The third year of Xianping, March twenty-five. Pen, fun, and www.biquge.info

On the bank of the canal, the catkins were piled up on the bank in strands, and on the boat, three or two captains were chatting with wine jugs, and thousands of sails splashed on their faces, but the captains were still laughing and scolding and swallowing cold wine in small sips. A middle-aged man in gray-brown linen clothes and black turbans mixed a few words between them from time to time, listened to gossip, and from time to time also took a sip from the wine jug, spicy throat, spit, clear his throat, and when the protagonist of the braggart became himself, his expression soared. It's just that the moment he raised his head and drank, a pair of narrowed eyes skimmed towards the waterway, and it seemed that it was just a casual glance, and the other captains didn't notice it.

At this time, the canal is the time when hundreds of boats are competing for the current, countless official ships and merchant ships are vying to dock, and fishing boats are following behind, but they are also separated by a distance of more than ten zhang, and the last fleet is full of quarrels. And at the back of the fishing boats, there is an extremely eye-catching flat boat slowly moving along with the fleet. On the flat boat, the stern of the boat slowly rocked the oar, humming a little tune that seemed to be out of tune. At the bow of the boat was a young man standing upright, starry eyes lazily looking at the ferry stop boat and the appearance of those captains floating in the river.

The little Langjun raised the corners of his mouth slightly, put away the folding fan in his hand and inserted it into his waist, turned his back again, and closed his starry eyes slightly, as if enjoying the peaceful scene in the breeze, and as if bathing in the sunshine near noon. The sun in Yangzhou is just right, perhaps the slight cold is gradually gone, and the warm breeze in early spring slowly happens to flow on this little Langjun, so that this little Langjun is also in the mood like the sideburns and green silk dancing gently with a lotus scarf.

"Good ......" Xiao Langjun was about to open his mouth to express his feelings, and he felt that the hull of the boat was swinging to the right. His mouth was wide open, his body was tilted to the right front, his arms fluttering in disorder, and his eyes were as clear as water filled with horror, a scene that was both comical and embarrassing.

"Lang Jun beware-" A big rough hand burst out of the cabin, tightly grabbed Xiao Langjun's long sleeves, and under the strength, Xiao Langjun waved his arms in embarrassment and lay down on the boat.

I saw a bearded man come out of the cabin and help the little Langjun up, at this time, a little scholar with a hurried look came out behind the big man, and he checked the master's situation in a panic. After seeing Xiao Langjun standing up, rubbing his waist and buttocks lightly with a reddish face, and softly saying that it was okay, the little scholar looked angrily at the stern of the boat and hurriedly lowered the oars. He was about to open his mouth to scold the old man, but Xiao Langjun pulled his sleeve and said, "It's me who didn't stand firm, don't blame this old gentleman." ”

"It's obviously this old man's negligence, Lao Zhang and I both noticed that the ship was overturned in the cabin!" the little scholar argued.

Although the little scholar is about eleven or twelve, his lips are red and his teeth are white, and his little face is red in the sun, but there is an offensive meaning in his words. Without waiting for the master to answer, the little scholar pouted and pouted his face, but saw the bearded man looking around, as if he was looking for something, and also probed his brain to look at the river, but except for a few leisurely men drinking and joking in one place, there was nothing worth paying attention to on the river.

The little scholar turned his head again, and saw that the white beard of the captain trembled slightly, and his legs trembled, as if he was about to make up his mind to kneel, and was about to open his mouth to reprimand, and heard the little master say:

"Old gentleman, don't blame, it was Xiao Shengfang who slipped under his feet and drove the hull of the boat to disturb everyone. ”

Xiao Langjun touched the little scholar's head, and saw that there was a ferry not far away to stop the boat, so he said to the captain: "Old man, let's dock here." ”

"Thank you, official! Thank you, official!" The captain looked relieved, ran back to the stern of the boat with small steps, continued to rock, and sailed the boat to the shore ferry, not only did the speed slow down, but also did not even hum a little song.

Seeing that Xiao Langjun was so generous to this old man, the little scholar said in his heart: "Xiao Langjun is too kind-hearted, at the beginning, more than a dozen small boats, but chose the boat of this guy who half of his body went into the loess, and promised a silver coin that was thirty percent higher than the usual price. If this old man hadn't been in good health, and had rested for two hours on his way last night, he would have been able to enter the city before these fishing boats this morning, where would he still smell the fishy smell of this road?

