April 4, Tangmen, East Sichuan.

The old gate, there is a big plaque hanging on the door, and the plaque has two strong characters "Tang Gate" with gold paint falling off. The wide fence is mottled, and although the houses in the village are continuous, there are many remnants of broken walls. The huge manor looks a little bleak. Who would have imagined that thirty years ago, the owner here would stomp his feet, and the whole rivers and lakes would tremble.

Silver silk like snow, the kind-faced Grandma Tang slowly walked into the hall, in the middle of the hall was a carved mahogany rectangular table with a length of four zhang, and there were seven or eight people with solemn faces sitting next to the table. Grandma Tang walked to the mahogany chair on the main seat and sat down, turned her head and asked an elegant-looking old man beside her, "Elder Lifeng, have all the people arrived?" The old man said, "Grandma Hui, all are here." ”

Grandma Tang nodded, and said solemnly: "The day after tomorrow, it will be the day that will change our fate! This operation, led by Elder Lifeng, will capture Chaotian Fort with lightning speed, and kill Fang Zhiju! After capturing Chaotian Fort, immediately go south and take the Divine Arm City!"

A purple-clothed man in his thirties said: "Grandma, with our strength, although we have the help of the masters of the Chu Xiang League, we may not be able to capture Chaotian Fort in one day. If Shenjian City and Yueyang Tower come to help, won't we be attacked on our backs?"

Grandma Tang said with a straight face: "The leader of the assassination team, Tang Yi, asked this question very well! Today, the reason for calling everyone back is to tell you that you are clear about the current situation and make you more confident in this operation. ”

Speaking of this, he took a sip of tea and continued: "On the afternoon of April 6, we will launch an attack on Chaotian Fort with the masters sent by the Chu Xiang League; at the same time, the Jinsha Gang and the Zhuhai Gang will join forces to attack Cuiping Fort; and the Zhongshan Gang will also go down the river and entangle the Divine Arm City. As for Yueyang Tower, they don't have to worry, when they can't take care of themselves, how can they have the spare strength to help?"

Tang Yun, the leader of the spy group, asked: "Although there are quite a few people in those gangs, they are all a rabble, if they don't act according to the action plan, wouldn't it be a bad thing?"

Grandma Tang sneered: "They don't dare to do what they do! Moreover, after the matter is completed, everyone will have benefits! The main strength of the enemy is in Chaotian Fort, as far as the current strength of our Tang Sect is concerned, although there are indeed fewer masters, but the people sent by the Chu Xiang Alliance are all extraordinary in martial arts, which is enough to deal with their hard hands!"

Tang Hui, the leader of the liaison group, said: "I am worried that Zhenguan Lao Dao will get the news from Wudang and come to the rescue with Wudang and others. ”

Tang Lifeng interjected: "The leader of the Chuxiang League said that this situation cannot happen, at most it will be Zhenguan Lao Dao who will come to help." We'll arrange for someone to kill them halfway when we get there! As for the Qingcheng Mountain side, don't worry, the Dual Cultivation Sect will also do it at the same time. ”

The team leaders listened to the words, and they were all overjoyed. Grandma Tang nodded with satisfaction and said, "Next, Elder Lifeng will arrange a specific action plan. ”

Tang Lifeng cleared his throat and said, "The specific action is very simple. The liaison group and the spy group, the expatriate personnel continue to carry out the mission, and the rest are under the dispatch of the elders. As for the assassination team, all of them will be stationed at Chaotianbao Wharf tomorrow night, the male disciples will assemble at the helm of the beggar gang in Tang Jiatuo, and the female disciples will assemble at the "Tender Pavilion" in the Qinglou at the Dongshuimen Wharf. At the beginning of April 6, Cui Hao, the deputy hall master of Chaotianbao Water and Fire Hall, will revolt, and the rudder of the beggar gang Chaotianmen will also cooperate with us. You cooperate with the masters sent by the Chu Xiang League, and at the same time attack and quickly control the periphery of Chaotian Castle. I'll take my headquarters and kill them right away. Clear?"

Tang Hui, Tang Yun, and Tang Yi said in unison: "It's clear." Tang Lifeng said: "Okay." Tang Yi, you immediately lead the members of the action team to go to the dark weapon room to choose a hidden weapon, and pick whatever you want. Once you've chosen, you're ready to go. ”

Tang Yi smiled bitterly and said: "What else can be good? At most, it's just some soul snatchers, heart-piercing arrows, and soul-breaking sand! Is there one?"

Tang Xun smiled awkwardly in the treasury room, and said, "Brother Tang Yi said that he was joking! The ones you want, brother, I only saw them when I was young!"

