【Xue Xiao】Desolate City Crossing

Xue Yang rubbed his chin and said, "The money handed over by these strongholds seems to be uneven and irregular every year, ranging from hundreds of thousands of gold to tens of millions of gold, but if you change the order of arrangement, you will find the rules." He said Divided the papers under his hand into three stacks, "Look, Daoist, this stack is the stronghold on the territory of the Lanling Jin Sect, this stack is the Qinghe Nie Sect, and this stack is the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. Flip it over like this, Can you find anything special?"

Xiao Xingchen flipped through the three stacks of accounts, and said, "It can be seen from this that the amount of money handed over to each of the strongholds belonging to the same area should be about the same."

"That's right, Lanling Jin's territory is the richest, and they earn the most from their business there. The stronghold over there pays tens of millions of gold every year. Millions of gold."

Xiao Xingchen nodded, picked up the accounts of the Nie's stronghold in Qinghe to check, flipped through it and took out a piece of paper, "Hebi? The money handed over by this stronghold is so much less than other strongholds that belong to the Nie's territory?"

"That's right," Xue Yang picked out the previous accounts of all the Hebi strongholds and said, "Several strongholds in Qinghe Nie's territory hand in about 600 million gold every year, but the Hebi stronghold only pays 200 million gold. The 200 million gold is still less than last year’s record, if it is said that the stronghold was cancelled, but it was not erased from the map, this is very strange, I think there must be something strange, why not go there first and have a look.”

Xiao Xingchen pondered: "What's wrong?"

"Daoist, why do you think Hall Master Ying wants to do this kind of business?"

"Gathering money."

"That's right, collecting money. If he only has two or three strongholds, he can be regarded as purely greedy for money, but there are more than a dozen strongholds on this map, and the money he earns is enough to feed a family of immortals with more than 300 people. According to our From what we know so far, this Hall Master Ying has neither established a sect nor spent money on other family businesses. He usually behaves in a low-key manner. If he hadn't been exposed, no one would have known that there was such a wealthy person. Isn’t it surprising what on earth is he making all this money for?”

Xiao Xingchen couldn't figure it out, "Then what do you think he is doing for? Also, this Hall Master Ying, why did he seek you?"

Xue Yang didn't answer right away, but for a moment he thought about the dungeon where he was imprisoned when he was a child.In the dungeon, there are more than a dozen guards who take turns to guard the dungeon every day, and the guards will change every year.The treatment of the imprisoned children is divided into grades, and the higher the number of spirit pickers, the better the treatment. Xue Yang, as the most talented one, spent the last two years in the dungeon as a luxury.In addition, there is the stove that is as tall as a person. I didn't know it when I was a child. When I grew up, Xue Yang accidentally saw a book of Taoist artifacts. Only then did I know that the stove is also a kind of immortal artifact, which is very valuable and has no repairs. After ordinary people were burnt inside to wipe out their traces, their souls would also disappear.

It is most common for ill-gotten gains to be used in unrighteous places.This Hall Master Ying, like Shi Wusheng, knows the secret method of dementing incense, and his behavior of using living people as containers is exactly the same, so he has to have a bold suspicion.However, if one wants to explain what Shi Wusheng planned, one has to mention his experience in the dungeon when he was a child.

He didn't want to talk about those dark pasts unless he had no other choice, or if he was absolutely sure that Hall Master Ying was Shi Wusheng.

Xue Yang habitually used a smile to cover up the haze in his heart, and said, "I can only guess what this Eagle Hall Master is going to do now, why not go to Hebi to have a look. The Hebi stronghold pays so little money every year and still maintains it. Maybe there are other secret collusions with Hall Master Ying behind the scenes."

"A Yang—"

"Ok?"

Hearing this title again, Xue Yang was surprised and delighted: Is Xiao Xingchen planning to call him that from now on?

As if to prove his guess, Xiao Xingchen started with this address again: "A Yang, I won't force you to ask about things you don't want to say, but I hope you know that if you want to say anything at any time, I'm here, and I'm willing to talk about it anytime. Listen."

The clear and warm gaze, like a ray of sunshine shining into Xue Yang's heart, dispelled the haze in his heart.This time he smiled from the bottom of his heart, showing two cute canine teeth in response: "Okay, I see."

The two packed up their account books, pens and ink, and returned to the mountains, intending to find some medicinal herbs before going to Hebi.

The flowers and fruits of Unexpected Mountain are not affected by the four seasons, towering ancient trees can be found everywhere, but there are powerful spiritual veins buried under the mountain. Such a place is indispensable for all kinds of exotic flowers and fruits, Ganoderma lucidum and fairy grass. It can become a good medicinal material with unique efficacy.

