The dusk rain hits the autumn windows, and the lights dim. The wind turns cold in the Xizhai Courtyard, and sadness gathers between the brows and temples.
There is a louder sound outside the hospital, and the road beside the screen is filled with despair. The past and future are all in vain, and picking up the hair is like frost.
Gongsun Zhenren stood with his pen in hand, his thin shadow spread on the ground, swaying with the beating lights. What he was thinking about was the scene when the palace envoy came over in the afternoon...
"Fellow Daoist Gongsun, we as Taoists only want to have clear thoughts. Since you know the news about the 'Sword Like Water', you should report it to the court to prevent these artifacts from falling into the hands of rebellious officials and traitors. Why do you keep concealing this?
Such a deliberate obsession to hide one's own secrets will only turn into inner demons for those who practice Taoism." The palace envoy sat on the sandalwood armchair in the main hall of the guest room, his smile still elegant.
"My lord, I dare to swear to you that this 'Rushui Sword' has never been seen before. When Luoyang City fell, the old Taoist was just indignant for a moment, so he forged the stone tablet inscribed with "Song of Rushui Sword" and asked for it.
The Taoist friends in the city spread all kinds of rumors in order to lure the Jianghu Rangers to assassinate the bandit leader An Lushan. But they never expected that the falsehood would come true, and so many details would arise..." Gongsun Zhenren stood beside Wang Jin, the envoy of Taiwei Palace, and replied with cupped hands.
.
"But I have heard someone say that this monument actually contains a sword that is as sharp as iron as clay. What can you say?" The palace envoy raised his head, with a hint of impatience on his face.
"This...is indeed true...it was just an ordinary iron sword. It was just to prevent the leader of thieves An Lushan from smashing the monument in anger, so the plan could not continue...And in this way, even if the monument was broken and the sword came out, the sword would be destroyed.
If the rumor is true, it will arouse the desire of the Jianghu knights to take risks to seize the treasure..." Gongsun Zhenren said this, feeling shocked and angry in his heart, and cold sweat broke out from his forehead.
What is shocking is that very few people know about the sword hidden in the stele, only Wei Chiyuan, the master of Hongdao Temple, and Liao Zhihe, the supervisor of Shangqing Temple. What is angry is that after the rebellion was put down, this matter has actually lost its value.
, but was betrayed to the officials by one of the two people, which became the basis for them to make secrets! No matter who the two people were, he was heartbroken and extremely resentful.
"Then I want this iron sword! Anyone who achieves great things in the world must have a good reputation. Whether it is a knight in the rivers and lakes or a rough man in the grassland, since they all value this 'water sword' so much, then this sword is a sacred weapon that can respond to hundreds of responses.
'. The imperial court wants this sword, whether it is true or false, it is inevitable! The purpose is to find the real thing and tell it to the world, so as to deter some people's ambitions! Do you understand?" The palace envoy had a sharp look in his eyes.
Master Gongsun sighed, but did not answer any more.
The palace envoy refused to give up, and said with a cold smile: "I heard that Zhenren Gongsun is good at divination, and has the ability to detect heavenly secrets and discern ghosts and gods. Since this matter started with you, I must have relied on this disconnected cause and effect.
We can definitely deduce where the stone tablet is now." After that, he took something out of his arms and threw it on the ground.
When Gongsun Zhenren saw the thing, he was shocked. Then he seemed to have made a lot of determination and slowly picked up the thing. It turned out to be a letter that was half wet... The delicate handwriting could be faintly seen on the letter, which was
A few days ago, when they were still living in this courtyard, Hua Xizi Cui Wan handed Yang Zhaoxi a letter of engagement!
Gongsun Zhenren held back his anger and said word by word: "Royal envoy! The old Taoist should do his best! But please abide by the gentleman's behavior and don't hurt my disciples in the temple at all!"
After hearing this, Wang Jin, the envoy of Taiwei Palace, stared at him for a while. Then he flicked his brocade sleeves and walked out of Xizhaiyuan with a big smile.
The embers in the wick grew longer and soaked with the oil. He bent down, but refused to disconnect. The light released by the lamp became restless, shocking Gongsun Zhenren out of his thoughts. So he took the scissors, cut off a section of the embers, and the wick was
He straightened his body again and worked hard to release the light into the darkness.
At this time, there are many cut yellow papers piled on the desk. There are ink marks on the paper, with Yin and Yang lines arranged deliberately, and there are also tables used to deduce calculations. There are also scattered among the yellow papers.
