Chapter 24: A Cold Light Flashes Over the Night in Chang'an
When He Biao saw Master Kang's sudden change of expression, he was very unhappy and said, "Master Kang, you don't know how to praise me. His Royal Highness the Prince is here in person and has already given you enough face. How dare you put forward conditions and you don't want to die?"
Li Mu hurriedly stopped He Biao and said: "Master Kang, you don't have to be afraid. As I said, as long as you find zinc, we will acquire it. If you have conditions, just put it forward."
Master Kang glared at He Biao, and then said to Li Mu: "His Royal Highness, do you mean what you say?"
"It counts." Li Mu said with certainty.
Master Kang said: "You have also seen that the old man is over seventy years old and is about to be buried, but this grandson is lonely and has no one to trust him."
Li Mu asked: "Where are his parents?"
Master Kang suddenly burst into tears and said: "A few years ago, because he offended the government, his son and daughter-in-law were kidnapped and beaten half to death. Later, they spent a lot of money to put them back, and they died soon after.
If I leave a child, how many years can I take care of him?"
Li Mu felt sad and asked: "Master Kang, what are your conditions?"
Master Kang said: "If you can trust me, I can continue to refine this thing for you. However, as my grandson, I ask Your Highness to arrange it properly. If I can follow Your Highness, the old man will have nothing to worry about."
Li Mu was stunned for a moment, and asked himself: Although it is a good choice, he also needs a trustworthy follower, but in principle, the prince's followers are all eunuchs.
It's not right, it's not right, Li Mu can't do the thing of causing others to cut off their birds.
Li Mu said: "Master Kang, if this is not the case, this child will be placed in the hands of Master Wei first and become an apprentice in the manufacturing supervision department. He Biao, is there no problem? As for whether you can follow me and talk about it later?"
He Biao said in embarrassment: "The Construction Supervision Department does not support idle people, but His Royal Highness the Prince has spoken. I will get back to my boss as soon as possible. It shouldn't be a problem."
Li Mu said: "This matter must be done well. Master Kang extracted zinc and gave it to Datang. This contribution is huge, and we must reward him with another sum of money."
Li Mu touched the banknote on his body. On impulse, he wanted to hand it to Master Kang directly, but he didn't stretch out his hand. He also needed the banknote himself!
Since it is an official matter, it is better to spend public funds.
He Biao agreed wholeheartedly, and the matter was settled. Looking at Fu Xianyue, she did not interfere with Li Mu's zinc metal, but had a lot of fun with Master Kang's grandson Kang Jie.
Fu Xianyue didn't like talking to children at all. He didn't know why, but when he saw the little boy today, he liked him and was full of love.
It was agreed that tomorrow, He Biao would bring the money and take Kang Jie into the city. Master Kang would continue to refine the zinc overnight and buy it all at a certain price.
As for the galvanizing process, Li Mu doesn't have to worry about it. The Manufacturing Supervision Department has a complete set of equipment and techniques for plating various metals.
Li Muzhen really wanted to get drunk again in this mountain village, but by accident, he was able to refine zinc metal many years ahead of schedule. He personally participated in it, which gave him a great sense of accomplishment.
However, seeing that the sky was getting dark, Li Mu did not dare to delay, so he said goodbye to Master Kang, and the two carriages returned to the city together.
When the car entered the city, it was getting dark. Li Mu asked He Biao to go by himself, and then asked the driver to slow down. He wanted to see the night view of Chang'an City and experience the nightlife of the Kaiyuan Dynasty.
Simply, he opened the car curtain, the autumn wind was blowing, it was cool and comfortable, and Fu Xianyue liked Li Mu's decision even more.
It's like going for a drive with a man you like, the scene shouldn't be too beautiful.
The carriage went up Chang'an Avenue, and it was indeed brightly lit and lively. The cries of various vendors were heard one after another. The street market at night is the most lively place.
Li Mu and Fu Xianyue were chatting and laughing, and had already integrated into this leisurely and contented mood.
Suddenly, there was a commotion in the street in the distance, and someone shouted: "There is an assassin,"
Then, the voice of an official shouted loudly: "Pedestrians and vehicles, get out of the way immediately and catch the assassin."
Li Mu was shocked, and Fu Xianyue was so frightened that she rushed to Li Mu and grabbed Li Mu's hand.
Li Mu hurriedly lowered the curtain and asked the coachman to stop the carriage by the roadside.
Li Mu said: "Mr. Fu, sit tight and don't move around. I'll get out of the car and check the situation."
