A common tavern that connects all fantasy worlds

"Mr. Keruien... welcome. Same as usual?" Xue Li greeted him while sitting behind the bar.

"It's the same. Huh, it's been raining in New York these days, and my feet are getting cold." Ichab untied the shawl on his coat, handed it to Cheetos who was walking by, and said to her After saying "thank you", he sat on the bar chair and dispensed nine "LIBERTY" copper coins.

Even if he was dissatisfied with the police department in every way, he couldn't resign... That's the reason, a salary of one dollar a day was enough for him to live a relatively affluent life in New York, and even had money left over to spend in taverns.

Boss Xue, as always, didn't pay much attention to the face value of the currency and the cross-world exchange rate. He just swept the copper cents into the drawer, took out a bottle of brandy and poured him a glass without ice.

After drinking heavily, the young police officer finally turned a little bloody, and began to chat with the boss: "Boss, hasn't Uncle Jiu come to see you these days?"

"No, the last time I saw him, it seemed that something happened to Qiu Sheng and he needed to deal with it." Xue Li replied sullenly, wondering if Uncle Jiu's problem had been solved?In other words, what is his real problem, why can't he remember who he is, and haven't found any memory?

Amelia, who was sitting by the side, also turned her head, put her face in her hands and said, "Qiusheng, I saw you last time. He is a very typical young guy. He is frizzy and reckless. It reminds me of my son when he was a child." ...Why are you looking at me like that? Yes, I have a son."

"Of course I was shocked by you." Xue Li said, "You died once, came back to life, had a major operation, ran away from home and hung out in the tavern until now, never thought of going back to find your son? And doesn't your son know about this? There won't be any problems with your family relationship, right? "

"For vampires, family affection itself is a strange problem... Shall I help you recall what happened to Victor and Sonia?" Amelia's expression was half a smile, "Our lives are too long So much so that it can obliterate many things. But what you said, I really want to go back and see if this kid was killed by Marcus or humans... Wait, forget it, the identity of 'elder' reappears There will be a lot of unexpected effects in that world, and Selene will have a lot of trouble."

"I don't know what the social form of your vampires is, so I can't comment on it."

Ikab next to him did not participate in the discussion between the two of them on this topic. He waited for Xue Li's voice to finish, and then said to him: "Next time I see Uncle Jiu, please help me thank him for his book. I had a great time reading it. Until the part where 'Guan Yunchang' died..."

"...Good guy, Uncle Jiu read this kind of book for you? You really believe in our tavern's translation ability..." Xue Li nodded in agreement, but at the same time couldn't help but want to complain about the setting of this tavern.Just like all aliens in the multiverse communicate in English, this kind of thing really can't be thought about.

A few people were chatting, and when Max, who was out shopping, came back and ate something together, Ichab got up to leave.

"It was a pleasure talking to you, gentlemen and ladies, but I've got to go back to bed and have duties tomorrow... It would be great if the tavern had rooms."

He took off his top hat and saluted, took off the shawl from the coat hook on the wall beside him, opened the door fully dressed, and walked into the drizzle of New York.

Just following him, another guest opened the door and came in, it was Uncle Jiu with a tired face.

It seemed that it had rained a little in Renjia Town. Uncle Nine's shoulders were slightly wet, and he didn't hold the cigarette bag in his hand. He wiped the water off his arms before walking over to signal to a few people.

"Oh, Uncle Nine, what a coincidence, Mr. Corian just left. He said thank you for your book."

"That's really unfortunate." Uncle Jiu nodded, "That bastard Qiusheng was fascinated by a female ghost... I just rescued him and drove that female ghost away. Hey, first a zombie and then a ghost. 'The World' is really a mess... Let's have a glass of foreign wine with ice."

So who do you compare your score with... If you call zombies and female ghosts restless, what would Chunmu Town say?What is Selene's London?

On the other hand, in Mr. Corin's New York, it seems that he didn't hear any supernatural incidents from him. The big deal was that floating corpses were found in the water, the chief did not allow autopsies, and other colleagues in the law enforcement system scoffed at his scientific spirit.

However, based on this tavern's preference for guests, Xue Li thinks that Mr. Corian is about to encounter some supernatural events...

