Sword of Coming

Before going up the mountain, Yao Xianzhi wanted to put the fox fur on his grandfather. Chen Pingan smiled and shook his head, indicating in his eyes that there was no need to go to such trouble.

Later, Yao Xianzhi discovered that at this time of snow melting, the snow was covered with snow, the mountains were covered with snow, and the clouds were not flowing. The mountain wind was so gentle that people did not feel the slightest chill, and the snow on the mountain road under their feet had already melted on its own. , just like a mountain god invisibly clearing the way for the three of them to "clean the street".

The old man was very interested and said with a smile: "Go up the mountain."

Throughout his life as a soldier, he stayed at the border of Daquan. Apart from the occasional visits to Beijing to meet the emperor, he hardly moved around. He never went on a study tour or visited with anyone. There were only a handful of famous mountains and rivers that the old man actually set foot on.

I recall those days when young scouts at the border were chasing the enemy with light cavalry, their bows and swords covered with snow. Whenever the river freezes, there is a sound of broken jade when horses' hooves step on it.

Yao Xianzhi reminded in a low voice: "Mr. Chen, we are only going to walk a section of the mountain road. We cannot follow Grandpa's temper and go all the way to Qingping Peak."

Just as His Majesty told him and Yao Lingzhi in private, grandpa is just an old boy now.

Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'll take care of it."

Rarely did the old man say anything stubborn. He just climbed the mountain slowly and asked casually: "Ping An, do you think ordinary masters climbing mountains are similar to your immortal master Yu Feng, who lifts them high again and again to see how round the place is on that day?"

Chen Ping'an said: "Essentially, it's almost the same, but it is said that some of the great mountain monks in Qing Ming Tianxia are very leisurely and relaxed, and they will meet in Gaohan to drink and support Beidou. Unlike us in Haoran Tianxia, ​​Bai Yujing does not Too much trouble."

The old man smiled and asked: "What about you, boy, will you do this in the future?"

Chen Pingan smiled and said: "As long as the realm is enough, I also want to take a look."

Yao Xianzhi remembered the mention of the moon in the newspaper, and asked curiously: "Is that bright moon in the wild world very big?"

Chen Ping'an said: "Actually, when you look at the bright moon from a close distance, the earth is desolate, and there are mountains. Unfortunately, they are lifeless, with no water or vegetation. It is very different from the descriptions in the strange novels. But according to the Chinese Temple of Confucius According to the secret records at the summer palace, thousands of years ago, these hanging moons were actually quite lively, and there were even ordinary people living in them. They were no different from the markets at the foot of the mountain today. They were collectively called monthly households, which was a household registration. The skilled craftsmen responsible for building the palace are known as the 'Celestial Craftsmen'."

Yao Xianzhi was stunned when he heard this.

Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "By the way, I now have an ancient moon palace in my hand. I haven't given it away yet. If Grandpa Yao is interested, we can visit it later."

The old man shook his head: "It's such a big palace, it's so vast, there's no one there, it's not very interesting, it's no different from the Mirage City where the curfew is when we go out late at night."

Yao Xianzhi was very interested, and felt a little regretful when his grandfather said this.

Chen Ping'an glanced at Mr. Fu Yin, "Are you stupid? Grandpa Yao is fighting with us here, so you don't know how to help build a ladder?"

After receiving the hint from Mr. Chen's eyes, Yao Xianzhi immediately understood that he had been in officialdom for many years.

The old man suddenly asked: "I heard that Chief Cheng of Dafu Academy came from Huang Tingguo in Aquarius Continent. He also served as deputy chief and chief lecturer of Linlu Academy in Piyun Mountain near Luopo Mountain?"

Chen Pingan nodded and said: "We are old acquaintances with Cheng Shanchang. When we were young, we traveled to Sui Mountain Cliff Academy with others. On the way, we passed through the mountains and fields of Huangting Kingdom. We happened to pass by Cheng Shanchang's mountain and forest villa. We received a warm reception and a large table. The delicacies of the mountains, wild game, and seasonal vegetables, I still get a bit greedy when I think about it.”

In addition to Dafu Academy located in the middle of Yizhou, there are also Tianmu Academy in the north of Tongyezhou, and Wuxi Academy in the south. The two candidates for the mountain chief are from the Lisheng and Yasheng lineages respectively.

In addition, there are two deputy mountain commanders each. I heard that the four of them are extremely young and promising gentlemen, and they have all been on the battlefield.

Yao Zhen said seemingly casually: "Although I don't know much about the rules on the mountain, there are some principles that must be the same. For example, distant relatives are not as good as close neighbors. If I remember correctly, the one closest to Xiandu Mountain is the old Dayuan Yuan The dynasty, both in the government and the public, can be said to be full of heroes. On the way here, I was idle and listened to Yao Xianzhi chatting for a few words, saying that the Dayuan Dynasty was now divided into three, each claiming the title of emperor, and it was all a mess. , so that there are many ghost towns in the territory, and there is no good result yet.”

Yao Xianzhi felt helpless. Regardless of what I was chatting about casually, it was clearly Grandpa who took the initiative to ask for a lot of information around Xiandu Mountain.

Chen Pingan immediately understood and said: "Don't worry, Grandpa Yao, everyone will not sweep away the snow in front of the door. We in Xiandu Mountain will not turn a blind eye to this. After all, in the final analysis, we have to do thousands of things, but we still have to be one person, and the same is true for cultivation in the mountains. My student Cui Dongshan, the first sect leader of the lower sect, has secretly visited all the ghost cities and set up formations that can gather the clear energy between heaven and earth and help the ghosts in the cities maintain a little bit of their true spirit, so as not to Reduced to a fierce ghost, all he had to do was wait for the reunification of the old Dayuan dynasty and the new emperor to confer civil and martial arts. Those temporarily abandoned Chenghuang temples, large and small, could immediately fill their vacancies and take up their posts. If not, how could they dare to invite Grandpa Yao to Xiandu Mountain as a guest, right? "

Yao Xianzhi leaned back and quietly extended his thumb towards Mr. Chen.

He is really proficient in flattery and giving high-profile gifts. If Mr. Chen is willing to join the officialdom, how can he still do it?

After walking for about three or four miles on the mountain road, there was a resting pavilion on the roadside. The old general stopped here and looked at the snowy scenery outside the mountain, which was clean and spotless.

