Embrace the blade

After the funeral banquet, everyone in Jianghu returned to their residences, and no one said goodbye and left. Guiyun Villa was properly settled. They naturally understood that they were waiting for a few days to elect the next leader of the Shanhe League. Even for many people, Dabi is the business, mourning for Jiang Xingzhou is just a matter of chance.

Qi Zhaoxi and Jiang Li went back to the room, closed the door, and finally got a quiet room, he couldn't help but heaved a sigh of relief, turned his head to look at Jiang Li, and found that the other party was also looking at him.

After being away for many days, they had endured countless things to say in front of people this morning, and now they were finally able to be alone, with a lot of thoughts, but they didn't know where to start. Realizing that each other was so stupid, they couldn't help laughing.

Jiang Li's smile was not very obvious, the corners of his lips were pursed, and the smile was hidden in his slightly bent eyes, Qi Zhaoxi looked at it, and felt that he missed him so much, he simply didn't think about which sentence to start with, Pulled him down and kissed him.Jiang Li closed his eyes cooperatively, put his arms around his neck, and got closer to him, sharing the warmth that had just warmed up in the room.

After parting with a kiss, Qi Zhaoxi couldn't help but kissed him again, and said with a low laugh, "Miss me?"

Jiang Li looked at him and said, "I'm worried about you."

"Everything is going well with me." Qi Zhaoxi said, "I didn't expect Jiang Xingzhou to die of illness suddenly, leaving you alone in Guiyun Villa to suffer a lot of grievances."

"It's nothing." Jiang Li paused, pulled Qi Zhaoxi away from the door, walked to the table and sat down, and lowered his voice to explain in detail the old man Xugu told him that he suspected that someone had poisoned Jiang Xingzhou.

Qi Zhaoxi listened, pondered for a moment, and said: "If even the old man Xugu can only stay in doubt and can't find conclusive evidence, then it will be impossible to start with Jiang Xingzhou's illness. These days, we can inquire about him on the sidelines. The relationship with everyone in the village is good or bad. After all, controlling the dose of poisoning every day requires not only perseverance, but also opportunities. It will be easier to screen out the general range, even if there is no evidence of poisoning. I don't believe that person would resist doing other things."

Jiang Li nodded thoughtfully.

"There is one more thing we can get." Qi Zhaoxi looked at Jiang Li, "Based on what you knew about Ji Xiuming when you were a child and when we met later, do you think he will take the initiative to contact the Prajna Sect to betray you?"

Jiang Li shook his head without thinking, and said, "Someone seduced him."

"It won't be someone from the Prajna Sect. To successfully impress Ji Xiuming, that person must have an identity that can convince him, and he must understand his real situation and pain in Guiyun Villa, because the outside world only knows that Ji Xiuming is Guiyun's younger generation is the most outstanding person, and he accompanied the young village master to practice in the world, and he is extremely glamorous, so that person is very likely to be someone from the village."

"Could it be the same person?" Jiang Li asked.

"Maybe, if not, then things will be even more troublesome." Qi Zhaoxi laughed, "There is another very important question, we all saw that the sword of no doubt was in Ji Xiuming's hands, and even disappeared without a trace It means that that person did not take the Sword of No Doubt for himself, not for the "Longevity Formula", so what is he doing for it?"

Jiang Li's expression was slightly condensed, and he fell into deep thought.

Qi Zhaoxi smiled again, reached out and squeezed his palm, and said, "It's okay, I'll be with you."

"Yeah." Jiang Li held his hand instead, and looked up at him, "How about you, how are you in the Qingshan School?"

Mentioning this, Qi Zhaoxi's smile became slightly weird, and he hesitated for a while before saying, "Master Shen treated me...unexpectedly."

When he arrived at the Qingshan School, Qi Zhaoxi was already prepared to deal with various situations. However, when he followed Shen Shensi and his group up the mountain, he saw the headmaster Shen Ying personally waiting in front of the gate with his disciples. , Shen Ying involuntarily took two quick steps, looked straight at her eyes, and said two words with trembling lips: "...Qiubai."

