across the Quartet

Chapter Three

After bidding farewell to He Guanzi, Gai Nie and Jing Ke continued eastward.Because of the delay on the road, they arrived in Linzi seven days later, and missed the chance to meet the Immortal Doctor; I heard that the Immortal Doctor left for Yanxia Capital the day before, accompanied by a young female disciple, who was the only one of the Immortal Doctor successor.Jing Ke wanted to continue to divert to Yan, and asked the medical immortal to help Gai Nie to see if there was any remaining poison, but Gai Nie insisted that the curse seal had been lifted, and he did not want to trek north.The two simply traveled casually in Qi State.

Since Tian Dan returned to the country, Qi State, which once dominated one side as the "Eastern Emperor," has completely declined; It is one of the richest and most peaceful lands in the east of Taihang Mountains.Qi people are eager to learn, love Confucianism, and pay attention to etiquette. Here, people are neatly dressed, elegant, and well-behaved gentlemen are more popular than martial arts who show off their might.The plowmen working in the fields, though complaining about harvests and taxes, would praise the virtues of kings and queens in their songs.However, Hou Sheng, the queen's younger brother and powerful uncle, is far less respected.This person used his power to expropriate and annex land, no matter his relatives or his servants and private soldiers, he dared to dominate the capital of the country and was arrogant.Jing Ke once discussed with Gai Nie enthusiastically whether to join forces as he did in Zhao State to eliminate harm for the people of Qi; They understand it very well and have someone to support them, but they have no plan and preparation for their actions in Qi State, and it is almost impossible to succeed.The idea of ​​assassination had to be abandoned in the end.

This is the most relaxing time for Gai Nie since he left the valley.Although he can spend days and nights in ambushes in the mountains for missions, without feeling bored at all, this kind of goalless days makes him very unaccustomed, and he often feels empty in his heart.However, Jing Ke is really an excellent traveling companion.He was well informed and articulate, and he hit it off with almost anyone he met.He and the bandits who cut the trails called each other brothers, picked beans and rice ears from the farmers' fields, and handed over a roasted rabbit as compensation with a smile, and he could always get wine from the traveling merchants.Ge Nie's harvest was better than his only in the orchard. No matter the graceful girl or the strong peasant woman, they generously threw him one or two green dates, plums and sweet apricots. Some people even smashed a melon bigger than a human head. .Afterwards, Jing Ke said frightenedly that the aunt had practiced the meteor hammer just by looking at it.

They touched the big tripod that was cooked by King Wei of Qi in Linzi City, watched the disciples of various schools debate endlessly in Jixia Academy, lost all their money in a corner of the downtown cockfight, and had to sell two horses in the end.Jing Ke still can't help meddling in some nosy business. When he saw a refugee selling his children and daughters in tears on the side of the road, he wished to take out all the valuable things from his body.So the two fell into a penniless situation again.

"Look, isn't it time for another 'robbing the rich and helping the poor'?" Jing Ke asked with his eyebrows twisted.

It's a pity that Ge Nie is no longer the country boy who was deceived by his junior a few years ago. "Jingqing, now that I think about it, the so-called rich are not necessarily rich and unkind; It would be reckless to steal their wealth while wearing a jade crown—"

"Then what do you say?"

"Why don't you go to King Qi's Palace?"

"...Anie, you are hiding something."

Wang Gong and his party gained a lot.Jing Ke found a familiar craftsman, melted the gold and exchanged it into coins and cloth, and gave it to the widow who almost sold a pair of children; The little doll on his lap.He himself picked up one and ate it.

"Why do you pick so many peaches? You might as well steal a gammon leg from the kitchen."

"These peaches are unusual. According to rumors, the peaches that grew on the trees in the back garden of the palace were used by Yan Ying, Prime Minister of Qi, when he "killed three scholars with two peaches". So I picked some back to commemorate the sages." Gai Nie chewed With the pulp, he spoke vaguely and authentically.

"Remembering the sages—that, Ah Nie, why did you turn your head away—"

"I heard in the past that 'Linzi is three hundred Lu, and the clothes are covered with shade, and the sweat becomes rain.' Seeing it now, it really lives up to its reputation." Gai Nie looked enviously and sadly at the streets in front of him. "It's good not to fight. Since I was born, the country of Zhao has been fighting almost non-stop, and the cities and villages on the border are rarely intact. No wonder the people of Qi love the king and queen so much."