The old man felt this and couldn't help but tell Chen Pingan some stories about his old friends at the border.

In fact, Yao Xianzhi had heard it countless times, but he just continued to listen without interrupting.

When old people get old, they will talk over and over again. Young people before the age of thirty often feel bored listening to them, and just say "I said it" and the old people will fall into silence.

It's just that when young people become middle-aged, especially when they have wives and children, their patience often becomes better and better when faced with the nagging of their elders.

When grandpa stopped talking, Yao Xianzhi's eyes hinted at Mr. Chen.

Chen Ping'an reached out and grabbed the arms of the old general and Yao Xianzhi, and joked: "Try the taste of wind control."

In an instant, the three of them arrived at the top of Qingping Peak.

Junior nephew Zheng Yougan and Tan Yingzhou from Tieshu Mountain are busy building a snowman there.

The little girl actually built a big snowman more than ten feet high, with a golden rooster standing on its own and holding a bamboo sword.

At this moment, Tan Yingzhou was feeling very proud. As for the snowman Zheng Yougan had built, she couldn't bear to look at it because it was so chubby.

Tan Yingzhou immediately turned serious when he saw Lord Yin Guan suddenly appearing on the top of the mountain.

Chen Pingan greeted the two with a smile and introduced the old man and Yao Xianzhi to them.

Zheng Yougan bowed his head and saluted, "Young uncle! I have met old General Yao and Lord Fu Yin."

Tan Yingzhou just smiled shyly at the two strangers, and said a blessing to Lord Yin Guan, but changed his title, "Master Chen Shan!"

Very ladylike.

Chen Ping'an smiled and introduced to the old man: "Yingzhou is the disciple of Immortal Lord Longmen of Iron Tree Mountain in China, and Yougan is the direct disciple of my senior brother Jun Qian."

Let the two juniors continue to build snowmen, Chen Pingan took the old man to visit Qingping Peak.

The old general bent down, grabbed a snowball, pressed it in his hand, and suddenly asked: "Xiandu Mountain will inevitably have contacts with the academy in the future. Are you familiar with Tianmu Academy and Wuxi Academy?"

Chen Ping'an said: "I'm very unfamiliar with the two mountain chiefs, but I have contact with one of the deputy mountain chiefs at the Sword Qi Great Wall. He is a gentleman. When the celebration is over, I will go to Wuxi Academy and visit him. .”

What Chen Pingan calls "gentleman", of course, does not refer to the other party's title of gentleman, but to the other party's character.

Gentleman King Zai.

Wang Zai's Confucian cultural heritage belongs to the Liji Academy of Lisheng, and his mentor is the current Dajijiu of the Liji Academy.

At that time at the Great Wall of Sword Qi, he spoke frankly to Chen Ping'an, saying that his husband and Mr. Mao were close friends, and they had studied together. Therefore, when the literary sage lineage was almost extinct, he always hoped that Mao Xiaodong could switch to the li sage lineage. Naturally, it is not poaching, but I hope Mao Xiaodong can find an opportunity to revive the literary sage lineage.

In addition, Wang Zai actually came from a family of sages, and the family patriarch was the last Confucian saint of Jianqi Great Wall.

Before leaving office, the accompanying sage had a private discussion with Xiao Xun, the former hermit official, and of course he lost.

At that time, a Confucian gentleman like Wang Zai could not do much in the Great Sword Wall. One was to serve as a battlefield recorder, similar to a swordsman supervising the army, and the other was to participate in espionage affairs at the summer palace, which was similar to the imperial court's speech in the vast world. Officials have no real power, which is normal. The Yin official at that time was still Xiao Xun. At that time, the abbot was still in charge of the summer palace affairs, the female sword fairy Luo Shan and the Zhu'an sword fairy. In the end, they all followed Xiao Xun. Defection into the wilderness.

At that time, Wang Zai had been at the Sword Qi Great Wall for ten years and had almost no reputation.

The old general said: "There are advantages to familiarity, but there are also difficulties to familiarity. Generally speaking, it is very troublesome to deal with scholars. Gentlemen, villains, and pedantic scholars, each has his own temperament."

Chen Ping'an hummed and laughed, "But Wang Zai is a gentleman and not pedantic. He is extremely flexible in doing things and is very knowledgeable in his conduct."

The old man smiled and said: "Such a high evaluation? No wonder he can serve as the deputy director of the academy."

Now Wang Zai happens to be the deputy head of Wuxi Academy.

Originally, Wang Zai, a gentleman who had practiced on the Sword Qi Great Wall for many years and had killed many monsters on the battlefield, according to the Confucian Temple's established agenda, came to Wuxi Academy in Tongye Continent or Guanhu Academy in Aquarius Continent. However, it all depends on Wang Zai’s own opinion. The Confucian Temple itself was inclined to let Wang Zai come to Tongye Continent, but at Gong De Lin, Chen Pingan heard from his husband that Wang Zai’s earliest idea was to go to Aquarius Continent to serve as the deputy head of the academy, even if he did not want the deputy head. No problem with the title.

Therefore, Chen Ping'an secretly found Senior Brother Mao, who was already serving as the secretary of the Academy, at Gongdelin to help introduce him. He also found the Grand Priest Liquor of the Book of Rites Academy.

It can be seen that Liu Da was not in a relaxed mood when he came to offer wine. He was probably worried that Chen Ping'an, the youngest hidden official in the history of the Great Wall of Sword Qi, would speak loudly and make any excessive demands.

When he heard that it was to see if Wang Zai could be persuaded to go to Tongyezhou Academy, Liu Jijiu was obviously relieved. Because as Mr. Wang Zai, he knew best that the reason why Wang Zai wanted to go to Guanhu Academy was because of the young hermit official in front of him.

The lineage of Literary Saints, from the old scholar who was his disciple, to the direct disciples of the past, plus the "wind review" of the young Yin official on the Sword Qi Great Wall, Liu Jijiu couldn't help but be worried.

Don’t look at the cross-continental ferry stewards who have been to Chunbanzhai in Daoxuanshan now. They all have their eyes high above their heads. In fact, when they faced off against a row of sword immortals, they all looked like chickens waiting to be slaughtered. They all huddled on their chairs and looked grand. Neither dared to breathe.

