across the Quartet

27

Chapter Three

In the middle of the night, there was chaos in the Shangqing Mansion.It is heard that many "masked robbers" broke into the mansion, killed people and fled after being discovered.

Although Gai Nie is familiar with the structure of this place, he can't predict where these people running around will appear, and they will inevitably fight with them.Under the swaying of the flames, he and the other six hundred gold men were chased and intercepted by countless armored soldiers holding halberds, doormen holding long swords, and servants holding torches, and fell into a rather unfavorable situation.

"Scatter for now." He, Xia Qi, Lu Goujian and the others covered each other's backs and killed a group of guards who came up. "I'll lure them away, and you will be able to leave this place unobtrusively."

As he spoke, he took out two pieces of flint from his pocket, untied the quiver from his back, put the feathered arrows on the gun, shot sparks with the flint and then shot towards several roofs one after another.

"Is this—a rocket soaked in oil?"

Before Lu Goujian finished speaking, Gai Nie ran out along the place illuminated by the burning arrow.The night was dark, and the guards found a figure reflected in the firelight, so they couldn't help but chase in the direction of the shadow.

"As expected of Brother Gai." Everyone knew his temper, so they didn't ask any more questions, and went to find a way out.

Gai Nie's body skills are like lightning, and he uses the two fastest "Flying Star" and "Flying Lightning" styles in the vertical sword technique one after another, even if thousands of people are unstoppable.He was determined to get away, even though he used his sword energy to force back countless Dingfu guards, sometimes hurting his hands and feet, but he refused to kill him rashly.Suddenly, two black shadows came from the side, one of them was the Zimu Fenglei Sword that he had fought against before, and the other was a master he had never seen before. The two cold lights jumped towards his neck, waist and abdomen at the same time.Gai Nie didn't want to get entangled with them, so suddenly he fell back and leaned back deeply. While the long sword was supporting the ground, his wrist rotated rapidly, and countless fine dust was absorbed by the sword body, forming a vortex like a flat ground.Such wonderful moves stunned the guards of Jia Ding's mansion who blocked him. Before he could react, he felt his body uncontrollably rushing forward, and was blown away by another soft force.

——Actually, it is just a form of Longyuan in vertical swordsmanship, but it was turned upside down by Ge Nie.The so-called seven moves of the vertical sword naturally change endlessly in different times, different geographical locations, and in the hands of different people.

Seeing that Ge Nie swung away several people with his sword and was about to fly to the rock beside the water, he suddenly felt a tingling pain in his arm, as if he had been stung by a poisonous insect.It doesn't matter this time, his next move was "Su Qin carrying the sword", and he was about to block the Fenglei sword's pursuit from behind, but his arm weakened at that moment, and he could hardly lift it.

He remembers the feeling.Gai Nie's memory has always been good, let alone the experience of being plotted against.

Ox hair needle.

It was exactly the same needle as the needle that had been pierced into the back of his left knee a year ago in the military competition!

At that time, the person who plotted against him was always by his side.

It seems that many hidden things have surfaced from the bottom of the water, but they can't be seen very clearly... But the situation no longer allows him to think about it.Zhao Beiming's son-mother sword came fiercely, he instinctively leaned forward, but he still couldn't dodge the sword!

With a sound of "chi", the tip of the sword pierced into the flesh.In an instant Ge Nie had nothing to do, Qing Jiao was handed over to his left hand, Zhao Beiming turned around and slashed his sword, who had never had time to stop the move, just cut off his arm holding the sword!With a scream from his opponent, he suddenly threw himself into the water.

Someone stretched out a spear from the shore and stabbed wildly under the water, but Gai Nie had already rushed into the depths of the pool and disappeared without a trace.

It is difficult to tell the direction of the water, but fortunately, there is running water in this channel; according to the news from Aji a few months ago, the pond on Guo's mansion is connected to the bleeding water outside the city.The secret method of Ghost Valley can hold one's breath for a long time, Gai Nie intends to stick to the bottom of the pool with the least movement until he finds the river channel that flows into the bleeding.At first he was always on guard, thinking that if someone came after him, he would shoot him with a gun.But after waiting for a while, he still didn't feel the fluctuation of someone entering the water.

Ge Nie slowly groped along the water.The deeper the water is, the darker it becomes. Before, you could still see the faint fire on the water, but now you can hardly see your fingers.I only saw some small shadows, which seemed to be fishes kept in the pond, and I didn't take much precautions.

Suddenly, he felt something hit him and bit the sword wound on his back.Before he had time to reach out to touch it, the thing turned its head and tore off a small piece of flesh near the wound!

The severe pain caused Gai Nie to open his mouth uncontrollably, but he poured a big mouthful of water from his mouth and nose, and his lungs were choking like fire.At the same time, several "things" gnawed at the wound on his back, his exposed arms, and some got into his clothes through the holes cut by the sword.Fortunately, the belt was tight enough to keep them from digging into the trousers.

It's fish!

Man-eating fish! !

