Embrace the blade

In the city of Luoyang, the high and low buildings are patchwork and have different temperaments. The pagodas and temples are magnificent in the distance, and the nearby pavilions are continuous.

When Jiang Li, Jiang Lanze, and the old man Xugu arrived, just after noon, Jiang Lanze stood in front of the city gate, looked at the familiar scenery, and let out a long breath: "It can be regarded as going home."

"I didn't have a good meal during this trip. I must be hungry and thin, so I have to make up for it!" Jiang Lanze put his arms around Jiang Li's shoulders. As they got to know each other better, he knew that the other party was just talking less, not being indifferent. The fear towards Jiang Li completely dissipated, and he continued, "Jiang Li, I will see my father later, and I will take you to eat my favorite dish, as well as peony cakes and nut crisps. ..."

Jiang Li's shoulders tensed subconsciously. Seeing Jiang Lanze's side face brimming with excitement, he didn't break away from him. He looked around while listening to his explanation as if giving out the names of the dishes.

This is the Luoyang that he heard his father recall and read countless times in the book. Luoyang, where Guiyun Villa is located, is full of tourists on the streets, and the girls in bright dresses are in twos and threes, with all kinds of flowers on their eyebrows. , laughing and passing through the street, the shops are bustling with business, and you can see long queues from time to time. On the upper floor of the band, there are musicians leaning on the railing and blowing xun. Seeing this kind of oval musical instrument, I couldn't help but take a second look. After the musician finished playing, he noticed that someone was watching, and saluted generously.

Before they knew it, they had reached Guiyun Villa.In this city of Luoyang, every inch of land is precious, but the villa occupies a large area, and it looks very magnificent, which reflects its reputation as the number one in the world. Outside the villa stands a stone tablet as tall as a person, which has been polished smooth and half-old by the years, and the words on the tablet are strong. Chic, with the words 'uphold the right way' written on it.

Jiang Li once heard from his father that this stele was donated by all sects when Jiang Luming became the first leader of the Shanhe League after the encirclement and suppression of the Qishamen.

The servant outside the main gate was startled when he saw the dusty three people coming, and finally recognized Jiang Lanze when he came up to the steps, and shouted: "My young master, you are back. Several teams sent out to look for you, but there is no news, and Mr. Ji can't get in touch, it really drove us crazy! The situation of the owner is not good, if you come back two days later, I'm afraid you won't be able to catch up!"

"What did you say?!" Jiang Lanze's face changed drastically, "What's wrong with father's illness?"

"Go and have a look in the owner's room!"

Jiang Lanze glanced back, then hurried to the village, Jiang Li and the old man Xugu knew each other, and quickly followed him.

"How could this happen!" Jiang Lanze panicked, "The previous doctor clearly said that there is still half a year left, otherwise I wouldn't dare to go out, I will definitely stay by my father's side every step of the way! I have only been away for more than a month, how could it be? become like this?"

"The doctors who have seen it all said that although my father's illness has no cure, it is gradually getting worse. They said that I still have time to serve him. How could it suddenly fail?" Jiang Lanze turned to look at the old man Xugu, then looked at Looking at Jiang Li, his hands were trembling, and he was almost crying, "Really, I will never remember it wrong! Otherwise, I wouldn't dare to delay on the way, and I don't care if the sword appears or not!"

"Don't be in a hurry." Jiang Li said, "Senior Zhong is here, let's have a look."

The old man Xu Gu nodded and didn't say much.

Jiang Lanze took a breath, held back his crying, rushed to the front of the room, pushed the door open and entered, the people in the room turned around in surprise, he squeezed to the bed in a few steps, just called "Father", he couldn't control it shed tears.

Jiang Li followed into the door, looking past the swaying and talking figures, and landed on the middle-aged man on the bed.

The leader of the Shanhe League and the owner of Guiyun Villa, these prestigious titles seem too heavy at this moment, making people worry about whether his bony body can still bear it.Jiang Xingzhou lay quietly on the couch, his face was pale and gloomy, and his chest rose and fell so faintly that it was barely noticeable, like a burnt candle, with only the remaining flame struggling and flickering on the charred wick.

Jiang Li couldn't tell for a while whether he resembled his father Jiang Jingming or not.

"Lan Ze, you've had enough nonsense, you know you're back?" The middle-aged man standing beside the couch looked majestic, and it was Jiang Zhongyue who was now in charge of the estate's affairs.

"I didn't mess around, I invited the old man Xugu!" Jiang Lanze wiped his tears vigorously, pushed away the crowd, and brought the old man Xugu who had just entered the house to the bed, and said eagerly, "Senior, quickly look at father What's up with him!"

It must be known that the old man Xu Gu has not asked about world affairs for many years, everyone was shocked, and looked suspiciously at this old man with white beard and hair. Even Jiang Zhongyue was stunned for a while, seeing the other party approaching, he subconsciously stepped in front of the couch.

"I and the Jiang family are old acquaintances." Elder Xu Gu said, "Get out of the way."

Jiang Zhongyue looked at Jiang Lanze and asked, "Lanze, are you sure that the person you invited is really Old Man Xugu?"