The Confucian Temple spy report actually recorded everything clearly.

The high priest finally smiled and said, "Do you think Yin Guan owes me a favor?"

Mao Xiaodong immediately became displeased. Has the wool been harvested on my little junior brother? Old Liu, are you starting to talk drunkenly without drinking?

Bullying our little junior brother is easy to talk to, right?

I had no choice but to give up on the grand ceremony and said, "It's a joke, don't take it seriously."

Among the monks in the world, sword cultivators are the most difficult to control. Academy and academies are prone to encounter such thorns. For example, in the early years, there were old swordsmen like Zhou Shenzhi, plus Liuxiazhou Puhe and his ilk, and there were many academies everywhere. Headache.

How many sword cultivators in the world are in the upper five realms and are they easy to get along with?

It's not that the academy can't control it, and it's not difficult at all to act according to the rules, but it's just that it's afraid of encountering some ambiguous troubles. The public has its own reasons and the mother-in-law has its own reasons. To deal with them, it takes the most energy to teach people.

If there is a young hidden official from the Great Wall of Sword Qi who can help mediate and mediate for the academy or academy, it may be miraculous at some point.

However, Chen Pingan still bowed to express his gratitude, and then agreed wholeheartedly, but he only promised that he would be willing to mediate conflicts, but he absolutely did not guarantee that a certain swordsman would listen to him.

In this way, Liu Jijiu felt the best.

The old man patted the green-shirted arm next to him and said softly: "Ping An, don't know how to deal with the Daquan Dynasty just because of old feelings. Just do whatever you want."

Chen Pingan nodded and agreed, "Yes."

In the dusk, the sun sets in the west.

At the top of Qingping Peak, the future Qingping Sword Sect, the old general stood on the edge of the cliff and tapped the railing.

After glancing at the two juniors around him, the old man was actually very satisfied. As if in a trance, he remembered the young man in white clothes and carrying a sword for the first time. At that time, the immortal was even more young.

Riding his horse on the national road, he is a romantic young man. Wherever the white hair goes, the setting sun reaches thousands of peaks.

————

Old Longzhou was officially renamed Chuzhou, the seat of Huaihuang County.

Li Huai returned to his hometown, accompanied by a personal attendant who looked like an old man in yellow.

It was the wild peach pavilion from Shiwanda Mountain, and now it was Taoist Haoran Nen who became famous in Yuanyangzhu.

Nen Taoist got off the ferry at Niujiaodu and looked around, "Sir, your hometown is really a treasure land of geomantic omen. Sure enough, the land and water support the people, and you are the leader among them. I just say that this Huaihuang County is a good name. Huaihuang County When the flowers are yellow, the world is busy."

It's interesting and chewy.

In the past, a small Lizhu cave took root and was transformed from the cave into a blessed land. The younger generation of the town seemed to have faced a silent test.

My father, mother, sister and husband returned to Luzhou, Beiju, but my mother was still worried about the shop at the foot of Lion Peak.

Accompanying his young master to the small town, Taoist Nen glanced into the distance, and with a sigh, Taoist Nen waved and shouted: "This... bah, little brother, come here and talk about it."

The guardian on the left side of the Riding Dragon Alley hesitated for a moment, glanced up at Li Huai, and then at the old man in yellow. After weighing the pros and cons, he still trotted over with his tail between his legs.

The young Taoist bowed his head and asked kindly: "Since my little brother has already succeeded in refining his form, why is he still so... introverted?"

The yellow dog drooped his head.

It’s hard to describe in one word. It's hard to say.

So what if the refining is successful? What are fairy days? It’s the day when Pei Qian is not in Qilong Lane and Luolu Mountain!

How does it want to be the Zuo Guardian of Qilong Lane? It was the title that that little Heitan forcefully gave to him back then. The most bleak years were the days when that Little Heitan went to school. Every time the school ended, , passing by the toilet on the roadside, Xiao Heitan would look strangely, smile playfully, and ask him if he was hungry.

Li Huai knelt down and rubbed the yellow dog's head.

It could be seen that the Zuo Guardian of Qilong Lane seemed to be quite nervous, so Li Huai did not let the young Taoist hold this fellow Taoist to greet him politely.

It was an old rural school. Li Huai went to the government office to find an acquaintance and asked for a key.

This school, where children were educated in the past, still belongs to the Huaihuang County Government in name.

Last time at Yuanyangzhu near the Zhongtu Confucian Temple, Li Huai and Chen Pingan discussed something.

After learning that Chen Ping'an did have the idea of ​​becoming a teacher, but not a wife in his hometown, Li Huai asked why he didn't ask the Dali court for this land. The Chen family in Xixi each opened their own private schools.

Chen Pingan's answer made Li Huai a little sad.

Today, there are very few local people left in the old houses in the small town. On New Year's Eve, how many families would go door to door to dream of dinner?

It is no exaggeration to say that nine out of ten people in my hometown have lost their fortune, and almost all of them have moved to the city. After selling their ancestral homes at a high price, or even a sky-high price, they all became rich people in the Longzhou Administration. In the past, except for Fulu Street and Taoye Lane, except for the masters of Long Kiln, it was difficult for ordinary people to find a few pieces of silver. During those prosperous years, it was difficult for every household to find a copper coin. , who still has copper coins in his pocket? The price will drop.

It's just that nearly thirty years have passed, and there are only a few people who can really keep the family business. Money comes and goes like water, and half of it is returned to gambling tables, brothels, and wine shops. The family wealth is quickly ruined. The few people couldn't even defend the new house on the other side of the city. Otherwise, he is just too high-spirited, drinks a few ounces of wine, gets acquainted with some so-called rich families and officials’ sons, and randomly partners with others to do business. He wants to make any money, thinks that any business is a way to make money, and he dares to make any side money. Earn, but he was born in a small town, so he is not as smart as those people. He only listened to a few sounds every time he came and went, and he wasted no time.

The late winter sun shines on your body, making you feel warm.

There is an old saying in the town. If it is translated into Dali Mandarin, it probably means "in the Sun Cave", or "in the Sun Nest".

After Li Huai walked past the crab shop and iron lock well, he stopped. There used to be a fortune-telling stall here.

