In the autumn afternoon, the chill was diluted by the growing sunlight. Jian Chunmen Street in Luoyang City was bustling with pedestrians, giving it a slightly prosperous appearance.
It is a common thing for the city's wanderers, libertines, ruffians who roam the streets, and soldiers who have spare money to find a wine shop to drink a few bowls, curse a few words, and flirt with Hu Ji who persuades him to drink.
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Diagonally across from Nanshi, in Xiu Shan Square, shouts and shouts poured out from the gate from time to time. The unstoppable bustle made many passers-by stop and crane their necks to look inside.
A pedestrian was so curious that he entered the square gate directly. He saw a dark red wine flag hanging high under the eaves beside the square road. On the wine flag were two official characters patchworked with black cloth: Crane Shang.
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The lively shouts came from the Heshang Wine Shop. When the group of people saw that it was a wine shop, they licked their lips and touched the few coins in their arms, and their spirits dropped. They were about to turn around.
When I left the shop, I saw a figure being thrown out of the wine shop. His face was bruised, but he was still smiling and yelling incomprehensibly:
"Brother Tu, we have a lot of money! I'll pay you back someday. Why do you want to beat someone? It's just two bowls of wine from you... We Luozhong knights never stick to such details when doing things! As for this little barbarian lady,
It’s quite satisfying…”
The bartender beat him up and didn't want to pay any more attention to him. But after hearing the laziness in his words, he became angry again. He ran over and confronted him: "You can be considered a knight! You are just idle.
, just a libertine who spends all day eating."
The prodigal didn't fight back. When the waiter returned from beating him, he stretched out his hand to wipe the blood on his face. He suddenly turned his head and shouted to the door of the shop: "What are you looking at! Brother Tu will come over soon and kill you all over the house."
!”
The passerby was startled and did not dare to stay any longer, and immediately ran away without a trace. The prodigal struggled for a while and walked out of the square gate, and soon disappeared without a trace.
The Heshang Restaurant was extremely lively. The large wooden tables were crowded with people, including bad guards, rich households, merchants, rangers, soldiers, and even some low-ranking officials.
Thirty or forty people gathered together for their own reasons, eating steamed mutton, soup cakes, and steamed rice dumplings, and gulping down the Heshang wine in a coarse porcelain bowl. On some wooden tables, the "wine beards" were spinning rapidly,
Anyone who stops in front of them will take a sip of Heshang wine, which is more interesting than pushing the glasses straight back and forth.
On a wooden table near the door, there were five or six young people sitting, all wearing black robes and brown robes. One of them was chewing mutton, and his disdain was palpable: "That scoundrel Wang just now is really short-sighted! This wine shop has
Taiweigong Hong Taizhu Zhaofu dares to come here to eat and act wildly? Who is that guy named Tu in Luoyang City? His master even ordered someone to take care of him..."
Another person refuted: "Cheng Si'er, just eat meat and wine! What does it have to do with you? Our leader, Brother Fang, if he knew that you were so unobtrusive, he would never be able to eat and drink like this again.
It's a good thing, I won't ask you to come."
Cheng Si'er felt obedient, responded, and then lowered his head to eat. The man then said to a figure closer to the inside: "Brother Qiu, Brother Fang said he was going to welcome a brother, why are you here?"
Long time? Is that brother very good at martial arts?"
The second brother Qiu was chewing on a piece of mutton chop. He tore open a piece of fascia with a smooth tongue. He chewed it randomly and swallowed it before saying: "Zhao Sandao, Brother Fang does what he does. Let's just watch and learn. He's gone
After so long, I think this brother must have a very good relationship with him." At this point, he wiped the grease from his mouth again, "Brother Fang's brother is our brother! When people come over later, no one can do it.
You have to talk nonsense!" Everyone agreed, and then they all buried their heads in chewing.