Xiao Xingchen practiced in the mountains since he was a child, and one of his homework was medical skills and pharmacology. The mountain range where his master Baoshan Sanren lived was also a place with strong aura, so he could recognize all the rare plants and medicinal materials in the world.

Because Xue Yang is a soul, with limited spiritual power but light and fast movements, when Xiao Xingchen found four or five kinds of medicinal materials, Xue Yang had already searched back and forth. He returned to Xiao Xingchen, wrapped his cloth around A pile of things fell to the ground.

"Look, Daoist, this is Golden Crow Grass, this is Huiqi Orchid, this is Crystal Jade Lotus, this is Immortal Tea, this is Nine Fragrance Fruit..."

He also picked up a bunch of spiritual stones, and introduced them like a few treasures: "This is silver crystal jade, this is Tianji stone, this is ghost iron, this is obsidian mine... Unexpectedly, the mountain is really rich in products, and these things are all in the outside world. Rare things can be easily picked up on this mountain, we keep the medicinal materials, and the spirit stones can be exchanged for money at the Taoist pawn shop."

Xiao Xingchen was shocked: "How can you recognize so many things?"

Xue Yang said vaguely, "Maybe I read it in some book. I read miscellaneous things, and I will remember them when I find them interesting."

——I can’t admit that I recognized these things because I was addicted to refining drugs and studying hidden weapons!In that case, the priest will condemn him again.In order not to let Xiao Xingchen ask more questions, he urged Xiao Xingchen to take out the Qiankun bag, pack the fairy grass and spirit stones into different categories and put them away. By the afternoon, the two of them had turned over the mountain and returned to the way up the mountain. They returned with a full load. Good thing, rise up with the sword and leave the Unexpected Mountain.

This road crosses mountains and ridges, except for a few hours of rest at night, the rest of the time is on the road with Yujian.

Xue Yang could only stand on the sword before Yujian, like most other monks, did not expect Xiao Xingchen Yujian to transform into a platform on the sword, where he could sit and lie down, and had a Wind barrier.When Xue Yang woke up for the first time, he found that he was not in the desolate wilderness, but lying on the blue sky and white clouds. The rising sun cast a layer of gold on the earth and the clouds. Yan, the elegant figure was also trimmed with a layer of gold, sitting where he could touch it as soon as he stretched out his hand, Xue Yang couldn't help rolling comfortably, and moved to Xiao Xingchen's side, pressing a corner of the white clothes.

"Be careful," Xiao Xingchen turned around to remind, "it's just a platform that can only accommodate you, so don't move too much."

"Hey, Daoist, it's the first time I know that Yu Jian can lead people like this." Xue Yang was so comfortable that he didn't want to sit up, so he lay on his side facing Xiao Xingchen, propping his head with one hand, "You arrested me back then. Jin Lintai, why didn't you take me like this?"

"You wanted to eat and sleep at the same time, and you were yelling that you were afraid of heights." Xiao Xingchen recalled the naughty boy who made trouble back then, and shook his head helplessly. Need not."

"Really?" Xue Yang asked casually, thinking that it was because the Taoist leader had a good temper at first glance, that he was so rampant and arrogant, making the Taoist leader burnt out.That time together was only a few days long, and it had already left him with endless aftertaste. Now Xiao Xingchen treats him better, and I really hope that this journey will never end.

With Yun at his side opening and closing under his feet, Xiao Xingchen's sword control skills were faster than he imagined.Jiang disaster has recognized Xiao Xingchen as the master, and also recognized the old master at the same time, so there is a rare phenomenon that one sword belongs to two masters at the same time. Yujian consumes spiritual power, and when Xiao Xingchen is tired, Xue Yang takes control for him for a short time Jiang disaster continued on his way, and on the evening of the fourth day, the two arrived in Hebi two days earlier than expected.

Hebi belongs to the Nie family of Qinghe. The young head of the Nie family had the reputation of "one question and three unknowns" a few years ago. It was not until the past two years that he seemed to have changed into a different person. .Every city is stationed with reliable immortal gates to guard the peace.Although the people in the city are not as rich as those under the Lanling Jin clan, they can still live and work in peace and contentment with ample food and clothing.

It was already dark when Xiao Xingchen and Xue Yang arrived outside the city. Since the last section of the road was for Xue Yang to guard his sword, Xiao Xingchen asked Xue Yang to set up a tent outside the city to rest in order to allow Xue Yang to have enough energy to deal with the backlash at night. He first went to Hebi stronghold to have a look.

However, when he opened the map and took a closer look at the address, Xue Yang repeatedly objected.

"Ten li away from the eastern outskirts of the city, the One Night Spring Breeze Building?" Xue Yang frowned, "Why does this name sound like a brothel? No, no, Taoist, you look so good-looking, every girl in the brothel must be jumping into your arms. You can't go by yourself! I will go with you tomorrow."

