At the wharf near the river, Chu Tao personally greeted him, the boat stopped, the bamboo curtain was rolled, and a pair of women's slender jade hands were handed over, a masked beauty, a familiar dress and charm.

Chu Tao raised his hand to help him, and then smiled bitterly: "Xie Jun and this trick are getting better and better!"

The two looked at each other, their eyes shining behind the veil, and they were smiling. The charming female voice was like a spring breeze: "Master Chu, are you reluctant to invite me to sit in the house?"

"The carriage is ahead, go home. Chu Tao waved his hand, letting her take half a step first, and he followed.

In the carriage, Wang Hong didn't have time to greet politely, but saw her take off her veil and sit alone in the corner. Immediately after that, Chu Tao also sat up, and the car moved. Wang Hong opened the curtain of the car in confusion, wanting to find the traces of the sea of snow. Chu Tao spoke first.

"She won't come back?"

"It was my idea, the North Shore Night Owl was keeping an eye on it too closely, for fear of an accident. This time, he was really blocked by someone on the road, but with Jun He's shot, fortunately there was no danger. ”

Chu Tao caught a glimpse of the bloodstains on his sleeves under the cover of the red cloak.

"Bandaged on the ship, no major problems. Yan Hong quietly moved her arm behind her.

Wang Hong sensed a bit of the dangerous aura of the north shore, and hurriedly said, "So where is the young lady?"

Without waiting for Yan Hong to answer, Chu Tao had already grabbed the topic: "Junhe must have other arrangements." Uncle Wang rest assured. If she is not there, you and I will have a heartfelt matter. ”

"Qi Dashao's matter, did the head of Chu ever know?"

Chu Tao nodded silently.

"Junhe is worried that the white-clothed holy envoy will interfere with it, please take precautions as soon as possible. Qin Dashao and Cheng Daxia had already prepared boats and manpower to meet, but when they saw the beacon fire of the Black Stone Cliff, they ......"

Chu Tao suddenly gestured and booed to stop Yan Hong from continuing. Yan Hong was puzzled, but seeing that Wang Hong was silent, she stopped talking. In the silence, all kinds of shouting, horses, juggling, and chatting on the street reached Yan Hong's ears. Fortunately, the South Shore is still bustling.

saw Chu Tao holding his arms and closing his eyes. He frowned slightly, as if he had a knot that could not be untied.

The carriage passed by the Ning Xiang Pavilion, and Yan Hong was about to get up and say goodbye, but saw Chu Tao suddenly cross his arm in front of the door and shook his head gently. "The white-clothed holy envoy is pervasive. Wang Hong sighed, "The Black Stone Cliff is no longer the pure land of the past. He still didn't explain anything, just closed his eyes and pondered, but it gradually became clear to her heart. Xie Junhe's pigeon book can reach Chu Tao's hands, and the figure of the boat he sent to the snow sea can be discovered by the night owl, and the news has naturally spread all over the rivers and lakes. So no matter what, Chu Tao had to go to the dock to pick up Xuehai in person today, and no one knew what was hidden along the way.

It was bumpy all the way until the carriage entered the Chu family, and the gate slowly opened and closed with a heavy creak.

"Sit down for a moment, and I'll come as I go. Chu Tao handed her over to the waiter.

Yan Hong covered a silk scarf, wrapped a shawl, and followed the waiter into the courtyard of the sea of snow. After a while, he was arranged to bathe, change clothes, and clean his wounds. It was completely in accordance with the courtesy to Chu Xuehai. However, the maids knew that she was not, but they didn't ask a word, let alone look suspicious, as if it was really Xuehai who had returned.

For a long time, when she used the gold and silver hair ornaments on the dressing table to cut out her best hair bun, changed into a colorful dance dress prepared for her, and took a self-portrait in the mirror, it seemed that the whole room was lit up for a moment: no matter what, Yan Hong is still Yan Hong, and more than ten years of Jianghu Qi have been condensed into her bones, and she can no longer drive away.

The knock on the door sounded softly: "The head of the house invites the girl to the study." ”

In the study, in front of the table of the guests, there is a table full of wine and food, but there is only a pair of dishes and chopsticks. The sound of the piano is lingering, and in the incense burner, the elegant aroma fills the room.

"I don't know it's you, the hospitality is not good. It seems that the clothes should fit well. Chu Tao sat behind the piano and stroked the strings quietly. The long fingers jump between the crisp strings, plucking out the elegant melody.

Yan Hong has always been accustomed to welcoming guests, and she is treated like a guest for a moment, which is quite cramped. I don't know why Chu Tao went to entertain such an insignificant Jianghu guest - her intuition told her that it was not because of the sea of snow.

At the end of the song, Chu Tao stopped and said, "You may be the last guest here." "There was a sudden smell of sadness in the air.

"Thank you for Xuehai, the shopkeeper of Yanhong, do it first as a respect!"