"People from Qi might still like Fan Ju." Jing Ke also took a peach and took a big bite. "It's just saving the fattest bite until the end. If there are not three Jins in the middle, even if there are a hundred kings and queens, how can the tiger and wolf let Qi go?"

Gai Nie mused: "Qi State was also a martial arts country in the past, and its fighters were famous all over the world. Linzi also often saw various sword competitions. However, since King Kuai of Yan took the throne, the successive years of fighting between Qi and Yan have exhausted the vitality of Qi State. , in today's Qi State, no matter nobles or commoners, they just want to rest and recuperate, and they don't want to prepare for war."

Jing Ke licked the juice that flowed from his hands: "It's good to rest and recuperate, but you can't just watch the thief in another house and kill your watchdog."

Ge Nie smiled without saying a word.Jing Ke is really smart, although he is a bit greedy; but maybe it is because he is a smart person that he would rather get drunk than wake up.

After staying in Linzi for a few days, Jing Ke suddenly proposed shyly that he wanted to visit his old friend in Acheng.Gai Nie had nothing to say, but it was a pity that they lost their mounts, so they had to run all the way from the capital to Ayi relying on light work.After a day and a night, the two of them arrived outside the famous Magpie Building, only to hear that Miss Li had just left this place a few days ago and moved to live outside the city alone.

"She is a weak woman, but she lives alone in the valley below the mountain? Aren't you afraid?" Jing Ke said in disbelief.

"It seems that we have to find a way to find her first."

The two went out of the city at dawn, inquired repeatedly in the outskirts of the village, and finally found the place where Miss Li lived. The hills are gentle and the vegetation is shady. There are a few simple thatched huts in the open space; There is a ten-acre pond behind the house.It's a quiet place.

A woman with her hair in a bun was sitting alone in the room, with a yellow dog lying at her feet.When Jing Ke gently knocked on the door, she raised her head and showed a knowing smile.

"You came."

"Miss Li... hello." Jing Ke withdrew his hand, looking a little embarrassed, "I heard... I heard that you moved here."

"Yes. Hurry up and invite guests in."

Li Ji stood up and smiled coquettishly.She was very beautiful, and her demeanor was more noble, which was incompatible with the mud walls of the simple thatched hut.

Ge Nie hurriedly bowed down and saluted. "Gai Nie, please don't blame me if I take the liberty to bother you."

Li Ji returned the courtesy and said: "It's rare to have a distinguished guest, but unfortunately, the house is poor and poor, and I can't provide any food and drink for guests."

Jing Ke immediately took out a wine gourd from behind: "It doesn't matter, I brought wine. This is the authentic Langya red. It is said that Gou Jian, the king of Yue, ruled the southeast after he destroyed Wu, and this kind of wine was served at the banquet with the princes. .”

Li Ji smiled sweetly: "You can be full as long as you have wine, and I hope your friends will be the same."

Ge Nie didn't want to disturb the reunion of the two after a long absence, so he volunteered to go to the back room to light a fire and cook.A piece of dried pork is hanging above the stove, and several clay pots on the side are filled with rice, noodles and salt grains that are about to bottom out; there is nothing else.However, when Gai Nie was cleaning the stove, he found some charred and broken animal bones and tortoise shells in the embers.He buried his doubts in his heart, pushed the door open and walked to the yard.The backyard was bare, without the straw and firewood piles that are common in ordinary farmhouses, and half-person-high weeds grew randomly in the corners.Across a fence is a pond, and swimming shadows can be seen faintly in the water.Gai Nie picked some wild vegetables by the water, planning to make a fishing rod tomorrow and catch some fish to eat.He then chopped off two small trees that were as thick as an arm with his saber.It wasn't until he was chopping wood to make a fire that he suddenly remembered that Li Ji's fingers were delicate and white, as if she had never done such rough work.So how does she live here alone?

He shook his head, throwing out these weird thoughts.

