Embrace the blade

Since the obituary of Jiang Xingzhou's leader's death came out in Guiyun Mountain Villa, various sects and people of all sizes in the rivers and lakes have come to express condolences one after another. Sad and lively.

As early as when the mourning hall was first set up, Jiang Li went to worship once.Although he and Jiang Xingzhou are relatives by blood, they are very unfamiliar in this world, and they don't have the qualifications to keep their filial piety. Jiang Li thought for a long time, and finally changed into a plain white robe.

At that time, Jiang Lanze was kneeling next to the coffin and guarding the coffin. The boy's eyes were red and swollen from crying, and his expression was in a daze. He looked up and saw him coming.

Jiang Li was even worse at consoling, so he silently sacrificed a few sticks of incense, kowtowed his head, and silently retreated out.

Seven days after the death, it was an important day for funeral and burial. People from all walks of life gathered in the villa, and many people from Luoyang City also came. Those who couldn't squeeze in waited outside the villa, wanting to send Jiang Xingzhou for the last journey.

Jiang Li was waiting in the room, planning to quietly follow at the end of the line when he wakes up, not wanting to attract anyone's attention. After all, there are many rumors about him and Guiyun Villa in the world. If he shows up, I don't know what will happen guess.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Wanli came to the room to invite him, saying that it was Jiang Zhongyue's uncle's order, and that he was a distinguished guest of the villa, so he shouldn't be absent from the public memorial ceremony.

Jiang Li heard the words, subconsciously said: "What do you want me to do?"

"Of course it is to send a stick of incense to see off the owner. What else can I do besides this?" Jiang Wanli showed a puzzled expression.

"Didn't you say anything else?"

"Not really."

Jiang Li hesitated, logically speaking, Jiang Zhongyue, as the owner of the villa, couldn't have heard all kinds of rumors about him and Gui Yun, it's really strange that he came here to invite him at such a time.Unable to guess the other party's plan, he had to go over and have a look before talking. Jiang Li got up and said, "Please lead the way."

The two of them walked through the corridor and courtyard to the mourning hall. Along the way, they saw more and more Jianghu people in various costumes. Jiang Li looked around and couldn't help asking, "Has the Qingshan faction come yet?"

"I know you care about this, and I've been keeping an eye out for you. If someone from the Qingshan faction arrives, I'll definitely tell you as soon as possible," Jiang Wanli said.

Jiang Li didn't respond, and became more and more anxious. As the three sects, the Qingshan faction held a very important position in the Jianghu. It was impossible for him to be absent from the funeral of the leader of the Shanhe League. Second, it can't help but make people feel that something happened in his sect.

Jiang Li took a deep breath and made up his mind, no matter what, he would go to the Qingshan faction after the funeral to find Qi Zhaoxi.

After thinking about it, he had already reached the mourning hall, when Jiang Li appeared, it really caused a restrained commotion, people in the surrounding world exchanged glances frequently, and many people couldn't help but whisper to each other.

In the hall, standing next to Jiang Lanze, the owner of the young village, was a middle-aged man with a majestic appearance. It was Jiang Zhongyue, who was in charge.Seeing that the other party looked calm and still didn't express anything, Jiang Li didn't say much, took a few sticks of incense according to the rules, and went up to worship.

Only whispers humming beside me:

"Is this that Jiang Li? Why is he here?"

"Is he really related to Guiyun Villa?!"

"Didn't you say that he is Jiang Xingzhou's illegitimate son? Judging by his posture, could it be that he wants to recognize his ancestor and return to his clan?"

"Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning? You dare to say this without looking at the place!"

"But look at the situation..."

Jiang Li pretended not to hear anything, and after the worship, he got up and retreated to the side.

At this time, Jiang Zhongyue finally spoke: "Wait a minute, young man."

Jiang Li paused and looked up at him.

