Sword of Coming

After this incident, the snobbish owner of the big boat came over immediately and said that he had prepared a private room on the second floor for the distinguished guests. It would be okay to bring the donkey in too. It was his small boat that made the boat shine. right. There are also some high-rollers who come here because of their reputation. They often hang swords but don't wear swords. They are obviously here to get close. Chen Ping'an was not good at dealing with these things, so Lin Shouyi came forward to help him and politely refused. After all, he was a young man who grew up in the supervising government office. His speech and behavior were impeccable. Even if he rejected them, those people still left with joy on their faces.

The swordsman whom the old man calls "White Whale" is a well-known Sanren monk in the south of Dali. The sword is a genuine magic weapon named Lingxu, which is a magical weapon of the Taoist talisman lineage. According to legend, a wandering master who went down the mountain to cultivate his mind was inadvertently acquired by a white-robed swordsman. With his excellent swordsmanship, he realized the true meaning of the sword and became famous ever since. , it’s just that he doesn’t like to be restrained by nature, so he was not recruited by the Dali government and the frontier army. Instead, he likes to travel with swords in the rivers and lakes. In the Dali rivers and lakes where dragons are everywhere and there are many masters, this person can be remembered for his name. not simple.

As a result, the sword couldn't even be unsheathed, and it was played with in the palm of someone's hands from beginning to end. It was such a humiliating defeat that maybe even the sword's heart would be covered in dust and its intention would be stained with dirt. So how deep the family background of the straw sandals boy and his gang can be measured. The boat is mostly filled with well-informed literati, businessmen and heroes. No matter whether they have good or bad character, there are really not many stupid people.

When Lin Shou saw that no one was coming to greet him anymore, he rubbed his temples. The young man was a little upset. If he hadn't taken a break, he could have seen with his own eyes the green book box taking shape bit by bit in Chen Pingan's hands. With Lin Shouyi's naturally indifferent and indifferent temperament, I'm afraid he really couldn't help but look at him with a vicious face.

Chen Ping'an couldn't bear it and said, "Don't worry, I will definitely make this book box to your satisfaction."

Lin Shou sat cross-legged, his face full of exhaustion, and for the first time he revealed his heart, saying softly: "I really want to find a place with beautiful mountains and clear waters, and practice alone facing the wall. I only care about a few years in the mountain, and let the world pass for thousands of years. But A Liang said, this There are many ways of cultivating the mind, called withered graves. It is feasible, but it only belongs to those who have reached a certain level of spiritual practice. I have just started. If I do this now, I will definitely go astray and fall into the heretics without knowing myself. Know."

Chen Pingan nodded, "You really have to be careful."

Li Huai squatted aside with his cheek in his hand and said cheerfully: "Lin Shouyi, maybe A Liang is scaring you. I think Qidun Mountain is good. It's suitable for you to be a god. When you're bored, you can still follow that Let the land lord Wei Bo chat and spank, sit on a big turtle, or ride a black snake and a white python, which is so majestic. But in this case, since you won't go to the Sui Dynasty with us, then keep this book box Give it to me? I can’t carry it now. In a few years, I will be taller and stronger, so I can change the small book box into a big book box. I will remember you well and return it to you when I return from my study tour in Sui Dynasty in the future. you."

Lin Shou glanced sideways at Li Huai, who was making small calculations, and sneered: "Even if I stay in Qidun Mountain to practice the method of immortality, I won't leave my book box to you."

Li Huai said, "Then you should continue to go to Sui Dynasty with me."

Lin Shou rubbed his eyebrows and felt that only A Liangzhi could defeat this Li Huai.

No, Li Baoping can do it, and Chen Ping'an seems to do it too.

Is it possible to just take Li Huai by myself?

Lin Shouyi, who was in a bad mood, stared at Li Huai, making the latter's hair stand on end. He quickly expressed his loyalty and said: "What are you doing, Lin Shouyi, I actually want you to go to Sui Dynasty with me. I I'm just a little bit jealous of your book box. I can't help it. It's bigger than mine. I don't deny this. But if you really want to disembark and return to Qidun Mountain, I will definitely not be happy. Think about it, the four of us Personally, you are the only one who is sanctimonious and full of bad intentions. In the future, if you encounter bad people who don’t have bad words written on their faces, such as those who harbor evil intentions, you will definitely be the only one who can see through them at a glance, right? Chen Pingan, Li Aquarius?"