Not long after, a thin and handsome young man from a wealthy family walked in first, with a thin Taoist boy standing next to him. Some people in the wine shop looked here, and they were suspicious: Is such a young Taoist priest also here to drink?
However, the rich man naturally sat down at the wooden table at the door and greeted warmly: "Junior Brother Yang! This table is full of brothers. You sit next to me and I will introduce you to each other!"
The Taoist boy hesitated for a moment, and seeing that the matter had come to an end, he sat down generously. The rich young man continued: "Brothers! This is Yang Chaoxi, the spiritual son of Shangqing Guanchong. He has superb swordsmanship and unparalleled martial arts.
Even if I try my best, I still can't beat him!"
Yang Chaoxi looked slightly embarrassed and glanced at the rich young man. At this time, the six people sitting in a circle had stood up and shouted to him with wine in their hands: "Well done, Young Master Yang!"
When Yang Zhaoxi heard everyone calling him "Young Hero", he felt proud in his heart. He quickly stood up, grabbed the bowl of wine in front of the rich young man, and drank it with everyone. He felt an indescribable spiciness.
The meaning suddenly swept through his throat and emerged from his nostrils, causing him to cough dozens of times in succession. He drank two more bowls of water before he recovered.
Brother Qiu was a little embarrassed and looked at the rich man in confusion: "Brother Fang! This little brother... doesn't know how to drink?"
This rich young man is Fang Qidou, the eldest son of Hongdao Temple. At this time, he pretended to be innocent and said: "Ah? Junior Brother Yang, you have never drank wine? Why didn't you tell me earlier! There is also sweet and refreshing peach wine in this wine shop.
.Feng Laoliu! Go and sift some and bring them over and give them to Junior Brother Yang to try!"
Yang Zhaoxi had no choice but to cup his hands and said: "Brothers, I'm laughing at this. Xiaodao has never drank alcohol. I followed Senior Brother Fang here today because I was also curious about what the 'Seven Heroes of Luozhong' he said looked like. I wanted to come and broaden my horizons." After listening, everyone's expressions changed.
Even more embarrassed, they all looked at Fang Qidou in unison.
Fang Qidou had no sense of shame, and said proudly: "The so-called 'Seven Heroes of Luozhong' are Fang Qidou, the 'Bone-crushing Dual Swordsman', Qiu Chu'an, the 'Heaven-Breaking Spear', Zhao Sandao, the 'Toutuo Crazy Stick',
'Devil-Conquering Hammer' Cheng Si'er, 'Xuanfeng Dual Mace' Wu Xiangnan, 'Wandering Snake Spear' Feng Zhe, 'Forest Destroying Axe' Zhou De. Junior Brother Yang is lucky enough to have seen them all today."
Yang Chaoxi sighed inwardly and changed his words with a troubled expression: "Brothers, you all are brave and extraordinary at first glance. Maybe we can compete with each other when we have time someday!"
Fang Qidou said: "It's better to choose a day than to hit it! After we finish eating, we will all go to my house to compete. I have all kinds of weapons over there! Junior Brother Yang, don't underestimate these brothers of mine.
The ancestors of each family were all soldiers of the Sheng Dynasty, and they were all very skilled in weapons. Alas! It’s just that in the past few years, the benefits of the soldiers have disappeared. The Sheng Dynasty did not raise idle soldiers, and only spent money to recruit them when there was a war.
Recruit some troops."
"Heaven-Breaking Spear" Qiu Chuan's face turned red: "Young Master Yang! Our eldest brother Fang has a free and easy temperament. This is to put gold on the faces of several brothers. I will give you a thorough explanation, although they are all martial arts passed down from generation to generation.
, but it’s not that powerful. You don’t know that when you kill the enemy in battle, you usually have more people bullying fewer people, and your martial arts skills are second to none.”
Fang Qidou smiled and said: "I'm here to tell you this! The mutton and soup cakes are almost cold. Brothers, please eat more, and you will be stronger for the competition later! By the way, Junior Brother Yang, the 'Crane Shang' wine here is quite good."