He turned his little head to look at the bearded man, but saw that he had returned to the cabin to pack his luggage, but his thick eyebrows were crumpled together, and the word "doubt" was written all over his face.

The little Langjun stood at the head of the bed with a melancholy face, looked up at the sky, smiled bitterly and waited for the captain to slowly dock, and said in an inaudible voice: "Good one...... Ha...... What a Yangzhou city. ”

On the shore of the willows, the sun was already rising when they landed, and after paying the silver money to send the captain, the three of them felt that they had no food in their stomachs. Although the little Langjun saw the catkins like spring snow, and thought of the bustling city like a river, he couldn't bear the hunger and was weak. I also want to dry food yesterday has been exhausted, now it is eight or nine hours without eating, just hurry, even the shore has not approached, the scenery along the way is just a hurried look, just to be able to come here a few hours earlier today to see the prosperity of Yangzhou.

At last, I entered the city before the water gate was closed, and I was afraid that it would be a few hours in the evening, and in the afternoon, the water gate would be closed.

Although he is now in the downtown area, Xiao Langjun lowered his eyebrows and thought about where to play, and when he caught a glimpse of the little scholar's saliva, he immediately made a choice. When I looked up, I saw that the building in front of me was six stories high on the shore. Look at the eaves on the high pavilion like a cloud, the treasure cover is like a crescent moon, there are a few low buildings faintly behind it and form a horizontal trend, there seems to be the sound of the piano song orchestra in the depths, Xiao Langjun looked at the gate, only to see the people coming and going in front of the door, the cars and horses are endless, a little raise your eyes to see the three big characters on the plaque of the tall building - Mingyue Building.

Xiao Langjun pointed to the plaque and said: "Ah Yue, Lao Zhang, we might as well go there first to have a full meal and sacrifice to the Five Organs Temple, and then have a glimpse of the wind and moon here." I've heard that the night view of Yangzhou is more flavorful than that of Tokyo, so let's take a look at it today. ”

After saying that, he glanced at the little scholar Ah Yue again, and sure enough, when he saw his smiling appearance, Xiao Langjun praised himself for being smart in his heart. But his face was silent, and he led the two behind him to Mingyue Tower, although it was only dozens of steps, but before he reached the hall, he could hear a burst of noise, and even the sound of gold intersecting.

Lao Zhang was sure of his eyes, and hurriedly turned his head to inspect left and right, just on the river, Lao Zhang felt that things were strange, although the old man was not as good as a young man, but he had a lot of experience on the water, how could the boat turn over for no reason? Not the person on the boat, so ......

Xiao Langjun was about to squeeze into the crowd, but he heard a roar in the lobby, and then he was pulled by Lao Zhang's big hand, and he heard a "bang", as if some heavy object was smashed into the crowd. The people at the front of the crowd all fell backwards and fell hard, but on top of them was a big man in short clothes with white eyes, and the big man still had blood in his mouth, although Xiao Langjun almost fell, but he was not hurt at all under the protection of Lao Zhang.

"Jin Zhicheng, you turtle grandson still want to do it?"

An angry roar came from the hall, Lao Zhang helped Xiao Langjun and then pulled him back, the little scholar Ah Yue also trembled and followed Lao Zhang's side, under the background of Lao Zhang's tall body, Ah Yue was like a trembling little sheep.

The crowd in front of the gate of the restaurant exploded, and a few people who fell down also struggled to stand up, and the scene was a mess. Xiao Langjun could only hear the shouting inside and outside the hall, and the sound of sharp weapons cutting through clothes and flesh came from the hall.

"Lang Jun, hurry up. Lao Zhang whispered in Xiao Langjun's ear, his hand had already put the handle of the knife and slightly lowered the scabbard. At this time, he encountered a restaurant by the rivers and lakes, looking at the black purple on the chest of the man in short clothes who was lying down, Lao Zhang knew that this person would not live for more than three days, but this kick was not to kill him instantly, and the strength was controlled very accurately, I am afraid that the brawl inside is not an ordinary hero. In order to avoid trouble, it is better to go ahead.

"It's okay, it's normal for a few idlers to make trouble in this crowded drinking shop, and it's not the first time I've seen this in Tokyo. Xiao Langjun settled down, shook the folding fan gently, bit his lower lip and tried to make a disapproving appearance in the violent trembling of the hand holding the fan.

