said with all his might, in order to show that he was indeed "guilty".

Du gradually waited for a while, but no one asked questions, and he decided to do it.

It was at this time that the rescuers appeared.

The roof suddenly collapsed in a large chunk, but instead of people, it was a large cloud of dark yellow smoke that spread out in several places, and soon filled the room.

"Don't mess around!" Du gradually shouted, holding his breath as he held his breath.

The smoke cleared, no one was hurt, but Lao Hong was gone.

"The Dragon King!" the Dragon King rescued him!" the crowd shouted.

Du Yan's face turned pale, but he thought in his heart that this was the best ending, "Does anyone still believe that Lao Hong didn't collude with the Dragon King?"

No one believes Lao Hong anymore.

Lao Hong fainted for a while, and when he woke up, he found himself lying on the bed, the dagger on his body was gone, and the wound was bandaged, but he knew that he was about to die.

"You rescued me?" Lao Hong asked weakly as he looked at the stranger in front of the bed.

"It's the two of them. Gu Shenwei still maintained his appearance, and Nie Zeng and Tie Linglong stood on the left and right, "It's a pity that it's a step late, the wound is not fatal, but the palm that Du gradually slapped on your body is difficult to deal with." ”

Lao Hong felt that what he was exhaling was not air but a sword, the pain spread from his throat to his abdominal cavity, and the moment he was taken away, Du gradually hit him, "You shouldn't have saved me, it's all death anyway, and now everyone believes that I 'colluded' with you." ”

Lao Hong had already recognized the stranger as the Dragon King.

"I'm sorry I had to do this, and I have many questions that can only be answered from you. Gu Shenwei hoped to rescue Lao Hong untouched, but he had to guard against the traps of the Tianshan Sect, and in order to eliminate accidents, Nie Zeng and Tie Linglong spent a lot of time.

"Ask, while I can speak. "Life is coming to an end, but Lao Hong feels that his mind is very clear, and he knows from experience that the Dragon King made him take refreshing medicine," but I want to ask first. ”

"Please. ”

"Does the Dragon King plan to monopolize Biyu City, or will he give it to the Central Plains or Beiting?"

Gu Shenwei was slightly stunned, many people had asked him about the disposal plan of Jinpeng Castle, this was the first time that anyone cared about Biyu City, "I haven't thought about it yet." In front of the dying person, Gu Shenwei chose to tell the truth, "What do you think?"

"The reason why it thrives is that it belongs to everyone, but it is not under anyone's control, and I am not in a position to envisage the fate of Biyu City, and if possible, I want it to remain as it is. ”

"This is also the wish of the Tianshan Sect?" Gu Shenwei understood a little.

"The Tianshan Sect doesn't know what its wish is at all, the Dubu King has ambitions, they oppose the Dubu King, the Beiting cavalry is coming, they are against the Beiting cavalry, and now they are from the Central Plains, the Tianshan Sect wants to resist foreign enemies, but it turns out to be a bigger enemy, that's right, the Tianshan Sect has formed an alliance with Jinpeng Castle. ”

Gu Shenwei guessed that this would be the case, but his doubts did not decrease, "The people of the Central Plains want to seize Biyu City?"

"Zhongyuan intends to act at the opportune opportunity, if possible, send troops to occupy the city, if the cost is too great, they hope to abolish the position of the governor of the city and establish a permanent city lord, in short, Zhongyuan hopes that Biyu City will be surrendered from now on. ”

The governor of Biyu City is served by the Central Plains, Beiting, and Shule in turn, and now that Beiting is divided and Shule is ruined, it is no wonder that the Central Plains' ambitions are inflated.

"Next year, it will be the turn of the Central Plains Governor to take office. Gu Shenwei immediately thought of this.

"Well, so by next summer at the latest, the Central Plains will take measures to seize Biyu City, and those Central Plains martial arts masters are the vanguard. ”

"I rarely see Central Plains people in the city. ”

"Because there are not many of them now, and they all live in the Four Noble Truths outside the city. ”

"The Four Noble Truths have taken refuge in the Central Plains?"

"Perhaps, the monks have not yet made a clear statement. ”

"Dubu King has formed an alliance with the Tianshan Sect because he doesn't want to openly be an enemy of the Central Plains?"

Lao Hong blinked, "Yes." "He didn't have much strength left to speak.

The matter is clear, Gu Shenwei found that he might have a conflict with the Central Plains in advance.

Lao Hong has fulfilled his obligations, and when he is dying, he only has the only thing left to worry about, "Xiaoshan...... How did you die?"

There are many rumors, Lao Hong wants to know the truth from the mouth of the Dragon King, and he has taken care of Lin Xiaoshan for many years, but let him die in front of him, Lao Hong has always felt guilty, he no longer remembers the appearance of his crush, but he can't reduce the weight of the promise.

Gu Shenwei motioned for Nie Zeng and Tie Linglong to go out, and then put it in Lao Hong's ear and said, "He is not dead, he is in the Central Plains." ”

Lao Hong was silent for a while, "I believe in you." "It's his choice.

(To be continued)