Chapter 11 Chapter Eleven God of Wealth
Lu Jian looked at Bai Xiangyao, suddenly felt a burst of collapse, and thought: "Even if this woman deserves to die, so what if she dies? Even if she dies, Gu Zhen won't be able to survive." Thinking of this, he felt ashamed and sighed faintly. He took a deep breath, turned around and walked out, and suddenly Gu Ping'er called out from behind: "Mom, where have you been? Ping'er is scared, Mom, Mom, where have you been, Ping'er is so scared..." The cry was shrill, Breaking the silence of the night sky, Lu Jian felt so sad that he burst into tears as he walked.
After leaving the temple gate and walking for a while, he suddenly heard the men and women whispering in front of him. Lu Jianfang wanted to go around, but suddenly heard the man say: "Miaomiao, why are you crying again, it's better to mourn."
Lu Jian's heart moved, he leaned forward, pushed aside the bushes, looked intently, saw Shi Miaomiao sitting on a big rock, weeping in a daze, Di Xi stood aside, took out a snow-white handkerchief from his bosom, and stretched it on Shi Miaomiao's cheeks Before, as if to wipe her tears.Shi Miaomiao quickly raised her hand to take it, and said, "Thank you, Lord Di." When the two handed over the handkerchiefs, Di Xi stretched out his middle finger and caressed Shi Miaomiao's fingertips carelessly.
Shi Miaomiao seemed to be on fire, quickly took back the handkerchief and wiped away her tears, but felt that the handkerchief had a faint fragrance, refreshing.When he raised his eyes, Di Xijun's eyes were clear.Staring at himself, fascinated.Shi Miaomiao was confused, and said, "Master Di, you, don't worry about me. After listening to your persuasion for two days, I feel much better, and I won't do stupid things anymore. Thinking about it carefully, you are right, Gu Zhen is a disaster for the country and the people, he really deserves to die, I am sad for him, it is very wrong. But, alas, but somehow, when I think of his appearance before death, I always want to cry, alas, I am really useless. Master Di, you Tell the island king for me, can I not be the five masters?"
Di Xi smiled slightly, and said softly: "Silly girl, besides you, is there any descendant of Qianlin in Dongdao?" Whatever is difficult, I will always help you."
Shi Miaomiao's heart was pounding, she quickly withdrew her hand, and said, "Master Di..." Di Xi laughed and said, "Why do you keep calling me Lord, it's a natural thing, I call you Miaomiao, but you can't call me Di Xi?" Shi Miaomiao's cheeks were burning hot, she bowed her head and said, "Di, Lord Di, I, I am so confused, can you leave me alone?" Di Xi nodded, and softly said: "Then you Promise me, don't do anything stupid, and I'll go."
Shi Miaomiao nodded quickly, but unexpectedly Di Xi didn't move as she said, but still kept her eyes smiling, focusing on her face, Shi Miaomiao was so ashamed, she said in a low voice: "You, you, why are you still staring at me? Di Xi sighed: "Miao Miao, actually there is something I want to tell you."
Shi Miaomiao said: "What, can't I say it in the future?" Di Xi shook his head and said: "No, after tonight, I may not have the courage to say it again."
Shi Miaomiao felt soft-hearted when he heard the words, and said: "Well, you say it. I listened to it." Diximann said: "Miaomiao, do you know that I have always had a woman in my heart all these years, but This woman does not have me in her heart, which makes people very sad."
Shi Miaomiao said strangely: "Master Di Zun is handsome and has a good heart, not to mention martial arts. Don't worry that no one likes her?" Di Xi stared at her for a moment, then suddenly sighed: "It's just because that woman has another person in her heart. Although that person is not good, he has a different way to always occupy her heart. Even in the prison, he can make the woman forget about food and drink, and cry in front of the mirror. Looking at her, I feel uncomfortable It's so bad, but I don't know how to relieve her worries. Alas, I always think that as long as the woman thinks about that person one day, I will suffer one more day, and thinking about that person for one year, I will suffer one more year If, if I think about that person's life, I will have to suffer for the rest of my life..."