For dinner, Gai Nie made a big pot of batter soup with wild vegetables and bacon, while Li Ji heated up Langya Hong and poured wine for the guests attentively.Her smile is warm and friendly, and her speech is generous, but she doesn't feel like the famous "No. [-] Beauty in Qi Country", but more like a princess who lives in seclusion.Gai Nie noticed that there was an emerald green jade ring hanging around her neck, the patterns on it were complicated and strange, not like ordinary things.But out of politeness, he still didn't ask any more questions.

At night Gai Nie sleeps in a hut on the west side.There was only a thin straw mat on the ground, but fortunately, the weather was warm and the soil was moist, so they slept comfortably.About midnight, he was awakened by a very light knock on the window.He got up and opened the window, only to see a black shadow flashing past, running towards the direction of the hillside.

Ge Nie opened the door without hesitation and chased him out.He shuttled among the rocks and bushes along the mountain road, and finally caught up before the top of the mountain.Heiying turned around, gasping for breath, sweat dripping from panic on his forehead—it really was Jing Ke.

Without giving Ge Nie time to ask questions, he pulled his hair and shouted: "What about Anie Anie! I seem to have it!!!"

"...What's there?"

"Son, son!"

Although Ge Nie was not really scared many times in his life, this night was definitely one of them. "You have... what did you do?"

"...No, it's not me! It's A Li, A Li—" Jing Ke stammered, every word he uttered seemed to have made great determination, "She has my child."

Ge Nie opened his mouth, but closed it again in bewilderment.He searched his stomach, but there was nothing Guigu learned that could deal with the scene in front of him. "Uh... congratulations."

"No, no, it's useless to say this, you help me think about it, what should I do—" Jing Ke looked like he was about to cry.

"...I heard that after the restoration of the Qi Kingdom, the population withered, so the king and queen rewarded production, and stipulated that farmers who gave birth to a boy would be rewarded with a chicken, and those who gave birth to a daughter would be rewarded with a piglet—you can go to the city to inquire. "

"...That's not the point, okay!"

"..."

"I don't know how to take care of them. Li Ji and the child." Jing Ke's voice gradually became gloomy.He sat down and stroked his wet hair. "Although Ali said that I don't have to stay with her, but that is my son after all... But I am a disciple of the Mohist school. For our beliefs and career, it is inevitable that I have to risk my life-not to mention that I also want to, and I always want to Do something big. Anie, do you still remember what we said five years ago in the suburbs of Qicheng?"

"……I remember."

"When the day comes, I don't want to put Ali and this child in danger because of my relationship. At that time, I may already be dead. I may be wanted by the princes. No matter what, having a relationship with me is itself a mortal danger. "Jing Ke lay down with his hands behind his head. "Yeah... Maybe it's better for the kid not to know who his father is."

"Really? Miss Li said so?"

"No... I don't know. Ali is fine, fine... just a little—mysterious. I really don't know what she thinks."

In the early morning of the next day, although neither of them slept well, they both tried their best to appear as normal in front of their master.Li Ji took out dozens of coins and asked Jing Ke to buy some things for the family-cloth, needlework, grain, seasoning and so on.Jing Ke went out in a hurry.And Gai Nie found a small axe, went up the mountain and chopped two bundles of firewood and came back.Lizzie's yellow dog loved him and circled him as he split the sticks into thinner kindlings, and later ran around the yard toward the pond behind the house barking.Ge Nie thought of his fishing plan, so he found branches and thin thread, borrowed a sewing needle and bent it into a hook, and sat down by the water.

The water in the pool is neither clear nor muddy.There are many green algae floating in the water.He threaded a needle on the earthworm dug out of the soil, threw it into the pool, and waited with bated breath.Suddenly, there was a wave of water ripple not far away.Something is coming.

The things swam close to the hooks and flicked their tails.Now Ge Nie could see clearly.A chill crept up his back and made his right arm tremble, almost dropping his fishing rod into the mud at his feet.

Li Ji's voice appeared in the back of her head without warning. "Would you like to fish, sir?"

Ge Nie turned around and stared seriously into her eyes. "Miss Li, do you know...these are not ordinary fish."

"Know a thing or two." Li Ji smiled at the corner of her mouth, but her eyes looked solemn. "Yin-yang fish feed on flesh and blood. But most people don't know what's so wonderful about them. They only regard them as ornamental objects or to guard against thieves. Few people know their real usage."

"Miss Li, what are you..."

"Sir, please follow me."