R&D room Tang Ming Zhengse said: "Over the years, Fang Zhiju has been staring at us too strictly, and it is very difficult for us to buy some raw materials, and we dare not buy them on a large scale at one time." It can only be purchased little by little. Coupled with our lack of financial resources, many raw materials cannot be bought at all. With the money that Chu Xiangmeng provided us years ago, I was going to buy a batch of gunpowder, sulfur, nitrate, etc. from the Jiangnan Thunderbolt Hall to make earth-shattering cylinders and earth-shattering bombs. However, they replied that now, the materials for the manufacture of firearms and the firearms produced are all under the jurisdiction of the government, and even they are not allowed to keep firearms privately, and the people are not allowed to buy them privately. It's hard for a good woman to be porridge without rice!" After speaking, he spread his hands and sighed.

Grandma Tang stood up and said sharply: "Disciples of the Tang Sect, how can you complain about the heavens and others? Show your courage! Four hundred years ago, our ancestors only started with bamboo darts, and they were terrified of martial arts and founded the Tang Sect. Sixty years ago, our ancestors were even more remarkable, and they developed our Tang Sect into the largest gang in the world, and their influence extended to the north and south of the great rivers and plugged up the grasslands! Thirty years ago, these so-called famous and upright families killed our predecessors and robbed us of our wealth! Now, the time has come to avenge them! Those people gathered to think that if they sent a few people to open a tavern, they would be able to watch our Tang Sect? Dreaming! My iron-blooded Tang Sect has stood in the rivers and lakes for hundreds of years, how can those rats be able to suppress it!

※※※

After the county government came back, the head of the ebony and the head of the jade went to the Four Seasons Inn again to inquire about the situation before the accident of Master Kongjing. Shopkeeper Liu said: "The people in the yamen have also come to ask. The master went out with a young man surnamed Mu at the end of the unitary hour yesterday. Ebony asked, "Where is that man now?" and Shopkeeper Liu said, "Who knows? I don't know him." The people of the yamen are also looking for him. ”

The head of the jade interjected: "They don't even know what people look like, how can they find it?" The shopkeeper Liu said: "There are portraits! I showed it back, and it was still like a picture. They said that if they found the suspect, they would send me to the yamen for identification. ”

Erdao asked the shopkeeper to describe the appearance and characteristics of the man, and he could only know that he was a white young man about thirty years old, but he couldn't imagine what he looked like. It is expected that the portrait provided by the yamen was made by inviting painters to draw according to the descriptions of the monks, and at the same time allowing them to identify and modify it. Neither of them had that ability, so they both left gloomily.

After returning to the inn, Ebony asked Deadwood to return to Wudang with dozens of disciples to look around for clues, and the people of each sect also went out to search. After being busy for a long time, I could only confirm that Master Kongjing had indeed gone to the riverside at that time, but the murder scene could not be entered, so there was no way to check it again. As for the young man surnamed Mu, no one could find a suspicious person. Everyone found nothing, so they had to go back.

Ebony seemed very calm, and said to the crowd, "Don't be busy. The government is better at investigating cases than we are. Let's wait for news at the inn!" Then he instructed the shopkeeper to prepare several large tables of food.

Everyone was having a wine and dinner, and suddenly someone outside the inn asked: "May I ask the little second brother, is the head of the ebony here?" I'm dining in the lobby!"

A young man in blue hurriedly walked in. Ebony stood up, saw the person clearly, and asked, "Zhang Qi, what's the matter?" Zhang Qi bowed and said, "I've seen the head of Ebony." He took out a letter sealed in black lacquer from his bosom, handed it to Ebony, and said, "This is a letter from the owner of the merchant building who has just flown a pigeon, let me personally hand it over to you." Seeing that the envelope had a sign of 100,000 urgency, Ebony's heart trembled, and he hurriedly tore open the envelope and took out the letter paper to check it.

The content of the letter was very simple: "Senior Brother in charge: Yesterday the Tang Gate suddenly attacked, and Chaotian Fort was in danger! If the head of Zhenguan is still in Junzhou, please inform us as soon as possible; if you have already set off, please hand it over as soon as possible! Brother Xiaotian." ”

Everyone looked at the letter nervously when they saw Ebony, and they all looked at him suspiciously. Ebony put the letter in front of Zhenguan and said in a deep voice: "Brother Dao, please see!"

Zhenguan glanced at it, was stunned, and muttered, "How is it possible!" Suddenly, he jumped up with an "ah" and beckoned to the adjacent table and shouted: "Ling Xiao! Volley! Something happened to Chaotian Castle! Let's go!" The rest of the heads of the people hurriedly read the letter, and looked at each other in surprise.

Duan Hongzi and Zhenguan were the most friendly, and got up and shouted: "Brother Zhenguan! Poor Dao will go with you!" Zhenguan arched his hand and said: "Don't dare to have Brother Lao Dao! We can handle it!"

