Embrace the blade

The news of the reappearance of the mysterious man holding the sword of no doubt spread quickly, arousing a lot of discussion, and more and more people from the rivers and lakes poured into Pingchuan Town.

When Qi Zhaoxi and Jiang Li went downstairs to have breakfast, the inn lobby was already full of people, and there was not a single empty table left.Jiang Li was about to turn around and go back to the room, but was held back by Qi Zhaoxi, and the two walked to a large table with a vacant seat on one side, Qi Zhaoxi asked very naturally if they could share the table and sit together.The diners on this table were three young people who were busy in the world, and they were discussing something excitedly. Seeing that the two of them were also dressed as Jianghu people, they readily agreed, and enthusiastically pushed the clean bowls and chopsticks in front of them.

As soon as Jiang Li sat down, he understood Qi Zhaoxi's intentions. The three of them obviously just arrived in the town, and they couldn't wait to exchange what they knew about each other. .

It's just that the three of them are newcomers after all, and what they talk about are all well-known things: the farmer who came back to life, the Prajna Sect who chased and killed endlessly, the mysterious Jiang Hu who wanted to melt his sword to escape, and there were sighs and groundless guesses.

Jiang Li sipped his porridge with his head down, and listened casually. Suddenly, the three of them changed the subject and talked about the reappearance of the mysterious Jianghu man yesterday.

"What is the origin of that man? His martial arts are so high that even Qi Zhaoxi and his apprentices couldn't catch up."

"I've never heard of it, and no one recognizes it. I don't think it's because of the origin, but because that person has penetrated the "Secret of Longevity"?"

Jiang Li was startled, and subconsciously looked to the side. Qi Zhaoxi still had a calm expression on his face, and while serving him some food, he said, "Where did you hear the rumors, I'm staying in this town." I have been here for several days, but I have never heard that Qi Zhaoxi is here."

"I'm afraid you don't know what happened last evening, do you?" said the tall and thin young man closest to him, "Qi Zhaoxi and his apprentice quietly entered the town, and found the man who was hiding in the house in the east of the city. The mysterious man, the two sides even fought, and the mysterious man escaped in the end."

Qi Zhaoxi put on a skeptical look: "The words are so vivid, did you see it with your own eyes?"

"I haven't seen it, but someone has seen it and recognized him!" The thin and tall young man said firmly, "Our three brothers were still doubting the authenticity of the sudden appearance of the Sword of No Doubt, if it wasn't for Qi If we show up day and night, we won't rush to Pingchuan Town overnight."

"How do you say that?" Qi Zhaoxi was a little interested.

"You think, isn't it all linked together?" Another young man on the opposite side rushed, "After Qi Zhaoxi was killed in Dongting, his apprentice surnamed Jiang stole the body to save his master, and used the "Longevity Formula" to save his master. It brought him back to life. Everyone in the world knows that the clues to the "Secret of Longevity" are hidden in the Sword of No Doubt, and the Sword of No Doubt is naturally in their hands. Then why did the Sword of No Doubt come into the hands of a mysterious person whose origin is unknown? Now that Qi Zhaoxi appeared in the town, it means that the mysterious person used some method to get the No Doubting Sword from him, and he tracked it down all the way. Besides, if it hadn't been for a long time, the whole town couldn't find it. , but Qi Zhaoxi found the trace of that person?"

Qi Zhaoxi laughed and nodded involuntarily: "Well, that makes sense."

Seeing that he was finally convinced, the thin and tall young man raised his chopsticks and pointed at the people around him: "It's not just us, you see, most of these people who have just arrived in the rivers and lakes are also dubious, and they didn't really believe it until they heard that Qi Zhaoxi's master and apprentice appeared. Suspicious Sword is in town."

Regardless of how the real identities of the two of them were leaked, just the speed with which the news spread overnight, one has to suspect that someone was fueling the flames afterwards.

Qi Zhaoxi and Jiang Li looked at each other, then changed the subject and said, "Those three people who came here overnight must be very interested in Buyijian?"

The thin and tall young man smiled and said: "Look at you, there are so many masters in this small Pingchuan Town, and there are famous sects such as Qingshan School and Tianmen School sitting in the town. Come here to join in the fun and open your eyes." He asked again, "How about you two?"

"Same, let's join in the fun." Qi Zhaoxi also laughed.

While talking, breakfast was almost finished, Jiang Li took the initiative to say, "Let's go."

Qi Zhaoxi was about to get up to say goodbye when he heard a howling wind, followed by a black shadow entering through the door, shooting straight at his feet not far away, with a bang.

The whole room fell silent, and the vigilant Jianghu people had already drawn out their weapons. When they took a closer look, they saw an arrow deeply nailed into the floor tiles, and there was a note tied to the arrow.

Without waiting for Qi Zhaoxi to move, the thin and tall young man next to him gave a 'huh', stretched out his hand and pulled out the arrow, untied the note and read it, he was even more surprised: "What are you talking about, this is a gauntlet for Qi Zhaoxi , outside Pingchuan Town, in the mountains, there is no doubt that the winner will be decided.”

"What? Let me have a look!" The crowd gathered around and squeezed each other. Somebody snatched the note, and someone shouted, "What kind of gauntlet is this, and there is no signature?"