Counting chips, grass, tortoise shells, copper coins and other items, beside the writing desk is a two-foot-square sand tray, with wooden pens in the tray...
From this point of view, whether it is divination, divination, or holding a shackle, Gongsun Zhenren will try every method one by one. Even if the secret is revealed and his longevity is damaged, he can't care much about it at this time.
The lights were on all night long, and the wind and rain kept me company all night long. Zhenren Gongsun never closed his eyes. The autumn rain that had fallen for two consecutive days gradually stopped, and the dark blue clouds still accumulated on the dome, showing no intention of retreating.
Hong Taizhu was dressed in the attire of a Taoist priest again and led the servants from Taiwei Palace, carrying wooden boxes, to the guest room where Gongsun Zhenren was under house arrest. He put down some simple breakfast dishes and tilted his head to look at the bookcase still in front of him.
Gongsun Zhenren, who was writing and painting, said: "Fellow Daoist Gongsun, the palace envoy sent me to bring some breakfast. If there is any other need, I will send someone to prepare it." After saying this, he dismissed the servants and prepared to leave the door.
go.
"Wait a minute, I still have something to do. I need Hong Taizhu to help me." Gongsun Zhenren suddenly turned his head and looked at Hong Taizhu who had stopped. His face was as usual and he said, "Last night, I worked hard and calculated the divination, and I have deduced the general outline of the matter.
.Now there is only one item left, Fuqi, which requires the combined efforts of several people to complete."
Hong Taizhu saw that his words were solemn and did not seem to be deceitful, so he stepped forward and said with a smile: "Since Taoist friend Gongsun has been sent, I will try my best to help. However, although I know the method of supporting the ji, I don't know how Taoist friend Gongsun is going to come.
Do?"
Gongsun Zhenren was not polite and said in a deep voice: "One of the people related to this matter must be asked to be Zhengluan. Yuchiyuan, the master of Hongdao Temple, can fill this position; Hong Taizhu, who is the master of the passage gate, can be deputy Luan; another one
I'm looking for someone who is good at cursive sketching to take notes on my behalf. Only with these few people ready can we implement this method." Hong Taizhu immediately agreed, closed the door and went out to look for the person.
However, when the evening drums were ringing yesterday, Zhu Jieran, Fang Qidou, Zhuo Songtao, and Shang Sizuo gathered in front of Xuanyuan Hall again. Standing next to them were the fellow disciples from Hongdao Temple who were involved in the search, packing up their coir raincoats and bamboo hats.
them.
Fang Qidou looked dejected: "That Zhang Wuhou is actually a pragmatic person, and many clues can be found in more detail than us. But yesterday at noon, we got another order from the superior officer, saying that all affairs of the Dao Sect are under the control of Taiwei Palace, so the case was linked
The files were handed over to the Taiwei Palace, and even Temple Master Yuchi followed. Now they have no way to intervene, and they are afraid of getting burned, so they just asked us to wait for the news. "
Zhu Jieran was a little excited: "We went to the hut where Ming Zongzi's junior brother discovered. It was true that Taoist priests from Longxingguan were sneaking around there, taking turns guarding something. If Wuhou Pu no longer pays attention to this matter, there is no need to
Please help me, Brother Guanzhong, and Brother Zhuo and I will go there tomorrow morning, tie up the Taoist priest in the hut, and interrogate him first."
Fang Qidou looked sulky: "Senior Brother Zhu! The matter has reached this stage, and you still want to say things that are untrue! Since it can involve the fifth and sixth Taoist temples in Luoyang, it is not your family's business. If you go tomorrow, I will be the first one.
Follow! I just want to see what tricks the group of people in Taiwei Palace are going to play this time!" A group of Taoist priests standing next to them also shouted to rescue the viewer, and then to deal with the treacherous messengers.
The deceitful Taoist priests returned the favor.
Everyone shared the same hatred, so they all found a round seat in front of the Xuanyuan Hall and sat down. They discussed and arranged the next day's actions in detail, divided up the tasks, and then dispersed to rest.
The next morning, all the Taoist priests who participated in the operation put on their regular clothes and carried ropes, short sticks and other objects in their sleeves. After leaving the gate of Hongdao Temple, they divided into three branches, starting from the south, north and west gates of Xiuwenfang.
They came out quietly, each looking for their own way, heading towards the reed marsh north of Jiayoufang and on the south bank of Luoshui River.