Jiang Zhongyue took two steps forward, bowed solemnly to Jiang Xingzhou's coffin, then turned to Jiang Li, and said in a loud voice: "The young hero must have heard many rumors related to my return to Yunshanzhuang, all the knights present Most of them are aware of it, no matter where the rumor originated or who spread it, today just took this opportunity to completely clarify the rumor. In front of all of you, in front of the spirit of the owner of the village, I will bear witness together, I believe it will not Some people dare to speak nonsense."

"..." Jiang Li stared at him vigilantly, without answering for a while.

Jiang Zhongyue didn't wait for him to express his opinion, and said directly: "Please tell me, young man, what is your relationship with me, Guiyun?"

"Uncle, what are you doing!" Jiang Lanze said in surprise.

Jiang Zhongyue blocked Jiang Lanze with his hand back, and said in a deep voice, "Don't interrupt, I have my own measure."

"..." Jiang Li's heart sank, he already understood that Gui Yun's biggest secret was hidden behind his identity, how could it be revealed to the public, he gritted his teeth slightly, and tried his best to make his voice calm, "It's okay .”

"Okay." Jiang Zhongyue said, "What relationship do you have with our owner Jiang Xingzhou?"

"……No."

Jiang Zhongyue nodded, looked at him without blinking, and said slowly: "Then what is your relationship with Jiang Jingming and Zhou Jingtong?"

Jiang Li's pupils shrank suddenly, staring fixedly at his unmoving face, his lips moved, but they did not make a sound, instead they tightened.

His silence, coupled with his strange expression, whispered around him again, but Jiang Li couldn't hear it clearly, and it was completely blurred into a buzzing in his ears.

His thoughts surged uncontrollably, and the vortex formed by countless fragments almost drowned him. It was the bamboo forest that his father walked slowly through in the summer night with his back on his back, it was the face of the white-haired one-armed boy screaming in pain in the cave, it was his mother. The profile of the kiss who sewed boots for him under the lamp, her trembling hand raised high after that slap, and the broken sword beside the corpse...

Countless probing gazes pierced like needles, Jiang Li's palms were tightened and then loosened, and his fingertips felt numb.

Everyone was waiting, and he couldn't help answering.

"I..." As soon as Jiang Li opened his mouth, he realized that his throat was so dry that he couldn't make a sound, so he cleared his throat, looked away first, and replied, "I don't know who you're talking about."

In Jianghu's cognition, Jiang Jingming, the eldest son of the old alliance leader Jiang Luming, died in an attack 24 years ago. His wife Zhou Jingtong, who had never been married, died of illness later. The story, Jiang Li, who is only eighteen now, naturally has no way of knowing.

Jiang Zhongyue nodded again, stopped asking, looked around at the people present, and said: "Everyone can hear clearly, all kinds of rumors are nonsense, I Guiyun Villa has nothing to do with this Jiang Shaoxia. I hope that in the future, there will be no more unreasonable speculations in the rivers and lakes."

Everyone in the Jianghu echoed, and suddenly someone asked: "Then who is this Jiang Shaoxia and what is his origin?"

As soon as this remark came out, other people were also aroused with curiosity, and said one after another: "That's right, why don't you just say this, so as not to cause any more gossip."

"Kung fu at such a young age makes people want to explore it clearly!"

Jiang Zhongyue didn't stop him, he just looked at Jiang Li and waited for him to answer.

Jiang Li stood in the hall, in the sight of everyone, his fingers clenched into fists, and fell into complete silence.

He couldn't answer.

Jiang Yunruo, who was born and raised in the Sunset Cloud Valley, had already died in the raging fire of the valley, and Jiang Li did not exist in this world, he appeared out of thin air, without identity and origin.

Jiang Lanze couldn't stand it anymore, and said anxiously: "Uncle, why do you ask such a question, you clearly know...you know..."

No matter how many words there are, they cannot be said by the public.

But the words were not clear, and Jiang Li was silent for too long, which immediately attracted the eyes of everyone around him a bit strangely.

