Taiping Inn

Li Xuan had never expected that Zhang Jingchen would come to visit Taiping Sect. However, from this point of view alone, he could not be faulted. After all, there were friendships among the sects, and it was reasonable to visit friends. It was just that Zhang Jingchen came to Taiping Sect at this time, and I was afraid that his intentions were not pure and he was not kind.

Li Xuandu was silent for a moment and asked, "Did someone invite him? Or did he come here on his own initiative?"

"On the surface, no one invited him." Madam Lu replied, "After Master Yan left Zhengyi Sect, Zhengyi Sect was led by Zhang Jingchen. No matter what, Zhang Jingchen is also the leader of a sect. If you invite someone, you have to send an invitation and leave a written record. The confidential cabinet will keep a record. I have checked and there is no such record, only Zhang Jingchen's visiting card. But whether someone secretly communicated with Zhang Jingchen in advance and discussed this matter, it is hard to say."

"Inside and outside." Li Xuandu laughed, "The most solid city in the world is afraid that the enemy is inside the city instead of outside the city. The Golden Horde King's Court, in the eyes of us Central Plains people, is like a dragon's den and a tiger's lair, but the old Khan still died. The reason is that someone led The wolf has entered the house. "

Mrs. Lu sighed, "This is what I am worried about. They think that the leader is an outsider, and Zhang Jingchen is also an outsider, so they want to drive the tiger to eat the wolf, but the leader was personally entrusted and appointed by the previous leader. There is reason and law to follow. From the great master to the leaders of each sect, they all recognize and support him. It is a recognized matter in the world. But now they are conspiring with Zhang Jingchen, which is not justified and seems to be forgetting their ancestors. "

Li Xuandu said, "Who are they?"

Mrs. Lu hesitated and said, "There is no evidence yet."

Li Xuandu said, "Madam, don't be nervous. I don't want to charge them with crimes. I just want to know what's going on. Madam, just tell me what you think."

The Seven Elders of Taiping are Shen Yuanzhong, Shen Yuanzhou, Sikong Zao, Madam Lu, Yu Xian, Shen Yuanzhai, and Xu Feibai. Those who support Li Xuandu are Madam Lu, Shen Yuanzhou, and Shen Yuanzhai, those who oppose Li Xuandu are Shen Yuanzhong, Yu Xian, and Xu Feibai, and Sikong Zao is neutral.

Hearing what Li Xuandu said, Madam Lu no longer hesitated and said slowly: "Since the battle of Beimang Mountain, Shen Yuanzhong knew that he was no match for the sect master and had decided to surrender. After all, he was still the great elder and the sect master respected him. His status in the sect would not be affected too much. But the people around him didn't think so. These people were like vines, and could only survive by relying on big trees. The taller and thicker the big tree, the more moist they would live. If the big tree fell, they couldn't live alone. I guess it must be that the people around him said something to him, which made him think about other things."

Li Xuandu tapped the armrest lightly with his fingers, pondered for a moment, and asked: "I remember that the great elder had a useless son?"

"Yes." Madam Lu nodded and said: "His name is Shen Wuxing."

Hearing this name, Qin Su immediately remembered that day when she accompanied Li Xuandu to visit Shen Yuanzhong, and met a young man on the way. He behaved frivolously and had bad intentions towards her.

Li Xuandu asked directly: "Could this Mr. Shen be the one who invited the wolf into the house?"

Mrs. Lu pondered for a moment and said: "It is very likely. Shen Wuxing has always admired the strong and followed them. When the old sect leader died at the hands of the Earth Master, the Taiping Sect had to close the mountain gate, and the disciples in the sect had to keep a low profile when traveling in the world. To put it bluntly, it was to keep a low profile. Shen Wuxing was very dissatisfied with this. During that period, the Zhengyi Sect and the Qingwei Sect were fighting each other. The disciples of these two sects were superior in the world. He was very disappointed with the Taiping Sect. Not only did he belittle his own sect in the sect, but he also advocated the Zhengyi Sect. He asked the Taiping Sect to imitate the Zhengyi Sect in everything and often found excuses to visit friends in Wuzhou. If he had met with the people of the Zhengyi Sect Zhang family at that time, It is reasonable to have a connection. "

Qin Su frowned and said, "Countries have rises and falls, people have ups and downs. A son does not dislike his mother's ugliness, and a dog does not dislike his family's poverty. Shen Wuxing actually despises the Taiping Sect that gave birth to him and raised him, and he wants to become a member of the Zhengyi Sect. What if the Zhengyi Sect weakens? Will he become a member of the Qingwei Sect again? A slave of three surnames, that's all. "

Mrs. Lu smiled, "Miss Qin's statement is not very pleasant, but it is not wrong. After all, honest words are unpleasant to the ear."

Li Xuandu thought for a while and asked, "Just now, Madam said she wanted to give me something. I wonder what it is?"

Mrs. Lu stood up and said, "Master, please follow me."

Qin Su and Chu Yunshen did not stand up. Qin Su signaled Li Xuandu with her eyes that she wanted to avoid suspicion and let Li Xuandu go alone.

Li Xuandu did not force it. He stood up and followed Mrs. Lu to the depths of the Tianji Hall. The Tianji Hall covers a large area and is divided into several small halls of different sizes. There is a long corridor running through it. Although it is winding, there is no need to worry about getting lost.

The two came to a bronze door with Dingxu written on it. Mrs. Lu took out a bunch of keys from her sleeve, took out the corresponding key, and opened the bronze door.

