Sword of Coming

After that, the waterway of Xiuhua River was safe and stable for more than two hundred miles.

When Chen Ping'an and his party disembarked, Li Huai and Lin Shouyi both carried their book boxes. With Li Baoping, the study tour became more and more worthy of the name. The result was that the straw-shoe boy looked more like someone from a wealthy family. If you hadn’t seen the young servant with your own eyes, you would never have imagined that the straw-shoe boy was a martial artist who could make the military secretary next to the magistrate of Da Lishang County unable to fight back. When he got off the boat, he was still They were carried down on a stretcher.

Chen Pingan had carefully read the map of Kanyu before getting off the boat. He did not plan to pass through Wanping County. After going south around the city, he would have to pass through a majestic mountain range. It was estimated that it would take more than half a month of foot work. Chen Pingan asked the locals on the boat. Yes, there is a mountain road to walk on, but it is much more difficult to walk than the Qingshi Post Road in Qidun Mountain. It is not accessible by horse-drawn carriages, and is mostly carried by donkeys and mules.

If you don't take the mountain road, you have to pass through a county town. Lin Shouyi said that he has not yet understood the method of the Pure Yang Talisman, and cannot let the Yin God cover up the innate filthy air. It probably cannot enter the city openly. According to According to A Liang, the Chenghuang Pavilion, Wenwu Temple and a general's residence in the county may all be innately repulsive to the Yin God. If there is an expert in charge, it is easy to cause trouble.

The group of people asked for directions while moving forward. During this period, Chen Pingan also tentatively asked the villagers and women in the countryside whether there were any weird legends in those mountains and whether there were mountain ghosts. When the local people saw that the four children were not very young and were carrying book boxes on their backs, they regarded them as scholars from wealthy families who went out to enjoy the mountains and rivers. They smiled and told Chen Ping'an about the mountains and rivers there, even their names. No, they have never heard of these strange gods and monsters. In the end, most of them did not forget to recommend the River God Temple in Xiuhua River to the four of them, saying that asking for fortune-telling to pray to the gods there was very effective, and that there might really be a river god. Every year, the county magistrate would lead people to worship by the river, with firecrackers flying all over the sky, and it was very lively.

Before the four of them entered the mountain, it was noon. Li Huai stood at the foot of the mountain, bowed and bowed three times. He raised his head and saw that Chen Pingan was not moving. He asked strangely: "Chen Pingan, what did you do last time at Qidun Mountain?" I paid my respects, saying I was worshiping the mountain god, why were you lazy this time?"

Chen Ping'an hesitated for a moment, but still replied: "I used to go to the mountains with the old man often, and I learned a little bit about the skills of looking at the mountains and eating dirt. When the old man was in a good mood, he said something about the direction of the mountains, and where would be the mountain god? The place where the golden statue is placed is very particular. Generally speaking, a mountain has a mountain god who sits on top. If you look carefully before entering the mountain, you can see some clues. In addition, the locals have said that this place is Without those explanations, we can roughly determine that the mountain road we are going to take is not the territory of the mountain god."

Lin Shouyi's thoughts moved slightly, and he said: "Senior Yin Shen said that the number of landscape gods in a dynasty is limited. It is impossible to have gods everywhere, otherwise it will overflow and make the local destiny a mess. The dispute over mountains and rivers is similar to fighting for fields and water sources in the mountains, but it is not good for the dynasty. Therefore, generally speaking, if there are no mountain temples clearly recorded in the local county annals, it is impossible for mountain gods to appear."

Li Huai was a little disappointed, "Oh, I want a few more painted puppets."

It turned out that Qidun Mountain was a blessing in disguise, and he got a lifelike painted puppet for nothing. Li Huai looked forward to it very much. He wished he could walk over a mountain and get one. Then when he got to Sui Academy, his small book box would be full. Isn’t it? Otherwise, in the end, there would only be a puppet and a book in a bamboo box behind me, which would be too much for me.

Lin Shou laughed angrily and said, "How dare you say that Chen Ping'an is a money addict?"

Li Huai looked innocent, "I never said that. I only said that Chen Ping'an is a gentleman's wealth and should be acquired in a wise way."

Lin Shouyi snorted: "Flattery!"