Shi Miaomiao's heart skipped a beat when she heard that, she never thought that the woman Di Xi was talking about was herself, she panicked for a moment, looked at Di Xi, not knowing what to say.Di Xi smiled happily, stretched out her fingers, brushed the fingertips over Miaomiao's jade cheeks, did not touch the skin, only brushed a few strands of hair, and murmured: "Miaomiao, do you really want me to suffer all my life? "
Shi Miaomiao had never encountered such a situation before, he couldn't help but stiffen, he didn't want to hide, he didn't want to hide, he felt flustered, when he heard someone say: "Jiubian Dragon King, you are not a good person."
Di Xi's eyes flickered, and she turned her head to look, only to see Lu Jian parting the grass and trees, staring at herself with burning eyes.Di Xi laughed unconsciously and said, "I'm talking to Miao Miao, why do you hurt others?" Lu Jian snorted coldly, and said loudly: "Miss Shi, Gu Zhen has a deep love for you, and you hang out with other men before his bones are cold. It's also ruthless."
Shi Miaomiao blushed, raised her eyebrows slantingly, and said in embarrassment, "You, who are you talking about?" Lu Jian sneered and said, "I'll just talk about you." "Gu Zhen committed evil on his own, so he cannot live. How can it be said that Miao Miao will be implicated if he dies?"
Lu Jian spat, and said, "Who said Gu Zhen did evil? The truth came out just now. Gu Zhen was wronged by Bai Xiangyao. Bai Xiangyao's plot was exposed, and he committed suicide by taking poison in front of Gu Shentong."
The two of them were startled, Shi Miaomiao lost her voice and said, "You, are you serious?" Lu Jian said angrily, "At this point, don't you still believe in Gu Zhen? Gu Zhen likes a frivolous girl like you. It's not worth it for him." Shi Miaomiao's face was pale, she took two steps back, turned around abruptly, and ran towards the distant temple with a gust of wind.Di Xi called out: "Miaomiao..." Fang wanted to catch up, but Lu Jian shouted: "You villain who takes advantage of others, give me a punch first."
Lu Jian wanted to vent his anger on Gu Zhen, revealing "I am the only one who respects me", and sent out a fist, the punch spread ten directions, Di Xi shot out the long sleeve, and when the fist sleeve crossed, Di Xi's cheeks were as red as blood, and suddenly borrowed the strength of Lu Jian's fist , floated up a big tree, and said with a sneer, "Boy, let's wait and see." After a short body, he disappeared.
Lu Jian restrained his appearance, his fists continued for a long time, and the surrounding vegetation hummed and trembled. Lu Jian looked back at the Sanzu Temple, sighed suddenly, and walked towards the farmhouse with big strides.
After walking for a while, the farmhouse was in sight.Suddenly, in the farmhouse, a little orange light loomed.Lu Jian was overjoyed in his heart: "Ah Qing is back?" With all his strength, he rushed to the front of the house like a meteor, pushed open the door, and shouted loudly, "Ah Qing, is that you..." The cry continued, and he was suddenly stunned I saw a wind lantern on the table, illuminating a man in Chinese clothes, shaking a goose feather fan with his right hand, and playing with something with his left hand. Seeing himself, he smiled and said, "Junior Sister Yao has a clever plan, brother Lu is still here!" here."
"Shen Xiu?" Lu Jian was startled and angry, "What are you doing here, are you getting impatient?"
Shen Xiu sneered and said, "Isn't it amazing that you have advanced martial arts? If Junior Sister Yao didn't order me, I wouldn't be bothered to come, Young Master."
"Ah Qing ordered?" Lu Jian grabbed Shen Xiu's shoulder, "Who do you want to lie to?" He pierced his five fingers like a sharp sword, Shen Xiu frowned in pain, but did not struggle, and said with a smile: "You If you don't believe me, just look at this..." He raised his left hand as he spoke.Only then did Lu Jian realize that what Shen Xiu was playing with was actually a string of shell necklaces.
Lu Jian's face changed in astonishment, and he snatched the necklace. Every shell on the necklace was polished by himself. It is expected that Yao Qing has kept it close to her body for many years.
Lu Jian stayed for a while, stared at Shen Xiu and said, "This necklace, where did this necklace come from?" Shen Xiu showed no fear, and said with a giggle, "Junior Sister Yao gave it to you, she said, return the necklace to you, you The relationship with her is also considered a conclusion. Don't you like Ning Ning, then just like her."
