[comprehensive] superior skills

As the evening approached, the capital, which had been bustling all day, finally had a tendency to quiet down.

The pickers who moved goods and the Hu and Han merchants who exchanged silk, porcelain, and spices all gathered in the corners and alleys to whisper, but there were many locals in short jackets, Chinese skirts, pearls and jade chains in the market.

Nintoku Temple is a holy place of Buddhism. Businessmen who come and go from south to north every day are looking for money or peace of mind. Even if they can’t go to worship, they still want to get a taste of incense, and the nearby shops are also flourishing.

After wandering around the city for half a day, the three of Song Ci booked a small courtyard at an inn just across the wall from Rende Temple.

The small courtyard is not spacious, the only advantage is that it is private enough.

Among the two bedrooms, Song Ci lives alone in the one near the temple, while Hua Manlou lives with Yu Tianbao.

After dinner as usual, the preoccupied Yu Tianbao went back to the room first to ask for water to take a bath, while Hua Manlou stayed in the room to discuss the clues to find the iron shoes and the old master.

At this time, Song Ci, who had already learned the details of the temple from the birds and beasts who lived in Rende Temple for a long time, said slowly: "Since the eminent monk Xuanzang Panhuan Rende Temple gave lectures on the altar 900 years ago, this place has been ruled by the ruler of the country at that time." It was named Huguo Temple. Western countries have also heard the name of Rende Temple for a long time, and there is an endless stream of believers who come from thousands of miles every day to offer incense, and there are also many pilgrims who are determined to cultivate here."

"However, the old abbot was afraid that the latecomers would be unclean and defile the Buddhist gate. He followed the decree of Sakyamuni and said, "Do not enter Nirvana, live in the world forever, and save all living beings." Since then, except for the single monks who came from afar, the ordained monks of Nintoku Temple have never exceeded this limit."

Hua Manlou smelled the faint green smoke that came in from the window, "Even if the old king moved in, it hasn't changed? Could it be that there aren't even king's guards in the temple?"

Song Ci smiled and shook his head, "Hanhai Kingdom has always been aloof from the world, and here is a place of pure Buddhism. Who would bother to deal with a powerless, sick and weak old man? Besides, the monks in the temple alone are enough to deal with young people."

"Where are the princes?"

Hua Manlou asked again, "Don't they think it's suspicious that the old lord lives here alone?"

"There are no more princes."

Song Ci said lightly: "During the past 20 years, several sons of the old lord died and were injured due to various accidents, and now only the posthumous son of the eldest prince is left in the palace, a child who is only seven years old. The folks also I feel that the old lord retired from the world because he couldn't bear the pain of losing his son."

Back then, instead of saving the life of the heir, the trick of diverting water to the east forced the enemy to kill him. I am afraid that this was something the old lord did not expect.

But this is the method commonly used by people in the Jianghu, and things that can be solved by killing people will never waste their words.

"How could this be!"

Hua Manlou slammed the table hard, "It doesn't count that the people behind the scenes are trying to usurp the throne, but they want to kill them all!"

He thought that as long as the Jade Buddha remained in Peach Blossom Castle, at least Hanhai Kingdom would be safe and sound, but he still underestimated the ruthlessness of the thief.

"If a person wants to become a king, it doesn't matter whether he has the Jade Buddha or not."

Song Ci said: "Although the method is a little rough, the effect is good. Anyway, they are not a serious royal family, who will tell you about the inheritance of the ancestors."

If there is only the last one left, who dares to say that he is not the uncrowned king.

Hua Manlou breathed a sigh of relief, "There should be more than just the little emperor and grandson in the royal family. Just look at the prosperity and peace in Hanhai, and there must be a regent with extremely powerful methods to handle daily government affairs."

If the age is right, I am afraid that this person will be the target person they are looking for on this trip.

"Not bad!"

Song Ci replied: "Apart from the little emperor's grandson, Hanhai Kingdom has the last remaining heir, the Peacock Prince."

"The Peacock Prince?"

Hua Manlou frowned, "He and Yu Tianbao are about the same age?"

"Only in terms of appearance and style, they are comparable."

Song Ci asked him, "Do you think other than Yu Luocha, who would know where Yu Tianbao came from and when it was born?"

The head of the Demon Cult even did such things as exchanging sons in order to protect his own son from disaster, how could it be possible for others to know Yu Tianbao's birth date.

Hua Manlou sighed softly, "I was too impatient."

"If I also have an enemy close at hand, I'm afraid I don't have the heart to talk to people at this moment."

After some comfort, Song Ci went on to say: "It is said that on the day the prince was born, the male peacocks in the royal garden scrambled to open their screens to congratulate him first, so the old lord named him Peacock. Does it sound familiar, like "Dream Day" "Into the bosom", that loving father paved the way for his own son when he was about to be born."

"It is indeed a rare 'loving father' to be able to take great pains to steal the day and day for an infant child."

Yu Tianbao, who was covered in moisture, strode in with half-damp long hair, "I don't care how miraculous that peacock prince is, I just want to know where the old king is now."

