The master said not to judge people by their appearance

In the early morning, just after dawn, a piece of news spread across the city like a wind with long legs. Everyone was talking about this old case from ten years ago that was suddenly restarted for investigation.

"Have you heard? The river god appeared ten years ago. Someone pretended to be a ghost, and used the name of the river god to take revenge on Xu Liniang!"

Just when someone started a conversation in the teahouse, a group of people gathered around.

"There is such a thing? Then who is this pretender?"

"Who else could it be? It was Zhang Li, a local rascal, who first reported the river god's apparition. Why did he and Xu Liniang have no grievances and no enmity? Why did he want to harm each other? Wasn't he instigated by his boss!"

"It's Luo Hongyuan?! If it's his words, then Xu Liniang's case may never be cleared." The person who spoke sighed. Who in Cangzhou doesn't know the power of the Luo family, how can a Caiyunfang musician win the case? The eldest son of the Luo family.

"Not necessarily. Didn't a big man come to Cangzhou a few days ago? He is the one who uncovered this case!"

"But Xuanwu Marquis Xie Yunlan?"

"It's Mr. Xie! Not only did he find out the case, but he also broke into Luo's house directly to take people. Luo Hongyuan has been imprisoned for three days, and he heard that he will be sent to Beijing for judgment by His Majesty tomorrow!"

"Really? Xie Yunlan really dares to touch Luo Hongyuan?" Some people still don't believe it. Although Xie Yunlan is famous, but a strong dragon can't overwhelm a snake. Xuanwuhou is powerful outside the Great Wall, but when he comes to Cangzhou, can he really touch the Luo family?

"It's absolutely true! If you don't believe me, go to the Yanshui River to see it. I heard that in order to punish Luo Hongyuan, Mr. Xie specially put Luo Hongyuan on the Yanshui River before sending him to Beijing, and paraded him for public display!"

"Go, go, go and have a look!"

The crowd flocked to the Yanshui River, but it was raining outside, and there were still monsters dormant in the water. They didn't dare to get too close to the river to watch the excitement, so they only found a window in the tavern and teahouse by the Yanshui River. The location looks far away.

There were quite a few people who thought this way. For a while, the windows of the ten-mile tower by the Yanshui River were crowded with people, and in the center of everyone's eyes, as the rumors said, this former Luo family The eldest son is being forcibly escorted onto the boat by the guards.

Luo Zhantu tried all kinds of methods, but there was nothing he could do with Xie Yunlan. To be reasonable, he had a gold medal in his hand, so Xu Xin had to listen to him, otherwise he would rebel and use force. Even if Xie Yunlan himself was not included, he alone The twenty or so bodyguards under him are not easy to get along with, and if they call all the servants of Luo Mansion, they probably won't be able to last a round.

Therefore, even though Luo Hongyuan didn't want it in every way, he was forced to be the bait early this morning.

When he stood on the board, his whole calf was trembling. This boat was just an ordinary fishing boat. Not to mention it couldn't withstand the attack of the snake, even if the wind and waves were slightly stronger, it was doubtful whether it would capsize.

Fortunately, the Yanshui River is just a tributary of the Cangjiang River. The turbulent water flow is blocked by the embankment, and the flow speed becomes gentle. Even if Luo Hongyuan doesn't know how to row a boat, he can still sit on it and float into the middle of the river.

Officers and soldiers surrounded the river to prevent pedestrians from approaching. At the same time, Xie Yunlan was standing on an arch bridge across the Yanshui River. He folded his arms and looked at Luo Hongyuan in the middle of the river. Tap lightly and wait for the fish to take the bait.

"Master Hou, is this too obvious?" Wang Tai, who was helping to hold the umbrella beside him, couldn't help but ask.

Although they found an excuse to punish Luo Hongyuan for going on a parade, in such a battle, even the common people who didn't understand the origin of the snake were wondering whether Xie Yunlan could directly convict Luo Hongyuan because he couldn't do it, so he simply came up with such a trick, To lure monsters to do it, to borrow a knife to kill someone.