Qi Zhaoxi remained calm and bowed to him as a junior.

Shen Ying grabbed Qi Zhaoxi's arm and stared hard at his face, almost losing his composure, the disciples beside him and Shen Shensi hurriedly stepped forward to persuade him, Shen Ying took a deep breath, and slowly let go , murmured and nodded: "Yes, you are Qiubai's son. Back then, your mother was calm and distraught, and there was another heavy snowfall, but I couldn't even send someone to take care of her except to send her away in a hurry. There is no news, I thought you mother and son..."

He looked as if he was caught in the past, and he didn't care that his disciples heard his words, so he shook his head and didn't say any more.

Qi Zhaoxi smiled slightly, and said along the way: "Sect Master Shen's kindness, our mother and son will never forget it."

Shen Ying didn't answer these words, and ordered Shen Shensi to go back to rest with his disciple first, then brought Qi Zhaoxi back to his courtyard, the two sat down in the main hall, the disciple closed the door and left after making tea. Quiet.

Shen Ying leaned on the back of the mahogany chair and was lost in thought for a long time, while Qi Zhaoxi sat on the left side without making a sound, just waiting quietly.

After a full cup of tea, Shen Ying sighed rather regretfully, and said, "I've heard of your reputation of 'breaking the sky with one sword' in the world, but I didn't expect you to be Qiu Bai's son. His martial arts aptitude, if he doesn't die, his reputation will definitely be as good as yours."

Qi Zhaoxi smiled, raised his hand to signal the sword case that his disciple had put in his hand, and said, "Let Master Shen test this saber first."

Shen Ying saw that he didn't intend to talk too much, so she sighed helplessly, took the sword box and slowly opened it, and the blue cold light flowed out, and the sword body reflected his no longer young eyes.Shen Ying's finger landed on the sword, brushed it lightly, and finally stopped on the scratch under the hilt, and couldn't help but said again: "Do you know what the name of your father's saber is?"

Qi Zhaoxi hesitated for a while, and said truthfully, "I don't know, please answer."

"The name of the sword asks water." Shen Ying closed his eyes, and said slowly, "Qiubai and I have worshiped the Entrance Sect successively, and are the closest senior brothers. Let us choose our own name, thinking that we will be vigilant all our lives. After discussing with him for more than half a month, we finally decided that my sword name is Knocking Mountain. Knocking mountains and asking water, searching up and down, my life has a limit, and knowledge has no limit."

That is a young man who has just reached the crown, with a pious desire for knowledge in martial arts and a firm heart to explore the way of swordsmanship.

Qi Zhaoxi's heart moved, feeling inexplicable, his mother Liu Rubing did not tell him about Qi Qiubai's life in detail, every time she mentioned it, she always spoke a gentle word, and then choked up so that she couldn't continue, he was young at that time, but he also Sensibly learned to avoid this topic.

Therefore, to him, Qi Qiubai was more like a blurred shadow reflected in the water, until now, this shadow had some vivid traces.

Qi Zhaoxi couldn't help smiling, with a hint of self-mockery: "So, I really don't resemble him at all."

"No, you do!" Shen Ying said, "You look like him, especially when you smile, you are exactly the same!"

"..."

Shen Ying could see that Qi Zhaoxi's expression had finally undergone a slight change, his heart was full of emotions, and it was becoming more and more difficult to suppress. Living in guilt, I don’t know if your mother told you and how she told you, but I have to tell you the truth. I was the one who caught up with the two of them who eloped.”

Qi Zhaoxi looked at him.

"Qiubai and your mother could have left, lived in seclusion, and found a place to live a good life, but I persuaded them to return to the sect with me. Your mother is a smart person, saying that she is from a demon sect, and she can't go to a decent place. Qiubai had made up his mind at first, but I tried my best to guarantee that the master said that the sect would accept them. Qiubai always wrote to me, but he was shaken. He persuaded your mother with me for a few days. In the end, I put the two of them together. Brought back the Qingshan faction."