Only then did Yan Hong notice that there was also a glass of wine on Chu Tao's table, and she saw that he really got up with the cup and drank it all. couldn't help but smile and said: "Ningxiang Pavilion has been open for so long, it is not easy to see the head of Chu drinking." ”

Chu Tao smiled elegantly: "There is only one cup today, the number of gifts is so far, and the rest of the wine and food are all prepared by the shopkeeper." ”

The white arms propped up the table, lazily raising a glass. The jade cup was facing the light, the wine was swaying lightly, and the charming eyes swept towards him: "Invite a restaurant shopkeeper to drink and eat, and don't hesitate to invite the head of Chu to practice swords together." ”

Chu Tao couldn't help laughing loudly: "The red shopkeeper has sharp teeth and a reputation for it. It's just that on weekdays, I entertain people to drink and eat, and although I see a lot, I am less comfortable and comfortable. The red shopkeeper doesn't have to be restrained here, and the home-cooked dishes are all from the craftsmanship of Shiyu - she has not seen the snow sea for many days, she is very worried and does not want the snow sea to arrive. But the heart cannot be disappointed. ”

"Having said that," Yan Hong glanced at the dance skirt on her body, not believing that she was only being used as a replacement, "The news has been delivered, if the head of Chu has something to say, please speak up." Why bother, it's confusing. ”

But not everything can be said bluntly. Chu Tao's eyes suddenly flashed sharply, making Yan Hong inadvertently froze. "Looking at the rivers and lakes, I can't find a second woman who is more transparent to the world than the red shopkeeper. There are some words that don't need to be said directly, and the red shopkeeper naturally understands them in his heart. ”

"Compared with the eyesight of the head of Chu, he doesn't dare to get an axe. The people in the scene, each talking about the scene, Yan Hong felt that this banquet was extraordinary.

"The strange women who are familiar with each other on the north and south banks, wandering around the Beacon Fire Ridge and the Black Stone Cliff, are really amazing. ”

In a word, she brought up the old events again, so long ago that she thought she had forgotten them. However, once I think about it, it still hurts like a pinprick in a pin. Could it be that the banquet of thank-you guests on the surface was actually torture in secret? Yan Hong smiled miserably, looked at Chu Tao hatefully, and guessed that her face was as white as paper: "Yan Hong knows that Ning Xiang Pavilion has been able to operate under the Black Stone Cliff for so long, thanks to the care of Master Chu. ”

"That's not what I meant. Chu Tao waved his hand and smiled, "The person who takes care of your business is Xie Junhe." ”

Yan Hong suddenly heard what was in the words, and didn't dare to wonder whether she was too careful, so she deliberately didn't answer.

"It is not easy for a weak woman to live in a murderous place like Beacon Ridge. I didn't expect that the red shopkeeper would be familiar with the North Shore!"

As if she had been caught in the sore spot, she clenched her fists deeply, and had no choice but to retreat: "Master Chu seems to know more than I imagined. ”

"Under the black stone cliff, there is nothing that can be hidden from Chu Tao. ”

"I can't hide it from you when I cross the long river. There was a gleam in his eyes, replaced by a sharp protest.

"Tang Yao's people, it's impossible for me not to check. However, at the breaking point, there will always be unexpected mysteries - Bai Yiyi in the Beacon Ridge, do you recognize it?"

Yan Hong responded: "Is that the girl who played tricks on Xie Junhe in Bilian Continent? Isn't she already driven to the Western Regions by you? Why did Master Chu think of mentioning it at this moment?"

Chu Tao wanted to speak and stopped, only staring at her, as if waiting for something. He had long been accustomed to this condescending posture.

However, the red color is just a toast and a slow drink, so that the color of the wine reflects a colorful soft light. She gradually knew what had piqued Chu Tao's interest.

Chu Tao said again: "Later, I saw many ...... in Tang Yao's old department."

She suddenly protested sharply: "I can't imagine that Master Chu is actually like those drinkers, who love to listen to the romances of dusty women!"

Chu Tao was shocked to find that the question was inappropriate, and his face was apologetic: "How offended, forgive me." ”

"Don't say it again, Master Chu. In this Jianghu, I only respect two people, one is you and the other is Tang Yao. Tang Yao taught me to live until now—no matter how cheap or vicious those skills are. At least I'm alive. When he died, I thought that no one in the world knew about the past. I just want to be the shopkeeper of my Ning Xiang Pavilion and live happily! Only by living can I have thoughts in my heart. Master Chu has always been a generous person, and you don't even mind the news that you betrayed you to Tang Yao right under your nose, why should you mind if I live!"

Chu Tao was rarely stunned for a long time, as if he had an understanding, then got up, poured a full cup, and drank it all to Yan Hong: "Chu has never admired a woman so much. The etiquette is not thoughtful, and forgive me for being abrupt, since no one knows about those old things, then there is no need to let Chu know. He suddenly sped up to stop the topic, "I invite you to come here for another reason." ”

Yan Hong breathed a sigh of relief, swallowed back the grievances in her eyes. But seeing that Chu Tao pushed open the dark compartment of the desk, he took out an unsigned letterhead with a vermilion lacquer seal.

"On another day, please hand it over to Xie Junhe - if he returns to the south bank, he will definitely go to the Ning Xiang Pavilion. If he is unable to escape, go to the north shore and find him. ”

Yan Hong wondered, "Why don't you give it to him personally, or he'll be back soon." ”

Chu Tao simply stuffed the letter into Yan Hong's hand, and said in a commanding tone: "Go back to Ning Xiang Pavilion." Maybe in the next few days, you will hear all kinds of unbelievable news, don't listen, don't pay attention, continue to open the door to do your business until there is news of Xie Junhe. ”

"Didn't you say that I have a share of the sword formation of Zhuyuan, what do you want to do, Master Chu?"

"There's someone for you—you can wait for him to come back. The meal is slow, I will not accompany you, and later, Uncle Wang will send you back to Ningxiang Pavilion. Chu Tao finally put down a few words of advice, and walked quickly into the moonlight, leaving only the mysterious letterhead and a table of sumptuous delicacies.

Yan Hong looked in the direction he had left, glanced at the steaming dishes on the table, and finally landed on the thick letterhead. For some reason, tears moistened my eyes.