Li Huai was furious, "If I hadn't begged you, would you have had a small bookcase? Lin Shouyi, can you have some conscience?"

Li Baoping said angrily: "Shut up."

Chen Ping'an would practice walking when there was no one around. Because he was carrying a large backpack and didn't dare to make too much movement, he would restrain his strength and posture and walk as slowly as possible. After all, A Liang taught ten lessons in Pillow Inn. The luck of the Eight Stops is said to be slow, which is the essence of the Eighteen Stops. Chen Ping'an is now stuck between the sixth and seventh stops. He can't get over this hurdle. He just happened to get the Shanshan Quan Book. Use piles to practice your skills.

After walking on the mountain road for about two hours, Li Huai was out of breath, and so was Li Baoping.

Chen Pingan knew that this was the end of the so-called "breath", so he happened to choose a stream to rest next to. Lin Shouyi was worthy of being a one-legged mountain climber. He was calm and calm, but there was a slight sweat on his forehead, which was no match for Chen Ping'an. Everyone found a place to sit down. Chen Pingan took out Li Baoping's knife from his backpack, a narrow knife that A Liang called "Xiang Fu". Although A Liang mentioned the word "bottom" at that time, Chen Ping'an took out Li Baoping's knife from his backpack. Ping An is not a blind man, but a person who is accustomed to using kitchen knives and hatchets. He even borrowed Miss Ning's skirt-pressing knife for a while. He knew that this knife must be extremely valuable, so as long as there was no one around, he would take out that knife. There is an inexplicably extra small dragon-slaying platform, which is used to carefully sharpen the blade.

After unsheathing the sword, he first dipped it in water on the shiny black dragon-slaying platform. Chen Pingan squatted by the stream and began to sharpen the sword slowly. His movements were slow and unhurried, as if he were treating the most fragile person in the town. Tribute porcelain.

Chen Ping'an likes to concentrate on one thing, especially if he can do it well, it will make the boy particularly happy.

Just like every time he goes to a wide view of Huidang Ling Jueding to practice setting up a sword furnace, Chen Pingan will feel the most comfortable. Whenever he takes back his mind, he will feel refreshed, but at the same time he will have some regrets, and he can't wait to go. He studied the boxing moves at the back of the boxing manual deeply and mastered them all at once. He learned them all in one breath, making his punches more organized and faster. He had the ability to rise up from the ground and turn into a rainbow when A Liang left the Pillow Station. That kind of momentum.

But every time at this time, Chen Ping'an would quietly go about his business, suppressing this restlessness bit by bit, telling himself not to be anxious, to be calm, to be calm, and to be unstable. If you blindly seek speed, you will end up with porcelain burning. The same, but it is easy to make mistakes and fall short of success. Occasionally, he could not calm down while walking around, so Chen Pingan once went to look at the maps of Kanzhou County, and accidentally found three carefully collected prescriptions, which were written by the young Taoist named Lu. Miss Ning said These words are written in a dull style, like a scholar's pavilion style, which is the most boring thing.

But now that Chen Pingan has something to do, he will take out three pieces of paper, take a look, and read them, and his heart will calm down a little.

The little girl in the red cotton-padded jacket washed her face, and strands of hair were stuck to her forehead. After walking for such a long time, the little girl had tanned a lot, so her forehead, now without the hair covering it, looked particularly smooth and white. Li Baoping likes to watch the young master's uncle sharpening the knife with concentration. When the narrow knife is moved on the dragon-slaying platform, it seems that the young master's uncle is the only one left in the world. She can't get tired of watching it.

Of course, she likes Chen Ping'an's boxing practice while walking, standing in front of her and using his fists to reason with people, learning to read with them, and so on.

I just like it, like it very much, like it more, and like it the most.

Of course, there are times when you don't like it that much, but Li Baoping usually forgets it quickly.

But Li Baoping suddenly thought of the Hongzhu Town Pillow Inn and the letter she sent home, and the little girl felt a little gloomy.

Chen Ping'an noticed the little girl's strangeness and asked with a smile: "What's the matter, are you worried?"

Li Baoping sighed, "I wonder what's going on at home. The second brother is so bad. Will the eldest brother be bullied by the second brother in the future?"