At the beginning of the break from the rain, Taoist priests B and D, who had been hungry and cold all night, carefully leaned out of the hut, yawned, and stretched their limbs. Then they had time to throw a set of punches, and then they got back in still full of excitement.
After entering the hut, two Taoist priests with their faces covered walked over from afar, entered the reed bush, and got into the low hut. After a while, Taoist priests C and D, who had come out for boxing in the morning, came out.
Thatched cottage, walking shoulder to shoulder towards the south.
At this time, the Taoist priests from Shangqing Temple and Hongdao Temple had been crouching around for a long time. Fang Qidou's eyes flashed coldly and he made a "grab" gesture towards Zhu Jieran. Zhu Jieran shook his head, indicating not to act rashly, and stretched out his hand to cover his face.
The green cloth on the bed was pulled upwards, leaving only a gap for the two eyes. After Taoist priests C and D had left for about a stick of incense, Zhu Jieran waved his hand, and the Taoist priests quickly surrounded the hut from all directions.
past.
Zhu Jieran and Zhuo Songtao were the first to bear the brunt, guarding the firewood door of the hut on the left and right. Zhu Jieran took out a short stick from his sleeves and knocked on the firewood door a few times. The Taoist priest inside was a little startled. Taoist Wu suddenly pushed it away.
Chaimen had long drawn out the barrier knife from his waist, and was about to scold him when he suddenly felt his legs stagnate, and his body fell forward. Then he was hit hard on the side of his left eye, his eyes went black, and he fainted.
It turned out that at the moment Taoist Wu rushed out, Zhuo Songtao had already pounced on him and tightly wrapped his arms around his legs. Taoist Wu's center of gravity was unstable, and halfway down the fall, Zhu Jieran used the strength to hit his temple with his fist.
, knocked him unconscious, and the whole process took less than a breath. Zhuo Songtao did not waste any time, and quickly dragged Taoist Priest Wu aside, took out a rope from his sleeves, and tied up his hands and feet.
The Taoist priests in the hut were also on guard. When they saw Taoist Wu Yi being quickly subdued by two figures outside, they retreated a little further away from the door and shouted: "Who are you!" Those who answered him were filing in.
There were so many figures that the whole hut almost burst open.
The leader was Fang Qidou. After hearing the scolding, he replied: "Your father!" He jumped forward and hit the Taoist priest on the wrist with his short stick.
The Taoist priest felt pain in his hand, and the sword fell off. Just as he was about to punch back, another figure had already smashed him down, pressing him to the ground. Then came the second one, the third one... they were all stacked up.
After five or six people, the Taoist priest's head was exposed. His face was pale, he couldn't breathe, and with tears streaming down his face, he shouted in a hoarse voice: "Ying... hero... spare your life!"
Only then did all the Taoist priests pull out of his chest one by one. Fang Qidou and Lian Jiangping also tied up his hands and feet, tore off his mask and threw it in a corner of the hut, together with Zhu Jieran and Zhuo Songtao, the Taoist priests brought in after being uniformed by Wudui.
They were together. The hut was small, so Fang Qidou sent some of his brothers out to guard the outside of the hut. The remaining few people sat on the old wooden couches, which made a creaking sound.
Zhuo Songtao and Fang Qidou played with the captured barrier knife by coincidence. Fang Qidou also pulled out a few coir grass from the coir raincoat on the side in boredom. He swung the barrier knife a few times and cut the grass into several pieces. He couldn't help but admire it.
He said: "Good sword! Good sword skills!" Then suddenly, like a fierce spirit, he rushed in front of the Taoist priest and slashed his neck with a knife.
The Taoist priest screamed, but he felt his neck was cold, but he didn't feel any pain. It turned out to be the back of the knife! However, his crotch was already wet and a fishy smell filled the air. All the Taoist priests covered their noses and shook their heads.
Fang Qidou smiled awkwardly and sat back with his nose covered. Zhu Jieran said coldly: "What do you want me to ask you? Just answer it!" Seeing that the Taoist priest couldn't help nodding, he continued, "Which Taoist temple do you belong to?
What was done here?"
The Taoist priest was shocked and replied: "The path is Longxingguan... Mu Yazi Shao Gengxian, and senior brother Shi Yazi Shen Jingbin came over... to change the guard... to guard a Taoist boy... said he has very good swordsmanship..."
