The dim yellow incense candles shine in the empty space of Xuanyuan Hall, which seems extremely strenuous. But in the darkness of the night, a little bit of light also means hope and direction.
The discussion was still going on. Fang Qidou discussed the few known clues with several people, as if he had found the possible end of the rope in a ball of rope, and then there was the process of unraveling the entangled knots step by step.
Fang Qidou said: "What I just said are all secondary matters. Junior Brother Huang has already told the key point. These Taoists only come here for the swordsmanship. Otherwise, Junior Brother Yang is only eleven or twelve years old and has lived in the mountains for a long time.
How could you make such a powerful enemy?"
When Huang Shuo saw him mentioning himself, he also recovered from his fatigue: "Couldn't it be the female Taoist priest from Linji Temple? Junior Brother Yang defeated them in a row, using swordsmanship. They all said that women are not broad-minded.
The best at looking for some discord..."
Fang Qidou said with a smile: "Junior Brother Yang and Junior Sister Cui Wan were just fighting over each other in a competition, not a deep hatred. Furthermore, as soon as we walked out not far, they asked someone to dress up as a masked Taoist priest.
It's too late to intercept with the sword. I still don't know something, or I may be a little presumptuous, but since I came back to save Junior Brother Yang, I don't care about that much. What kind of sword technique did Junior Brother Yang use?
Do you know them too?"
Zhu Jieran, Zhuo Songtao, and Huang Shuo exchanged glances, and they all saw confusion in each other's eyes. Zhuo Songtao said: "To be honest, this is the first time our senior brothers have seen junior brother Yang use this sword technique. Our Gongsun
The master of the temple has never allowed us to use weapons. We usually practice sparring with various fists and kicks. Some of them were learned by the brothers before they entered the temple, and some were learned from the masters who taught in the temple. The brothers have a good relationship with each other, and sometimes they learn from each other.
Of course, there are also brothers who know some swords, guns and sticks, but they all hide it from the audience and occasionally use tree branches to demonstrate one and a half moves..."
Huang Shuo suddenly remembered something and added: "Junior Brother Yang's swordsmanship may have been taught by his traveling master. This is not a secret in the temple. When Junior Brother Yang first entered the temple, there was a man named Chang
Yuan Zhenren’s Taoist priest was in the temple, and he was a good friend of our Gongsun temple master. At that time, he seemed to think that junior brother Chong Lingzi had good spiritual roots, so he accepted him as a disciple and taught the meaning of the scriptures and exercises alone. Later, within a few months, he
I went on a wandering trip and never came back..."
Fang Qidou was slightly startled when he heard this, and said hurriedly: "Zhenren Changyuan? It can't be Li Changyuan, a capable minister in white, right? 'Fang Ruo acts righteously, Yuan Ruo uses wisdom', these eight words, are the six or seven-year-old Li Changyuan.
He said that Temple Master Yuchi often said that he was born to be a cultivator. Junior Brother Yang could have such an opportunity, I really envy others!" At this point, knowing that he was a little out of character, he changed the topic again.
Came back, "So what's the name or origin of this swordsmanship?"
Huang Shuo added: "Although this is the first time we have met. But one time, I heard Junior Brother Yang joking with some Taoist boys from his village, and vaguely mentioned the 'Rushui Sword' several times, but I was not sure whether it was a sword or not.
The name of the law."
Fang Qidou was shocked and said: "Rushui Sword...fa?!" Huang Shuo nodded hesitantly, then shook his head.
Zhu Jieran patted Huang Shuo's head: "What nonsense! If the Rushui Sword Technique is really like water, how could it be possible to kidnap Junior Brother Yang with the skills of those masked Taoist priests and the three-legged cats!"
Zhuo Songtao also said: "I am thinking of some old things. Before our Gongsun temple master went to the mountains to practice Taoism, he was a knight-errant with both civil and military skills. The Gongsun clan passed down a set of 'Gongsun sword skills'. The temple master was in Henan Province at that time.