Lu Jian said angrily: "Nonsense." She was about to punch her fist, and Shen Xiu hurriedly said, "These are all the original words of Junior Sister Yao, there is no half-word fabricated, otherwise, give me the courage to dare not be alone Come here and offend Huwei."
Lu Jian's fist stopped, his heart was in a trance, and he murmured: "You are lying, where is Ah Qing? I want to see her."
Shen Xiu smiled and said: "If she wants to see you, why bother to let me come? She also said that from now on, she never wants to see you again. Whether you live or die, marry and have children, has nothing to do with her. You Think about it, if Junior Sister Yao didn't instruct me, how would I know that this shell necklace is your token of love, and how would I know that you would like my sister Ning Ning? Haha, congratulations, sister Ning Ning has a beautiful appearance and a gentle temper , it's a pity that he is a robber slave, otherwise, my little brother would really be envious."
He said congratulations and envy, but his face was full of sarcasm and ridicule.Lu Jian was so confused that he stood there blankly and murmured: "She really doesn't want to see me?" Shen Xiu smiled and said, "If you don't believe me, follow me to see her and see if she sees or not."
Lu Jian knew that Yao Qing was decisive, and once she made a decision, she would never change it. Moreover, as Shen Xiu said, the matter of the shell necklace and Ning Ning was kept secret, only he and Yao Qing knew about it, if it wasn't for Yao Qing herself Said, Shen Xiu decided not to talk about it.Thinking of this, all thoughts were lost, and she sighed: "Her, why did she want you to come to see me?"
Shen Xiu said with a smile: "That's because for Junior Sister Yao, Shen is not afraid of death, and is not afraid of suffering. He has a deep love and never thinks twice. If Shen is so sincere, Junior Sister Yao is a stone person, and she will be tempted, haha, What's more, Brother Lu's empathy, broke Junior Sister Yao's heart, and caused her to cry like tears for the past two days. Seeing it, Shen also felt distressed, so he volunteered to settle old grievances and resolve worries for Junior Sister .”
"Who is empathetic?" Lu Jian said anxiously, "She blamed me." Shen Xiu smiled and said, "Is there a misunderstanding? You can talk to Junior Sister Yao yourself, Shen will never stop you." He spread his hands , with a generous air, Lu Jian hesitated when he saw this.Shen Xiu rolled her eyes and said with a grin: "Could it be that brother Lu really didn't think about Miss Ning Ning in my heart?" Lu Jian didn't feel his heart flustered, and secretly said: "I did think about Miss Ning, and I called her in my dream. I always remember her name in my heart, alas, there are thousands of mistakes, all of them are my fault, Ah Qing hates me, and it is right for me." Thinking about it, her heart sank, and she loosened Shen Xiu's skirt.
Satisfied, Shen Xiu brushed off her clothes, laughed loudly, picked up the death lamp, and left happily.Lu Jian looked at his back and wanted to catch up with him, but finally stopped slumped. He just stood there blankly, forgetting where he was.
The sun rises and the moon sets, the morning dew soaks the clothes, the night passes leisurely like water, Lu Jian looks like a wood carving and clay sculpture, and his eyes never move.Seeing this situation, the giant crane didn't know whether he was dead or alive, so he got anxious and flapped his wings. After the seventh blow, Lu Jian shook his body and leaned over to spit out a big mouthful of blood. Go outside the mountain.
He lost his mind and just kept moving forward, not knowing where he was going. When the giant crane found fish, shrimp and fruits, he grabbed them and ate them, no matter whether they were raw or cooked.After a few more days, the giant crane recovered from its injuries and was gradually able to leap and fly. It is expected that in a few days, it will be able to soar in Qingming.
On this day, when Lu Jian was in a daze, he suddenly heard a sharp cry. Lu Jian heard the cry of a giant crane, but felt that there was great anger in it. , four hunters surrounded it, raising steel forks one after another, shouting loudly, intending to threaten.
Lu Jian was heartbroken like dying, seeing this situation, he couldn't help but shouted: "Stop." With so much strength in his voice, the eardrums of the four hunters burst, as if they had been hit by a sap on their foreheads , Throwing the hunting fork rope one after another, squatting on the ground, foaming at the mouth.