Jiang Zhongyue was unmoved.

I am nobody.Thinking of this, Jiang Li didn't show any expression on his face, but his heart was very stuffy, as if he was going to be breathless.

During the stalemate, someone couldn't help whispering: "What the hell is he..."

"He's mine!"

A voice that implied anger came from a distance, breaking through the stagnant atmosphere in an instant.

The voice was so familiar, Jiang Li's head shook, and he turned around quickly, and saw a group of more than a dozen disciples from the Qingshan School striding across the court, the leader was Qi Zhaoxi, and he was still carrying the dust and dust of his rush. Cold, his face is ugly like never before.

Jiang Li stared blankly at him walking into the mourning hall, before he could react, he was grabbed by the shoulders and pulled into his arms, Qi Zhaoxi couldn't control his strength, Jiang Li's forehead bumped into his tight jaw, and it hurt a little, It was only then that he slowly realized that it was not an illusion, but that he really came.

Qi Zhaoxi held Jiang Li tightly with one hand, glanced at everyone present, and smiled calmly: "He is my Qi Zhaoxi's apprentice, and I remember when there were rumors all over the world that he had the "Secret of Longevity" in his hand, Why is your memory not working right now?"

The person closest to him said awkwardly: "Of course everyone knows that this is your apprentice, but they are just curious about his background."

"You are so casually curious, is he going to reveal his private affairs for you to talk about?"

Qi Zhaoxi glanced at him and saw that the man backed away in embarrassment, so he turned his gaze to Jiang Zhongyue in the hall, and said without warmth in his smile, "I just arrived, I'm not very polite, I'm really sorry. However, seeing this scene from afar, I thought it was my precious apprentice who made some serious mistake, and had to be interrogated at the funeral of Leader Jiang. After asking, I found out that he was asked to help clarify the rumors. Dao, it really gave me a lot of insight.”

Speaking of this, Jiang Zhongyue had no choice but to respond. He cupped his hands towards Jiang Li and said, "Thank you Jiang Shaoxia for your help in clarifying. I hope you two will forgive me if I did not intend to offend."

However, Jiang Li didn't care to listen to what was said there. He raised his arms and hugged Qi Zhaoxi tightly, and buried his face on the other's shoulder. It was cold, but his hanging heart fell back steadily to his chest, other than that, everything was not important anymore.

Qi Zhaoxi lowered her eyes and saw that the fingertips of his robes were turning white, her heart was sore, and she raised her hand to rub the back of his head and said in a low voice, "It's all right, it's my fault for being late."

Jiang Li buried his head on his shoulder and shook his head slightly, then let him go, and raised the corners of his mouth reluctantly, as if to prove that he could still cope.

Qi Zhaoxi looked at him, his face could no longer be tense, he couldn't help smiling, and when he looked at Jiang Zhongyue again, his tone softened a bit.The other party had already apologized, and he couldn't be too provocative in Jiang Xingzhou's mourning hall, so he went straight to the point, and on behalf of the Qingshan faction, sent a elegiac couplet to Jiang Xingzhou's lord, and added a few sticks of incense.

When the Jianghu people present saw Qi Zhaoxi coming together with the disciples of the Qingshan School, they had some guesses in their hearts, and they were convinced only after he spoke clearly. With the reputation of 'Breaking the Heavenly Gate with One Sword' now being supported by the Qingshan Sect, his status as the left protector of the Demon Sect, which had been discarded, was no longer worthy of being taken into consideration.

After Qi Zhaoxi finished offering incense, he pulled Jiang Li and the disciples of the Qingshan School back to the side, and the Jianghu people nodded to him, with more or less respectful attitudes.

Even if this episode has been scribbled over, Jiang Xingzhou's funeral continued as planned, the coffin was carried out, the long funeral procession moved, and the howling cold wind swept the city of Luoyang into white, the sky and the earth were plain.