Li Huai looked around, seeking help.

Chen Ping'an lowered his head to build a bookcase, concentrating on it and turning a deaf ear. Li Baoping didn't know what weird questions he was thinking about, and his mind was wandering thousands of miles away without any distractions.

Lin Shouyi felt a little heavy, "Do you think our study trip to Sui Dynasty will be easy? In addition to the dangerous mountains and rivers, there must be many things that we can't even imagine."

Li Huai blinked.

Lin Shouyi said slowly: "We, the Great Li, established our country with force, and the power of the world cannot be underestimated. Scholars are rarely expelled. Before the establishment of Sir's Cliff Academy, the entire Dongbaopingzhou was scolded as a barbarian land."

Li Huai nodded and said: "I know this. Our Mr. Qi has never been shy about talking about this. It's not like we have never talked about our situation in Da Li."

Lin Shouyi sighed: "I remember when I was young, the superintendent Song once said something. He said that in the early years of Da Li, a scholar finally got into Guanhu Academy based on his ability, but he suffered all kinds of criticism from all sides. Humiliation is not just as simple as verbal abuse. According to Mr. Song, it should be two scholars from the Gao family and the Lu family in the Sui Dynasty who jointly set up a chain of traps, which made our scholar from Dali feel shattered. , became crazy, and many years later, he finally recovered his sanity, and was stabbed again in the affair between a man and a woman, and then committed suicide by throwing himself into the lake."

"Because of this incident in our country, Da Li, both the government and the public were outraged. This led to a war with the Lu dynasty on the fate of the country. You must know that before that, there were many difficulties for the Lu dynasty, which had the status of Da Li Shangguo in the past. Da Li has always been able to tolerate it. Of course, the situation has changed a lot now. Now we have more and more scholars in Da Li, and the Qi practitioners on the mountain have also begun to come down from the mountain to serve the Da Li court and fight bravely to kill the enemy at the border. ."

"This has created a new pattern, that is, the literati in Dali are very aristocratic. When scholars become officials, they will regard themselves as superior to others. For example, the person who claimed to be the magistrate of Wanping County before was mostly a commodity from outside the capital. , a serious imperial examination background, so now I am worried that that man, after disembarking at the ferry crossing under the jurisdiction of Wanping County, whether he is angry about book business or thinking about the three things to do as a new official, will choose to plot against us. "

Speaking of this, Lin Shou smiled and said: "Fortunately, he is a scholar-turned-civilian, but among us, there is also a 'god on the mountain' who has never shown up, who might be able to scare him. After all, no matter how valuable a scholar is in Da Li, he still has a lot of money. We can't compare to the Qi Practitioner. But I'm afraid that the county magistrate is not smart enough, or even the people from the capital have never really seen how powerful the Qi Practitioner is, and then we will have a series of troubles."

Li Huai was worried, turned around, slapped the white donkey lying on its side behind him, and cursed angrily: "Little white donkey who is causing trouble! Do you think you are a young lady, and you get angry if someone touches you? "

Li Baoping suddenly said: "Now that old man must be a guest of Wanping County Magistrate, and they are complaining to each other. I believe that the higher the old man's status, the better the swordsman's swordsmanship, and the less dare Wanping County Magistrate will If we act openly, my eldest brother said that the scholar's rebellion will not succeed for three years. As for using Xiao Jiuzi secretly, we are not afraid. As long as that guy does not dare to use the power of the court, the soldiers will come to cover up the water and the earth. Lin Shouyi is afraid of you. What? Don’t get yourself into trouble!"

Lin Shouyi thought about it carefully, nodded and said, "That should be it."

After Li Baoping finished speaking, he asked seriously: "Uncle Junior, right?"

Chen Pingan said helplessly: "How did I know that these scholars and officials have such twists and turns. Anyway, if you encounter trouble, you and Lin Shouyi can discuss it."