Lu Jian stepped forward to untie the giant crane, looked at the four people on the ground, and said nothing.Those four people all showed fear and even begged for mercy.After this incident, Lu Jian's mind became a little clearer, and he looked around: "Where is this?" A hunter stood up reluctantly and said: "This is Zijin Mountain. The four of us saw this crane and steed, and we just regarded it as an ownerless beast. What an offense, I hope the hero will forgive you." Lu Jian frowned, and waved his hands: "All go away." The four of them rushed away holding their heads together as if they had received an amnesty.
Lu Jian thought to himself: "Isn't Zijin Mountain outside Nanjing? I've come all the way here." Thinking of this, his heart skipped a beat: "Oh, I only care about my own sadness, but I forgot a big event." Suddenly thinking of Qinhuai that day By the river, at the head of Cuiyun Tower, Gu Zhen entrusted him with a matter, so he cheered up and said to the giant crane, "Big guy, I'm going to the city to do something. People are greedy, you'd better Stay on the tree and don't come down."
The giant crane was also happy to see him cheer up. As if he understood Lu Jian's words, he flapped his wings and reached the treetops, cooing.Lu Jian turned around and entered Nanjing City, stayed until night, and sneaked outside the Dong'an Gate of the old palace city. At this time, he was so strong that he was like a ghost, and when the guards in the palace encountered him head-on, he felt a gust of wind blowing on his face, and he couldn't see half of it. silhouette.
Lu Jian found the stone lion on the left side of the gate, walked 120 steps to the southeast, and saw an old locust tree.Seeing things and thinking about people, Lu Jian felt very sad when he thought of Gu Zhen.He looked around for no one, squatted down and touched the roots of the old locust tree, and sure enough, there were six thick old roots exposed.Lu Jian counted west from the old root in the south, and reached the third old root. He reached out to dig under the root, but felt that the floating soil was soft, and after a while, he bumped into a hard object. Square iron box.
Lu Jian held the iron box in his hand, but felt a burst of wetness and coldness, which penetrated into his chest along the palm of his hand, and his eyes were sore, he wanted to cry.When he was sad, he heard the footsteps of the palace guards in the distance, he gathered up his mood, threw his body, swept out of the palace city from the roof, and then crossed the inner city and outer city.His movements were erratic, like walking on flat ground, occasionally guarding soldiers saw him, and saw a black shadow passing away, he suspected it was a phantom of a ghost, he was so frightened that he was tongue-tied and dared not move.
Lu Jian returned to the tree where the giant crane was perched, summoned the giant crane, went to the same house together, and inspected the iron box under the lamp.There is no lock outside the box, and there is a thick layer of oilcloth inside the box, which is made of waterproof material.When it was unfolded, the precious light shone everywhere, and the seal and the ring were impressively visible. Lu Jian was greatly surprised, not knowing when Gu Zhen hid the imperial jade seal and the ring of the God of Wealth in the box.
Then look at a letter under the jade seal. When I unfolded it, I saw that it said: "Take this ring and go to a certain place to inform a certain person of Gu's death and ask him to find a new owner. The map of that person's residence is behind the letter. , just follow the picture. In addition, the Jade Seal of the Chuan Kingdom will be passed on to you as a gift. This is an eternal treasure. Later added.
Lu Jian looked at Gu Zhen's handwriting.Unknowingly, she shed tears, calmed down after a while, wiped away the tears, put the jade seal and the ring into her bosom, turned over the letter paper, and saw a map drawn with a red pen, which was very detailed.
Lu Jian looked at the map carefully, and found that it was in the mountains of northern Jiangsu, about several hundred miles away from Nanjing, so he put away the iron box, took the giant crane with him, pointed to the map, and walked leisurely.
Previously, Lu Jian felt sorry for himself and hurt himself, with nothing outside his body. Once he got out of the sad state and looked around, he found that many people, old and young, flocked to Nanjing.
