The four hundred and fortieth eight chapters drive the horse to the hill
In the dangerous wind and snow, the three riders headed all the way to the hinterland of Shihao Country.
Many tall cities that were battlegrounds for military strategists were in a devastated state. Instead, the countryside was in a state of devastation. Most of them were lucky enough to escape the military disaster. However, the refugees fled in all directions and left their homes, but they encountered three disasters one after another after the winter this year.
There was a heavy snowfall, and along the official roads in various places, there were many emaciated corpses of frozen to death, including young and strong women and children.
Ma Duyi is kind-hearted and simple. No matter human or ghost, he does not look like a real Shujianhu monk. So when Chen Pingan passed by a county and said that he wanted to pay local people to help open a porridge shop and medicine shop, he finished this
After this incident, they continued to set off, which made both Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye particularly happy.
Chen Ping'an took out the Qingxia Island jade plaque, hung it on the waist on the other side of the sword, and went to the local government. Ma Duyi wore a curtain hat to cover her face, and had plenty of room to put on a thick cotton coat.
Even the graceful figure of the fox-skin beauty was covered up.
Before that, they had passed through many counties. The closer they got to the center of Shihao Kingdom and the further north they went, the more people died. They could already see more soldiers and horses, some of whom were stragglers from Shihao Kingdom who were defeated and retreated south.
, some of the soldiers' armors were brand new and bright, and they looked impressive at first glance. Zeng Ye would think that those Shihao soldiers who rushed to the northern battlefield might be able to fight against the Great Li cavalry.
But Chen Ping'an knew very well that once there was a war, these soldiers, who were wearing armor newly moved from arsenals everywhere and holding weapons that had been dusty for many years and still looked like new, would die very quickly. Only a few lucky ones would have the opportunity to start from "no idea at all".
The new pawn who "died how he died" gradually turned into an old pawn who "knows how to survive".
In the long history of Lotus Flower Land, Chen Pingan witnessed many tragic wars that determined the fate of the four countries.
In the vast world, Chen Ping'an has also seen with his own eyes the military appearance of the scouts of the border army at the southern border of Dali. With a little knowledge, he will understand why the border troops of Dali have the title of "the athletes on the ridge". They are all on the hills and ridges among the bones.
Among the veterans who came down from hundreds of battles, perhaps a twenty-year-old young frontier soldier in Da Li in the past hundred years has fought more battles and seen more dead people than the powerful generals in Shihao Kingdom who are forty or fifty years old.
Chen Pingan actually thought further. As one of the vassals of the Zhu Ying Dynasty, Shihao Kingdom did not mention the likes of Huang He and Han Jingling, but only said that the vast majority of this vassal country was like the prince Han Jingxin who died in his own hands.
, even dared to personally fight the Dali scouts with two accompanying monks, and the northern border troops who were former generals of Yinwu Wei were directly defeated. The emperor of Shihao Kingdom still tried his best to mobilize troops and horses from various border gates to fight to the death.
Blocked on the road from Dali to the south, the capital is now trapped and is still holding on to the end.
Why is Shihao Kingdom willing to act like this? He doesn't hesitate to use so many lives as a roadblock to slightly hinder Su Gaoshan's Great Li cavalry?
The literati said in books that in winter it is better to have dense snow and the sound of jade breaking.
Chen Pingan looked up into the distance and saw snow on the roads and mountains, as if God had placed a heavy burden on the world.
Chen Ping'an sighed, but felt a little relieved when he thought of the clanking of iron armor in the Yeling Temple.
On this journey north, Ma Duyi was okay. He had been a genealogy master, and also a Huye cultivator of the Eight Classics. Sorrow was inevitable, but he was not too shocked. However, he had seen too many scenes like purgatory on earth.
Day after day, even Zeng Ye, who would often cry silently at first, became a little numb.
During this period, Zeng Ye was possessed by men's fetuses again and again. Some of them fulfilled their last wishes, while others only regretted that their homeland has long since changed.
The female ghosts who resided in the beauties of the fox-skin talismans left the world one by one, such as Su Xinzhai. There will be new female ghosts that will continue to walk around the world with the help of talismans. Each talisman is like an inn.
On the ferry, coming and going, there are reunions with joy and sorrow, and farewells separated by yin and yang. According to their own choices, there are truths and concealments between words.
On this day, Chen Ping'an took Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye to visit the county magistrate's residence together without any hindrance.
The local county magistrate is a fat old man who can hardly see his eyes. In official circles, he likes to smile whenever he sees people. When he smiles, he even loses his eyes.
This past year, the old man's life was not at all peaceful, and the war was chaotic. In addition to paying a lot of money to hire an immortal master to go down the mountain to guard the immortal cave nearest to the county seat.
The unknown cultivator, to put it harshly, is the lower fifth realm mountain Zeye cultivator who was not very fond of in the past. The genealogy master who is also the lower fifth realm almost went back to the mountain in anger.
He added three snow coins to his monthly salary, and finally managed to keep the mountain god who didn't want to associate with wild cultivators. The county governor was heartbroken and distressed. Fortunately, as soon as Chen Ping'an came to the door, he immediately felt that three snow coins per month were enough.
Xue's extra expense was well worth it, because the Immortal Master of Genealogy was indeed a true immortal that no wild cultivator could match. As soon as he got it, he knew that it was a "very open" treasure, and it was definitely what experts call it.
With just one glance, I was able to identify the sky-high Qingxia Island first-class sacrificial jade plaque. I was so nervous that I almost knelt down and kowtowed to the young immortal from Shujian Lake.