When I was a child, I went shopping with my sister Li Liu. When Li Liu was bargaining in the store, Li Huai got impatient and ran out of the store alone. I asked for a signature here, mainly because I wanted to ask for next year's schoolwork. Make it simple, don't be so hard to remember endorsements, and it's okay to be beaten, but it's just that you are often laughed at by the guy with pigtails in Qilong Lane, which makes you feel uncomfortable. Who is not a big man who wants face?

Anyway, Li Huai was just shaking around at that time, and a bamboo stick fell out of the bamboo stick. The young Taoist priest was shocked and said that it was a bamboo stick with a high number on it.

Li Huai was young at the time and could not understand or remember the contents of the signature. Li Huai only listened to the young Taoist priest and swore that this was one of the three best signatures and that he did not need to pay for it.

Because he was worried that the Taoist priest would regret it and ask for the copper coins from him, Li Huai got the advantage and ran away to find his sister. If he really needed money, he asked my sister for it. If the money was not enough, he could marry his brother-in-law, right?

Fortunately, the young Taoist priest just put his hands in his sleeves and sat behind the stall, smiling like a cheap brother-in-law who had never been through the family.

When I came home, I told my mother that she was very happy. A dinner of big fish and meat was almost the same as Chinese New Year.

It's indeed a good sign.

A few days later, because he wanted to eat chicken legs again, Li Huai secretly went to the fortune-telling stall again, pretending that it was his first time there, and the result was another good fortune. The young Taoist priest said it was another one of the three good fortunes. one.

Li Huai went home and told his mother that the oil and water were slightly less than last time.

On the way home, there was a little sparrow that was just scurrying around Li Huai. The child almost jumped into his hand and took it home to do with it.

The woman asked at the dinner table, does fortune telling cost money?

Li Huai shook his head, I saved all my pocket money.

If Li Liu fails to get married in the future, he will probably have to rely on the piggy bank he picked up from Lao Cishan.

It's just that there is no need to say this. If Li Liu can't marry again, she will always be his biological sister, and her mother is indeed too partial to herself. No matter how young she is, Li Huai doesn't think this is good.

The woman was a little suspicious and turned to talk to her man. Could the young Taoist named Lu be a liar?

Li Er grinned, he couldn't cheat money anyway, it didn't matter whether he cheated or not.

The woman rubbed the corners of her eyes and understood. It was said that the young Taoist priest who liked to talk and touch his wife's hands must have taken a fancy to her beauty and planned to beat around the bush and catch the big fish in a long-term way. The woman is both proud and unforgiving. She is really an ignorant and perverted thing. Since she knows some words, why would she not go to Fulu Street to work as a bookkeeper for a wealthy family?

Li Er just immersed himself in eating and didn't talk to him. He was still a man of virtue who couldn't be beaten with a stick.

The woman doesn’t have any evil intentions. No matter how cowardly her man is, he will marry a chicken, a chicken, a dog, or a dog. If she doesn’t stick to this principle, her neighbors and aunts will have their spines broken with gossip. She just I was wondering if I could be a matchmaker for a girl from my mother's family.

Besides, Li Er just thinks others dislike him because he can't make money, but she doesn't dislike him.

The woman ran to the fortune-telling stall and saw that he was young and had tender skin and tender flesh. Hey, it was not a good thing at first glance. He had no tendons on his body. How could he really do farm work? The key is that I am still poor. I heard that all year round, I can only live next to a wedding shop in Biandan Lane. It seems that the next door is Aunt Mao's bun shop.

Otherwise, he wouldn't be setting up a long-legged stall to make a living. Whose girl would marry him and live a long life? Forget it, it’s better not to harm that girl from her parents’ family.

Li Huai took the young Taoist to the easternmost part of the town. There was a lonely yellow mud house. This was Zheng Dafeng's residence.

In fact, Li Huai had been very close to Zheng Dafeng since he was a child. Zheng Dafeng often carried children wearing crotchless pants around on his back, and Li Huai pooped and peed a lot at that time.

When Zheng Dafeng was in his hometown, he was just dawdling and getting by. Anyway, it was just another year of sewing. He had money to buy wine, but no money to drink. He could gamble, but his gambling skills were poor. How could any serious girl look up to such a person? An idle libertine.

Now that Uncle Zheng is not at home, there is no shortage of Spring Festival couplets and everything is also cleaned so that it does not look like a place where no one has lived for many years.

Li Huai knew the reason. Uncle Zheng must have left the key to Nuan Shu, the young steward in Luo Luo Mountain.

Thinking of the girl in pink skirt, he immediately thought of Chen Ping'an. Li Huai laughed, held the back of his head with both hands, swayed, and on the way to Dong Shuijing to eat a bowl of wontons, he said casually: "You're not a great swordsman yet? It’s so outrageous.”

————

Dali Capital, a small alley.

After Lin Shouyi returned home, he came to find his father.

Lin Shouyi came to the side room and stood at the door.

My father sat cross-legged on the kang, with a pot of wine, a wine bowl, and several plates of side dishes to accompany the wine on the table. He drank by himself without using chopsticks.

The man with slightly frosted temples looked sideways at the door, holding a wine bowl in one hand, and said with an indifferent expression: "Is something wrong?"

Lin Shou nodded and said, "Something's wrong!"

Judging from the man's posture, if the son was fine, he would simply not enter the house. And if it was fine, he could stand at the door and leave after talking.

If any outsiders were present and saw this scene, they would probably have their eyes spinning in the wine bowl.

If you give birth to a "Qilin son" like Lin Shouyi, and you are a high-ranking member of the Shangzhu Kingdom, why don't you have to worship him properly?

Lin Shouyi's father was an extremely inconspicuous assistant officer at the Supervisory Office in Lizhudongtian in the past. He was in charge of some minor officials and had assisted three successive supervisors: Song Yuzhang, the vassal king Song Changjing, and Cao Gengxin. . It's just that the people in small towns back then, old and young, had no idea about officialdom, and couldn't even tell the difference between officials and officials. In addition, the officials in the Supervision and Construction Department only deal with those dragon kilns and kiln workers and porcelain all year round, and have little interaction with ordinary people.

But his uncle Cui Cheng once revealed the secret to Lin Shouyi. His father had asked his uncle to help him get his name.

Can a subordinate official who supervises the construction of a government office ask Imperial Master Da Li to help him name his son?

Even fools know that this kind of thing is absolutely unreasonable.