The last time Ma Fuzi was "left alone" in the school, not only were the children able to return to the town safely, but they also made a fool of the coachman who claimed to be a Da Li spy. In fact, he was the leader of Lin Shouyi. Li Baoping made a big plan. In terms of direction, Lin Shou repeatedly checked for omissions and filled in the details, which was perfect and his mind was precocious far beyond that of his peers.

Chen Ping'an suddenly stopped what he was doing, thought for a moment, and even put the hatchet at his feet.

When his mind is not calm, Chen Pingan will do nothing. He would rather let it go than make mistakes easily. This was true for firing porcelain in the past, and it is even more true for practicing boxing now.

Li Baoping, Li Huai and Lin Shouyi noticed something strange almost at the same time, and even Li Huai quickly sat upright.

When Chen Pingan saw the three suspicious guys, he smiled bitterly and said, "What are you doing? I just thought of something. Why are you so nervous?"

Li Baoping said: "Little uncle, tell me and listen."

Chen Ping'an smiled and said, "I was just wondering if, in addition to learning how to read from you, I should also learn some knowledge from books."

Li Baoping said blankly: "But what we learned from Mr. Li was only basic elementary education, and there was no great university knowledge. Besides, we ourselves are just elementary school students, how can we teach our junior uncle? What's more, Mr. Lian Qi has a lot of elementary education." I asked casually about the sentence above, but my husband couldn’t answer it. How can we teach him? It’s not good to answer randomly!”

Li Huai muttered: "It's not that you can't answer, sir, it's just that you answered a little late. Then you wouldn't want to listen."

Li Baoping suddenly turned his head and punched Li Huai on the head.

In fact, Li Huai didn't feel much pain. He still held his head and screamed: "I can't survive this day! I also have to practice boxing. Li Baoping's strength is getting stronger and stronger, otherwise I will definitely be beaten by her in the future." dead."

Lin Shouyi asked curiously: "Chen Ping'an, what do you do with studying things in books?"

Chen Pingan said slowly: "I'm afraid that one day the truth I tell people will be found out afterwards to be unreasonable. So I hope that in addition to the truths taught to me by Old Man Yao and A Liang, I will also learn from the books of you scholars. Go to school some more.”

Li Huai was like falling into the clouds, with a face full of shock and said: "Chen Pingan, you are already so good at fighting, and you practice so hard every day, isn't it just to be able to be unreasonable with others?"

Lin Shouyi hesitated for a moment, shook his head and said: "Chen Ping'an, I don't think there is any need to be reasonable in everything. After all, everyone in the world has their own path to walk. We just need to stick to our hearts, otherwise we will only get stuck in the mud, and going too far is not enough. of."

Li Baoping's face was serious, "Uncle Master, don't worry, let me think for a while, I think this matter is very big, I must take it seriously and think about it carefully!"

Qi Jingchun was like this when he was in a small town school. Whenever Li Baoping asked some seemingly simple questions, he would fall into deep thought and would probably delay answering for several days.

Chen Ping'an became more and more helpless. He raised his head and looked at the blue sky. After a moment, he looked away. For some reason, he suddenly smiled.

"The reason why I go to such trouble is actually selfish. Maybe it's because you don't really practice boxing, so you don't have this feeling yet. After I got the boxing manual, I have always had a feeling, which I can't explain. I'm not afraid of your jokes, but whenever I'm against someone, I just need to feel that I'm right, no matter if I can't express it aloud! Then deep down in my heart, it's like someone keeps telling me, you're out of luck this time Boxing can be very fast!”

Next, the three of them seemed to see a strange Chen Pingan.

I saw this poor young man from Mud Bottle Alley, in high spirits, with his fists clenched on his knees. He had never been so confident, "Besides, the next time I punch, I will definitely be faster! No matter who is standing in front of me , I, Chen Pingan, can punch this, no matter who it is!"

Lin Shou looked at him with a bewildered look and murmured in a low voice: "It shouldn't be considered as practicing martial arts and becoming a fire demon. He is quite upright and awe-inspiring. It's a bit like when my husband was in school... and talked about the most subtle points of the sages' path."

Li Baoping was busy thinking about the previous question.

Chen Ping'an had already picked up the hatchet again and continued to make small bamboo boxes for Lin Shouyi.