Lu Jian was secretly surprised, but he was too thin-skinned to ask questions. At noon, he suddenly saw someone lying dead by the side of the road, and hurriedly stepped forward to help him up. Long fishy saliva, has been dead for a long time.Lu Jian was stunned for a while, dug a hole to bury it, and then moved forward, the farther away from Nanjing, the more refugees, the tide seems to be rushing to the town, and in the fields beside the road, sometimes dead and hungry, most of them are old and weak Disabled.Lu Jian buried the corpse along the way, feeling quite dazed. After thinking for a long time, he suddenly remembered Gu Zhen's prophecy that day in Cangbo Lane, and broke out in a cold sweat. He thought, "Could it be that the famine is really coming?" The beautiful countryside is overgrown with weeds and there are no people around. Lu Jian became more and more puzzled. He thought to himself that the weather is smooth and there is no drought or waterlogging.
Lu Jian was penniless, and there was nothing he could do about such a disaster.Fortunately, the giant crane recovered from its injuries, spread its wings and soared into the sky, and its flight disappeared. However, every evening, no matter where Lu Jian was, he would always fly back.When I came back, I always held a hundred catties of sea fish, whole tree fruits, and even a whole young deer and gazelle in my claws. I don't know if they were caught hundreds of miles away.Therefore, when Lu Jian walked in the famine land, he didn't suffer from hunger or hunger. But after Tianzhu Mountain, he was self-sufficient, and his diet became less and less. He could drink a few mouthfuls of spring water and eat two fruits a day, and he was still in good spirits. The food sent by the giant crane to help the hungry people, even though it was a drop in the bucket, gave him peace of mind.
Nothing happened during the journey, Lu Jian thought about the battle of Tianzhu Mountain, carefully deduced the "Six Aspects of King Kong", and gradually understood the mystery.It turns out that the same "Great Vajra Divine Power", when used in different forms, will produce different changes, just like six different martial arts, each of which has great power.It's just that the "Six Phases of King Kong" can be used alone, but once they are combined and used together, Lu Jian will feel dizzy, his heart beating, and his mind is in a daze.Fortunately, his nature is not very strong, and he gave up when he felt uncomfortable. Unexpectedly, this way, it conforms to the emptiness of Buddhism.
This day Lu Jian was walking on the road when he heard crying.Hearing the sad cry, he couldn't help but follow the sound.Still in the distance, he smelled the aroma of porridge and rice. When he approached, he saw hundreds of farmers gathered in a group, with ragged clothes and yellow and hungry faces.Lu Jian squeezed forward, and saw a large pot in the crowd. The pot was boiling with white gas, and a pot of gruel was boiled. In front of the pot stood dozens of servant boys in green clothes, armed with knives and guns, with arrogant expressions.
It was a middle-aged woman who was crying, half-kneeling and half-sitting, holding a four or five-year-old boy in her arms.The woman burst into tears and said in a trembling voice: "Master Yi, do me a favor, give the child a mouthful of porridge, he hasn't had a single grain of rice in three days, if he keeps starving, he will die..."
Before he finished speaking, he heard a lazy voice say: "I want to drink porridge, it's done. I signed this land deed and can drink as much as I want." The man, there is a maid standing on the left and right, one holds an umbrella, the other shakes a fan, and the dress is very enchanting.The fat man was holding a cup of tea, blowing away the foam, looking at the women and children, smiling and friendly.
The woman shrank, she didn't dare to look at the fat man, she just murmured: "Signing the land deed, I, how can I be the master?" Master Yi smiled and said: "You can't be the master, but you are a man. Alas, this child It's poor too. As a mother, you can't persuade your man. Don't be stubborn, the painting is mortgaged, the land is sold, everything is easy to talk about, why bother to be so stubborn?"
The woman said sadly: "Master Yi. My family lives on these few acres of Susukida. If we don't have any land, how will we live in the coming year?" If you can’t live on the land, you can live if you have land this year?”
The woman shook her body and opened her mouth wide, but she didn't know what to say, suddenly she heard that the child was like a nightmare, and started crying, her eyes were still closed, but her mouth was soft, screaming for hunger.The voice became weaker and weaker, and the peasant woman's heart was pierced when she heard it, and she wanted to let out a cry of grief, when she suddenly heard a hoarse voice: "Don't cry, this land, let's sell it!"