"Of course, I only met senior when I entered Xugu, and he, grandfather and father have known each other for a long time, and know a lot about our Jiang family!" Jiang Lanze said.

"If it's true or not, you can check it yourself. Jiang Xingzhou's life is in danger right now. Let me try it. It's a chance. What are you afraid of?" said the old man Xu Gu.

Jiang Zhongyue seemed to want to say something, hesitated for a moment, and then slowly backed away.

The old man Xugu sat down on the side of the couch, took the pulse of the boat across the river, looked into his eyes, pressed on his throat, chest and abdomen, pondered for a while, then took out a small porcelain bottle from the medicine bag, and poured the medicine in the bottle Jiang Xingzhou fed it, then took out the silver needle, and pierced several key points on him one by one.

Jiang Xingzhou still didn't make any sound, but frowned under the stimulation, looking very painful.

Seeing this, the old man Xugu pulled out the longest silver needle, as thin as a cow's hair, as if pinching a ray of cold light between his fingers. With the other hand, he measured Jiang Xingzhou's heart and lungs, selected the position, and then slowly moved the silver needle. Needle pierced.

The corners of Jiang Lanze's eyes twitched, and his heart was squeezed tightly, trying to control himself so that he didn't turn his head out of fear.

The room was full of people, but they all held their breath and concentrated, so quiet that a needle could be heard.

The old man Xugu let go of his hand, and there was a moment of silence, then Jiang Xingzhou coughed violently, his chest heaved violently, and the room was immediately filled with the sound of his heavy and rapid panting.

"...Are you ready?" Jiang Lanze asked softly, his voice still trembling.

The old man Xugu took off the silver needle quickly, and said: "For a short time, it can only be said that he was pulled back from the palace of the King of Hades first. How about the future, let's try again."

On the bed, Jiang Xingzhou's frowning brows loosened, and he slowly opened his eyes. His scattered eyes swept away like a wheel, and suddenly stopped somewhere in the crowd, his eyes froze, and he opened his mouth with difficulty. , seems to say something.

Jiang Lanze turned his head and glanced at him, and immediately understood, he reached out and pulled Jiang Li out of the crowd, and said anxiously, "Father, look who this is, he..."

"Lan Ze, what are you doing?" Jiang Zhongyue interrupted him, "The owner has just escaped danger, no one will recognize him, let him rest well, don't make noise..."

Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Zhongyue seemed to hear something, his voice stopped abruptly, and he looked at Jiang Xingzhou in disbelief.

Standing in front of the couch, Jiang Li saw that everyone around him fell silent. Jiang Xingzhou stared at him, and his lips moved again. This time he heard clearly what the hoarse voice said:

"elder brother……"

Everyone sighed in a low voice. According to their knowledge, the owner's brother Jiang Jingming died 24 years ago when Guiyun Villa was attacked by the remnants of the Seven Killers.

Jiang Li stood there, not moving, not knowing how to react, but suddenly remembered that ever since his father hid in Sunset Clouds Valley and became the tomb keeper, the two brothers had only exchanged letters, until one was killed and the other withered on the sickbed, Never met again.

"...Brother," Jiang Xingzhou moved his finger, but he couldn't lift it up, so he could only speak intermittently, "I had a dream...a long dream..."

"I dreamed that I was old and you were all gone..." Jiang Xingzhou closed his eyes, tears rolled down his cheeks, his breathing gradually became calm, and he fell asleep drowsily.

Jiang Li looked at him quietly, feeling inexplicable in his heart.

"Okay, let's leave, let the owner rest well." Jiang Zhongyue lowered his voice, and casually ordered two people, "Take the two guests to rest."

He bowed to the old man Xugu as a solemn thank you, then turned to Jiang Lanze, and said sternly, "Come with me to the study, and tell me carefully how you and Ji Xiuming went out without authorization."

Everyone agreed, Jiang Lanze reluctantly followed, and Jiang Li walked out with the crowd, a square-faced man with an ordinary face approached and said with a smile: "Guests follow me."

Jiang Li followed the man through the courtyard and the corridor, and arrived at the guest room. The man asked him his name, introduced him to the layout of the manor, and then let him rest in the room first, and then delivered his lunch later.

"The old man Xugu needs to keep an eye on the owner's condition, so he lives in a wing room in the owner's courtyard, not here, but you don't have to worry, I will take care of your daily life in the manor. If you need anything Just open your mouth." The man said enthusiastically, "My name is Jiang Wanli."

"Thank you."

"Young Xia is being polite." After speaking, Jiang Wanli left the guest room, not forgetting to close the door for him.

Jiang Li stood alone in the guest room, looked around, felt a sense of inexplicable melancholy, couldn't help thinking of Qi Zhaoxi, wondered if he had arrived at the Qingshan School, and what his current situation was.

Jiang Li pushed open the window and saw a clump of low, bare branches growing under the window, probably a peony planted, maybe it will be full of beautiful flowers in spring, but it's a pity that it's winter now.

Jiuyuan Mountain, Prajna Teaching.

The ceremonies of the young master's succession and marriage were set, and the whole church began to prepare for it.