Before Uncle Jiu finished drinking a glass of wine, Ichab Corian, who had just walked out from here, rushed in again.

"I have to ask for help again... Ouch, Uncle Jiu, just right, I hope you can help me too!"

Xue Li had no choice but to reach out and press the button to signal him to calm down, and asked him: "We are always willing to help... But you have to explain what happened first, Mr. Keruien."

"The order came down, and New York City's law enforcement and judiciary agencies unanimously asked me to go to 'Sleepy Hollow' to detect an event that... they considered 'supernatural'."

Ichab said.

After a series of previous encounters, he no longer dared to say "there are no so-called 'supernatural' events in this world", but his scientific spirit still allowed him to be cautious enough.There may or may not be mysterious powers in his world, but nothing can be confirmed until he sees it with his own eyes.

As soon as he got home, the detailed file of the Sleepy Hollow murder case was placed on his desk, and after a few glances, he immediately decided to go back to the tavern and ask the boss to find Uncle Jiu.

Regardless of whether the incident is supernatural or not, he must solve the case and answer the question that has been on his mind for a long time: What is the world I am facing?

Uncle Jiu sighed.He had just rescued Qiu Sheng, that daring guy, and wanted to rest for a while. Who would have thought that the business would come flooding in like a tide, and he couldn't avoid it!

However, he is also a Taoist priest, and it is his duty to act on behalf of the heavens. How can he refuse in the face of such a thing?

"Wait for me here, I'll go home and pack my things and go with you."

After finishing speaking, Uncle Jiu put the unfinished wine aside, smiled apologetically at Xue Li, jumped off the bar chair, and walked back to Renjia Town.

Please move Uncle Jiu, and Ichab looked around the bar again, stopping his gaze especially on Amelia, but turned away immediately.This case is not necessarily a legendary supernatural case, maybe after a local investigation, it turns out that it is a psychopath sleepwalking murder, and the case can be closed and returned to New York immediately?

Moreover, after the last slip of the tongue, he was rubbed for a long time, which made him afraid to see this one. It's better not to act with her again for the time being.

As for the bald guy over there... He looks more vicious than a vampire, and he can't leave his hands with alcohol and cigarettes. He might be another thug in this bar, so he thinks he shouldn't provoke him for the time being.

After thinking wildly for a while, I finally waited until Uncle Jiu came back.

Uncle Jiu changed into short clothes and trousers that were more convenient for him to move around, put on his bag, and held the arms of the two apprentices with both hands...

"Wow, Master, you're holding on too tightly, it hurts me to death." Qiu Sheng complained first, then looked up to see Ichab, and asked strangely, "Hey, didn't you go back to New York?"

Wencai on the other side was obedient and vigilant this time. Seeing that the people in the tavern were not like ordinary people, he raised his head and asked, "Master, what is this place? Why haven't I seen it in Renjia Town?"

"I'll explain to you later." Uncle Nine perfunctoryly said a few words to his apprentice, then cupped his hands to Ikabu and said, "These two boys can also help a little bit, and I don't worry about keeping them in Renjia Town. I don't know what troubles will be caused to me. The two of them can just stay with me, please."

"No trouble, no trouble." Ichab quickly replied. The local situation in Sleepy Hollow is unknown, and it must be easy to handle if there are more people; Are there too many people going?

It's just that Uncle Jiu didn't plan to stay for a long time, and he didn't even bring a change of clothes. Maybe he still wanted to finish his work quickly and go back to Renjia Town.

Let's hope this case is as simple as he wants it to be...

Chapter 18 Unique country and special customs

When they got into the carriage, Uncle Jiu and the two apprentices were dumbfounded.

They thought that as a police officer in New York City, Iqab should be at the same level as Awei, the local security captain in Renjia Town. He must have a car to travel around, and anyone who wants to travel on business must take a horse-drawn carriage.

Ikab can only explain to them that the internal combustion engine has not yet been invented in this era, and neither the United States nor any other country is as advanced and developed as it was in the 20th century.How many years has it been since the Romans invented the sewer, isn't London just as smelly?