What's more, Lin Shouyi, who was precociously intelligent since childhood, didn't even think that his father was just a sesame official supervising the construction of the office.

The man asked: "Do you need me to run to the gate barefoot and welcome you all the way in?"

Lin Shouyi then crossed the threshold and sat down on the kang, but he didn't take off his boots. He followed his father's example and sat cross-legged.

Worried about receiving a few more similar harsh words.

Lin Shouyi asked: "Did you participate in the incident involving Chen Ping'an's father?"

The man twitched the corner of his mouth, raised the wine bowl and took a sip of wine, "The wings are strong, and I am worthy of being a god on the mountain. I am flying around without touching the ground, and my tone is loud. How can I say, dining on the glow and drinking the dew?" Or did you recognize your wild father outside and teach you how to be a good son?"

After the man left the kiln affairs supervision and construction office, he left his hometown and worked in the chariot and cleaning officials department of the Ministry of War in Dali. He was just an errand in an affiliated yamen under the chariot and chariot department. He was an official of the seventh rank, and he also had the word "conformity". Because he was not He was born in the official imperial examination, so he is a bad official. In addition, he is not a native of the capital. Now he is older, so let alone being an official, it is difficult to even take off the word "conformity". In recent years, he has barely managed He was in charge of a post office in Qingshui Yamen, and this was because the top leader was a member of a family who didn't care much about things. When he met men, he always looked like Lao Lin. Post memorials from various prefectures and counties entered the capital, and after receiving approval from the emperor, the Ministry of War sealed the memorials to the places they went to, and they had to go through this inconspicuous government office. In addition, the newspapers distributed by the capital to local places were also under the jurisdiction of this place. Presumably those colleagues in the government office could not imagine that Lin Zhengcheng, who was bored all year round, could be the father of Lin Shouyi, who was famous in Beijing.

Lin Shouyi has been afraid of this father since he was a child.

In fact, things haven't gotten much better in recent years.

He has been away from home for many years, traveling to study and practicing hard, as if just to prove something to the man.

With or without you as my father, and with or without my family, Lin Shouyi could be very successful.

My mother is partial and dotes on her younger brother. My father was indifferent and didn't care about anything.

It's just that when it comes to his younger brother Lin Shouye, it's better not to have a smiling face than to have Lin Shouyi either say nothing or speak harshly.

Therefore, throughout Lin Shouyi's childhood years, until he left his hometown to travel far away, it was true that his father did not love his mother.

Once broke the young man's heart.

So much so that when Lin Shouyi, a taciturn and handsome young man who studied together in the Sui Dynasty, confided his feelings to Chen Pingan for the first time, he said, "Not all parents in the world are like your parents."

But Lin Shouyi seemed different today.

Lin Shouyi said in a deep voice: "If it weren't for me, Chen Pingan would never have deliberately taken a detour and deliberately bypassed our Lin family when investigating the truth about the natal porcelain fragments. Even when Chen Pingan arrived in the capital last time, he was still Pretend to know nothing. Dad, you have to give me an explanation today, because I also have to give an explanation to my friends!"

The man glanced at his son.

Lin Shouyi's expression was calm, his eyes were firm, and he looked directly at his father.

It's an unprecedented thing.

The man was not annoyed and nodded, "Finally, I am acting like a man. Otherwise, I would have thought that I had given birth to a daughter and would have to worry about the dowry."

Lin Shouyi was a little confused.

Can this be considered a compliment?

The man raised his chin.

Lin Shouyi was puzzled.

The man asked: "Don't you know how to drink? You are still a Yuanying realm monk, but now you don't have a single thing on your body to put wine bottles, glasses and other sundries?"

Lin Shouyi was a little embarrassed, "I have never had anything close to me."

The man didn't move at all, but asked: "Then, as my son, should I help your father get the wine glass or the wine bowl? Please tell me, lest I take the wrong one and the father will be unhappy."

Lin Shou took a deep breath, stood up silently, and hurriedly left the house to get a wine bowl elsewhere.

This man either doesn't speak, but when he speaks he likes to poke holes in his heart. This has always been the case.

There are several maids in the house, but they are all big and round, and they are all under the orders of the mother. On the father's side, he has always done all the big and small things himself, and never let the maids serve.

When Lin Shou returned to the house, he poured himself a bowl of wine, but he didn't dare to fill it up. He kept silent, holding the bowl in both hands, and drank it all in one gulp.

The man raised the wine bowl, took a sip of wine, picked up a salted peanut, twisted it gently, threw it into his mouth, chewed it, and said slowly: "If you and Chen Pingan are friends, then Chen Pingan and I are friends. Ping An’s father can also be considered a friend, well, I can’t say whether it counts or not, that’s all.”

Lin Shou nodded.

Chen Ping'an's father was a kiln worker in a dragon kiln. He was extremely skilled in craftsmanship and kind. He was an honest man without any right or wrong. Originally, if nothing unexpected happened, he could be the master of the dragon kiln in a few years.

Lin Shouyi's father was responsible for the specific kiln supervision, supervising the firing results, and appraising the quality of the porcelain. Since Song Yuzhang, the supervising officer in his early years, was also a diligent official who liked to visit the kiln entrance the most, Lin Shouyi My father had to go out with his superior, and often had to get along with the master kiln workers.

Lin Zhengcheng said slowly: "What else can two men talk about apart from boring and boring kiln affairs? When they each have sons, they will just chat about their daily routines while drinking wine."

"Actually, we have made an agreement long ago. If his and I happen to have a son and a daughter, we will arrange a baby marriage. What a coincidence, they are both sons, so there is no chance."

Lin Shouyi asked doubtfully: "Uncle Chen also drinks?"

Lin Zhengcheng nodded and said: "I drink, I can drink, but I'm not good at drinking, so every time I pull him to drink, it's fine at Longyao, but at worst he'll fall asleep. If he's in town, he'll act like a thief." , I was also wondering at that time, he was not the kind of strict wife, and his sister-in-law was famous for her gentle temperament. I always felt that it was not the case. I never had a chance to ask. I always felt that there would be opportunities in the future, but I still can’t think of it until now. clear."

"At that time, I was living on public food. Our Lin family was not as good as those with big surnames on Fulu Street and Taoye Lane. We were considered well-off and had much more money than him. But as long as we had a drink and I treated him to a meal, he would I will definitely pay for it and treat him to a meal in return, and I won’t buy too many fine wines on purpose, it’s just my intention.”