The above is a unique specialty in Luozhong, which has been around since the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is slightly pungent when you first enter the mouth, and slightly bitter when it enters the throat, but the sweetness afterward is quite strong and long-lasting, with a Taoist charm of 'after all the hardship, sweetness comes'. Try it again!"
Yang Chaoxi was sipping the peach wine, and it was indeed very sweet. After hearing what Fang Qidou said, he took the wine bowl in front of him, took a sip, and then swallowed it slowly, but it tasted as bad as ever.
.
At this time, the soldiers at the table inside the wine shop had finished eating, put down their money, and walked out of the wine shop drunkenly. One of the soldiers suddenly turned around, glared at Yang Chaoxi and said, "You... are also Shangqingguan"
A Taoist priest? Humph! If we, Mr. Chen, hadn’t… spoken out, I would have taken you back today… and made a good deal of it!”
Yang Chaoxi was glared at for no reason, but he got angry and wanted to refute him. Fang Qidou quickly stopped him and smiled at the soldier. When the soldier saw that Yang Chaoxi actually wanted to fight with him,
Instead of being angry, he smiled. Just when he was about to draw his sword and put it right, he was pulled back by another soldier: "Have you forgotten the military order? Don't make any more trouble. Shao Zhonghou has been in a bad mood recently. Don't let him catch you again. Arrest him.
Hit the army stick!"
After the recruits left, Yang Zhaoxi was not only angry, but also confused: How could these recruits conflict with Shangqing Temple? And judging from the attitude of the recruits, they should be eating from the hands of the brothers from Shangqing Temple.
Since I heard last time that someone was going to cause trouble for Shangqingguan, I have been worried. Today, I was provoked by soldiers, which means that something has happened. I don’t know what the situation is like in the temple now.
...Thinking of this, I became a little worried.
Fang Qidou saw his thoughts and smiled: "Junior Brother Yang, don't worry! We, Yuchi Monastery Master, have already said that Gongsun Zhenren has a wide circle of friends, and ordinary sesame officials who seek trouble are simply asking for trouble. Yesterday
Many Taoist temple leaders have gone to the 'Cuiyun Dan Meeting' organized by your Shangqing Temple and have not returned yet. If I hear any new news, I will definitely tell you as soon as possible!"
Yang Chaoxi nodded, suppressed his worries, and continued to eat meat and wine with everyone. After a while, Fang Qidou turned his head again, looked at him mysteriously and said: "Senior brother, you are so loyal! In return, you
Should you inquire more about Junior Sister Jing Xizi and tell me? Don’t worry, Senior Brother will never let you inquire about it in vain."
Yang Zhaoxi raised her head, stared at him expressionlessly for a while, and then immersed herself in eating. When the members of the "Seven Heroes of Luozhong" at the same table heard the eldest brother talking about women, they all put down their bowls and chopsticks and started to gather around.
He went up and asked for details.
Fang Qidou also put down his chopsticks, and shamelessly told everyone about the heart-stirring encounter between Fang Qidou and Jing Xizi Tang Juan, the "bone-crushing double swords":
It was a morning covered with golden autumn leaves. The translucent light passed through the sparse branches and leaves outside Linji Temple, giving the tall and bright silhouette a holy outline... that proud neck, intoxicating... that unruly figure.
His eyes were glancing and glancing... The wooden hairpins shot out from the courtyard wall contained deep meanings... The shame, anger and running away when seeing him again made people recall them for a long time...
Yang Zhaoxi tried his best to focus all his attention on the mutton and peach wine in front of him. But Fang Qidou's expressive and unbeatable narration penetrated his ears all the time, making him laugh bitterly.
After a long time, he finally couldn't hold it back and turned around, interrupting Fang Qidou's narcissistic words: "Hey! Senior Brother Fang, wipe your saliva first... Senior Sister Jing Xiko just ignores you, okay?