Ge Nie followed Li Ji step by step into the hut that was used as a kitchen.He felt very sorry for Jing Ke, but he still couldn't help but keep his eyes on the hands and feet of this beautiful woman, in case she made trouble at any time.But Lizzie looked defenseless.She stepped on a slightly uneven stone slab, and a bottomless dark pavilion immediately appeared below her toes.Gai Nie followed her into the ground, and saw that the four walls were made of dazzling brass on one side, thick ebony on the other, and polished rock on the other two sides, with water patterns and fire patterns carved in the middle respectively.The soles of the feet are loess.In the center of the dark pavilion is a bronze round basin with a simple style, and in the corner there is a chandelier, an incense burner in the shape of a strange bird, and a table full of bamboo slips.

In the bronze basin, a black fish and a white fish swim lingeringly, as if dancing together.

"Sir, please take a seat."

Ge Nie nodded and sat down.Li Ji took out a small knife from nowhere, cut her index finger, and dripped blood into the basin.The fish immediately jumped up, and the water in the basin suddenly splashed, and then gradually calmed down.

"Sir, have you ever heard of the Yin Yang family?"

"Yin Yang is one of the Nine Great Masters. Although it is not as famous as Confucianism and Mohism, there are still many disciples following it. I am shallow and only know a little bit." Gai Nie replied cautiously.

Li Ji looked at him with a half-smile, as if she had seen through something, but she didn't. "The art of yin and yang is said to have been passed down from the heavenly book given by the Nine Heavens Xuannv when the Yellow Emperor fought against Chiyou; some people also say that the yin and yang family originated from the officials of Xihe during the time of Duke Zhou...Of course these are just too old legends. From the past Let’s say, tens of years ago, there was a grand master in Qi—”

"Zou Yan." Ge Nie was startled and couldn't help saying. "Is Miss Li the descendant of Zou Zi?"

"Oh, sir, you really know everything about it. Since that's the case, the little girl probably doesn't need to say anything."

"Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt—"

"Sir, you don't have to blame yourself." Li Ji smiled, "Since you know our sect, I'm afraid you also know that the first teacher believes that the way of heaven is not impermanent-the five elements change, the yin and yang are born together, and determine the laws of everything in the world. If we devote ourselves to studying , you can get a glimpse of some omens from the astrology and divination, and deduce some human feelings from the ups and downs of the five elements." She sighed, and her tone gradually became serious, "After the first teacher passed away, the disputes within our school have intensified, and some disciples have gradually become yin and yang. Practicing domineering techniques with great power, and talking about 'acting on behalf of the sky', but this is not the original teacher's original intention."

"Does the girl know that the Yin-Yang Curse Seal..."

Li Ji put a finger on her lips, "An art that defies the sky will be condemned by the heavens. Mister, let's not talk about it."

Gai Nie nodded, "Then what is the purpose of the girl's invitation? The girl seems to know the whereabouts of Jing Qing and my subordinates very well. Could it be that she also deliberately dismissed Jing Qing today? Do you have anything to say to my subordinates?"

"The destiny is hard to break, and the will of the heavens is unpredictable. The encounter and acquaintance between people may be the same as the changes in this world. It is God's will. Although the little girl has learned one or two divination techniques from the classics left by the teacher , but those kinds of hexagram images and shadows made people more and more confused. I don't know how to explain to my husband. Do you believe that Jing Qing's fate is connected with the little girl, and the husband's fate is connected with... and with... ..." Li Ji looked a little shy, but she still said it, "It is connected with the life of the fetus in the little girl's womb."

Gai Nie met her eyes, their eyes were full of frankness, sincerity, and confusion.After a long time, Li Ji forced a smile, put her fingers on the edge of the bronze basin, and handed the knife to Gai Nie.

"This fish is said to be produced in the fairy island of the sea. Once it is fed with human blood, the owner who donates the blood can see the omen of the future from the ripples of their swimming. You might as well try it, sir."

"Uh... I've fed some before." Ge Nie couldn't help but said, "...not only blood but also meat. But at that time I thought I was going to die, so I didn't see anything."

Li Ji stood up abruptly, her voice trembling: "Mr.—but why sir—but if this is the case, what Mister will see is probably far more than what the little girl can see...much more."