Things will be easier to handle next. The worship master who calls himself Chen says he will open a porridge shop and a medicine shop in the county to help the people. He will pay for it, but if the government has to provide people and help, the money still has to be counted.
At that time, Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye finally saw the old county guard's eyes, which were round and wide-eyed. They must have thought it was incredible that the genealogy master next to the old county guard was not much better. A birth certificate.
Isn't the great good man in the lake just like the great demon who opened a mansion and called himself an immortal master?
On the other hand, the two Yamazawa Yexiu, who seemed to be respectful and timid, looked at each other and said nothing.
After that, everyone felt even more weird. The young minister named Chen asked the old county governor to invite a group of subordinate officials in the government office who were good at household registration, taxation, and businessmen. Everyone sat down together and began to carefully
Discuss the details, the current price of rice and medicine in the market, the number of government granaries stored, the approximate number of local poor people and refugees, the location of porridge shops and medicine shops, how many people can be dispatched from the county yamen and will not delay official duties
Spare manpower, and so on, every link has been carefully considered, so that all the old people in the government office feel like they are facing a formidable enemy.
After the discussion was over, the county magistrate's office got busy that night, and the officials and subordinates dispersed one after another.
Chen Ping'an and the others lived in the backyard of the government office. However, late at night, two wild cultivators from Shanze came to the door secretly. They were not afraid of the "first-class worshiper of Qingxia Island" named Chen. They were completely opposite to their obedience and caution during the day. Among them,
A wild cultivator rubbed his fingers and thumbs and asked Chen Ping'an with a smile if he should pay some hush money. As for what "Chen Gongfeng" was planning for this county, whether it was a person, money, or a magical weapon, the two of them didn't know.
Will take care of it.
At that time, Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye were still staying in Chen Ping'an's house, and it was rare for them to chat.
Because he is as slow as Zeng Ye and can't figure it out, Mr. Chen is clearly doing what he wants to do step by step. Although there will be ups and downs and unsatisfactory results, there will also be failures again and again.
, even some small last wishes could not be fulfilled, but after all, there were still many ghosts and ghosts who appeared in Shihao Kingdom, and like Miss Su, they left without regret.
Logically speaking, Mr. Chen's mood should be getting more and more relaxed.
But that's not the case.
So Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye would sit with them without disturbing Mr. Chen's thoughts. Most of the time, she and Zeng Ye would talk nonsense. Mr. Chen never felt bored, but he didn't like to talk much.
But occasionally when I heard the two of them arguing about things as big as sesame seeds and mung beans, or simply talking nonsense to pass the time, Mr. Chen would smile. Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye would often be confused and thought they had said something funny, and Mr. Chen had no reaction.
, why do some words that are not funny at all make you laugh?
At this moment, one person and one ghost stood on the small stove under the table and ate melon seeds. After seeing the cleverness of the two Yamazawa wild cultivators, they all found it very interesting.
Ma Duyi's eyes narrowed, and she was curious about the accountant's response.
Chen Pingan asked with a smile: "So how much hush money do you think is fair?"
A wild cultivator already had an idea, "This little brother can imitate a jade tablet from Qingxia Island, and even be able to deceive him in front of a genealogy master. This is obviously a big deal. Tonight he just opened a porridge shop."
Regarding the drug store, a lot of real money was spent, so this hush money should have... forty or fifty pieces of snow? I wonder what my little brother wants? I don't want to part with this small amount of money, so that
Earn a lot of money safely?"
Chen Pingan stretched out his hands and held the shoulders of the two wild cultivators. "Since the two seniors have seen through it, I will kill someone and silence them. Why bother paying for the hush money? If you take the money, you can go back and add it up."
Instead, I have to push my limits, go back and forth, and if I don't tell you the trouble, I might even ruin something important for me. Why not do something simple? I wonder what you two think?"
The two Shanze Yexiu were horrified. Being pressed on their shoulders actually caused the Qi Palace to vibrate and the spiritual energy to stagnate.
Before the two of them could plead, Chen Ping'an said with a straight face: "I have a big plan. You two may be able to help a little, but if you want to leave this county alive, you must first spend a sum of money to buy your life."
, although you are only monks in the lower fifth realm, why should you have... forty-five pieces of snow to spend?"
The two Shanze wild cultivators, who were not wealthy to begin with, scraped together thirty-two pieces of snow money as if they were mourning for their heirs, but they were all gone.
Chen Ping'an took the fairy money and waved his hand, "When you go back, calm down for a while and wait for my news. As long as you are sensible, when the matter is settled, I will give you some scraps. If you dare to think wrongly, you are really worth some money."
The natal thing is directly separated from the key Qi Mansion. When the time comes, you will regret going to the Sheriff's Mansion if you call the sky and the earth unworthy."
The two wild cultivators, who finally did not give away their golden belts to their colleagues, were lucky to be alive and felt unexpectedly happy. Could it be a blessing in disguise? When the two wild cultivators returned home, they still felt a little suspenseful, but they did not dare.
Sneaking away, I also felt sorry for the more than 30 hard-earned money I had saved so hard. I worried about gains and losses for a while and sighed.
Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye laughed happily.
Chen Pingan sat at the table, "When we leave the county, we will return the snow money to them."
Then Chen Ping'an turned to look at Zeng Ye, "In the future, when we go to the prefectures and counties further north, we may have to open porridge and medicine shops, but we should do one thing every time we go. It depends on the time and occasion. These
Let’s not mention it for now, I have my own concerns, so you don’t need to think about it. However, Zeng Ye will leave it to you to handle the matter of the porridge shop and medicine shop. You will deal with people from all walks of life in the government. In the process, you don’t have to worry about making mistakes.