"I said I don't doubt the sword, so what is the signature? It must be the mysterious man holding the sword. After yesterday's battle, you feel that you can't hide it?"

"There is no specific location. There are so many mountains outside Pingchuan Town. Which mountain is this?"

Another person said: "Why is this gauntlet written here? Could it be that Qi Zhaoxi is also in this inn?"

Some people beside him echoed, some disputed, and they all squeezed their heads in, wanting to see the content of the note with their own eyes, and it was a mess for a while.The thin and tall young man was still holding the arrow in his hand, and he was pushed from the center to the edge involuntarily. He leaned on the table and stood still. When he turned his head, the two people sitting opposite him had disappeared.

Back in the room, Qi Zhaoxi closed the door behind his back, shook his head and sighed, "Jiang Li, the situation is getting worse and worse for us."

Jiang Li stood close to the door, listening attentively to the commotion downstairs. After a while, he wondered, "That man escaped yesterday, why would he take the initiative to fight today?"

"I took a quick glance, and besides your and my names, there are only four sentences on it: Outside Pingchuan Town, in the mountains, there is no doubt that the winner will be determined." The location, is this considered a battle?"

"Is that to imply that you and I are in this inn?" Jiang Li asked.

Qi Zhaoxi shook her head again, thinking: "It's not as simple as that."

Not long after, Jiang Lanze knocked on the door of the room. After opening the door, Jiang Lanze came in with the old man Xugu, and apologized: "Hero Qi, Jiang Li, Second Brother Shen already knows your identities."

The existence of the two of them is now known throughout the town, and Jiang Li was not surprised when Shen Zhiyan recognized them. Qi Zhaoxi nodded calmly and said, "Tell me more about it."

"Second brother Shen thought you two were a little familiar when he met us that time. Last night, he heard that Qi Zhaoxi's master and apprentice had fought against that Jianghu man, and he immediately matched him. He came to ask me this morning, and I couldn't help it. If you lie any more, you have to admit it." Jiang Lanze paused, and seeing that the two of them did not show any signs of blame, he continued, "But you don't have to worry, Second Brother Shen is very nice and won't do you any harm! Ask me if you are related to Guiyun Villa, I said yes, and he said that he knows that there are hidden secrets in each sect, so he won't ask any more."

Qi Zhaoxi smiled without comment, and asked, "Does he know the letter of war in the lobby just now?"

"I know, I was by the side when the news came up."

"Then what did he think?"

Jiang Lanze recalled it carefully, and said: "Second brother Shen said that he didn't specify the time and place, presumably because he didn't want to be known to outsiders. There is a tacit understanding between the two parties."

"Have a tacit understanding?" Qi Zhaoxi thought it was ridiculous, then suddenly realized something, "...Second Master Shen is indeed a smart person."

Jiang Lanze was puzzled: "You thought of it?"

Qi Zhaoxi looked at Jiang Li: "When did we see that person yesterday?"

"About You hour." Jiang Li immediately understood, "Is this the time for a battle?"

"What about the location?" Jiang Lanze asked, "I remember the man you said you saw in the cellar in the backyard. There are no cellars in the mountains."

"There are water and caves in the cellar," Jiang Li said.

Outside Pingchuan Town, there are mountains and peaks clustered together, and there is a stream winding in the valley, Qi Zhaoxi nodded and said: "It should be a cave in the mountains near the stream."

"The range is so big, shall we search for them one by one?" Jiang Lanze said distressedly.

"I think of a place." The old man Xu Gu who had been listening silently said suddenly.

"Please tell me senior."

"There is a natural karst cave in the mountains outside the town. The locals call it the Immortal Cave. I visited it once many years ago. There is a stream flowing under the karst cave."

Qi Zhaoxi smiled and said, "Then I will trouble Senior to lead the way."

Elder Xu Gu looked at him: "Have you made up your mind to go to the appointment?"

"If the other party has the will to fight, they wouldn't just run away yesterday, but posting suddenly now is probably deceitful." Qi Zhaoxi looked at Jiang Li helplessly, "But he will definitely go."

Jiang Li nodded.

"Let me advise you." The old man Xugu turned to Jiang Lidao, "The terrain is dangerous. If the other party had planned it earlier, he might lose his life in vain. I know that you managed to find the whereabouts of Buyijian, and you won't let it go easily. Let’s take a chance, but this matter cannot be rushed.”

Jiang Li glanced at the old man Xugu, and couldn't help but glance at Qi Zhaoxi who was beside him. Although he didn't want to speak in front of him, he could only reply in a low voice: "I don't have much time."

There was a moment of silence in the room, and the smile on Qi Zhaoxi's face disappeared completely.Since Jiang Li accepted him, the two avoided the most crucial issue by coincidence, and never raised it directly, as if they were blindfolded, deceiving themselves and moving forward, as if they could treat the cliff as a smooth path, but there was a moment in their hearts. Don't forget, after all, the window lattices vibrate, and the autumn wind blows harder and harder.

Finally, the old man Xugu sighed, breaking the gloomy atmosphere: "Well, I will take you there."

Jiang Lanze hurriedly said: "I'm going too, anyway, Brother Shen already knows that we are together, so don't you need to avoid it?"

Qi Zhaoxi absently nodded in agreement, his eyes fell on Jiang Li's temples, the black hair he had personally dyed had grown back, revealing a little silvery white at the roots.