"Lang Jun can't! I'm afraid it's ...... in this hall There are people making trouble. Lao Zhang hesitated for a moment, but still said the words "Jianghu people".

"Jianghu people, what are Jianghu people?" said Xiao Lang Junqi, his eyes wide open.

"I've never heard of such people, and my father never mentioned them. ”

Lao Zhang ignored the indignant eyes of the little scholar who only reached his waist, stared at Xiao Langjun's clear eyes and said: "The people of the rivers and lakes are happy and vengeful, and most of them are chivalrous and righteous on weekdays, and they are uneven......

At this point, Lao Zhang paused, Xiao Langjun's crystal eyes were full of things he couldn't understand, it was an impulse exclusive to young people, Lao Zhang remembered that in the soul of his knife, there were countless young people who had such eyes.

Those young people also believe in this, but it's a pity......

Xiao Langjun's eyes seemed to be shining, and the slightest frightened look was gone, so he put away the folding fan and looked into the store, and said, "Oh?

This time, Lao Zhang didn't stop him, but just looked at this young man who was twenty-eight years old with a look that seemed to be loving and melancholy.

"These Jianghu people are chivalrous, they must be punishing rape and eliminating evil?" From the perspective of the main entrance, he couldn't see what was happening in the store, Xiao Langjun could only see a few men holding long swords and wearing green clothes in a position, and when he was about to go forward to find out, he was grabbed by the cuffs of the little scholar Ah Yue, and at the same time, he was also lightly grabbed by Lao Zhang's arm.

Xiao Langjun turned around in confusion, only to see Lao Zhang's face gloomy, as if he wanted to say something, but he choked and couldn't speak.

"At the beginning of Taihu Lake to suppress bandits, Zhang Wenwen's predecessors personally cut off the head of the horse thief Jiang Shu. Now that you see the strife in the rivers and lakes again, don't you want to go to uphold justice?" Hearing a voice coming from behind him, Lao Zhang took a deep breath, and slowly turned around to see a fresh and handsome son clasping his fists and saluting.

The boy was dressed in a black robe, with a brown scarf on his head, and in addition to a piece of white jade in the shape of a sleeping tiger around his waist, there was also a three-foot long sword, the scabbard was simple and unpretentious, and it was so cold that it was seeping. And although this son is dressed like a humble gentleman, his face is sharp and angular, like a knife carving, and there is perseverance and vicissitudes between his eyebrows. Xiao Langjun and Ah Yue were both impressed by their brilliance for a moment, but Zhang Wenwen, who was revealed to be identious, gasped again.

Just because, the boy in front of him is not only resolute and vicissitudes, but also has a deep edge, with a warm smile on the corner of his mouth, such a gorgeous character Zhang Wenwen has never seen in the past fifteen years.

"No internal interest...... Isn't it a person in the rivers and lakes?" Zhang Wenwen thought, but what really surprised him was not this son's appearance and martial arts, but that he was able to recognize himself, recognize a person who has withdrawn from the rivers and lakes for ten years, in a place like the rivers and lakes, if there is not an ordinary famous person for ten years There is a little rumor, then this person can probably be considered dead by people, at least he died on the rivers and lakes.

Taihu Lake bandits, this incident was more than 20 years ago......

Today, there is a person who can recognize him, and it is not his old acquaintance, this young man in front of him who is dressed very much like a Jianghu person is ten years ago, I am afraid that he is only about the same age as Ah Yue, how can he know himself?

"Are you...... Who is it?" Zhang Wenwen sideways blocked in front of Xiao Langjun, this group of beautiful sons of unknown origin appeared here, if they came to find themselves, it would be fine, but what if they came to find this unsophisticated Xiao Langjun behind him?

Just as Zhang Wenwen calmed down and looked at the young man in front of him, the young man clasped his fists and said: "Contemptible Sikong Lonely, the cursive word Meng Yuan, is just out of the rivers and lakes today, and many rules are still expected to be taught by Senior Zhang."

"Sikong Lonely?" the little Langjun silently recited the name, thinking: "In the "Sayings": 'Lonely, fatherless'. How could such a pretty boy have such an unfortunate name?"

"Si Kong...... Sikong Gu?" Zhang Wenwen's eyes widened, and he couldn't help but lose his words.

