"There are quite a lot of practitioners who are active outside recently. You can meet sword masters of the fifth realm and above everywhere."
A half street away from Silver Moon Casino, Zhao Qing was sitting at a herbal tea shop, dressed in an ordinary gray shirt, glanced at the two riders who had just passed by on the road outside, and sighed.
Farther to the north, about three hundred paces away, stands a giant-like turret with a height of forty or fifty feet. The vague eyes of several observers scanned this area carefully with the help of telescopic telescopes.
.
The autumn breeze blew gently, and the copper bells hanging on the corners of the eaves tinkled.
"It looks like things are getting a little difficult."
She sensed that the guard and lieutenant in the corner tower here should be the top-ranked ones of the Sixth Realm, and there were six swordsmen of the Fifth Realm who had arranged powerful magic weapons and magic circles. She thought thoughtfully:
The Sword Fair is coming soon soon, and not only are many master practitioners going out and about, but the guard strength and vigilance level in the west of the city have also been greatly enhanced, almost doubling.
This kind of arrangement in Changling City to monitor the actions of powerful practitioners was something Zhao Qing had expected.
It's just that the two Qingyang Sword Pagoda disciples that Ye Ce Leng mentioned before turned out to be the disciples recruited by a high-ranking official in the Kehu Division, and served as the bodyguards for his children when they went out. They had serious identities, but they were somewhat
It's unexpected.
Under normal circumstances, diners live in the host's mansion on weekdays and enjoy the generous treatment provided by the host. At the same time, they are also required to be on call at any time to solve various troubles and handle some difficult matters for the host and his family.
And the two disciples of the Qingyang Sword Pagoda of Zhao State, with their cultivation and background, and the hatred of the Qin Dynasty for the destruction of the country and the sect, were willing to become vassals of the officials of the Qin State. The reason behind this is surprising.
Thought.
Zhao Qing took a sip of the herbal tea in his hand, his eyes looking particularly deep under the dim light in the herbal tea shop.
The household registration review system of the Great Qin Dynasty was somewhat strict, but the household registration department was the department in charge of this matter. Did the senior official of the household registration department know the true identities of his two retainers?
She secretly thought to herself, if the senior official knew the details of the two and still recruited them as disciples, his intentions would be worth pondering; if he didn't know, then how did the two Qingyang disciples conceal their identities and pass the layers of scrutiny? There must be something fishy in this.
, making the whole thing a lot more complicated.
However, the top priority right now is how to separate the two disciples from the young gambler, and then find a way to persuade them to leave Changling safely, so as to avoid unnecessary changes caused by long nights and dreams.
In addition, things have to be done beautifully. You can't just knock them unconscious and take them away on the spot. It's too simple and crude. This will not only attract the attention of the business department, but if you follow the clues to investigate, it will cause a lot of trouble. The two Qingyangs
After the sword tower recovers, it is possible to return to Changling again.
Zhao Qing gently put down the tea bowl in his hand and looked at the towering turret again. He was thinking about his next move and had already thought of an interesting plan.
At the same time, the pitch-black raven parked outside the gambling house suddenly quacked a few times, circled around the tree three times, then left and flew elsewhere, dropping a few inconspicuous feathers along the way.
…
Soon after, the sky gradually became dusky and the sunset hung, and the atmosphere in the Silver Moon Gambling House became more and more lively. The lantern-shaped talisman was hung high on the roof, emitting a soft and mysterious silver light, illuminating the entire gambling house, but it was
It is also a confusing temptation.
Beside the gambling table, there was a bustle of people, mixed with the cheers and curses of the gamblers and the calm counting sounds of the dealers. The clerks in the gambling house shuttled among the crowd, busy serving, some served tea and water, and some
He is responsible for cashing in chips and moves skillfully and quickly.
The young gambler who had previously taken out the Hongyang Academy's "Sword Club Minutes" brochure was talking about the sword club with the people around him. He was beaming, pointing and exchanging their opinions and predictions from time to time, causing everyone around him to nod.
, and occasionally there were a few echoes of agreement.
This young man's name is Liu Xingye, and he is the eldest son of Liu Yuanji, a social planning official in the household division. He is only twenty years old and has already entered the Three Realms of True Yuan. He can be regarded as one of the young talents in Changling.
The main job of the Jinghu Division is clerical work, and there is no need for force. Most of the senior officials in the Jinghu Division have not entered the Sixth Realm. They are at the bottom level among the departments in the Qin Dynasty. Some even have no cultivation, just
He is an old scholar who has read many poems and books.
It can be seen that this Liu Yuanji has some thoughts on switching from literature to martial arts. He must have put a lot of effort into the cultivation of his children at home. He has high hopes for his son's cultivation. For this reason, he did not hesitate to spend a lot of money to hire famous teachers to teach him and use
He was purified with elixirs to help him improve his cultivation quickly.
As a student of the Sansanjian Hall, a government-run training ground in Changling, since there are many children of powerful people, the Jiantang is not very strict about the management of its disciples on weekdays. Sometimes they sneak out, and it doesn't matter if they are caught by the teacher.
Big punishment.
However, Liu Xingye is an honest person. He knows that his family has invested a lot in him. He has always kept to himself and has been practicing hard in the sword hall. It was not until recently that he was allowed to walk outside and gain experience to increase his knowledge and broaden his horizons.
And the reason why he came to the Silver Moon Gambling House to talk to many gamblers about the Sword Club was naturally not to indulge his desires and enjoy the fun. It was mostly to start a conversation with his peers when he returned home, to add topics for conversation, and to make better friends.
Students who can bring benefits to their families.