When he first came back, he also wanted to create two things that would not exist until more than 100 years later, but he had no choice but to find that all technological inventions must be based on the scientific development of the entire world.Want to light a light?Ok, first raise the power generation, understand the transformer research, solve the problem of power transmission, and then create a vacuum environment, find luminous materials, and reduce lighting costs...

No one had discovered electromagnetic induction in 1799, and human civilization was far from entering the electrical age.

Not only did they have to ride in a carriage, several people even had to stay in the carriage for two days.Although this "two-day" journey does not count day and night, but counts the rest time on the way, it is already tiring enough.

"Master, the peach pits planted in the yard still need to be watered. Let's go back to live tonight."

Taking advantage of the opportunity of Ikab going out to do errands on the first night, Wen Cai secretly complained to Uncle Jiu.

"Your uncle won't be leaving for a while, as long as Yizhuang has him to take care of him. Ikabu has worked tirelessly to arrange everything for us, we have food and shelter, what's wrong? Don't you two always say you want to see each other? Seeing the world?" Uncle Jiu sat in front of the hotel door with his legs crossed, took a sip of the coffee brought by the hotel owner, looked at the mountain road in front of him leisurely, and nodded with satisfaction.

The scenery in the United States is not bad either. The distant mountains are looming under the setting sun, and the lush trees on the hillside extend to the valley in the middle. The sound of birdsong is clearly transmitted from outside the town to the inside.

At the door of a house in the town, a middle-aged woman in rough clothes is picking out a bucket, sitting on the threshold, with a basin between her legs, and rubbing her clothes on the washboard.Casually dressed lumberjacks gathered in front of the tavern, chatting and laughing loudly with beer glasses in their hands. One of them suddenly made a nasty joke, and reached out and lifted another person's felt hat, revealing the sparsely haired top of his head underneath. Come on, get caught and kicked.

The lives of foreigners are similar to those of Chinese people.Although it has been more than 100 years, who is not busy with "basic clothing, food, housing and transportation" all day long?

It turns out that these bearded foreigners are not all that rich, and Iqab is also here, as he himself said, "a rare gentleman".

Uncle Nine doesn’t judge people only by whether they have money, but he prefers poor guys who are similar to himself... He has made a lot of money, but he must be fast and must not be extravagant of.

However, in the era he lived in, the foreigners all had their eyes above the top and regarded the Chinese as barbarians. Gradually, even the Chinese themselves felt that most of the foreigners were really another kind of creature. Otherwise, why would they be richer and more Confident, and invented more things?

It doesn't matter if you are not as good as others for a while; the most fearful thing is that you will start to doubt yourself from now on, thinking that everything others say is right and everything is good, and you feel that you are really barbaric.

The difference between people is not that big anyway, and on average, it is the eldest brother, let alone the second brother.

Qiu Sheng was walking towards the side, heard the conversation between Wen Cai and the master, curled his lips and said, "We want to see the world, but when we came here, we realized that it is others who see the world, and we are looked down upon."

"I heard from Iqab that there are very few Chinese people here, and many people don't know what 'China' is. Of course they find it new. Isn't it that no one comes to see it now?"

Uncle Jiu said nonchalantly while drinking his coffee.

Indeed, when they first arrived in New York, it was a shock. Even the mayor showed up at the police station. Before Ichab came up with an excuse to explain the sudden appearance of the three of them, his colleagues had to put down All the work was done to maintain order, and a street was surrounded by people; but after the novelty wore off, everyone slowly dispersed...Americans also want to make money to eat.

Especially with the convenience provided by the tavern, Uncle Nine had no barriers to dialogue with them, and everyone soon discovered that this Chinese is not much different from our old American people who are in the Stars and Stripes!

It was the same in this town on the way. Even though the difference in skin color and appearance attracted attention for a while, after Uncle Jiu picked up the coffee, the townspeople gradually got used to it.

"Only Master, you can understand what you say. We don't know what to say when we want to eat. What's the point of talking about chicken and duck?"

Qiu Sheng also sat down beside him, still talking back habitually.He looked up at the coffee Uncle Jiu was drinking, and stuck out his tongue a little.

He is not used to drinking this foreign medicinal soup... But Master, since he went to a foreign teahouse and asked Ikabu to help him increase his prestige, he has become more and more fond of it. He usually goes there occasionally to drink coffee read a book.