Duan Hongzi said angrily: "Brother Zhenguan doesn't have to push back, the poor road is decided!" turned sideways to Zhong Zhiling and Sang Qinghong and ordered: "Hurry up and pack your luggage!"

The three of Zhenguan and apprentice hurriedly packed their luggage and led their horses to wait outside the inn. Several heads of the sect led their disciples out to see each other off. Zhenguan arched his hand and said: "The matter here can only be bothered by the laborers! Please forgive the poor Taoist master and apprentice for taking the first step!"

Duan Hongzi packed her luggage and came to Sang Qinghong's room, seeing that she was still standing in the room, she said strangely: "Hong'er, why are you standing there stupidly, hurry up and pack up, Zhenguan is waiting for them!"

Sang Qinghong hesitantly packed up twice, suddenly put down the burden in his hand, and muttered: "Uncle, niece...... If you want to stay, you won't go......" Duan Hongzi wondered: "Why? Are you worried that this trip will be dangerous?"

Sang Qinghong said softly: "The niece is not afraid of danger...... It's just that... People Qingcheng sent their own affairs, why should we get involved?"

Duan Hongzi said slightly: "What do you say! How do you call mixing? Our Daomen are in the same breath, and we have always helped each other. ”

Sang Qinghong seemed to have made up her mind, raised her head and said, "Anyway, my niece doesn't want to go, I want to go to you and my senior brother!"

Broken Hongzi said angrily: "Hong'er, according to what you said, why do you stay and get involved in the affairs of the Wudang and Kunlun factions? Don't think that your uncle doesn't know your thoughts! You are reluctant to be the Dongfang Zhen of the Kunlun faction!"

Poked the window paper, Sang Qinghong was simply happy: "What's the matter? People are still in danger now, but we are leaving, what kind of righteousness can this be called?"

Duan Hongzi sighed, and his tone softened: "We can't help if we stay here." Rest assured, with the Ebony Boss here, they will be fine. ”

Sang Qinghong said: "But I'm still not at ease. Duan Hongzi sneered: "Don't think that people have taken a fancy to you! Even if he is not in prison now, and he is interested in you, my uncle will not agree!"

Sang Qinghong said angrily: "I don't want you to take care of my affairs! You think I don't know your mind, you are so stubborn about the head of Zhenguan, but you are greedy for the Qingcheng faction to be powerful in Sichuan, and you want to marry your niece to Shen Lingxiao!"

Broken Hongzi said angrily: "Presumptuous...... What do you think of your uncle?...... Besides, what's wrong with Shen Lingxiao? I can also see that he likes you very much. If you weren't my niece, and the boss is not too small, I wouldn't be too lazy to worry about this!"

Sang Qinghong said with red eyes: "I won't die! I won't marry him, I want to marry you yourself!"

Broken Hongzi trembled with anger, and gave her a mouthful, knocking her to the ground. Sang Qinghong didn't get up either, and sat on the ground crying "woo".

Duan Hongzi slapped down, and he was also remorseful in his heart, and said warmly: "Whether you marry that Shen Lingxiao or not, your uncle will not force you." But I want to tell you: that Dongfang Zhen is modest on the outside and arrogant on the inside, and has the same temper as you. You're not a good fit. ”

Turning his head, he saw Zhong Zhiling standing at the door awkwardly, sighed, and said, "Zhiling, you can stay too." Take care of your sister, and go back as soon as possible. After the master finished his work, he returned to Kongtong Mountain. ”

Sang Qinghong raised her head to wipe away her tears, watching Broken Hongzi walk out of the door, her blue-gray back looked a little lonely and a little hazy.

※※※

At the end of the afternoon, He Xiancheng returned to the yamen with more than a dozen errands, hurriedly washed his face, and quickly went to the inner hall to report to Tang Zhixian.

"The one who kills the master of the void purification is really someone else!" He Xiancheng said straight to the point.

"Oh!" Tang Zhixian's eyes lit up, "Have you already captured it?" He Xiancheng shook his head and said, "No." I don't know who did it. Judging from the footprints left in and around the pavilion, it is certain that it was done by two people. We compared the shoes of Dongfang Zhen and Zishi, and found that unlike the footprints in the pavilion, they had never been to the wooden pavilion. Therefore, the Master of Void Purification was not killed by these two people. ”

Tang Zhixian asked: "Have you found the guy surnamed Mu?" He Xiancheng said: "No." This guy seems to have disappeared out of thin air. ”

Tang Zhixian said: "Can you find the clues of the murderer?" He Xiancheng said: "We followed the footprints of those two people, and after arriving at a secluded river bay, there was no trace." I suspect they escaped by boat. ”

Tang Zhixian asked, "Is there anyone nearby who can witness it?" He Xiancheng shook his head and said, "No." It was so secluded, and it was getting late, so no one was going to wander around that place. ”

Tang Zhixian's eyebrows knotted: "That means, this can only be a suspicious case?" He Xiancheng said gloomily: "The murderer may have already escaped from Junzhou." He really couldn't think of any way to crack the case. It is speculated that this should be a premeditated bloody case, and he deliberately blamed the two people. ”

Tang Zhixian sighed, waved his hand, and said, "Got it." Go down and rest!"

was in trouble, and suddenly Menzi came to report: "My lord, there is a man in Tsing Yi outside the yamen who asks to see you." Tang Zhixian said angrily: "No." Tell him to go!"