"At that time, I was too young, too stupid, too arrogant!" Shen Ying closed his eyes again, and the wrinkles on his forehead were as deep as knives, and twitched in pain, "Where do I have the ability to vouch for it, I I failed to save my junior brother, and even failed to take good care of his wife and children, and tried my best, but let him be pregnant for several months, and my wife, who was unable to use weapons and could not protect herself, escaped alone in the wind and snow!"

Shen Ji took a few short breaths, then slowly opened his eyes, and looked at Qi Zhaoxi: "Later, I was grounded by Master for a month, and when I came out, I never found out about your mother again. It's been so many years , I always thought she died on that snowy night." He shook his head and lowered his voice sadly, "Son, I have no kindness to your mother and child, I have caused your family misfortune."

"..." Qi Zhaoxi silently listened to Shen Ying's words, and kept observing the other person's expression. He didn't react for a while. It wasn't that he was unmoved, on the contrary, because of the uncontrollable waves, he couldn't help but move more and more. Beware of this honest confession.

After a while of silence, Qi Zhaoxi said lightly: "The past is over, besides, my mother never hated you, so you don't have to worry about it anymore."

Shen Ying saw his calm expression, and listened to his answer so decently, couldn't tell how much sincerity was there, and his eyes were completely dimmed.Shen Ying sat silently for a while, and suddenly seemed to have some hope, got up and said: "Come on, come with me, I will take you to meet Qiu Bai."

Qi Zhaoxi was taken aback, and sat in his original position without moving.

Shen Ying had already reached the door, and turned around to urge him: "His tombstone is in the frost forest on the back mountain, come here, he must really want to see you too!"

Although Qi Qiubai was executed by the head of the sect for having an affair with a demon girl, he claimed to be a victim of the Prajna sect, so he was still eligible to be buried in the cemetery of the sect.

Qi Zhaoxi stood up slowly, and followed him out of the courtyard. A long stone path led to the frost forest in the back mountain. Under the shade of towering ancient trees, there was a gray stone tablet arranged according to the distance of seniority.

Shen Ying pointed out the direction for him, and said: "Go over and have a good talk with Qiu Bai, I'll wait here, and I won't bother you."

Qi Zhaoxi glanced at Shen Ying, responded politely, and then walked towards the tombstone, gradually approaching, and could vaguely see the familiar and unfamiliar name engraved on it, his steps slowed down involuntarily, a rare A little bit of nervousness, almost like nostalgia, appeared on the ground.

Only a few steps away, Qi Zhaoxi stood still in front of the tombstone, thinking of his biological father, whom he had never met, lying quietly in this piece of soil under his feet, there was always a sense of unreality in his trance. Chaos, he was not ready to kneel and kowtow, and the word 'father' was too awkward to utter.

Facing Qi Qiubai's name, he seemed to be facing a huge problem.

In the end, Qi Zhaoxi took out the wine jug that he carried with him, shook it, and dumped the remaining half of the jug on the ground. The strong aroma of the wine rose, and he found a sentence: "My mother said, although she has been in this life Sorry, but no regrets."

The wine seeped into the soil silently, the cold wind kept blowing in the forest, and the dead branches and leaves rustled.

After a while, he whispered again: "Next time, I'll bring someone to see you."

This is nothing.

Piaoping has lived indefinitely for so many years, and suddenly she is asked to pick up her kinship roots, she really doesn't know what to do.

Qi Zhaoxi turned her head and saw Shen Ying who was waiting far away shrinking into a black shadow in the lonely world. She couldn't figure out what the other party's plan was, or was it repeating the old trick, and she had to wait for him to relax his vigilance before attacking.

Qi Zhaoxi stood still and waited, but this time, he only waited until the news of Jiang Xingzhou's death came from Guiyun Villa.He was in a bad mood and couldn't sit still anymore, so he went to say goodbye, and Shen Ying arranged for him to go with the disciples of the Qingshan School who mourned the funeral. Before leaving, Shen Ying looked at him deeply and said: "In the future, you must remember Come back and have a look, I assure you, as long as my son and I are still in the Qingshan School for a day, the Qingshan School will never reject you."

At that time, all the disciples were present and listening, Qi Zhaoxi subconsciously avoided his gaze and smiled vaguely.