"An honest person is not stupid. A conscientious person is not dull. A sense of proportion cannot be learned by reading alone. Even if you practice in Gongmen, you may not be able to endure it. You will definitely gain it if you suffer more losses. A sense of proportion.”

"At that time, I said that my son was smart, precocious, and that he was ready to read at first glance. Maybe he would be a teacher when he grew up. He said that his son was sensible, and his appearance and temperament matched him. Mother, from now on I will go to school with you and become literate. It’s up to the child whether he wants to be a porcelain kiln worker or not.”

Lin Shouyi listened attentively.

Except my father was talking about past stories that he had never mentioned.

It was the first time that my father chatted with me, and his words were not so unpleasant.

Lin Zhengcheng gently put down the wine bowl, "Someone leaked the inside story about Benming Porcelain to him."

The man narrowed his eyes, "This person has sinister intentions. He must have deliberately told only part of the truth. Otherwise, in my opinion, the fact that all children have natal porcelain from birth is not all bad. To put it harshly, in those days it was so Under this situation, only if you keep your life and have the qualifications to practice can you have a chance of survival."

"Later on, I didn't show up for the two extravagant events in Mud Bottle Alley. It was inappropriate. There are some things here that you don't need to know. But at the Yang's shop, I said hello in secret. It was just the rules of Old Man Yang in the backyard. After all, there is a lot I can do to help. In this matter, I feel guilty. It is indeed me, a friend, who failed to take good care of his son because of my own inadequacy."

The man sighed, wrinkled his face, then relaxed. There was no point in talking. He drank the wine in the bowl in one gulp and prepared to drive away the people.

Lin Shouyi said: "I'm going to retreat."

"Are you short of money?"

"There was a gap of one hundred Guyu coins before."

"Pretend I didn't ask."

The man immediately said, "Whether it's stealing or robbing, if you want money, don't go to my Qingshui Yamen, and don't go to the Department of Accounts, they are strict, and the Department of Etiquette has saved a lot of private money."

The man said it without any embarrassment.

Lin Shou was stunned when he heard this.

Lin Zhengcheng glanced at his son. He originally thought that a monk in the Nascent Soul Realm would go into seclusion and consume heavenly materials and earthly treasures, which would be converted into immortal money, which would be at most forty or fifty Grain Rain coins.

I never thought I would end up with such a spendthrift.

Look at Chen Ping'an, and then look at Dong Shuijing, which one is not a swallow carrying mud, replenishing one's property and consolidating the family's wealth every year?

Only I gave birth to a good son.

Lin Shouyi said softly: "In that case, why didn't you tell him earlier? He has been worried for so many years in vain. Chen Ping'an must have felt that these years will not be easy."

The man twitched his lips and said: "I am half of Chen Pingan's elder after all. If he doesn't come to me, should I take the initiative to find him? This kid doesn't understand etiquette. Is it possible that I, as an elder, have no shame?" ?”

According to the custom of the small town, in the first month of the year, relatives visit each other. Who is senior, or who is older among the same generation, and who wishes New Year greetings to whom. The order must not be messed up at all, otherwise people will make fun of them and make a lot of gossip. The key is It can be mentioned every year. This kind of "etiquette" thing that seems to be a big deal, in my hometown, is often even more talked about than who climbed the widow's wall or which aunt stole a man.

What's more, if this kind of thing is said early, is it necessarily a good thing?

Lin Shouyi knew it was time to leave, so he held it in for a long time and just called "Dad".

The man twitched the corner of his mouth out of habit, and smiled without smiling. He laughed first, and then said: "As a father, I thought I had raised an ancestor."

Lin Shouyi pretended that he didn't hear anything, said goodbye to his father, got off the kang and left. When he walked to the door, the man suddenly said: "Since we have made peace with you today, when you come out of seclusion, go and make it clear to Chen Ping'an."

Lin Shou nodded.

The man glanced at Lin Shouyi, who was just an ignorant person. Seeing that his son didn't understand what he meant, he could only say with a straight face: "You must remember to let him come here to pay New Year's greetings."

Lin Shouyi suppressed his laughter and immediately agreed. Having a heart-to-heart talk with his father today made Lin Shouyi relieved and felt relaxed.

The man finally said: "Since you two are friends, don't talk about gifts during the holidays. It's almost the same as back home. If you don't owe any etiquette, it's just what you want. Besides, lending money to friends, It's best to treat it as water thrown away and don't expect the other party to return it."

Lin Shouyi was speechless. Are you asking yourself to tell Chen Ping'an?

Older gingers are more spicy.

The man asked: "You are the doorkeeper here, do you still want me to take you out? Do you want me to borrow the eight-carat sedan chair first?"

After Lin Shouyi left, the wine bowl on the table was empty. The man filled it with wine and said to himself: "My son is not bad either."

————

One old man and two young men handed over the ultimatum and successfully entered the capital of the Yu Dynasty.

After passing the city cave, the view suddenly opened up, and after walking a prosperous journey in the capital, the young man, the old Taoist priest and the young woman bowed and left with a smile, and the two parties parted ways.

The former city gate captain who was in charge of the capital's access control couldn't help but look back at the young man in white who was gradually walking away. He was surprised that he was lucky enough to meet an immortal master from the old dragon city of Aquarius Continent. To be precise, Come on, you should be called the guru. As for how the term "guru" spread among the government and the public, there is no evidence. It is extremely knowledgeable. It is the abbreviation of "immortal master on the mountain" and shows a natural respect.

Wearing armor and carrying a sword, the captain didn't know what the situation was like in other dynasties in Tongyezhou. Anyway, on his own Luojing side, the Aquarius Continent monks, especially those from Old Dragon City, were indeed superior to others.

As for the other two Taoist priests, they are not worth mentioning. They came from Liang State, a small place with a small pond, and there was no dragon crossing the river.

Longhushan's surname is the Great Heavenly Master. This time when he went out, he changed into a simple Taoist robe that was not so eye-catching. Outsiders could not tell the Taoist tradition just by looking at the Taoist crown and robe.