Gai Nie tensed his whole body's muscles, pushing the body-protecting zhenqi to the extreme—however, the body-protecting zhenqi can only block the inner softness of fists and feet, and cannot make people invulnerable.And these fish, like countless small knives, gouged out his flesh, and in the water, his limbs were dragged by the current and couldn't send and receive freely. .

It was like being subjected to the cruelest torture, being eaten away bit by bit.

If Ge Nie continued to struggle like ordinary people, he might really die.

He forced himself to calm down, covered his face and throat with his hands, carefully distinguishing the location of the severe pain.

He found that the fish first bit the wound on his back, and then bit his concealed right arm, while the left arm, which was also exposed, was temporarily safe.

Could it be that their goal is - the smell of blood?

He didn't care about the bleeding wounds, and he didn't care about the strange fish still biting his body. Instead, just like when he was practicing Guigu Neigong, he reversed the flow of true energy, slowing down the blood flow to the extreme, and the veins also followed. Shrunk down, the wound gradually no longer oozes blood.In the end, the whole person is like a human-shaped ice cube, suspended at the bottom of the water—no temperature, no breath, as if even the boundary between "life" and "death" is blurred.

Human beings cannot control their viscera, skin, flesh and blood with their own will.But at that moment, Gai Nie comprehended the so-called "earth" realm in the extreme pain. He finally got a glimpse of the way to get started with the "great transformation of heaven and earth" and "one way" described by Guigu secret art.

Fortunately, Ge Nie saved him by cutting off a severed arm before entering the water.His wound stopped bleeding, the smell was diluted by the current, and more fish chased the severed arm that entered the water.When the number of fish decreased, he moved his arms slowly, held the fish biting him with both hands, and strangled them to death.

On the shore, Guo Kai's disciples saw the water splashing in the pool first, and then the blood slowly expanding, and they all showed understanding smiles.They took down a formidable foe with little effort.As for the hand that Fengleijian threw away, it had turned into a few thick bones and sank; except for himself who was still howling, everyone thought the price was worth it.

"I didn't expect that the fish that my lord bought from Linzi with a lot of money before have such wonderful uses." Someone took the opportunity to flatter, "My lord is really far-sighted——"

"Hehe... It's just to solve a little thief who plotted against the law. It's not a long-term plan." Guo Kai bit the word "little thief" and stroked his beard with a smile. "Have the thief's accomplices been caught? If they escape too quickly, there is no need to capture them alive, just shoot arrows."

"promise!"

Ge Nie moved slowly against the current.The many rough and uneven sores on his body were licked by the muddy pool water. Although he no longer lost blood, the heart-pounding pain followed.After walking so hard for a cup of tea, he felt that the waterway became narrow. According to the picture in his mind, he knew that he was about to enter the mysterious inner courtyard of the Guo Mansion.Suddenly, he vaguely saw something white buried in the mud.

What's under the water?

Appears to be...a skeleton.

Ge Nie had a bad feeling.He bent down, got as close to the pile of bones as possible, and observed carefully from head to toe.When he glanced below the pelvis, his eyes suddenly widened.

On the right knee of the skeleton, there is a hollow on the patella, and there are cracks around it-this wound was previously pierced by an arrow.

Ge Nie thought of someone.There is no such coincidence in the world.

He felt that the center of his chest was tightly tightened, and his internal organs were all upside down, and he was so uncomfortable that he wanted to tear his chest apart with his hands.

Compared with this kind of pain that cannot be relieved, the torture of being bitten alive before, I can't wait to do it again; as long as he doesn't let him think...don't let him know who the owner of this skeleton is...

The movement of true qi was completely messed up.Immediately, the large and small wounds distributed on the chest, back, and arms began to bleed again.Gai Nie no longer hesitated, took off his jacket, wrapped the whole skeleton inside, tied a knot, and swam towards the surface of the water as fast as he could.

"Zuo San'er, didn't they catch up?" A young man with a black cloth covering his face asked in a low voice.

"I didn't catch up. Brother, look, the wall is very dark and quiet, and there seems to be no one. Why don't we..."

The masked young man nodded, and first supported another masked man to help him climb over the nine-foot-high courtyard wall; suddenly he jumped up, and he also jumped down from the top of the wall lightly. Not a sound.

The courtyard was so quiet that the outside seemed to be two worlds.A few clusters of pruned osmanthus trees are planted in the corner, and a row of blue bricks leads straight to several magnificent houses not far away.

The two masked men squatted in the shadow of the bushes, observed carefully for a while, and then let go of their courage. "It's strange, this Guo Kaifu, why is it so uneasy tonight? Could it be that other than us, there are other people who are also thinking about the baby? But if there is such a group of people, your boss Cao doesn't know at all? No It is said that even if there is one more fly flying in Handan City, it will not be able to hide from his Boss Cao's eyes and ears."

The third from the left shook his head with a bitter face, "I was worrying about how I would explain to the boss when I went back - not only did my baby disappear, but I also lost several brothers. If it wasn't for you, Big Brother Jing, I probably wouldn't be able to escape ..."