Or the fear of spending too much money is not a big deal worth worrying about. Furthermore, although I will not intervene specifically, I will help you watch from the sidelines."
Zeng Ye nodded vigorously at first, then stopped talking.
Chen Pingan said: "Everything is difficult at the beginning, but you have to make a start."
Zeng Ye didn't say anything more. He was both worried and excited.
It seemed that it made this young man feel more comfortable than practicing Taoism.
Chen Pingan added: "Whenever you feel tired or bored, remember not to be embarrassed to speak, just tell me directly. After all, your cultivation of Taoism is mainly about cultivating your strength."
Zeng Ye nodded like a chicken pecking at rice, "Mr. Chen, don't worry, I will never delay my practice."
Chen Pingan smiled knowingly.
In fact, young people should be more diligent and attentive.
After that, the porridge shop and medicine shop was properly located in the county town, and it was quickly and orderly developed. Not only was the Yamen familiar with this kind of thing, but also because of the personal supervision of the county governor. As for the identity of the young man in the cotton robe, the old county
What Shou said was so vague that he didn't understand anyone clearly, which made people feel a little in awe.
Three days later, Chen Ping'an asked Ma Duyi to quietly place the thirty-two snow coins in the room of the two Shanze Ye Xiu.
Then the three horses came to a porridge shop near the city gate, stopped their horses far away, and after dismounting, Chen Pingan asked the Immortal Genealogy Master who had been accompanying them all the way to help look after them for a while.
When they arrived at the porridge shop, Ma Duyi didn't want to be a "beggar" and Zeng Ye didn't feel the need to drink a bowl of rice porridge that was as bland as water. Chen Ping'an went to queue patiently by himself and begged for a bowl of rice porridge.
Even though the rice porridge is slightly "thick", and two steamed buns, I squatted beside the road outside the team, eating the steamed buns with the rice porridge, and from time to time I could hear the shouts of the subordinate staff, and the subordinate staff would
Together with the local poor people and the refugees living here, they loudly told the rules: Don't be greedy for too much, and you can only divide the porridge according to the head. When eating porridge and eating steamed buns, don't be greedy. If you eat and drink in a hurry, you will make trouble.
Chen Pingan looked at the long queues. Among them were many young and strong local men in relatively thick clothes. Some of them were holding their children and eating candied haws in their hands.
Not far from Chen Pingan, there was a group of local men gathered together. They were all sallow and skinny. While eating and drinking, they complained that the pig food was not good enough.
Chen Ping'an just chewed slowly and silently, and his mood remained unchanged, because he knew that the world was like this, and it was difficult to cherish things that cost nothing in the world. If he spent money, even if he bought the same rice porridge and steamed buns, maybe he would
It will taste better, and at least there will be no swearing or complaining.
After returning the porridge bowl, Chen Pingan walked towards Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye and said, "Let's go."
The three knights left the city.
Ma Duyi was very thoughtful. In the past few days, he and Zeng Ye often visited the porridge and medicine shops, and discovered some clues. After leaving the city, he finally couldn't help but started to complain, "Mr. Chen, at least 30% of the money we spent was given to the government office."
I can see clearly that these officials are pocketing their money, Mr. Chen, how could you not see that? Why don't you scold the old county guard?"
Chen Pingan just said, "That's it."
Ma Duyi was almost furious.
Zeng Ye was even more shocked.
The young man was really ignorant. How could he see through the twists and turns of officialdom?
When Ma Duyi saw that the accountant had nothing to say, he became even more angry, "Mr. Chen! If you do this again, I won't help you next time! Just let Zeng Ye, a silly boy, do the work on his own and see if he will be a disservice to you!"
"
Chen Ping'an thought for a while, and finally gave Ma Duyi an explanation that was not an explanation, and said slowly: "Since we are doing good things, and the things are generally done, it is just not satisfactory enough, so don't be too demanding. If you are greedy for 30% of the money, I will
I am mentally prepared. In fact, my bottom line is even lower. It is acceptable for the officials in charge of this matter to line their own pockets and steal 40%. No matter whether it is 30% or 40%, just treat it as their doing.
It’s really a reward for a good thing.”
Ma Duyi never expected such an answer. He wanted to be angry, but couldn't get angry, so he just stopped talking.
Chen Pingan smiled and said: "If you feel unhappy, as long as you are willing to help Zeng Ye, my bottom line can be changed from 40% to 20%. How about it?"
Only then was Ma Duyi satisfied, and began to ride her horse closer to Zeng Ye. She and the clumsy boy patiently explained their experiences and tips one by one.
Chen Ping'an suddenly slowed down his horse's hooves slightly and took out a long wooden box from his sleeve. The seal writing was simple and simple. It was a small object presented by Tan Yuanyi of Lisu Island. It was regarded as a token of the alliance between the three of them and was quite rare.
It is a small sword tomb of good quality. It is only one finger long. It is extremely compact and easy to carry around. It is used to carry flying swords for communication. It is just not as flexible as a large sword tomb. The rules are rigid and can only be sent and received at a time.
There is a messenger flying sword each, and the spiritual energy consumption of the warming flying sword is far greater than that of the sword room. But even so, Chen Pingan can easily sell a grain rain coin if he is willing, so of course Chen Pingan will not refuse.
Tan Yuanyi’s kindness.
Opening the small wooden box that had been shaking slightly, Chen Pingan received a messenger flying sword from Qingxia Island. The secret message stated that after Liu Laocheng of Gongliu Island learned that he was already in Shihao Country, he sent a message to Qingxia Island.