The hall was full of strange instruments of unknown use. The two came to a half-person-high bronze vessel, which was like a closed flower bud. There were four bronze heads cast around the bronze vessel, corresponding to the four sacred beasts. Mrs. Lu took out four beads of different colors and put them into the mouths of the four beast heads respectively. Then the closed "flower buds" bloomed layer by layer and turned into a lotus platform with a box in it.

Li Xuandu asked, "What is this?"

Mrs. Lu took the box and said, "Let's just call it a great plan. My husband is good at divination and prediction. He seemed to have had a premonition before the accident, so he made a lot of preparations in advance. However, he did not tell me directly. I found a letter he left when I was tidying up his study, and then I knew there was something hidden here."

Li Xuandu looked around. There were so many strange instruments here. I hope Mr. Shen will not leave one treasure bag after another like the counselors and military strategists in the vernacular novels.

Mrs. Lu handed the box in her hand to Li Xuandu, "He said in the letter that this box should be given to the person in charge of Taiping Sect. Since he personally identified the leader, it should be given to the leader."

Li Xuandu took the box from Mrs. Lu and found a map inside after opening it. However, Li Xuandu was not sure where the map was. In addition to the mountains and rivers drawn on the map, it also emphasized the location of a city-like pool.

Li Xuandu handed the map to Madam Lu, "Madam, do you know where this is?"

Madam Lu took the map, stared at it for a long time, frowned and said, "It seems familiar, but I need to compare it with various geographical maps in the sect one by one to confirm it."

Li Xuandu did not mean to take the map back, "Then I'll trouble you, Madam."

Madam Lu put away the map and returned with Li Xuandu.

Just at this time, Shen Changsheng and Yeshi had returned. After seeing Madam Lu, Shen Changsheng whispered a few words in her ear.

Madam Lu frowned after hearing this and said, "Have you seen Shen Wuxing? He is coming to see the sect master? Is he a little too proud?"

Shen Changsheng could only remain silent.

This was not meant for Shen Changsheng, but for the others, to be precise, for Li Xuandu.

Li Xuandu said, "Since he wants to come, let him come."

Madam Lu waved to Shen Changsheng, and Shen Changsheng understood and walked out of the hall.

Until then, Mrs. Lu asked the maid to serve tea to the guests. It was not that Mrs. Lu forgot the etiquette, but she did not want to expose Li Xuandu's whereabouts too early. She even dismissed the disciples around her for this reason. Unexpectedly, Shen Wuxing still found out. Since the news had leaked out, Mrs. Lu had nothing to hide, so she simply let the people below do their own thing. However, she had made up her mind in her heart that she must check carefully later to see how many nails there were around her.

About an incense stick of time later, under the guidance of Shen Changsheng, a young man came to the Tianji Hall. He was seen wearing a fashionable white arrow sleeves with snow plum flying butterflies, a silk ribbon with long tassels tied around his waist, a golden crown tied his hair, and a black headband on his forehead, with a pigeon egg-sized pearl in the middle, shining in the sunlight. Looking at his face again, his face was as white as powder, his lips were as white as rouge, and his eyes were full of indescribable charm.

This person was Shen Wuxing, who had met Li Xuandu and Qin Su once.

When Shen Wuxing saw Qin Su, his eyes lit up, and then he bowed his head and said, "Meet the Acting Sect Master, Sect Master Qin, Senior Sister Lu, isn't this Senior Brother Chu? Why are you back?"

Although Shen Wuxing was not very old, he was of a high generation like Li Xuandu, only one generation younger than Zhang Jingxiu, Li Daoxu and others.

Li Xuandu waved his hand, "Junior Brother Shen, don't be so polite."

Shen Wuxing stood up, and whether intentionally or unintentionally, Shen Wuxing happened to stand facing Qin Su and smiled at Qin Su.

Qin Su felt disgusted, but now she was the leader of a sect, and she also understood the word "cunning". She didn't show it on her face, and still had a faint smile on her face, but she didn't look at him, but looked at Li Xuandu beside her.

Shen Wuxing saw this scene, his face darkened slightly, but it returned to normal in an instant.

Chu Yunshen smiled, "It's rare that Junior Brother Shen still remembers a useless person like me."

Shen Wuxing said: "Brother Chu, what are you talking about? Everyone knows that Brother Chu is the secretary of Qizhou, and Minister Qin listens to his orders. They say that Brother Chu is the shadow governor. By the way, if I remember correctly, this Minister Qin is also the uncle of Sect Master Qin."

Qin Su nodded slightly.

Shen Wuxing smiled and said, "So we are all family."

Li Xuandu asked, "Brother Shen, you came to see me in a hurry, is there something wrong?"

Shen Wuxing said, "I heard that the acting sect master had returned to the sect, so I waited in Taiping Palace early, but I didn't see the acting sect master for a long time. I sent someone to inquire and found out that the acting sect master took a detour to Senior Sister Lu's place."

"What a good report. I just arrived and you came right after me." Li Xuandu said with a smile, "I heard that there is a distinguished guest in Taiping Palace now?"

"That's right." Shen Wuxing said respectfully, "It's Sect Master Zhang of Zhengyi Sect."

"Sect Master Zhang, what a good Sect Master Zhang." Li Xuandu smiled, "I am the acting sect master, and he is also the acting sect master. Sect Master Zhang doesn't think about how to remove the word "acting" but comes to my Taiping Sect. What does he want to do?"