Ge Nie was a little disapproving.But he still focused on the swimming of the Pisces in the basin as Li Ji said.Li Ji stood on tiptoe and closed the secret door above her head to prevent the skylight from leaking in; then she lit a few wax torches and burned incense in the house to pray.For a while, Gai Nie only felt that the smell was very pleasant, his mind was dizzy, and he fell into a dream.

Candlelight on the water surface, the two fish swim faster and faster, suddenly thunder bursts, suddenly turned into a pair of flood dragons, entangled with each other and climbed up to the sky.Ge Nie was terrified and wanted to back away, but his body was unable to move as if his acupoints were restrained.

He saw a huge convoy, with gorgeous cars and strong horses, but it smelled like carrion.He saw a black deer torn to pieces, and many hungry dogs snatching pieces of meat from the ground.He saw the wrecked boat and the broken halberd sinking to the bottom of the water.A magnificent palace was burning, and a city was submerged in the sea of ​​flames.

There was a thunder in his mind, he raised his head, and everything in the house had returned to its original state.

"I don't know what sir saw?" Li Ji asked urgently.

"I don't understand." Ge Nie rubbed his forehead. "It seems to be a war... However, there are constant disputes in the world, and I don't know which country the war is from."

Lizzie looked disappointed. "It turned out to be a war... Mister didn't see it... Forget it, it's God's will."

"Miss, is there anything else you want to tell me?" Gai Nie asked.Li Ji smiled sadly, with tears in her eyes. "Mr. must have guessed it. A year ago, I first saw Qingqing drunk and drawing his sword in the Magpie Tower. Although I admired his heroism, it was not the reason why I wanted to meet him. I knew at that time that he would definitely Becoming a famous hero in the world, but there is also unavoidable calamity. He came to visit again a month ago, and I wanted to tell him what I saw, but he said that he did not believe in the destiny."

Gaine shook his head. "I don't believe it either. If the fate is like this, why is it 'in the hands of man'? I think that no matter what the girl tells him, what Jing Qing wants to do will not change."

Li Ji murmured: "Exactly. So, maybe, maybe this child...can't tell him, his real father."

Ge Nie thought to himself that the two of you really wanted to go together.He still had a grudge against the Yin Yang family, but he finally let go of his guard against Li Ji and said: "Miss, don't worry too much, after this child is born, even if Jing Qing can't be by his side all the time, someone will definitely send it to her. The wealth and utensils are used, so that he has no worries about food and clothing."

Li Ji straightened her skirt and bowed gracefully to him. "I hope that this child will take care of this child in the future..."

In the evening, Jing Ke drove the cart back with a full load. Besides firewood, rice, oil and salt, he didn't know where to get a few jars of old Jimo wine.That night, Li Ji was in high spirits, and she got very drunk with Jing Ke after a fight with Jing Ke, and she even had a bit of a dusty look on her face.

And the conversation in the secret room became a secret between Ge Nie and his master, and no one mentioned it anymore.

A few days later, Gai Nie felt that his staying here might disturb the two of them, so he proposed to travel south alone.Unexpectedly, on the same day, Jing Ke also received a secret message, saying that an old friend from Qin State had an accident and would be sentenced to death soon.Despite his reluctance, Jing Ke bid farewell to Li Ji and got up to Hangu Pass.

"Qin is to the west... not to the north." Gai Nie said to himself before leaving.He hated himself a little, obviously he shouldn't believe in these fortune-telling theories, so why did he still care so much about He Guanzi's words.He said goodbye to the two on the same day, and headed southwest alone.

After Gai Nie entered the territory of Wei State, he visited the Maling, Guiling and other historical sites along the way; he also quietly searched for several secret strongholds of "mountain ghosts", but he did not get the news of being recalled to the army, but heard of an earth-shattering event: The Qin army aggressively attacked South Korea.

TBC

The author has something to say: a summary of the past after a long time:

After the two wars of Fanwu and Zhangshui, the state of Zhao enjoyed a short period of peace.In the following year, Gai Nie had to escape from the capital because of the suspicion of murdering Shangqing, and wandered to Qi State with Jing Ke.

[The timeline is probably BC231 winter-BC230 spring]

[Because it's a side story, the painting styles of the two are a bit different (funny) contrast (comparison)]