The candlelight flickered, and the brazier in the middle of the room made a crackling sound from time to time. It seemed that the firewood was not completely dry.
Wei Cheng sat on the futon next to the brazier, flipping through a roster in his hand.
Opposite was Zhang Zhongjing, holding An Ning who was already sleeping soundly. You could see the kind look in his eyes. While observing the changes in Wei Cheng's expression, he also patted An Ning on the back to make her sleep deeper.
The old Taoist priest who called himself Zhang Xiu yawned and spat out a mouth full of alcohol. Fortunately, he sat farther away, otherwise Wei Cheng, who was a bit mysophobic, might have frowned.
"Teacher, since this roster is so important, why do you still leave it to me for safekeeping?" Wei Cheng closed the roster and asked with a frown.
Zhang Zhongjing sighed, glanced at Aning in his arms, and responded in a low voice: "This is the old department left to her by Aning's biological father. It was supposed to be given to her. It's just that the child is still young and has a roster.
I’m afraid I can’t command these strange people.”
Wei Teng nodded slightly, and then looked at the old Taoist Zhang Xiu.
Zhang Xiu was stunned for a moment and said hurriedly: "Old Taoist's life was saved by the Holy Lord. He has no control over what happens to others. Before the Holy Lord died, he asked us to assist Saint Zuo in restoring the Holy Religion. Old Taoist will definitely not disobey the Holy Lord.
A last resort."
Wei Cheng didn't say anything, but felt a little uneasy in his heart.
The so-called Holy Lord, Aning’s father, turned out to be Zhang Jiao, the leader of the Yellow Turban Sect (Taiping Dao)!
This was enough to shock him, and then the old Taoist priest in front of him turned out to be Zhang Xiu, the founder of the Five Pecks of Rice Dao.
Many scholars in later generations have revealed that the founder of Longhushan Tianshi Tao may not be Zhang Daoling, but a man named Zhang Xiu.
Yes, there is no doubt that this is Zhang Xiu in front of him, because Zhang Zhongjing just revealed vaguely that this old Taoist priest is already 102 years old this year.
A real centenarian.
"Sir, why are you looking at the old Taoist like this?" Zhang Xiu blinked his little eyes and asked curiously.
Wei Cheng came back to his senses, shook his head with a smile, and said to Zhang Zhongjing: "Teacher, in fact, this Taoist priest is a better candidate. Why not give him the list and let him go to restore the holy religion?"
Zhang Xiu was startled when he heard the words, and hurriedly stood up and retorted: "No, no, no, the old Taoist has had enough of the trivialities of this world. If it weren't for repaying the cause and effect of the Holy Lord, the old Taoist would not have come out and caused the dust all over his body now.
Can’t wash it off.”
As he spoke, he patted the non-existent dust on his body with a look of disgust, then sat down cross-legged again, picked up the wine bottle on the side, took a big sip happily, and said to himself: "Ah, this wine is terrible.
How could it be so intoxicating if it wasn’t a pure nectar?”
Wei Cheng looked at him amusedly. This Zhang Xiu was indeed old. His true temperament did not seem like he was faking it. He was a man who had seen through the world of mortals. There was probably nothing in the world that could affect his state of mind.
but……
Wei Cheng suddenly asked in a deep voice: "Taoist Master, is the person who takes over the Five Pecks of Rice Road now Zhang Lu after Zhang Daoling?"
Hearing this, Zhang Xiu looked at Wei Cheng in surprise, "Young Master is actually so well-informed. Does the old Taoist really intend to pass on the title of Heavenly Master to this child Gong Qi?"
Gongqi is Zhang Lu's character. From Zhang Xiu's tone, it seems that he took the initiative to give up the position of Heavenly Master. Then why did Zhang Lu kill Zhang Xiu?
Wei Cheng couldn't figure it out. He looked up at Zhang Xiu and kindly reminded him: "Taoist Master, it's better to be careful with this guy."
Zhang Xiu's hand holding the wine pot suddenly stopped. He first looked at Zhang Zhongjing. After the two looked at each other, Zhang Zhongjing asked in surprise: "Did the young master get any news?"