After listening to this story, Jiang Li said: "He hopes you forgive him, he wants to give you a home."

But is there really such a simple cause and effect in the world?It was rare for Qi Zhaoxi to be unsure. After thinking about it, he still just said, "Let's talk about it."

Jiang Li stopped talking, let him think about it slowly, and asked instead: "Did the Qingshan faction only send those disciples here?"

"The leader is Shen Shensi, the eldest son of the sect leader, but he seems to have received some news on the way. He mysteriously delayed for a few days, and finally let us go first." Qi Zhaoxi said, "That's why I came late Understand."

"what news?"

"I don't know. The other disciples know less than I do. Shen Shensi kept his mouth shut and never mentioned a word. It was because I saw his nervous and worried expression in those few days and guessed something was wrong."

Jiang Li nodded.

"Don't mention that." Qi Zhaoxi moved closer, looked at him with a smile and said, "Tell me, why are you worried about me?"

A trace of unnaturalness flashed across Jiang Li's face, and he said, "Who did you say you were taking to see your father at your father's grave?"

After three days of farewell, it was really impressive that Jiang Li knew how to grasp the topic. Qi Zhaoxi couldn't help laughing, but deliberately said: "Then I will take someone else, will you agree to me?"

"..." Jiang Li withdrew his hand, and said, "It's up to you, I can't control you."

"Why can't you control me?" Qi Zhaoxi said, squeezing onto his stool, wrapping his other hand around his waist to stabilize the two of them, and said solemnly, "I'll teach you how to control me, you have to be careful with me Both soft and hard, the hard one is to find a small dark room and lock me up, and I am not allowed to go anywhere; the soft one is that you come into the small dark room from time to time to give me some benefits, a hug is not enough, at least a kiss ?”

Jiang Li was half-wrapped in his arms, it was amused to hear it but he couldn't bear to ignore it.

Qi Zhaoxi turned Jiang Li's face reluctantly, and asked, "My dear apprentice, have you learned it yet?"

Jiang Li couldn't help laughing, raised his elbow and pushed him, "You're annoying."

"Hey, don't push, you're still sitting still." Qi Zhaoxi swayed, feeling that the stool was really too narrow.

Jiang Li grabbed his arm and helped him stabilize it. Qi Zhaoxi hugged him even tighter, leaned against Jiang Li's temples, and whispered in his ear: "To be honest, I have been Worrying about you."

Jiang Li relaxed himself, leaned half on his shoulder, and gave a soft "hmm".

Qi Zhaoxi smiled, leaned in and kissed him lightly on the tip of his ear, and was about to go down, when suddenly there was a knock on the door, unhurriedly and politely.

Qi Zhaoxi let go of Jiang Li, the two stood up and turned around to look, only to see a broad and healthy figure of a man standing outside the door.

They looked at each other, Qi Zhaoxi stepped forward to open the door, and the person who came was Jiang Zhongyue, the person in charge of Guiyun Villa. The other party was slightly taken aback when he saw him, and turned to look at Jiang Li who was in the room. He did not speak first, but solemnly said He bowed deeply.

During the day in the mourning hall, he asked questions every step of the way, but at night he showed such a sincere look, Qi Zhaoxi said with a smile: "Since Senior Jiang has already apologized in front of everyone in Jianghu, how did you sing it?"

Jiang Zhongyue sighed, and said: "I know that I have offended you a lot today, but it's really helpless. I hope you two don't take it to heart."

"A helpless move?" Jiang Li asked.

"Of course I know Guiyun's secrets, and I was even there when the owner and your father decided to encircle and suppress the old owner of Jiang Luming. As for your affairs, Lan Ze has already told me in detail, but I shoulder the entire responsibility. Gui Yun, I don’t dare to be careless and credulous, that’s why I made this bad move today, just to test your character.” Jiang Zhongyue said, “It’s my fault that you have been wronged.”

"Are you afraid that I will reveal the secret in order to recognize Hui Huiyun?" Jiang Li said.

"I have to guard against it."

Jiang Li nodded calmly and didn't say anything else.