Uncle Jiu said proudly: "It's all because you are ignorant. Master, this... this is called telepathy. Although I speak Chinese, it sounds American to Americans."

"...Master, Yika told us about the tavern."

"...so talkative, cough, I mean, I know you still ask!"

Just when Uncle Jiu was so embarrassed that he was about to lose his temper, Ikab finally came back.He went out on business, and he had to report to the local sheriff wherever he went, so that the New York Police Department could know his whereabouts; The fish and two bottles of fruit wine came back just in time to offer sacrifices to the temple of the five internal organs of the three Chinese before their stomachs growled from hunger.

"Actually, Uncle Jiu, you don't have to stay here at night. I just saw the door of the tavern in this town. I can send you back to Ren's house tonight."

While eating in the hotel room, he said to Uncle Jiu, his master and his disciples.

Uncle Jiu shook his head: "It's hard to go abroad, and you don't have a taste of the local customs. Why are you in a hurry to go back? By the way, we haven't read the file of 'Sleepy Hollow' yet, why don't you tell us about it?"

"Makes sense."

Ichab quickly swallowed the meat in his mouth, grabbed the napkin on the side to wipe his mouth, reached out and took out the case records from the luggage bag behind him, spread them on the dining table, and gave nine Uncle and the others talked about the "Sleepy Hollow Massacre".

Sleepy Hollow, two days away from New York, is a Dutch colony. Like most immigrant communities that were established before the founding of the United States, generations of people have multiplied here, and most of the residents except the new ones can climb Some relatives, the relationship between them is even more chaotic.

A total of three people lost their lives in this incident. First, Peter Van Garley and his son Dirk Van Garley, both strong and resistant, were found in a field in the suburbs, with both heads intact. Cut off, the wound on the neck was as smooth as a mirror.The third, the widow Winship, was also beheaded and her body was found a week later.

There seems to be no connection between the three victims, or in other words, there is no connection beyond the average level among the residents of Sleepy Hollow; whether there is any hidden situation, it will have to wait for Officer Corian to find out one by one.

The strangest thing in the case is of course the death of the three people. It is rare to kill people by beheading in this era. Couldn't, or didn't have time to resist.

After explaining the case, Ikab was able to put away the file and continue to eat the bacon pie without changing his face. While chewing, he said: "There are many doubts in this case, but the specific situation can only be revealed after we arrive in the local area." confirm."

Uncle Jiu, who knew Ikab's nature, had already eaten his fill in no time. Seeing that his apprentices were overwhelmed by the overly detailed description of the case, he was in a good mood. He lit a cigarette and smoked, thinking carefully about the incident in Sleepy Hollow Will there be any ghosts and ghosts involved in it.

Three unrelated people dying in the same specific way is indeed very similar to the work of ghosts.If this is the case, then this ghost must have been beheaded before he was alive, and he would use the same method to vent his resentment and anger after death.

Thinking of this, he opened his mouth and said to Ikab: "When you arrive at the local area, remember to look for the county annals... to find out whether there are any crimes of beheading and execution of prisoners in the local history, whether there are any residents who were beheaded due to the war, or other related to' "Beheading" related incidents. If there is no county annals, most of the local old people will remember some... If it is related to ghosts, this may be able to find out its footsteps."

"Okay, I see." Ichab agreed.

The two apprentices next to him had lost their appetite, so Qiu Sheng, who was bolder, took advantage of the conversation between the nine uncles and asked Wen Cai in a low voice: "Hey Wen Cai, have you seen beheading?"

"No... I have been in the Republic of China since I can remember, how did I see this?"

Wencai shook his head.It stands to reason that they have been in Yizhuang for a long time, and neither of them should be afraid of this kind of thing. However, Ikab's description is too graphic, and he also specifically described what kind of state the wound will appear after the beheading. Where the blood vessels are distributed in the neck, and how difficult it is to cut off the cervical spine, it is difficult to understand.

The two looked at each other and each sighed inwardly.I don't know what Master thinks, if you help, you can help, but you have to take the two of them with you, and you won't let them go back at night. These days seem to be sad.