Huamanlou saw that the visitor couldn't even use internal force to dry his hair because of Yu Luocha's selfish indulgence, and said regretfully: "Brother Wang, please be safe and don't be impatient. Since the old master is in Rende Temple, I think your father and son will meet soon." far away."

No matter how other people persuaded him, Yu Tianbao only felt that he was burning inside, "I am very irritable! Since I was born, I have never been so irritable and restless for a day!"

Even when he first knew the mystery of his life experience, he had expected it a long time ago, and since then his heart has been ashamed, unlike today that he can hardly control the bloody nature surging in his heart.

He desperately wanted to take a look at the old king, even if it was just a glance.

"The relationship between flesh and blood cannot be violated."

Song Ci sighed slightly, "It's not difficult to meet the old lord. Since Rende Temple closed its doors to thank visitors, there is only one old habit that has not changed."

She took out the flower buds sent by the honest monk from her purse and put them on the table, "Do you think this flower is fragrant?"

Hua Manlou nodded, "But there is a different fragrance."

Yu Tianbao asked anxiously: "What does this thing have to do with the old lord?"

Song Ci got up and opened the window wider, "The monks of Rende Temple will go to a incense candle shop in the outer city every month to buy incense candles for morning and evening classes. Among them is a bundle of custom-made Luohan Gaoxiang. The lecture hall on the altar."

There was a smile on the corner of her mouth, "You smell the sandalwood fragrance in the wind, do you feel familiar?"

Hearing the words, Yu Tianbao first rushed to the window to take a few deep breaths, then grabbed the buds and sniffed them carefully, "Why do monks use drugs for chanting scriptures?"

"That's right, why would a monk add precious and rare drugs to incense?"

Song Ci laughed and said, "Unless he is a lazy monk who doesn't want to recite sutras, the abbot can only find another way to treat the monk's laziness."

Suddenly, Hua Manlou turned to Yu Tianbao and said, "What if this lazy monk is replaced by someone who keeps secrets? The old lord once said that unless someone came to the door with a token, he would never hand it over. Jade Buddha."

If this is the case, it is not difficult to understand why Prince Peacock spared the life of the little emperor's grandson. Perhaps he is using his only blood to persecute the old king, hoping to become emperor in a legitimate way.

It is very likely that he has long suspected that there are unknown secrets hidden in the Jade Buddha that was sent away, so he made Tie Xie visit Shanghua's house year after year.

Yu Tianbao said happily: "So, as long as you follow the fragrance of flowers, it is possible to find the old king?"

Song Ci nodded, "I can't think of anyone in Rende Temple who is more worthy of enjoying such precious sandalwood than the old master."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

Yu Tianbao was fidgeting, "I'm going to change into night clothes now!"

"Brother, wait a minute."

Hua Manlou stopped him, "Now is not the time."

Yu Tianbao was about to growl, "Don't you ask God to ask the divination to calculate the auspicious time before you can visit the temple?"

Hua Manlou was never annoyed by his indiscriminate words, but softly persuaded: "It doesn't take long, just wait for the night to be quiet and fragrant."

When it came to Yinzheng, the fireworks that had been shrouded in clouds and fog became inaudible, and three black shadows floated into the front yard of Rende Temple like green smoke.

Although there are no monks walking around at this time, the main hall where the Buddha is enshrined is still brightly lit.

The three shadows passed through the royal plaque and entered the back temple, using one of them's keen sense of smell to search for the strange fragrance from before.

Hua Manlou stopped when passing by one of the rudimentary and quiet rooms, and slowly pasted up the thin window paper.

Seeing his movements, a shining embroidery needle appeared in Song Ci's hand, and easily pierced a hidden needle hole in the corner of the window edge.

Hua Manlou closed his eyes slightly, and said softly: "There is no one in the house, there may be a secret passage."

"Go ahead and talk about it."

As soon as Song Cilue closed the door with force, it opened a thin crack, and the three of them slipped in one after another.

Compared with the solemn and magnificent main hall, this quiet room can be said to be extremely simple. There is only one altar table, a futon and Zen calligraphy hanging on the wall in the whole room.

"The aroma is broken here."

Hua ManLou went to the altar, "Look around to see if there are any secret records."

Song Ci groped for the wall on the other side, but Yu Tianbao immediately noticed the big Zen character.

The words were not signed, but he always felt an indescribable sense of familiarity.

Yu Tianbao walked straight over and opened the scroll.

At the moment when the text shifted, a two-finger-wide Mig suddenly fell down, revealing a pair of old and dull eyes.

"You, it's you..."

Even though those eyes were old and wrinkled, Yu Tianbao still recognized those eyes that always appeared in the mirror recently.

"Are you my father?!"

With a low growl, Yu Tianbao rushed forward and tried to drag the person out of the wall, but fell into the rotating wall while touching the wall.

"Brother Wang!"

Hua ManLou responded, but only had time to catch another person who fell down.

Song Ci looked at the vicissitudes of life of the old man who had no breath, "Is he the person we are looking for?"