"I came here tonight, not only to apologize." Jiang Zhongyue hurriedly took out a long rectangle from his arms, wrapped in layers of white cloth, he couldn't tell what it was, he handed Jiang Li his hands, and said, "This is I found it from the owner's relics."

Jiang Li took the things and glanced at Qi Zhaoxi hesitantly. Qi Zhaoxi walked back to Jiang Li's side knowingly, and watched as he began to uncover the layers of white cloth, revealing the simple and simple wooden signboard, on which was engraved 'Jiang's Yunruo's Divine Table' is actually a spiritual tablet.

Jiang Li was startled.

Qi Zhaoxi looked at Jiang Zhongyue inexplicably, and said with a smile, "Senior, what do you mean by that?"

"I think this was probably engraved for you by the owner of the villa after he heard about the accident in the Sunset Cloud Valley. At that time, his health was already bad, and it involved the secrets of the villa, so he couldn't pretend to be someone else, but he wanted to leave something for you , even if this spiritual tablet cannot be enshrined in the ancestral hall." Jiang Zhongyue stared at Jiang Li and said in a deep voice, "Even if the world cannot justify your name, you must remember that you are still a member of Guiyun, a family member of the same blood as us. "

Jiang Li's fingers touched the uneven notch on the spirit seat, and then hugged it to his chest, whispering: "I haven't changed my surname, I belong to the Jiang family."

"Okay, it's best for you to think so." Jiang Zhongyue said earnestly, "In three days' time, the competition to select the new leader of the Shanhe League will be held. This is Guiyun's top priority. I hope we can tide over this difficulty together."

Qi Zhaoxi put his hand on Jiang Li's shoulder, before he could speak, he interjected, "Since he is not from Guiyun Villa in the eyes of the Jianghu people, how can senior ask him to tide over difficulties with you?"

"Naturally there will be places where he needs to contribute."

"Senior said that, we don't quite understand it, so let's explain clearly what we need to do." Qi Zhaoxi laughed.

Jiang Zhongyue paused, looked into Jiang Li's eyes and said, "I hope you can teach Lan Ze the "Secret of Longevity"."

Jiang Li frowned when he heard this, and said directly, "I won't teach him."

"This matter is related to the honor and disgrace of Guiyun Villa!" Jiang Zhongyue said, "I know how much Lan Ze's martial arts are. Even if he changed his laziness from the past and practiced hard all the time, he would not be able to win the big competition, but The "Secret of Longevity" can turn everything around, even if it's only for three days, if you teach him one move or two, he will definitely be able to win! I think Jiang Luming, the old leader of the alliance, lost all his martial arts, and it was because of the power of "Secret of Longevity" that he brought Guiyun to the world. peak?"

"Back then, my father led people to live in the Sunset Valley, but he didn't want the "Longevity Secret" to be born again." Jiang Li said without hesitation, "I won't teach him."

"Ke Guiyun's decline, is it what the owner and your father want to see?" Jiang Zhongyue expressed sadness, "If we lose this competition and lose our reputation as the number one in the world, I don't know how many people are waiting to see us joke, and even wished to step on it a few times."

"..." Jiang Li was silent without words, but still shook his head.

"Lan Ze is your cousin, the closest relative to you left in this world, and the one who will support Guiyun in the future. You are not passing the "Longevity Formula" to outsiders, teaching him not to There will be violations of the rules." Jiang Zhongyue lowered his posture, "Think about it again, think about it carefully, and don't rush to answer me immediately."

Seeing that the other party was almost begging, Jiang Li tightened his lips for a while, and didn't respond.

Jiang Zhongyue was not in a hurry to persuade him, but just looked at him without blinking.

When the atmosphere was at a stalemate, Qi Zhaoxi looked around, and was about to speak to resolve it, when suddenly hurried footsteps came from far and near, and the three of them turned around to look, only to see the servants of the villa rushing up, panting.

"What's the matter?" Jiang Zhongyue returned to his usual majestic appearance, and spoke first.

"Master Shen Shensi from the Qingshan faction is here, and he is accompanied by the second son Shen who is unconscious. I heard that he was seriously injured!"