Fu Xianyue said nervously: "Your Highness, please don't go down. It's too dangerous. If you do anything bad, I might as well die first."
Li Mu was moved, but more curious.
Li Mu said: "Don't worry, I'm just taking a look and won't get close. Brother Coachman, please protect Mr. Fu."
The coachman agreed. Li Mu had already jumped off the carriage and took the horse whip from the coachman's hand. Seeing that the commotion in front was still advancing, Li Mu jogged and approached quickly.
Li Mu saw two carriages a hundred steps away. There were four or five guards on both sides of the carriage, guarding them on the left and right. They all had swords unsheathed, and there was a bright cold light.
Pedestrians and vehicles hid, and for a moment, the street looked empty, desolate, and murderous.
A little further ahead, there were three or four men in black, the swords in their hands flashing with cold light, and they were rapidly fighting with seven or eight guards.
The sound of swords clashing against each other was sharp and harsh, and the loud shouts and curses were even more rough and chaotic.
Who is this person? Isn't it too arrogant to commit assassinations on Chang'an Avenue? Who are they or what organization are they? There seem to be only three or four people.
Who were they assassinating? With two carriages and so many guards, they must not be ordinary people. They seem to be better than themselves? Are there two big shots in the carriage?
Li Mu had various suspicions in his heart, and then he saw the fighting battlefield and gradually rushed towards this side.
Li Mu was shocked and hurriedly hid his body behind a big tree. He was beaten and killed, but he didn't want to cause trouble to the fish in the pond or get himself stabbed.
Li Mu could see clearly that seven or eight guards and three big men in black were entangled. The sound of swords breaking through the wind and the sound of stabs hitting the body kept coming.
The three big men in black obviously did not have the upper hand. Instead, they were entangled. As time went by, they would definitely be killed or captured.
Li Mu was watching intently when he felt a strong wind blowing past him, picking up a fallen leaf, and a rustling sound passed through Li Mu's ears.
Li Mu turned around and saw a black shadow, almost brushing his side, rushing past and rushing directly towards the battlefield on the opposite side.
The speed of this figure was so elegant and as fast as lightning. Li Mu secretly applauded. He had been practicing the fairy sword these past few days and this was what he wanted. However, Li Mu was still far from it.
Moreover, Li Mu discovered that the figure flying past was nimble and agile, and she was clearly a woman.
Female hero? Female assassin?
Is there really such a person? So cool!
Feeling envious and excited, Li Mu's mind immediately turned to the four men in black, feeling that they must be the embodiment of some kind of righteous force, and that the big shot in the carriage must have done all bad things and deserved to be killed.
Li Mu just shouted, "Come on."
The moment the woman in black rushed into the battle formation, the long sword in her hand immediately drew out a fierce sword flower.
Cha, cha—
There were two loud crisp sounds, and as the sword flowers exploded, the round heads of the two guards immediately flew into the air and rolled towards the direction of Li Mu.
What Li Mu saw was horrifying. He saw two human heads falling a dozen steps in front of him, bleeding gurglingly, and his eyes were bulging.
Li Mu retreated subconsciously, closed his eyes, and did not dare to look any further.
The encirclement and killing situation in front immediately changed. Two of the seven or eight guards died. The formation was in chaos. Four men in black, three men and one woman, were faster.
Li Mu closed his eyes for a moment, and all the remaining guards rushed to the street, their heads missing, and the scene was horrifying.
Four men in black had already rushed towards the two carriages, and the guards on both sides of the carriages kept screaming and falling down.
Li Mu was not willing to be at such a long distance, so he relied on his courage and moved forward for a dozen more steps. After passing the heads of two guards, Li Mu still covered his eyes.
The two carriages were moving forward, but very slowly.
Of the guards on both sides, only two were dead. Suddenly, the top of the carriage in front rushed away, and a man rose into the sky with a steel knife in his hand, a cold light shining.
The man spun in the air, the steel knife and his body merged into one, and as fast as lightning, he rushed towards the man in black on the left.
"Ah." With a scream, the man in black was stabbed in the chest by a steel knife and fell backwards.
The man who had just rushed out of the carriage gave a ferocious laugh, pulled out a bloody steel knife, and swept away at another man in black.
The blood mist suddenly rose, and after a few dozen steps, even Li Mu felt blood beads hitting his face. Li Mu hurriedly wiped it with his hand.
In just a blink of an eye, the second man in black was cut into two pieces by the steel knife. The moment his body fell to the ground, his upper and lower bodies were almost folded together.