Hua Manlou brushed past the staring eyes of the person in his arms, and said sadly: "I saw his portrait in Peach Blossom Castle when I was young, and this person is the old master of Hanhai Kingdom."

When the light of death is extinguished, let the past grievances and grievances disappear in smoke.

"Why did he die today?"

Song Ci sighed softly, "Did someone force him to death, or was it because our whereabouts were exposed..."

Hua Manlou put the old master on the ground, "I don't know."

He only knew that no matter who the person behind the scenes was, he would find that person and make an end of it.

"There's a fire! Come and put out the fire!"

While the two were looking for a way out, there were bursts of cries for help outside the house.

Panicked footsteps came from far to near, and then the door of the quiet room was locked with thick iron chains, and pots of tung oil were poured on it.

The already ferocious fire suddenly rushed up to the eaves, and behind the ashes of the window paper was a red shadow whose face could not be seen clearly.

The billowing smoke was rolled into the room earlier than the flames, Song Ci could hardly breathe if it wasn't covered by the mask.

Knocking open the secret passage on the wall with an iron rod, she shouted to Hua Manlou: "Take the old master and go first!"

Hua Manlou took a steady look at her, carried the stiff old man into the half-open revolving door, and pressed his palms against it when it was about to close.

Song Ci originally wanted to play ghosts after the people left, but now he didn't care about hiding it, and directly released four corpses of similar bone age to be swallowed by the fire.

Without fire, the secret passage was pitch black.

After pulling down the mask and taking a few breaths of fresh air, Song Ci slowly saw the other person leaning beside him.

After pondering for a moment, she raised her hand and pointed to the brow of the other party.

"I will keep my word."

In the darkness, Hua Manlou held the cold finger, "I swear on the honor of the Hua family's ancestors."

Song Ci paused slightly, "It's not that I insist on this, it's just that many times when you know someone too well, you can't get close to them, and the worst thing is that you can only drift away."

Just as she has never told anyone her secrets in all ages, many things are only suitable to be hidden in the bottom of her heart.

"I won't ask, no matter what you've done."

Hua Manlou turned around and helped up the old ruler who was thrown aside in a hurry, "Now we have only one way to go, if you still want to do this after finishing this way, I will never stop it."

Song Ci was silent for a while, then found a small moonstone for lighting.

There was only one person walking in the narrow tunnel, Hua Manlou was behind with the old lord on his back, and Song Ci was exploring the way ahead with Mingzhu on his back.

The two of them walked through the staggered tunnel like nine bends and eighteen bends before they found a ten-high stone gate with faint light, but they didn't find the slightest trace left by Yu Tianbao on the way.

This section of the road is slightly different from the dirt road in front, and the surrounding walls are all uneven rocks.

After about another cup of tea time, the sound of air rushing through the air and the cooing of birds finally came from ahead.

Song Ci took a few steps and rushed out to have a look, only to find that he was standing in an extremely tall iron cage, and the exit of the secret road behind him was just a rocky rockery.

In the morning light, a dozen or so peacocks who were sitting, lying or pecking grass seeds looked at the guests who suddenly appeared at home.

Among them, the most courageous male peacock stepped forward to walk around the ugly alien, and at the end he did not forget to show off his beautiful tail plumes.

Hua Manlou, who saw this scene after him, smiled and said, "Compared to the disgraced intruder, it does have something worth showing off."

Only then did she focus on getting out of the secret passage, and Song Ci realized that the other party's face was covered with black ashes choked by smoke when she heard this sentence. Thinking that she would not get any better, she quickly wiped her face with her sleeve, "I heard that the Peacock Prince is the most I like peacocks, and I always feed them with my own hands and never allow others to disturb them without permission. According to this, we should be in the Royal Garden."

Hua Manlou looked at the endlessly stacked tall palace walls in the distance, "The prince must use this as an excuse to go back and forth to the Rende Temple to imprison and torture the old lord, but there is one thing I can't figure out."

Song Ci followed his gaze, "Is there anything in this world that can make it difficult for the seventh child of the Hua family? I always thought that you are as smart as Lu Xiaofeng."

Hua Manlou smiled softly, "Ah Ci thinks highly of me. In the past, I was able to advise Lu Xiaofeng because it was clear to the bystanders. Now that I am in a puzzle, I realize that only those with great perseverance and great wisdom can save themselves from dangers like him. .”

Hearing this unabashed praise, Song Ci said helplessly: "It seems that Lu Xiaofeng is a lucky thing to be your friend, no matter how far away you are, there are people who miss you."

"But I'm thinking of another friend now."

Hua Manlou looked down at the messy footprints on the ground, "At this moment, I really want to know where that Yu Tianbao, who is not good at martial arts, is hiding."

The author has something to say:

Song Ci: Farewell to the old lord.

In addition, in order to match with the Demon Sect's 72 Heavenly Demons and 36 Earth Shas, the scumbag author selected the first [-] of the five hundred arhats as the number of monks.

Twinkle, twinkle, sparkle~~