"Don't worry, they were just scattered by being chased, and they may not really break in. Even if they were captured alive, as long as there was no lynching, before sending them to Si Kou, let Boss Cao find a way to rob them." The young man said. Spreading his hands indifferently, "Speaking of which, what is this place? How can it be unguarded?"

"This should be the inner courtyard of the Guo Mansion. No one is usually allowed in. It is said that Guo Kai only enters the study over there when discussing military matters with his followers. Originally, there should be guards outside the wall. , but the mansion was so chaotic just now, it seems that they also ran to arrest people."

"I see. Well, there's a river next to it—we can't do anything tonight anyway, why don't we try to escape through the waterway?"

The masked man said and walked towards the river.Suddenly, his footsteps stopped, and he stretched out a hand to block his companion behind him.

"Brother? What's the matter?"

"...the smell of blood."

The young man surnamed Jing put away his hippie smile and turned serious.

At this moment, there was a "crash" sound from the calm water, and a person came out of the water dripping wet.

The man was half naked, with blood all over his face and body, but his eyes were frighteningly bright; he was carrying a bag full of water in his hand.

As soon as he caught his gaze, Zuo San couldn't help but took two steps back in shock. "This man—the eyes are so scary..."

The masked young man looked at the man carefully, his body shook, and he almost cried out.Fortunately, he did not forget the situation in front of him, and lowered his voice desperately.

"It's...Anie?"

The man who came out of the water was also slightly startled. "...Jing Qing? Why are you here?"

"I should ask you! You, you, you... What's the matter with your body injury? Who can hurt you like this?!" Jing Ke felt his tongue was knotted, and his head was even more knotted.There are too many questions to ask, but I really can't take care of them.He grabbed Ge Nie who had jumped ashore and dragged him all the way into the study in the inner courtyard. "Anyway, no one's coming, let's borrow a place to stop the bleeding...I'm carrying medicine powder for trauma, and wine...Xiao Zuo, please go to the door to check the wind, and knock on the window if there is any movement."

The third from the left agreed, and quickly stood up to the window.He was still a little apprehensive towards Ge Nie, and would rather stay away from him.

Without saying a word, Gai Nie let Jing Ke apply the medicine and bandage, still holding the burden firmly in his left hand, and he still refused to let it go.

Jing Ke looked at this old friend who was classified as a "best friend" even though he only had a relationship on both sides, and felt really emotional in his heart.A few years have passed since the last parting; the person in front of him seems to have changed a lot, his stature is taller and stronger, and his aura is also somewhat different.Although his eyebrows and eyes were as clean as when he was a boy, the look in his eyes just now when he came out of the water reminded him of a man-eating dragon he had fought on the Weishui a few years ago.

The same loneliness, the same danger.

He couldn't help but think of the ominous atmosphere when they broke up in Qicheng, and immediately thought of a question that was difficult to utter; however, if he didn't ask, he felt uncomfortable all over, as if there was a bone stuck in his throat.

"Anie, you are here, so Xiaozhuang..."

"...he's still alive." Ge Nie raised his eyes to meet his.He also remembered the situation when he said goodbye last time, no wonder Jing Ke would ask such a question. "I met him in Ye City a few months ago."

Jing Ke let out a long breath, rolled his eyes, and smiled heartily, "As expected of you, Ah Nie. Sure enough, I wasn't disappointed."

Why does the tone sound like my master... Ge Nie thought.But seeing the two rows of neat white teeth exposed by Jing Ke, he also twitched the corners of his mouth as if infected.The boulder pressing on my heart seemed to be slightly relieved.

"Your wound looks so strange... What kind of weapon can hurt people like this?"

"It's a fish."

"What?"

"There are fish eating people in the water."

"My God, it's a good thing I didn't swim out just now..." Jing Ke stuck out his tongue, "Anie, you saved my life."

"...You haven't said what you came here for?"

"Of course I'm doing it for the treasures of the Guo family... Ah!" Jing Ke stared at the baggage in Ge Nie's hand thoughtfully, and he understood everything in an instant, and immediately showed an expression of grief and indignation suddenly realized.

"Anie, why do you choke on me every time you meet?!"

Ge Nie was stunned.He looked at the shadow of Zuo San cast on the pane, suddenly leaned down slightly, and whispered to Jing Ke: "Didn't you come in with Boss Cao's people?"

"Not bad. Hey, A Nie, you also know Boss Cao? But it's no wonder that there are not many people who don't know him if they want to make a living in Handan. But for a master like you, A Nie, they probably want to make friends with you. Ha ha ha ha……"

"Have you heard the news from someone that there is a large amount of treasure buried under the wall of the inner courtyard of the Guo Mansion, and that's why you sneaked into the Guo Mansion tonight?"

"...Boss Cao heard that Guo Kai's servants are powerful, so he asked me to bring his people; but he didn't expect them to have prepared a lot of traps; in addition, it seems that other people also sneaked in--ah How do you know, Annie?"

Ge Nie took a deep breath and shook his head.

"Because the person who released that news was me."

TBC