Yin Huaishu led Shen Zhiyan around the teaching area, and taught him to identify the location. When he returned to the courtyard, he saw several congregants decorating the courtyard corridor with red silk.Yin Huaishu stopped in the distance, narrowed his eyes and looked at him coldly.

"If you feel uncomfortable looking at it, we will take off those decorations first." Shen Zhiyan said.

"No need. There are too many things that make me unhappy, and this little thing is nothing." Yin Huaishu said, "I will go in after they finish the arrangement."

Of course, Shen Zhiyan had no objection, but after waiting for a while, Yin Huaishu couldn't help but reached out and thumped his lower back, with an extremely complicated and strange expression on his face.

He indulged last night, and for a moment he forgot that his martial arts and Shen Zhiyan were far apart, and his physical strength was naturally completely incomparable. At first, he was interested in flirting with Shen Zhiyan, but after a few times, he couldn't take care of himself anymore, but he refused to give in and beg for mercy. , had no choice but to grit his teeth and hold on, but in the end he was forced to cry, which made Shen Zhiyan panic, ended hastily, and apologized repeatedly while hugging him.

Rao Yin Huaishu, a person like Yin Huaishu who had given up his dignity and shame in the Devil's Cult, would feel extremely ashamed every time he thought of the situation at that time.

Shen Zhiyan noticed his movements and remembered that incident almost at the same time as him, suddenly felt his face was hot, and confessed his mistake in a low voice: "Qingyao, it's my fault."

Yin Huaishu said with a blank face: "What's wrong with you, you are so kind."

Shen Zhiyan blushed even more from being choked by him, so he could only say: "I'd better sleep in another room tonight."

"You are responsible for beating my back tonight," Yin Huaishu said.

Shen Zhiyan couldn't help laughing, nodded in agreement, then raised his hand to support Yin Huaishu's waist, and massaged him carefully.People say that you know the taste by eating the marrow, and Shen Zhiyan has fully understood it. As soon as his palm touched Yin Huaishu's narrow waistline, the tactile sensation and many details of the touch involuntarily appeared in his mind. Pull each other into your arms and give them a hug.

Shen Zhiyan was trying to restrain his thoughts when he suddenly heard a rustling sound coming from the side. He turned his head and saw a few black-clothed congregants dragging a naked woman walking by quickly. When he got close, he was astonished. Recognizing that it was the beautiful woman who was pressed on the chair by the young master Pei Zhao to make out with her yesterday, at this moment her head was tilted up limply, her expression was frozen in a terrified expression, her pupils were dilated, and she had turned into a corpse .

"How is this going?"

Yin Huaishu calmly swept over the bruises and red marks on the woman's body and neck, as well as a few inconspicuous welts and burns, and said, "Maybe this woman accidentally angered Pei Zhao, or maybe it was just him playing tricks." Too much."

Shen Zhiyan's expression was slightly condensed, and he asked again: "Where are these people taking her?"

"Throw it to the back mountain, Pei Zhao treats those wolves in the back mountain better than his own father." Yin Huaishu sneered.

"..." Shen Zhiyan didn't speak again, watching the woman being dragged far away, her snow-white body was covered with mud and dust, her calf was worn away by the rough ground, and there was a long and narrow bloodstain behind her, he was speechless Looking at him, he pursed his lips.

The night is deep and silent, the moonlight is dim.

Shen Zhiyan slowly opened his eyes, the room was dark, he turned his head sideways, and clearly heard Yin Huaishu's steady breathing in his arms.

Shen Zhiyan sat up slowly, carefully pulled out the pressed arm, looked down at Yin Huaishu's peaceful sleeping face, brushed away the messy hair on his forehead, thought for a while, and put a smudge on his eyes again. kiss.Yin Huaishu's eyelashes trembled, and then he regained his composure. He must have fallen into a deep sleep.

So, Shen Zhiyan got out of bed with his clothes on, took out a cloak, but didn't put it on, just draped it in the crook of his arm, and went out the door quietly.

Following his memory, he walked into the back mountain of Prajna Sect. In the early winter, the vegetation withered, and the old trees stretched out their dry branches to the sky, casting them on the ground like ghosts with claws and teeth. The stench of blood.

Suddenly, a piece of white snow appeared in front of him, just as Yin Huaishu guessed, the naked woman's dead body was lying there, her face full of horror, her eyes wide open facing the night sky covered by dark clouds.Probably due to the cold weather, there were few beasts in the mountains, and her body was still intact. Shen Zhiyan walked to the side, shook off the cloak, covered her naked body, paused, and raised his hand to close her eyes.

After doing this, Shen Zhiyan stood up, but did not leave, not knowing what he was thinking.

In the deep shadow of the forest in the distance, Yin Huaishu witnessed everything quietly. He was inconvenient to get close to avoid being noticed by Shen Zhiyan. Therefore, in the dark forest, he could only vaguely see the movement of the other party's figure and the long silence of the other party. .

Suddenly a gust of wind blew up, the dead branches in the forest rang slightly, the dark clouds in the sky were blown away, and the moonlight fell through the intersecting branches, Yin Huaishu saw Shen Zhiyan's expression clearly, he looked back, turned and returned to the courtyard .