Anyway, he couldn't eat, so Qiu Sheng put on a smiling face, and waited for Uncle Nine to finish communicating with Ikabu before asking him for instructions: "Master, I'll go out for a walk and come back to sleep later."

"You are a monkey-headed monkey, and you can't calm down for a moment. Go, don't leave this hotel, or your legs will be broken!"

Uncle Jiu ordered not to let him go far.It would be a big joke if the apprentice was left in another world!

Chapter 19 Traveling Far and Far

Qiu Sheng was very obedient and didn't leave the hotel... After so many troubles, he should learn to behave, and he was also afraid that he would be thrown into another world.If my aunt can't see him again, she won't be dying in a hurry!

However, no matter how big the hotel in this small town is, he couldn't break into other people's rooms, and he couldn't communicate with others. After sitting on the terrace for a while, and walking around the main hall, he just Feel bored for a while.

The furnishings here are a bit new to him as a young Chinese, but the layout of the small hotel is all about practicality. If you look closely, you can see that this is a curtain hook and that is a cup holder.

After looking around, he finally found a group of people sitting in front of the hotel door, doing something by the light of the wind lamp hanging at the door.

"Take a few steps out of the door... Shouldn't it count as a hotel?"

Qiu Sheng thought so in his heart, but finally couldn't resist the temptation of curiosity, he went out the door, stretched his neck like the few idlers on the periphery of the crowd, and looked into the open space surrounded by the few people in the middle.

At first glance, I realized that these Americans originally gathered together to play games.

They should all be workers in the town, wearing thick, unbreakable coarse cloth and felt hats, with strong arms and blood vessels protruding from the skin; there are a few people with short pipes in their mouths, and the curling smoke blows with the breeze. Behind him, Qiu Sheng choked.

Two people in the middle each took out a few small copper coins and put them in their palms. They talked to each other loudly, made a few gestures, and then threw the copper coins into the wooden bowl together.The people around immediately gathered up and watched one of them count out the copper coins one by one; before Qiu Sheng could see what was going on, the one who counted the copper coins clapped his hands excitedly, picked up the bowl and put all the copper coins Poured them all into their pockets.The person on the opposite side shook his head, got out of the crowd, and the next person took the top.

Qiu Sheng watched it for several rounds before he roughly understood what these people were doing... Guess what.Two people attack and defend, the defender has to take out the same number of copper coins as the attacker, the attacker first guesses how many copper coins are on the face of the head, the defender guesses another number, and then throws the money into the bowl; If you guess correctly, the money in the bowl will belong to whoever. If you guess incorrectly, then each of you will get back the amount you paid out, and do it again.

It can be seen that these people are not as rich as Ikab, and the copper coins in the bowl have always looked like five or six, but watching them win happily, and those who lose are not upset, and the people watching the game are also chattering , but also very happy.

Qiu Sheng, who can't speak "American dialect", also watched it with great interest. If it wasn't for the lack of money, he would have wanted to end up playing two games.

As the night darkened, there were fewer and fewer people around here, only a few who hadn't seen enough Chinese people and those who especially liked gambling were still fighting under the lantern.

Qiu Sheng felt a little chilly, so he hugged his arms tightly.The burly man next to him laughed and patted his shoulder, rolled up his sleeves, gestured at his muscles, and said a few words, which he knew without asking.

"Such a big guy, I don't know what to eat to grow like this." Anyway, the other party couldn't understand, so Qiu Sheng simply muttered.Taking another look at the guy's arm covered in dirt and dust, the shape was lean and hard like a piece of iron, it must be very strong, he didn't make a sound again, thinking about it, he had better go back to his room and sleep.

[29. No. 29]

He smiled at the few people present, turned around and left.But just after taking two steps, I felt the temperature on my body returned, and the wind on the back of my hand was no longer cold, but a chill came up on the back of my neck...

"No!" Qiu Sheng, who had experienced it once, cried inwardly. After thinking for a while, he didn't stop. Take out two grapefruit leaves.

After he left, the people who watched the news also dispersed, and there were only three or four people who were still guessing in front of the hotel.

John was the one who played the hardest. The others were yawning so much that they were sleepy, but he still wouldn't let them go.

"Let's play again!"