Xiao Xingchen took the map and scolded: "It's not in shape. How can this name be an ordinary restaurant? Besides, I'll take a look outside first. If it's really a brothel..."

"How about if it's really a brothel? Has the Taoist priest been there? Do you know how to pretend to be a guest and call a girl? Do you know how to deal with a girl?"

"I don't know." Xiao Xingchen ignored Xue Yang's joking tone, and said calmly, "If it's really a brothel, I'll just look outside and discuss with you tomorrow how to find out what's going on inside."

Xiao Xingchen repeatedly promised that if it was a brothel that he would never set foot in, Xue Yang let him go alone.He found the place according to the address, and it was already dark. What he saw was an exquisite three-story building located by the lake. There is not even a woman, and it doesn't look like a brothel at all.

When he walked to the door, someone came to greet him warmly: "Please, sir, would you like tea or wine?"

"Tea." He replied.

"Okay, sir, is this your first time here? What kind of tea do you like? We have the best Lushan Yunwu, Yunnan Pu'er, Bashan Que Tong..."

Xiao Xingchen had never heard of the names of these teas, so he ordered the familiar Yunnan Pu'er.While talking, Xiaoer has already led into the building.In the center of the first floor, there is a platform three feet above the ground. In the center of the platform, a man with a handsome face is playing the piano.Looking around, the buildings in the building are painted with flying clouds, bead curtains and embroidered curtains, gorgeous yet elegant, there are not many guests, and the chatter of people is covered by the sound of the piano.

Xiao Xingchen was even more sure that this was just a restaurant, so he decided to take a closer look.

There are more than a dozen elegant seats around the platform on the first floor, and refined boxes on the second and third floors. The waiter didn't ask any questions, and led Xiao Xingchen all the way to the box on the third floor, asking him to sit down and wait a while, and serve tea immediately .

Xiao Xingchen saw that Xiaoer took him to an exquisite and spacious private room, divided into two rooms inside and outside, and there was a big bed in it, so he quickly refused: "I only drink tea and eat supper, and I don't stay in the hotel."

He knew that he would have to spend a lot of money this time, so he couldn't help worrying about the little money he had left.

The man who received him said: "My lord, you are welcome. For the first time guests visiting the One Night Spring Breeze Building, we will use the high-class private room to entertain the guests as usual. If you don't stay overnight, we will only charge for the tea. This box is only for ordinary seats. Bill, please."

Xiao Xingchen felt a little relieved after hearing this, and sat down at the table by the window outside the private room.Before leaving, the man who led the way asked with a flattering attitude: "Besides drinking tea, do you have any other special orders?"

Xiao Xingchen said: "No." The man bowed, closed the door and left.

The sound insulation of the private room is excellent. When the nanmu door is closed, the sound of the piano on the first floor becomes faint and distant.There is nothing unusual in the private room except that it is exquisite and gorgeous, but there is no window facing the outside. The only window is on the same side as the door. After opening, it is the corridor on the second floor. Through the jade-white railings in the corridor, you can overlook a floor performances.

Xiao Xingchen didn't wait long before a man pushed the door in with tea sets.The man was wearing a light green brocade suit, with snow-white skin, exquisite features, and excellent appearance and temperament. He looked more like an elegant young man who came to a restaurant for entertainment, rather than a mistress serving tea.

What's even more strange is that after the man put down the tea set and saluted, he didn't leave. He sat down opposite Xiao Xingchen, and said softly, "I just heard Xiaoer say that you are handsome, but I still don't believe it. Now that I see you, you are indeed handsome." Outstanding, like a fairy descending from the mortal world. It is a great honor to serve you tea in Xia Yuzhu."

After finishing speaking, the man raised his eyelids, his eyes were full of affection, and poured a cup of tea for Xiao Xingchen.

Xiao Xingchen felt a little strange, but he still said modestly and politely: "Thank you, Mr. Yuzhu, but I am used to drinking tea by myself, so you don't need to accompany me."

"There is no one who doesn't need company when you come here. You are really joking." The man named Yuzhu's red lips were light, and his smile was as soft as water. He pretended to be disappointed and said: "It must be If it is not suitable for the young master, then I will call another young lady to come."

The room was filled with a dark fragrance, and the man showed an expression that made people unable to leave him at first glance. His eyebrows were straight and his manner was gentle, but there was a hint of obsequious obsequiousness. Xiao Xingchen's face became hot, and he said: " No, there is no need to change people, what exactly is this place?"

The man's eyes watered and he replied: "This is the One Night Spring Breeze Building."

The author has something to say: Brother Yang: Damn Xiao Xingchen, where did you go, quickly come out to me, so you can say that you are supervising me? If you can’t see you, you will cause trouble. Who doesn’t let anyone worry? ? ?