As for the island, in one sentence, "Come back to Gongliu Island and discuss the price in detail."
Chen Pingan tightly grasped a piece of snow money, and his spiritual energy dripped into a sword slot in the wooden box like water droplets. Then he pressed a clever mechanism in the wooden box, and the Qingxia Island Flying Sword flew out of the wooden box sword slot and flashed out.
Pass away and return to Shujian Lake.
Zeng Ye could not take his eyes off it.
Back then, he had worked as a handyman in the simple sword house on Maoyue Island, but this was the first time he had seen this small sword tomb that he had only heard of its name but never seen. It was really wonderful.
Ma Duyi was no better.
Chen Pingan put away the wooden box and put it into his sleeves, and exhaled with his hands. This was great good news.
As he himself said to Zeng Ye, everything in the world is difficult, and everything has a difficult beginning. Whether you can take the first step and stand firm is crucial.
Chen Ping'an formed an alliance with Liu Zhimao, who was supposed to be his enemy, and Tan Yuanyi, the spy of Lisu Island for no reason.
Then he went to Gongliu Island, personally involved in danger, and dealt with Liu Laocheng.
And by taking this opportunity to visit various places in Shihao Country and "correct mistakes one by one", we can learn more about the national power of Shihao Country.
Naturally, there is something to be desired.
Chen Pingan had a conversation with Gu Can's mother in the house near the mountain gate of Qingxia Island, but the woman may not have heard it at that time. Many of Chen Pingan's words seemed to be spoken lightly, and she would probably not think deeply about them.
, maybe she won’t take it seriously. Her character is actually not complicated. For her and Gu Can, in the suddenly changed Shujian Lake, I hope that Chen Ping’an can keep the two of them safe, and that the accountant can be nostalgic.
Love, don't live up to the name "peace".
There are several sentences in it that relate to "Shu Jian Lake may be different in the future."
Women may not delve into it.
Chen Pingan has already been doing it.
Chen Ping'an had to take care of everything step by step and responded to the two half-truths and half-false jokes Liu Laocheng said on the ferry, "Use no limit to everything." "What a big ambition."
Because Liu Laocheng has noticed the clues and guessed that Chen Ping'an wants to fundamentally change the rules of Shujian Lake.
The fake thing takes advantage of the situation and does its best.
Chen Pingan does not talk about the good and evil of people, he is just doing one thing, treating everyone as chess pieces, trying to draw a larger chess shape of his own, from chess pieces to chess shape, and then to chess position.
He hopes that among the big rules of Shujian Lake in the future, he can at least participate in it and formulate the rules.
So Liu Laocheng asked Chen Pingan if he learned chess from Mr. Qi of Lizhu Cave.
That's the truth.
The words between the two sides have actually been a tug-of-war.
There are undercurrents, intrigues, and on the chessboard, looking for the opponent's spoon, making unreasonable moves, and playing magical moves, all of which are unique.
Whether facing Liu Laocheng, a fifth-level monk on Gongliu Island, or even facing Yuanying Liu Zhimao, Chen Pingan actually relies on his fists to speak. Once he crosses the line and strays into the dispute between the avenues, blocking the path of any one of them is tantamount to
He is seeking death. Since there is such a huge disparity in realms, not only talking about reasoning with words will not work, but also the so-called reasoning with fists is courting death. What should Chen Ping'an do if he wants something more? Then he can only die on the matter of "cultivating the mind."
Kung fu, carefully guessing the weight of all invisible potential chess pieces, their respective demands, bottom line, temperament and rules.
If possible, the prince Han Jingling who fled to Shujian Lake, Huang He, the son of the frontier general, and even Su Gaoshan and Chen Ping'an, the generals of Dali who were all in the same boat, would all try to do business with them.
The difficulty lies in the fact that compared to making amends for peace of mind, and for those demonic creatures to fulfill their wishes, the other game of chess that Chen Pingan is secretly planning is even more difficult. This is the first time that Chen Pingan has tried to use chess.
To build a chessboard, the key is not to make a single mistake. If you make one mistake, you will lose the whole game. This is equivalent to Chen Ping'an playing the biggest spoon.
As for the former, by letting Gu Can, who didn't want to know his mistakes, stop making mistakes and make up for them himself, Chen Ping'an, apart from wasting energy and money, would actually not lose more, but would not be walking on thin ice.
But the reason why Chen Pingan, who is extremely good at hiding his emotions, was that even Zeng Ye had noticed the subtle ups and downs of Chen Pingan's mood before?
Just after Chen Ping'an saw off Su Xinzhai and the others, he felt an even bigger and seemingly inexplicable disappointment lingering in his heart, and he couldn't get rid of it no matter what.
That feeling is not the same as before in the slightly gloomy Qingxia Island house, when all the ghosts had not been expelled. Just take a look at the Hell Palace on the table. Before Chen Pingan closed his eyes to rest for a while or went to bed to fall asleep, he felt like
It's the kind of ghostly cries and howls of countless grievances outside the chaimen of the heart, knocking on the door hard, shouting grievances and cursing.
After sending off one after another, Chen Pingan's disappointment came from the fact that he suddenly discovered something. Among the names of those people who died in vain in the ledgers, the ones that made him feel the most guilty, such as the ones he had always felt guilty about.
Su Xinzhai, who was obsessed with Huang Lishan and his mentor, just gave up his obsession and chose to leave the world completely. On the contrary, many Chen Ping'an felt guilty at first, which was not as good as Su Xinzhai's certain names and some negative objects, and they had more demands.
The lion's last wish revealed the common greed of humans and ghosts, and many ghostly creatures that even after death were still resentful and resentful, all temporarily resided in the Yama Hall, imitation of the Glazed Pavilion.