Menzi retreated, and after a while, he hurriedly ran in, holding a yellow and clear waist card in his hand, and handed it to Tang Zhixian: "My lord, this is what that person asked me to hand over to you." ”

Tang Zhixian took the waist card and glanced at it, suddenly jumped up in horror, ran out quickly, tidied up his clothes, greeted the man and saluted: "The lower officials don't know that the Lord of the Hundred Households is here, a capital crime!"

The man in Tsing Yi replied: "Those who don't know are not guilty! ”

Tang Zhixian took the people in Tsing Yi into the inner hall in confusion, finished offering tea, retreated left and right, and asked: "I don't know if hundreds of adults are coming, do you have any advice?"

Tsing Yi said: "Lord Tang, Xia Guan came this time to find out about the murder of a Shaolin monk yesterday, but has it been investigated?"

Tang Zhixian was taken aback and secretly said: This case has actually alarmed the Zhenfu Division! I don't know what the purpose of this adult's trip is, and we must deal with it carefully. At the moment, he said cautiously: "Two suspects have been caught at the scene." However, there are still many doubts in this case, which need to be further investigated and verified. ”

"Oh?" said Mr. Zhang, a little surprised, "I wonder what the suspicions are?"

Tang Zhixian briefly said the suspicious points, while quietly observing Lord Zhang's face. After listening to this, Master Zhang nodded and asked, "Next, I don't know how Lord Tang will handle this case?"

Tang Zhixian smiled bitterly: "When encountering this kind of suspicious case, the lower officials are also at a loss. Please give me some advice. ”

Master Zhang waved his hand and said, "You will tell the official how to deal with this case, and let the official refer to it in detail." ”

Tang Zhixian Zhengse said: "According to the law, we should continue to detain the two suspects caught at the scene, and then continue the investigation." Xia Guan wanted to investigate further in the vicinity of the murder to see if any witnesses could still be found. ”

Lord Zhang's eyes flashed, noncommittal. Tang Zhixian's heart moved, and he said tentatively: "My lord, I don't know if it's okay for the lower official to do this? ”

Zhang Dadao: "Let the official think about it again and reply again." Farewell!"

※※※

Lord Zhang cautiously returned to the inn, went upstairs, knocked on the door and entered a guest room, walked to the side of the green robe, and said, "My lord, ......" The green robe man said slightly angrily: "It's still called that!

Master Zhang hurriedly said: "It's me who is wrong!" Qingpao said: "Forget it." Say, what's going on?"

Master Zhang said about the dialogue with Tang Zhixian in the yamen. The green-robed man listened quietly, with a hint of surprise in his eyes. Stamped back and forth in the house for a few steps, and ordered: "In this way, you go and inform that Tang Zhixian: first, there is no need to continue to investigate." Second, the two people of the Wudang faction and the Kunlun faction were temporarily released. However, they were not allowed to leave Junzhou City, and they were not allowed to leave until the case was closed. ”

After the adult Zhang left, the green-robed man muttered to himself: "I really underestimated this little Junzhou Yamen! If you don't find it early, let the surnamed Tang mess around, maybe you really find out about Lao Tzu!"

A gray-haired, bright-eyed middle-aged man in purple pushed the door in, closed the door with his backhand, and asked, "What happened?"

The green-robed man smiled: "It's nothing, a little trouble." We underestimated that Tang Zhixian, but we didn't expect him to find so many flaws. So, he told the man in purple what Master Zhang said.

The man in purple sighed: "We thought we had a well-planned plan, but we didn't expect there to be so many flaws. ”

The green-robed man smiled: "It doesn't matter, it doesn't hurt the overall situation." I had them told them not to look any further, and I released the two young men. ”

The man in purple was surprised: "Let go, these two people have extraordinary martial arts, why not get rid of them?"

The green-robed man sneered: "Don't worry, there are people who will kill them!" After a pause, he said, "My plan is not to let them die in the hands of the government. The man in purple glanced at him, and suddenly a chill rose in his heart.

The green-robed man asked, "Has Chaotian Fort been taken?"

Ziyi said: "There is no news yet, but it's not a big problem." ”

Qingpao said: "When will you go to Yueyang Tower? ”

Ziyi said: "I'm going to leave here tonight and launch an attack on Yueyang Tower in three days." ”

The green-robed man nodded and said, "Okay." Success!"