Just when Liu Xingye had a small bet and won twenty taels of gold, at a gambling table not far away, an old swordsman fell to the ground with a face full of grief, muttering to himself and extending his hand.
He grabbed the guy who was collecting the chips and seemed unable to accept the fact that he had lost everything.
This old swordsman's clothes are slightly shabby, his expression is slumped, and the short sword sheath on his waist is engraved with many mysterious runes. He should be a good practitioner, but his aura rises and falls, making him unstable.
In the eyes of knowledgeable people, it is a sign of having been injured and fell into a bad situation.
The old swordsman's eyes were empty and blurry, as if his soul had dissipated with the last lost chip. His hands were trembling, trying to hold on to the dying hope, but they just clenched the air in vain.
.
Liu Xingye had no intention of caring about the victory or defeat of others, but seeing the miserable look on the old swordsman's face, he couldn't help but take a second look.
The old swordsman's face was old, with wrinkles carved on his face like ravines. His hands tightly held the dagger that had been with him for many years, and his knuckles were white from the exertion.
His sleeves inadvertently raised, revealing a shocking purple-black scar on his right wrist. It quietly emerged like a silent story telling the intertwined glory and tragedy of the past. The skin folds around the scar revealed the ruthlessness of the years.
and vicissitudes of life.
"Alas, another poor guy who lost his mind after losing." The gambler beside Liu Xingye sighed softly. After taking a glance, he focused on his own gambling, with a mixture of sympathy and disdain in his tone.
Liu Xingye shook his head. He always felt that this old swordsman was different. The sadness that emanated from the inside reminded him of the stories about grievances and heroes' twilight that he had read in his study at home.
.
Out of an inexplicable sympathy, or a young man's curiosity about unknown stories, he took a few steps closer, trying to catch a clue from the old swordsman's words, but he only heard the old man repeatedly whispering: "Fame and dust are like dust."
,Bahuangyunheyue..."
The voice was low and hoarse, revealing endless sadness and helplessness.
"Hey, old man, on the gambling table, winning or losing is a common thing for military officers. Why should you care so much?"
Hearing this, Liu Xingye felt pity for no reason. He took two steps forward again and softly comforted him. Upon seeing this, several guards around him followed closely behind him, their eyes alert, ready to deal with possible changes at any time.
However, before he finished speaking, the old swordsman suddenly raised his head and looked at Liu Xingye. His eyes seemed to light up suddenly. It was the light of a person on the verge of despair who grasped the last straw, and then returned to calm.
He pondered for a moment and then suddenly spoke. Although his voice was weak, it carried a dignity that could not be ignored: "Young man, do you know how to sword?"
Liu Xingye nodded and replied sincerely: "Although this junior dare not claim to be proficient, he is also a student of Sansanjian Hall and knows a thing or two about swordsmanship."
"But the most painful wound in my life did not come from the edge of the sword, but from the betrayal of the human heart."
The old swordsman nodded, smiled bitterly, and sighed: "I... I used to be a swordsman, with my own swordsmanship and pursuits. But on that night twenty years ago, everything was ruined..."
The words of the old swordsman seemed to open the dusty door of memory, and his eyes became profound, as if he had traveled through time and space and returned to the night that changed his life.
"That night, when the moon was dark and the wind was high, I was supposed to discuss swordsmanship with an old friend on the top of the mountain. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a carefully laid trap. My apprentice, the one I once regarded as my own, devoted myself to
In order to obtain the "Innate Purple Cloud Magic Skill" in my hand, the young man who was taught by Nang Xiang, teamed up with outsiders and set a trap. Without any precautions, I was seriously injured by a plot, my cultivation level plummeted, and I was about to break through to the Mountain Moving Realm.
The peak of the Sixth Realm has fallen to the current Fourth Realm, and it is difficult to even protect oneself."
Having said this, a flash of pain flashed in the old swordsman's eyes, and he gently touched the scar on his right wrist, which was the permanent mark left by that betrayal:
"This scar is the result of that battle. It reminds me all the time that the dangers of the human heart are more deadly than any sharp sword."
Liu Xingye listened with rapt attention, and couldn't help but feel sorry for the old swordsman's experience. He could see that the old man's former glory and current abjection were in sharp contrast. The gap was enough to defeat anyone.
will.
"Senior, your experience is really pitiful. However, the path of swordsmanship is full of unknowns and dangers. We practitioners should have the courage to face setbacks. I wonder what your plans are next, senior?"
When Liu Xingye heard this, his heart moved. He knelt down, looked at the old swordsman at eye level, and said seriously: "If you have any difficulties, you might as well speak up. Maybe I can help."
The old swordsman sighed, hesitated for a moment, and finally said: "Little brother, I saw that you talked about the Sword Club earlier. You have a solid foundation and are quite knowledgeable. You have also listened to my past experiences and know that the "Innate Zixia Magic Art" is
My master’s secret is not passed down...if I hadn’t been careless..."
As soon as he changed the topic, his eyes dimmed, and there was a trace of reluctance and determination. He took out a yellowed silk book from his arms and unfolded it gently. He saw that there were complicated sword pictures on it, with densely packed illustrations next to it.
Liu Xingye glanced at the text annotation and quickly put it away:
"Today I came to this gambling house, hoping to borrow some luck and reverse my fate, but God's will played a trick on me... Alas! Now I am in trouble and urgently need a sum of funds to meet my urgent needs. I am willing to use this technique as a mortgage in exchange for you.
A thousand taels of gold."
Hearing that this matter actually involved a large amount of money, the following guards quickly coughed a few times as a reminder.
To be continued...