In fact, after Chen Pingan made up his mind before, he no longer felt too much guilt, but Su Xinzhai and the others made Chen Pingan feel guilty again, even more and heavier than at the beginning.
That feeling lingers outside the door of the heart, but they outside the door have decided to leave the world. There is no complaint or any abuse, but it is like knocking on the door lightly, and the movements are very light, even like
They would be worried about disturbing the people inside, and then they would just say the same parting words, "Mr. Chen, I'm leaving."
At this moment.
Chen Pingan suddenly pinched the horse's belly and accelerated forward, exiting the muddy official road and detouring to a small hill.
Driving your horse up the hills, the road is uneven.
Chen Pingan reined in his horse and stopped at the top of the hill.
Zeng Ye wanted to pat the horse and follow him, but was stopped by Ma Duyi.
Chen Pingan looked around blankly.
With a sword gourd and a sword around his waist, he can ride on horseback in the wind and snow.
Actually.
Alone, with no one to rely on.
Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye stopped their horses at the foot of Qiu Long for a long time, but there was no sign of Chen Ping'an turning their horses' heads.
Ma Duyi, who had previously blocked Zeng Ye, was a little anxious, but Zeng Ye remained patient and unhurried.
Ma Duyi was most disgusted with Zeng Ye's "foolish people have stupid blessings" and "being in blessings but not knowing the blessings". He laughed angrily and said: "You are heartless and heartless. If you eat and drink enough, you will have nothing to worry about."
Zeng Ye was just a timid and stupid boy, so he didn't dare to talk back, and the most important thing was that he didn't even think that Miss Ma was wrong.
Ma Duyi was about to speak.
Chen Ping'an rode down the hill, and in the eyes of Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye, it seemed that Mr. Chen's expression was different.
No longer worried, but the gloom has cleared, and you are still a little happy?
Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye looked at each other.
Chen Pingan took off the sword gourd, took a sip of wine, and said with a smile: "Continue on your way."
————
The three horses meandered all the way north.
There was deep snow on the road, which melted very slowly, and there was almost no greenery in the mountains and rivers, but finally there was some warm sunshine.
I have seen a lot along the way. I saw the legendary Dali border scouts, with old bows, swords, and armor. Each of the cavalrymen had no arrogance on their faces, nor any murderous intent on their bodies. They were like river water under the ice, flowing slowly and silently.
The Dali scouts only looked at the three of them for a moment, then whizzed past, making the tall young man, who was brave enough to raise his throat, wait until the team of scouts were dozens of steps away before he dared to breathe normally.
We also saw groups of wealthy motorcades heading south in a hurry, an endless stream. From the guards to the coachmen, and occasionally opening the curtains to peek at the faces of the three riders on the roadside, everyone felt in danger.
Zeng Ye saw Mr. Chen parked on the side of the road. He waited until the convoy was gone before continuing on his way. Then he saw a small box that rolled to the ground and the owner had no time to pay attention to it. Chen Ping'an got off his horse and opened the box to see that there was something inside.
Opening one of the ancient books at random, there were several book seals, different dynasties, different fonts, and different scholars. Chen Pingan held the box, looked back, thought for a while, and did not abandon this book box.
Return it, put it away for the time being, and continue on your way.
Ma Duyi had nothing to say and joked: "Hey, I didn't expect you to be this kind of person and just take it as your own?"
It was rare for Zeng Ye to have the courage to say something outright, "Things that others don't want are still books. Are they just left in the mud and ruined?"
Chen Pingan shook his head and said: "They are on their way to escape. If you delay their journey for even a moment, there will be unpredictable results."
Zeng Ye glanced at Ma Duyi.
Ma Duyi rolled his eyes.
After that, a woman's femininity was inhabited by the fox-skin beauty talisman. In a small county that had not suffered a war, she used a slightly unfamiliar local accent to ask people all the way, and finally found a high-ranking mansion.
The four of them found an inn to stay. That night, Chen Pingan first put away the talisman and sneaked into the mansion quietly, then took it out again and asked her to show up. Finally, they met the handsome scholar who had left his hometown for Beijing to take the exam. The scholar is now
An old Confucian scholar who is nearly half a century old is holding a young legitimate son who is sleeping slightly, and is exchanging cups with several official friends. His eyebrows are flying, and his friends are congratulating him one after another, celebrating this person's blessing in disguise, getting acquainted with a great Li.
The school captain was promoted to the third highest position in this county. Friends joked about not forgetting old friends after becoming rich and powerful. The old Confucian scholar, who was not wearing a brand new official uniform, laughed.
The fox-skinned woman looked gloomy, as if she didn't recognize the scholar who was her childhood sweetheart, maybe because she was no longer young.
After leaving the mansion, the fox-skin beauty Yinwu walked with Mr. Chen on the quiet street.
Chen Pingan suddenly said: "That child looks more like his father, what do you think?"
The woman hummed and suddenly became happy, "It seems so!"
After that, leaving the small county town that the Li cavalry looked down upon, the three cavalry continued north.
In a small county town where he had to stop to buy groceries, Chen Ping'an passed by a larger gold and silver shop. He had already passed by it, hesitated for a moment, turned around and walked into it.
Among them were two old men and two young men, both shop assistants, each busy.
Chen Pingan took out a gold ingot with the national official seal and converted it into official silver and a pile of copper coins.
The old masters in the two shops did not interfere and let the young apprentices they brought out to work. The master led them in to practice in private and in the market. The adopted son would also hope to be able to provide for him in the future. Of course, the master should bring out the apprentices.