It’s just wishful thinking on your part.”
Fang Qidou's expression stiffened, but he sighed deeply: "Alas! Young people don't know what it's like to be sad. Junior Brother Yang, you are still young and don't understand this. Junior Sister Jing Xizi and I, even though we dare not say that we are a match made in heaven, we still understand each other tacitly.
We are a couple...She refuses to pay attention to me now because she hasn't thought about it yet...What woman doesn't want to have sex? One day she thinks about it, and even if I catch you, I will catch you and drink from our wedding wine!"
After Fang Qidou finished speaking, a rare expression of smugness appeared on his face. If he hadn't eaten such a feast of meat and wine, Yang Zhaoxi would have been unable to help but slap him.
Fang Qidou talked for a long time, and when all the brothers dispersed with satisfaction and continued to drink, Fang Qidou said with self-pity: "Alas! It's hard to find a good partner, and there are many twists and turns in a good relationship! I think that Fang Qidou, who is young and frail, is well-dressed and handsome.
"You are so handsome, yet you are still alone, wandering around in the world of mortals. What a jealous hero!"
Yang Zhaoxi had already had enough wine and food, so she patted him on the shoulder and said, "Senior Brother Fang, I have something to say. I don't know whether I should say it or not?"
Fang Qidou squinted his eyes, half-smiling but not smiling: "If you have something to say, say it, and if you have anything to say, let it go!"
Yang Zhaoxi said solemnly: "I don't know much about Senior Sister Jing Xizi. But Senior Brother Fang, you really deserve a beating..." After saying that, a violent chestnut suddenly hit Fang Qidou on the forehead.
After that, he stood up and ran out of the wine shop laughing.
Fang Qidou waved his hand angrily: "Brothers, catch me alive... and I will kill him with my own hands!" Seeing that the six brothers of the "Seven Heroes of Luo Zhong" all rushed out, Fang Qidou was not willing to accept it.
If you fall behind, you have to rush out.
At this time, two wine shop waiters were already standing in front of him, saying with a dark face: "The profit in this shop is small, so I won't be able to get credit!"
Fang Qidou smiled awkwardly and hurriedly took out some broken silver from his arms and stuffed it into their hands. Then he shouted again and rushed out.
The night was getting darker and the stars were shining. Before the end of the Cuiyundan meeting, an unexpected episode occurred. After being impressed by Gongsun Zhenren, Tang Tuo, the real person of Lu Yong, made a proposal on a whim:
Starting from this "Cuiyun Alchemy Meeting", every six years, each Taoist temple in Luoyang City can hold a "Cuiyun Alchemy Meeting". The location is not limited here, and the host can also rotate. The Alchemy Meeting is no longer mainly about talking.
, but elite disciples are sent from each temple to compete in Taoist and martial arts.
One is to inspire the next generation of Taoists to catch up with each other and keep improving; the other is to confirm the Taoism theory of this Cuiyun Dan Society and pass on the Taoism and Taoism. Master Lu Yong will persuade the court to award rewards to those who are outstanding.
Taoist temples and disciples rewarded him.
After hearing this, all the fellow Taoists applauded loudly. Still not satisfied, everyone went back to their guest rooms to rest under the guidance of the Taoist priest Shangqingguan. Starting from the next day, they left one after another.
Master Lu Yong still had many official duties to attend to, so he set out early the next morning. Accompanied by Master Chang Yuan, he took more than a dozen servants and meandered south. Only Master Wu Tianshi had nothing to do, so he insisted on staying with Master Gongsun.
, lived in Shangqing Temple. Occasionally, I gave some advice to the Taoist priests in the temple, which benefited all the Taoist priests, young and old, a lot.
The suggestion made by Master Lu Yong out of excitement paved the way for the rise of the Taoist inner alchemy practice in the years to come.
However, the increasingly confusing dilemma of Taoist cultivation methods was gradually reversed because of this inadvertent suggestion.