The female disciple next to her made a virtual fist with her hands in front of her body, as if she was holding incense. In fact, there was actually a stick of incense. This was Liang Shuang's original lesson. It meant that a stick of incense would open a cave in the heart, but the old master helped the disciple to use it. A blind eye.

The young female crown was quite curious about Luo Jing and looked around. She was so distracted, but she would not delay her practice. The old master does not deliberately restrain his disciples' temperament.

Master is traveling this time, and it is said that he wants to meet the direct disciple of an old friend, who comes from Paidi Peak in Luzhou, Beiju.

She didn't know anything about the mountains. She only knew that Beiju Luzhou was one of the Nine Continents in Haoran, and it was north of Tongyezhou.

I came to Luojing just on the way, and on the way I met that young man who was very good at playing chess. His surname was Cui and his first name was Dongshan.

The other party said that he came to Luojing as a guest this time because of his master's duty, and to catch up with two respected mountain friends.

Liang Shuang didn't say much to his disciples. In fact, it was Cui Dongshan who took the initiative to invite him to leave Liang this time, saying that the Yu Dynasty had a small meritorious deed, waiting for the old man to pick it up.

The old man just sighed, the fate of the country is greater than the fate of people, and the fate of heaven is greater than the fate of the country.

Although Luojing is now full of flowers, bustling with traffic, and a peaceful and prosperous scene, in fact, people's hearts are full of ghosts, and they are all the sequelae of that war. Let’s just talk about those officials of the “former dynasty” who were lucky enough to survive. In their early years, who didn’t have some scandals that were unspeakable or even tragic? The rituals and music collapsed, and the rules were shattered. Liang Shuang was currently in this capital. In fact, there was not much gloom and evil. The ghosts here lingered. It was not even as good as any ghost town in the old Dayuan Dynasty, but the filth that hit his face The breath made an old master who was a great monk in the Ascension Realm helpless and could only sigh again and again.

Liang Shuang believed that even if he served as the framer of the hearts of the Yu Dynasty, for three generations, at least for a period of sixty years, or even within a hundred years, there would be no hope of truly restoring the mood of the people's hearts before the war.

What would that young man with a foreign surname do?

Anyway, I have to stay in Tongyezhou for a while, so we can wait and see.

Between the palace city and the imperial city, there is an ancient Taoist temple with a long history. The green glazed tiles fired by the royal official kiln are called Jicui Temple.

Lao Zhenren posted a post with a Taoist monk. The identity on the official document was Liang Hao, a Taoist priest from the Liang Kingdom, whose Taoist name was "Shuangzhen", and his disciple Ma Xuanhui, who has no Taoist name for the time being.

Not as knowledgeable as the captain of the city gate, Jicui Guanzhike Taoist knew that the current protector of the Liang Kingdom was called Liang Hao.

But most of them came from Jicuiguan to catch the autumn breeze.

It's just that all Taoist friends in the world are one family, and people in Taoist sects travel far and wide. Unlike ordinary genealogy masters, they often stay in local Taoist temples to rest.

After all, the other party was a real protector of the country, so Zhike Taoist immediately informed his own temple master, who is now the female national preceptor of the Yu Dynasty.

One looked at a beautiful lady about thirty years old, wearing a Tai Zhen crown on her head, a pair of green lotus and white lotus root fairy shoes on her feet, and holding a fly whisk in her hand.

As you walk, you can smell the fragrant breeze, and the scent of orchid and cinnamon lingers around you. It is fragrant and refreshing.

It is the master of Jicui Temple, now the national preceptor of the Yu Dynasty, Lu Bilong, whose Taoist name is "Full Moon".

This female concubine, who is a royal master of the dynasty, has a graceful expression. At first glance, if her Taoist robes did not indicate her identity, otherwise she would be more like a empress who is the mother of the world. She asked with a smile: "I don't know if the true Taoist friend is coming to visit. What can you teach me?"

The old master raised his feet and laughed loudly: "I am able to cross such a high threshold of Jicui Temple because of the friendly words of Taoist Man Yue."

The host and guest both happened to be the real protector of the country.

However, compared to the vast territory of the Yu Dynasty, the Liang Kingdom can only be regarded as an inconspicuous small country.

Lu Birong laughed it off, "Hey, the tone sounds a bit strange. Could it be that the person who came here is evil?" It's not like a master who has a relationship with Jicui Guanla.

The old man shook his head and said: "I am a beautiful lady, how can I be a thief?"

Lu Birong looked calm, flicked the whisk in his hand, put it down in his hands, and said with a smile: "Why do fellow Taoists say this?"

The old master sighed: "Cultivation in seclusion, yin and yang creation, the universe is square, although it is not the result of rules, but since you and I are both in the world of mortals, sharpening our Taoist hearts, then we have to say that there is no square without rules."

Lu Birong laughed dumbly. He was talking so brazenly, and it was clear when he spoke. It's just that you, a Taoist priest from the Liang Kingdom, were talking nonsense like this. Did you come to the wrong place and find the wrong person?

The old man said with a smile: "Pindao just hangs his name in the Tianshi Mansion in Longhu Mountain and earns a living. There is no need to worry about Pindao having an immovable backer or a frightening disciple. Today he is visiting Luojing Jicui Guan, just ask fellow Taoist Man Yue for an explanation and ask about something."

Lu Birong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He pretended to be a ghost and didn't find a good excuse. He was a little impatient. As soon as he threw the fly whisk, he was ready to see off the guests.

If you come to Jicui Temple to ask for some fairy money, or ask for help in finding some big pilgrims in Luojing, you can just let it go.

Who doesn’t know that the yellow and purple nobles of Tianshi Mansion, when traveling down the mountain, not only carry a peach wood sword, but also have a very particular style of Taoist robes. Even if they are not wearing yellow and purple Taoist robes, they are still recognizable at a glance, and they never deliberately conceal their Taoist identity. . In history, there were monks who were not afraid of death and did not believe in evil, but they had trouble with the Longhushan Celestial Masters who came down to punish demons. There were even many Longhushan Celestial Masters who died in other places, but without exception, soon There will be new Celestial Masters from Celestial Master Mansion who will go to investigate to the end, no matter the cost. So later on, no matter whether it was monsters from all walks of life or wild cultivators from various continents, whenever they encountered Taoist priests from the Tianshi Mansion who had gone down the mountain to experience, they would hide and run away if they could.