There are few opponents in this area. So some of their subordinates were unwilling to be defeated and began to covet this set of swordsmanship. In fact, most Taoist priests as old as Gongsun Guanzhu who are still alive also know about it. I think those Taoist priests are
When I was practicing martial arts in Zhaitan, I saw that Junior Brother Yang's swordsmanship was exquisite, so he mistakenly thought it was 'Gongsun Swordsmanship', so he deliberately kidnapped him in order to force him to learn about this swordsmanship."
Fang Qidou thought for a while and then said: "I think Senior Brother Zhuo is most likely to say it. If this is the reason, then with Junior Brother Yang's character, will he tell them? Or... how long can he persist after suffering some torture?
Did not say?"
Zhu Jieran somewhat understood what he meant: "If you tell me, life or death will be unpredictable; if you don't tell me, you can live longer. If those masked Taoist priests really want to obtain sword skills, they will not kill easily.
Is that what you mean?" Fang Qidou nodded silently. Zhuo Songtao tilted his head, his eyes full of worry: "Junior brother Yang and I usually fight the most. Even though he is smart and naughty, he also has a bit of a strong backbone. If
Those thieves and Taoist priests are cheating with clever words, and it might still be possible. If they use force, I'm afraid they can beat Junior Brother Yang to death and they won't be able to acquire the swordsmanship."
Fang Qidou's face became solemn: "Then, we have to follow the clues that senior brother got back, and when we search again tomorrow, we will search from Nanshi to the north. But it's best for all the senior brothers to change into normal clothes before going, so as not to be
It would be best if those thieves and Taoists found out. I'd better take people to Wuhoupu of Luxinfang, try to rescue the master, and then tell our guess to Zhang Wuhou. I can only hope that Junior Brother Yang is more resolute and can last a little longer.
day……"
The long night was quiet, and the grand Taiwei Palace was filled with black. The cool autumn rain fell on the ground paved with boulders. Occasionally, a light flashed out, printing a wandering red light among the puddles, but it was a night patrol.
The guards were holding spears and halberds, walking in neat steps, and passed by in formation.
Gongsun Zhenren was standing in a guest room in Xizhaiyuan. On the desk next to the window, there were precious papers and pens and an inkstone. There was an auspicious animal carved beside the inkstone, looking back at him: black and white hair.
, the neatly tied Taoist bun was pinned by a wooden hairpin, and it was not messy at all. The Taoist temple and the turban were placed on the wooden couch beside him. He stood blankly for a while, and then the pen in his hand started to move, but it was bright.
Palace lanterns with various patterns drawn on paper.
The door to the guest room rang, and a steward with a green robe and stone belt, black robes and black boots came in carrying a smaller lacquer box: "Fellow Gongsun! The palace envoy sent me to bring some food. I hope he will say:
Friend, please work harder tonight, write down and draw some useful clues, and he will interview you tomorrow." Master Gongsun snorted coldly, but did not answer him.
The Zhike steward was not embarrassed. He closed the door and retreated to the Xizhai courtyard. There were seven or eight guards on duty in the courtyard. The Zhike steward explained to the leader before leaving the Xizhai courtyard and went to the Xizhai courtyard.
The palace envoy went to report it.
There is also a courtyard near the Xuanyuan Temple of Taiwei Palace, which is where the palace envoys work and rest on weekdays. At this time, the lights and candles in the main hall are shining brightly, as bright as day, and the light incense adds many elusive features to the luxuriously decorated main hall.
Transparent atmosphere.
Wang Jin, the envoy of Taiwei Palace, sat in the middle of the hall, with a Taoist priest sitting on the left and right, listening respectfully and humbly to him: "I left Gongsun Xuantong here because I have other things to do.
.Since you have captured the successor of his swordsmanship, it is up to you to come up with the "Gongsun Swordsmanship". But at present, Gongsun Xuantong has not spoken yet, and what I want to do has not yet been decided, so I will first
Don't hurt that boy's life, it may be needed in the next few days."