A promising disciple with smart hands and feet who can help. There are two young men of about the same age. One is clumsy and dull, similar to Zeng Ye, and the other has lively eyebrows. As soon as Chen Ping'an stepped across the threshold, the smart young man covered the guest from head to toe.
I looked back and forth twice.
Chen Pingan gave the gold ingots and took official silver and copper coins at a slightly higher price according to the current market conditions in Shihao Country. During the conversation, he first spoke the official dialect of the Zhu Ying Dynasty. The two young men were a little confused. Chen Pingan then spoke with the same unfamiliar tone.
After Shi Haoguo spoke in Mandarin, the transaction was smooth, and Chen Pingan left the shop.
Inside the shop, after the man in cotton robe left the shop.
The dull boy was still immersed in the joy of making money for the shop, and then he kicked his best friend who had grown up together. Following the latter's gaze, the dull boy discovered that the two of them were bickering and quarreling almost all the time.
The respective masters sat together for the first time and discussed the matter seriously.
After Chen Pingan returned to Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye, Ma Duyi asked with a smile: "In a small county town, there are only two qi practitioners in such a small shop?"
Chen Pingan nodded and said: "They should be selecting disciples, and each of them has chosen a young man."
Ma Duyi curled his lips and said: "How good a seedling can be found by two old monks who have been in the cave realm."
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "Isn't that enough for me to say this?"
Ma Duyi snorted coldly.
Chen Pingan hesitated for a moment and said: "If I guessed correctly, one of the two old men should be a monk in the sea-viewing realm, and the other might even be a monk in the dragon gate realm. It's just that the two old men noticed you early, so it's very difficult for them to do so.
He quickly hid his Qi and deliberately made you think that he was in the Cave Realm. As for why he didn’t just pretend to be an old man from the market, he probably felt that in such a remote place with thin spiritual energy, two Dongfu Realm monks were enough to scare those of us across the river.
It’s like a dragon, but it’s not too shocking, so it can be said that they are all from the old world.”
Ma Duyi's eyes lit up and she said: "Mr. Chen, what if people just think that we are here for them? For example, to poach their corner? Mr. Chen, I think it is inappropriate for you to enter the store."
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "So we outsiders, after buying the groceries, set off immediately on the road. Also, we agreed in advance that when we left the county gate, remember not to look around, and just keep our heads down and rush, so as to save them.
Suspicious."
Ma Duyi was a little confused because she still didn't understand why Chen Ping'an walked into that shop. This was not the accountant's usual style.
Chen Ping'an asked Zeng Ye to go to a shop to buy items alone, and he and Ma Duyi led their horses to park on the street outside, and explained softly: "What if the two old men are not here to recruit disciples? Not only are they not Immortal Masters of Genealogy, they are even Shanze
Are there evil practices among wild cultivators? So I went inside the shop and took a second look. It didn’t look like some evil cultivator with ulterior motives. As for the more evil cultivators, since I couldn’t tell, I wouldn’t care about them.”
Ma Duyi sighed, with a smile in his eyes, and complained: "Mr. Chen, are you tired of thinking about so many things every day? But when I heard it, I felt tired."
Chen Ping'an smiled and said: "Thinking about this won't bother me. But when I think about you being so stubborn and refusing to return the talisman paper every day, I have to count on my fingers every day how many extra snow coins I have spent, it will bother me."
Ma Duyi said angrily: "It's so boring!"
Chen Ping'an put his hands in his sleeves and smiled but said nothing.
After Zeng Ye finished buying the scattered items, Chen Ping'an told them a little interesting story. He said that the monk at the Longmen Realm who was more advanced in the shop chose the dull boy and the monk at the Sea Viewing Realm, but he chose the smart one.
juvenile.
But these are small things in the eyes of outsiders.
Maybe for those two young men who are still ignorant, they will not understand until they actually start practicing in the future. That is a huge thing.
Just like when Sanqi and Xu Mao parted ways.
A young woodcutter who happened to be passing by accidentally tripped and fell. When he dug out the woodcutter, he saw what was underneath the snow, which frightened the young man half to death.
Perhaps it was God's will, and the young man, who was about to endure the hard life, gritted his teeth, plucked up the courage, and dug up the piece of snow.
When he left tremblingly, the young man had a jade pendant that exuded warmth.
The piece of jade pendant that Han Jingxin used as a handpiece has three ancient seal characters "Yunxia Mountain" engraved on one side, and a Taoist poem about Yunxia Mountain engraved on the other side.
On the great road, blessings and misfortunes are unpredictable. A drink and a peck can make the difference between clouds and mud.
After that, Chen Pingan and his three riders continued on their way. One evening a few days later, on a relatively secluded road, Chen Pingan suddenly got off his horse, walked out of the road, and walked towards a snowfield with an extremely strong smell of blood about ten steps away.
Inside, with a wave of his sleeves, the snow scattered, revealing a horrific scene inside. Not to mention the broken limbs, the chest had all its internal organs cut out. The death was miserable, and he should have died not long ago, at most one day ago.
And there is no trace of this area that is supposed to be contaminated by evil spirits.
It was done by monks with unique secret skills.
Ma Duyi couldn't bear to look directly at him, and Zeng Ye even ran to the side and retched.
Chen Pingan buried the corpses a little away from the road. Before that, he tried to piece together the whole corpses of those poor people as much as possible.
After Chen Ping'an finished doing this and making sure that there was no one around, he took out the imitation glazed pavilion from among the objects nearby and invited a monk who was a monk in the Dragon Gate Realm during his lifetime, but was made into a ghost general's ghost object by Yu Hui after his death.