Liang Shuang slightly relaxed some of the restrictions, the Tao Qi was flourishing and the Immortal Qi was ethereal. In an instant, the Dragon Qi of a capital city was suppressed like a small earth snake, crawling on the ground tremblingly. The old man laughed at himself: "We are both dragons and tigers. Shanwai’s surname is Tianshi, it seems that Pindao is not as famous as fellow Taoist Fire Dragon."

Lu Birong felt as if he had been struck by a thunderbolt from the blue, his face turned pale, and he said in a trembling voice: "Master Liang, Birong was just taking the Yu family to avoid disaster, and the crime will not lead to death."

The old man smiled playfully, "Oh? You have the final say. That poor Taoist said he would shoot Zhou Mi to death with one thunder spell. Why didn't Zhou Mi die?"

Lu Birong made a determined decision. Since a great heavenly master with a surname from Longhu Mountain came to Jicui Temple, there was absolutely nothing he could do. He tried his best to stabilize his Taoist heart and his eyes became firm, "Besides, even if I am at fault, It is not the turn of a Taoist priest from the Tianshi Mansion to make irresponsible remarks. How to deal with it in the end is a matter for the Confucian Academy and needs to be decided by the Confucian Temple!"

Liang Shuang restrained his anger and smiled, as if he recognized this statement. He changed the subject and asked: "How did the 'son emperor' who was willing to recognize his ancestors as a wild beast died suddenly in the palace back then?"

Lu Birong was silent for a moment and said: "It seems that a female assassin sneaked into the house, cut off his head, and threw it on the dragon chair. This person came and went without a trace. Even the barbaric military camp could not find any clues, so nothing happened. , we can only strengthen our vigilance.”

Liang Shuang stroked his beard and said with a smile: "It's such a familiar way of doing things."

This kind of assassin with a low reputation is only known as the one who cleanses wrongs in the mountains.

They can be roughly divided into two types. According to the difference between day and night, one kind of assassin likes to kill people in broad daylight in the city.

For example, the woman who was half from Bai's hometown was considered an outstanding person in this lineage.

The other type, who stays day and night, likes to use assassinations, daggers, soft swords and hidden arrows, etc., and uses them to perfection. Of course, they are all magic weapons refined in the mountains.

Liu Taozhi, in addition to the unknown Yingying Qingyi, Xishan Jianyin and other top-notch land swordsmen are all included in this list.

Most of them were taken to the mountains to practice when they were young. They were taken to the mountains for training. They would go down the mountains for as long as ten years or as many as sixty years. He likes to cut paper to make talismans and horses and donkeys, and his style of acting is extremely decisive. He mostly defends the grievances of the people and supports the weak, such as the emperors and generals who have no moral integrity, the corrupt officials who prey on the people, and the tyrannical but elusive Yamaze Yexiu. , the genealogy monks who had evil thoughts but hidden methods were all among those killed.

It's just that this kind of assassination can easily be regarded as some kind of personal vendetta in the vast world, so it has never been noticed by the mountain monks.

By chance, Liang Shuang saw two emaciated figures in a deserted ridge with thin spiritual energy, holding daggers in their mouths, climbing on the cliff. Their bodies were as strong as apes, and they seemed to need to stop each other. While climbing, one of the little girls was torn off a dead branch by a fellow climber, and was thrown like a flying sword. She couldn't dodge and was hit in the head. If she hadn't grabbed a vine during the fall, she would have fallen off the cliff and died. The vines were still dangerous and swaying in the wind, but the girl who was traveling with her was not in a hurry to climb higher, and took out the stones from the bag on her waist and threw them out.

They are all eleven or twelve years old. The level of monks of the two little girls is not worth mentioning. They are monks in the fourth realm and not yet in the cave realm. But their eyes and the attitude of completely disregarding life and death , which impressed the old man deeply.

Liang Shuang began to be curious about the two children's disciples. Anyway, they were practicing somewhere else. So the old master hid himself on a nearby mountain. After waiting for a few days, he finally met a female monk with a good appearance. She was in the Nascent Soul Realm. , she brought a girl about ten years old into the mountain with her at that time. The new disciple looked like she was kidnapped from a wealthy family. After that, the Nascent Soul female cultivator took the young girl who climbed to the top first to a city thousands of miles away. Finally, the young girl held the bun of the head, gently lifted it and looked at it.

At that time, the girl's eyes were cold and her Taoist heart was unwavering.

That scene made the old man feel complicated. After leaving quietly, Liang Shuang returned to his home dojo. Once, Xiao Zhao of Longhu Mountain was climbing a mountain. The old man remembered that encounter and asked about it. It turned out that Xiao Zhao also didn't know anything about it. Zhao Tianlai just left his senior. After returning to Longhu Mountain from that dojo, a few years passed before Fu Lu sent a letter, and he finally found out a general thread.

Moreover, Xiao Zhao also guessed that these assassins seemed to be loose, doing their own things and had no contact with each other, but they had strong origins. Longhushan had to investigate who gave the orders.

Liang Shuang smiled and said, "Now that we've finished talking about the business, let's have a cup of tea with you Jicui Guan."

Lu Birong was heartbroken and looked gloomy. He took the old man and the young lady to an elegant Taoist room. No matter how distracted he was, he still had to cook tea and entertain the guests.

Liang Shuang finished a cup of tea, thanked him with a smile, took a sip of the tea, nodded and said: "It tastes good. If you leave a step with people on the narrow road, you are walking on the highway. When the taste is strong, reduce it by three points for others to taste, that's it." What a taste.”

Just like what Cui Dongshan said on the way here, this Jicui Guan Lu Bilong was greedy for life and afraid of death, and encouraged the Emperor Yu to take refuge. He had no collusion with the wild monster clan, but he didn't waste time to scare her. As Lu Birong himself said, how to deal with her in the future is a matter for the academy and the Confucian Temple.

Liang Shuang looked at the ancient peonies in the courtyard outside the door. In this late winter, the flowers were still blooming beautifully. In more than a hundred years, a flower spirit will probably be born.

The old man drank tea as if he were drinking wine, showing his pride, and once again handed out the bamboo hat in his hand, "It's full."

You, the direct disciples of the Literary Sage, seem to like to scare people so much in everything you do?

The senior brother can win over the sky, and the junior brother can make up for the lack of land.