Li Huai looked a little dazed, and he didn't regain consciousness for a long time.

Chen Ping'an from the previous moment made the child feel familiar.

Li Huai seemed to remember a time when he was a child. His mother, whose quarrel skills were unparalleled in the world, was beaten and scratched so much that she rolled around the house. The father, who was called a coward by the neighbors, was just depressed. Squatting on the threshold, he and his sister Li Liu cried together with his mother. In the end, her mother said that she was blind and that's why she found this spineless man. Her own mother-in-law couldn't even fart after being beaten. Li Huai's father never said a word. Li Huai, who had been closer to his mother since he was a child, was so angry that he ran to the door and kicked the guy in the back hard, saying that he would never recognize him as his father again. Later, when his mother was tired of crying and her anger subsided, she took her son and daughter to bed. She swung the man by the ear and swung him out of the door, telling him to sleep in the yard as a punishment. But then she closed the door and turned out the lights. He asked Li Huai to open the door and called his father back to the house to sleep. Li Huai was reluctant, but couldn't stand his mother's urging, so he had to open the door. Seeing his father still squatting in the yard, Li Huai was so angry that he almost turned around and left.

Then at that moment, the short and sturdy man slowly stood up and said, "Son, daddy is going to go out to the mountains overnight. Tell your mother and you will be home soon."

It's okay not to say this. No matter how bad-looking Li Huai is, he still hopes that his father can go back to the house and have a peaceful sleep. But if he avoids his mother and their siblings like this, is he still considered a man? As a result, as soon as he heard these depressing words that only a coward would say, Li Huai immediately became so angry that he trembled all over and cried: "What son, I am your Li Er's father!"

The man was not angry at all, he smiled and cursed: "You brat, you are worthy of being my son, Li Er!"

At that moment, Li Huai was a little demented. In his memory, his father would never talk to anyone like this. He seemed to be always inferior to others. Apart from snoring and thundering in his sleep, he was just a boring gourd with no future, even when he and his sister Li Liu were here. , and never looked like the head of the family at all. Indeed, he was just a coward who was afraid of heaven, earth, people, ghosts, and everything.

But that night, when the man left, he strode away in a vigorous and resolute manner, much like the rich man from Taoye Lane on Fulu Street.

Li Huai didn't think much about it at the time. He was just lucky and thought he might be helping his mother curse people in the street in the middle of the night.

But Li Huai was very disappointed the next day. The whole family of the woman who scratched his mother's face was still arrogant when they saw the three of them. After that, his father didn't show up for a long time. It must have been He went into the mountains to burn charcoal and make money to support his family. The so-called "come out of the mountains", Li Huai felt that it must be a slip of the tongue on his father's part.

But when he came back, the man seemed to have enlightened himself, carrying a fat roasted chicken home. Not only did he buy a box of rouge gouache for his mother, but he also brought gifts for him and his sister Li Liu. His mother put her hands on her hips and He tapped his father's forehead with one hand and said it's good to be good. I guess you, Li Er, still have some conscience. After that, Li Er, who was more sloppy than anyone else in naming his parents, was like "If you scold me, it's your fault if I say something back, if you hit me, it's your fault if you beat me to death." What a bad thing.

But for some reason, as Li Huai grew up, that night in the yard, his father's smile, the tone of his words and the way he walked before he "came out" not only became more and more blurry, but also became clearer and clearer.

Li Huai suddenly said: "Chen Pingan, when we return to the town in the future, I will invite you to my home."

Chen Ping'an asked doubtfully: "Haven't your parents and your sister already left the town? You said before that they will never come back in the future."

Li Huai, who just remembered this, suddenly turned red, his lips trembled, and he was about to cry.

Chen Pingan could only comfort him: "Don't cry, don't cry. Didn't you also say that your father promised you that as long as you truly become a scholar, he will come to visit you."