Chen Pingan said seriously: "Let's talk about the matter. I will definitely ask your second brother face to face in the future about instigating Zhu Lu to kill me. But having said that, your second brother should not be bad to your sister."

Li Baoping said with a bitter face: "How could Zhu Lu do this? How could this happen! Since she is already a warrior, and her father Zhu He, as long as she goes to the frontier army, everyone will fight for it. She will go there on her own in the future. Is it difficult to fight for a royal status? Why does she really do what my second brother says?"

Chen Pingan shook his head and said, "I just can't understand this."

Not far away, Lin Shouyi had a gloomy look on his face, "The world is bustling with people, all for their own benefit."

Li Huai snorted: "Shit, I think Zhu Lu, this fool, just fell in love with your second brother. The girl is pregnant with spring, and her heart is full of love. She got the promise of her sweetheart, and maybe she is more tempted than the temptation of Mrs. Gaoming." ."

Lin Shouyi sneered: "Then she is really stupid and bad, and there is no cure."

Chen Ping'an sighed, glanced at the three people around him, and remembered the scenery on the Xinghua Lane in Ni Ping Lane, where the chickens were flying, the trivial matters, the women cursing, and the bad words behind their backs. There was no shortage of anything, and he said: "You are scholars. , knows a lot, and is a student taught by Mr. Qi, so he is very different from us. In fact, where I live, even many elderly people are just like the county magistrate and the old man on the ship. They are not willing to talk. Those who are reasonable, or they are only willing to speak their own truth."

Chen Pingan simply stopped sharpening his narrow sword and sheathed it with some emotion, "But these people, don't think they are unreasonable, but some people are strong and can make money to support their families by making porcelain and charcoal, and some people can do better crops than others." Everyone is good, so life is actually not bad. For example, Granny Ma, who delivers babies and likes to burn talismans and pretend to be magic, is a very bad person, but such a bad person treats her grandson Ma Kuxuan very well. Very, I wish I could give all the good things in the world to my grandson."

Chen Pingan smiled and said: "So I want to read some books and figure out why."

Li Baoping suddenly stood up and walked slowly beside the stream, his face serious.

Finally, the little girl in the red cotton jacket suddenly said: "Uncle, I have been thinking about the question you asked on the boat last time, and now I think I understand it a little bit. Do you want to listen to it?"

Chen Ping'an held back his laughter, "I just learned the lesson of "listening all ears" from you, and I can put it to good use now."

The little girl puffed up her cheeks angrily, and finally complained: "Uncle Junior!"

Chen Pingan quickly smiled and said: "You say it, you say it."

Before the little girl started to reason, she was laying the groundwork for herself to find a way out, "I may have said something a bit confusing. If you think it's wrong, little uncle, just listen. Don't laugh at me."

Chen Ping'an shook his head and said: "I can reason with such an old man on the ship, why can't you? Just say it, my uncle is listening attentively."

Li Huai curled his lips and waved the painted puppet around like a general commanding thousands of troops, "Tell me, it never hurts to talk and argue, it only hurts to fight."

The little girl first gave three explanations, which were somewhat similar to the enlightened principles of the Master's lectures, with a clear outline, "I want to talk about benevolence, righteousness and morality, local customs and dynasty laws."

Li Huai immediately had a headache and focused on the exquisite painted puppet, thinking that one day it would come alive and chat with him to relieve his boredom.

Lin Shouyi smiled, held his cheek with one hand, and looked at Li Baoping standing by the stream.

Only Chen Pingan pricked up his ears and listened attentively.

When I was a child, I often went to the corner of the school wall to eavesdrop on Mr. Qi's stories, which made the straw-shoe boy always miss him.

"Respectively correspond to gentlemen and virtuous people, ordinary people in the market, and illegal and bad people."

"A gentleman and wise man, after reading more, you will understand more principles, but you must remember one thing, as my elder brother said, morality is too high and too empty. After all, you cannot discipline others, you can only discipline yourself! Again! Therefore, one needs to have a straight body, and a straight name will lead to a straight name, a straight name will lead to smooth words, and smooth words will lead to success.”