"Yes. Sikong Gu smiled and affirmed, "The contemptible Jiang Ning Sikong Gu is like a fake." “

Zhang Wenwen's face became shocked and distorted, and Ah Yue followed the suspicious gaze shot out of the eyes as big as copper bells, and also fell on the sleeping tiger white jade on Sikong Gu's waist, but he didn't know why, and his heart was confused.

The sound of more than a dozen swords clashing came from the lobby again, the shouting in the building gradually stopped, and the voices outside the building gradually stopped, Xiao Langjun then remembered what happened in the lobby, turned around and squeezed away the crowd gathered together, stood on the stone steps that could see what was happening in the hall, and finally saw the reason why the building was clean.

A big man with a wide face and a big tiger body with a messy stubble was holding a long sword, and put the long sword on the tall neck of a young man about seventeen or eighteen years old.

In the center of the lobby, only those two people were the most eye-catching, because behind them were people from both sides of the rivers and lakes dressed in different short clothes, but both carrying swords.

There were many people lying on the ground, their eyes wide open, and blood was flowing all over the ground out of nowhere. If Xiao Langjun paid more attention at this time, he would find that the group of people standing behind the broad-faced and messy man were dressed differently from those lying on the ground. It's just that Xiao Langjun, who saw such a scene for the first time, couldn't help but open his mouth wide, exhaling and exhaling hot air, his heart fluttered as if he was about to jump out of his chest, and he felt cold all over his body for a moment, only then did he realize that he had already broken into a cold sweat.

The crimson blood from the corners of the young man's mouth dripped onto the blue bricks on the ground, breaking the silence in the hall drop by drop.

"This ......" Xiao Langjun saw this scene for the first time, and the whole person was stunned.

"This is a fight, isn't it? This is a violation of the law, right? Don't these people go to the court?"

Xiao Langjun shook his head and looked at the surrounding visitors, but saw that in addition to the numbness in their eyes, there was also an emotion that Xiao Langjun had never seen. Zhang Wenwen understands that this is a kind of excitement that only the small people in the market have, living and working day after day year after year, and the small people in the market have no capital to go to the singing and dancing alleys for recreation, these brawls and killings are a living drama in their eyes. It's a pity that Zhang Wenwen didn't want to explain to Xiao Langjun at this time, and his tiger eyes still stayed on the young man in front of him who called himself "Sikong Gu".

"This is the rivers and lakes, Uncle Zhang, we'll talk about the old days later, you wait here for your little nephew. ”

At this time, Sikong Gu patted the exposed shoulder of Xiao Langjun who was crowded in the crowd, and without waiting for Xiao Langjun to turn around, he had already nudged away from the crowd in the indignant eyes of the little scholar, crossed the threshold, and broke into the hall.

Zhang Wenwen was determined to open his mouth to ask this strange young man, but he heard him leave a sentence without a beginning or an end and walked into the lobby, and his title changed from "Zhang Wenwen's predecessor" to "Uncle Zhang", and this title is familiar but far away, is this him? No, he is dead, and he should be dead.

He looked like he had no martial arts, but he walked leisurely and slowly to the center of the battle between the rivers and lakes. Not only were the spectators outside the lobby stunned, but the heroes in the lobby were even more dazed, and even the expression of the tiger-faced man with a messy stubble gradually calmed down.

Almost everyone didn't know who this handsome young man was, but Zhang Wenwen knew very well what the name that this young man had just told meant. There is only one Sikong family in Jiangning, and the Sikong family was burned down by a fire in the autumn night ten years ago, and the government characterized it as a "fire" and "burned to death" 42 people.

Of course, Zhang Wenwen also knew the truth of that night, but what happened that night had already turned into a nightmare...... No, it wasn't just a nightmare.

Zhang Wenwen remembers most that shortly after that night, it was a season with light snow in early winter.

Not only his three brothers, but also many of the heroes who were good friends with the Sikong family at the beginning did not appear in the rivers and lakes in the next spring.

The rivers and lakes seem to have deliberately forgotten them, and those heroes who are good friends with the Sikong family only exist as stories circulated on the rivers and lakes, like the fine snow that night, under the bright sun the next day, only pieces of unrecognizable water stains remain.

Since then, no one has ever mentioned Jiangning's empty family.

Until...... Today.