Li Huai said aggrievedly: "But I am playful and can't bear hardships. I like to be lazy and sleepy when I study. I am far worse than Li Baoping and Lin Shouyi. I'm afraid that if I can't be a scholar, my parents will never want me again." ”

If Lin Shouyi and Li Baoping were considered teenagers in age, and they were from wealthy families, Li Huai was really just a child. Like Chen Ping'an, he was born in poverty and was timid, which was normal. Therefore, Chen Pingan was the best person for his patience with Li Huai from the beginning to the end. Even that time at Qidun Mountain, when Li Huai stepped hard in the mud, only Chen Pingan, who was gradually covered in mud, was heartbroken. Feeling slightly irritable.

Chen Pingan smiled and said: "Don't talk nonsense. If your parents didn't care about you, would they still send you to a school? Wouldn't it be better to let you work in the fields and help the family herd cattle earlier?"

Li Huai's mood improved slightly, he wiped his face and said with a sad face: "My family is poor and can't afford a cow."

Chen Pingan said softly: "Are you still poor now? Not to mention the weirdness in the book "Broken Water Cliff", the book itself is worth ten taels of silver, okay?"

Li Huai smiled widely, turned around and glanced at the white donkey, grinned and said: "I still have a donkey!"

Lin Shouyi suddenly looked stern and lowered his voice and said to Chen Pingan: "The Yin God under the water told me that someone came and wanted to see us, but that person claimed to know A Liang, and said that the reason why A Liang entered the city in advance was to ask him Some questions. So Yin Shen asked us what to do, should we not allow them to board the ship, or? Yin Shen also said that the man was followed by a river god. Not surprisingly, he was the god who enjoyed the incense and sacrifices of all people on this embroidered river. "

Chen Ping'an was a little embarrassed, and finally said in a deep voice: "Just let Senior Yin Shen protect us. In fact, it doesn't make much difference whether we let people board the ship or not. You guys must be careful next. It's still the old rules agreed before, everything Let me deal with it first, but if it doesn't work, Lin Shouyi, you can use those yellow paper talismans again."

Lin Shou nodded and said, "Okay."

Lin Shouyi's mind moved slightly and he murmured softly.

A moment later, the large ship sailing on the Xiuhua River shook slightly. If Chen Ping'an and the other four people had not known it in advance, most people would not have noticed the mystery.

Although they could not see the presence of the Yin God with their naked eyes, it was obvious that the area on the bow of the ship was somewhat dense with Yin Qi.

Then Chen Ping'an discovered that not far from the bow of the ship, there was a young swordsman sitting cross-legged, with a long sword hanging across his waist, and a long object wrapped in cotton, like a sword, in his arms.

After he got up, he walked to Chen Pingan's side, smiled at the hidden Yin Shen, stopped moving forward, and said straight to the point: "I brought the customs clearance documents for the four of you. The red seal of the household, and the written permission for your overseas trip. As for who I am, it is not important. In short, I know A Liang, so I will definitely not be your enemy. As for the previous conflict on the ship, you Don’t worry, that Wanping County Magistrate will not delay your studies.”

Finally, the young swordsman handed over the object in his hands, looked at the little girl with a red cotton jacket carrying a small bookcase, and said with a smile: "You are the Aquarius girl, right? This knife was given to us by A Liang, so we must return it to you intact." "

Although Li Baoping was excited, he remained motionless.

Chen Ping'an moved forward alone, took the Xiangfu narrow sword from the young swordsman's hand, and said, "I'm sorry to trouble you, senior."

The young swordsman smiled heartily and said: "You are all friends of A Liang, I don't dare to call myself a senior."

Chen Pingan asked: "Is A Liang okay?"

The young swordsman's expression remained unchanged and he nodded: "Don't worry, it's good."

The vassal king Song Changjing personally ordered his confidants to send this sword out of the capital. Finally, it was handed over to him. After returning the sword, the young swordsman felt relieved and said, "Then I will go to the second floor to say hello. Don't worry, you can travel far. Next All the way to Yefu Pass on the border, as long as the court and government are involved, there will be no obstruction, but other than that, I, Dali, will not have any interference. Of course, if there is any trouble or accident, as long as you follow the border army or The local government says hello, and the imperial court is willing to do its best to help."

Chen Ping'an looked into this person's eyes, nodded and said, "We understand."

The young swordsman took out four customs clearance documents from his sleeves and handed them to the boy in straw sandals. Finally, he swallowed his words and exchanged some polite words. He cupped his fists and said, "Then say goodbye. I'll go to the second floor to say hello." Just leave.”