"Besides that, once you are on your own, if you want to benefit the world and educate the people, you can use your moral knowledge to recruit disciples and teach in schools like our husband."

"Ordinary people in the market only need to abide by local customs and rules."

"The dynastic law specifically targets violations of discipline. It is a yardstick used to restrain bad people, and it is the lowest rope. It is also the lowest 'rule' in our Confucian etiquette."

Although Chen Pingan listened attentively, he felt that he understood everything, but the truth in the words never became his own.

No wonder A Liang said he should study more.

Lin Shouyi didn't know when he was sitting upright, frowning and said: "That's Legalism."

Li Baoping faced the three people and said categorically: "The law must come from Confucianism!"

Lin Shou was stunned.

When Li Baoping saw the absent-minded Li Huai, he was furious and shouted softly: "Li Huai!"

Li Huai seemed to have returned to the days when he was an elementary school student in the countryside. Mr. Qi called on him warmly again and again in class, and he instinctively replied: "Here we are!"

After discovering that Mr. Qi had been replaced by Li Baoping, who often beat him, Li Huai felt resentful and humiliated, so he continued to play with the puppets.

Li Baoping ignored Li Huai and continued: "Everyone has his own rules, live in peace and harmony, the world is clear and bright, and the world is peaceful! The king will rule with dignity! Then the saint will die and the thieves will stop!"

Lin Shouyi spoke again: "The saint is immortal and there are more thieves. This is a Taoist saying..."

Li Baoping's eyes sparkled and he said loudly: "One method is applicable to all methods. The most fundamental truth in the world must be the same!"

She seemed to have remembered something, and walked slowly in front of the three of them, "In my last class at the school, it was my husband who told me alone about the four words 'The Scriptures and the Earth's principles'. The principles of the Scriptures are the foundation of my Confucian religion..."

Li Huai finally said: "Sir, you didn't tell us this. Lin Shouyi, what about you?"

Lin Shouyi shook his head.

The little girl in the red cotton jacket crossed her arms across her chest and said angrily: "One of you doesn't like to listen to the truth, and the other doesn't like to ask questions when he talks about things. Do you have to force him to stuff his knowledge into your heads?"

Li Huai said with a playful smile: "If possible, I don't mind. My husband is so knowledgeable, and I can use him for a lifetime. This saves worry, effort, and avoids detours."

Lin Shouyi said to himself: "One method can lead to all methods... If this is really the case, you really need to find the one yourself. What A Liang said about pursuing the profound and abandoning the complex is also true."

Interrupted by Li Huai, Li Baoping seemed to have thought of elsewhere and encountered a bottleneck. The little girl felt a little embarrassed and said to Chen Pingan: "Uncle, I'll think about it again, and another problem will come up to stump me." ”

Chen Pingan smiled and raised his hand and extended his thumb.

The little girl said happily: "Isn't it bad?"

Chen Ping'an did not retract his thumb and said loudly: "Very good!"

The four of them didn't know that the Yin God who was secretly guarding not far away was trembling like a poor man crawling out of a frying pan.

But blessings and misfortunes depend on each other.

This Yin God first listened indifferently to those immature "lectures", and then encountered a series of unbelievable situations. His mind was shaken, his soul was separated, and he had a thick and filthy aura that was proportional to his level of cultivation, as if being blown by strong winds. Like a knife being cut away, Yin Shen didn't believe in this evil at first, and was still unwilling to take a step back. In the end, he couldn't stand it anymore, and he retreated again and again. It actually took him dozens of miles to retreat before he got slightly better. Yin Shen didn't want to give up. , carrying the invisible force of the wind, moving forward step by step, like a small boat swimming upstream in the surging river.

It is said that the gentlemen in the seventy-two Confucian academies of the nine continents of the world have a little aura of awe in their hearts, and the world is thousands of miles away.

At the same time, hundreds of miles away from this mountainous area, there was a place as glorious as a prince's mansion. A graceful woman in red with a pale face wanted to light a white paper lantern and hang it high. , but once the lamp is lit, it goes out on its own.

This made her expression look a little ferocious.

The entire grand mansion was filled with ghosts and ghosts, and the evil wind was blowing.

She discarded the lantern in her hand and slowly rose into the air, finally hovering higher than the eaves and looking around.