Although their motives for guessing were wrong, one thing was obvious, Luo Hongyuan was a bait at this moment.

"Just to be obvious." Xie Yunlan said.

He publicized this matter with great fanfare, just to let everyone in Cangzhou know that Luo Hongyuan will leave Cangzhou for the capital tomorrow, and if the person possessed by a demon wants to take revenge, today is his last chance.

"Will the snake come?" Wang Tai asked again.

Xie Yunlan didn't know either, he paused, looked at Shen Fan on the other side and said, "That depends on whether it hates Luo Hongyuan more or fears Soul Fire more."

It was a complete play, if the snake did not come, he was really planning to send Luo Hongyuan to the capital tomorrow, and the game he set up today was just a gamble.

This trapping plan started in the morning and waited until noon, and there was no movement on the river.

For half a day, Luo Hongyuan, or Luo Zhantu who was on the shore, felt like sitting on pins and needles, more nervous than the officers and soldiers guarding on the bridge, for fear that the monster would suddenly emerge from the bottom of the water at some point.

As for the people watching in the pavilions on the shore, it is a bit boring to wait. They also have things to do. The people are busy with their livelihoods every day, so they can't stay here forever. Therefore, after noon, There were fewer people looking around with their heads propped up by the window, but there were still some people who had nothing to do, such as the girls from Caiyunfang.

Caiyunfang is only open at night, and during the day when there is nothing to do, Caiyunfang is built on the bank of the Yanshui River, and half of it is built on the water. You don’t need to go out, open the window, and you can see Luo Hongyuan in the river , and Xie Yunlan and his party who were standing on the shore bridge waiting for the rabbit.

Speaking of which, this matter has a lot to do with them. After all, Xu Liniang used to be here. The sisters who have stayed in Caiyunfang for a long time all know her, and even if they are new, they have heard a little about the demeanor of this oiran. They were all gathered by the window at the moment, watching and discussing the matter.

Yun Xiu was also among them. Unlike the gossiping expressions of the others, her embroidered eyebrows were slightly frowned, and there was faint worry in her eyes looking at the lake.

Another half day passed, and it was almost evening. The rainy weather was already gloomy. Now that it was getting late, the eyes were so dim that it was difficult to see the lake clearly.

Luo Zhantu sat in the private room on the second floor of Linjiang Building, looking out the window frequently. The longer he waited, the more anxious he became. Suddenly he slammed down the table and said angrily, "What is Xie Yunlan doing?! Du Tian Why didn't you bring Yuan'er back when it was dark?"

Xu Xin, who was sitting opposite him, straightened the crooked teacup, and said with a smile: "Don't worry, shopkeeper Luo, Xie Yunlan said that today's parade will last until the third quarter of the unitary hour, and it will be almost an hour later."

"When I get to Jingzhong, I must make him look good!" Luo Zhantu said bitterly.

After he finished speaking, he continued to turn his gaze out of the window, hoping that nothing would happen during the last hour.

Xu Xin also looked over, the rain in Cangzhou has been raining for four days, and it hasn't stopped today, the outside of the house is damp and cold, even if Luo Zhantu is Luo Hongyuan's biological father, he couldn't stand the wind and rain, and hid in the restaurant.

And Xie Yunlan and his group stood in the rain for a whole day, and the rest of them were somewhat anxious. When they thought that the snake would not come, only Xie Yunlan still stood upright, like a green pine standing in the wind and rain.

This Marquis of Xuanwu has many deeds. Xu Xin remembers that Xie Yunlan once led a team of people to lie down in the snow for three days and three nights in order to ambush General Yuanrong. He was like a wolf hunting in winter. The stock is going all out.