Wei Cheng was stunned, thinking that Zhang Zhongjing had misunderstood that he also had an informant in Hanzhong.
After thinking for a moment, Wei Cheng nodded and said, "It's not really useful news. I just heard that this son has quite a relationship with Liu Yan, the shepherd of Yizhou, and his mother even lives in Liu Yan's house every two days."
"Impossible!" Zhang Xiu shouted.
Wei Cheng frowned slightly and looked at Aning in Zhang Zhongjing's arms. Zhang Zhongjing also complained: "You old guy, can't you speak softer?"
Zhang Xiu knew he was being rude, but he still looked at Wei Cheng, frowned and asked, "Why are you so slanderous about someone's innocence?"
Wei Cheng was worried. He had only inferred the results based on a few fragments of historical records. In order to recruit more talents, he basically went through the history of the late Eastern Han Dynasty.
Among them, Zhang Lu's biological mother had a young appearance, and she was not related to Liu Yan. Zhang Lu relied on his mother's relationship to rise to great heights. He first occupied five measures of rice, and later killed Zhang Xiu, and dominated Hanzhong for more than 30 years. These are all recorded
historical facts.
Zhang Zhongjing also said tactfully at this time: "Young master, I don't know. Zhang Lu is a virtuous man. His mother does live in Yizhou, but she has no contact with Liu Shijun, let alone going there every two days... That is absolutely impossible."
possible."
Wei Qing frowned and said: "Then you can just think that I am talking nonsense. I just kindly remind you that if the Taoist priest thinks that I have maliciously slandered others, then I will not say anything here. But, as the saying goes, drive with caution.
Nian Chuan, it must not be easy for Taoist Master to live to this age."
Zhang Xiu wanted to say something, but he hesitated and his eyebrows frowned tightly.
Seeing this, Zhang Zhongjing asked with concern: "Old guy, are you okay?"
Zhang Xiu opened his mouth, as if he was recalling something, and then suddenly looked at the roster in Wei Cheng's hand, frowning and said: "Before, the old Taoist has always been puzzled about who poisoned the Holy Lord, but now that I think about it, that person has the best chance.
"
Zhang Zhongjing's expression changed.
Even Wei Cheng looked at Zhang Xiu curiously.
You know, when Zhang Jiao revolted, he suddenly fell ill and died within seven or eight months.
"Reincarnation Paradise"
Where can such a coincidence happen in this world?
In March, he was still shouting "The sky is dead, the yellow sky is standing, the age is Jiazi, the world is good"; in October he fell ill and died, and during this period Zhang Jiao continued to lead troops to fight, proving that he was in good health, and it was impossible
What kind of serious illness should I have?
Now listen to Zhang Xiu's meaning and look at Zhang Zhongjing's reaction. Zhang Jiao was actually poisoned to death!
Zhang Xiu frowned, looked at Aning, who was sleeping soundly in Zhang Zhongjing's arms, and said quietly: "Back then, the Holy Lord saved a strange woman in Jizhou. This woman was born with yin and yang eyes. It is said that she can see ghosts that ordinary people cannot see."
"Are there really ghosts in this world?" Wei Cheng remembered Zhang Xiu's title - Ghost Lord.
Zhang Xiu was startled when he heard this and looked at Zhang Zhongjing funny.
Zhang Zhongjing explained with a smile: "The so-called ghost way is actually the art of witchcraft. To put it bluntly, it is a witch doctor, plus some sacred teachings, using herbs unknown to ordinary people to create hallucinations and conveniently educate the people.
That’s all.”
'Ghost Lord' Zhang Xiu did not refute, nodded and said: "Yes, there are no ghosts and gods in this world. If they really existed, I would have encountered them long ago. I didn't expect that the young master is still afraid of ghosts?"
Wei Teng coughed slightly in embarrassment and said seriously: "Let's go back to the topic just now. Is there any relationship between that strange woman and the death of Aning's father?"
Zhang Xiu's face darkened, he nodded slightly, squinted his eyes, and said solemnly: "Now that I think about it, she really can't get away from it."