"Where is that Taoist boy hiding?" Zhuo Songtao looked around, but did not find the shadow of Chong Lingzi Yang Chaoxi. He thought there was something unexpected and shouted with an angry look.
Mu Yazi Shao Gengxian looked embarrassed, but he still said hesitantly: "It's...under the wooden couch." After hearing this, all the Taoist priests looked down and saw that it was empty and gray...only a wooden raft was thrown below.
Zhuo Songtao rushed forward, with a loud "pop!" and slapped Shao Gengxian's left cheek with his palm: "Taoist priest! Are you trying to play tricks on us!"
"It's... it's really down there! You opened that wooden stick to defecate..." Shao Gengxian's left cheek had swollen and tears were streaming down his face. His words seemed to contain endless grievances.
Zhuo Songtao was stunned for a moment, then smiled awkwardly: "Don't worry... let's open it and take a look!" Then everyone overturned the old wooden couch, kicked the raft away, and saw a dark manhole.
Through the reflection of the water in the well, a thin figure could be vaguely seen, huddled on the side of the well wall, life or death unknown. Zhuo Songtao's eyes suddenly turned red, and he rushed over again, aiming at Shao Gengxian's face, "Pa, pop,
Bang..." He punched the Taoist priest more than a dozen times with his bow from left to right. He beat the Taoist priest into a pig's head, his eyes were half-opened, his front teeth were broken, and there was a bright red blood stain hanging under his nose.
Zhu Jieran, Fang Qidou and others quickly found the rope and pulled up the thin figure. After careful identification, they found that it was the unconscious Chong Lingzi Yang Zhaoxi!
However, the situation is really bad! Yang Zhaoxi's still curled up body has cold tentacles and is covered with scars, palm prints, bruises, mud stains, and insect bite marks. It really needs to be described as "incomplete", but it is worthy of the name!
Fang Qidou stretched out his hand to explore, and it seemed that he was dying; he pressed it on his neck again, but his pulse was strong and strong, faintly revealing a strong vitality. He breathed a sigh of relief, and turned around to tell Zhu Jieran, but saw that he was also there.
At the same time, Shen Jingbin held Shi Yazi down and vented his anger, until Shen Jingbin woke up from his coma and repeatedly begged for mercy.
Shang Sizuo, Fang Qidou and others were afraid of killing people, so they hurriedly hugged Zhu and Zhuo. Fang Qidou looked at the miserable Shao Gengxian and Shen Jingbin, and actually felt some sympathy in his heart. He suppressed a smile and said: "You guys
Do you two know who this Taoist boy is?"
Shao Gengxian shook his head and murmured: "Oh... we... don't know..." His words were breathless, and he spat out a few teeth with bloody saliva.
"The Taoist boy we... took over from... Jing Yunguan... doesn't know this... you... can ask them." Shen Jingbin received fewer punches and kicks on his face, and his speech was still clear, and he endured the pain.
He added intermittently.
Fang Qidou's anger aroused and he sneered: "Which Taoist priest is involved in this matter?! Tell me quickly! Otherwise, I promise to chop you two up!" After speaking, he raised his right hand, rotated the barrier knife out of the arc, and held it with his backhand.
The handle of the knife pierced Shao Gengxian's right shoulder cleanly, causing him to scream in pain and almost fainting from the pain.
Shen Jingbin was about to cry but said without tears: "I said... we said! I heard from the people at Jingyun Temple... that they were following the secret orders of Tai... Taiwei Palace... Originally, Tao... Daochong Temple also wanted to participate.
... was thrown away by them. But... I just agreed to Dao Chongguan... If you get the sword skill,... you can also share it..."
Fang Qidou patted Shen Jingbin on the head with satisfaction and said with a smile: "Thank you for telling me!" Then he slapped Shen Jingbin on the back of the head and knocked him unconscious. Senior brother Shang Sizuo over there had already called someone to bring him.
Several broken wooden couches were taken out and tied together with ropes and wooden rafts to make a stretcher. Yang Zhaoxi was placed on the stretcher, covered with a coir raincoat on the side, and began to organize the Taoist priests to retreat.
Zhu Jieran and Zhuo Songtao looked at Yang Chaoxi's tragic situation, their eyes suddenly turned red, and one by one they threw Shao Gengxian and Shen Jingbin down from the manhole. Then they piled the dismantled wooden couch fragments on the mouth of the manhole, and then
He clapped his hands, lifted up the stretcher, followed the fellow Taoists from Hongdao Temple out of the hut, and returned to the temple.