It’s just that Xie Yunlan waited patiently, but Shen Fan didn’t. Although Xie Yunlan found a chair for Shen Fan to sit in and sent someone to hold an umbrella for him, but after all, it’s windy and rainy outside, the umbrella can block the rain, but it can’t. Humid water vapor and the ubiquitous cold wind, Xu Xin saw from a distance that Shen Fan seemed to have said something to Xie Yunlan, Xie Yunlan frowned and did not agree.

But not long after, Shen Fan started talking again, and Xie Yunlan yelled loudly as if he was annoyed by what he said.

Shen Fan stopped talking, he looked at Xie Yunlan quietly.

Xie Yunlan seemed to be unable to bear the gaze, or because of other reasons, after a while, he compromised.

Shen Fan got his wish and left the windy and rainy outdoor, he was taken by Wang Tai to a tea house on the shore, and went to rest in the wind-proof and rain-proof room.

Only Xie Yunlan and a group of guards were left standing on the arch bridge. Although only two people left, they were the only one who could use the soul fire, and the only one who made Hua Snake extremely afraid.

The rain is still falling, falling on the surface of the smoky river, causing circles of ripples, the water vapor is dense, and the fog is getting thicker. In the dark sky, sitting in the Linjiang Tower, you can only see a faint shadow on the river.

The shadow suddenly let out a scream, which woke up all the distracted onlookers around. When everyone looked at it intently, they saw that the shadow suddenly fell short, it was a fishing boat sinking!

"Do it!" Xie Yunlan sternly shouted from the arch bridge. The officers and soldiers on the bank heard the sound and ran, but it was too late. The hull of the fishing boat was completely submerged in the water. Drag him to the bottom!

"Yuan'er!" Luo Zhantu yelled, and stood up hastily, but there was nothing he could do.

The snake's attack was so fast that no one could catch it in time.

Seeing that Luo Hongyuan was about to completely sink into the water, a candle suddenly lit up in the vast white mist.

But it was not in the teahouse that Shen Fan had just entered, but on the other side, not far from the water where Luo Hongyuan was, but happened to be in the blind spot of everyone's sight, a stone bridge that was far away from where Xie Yunlan was, and could not be noticed.

Standing on the bridge, Shen Fan stretched out his hand, the blazing fire broke through the thick fog and shone on the deep water surface, another scream came from the water, it was a shrill baby cry!

The snake was burned by the fire, it immediately abandoned Luo Hongyuan and went away, turned around and escaped into the deep water, trying to use the water to resist the burning of the soul fire.

But Xie Yunlan shouted at the same time: "Take it!"

The officers and soldiers who had already reached their positions immediately tightened the iron cables, and an iron net that had been laid on the bottom of the water was tightened suddenly, catching the snake net that was about to dive into the deep water!

There was an ear-piercing sound of rubbing in the water, as if someone was scratching the iron chain with a sharp object, but this iron net was specially made by Xie Yunlan, and it was made of high-quality fine iron, so hard that it could withstand the charge of a horseshoe. The snake's nails could not tear the iron chain, and it turned to a piercing baby cry.

The water flow began to oscillate again, just like the last time in the Cangjiang River, several water spouts formed underwater, and the iron chains that bound the snakes in the net also began to tremble, as if they would collapse in a huge earthquake in the next moment.

At this moment, among the countless iron cables extending to the shore, one suddenly ignited a fierce flame!

There was also a chain buried under the stone bridge where Shen Fan was. When everyone gathered the net, Wang Tai tightened the iron chain at the same time. He was so strong that others needed two hands to pull it. He only needed one hand to wrap the iron chain. On the arm, tightly clenched, and the other free hand was still helping Shen Fan take advantage of the umbrella.

Shen Fan covered the soul fire on the iron chain, and the flame sensed the strong resentment at the end of the iron chain, as if pouring strong wine and oil, the flame suddenly jumped up, burning along the iron chain, like a fire dragon, Go to the bottom of the water.

The cry of the baby became more and more shrill, and the moment the fire light touched the snake, the whole thing burst open, the flames spread to the entire iron net, and the fire was so violent that even the river water was burning!