A Taoist priest cupped his hands and said: "We must obey the orders of the Palace Envoy! It's just that Long Xingguan's actions are too kind to women. A little Taoist boy, after being captured for a long time, didn't even ask a word! Why don't you leave it to me?
The disciples in the temple will guard and ensure that everything is done properly..."
Another Taoist priest retorted: "You Jingyun Temple are decisive in your actions! Why do you pretend to be a Taoist from my temple? You don't want to gain benefits, but you also want to pluck yourself out! Besides, that little Taoist boy has a stubborn temper and is neither soft nor hard.
Eat, even if he doesn't freeze and starve for a few days, I'm afraid he won't be soft..."
The Taoist priest of Jingyun Temple smiled disdainfully: "Master Lin, I thought you were better than Dao Chongguan's Zhan endless, so I left him to cooperate with you, but you are still complaining! This Taoist boy is my Taoist.
What I caught after being targeted by the disciples was just wearing a few of your Taoist robes and using a few of your disciples as guards. If you, Long Xingguan, are afraid, just hand him over to us for trial!"
Guanzhu Lin sneered: "Shi Xiaoren, you have a good plan! Since the person is given to us to guard, we will make the palace envoy rest assured that we only use sword skills and do not harm lives. Today there are bad guards and Hongdao Temple.
I've been here, and depending on the situation, I'm afraid your people are rough in their work and have missed something..." Shi Xiaoren, the leader of Jingyun Temple, was slightly angry: "Lin Yunbo, are you teaching me how to do things? Even if I miss something, I will
Yun Guan has also shouldered the responsibility. He will never make things difficult for the Imperial Envoy! But you, looking forward and backward, timid, are not what men do..."
The palace envoy listened to the two arguing with interest for a while, and then smiled and said: "We are all crossing the water in the same boat, so don't hurt your harmony over such trivial matters! Today, Hongdao Temple Yuchiyuan took a group of disciples and ran away
When he arrived at Daochong, he humiliated Zhan Buexiu. With his mentality, he was not such an impulsive and reckless person. His real intention was to vent his dissatisfaction and make a gesture to us. Zhan Buexiu was a stinker.
It's insignificant, but Yuchiyuan is a figure. Fortunately, by some combination of circumstances, Yuchiyuan has been captured by Wu Houpu. I have already informed them of the superior officials and will lock them up for a few more days. When things are over here, maybe there will be no need to see blood.
Everyone can be happy."
When Shi Xiaoren, the master of Jingyun Temple, and Lin Yunbo, the master of Longxing Temple, saw what the palace envoy said, they all raised their hands and said: "Your Majesty, the envoy of the palace, is extremely wise, and we are beyond stupid!"
At this time, the guest steward had come over and knocked lightly at the door. The palace envoy knew that he was one of his own, so he called in: "Hong Taizhu, what's going on with Gongsun Xuantong? Are you still unwilling to explain?"
Hong Taizhu bowed, cupped his hands and said, "Your Majesty, I went in just now on the pretext of bringing food to you. The old Taoist Gongsun was arrogant and ignored me. But he seemed to be drawing something on the desk. I think it was
It must have something to do with your expectations! After all, the arm cannot twist the thigh..."
The palace envoy smiled and said, "It would be best if he could figure it out! Even if he is stubborn and refuses to speak, I have a way to make him speak. Guanzhu Lin, since you are watching that Taoist boy, you can take some of that Taoist boy.
Bring your belongings. If it’s too soft, I’ll see him so that he can have some scruples!”
Lin Yunbo bowed his head in agreement, and briefly chatted with Hong Taizhu and others before leaving the courtyard with Shi Xiaoren. Under the guidance of Hong Taizhu, they went to rest in another courtyard.
Outside Taiwei Palace, the city gradually fell into a deep sleep. The vast Luoshui River passed through Luoyang, the capital of the gods, and became more and more powerful in the continuous autumn rain. A few small boats tied to both sides of the Luoshui River were flowing in the rapids.
There was panic in the river, as if the rope might fall off at any time, throwing them into the undercurrent of this rainy night...