Chen Pingan clenched his fists awkwardly in return.

On the second floor, there was an elegant room furnished with exquisite porcelain. The old man and the swordsman in white robes had solemn expressions on their faces. The incoming Wanping County Magistrate and his wife and children were trembling with fear and did not dare to breathe. Everyone was standing.

There was only one uninvited guest sitting there, drinking and drinking. He was tall and tall, with a green snake entwined on his sleeve. His breath was filled with white mist. The man's appearance was definitely not that of an ordinary person.

When the man saw the "young" swordsman, he immediately stood up and bent down, clasping his fists. He said nothing but was extremely respectful.

The young swordsman waved his hand, without looking at the old man and the swordsman who was famous in the southern Jianghu of Dali, and said to the Wanping County Magistrate: "When we arrive at Wanping's jurisdiction, I will serve as your parents' official. For today's matter, don't do it. So far, the court can pretend that nothing has happened, but if there is any trouble, I may not come to you personally, but the water god of the Xiuhua River can twist your head off."

The young man didn't want to say anything more. He just smiled at the embroidered river god who never dared to sit down and said, "Please help me keep an eye on it. I'll go back first."

Xiuhua Jiang Zhengshen said in a deep voice: "Then I won't send you off."

After the young swordsman walked out of the private room, he came to the verandah, looked at the river, and thought about the words of the young man in sandals, which made him feel quite moved.

Finally, the figure disappeared in a flash.

The reason why martial arts is inferior to qi practitioners is that most of the pure martial arts in the mountains are based on things, whether it is boxing training, swordsmanship, eighteen kinds of martial arts, eighteen kinds of weapons, all It is habitually called martial arts, but in fact, in the eyes of mountain qi practitioners, it has nothing to do with the word "Tao".

Once martial arts never rises to the level of martial arts, it will end up just wallowing in a muddy pond.

I'm afraid that boy from the back alley didn't even know his words from the bottom of his heart and his thoughts on how to punch.

A master who is at least above the Sixth Level of Martial Arts should be able to think deeply about questions, ask himself, and answer them.

In Qidun Mountain, there was a plain-looking woman who, under the secret instruction of her master, took a beautiful girl who was born as a boatman and began to climb the mountain on foot, heading north.

This was the girl's first time traveling far away, so she kept looking behind her, reluctant to leave.

The woman didn't say much, it was human nature and there was no need to criticize her harshly.

What's more, her lineage in Changchun Palace is rather strange, focusing on cultivating the heart and attaching importance to emotions. What ordinary Qi practitioners regard as cumbersome and taboo is the step to enlightenment of her lineage. Therefore, it is a good thing for a young girl to feel homesick just after leaving her hometown.

But why he took the girl on foot through Qidun Mountain, the adult didn't say clearly, and it was inconvenient for her not to get to the bottom of it.

All the way over mountains and rivers, the scenery is pleasant.

The girl was innocent by nature. Although she was a little tired, she was in good spirits. As she walked, she picked up a flower branch by the roadside, swayed gently, and hummed a folk song passed down from generation to generation.

The Changchun Palace woman frowned, but never said anything.

In the distance, there is an extraordinary and handsome young man, who is walking slowly like a mountain ghost, always looking at the girl beside the woman.

The girl's voice is ethereal and graceful. Even if the content of the folk ballad is very sad, when she hums it in her mouth, it has a unique charm, which is sad but not sad.

The young man's soft voice harmonizes softly with the girl's singing voice, and the rhyme is slightly different, more mellow and more pathos.

The girl is like an oriole flying through the spring grass, and the man is like a solitary crow standing on a grave, one chirping happily and the other whimpering deeply.

Finally, on the lonely post road built with bluestone slabs on the ridge.

The girl suddenly looked up and saw a young man in white walking from a distance. He looked extremely good-looking.

The two met on the narrow post road, but the young man had already lowered his head and said nothing, just passing by quietly.

The girl couldn't help but look back.

She found that the man was standing far away, neither walking nor looking back, with his back to her.

The girl was a little strange, shook her head, turned around and continued moving forward.