This misty river of misty water, at this moment, has completely turned into a sea of ​​flames in purgatory!

The soul fire isolated the resentment of the snake, it could no longer shake the river, and at the same time, it couldn't break through the net. Xie Yunlan's arrangement was not finished yet, so he raised his arms and shouted: "Let go!"

Countless crossbow arrows headed towards the center of the iron net with a sharp sound of piercing through the air. The arrows entered the water, and the water flow slowed down the speed of the arrows. round.

Following Xie Yunlan's another order, another round of arrows was fired, just like the rain of arrows falling from the sky, each one with a strong killing intent.

Xie Yunlan had no intention of staying alive when dealing with such monsters. The arrows were thicker than the rain that had been raining for several days, and even the hard snake scales could not resist them for a long time.

After a few rounds, the river water turned red, it was bloody water.

"Don't shoot the arrows! Don't shoot the arrows! Yuan'er is still in the water!" Luo Zhantu yelled from the Linjiang Tower, but no one listened to what he said.

He ran downstairs anxiously, wanting to rush to Xie Yunlan's side and tell him to stop, but under the arch bridge, he found Luo Hongyuan, who was drenched and shivering non-stop, curled up in a corner with his head in his hands.

When collecting the net, Xie Yunlan sent someone to fish Luo Hongyuan out of the water. In fact, he didn't want to save Luo Hongyuan. Thought, after being suppressed in Beijing, the Luo family will use the influence of the second prince to operate, and it will be difficult for Luo Hongyuan to be sentenced to death.

But Hua Snake feeds on resentment, and Luo Hongyuan's death is to give strength to the opponent. In order to prevent today's siege from changing, Xie Yunlan still saved Luo Hongyuan's life.

Under the surface of the water, in the net of iron cables and flames, the snake is still rushing. It is covered with cuts and bruises, wounded by arrows, and burned, but this makes it more fierce, like a desperate beast.

The officers and soldiers pulling the iron chain on the bank were almost thrown into the river by the huge force belt. Fortunately, there were so many of them. Potential.

Wang Tai was also forced to use both hands. He handed the umbrella to Shen Fan, stepped on the railing of the stone bridge by himself, exerted all his muscles, and together with other officers and soldiers on the bank, firmly trapped the snake in the iron net. among.

Even if it is a monster, its physical strength is limited, the impact of the snake began to weaken, and the cry of the baby could no longer move the water, but it was more miserable than before, like a dying cry.

Yunxiu stood on the pavilion of Caiyunfang, listening to the mournful wailing, her fingers tightly clutching the corner of her clothes.

The situation is settled, no matter how difficult it is for the snake to escape, Xie Yunlan is still telling people to shoot arrows, but suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a black figure in the shape of a man falling into the water.

The girls who were onlookers on the colorful cloud boat let out screams one after another.

"Someone fell!"

"It's sister Yunxiu!"

Xie Yunlan heard the reputation and looked, the woman who fell into the water was indeed Yunxiu!And the location where it landed is not far from the center of the iron net, within the attack range of the arrow!

He immediately raised his arms high and shouted: "Stop!"

The officers and soldiers ordered and prohibited, and at the same moment they retracted their arrows and let go of their strings.

Xie Yunlan flipped his arms and jumped off the arch bridge, but he didn't fall into the water. He stepped on the iron rope extending to the shore, as light and nimble as a white crane skimming the water.

He hopped to Yunxiu's side, stretched out his hand, grabbed Yunxiu's arm, and wanted to go back as it was, but the iron chain shook violently!

Hua Snake seized this momentary opportunity, with the ruthlessness of fighting to the death, he insisted on tearing open the iron net surrounded by soul fire with his hands that were scorched to the point where only charred bones remained, and fled away again.

The iron cable broke, Xie Yunlan lost his support, and fell into the water with Yunxiu.

And the snake, once again disappeared without a trace.