Then the ghost general who kept his intelligence spent most of the day and took the three cavalry to an inaccessible high mountain. At the border of the land, Chen Pingan collected Ma Duyi into the talisman paper, and then let the ghost general live in Zeng Ye.
We started climbing and finally found a cave in the mountain with the word "斫秋" carved on the cliff.
The pattern of the landscape itself is actually beautiful, and the location of the cave is the finishing touch.
It's just that the monks who first opened this monastic cave are no longer there, and then it was occupied by mountain spirits and ghosts.
Chen Ping'an and "Zeng Ye" stepped into it.
After more than a hundred steps, the sight suddenly opened up. It was a huge stone cave with bright lights. There were more than a dozen mountain monsters that had not yet fully transformed into human form, plus a mountain monster sitting high on the throne. If he stood up,
He should be more than two feet tall, so he is as big as a small mountain. He is wearing a yellow robe and golden armor, with a crown on his head tilted. There are two beautiful women in scantily clad clothes, leaning on the throne, being kneaded and beaten by the big demon.
On the lower leg, next to the throne, there is a red sandalwood official hat chair, and sitting there is a man in blue shirt with a playful smile.
Be it humans or demons, they all seem to be waiting for two fools to throw themselves into a trap.
The big demon in yellow robes and armor, whose head is still the leopard head of its true body, leans lazily on the back of the chair, shaking a huge wine glass in its hand. When scarlet wine spills on the ground, it gently lifts its foot and steps on it.
On the head of a charming woman, the latter immediately lay on the ground, licked the wine clean, and raised her head with a face full of intoxication.
The man in green shirt turned around, raised his thumb, and praised: "Your Majesty, you have the spirit of a general holding a cup to watch the snow fly!"
The big demon grinned and said: "Look at your mother's snow, where did the flying snow come from? Not to mention my cave, it hasn't snowed outside for a long time."
The man smiled and pointed at the plump breasts of a beautiful woman, "Your Majesty, you only need to lower your head to see it."
The big demon laughed.
The whole cave suddenly became noisy.
Chen Pingan asked: "Are you done talking?"
The overbearing demon narrowed his eyes and said, "Are you so anxious to get into the frying pan?"
Chen Pingan nodded and said: "We still have to hurry, it's quite urgent."
The man in green shirt smiled and said: "The world is so chaotic, why should you die early and be reincarnated?"
Chen Pingan nodded again, "That makes sense."
Half an hour later.
Chen Pingan and the real Zeng Ye left this cave.
The ghost general who chose to stay in this "Xuqin" mansion saw them off at the door.
As for the cave behind him.
The "big monster" in the sea-viewing realm with yellow robes and golden armor cannot die anymore. As for the man in blue shirt who is the military advisor, he is either a ghost or a human being. He died before the big monster, and his soul was even more destroyed by the ghost general.
Devoured completely.
Two women who are both human beings. After losing the restriction of the secret law, one chose to attach herself to the new master's ghost general, and the other committed suicide by hitting a wall. However, according to the previous agreement with her, Chen Pingan collected her soul into the ghost general's house.
Imitation Liuli Pavilion.
As for those mountain spirits and ghosts, some were killed, but none survived.
Because Chen Ping'an, a veritable accountant of Qingxia Island, actually spent less than half a stick of incense from the time he started punching to the end, and he spent half an hour settling accounts.
Chen Ping'an said to the ghost general: "Before I leave Shujian Lake, I will come to take a look, and Zeng Ye will also come later."
The ghost general nodded and said: "I will practice here with peace of mind and will not disturb ordinary people. Nowadays, the world of Shihao Country is so chaotic that there will be many evil ghosts and ghosts that are difficult to find in ordinary times."
Chen Pingan asked: "What about ten years and a hundred years from now?"
The ghost will be astonished.
Chen Pingan said: "Go and seek the status of a mountain god, even if it is just a temple of obscenity that is not recognized by the court at first."
The ghost general bowed in admiration, cupped his fists and said, "Mr. Chen's great kindness, I will definitely remember it in my heart!"
Chen Ping'an didn't say anything, he just took Zeng Ye down the mountain and away.
Halfway through, Chen Pingan took out the talisman, and Ma Duyi was able to see the light of day again.
Immediately started chatting with Zeng Ye.
Chen Pingan shook his head helplessly.
After that, they still kept their horses hooves and headed north. However, compared with the official roads in the southern part of Shihao Kingdom, Chen Ping'an and his three riders have now begun to choose small roads as much as possible.
One day at dusk, three cavalrymen rushed to the gate of a state city before it was closed. The heavily guarded city gate officers inspected the books and hurriedly entered the city.
Nowadays, this "scarred" important city in the north has become the possession of the Great Li cavalry. However, the Great Li did not leave many soldiers and horses to garrison the city. There are only more than a hundred cavalry. Let alone defending the city, it is difficult to guard a city gate.
It was not enough to see. Apart from that, there were only a group of civil servants with the title of Wen Secretary Lang, and Wu Secretary Lang as the retinue and bodyguard. After entering the city, we walked almost half of the city, and finally found a small place to stay.
Inn.
The reason is very simple. Firstly, the war ended with heavy casualties, and then there was a storm of assassins attacking Dali civil servants. Secondly, the day after tomorrow is New Year's Eve, and now people's livelihood is in decline, and business has been deserted. In addition to the New Year, Chen Ping'an
They were quite lucky to be able to find this inn.
The next day, Zeng Ye was possessed by a man's evil spirit and took Chen Ping'an to find a Jianghu sect whose family business was rooted in the city. It was only a third-rate force in the entire Shihao Kingdom, but for those who were born and raised here
For the common people in the city, he was still an unshakable behemoth. That Yinwu was one of the common people back then. His sister, who depended on each other for life, was favored by the legitimate son of the sect leader who was a local leader in the state. Together with her fiancé, a
A shabby teacher with no reputation drowned together in a river one day. The woman was disheveled, but her body was soaked in the water. Who dared to take a second look? The man's death was even worse, as if he had been interrupted before "falling into the river"
legs and feet.
A young man spent all his family's savings and buried his sister and the man he had long considered to be his brother-in-law. He quietly left the city and traveled all the way to Shujian Lake, where he became a handyman in the Immortal's Mansion.
He couldn't even practice martial arts, and then he died like his sister and brother-in-law back then.
"Zeng Ye" stands outside a gate whose plaque has been replaced.
On the way here, this yin creature had already lost his mind, and now, his expression was even more dull.
The enmity back then happened thirty years ago.
This is nothing. Before leaving the inn, I asked the innkeeper for directions. The old man sighed and said that the men in that family, as well as all the guns and sticks in the sect, were all upright heroes, but they chose to die.
, dead. A Jianghu sect, with more than a hundred men, swore to protect a gate of our state city to the death. After death, except for children, there will be almost no men left in the house.
"Zeng Ye" had a face full of pain, squatting on the ground, holding his head, and kept mumbling: "How could this happen, how could this happen..."
Chen Pingan squatted aside, even though "Zeng Ye"'s face became more and more ferocious, and his eyes became more and more gloomy, Chen Pingan remained quiet, just sipping in small sips, drinking wine silently.
After a while, "Zeng Ye"'s eyes gradually returned to clarity, and she began to sob. Finally, she put her hands on the ground, lowered her head, and gasped for air. She couldn't even cry anymore.
Chen Pingan then said: "I feel that when I was at my worst, I was similar to you. I felt like a dog, or even worse than a dog. But in the end, we are still human beings."
Chen Pingan smiled miserably, "Of course, I survived. Although I don't eat shit, I have had a lot of shit luck. I'm much better than you."
"Zeng Ye" took a deep breath, sat down on the ground, stretched out his hand, "Mr. Chen, can you lend me a few sips of wine? I have never drank in my life."
Chen Ping'an handed over the sword gourd and said, "I'm good at drinking, but I'm afraid you don't have the ability to drink."
"Zeng Ye" raised his head, took a big gulp of wine, coughed and trembled all over, and was about to hand it back to the accountant.
But that man had his hands wrapped around his sleeves and was squatting there, just like one of those ordinary ordinary people in the market, basking in the sun on a warm winter day.
He shook his head and said: "Drink more and see. Maybe if you drink a few more sips, you will get used to it and you will know that drinking is better."
"Zeng Ye" really took another sip of wine, but frowned. After wiping the corners of his mouth, he shook his head and said, "It still tastes bad."
Chen Pingan then took the sword-raising gourd. After taking a sip of wine, he gently pinned it on his waist.
"Zeng Ye" sat on the ground, glanced at the mansion, and his face was full of pain again. He wanted to speak several times, but he swallowed it back and covered his face with his hands.
Chen Ping'an turned his head and asked: "Why, do you want me to help write down the name of that family, and write it down together when we hold the Zhoutian Dajiao and the Water and Land Dojo in the future?"
Chen Pingan shook his head gently: "I won't agree. I will write your name, the names of your sister and brother-in-law, but I won't write any of those people's names. Because I don't know them, but I do.
you."
"Zeng Ye" choked up and said, "Am I stupid?"
Chen Pingan nodded and said: "It's very silly."
"Zeng Ye" wiped his face with a firm look, "How can a loser like me have the shame to visit the graves of my sister and brother-in-law? Mr. Chen, can you help me burn incense and toast later? Anyway, I have already told Mr. Chen before.
I won't go past the specific location of that tomb..."
Chen Pingan asked softly: "Have you really thought about it? You must know that you will never have a chance to regret it in this life."
"Zeng Ye" nodded, "I've thought about it."
Chen Ping'an hummed.
"Zeng Ye" suddenly said: "Mr. Chen, when you go to visit the grave, can you tell my sister and brother-in-law that you are my friend?"
Chen Pingan nodded and said: "No problem."
"Zeng Ye" must finally kowtow to the accountant.
Chen Pingan did not agree.
But "Zeng Ye" insisted on doing this, otherwise he would not be able to go on the road with peace of mind.
Chen Ping'an looked at this man whose real name was "Zhou New Year" and was speechless.
————
On New Year's Eve.
On a hillside more than ten miles outside the city.
In front of a small grave, someone was offering incense and toasting.
The young foreigner wearing a blue cotton robe told the truth of the matter, even if it was about "Zeng Ye" asking him to pretend to be his friend.
Finally, Chen Ping'an looked at the small tomb and said softly: "It is a great thing to have such a brother, such a brother-in-law, and I, Chen Ping'an, to have a friend like Zhou Guan Nian."
————
Inside the Zhoucheng Inn, the night falls deep.
New Year's Eve.
The three guests did not pay for a New Year's Eve dinner, and the innkeeper was a little disappointed.
Chen Pingan just asked the shopkeeper for a stove and a bag of charcoal. Ma Duyi and the depressed Zeng Ye sat with Chen Pingan until around midnight.
There was no night talk around the fire, nothing was said.
Afterwards, Ma Duyi and Zeng Ye returned to their rooms.
Chen Ping'an was in a foreign country and kept vigil alone until dawn.