There was a commotion in the crowd, and a farmer separated from the crowd and walked out slowly. He had a dark complexion and dull eyes. He walked up to the fat man's case and said slowly, "Master Yi, there is a paddy field of 10 mu and 30% on Shikoupo in the south of the village. , how much will you pay for it?" Master Yi grinned, stretched out two fingers, and the farmer said, "Twenty dans of millet?"
"Fart!" Master Yi spat, "Two loads of millet, one more grain will not make it."
"Two loads of millet?" The farmer's dark face showed a dark red, his forehead was bulging, and his hands were clutching the edge of the table, his body trembling. At the age of maturity, you can harvest a hundred or a hundred tan." Master Yi showed an expression of impatience, and bent a finger.He said coldly: "One load of five..." The farmer was taken aback, tears rolling in his eyes, he gritted his teeth and said, "My surname is Yi, you, you are too unconscionable, you will be punished by heaven..." Seeing the fat man's lips move , I was afraid that he would reduce the price again, so he had no choice but to hold back his anger, dipped in the ink pad, and pressed hard on the land deed. When he let go, he felt exhausted, snorted, and fell limp on the ground.
"Okay, okay." Master Yi shook the contract and laughed loudly, "For this price, five loads of ten-acre land, three loads of twenty-mu land, those who sell the land should sell it quickly, and after that, haha, this The price has to be reduced." Laughing wildly as he spoke, the faces of farmers and women all around were gloomy, and some people came forward one after another, pledging to sell the land.
Lu Jian was ten times more stupid, but he also heard that the rich man surnamed Yi took advantage of the famine and threatened everyone to sell his land at a low price. He felt angry, and suddenly left everyone and walked to the table.Master Yi saw him strangely.Then he shouted: "Boy, which company are you from? Do you want to sell land? Line up first..." Without saying a word, Lu Jian grabbed the contract on the table, divided his hands, and dozens of contracts were turned into pieces of flying saucers. When the wind blows, it disperses all over the sky.
Master Yi was startled and angry, and shouted: "It's wrong, come on, someone, beat me to death." All the servants and boys agreed coquettishly, armed with guns and clubs, swarming up.Lu Jian saw that this group of slaves had no martial arts skills, and they didn't want to hurt others, so they used the "Heavenly Tribulation Controlling Military Technique", and reached out to snatch them with swords and guns.All the servants and boys felt that their hands were empty.Weapons have changed hands.Lu Jian guarded and threw it like a child's play, and all the servants were dumbfounded. Seeing that the situation was not good, Master Yi turned around and fled. He raised his big body high, put it on the porridge, and said with a sneer, "You dog, go down and take a bath!" With a turn of his wrist, Master Yi sank, only a few inches away from the boiling porridge.
The hot air hit his face, burning and painful, Master Yi was out of his wits, and killing a pig was like screaming.Suddenly there was a pop, and a foul smell filled the air.Lu Jian raised his eyes, but was overly frightened by this guy, feces and urine flowed out like pills, Lu Jian was only afraid that the filth would flow out and spoil a pot of good porridge, so he waved him aside and said, "Go away, if you bully me again Kindness will definitely make you look good."
Master Yi sifted through the chaff all over his body and didn't answer. He was supported by his servants and stumbled away.Lu Jian stepped forward to scoop up a bowl of porridge, blew it cold, and brought it to the child's mouth. The peasant woman was surprised and thanked her endlessly.All the farmers were so hungry that they rushed forward to grab the porridge to drink, fighting for how many times they came.
Lu Jian was surprised, and wanted to shake his hand to stop him, but he was afraid that everyone would not be able to bear it, so he put his hands on his waist, showing "the only one who respects me", and said in a deep voice, "Everyone back away." Consciously stopping the fight, he looked at Lu Jian with a panicked expression.Lu Jian raised his voice and said, "Everyone line up to drink porridge. Children and women come first, old people come next, and middle-aged men are last." Everyone was frightened by his aura and dared not back down. Seeing that the porridge was exhausted, more and more hungry people rushed to hear the news. In a short while, there were no less than a thousand people. Many people looked at the cauldron and cried without a grain of rice.
Looking at the dark crowd, Lu Jian felt powerless, and thought, "I am limited and cannot help the public. If Gu Zhen is here, it will be all right." Thinking of Gu Zhen, he felt very sad, and when he was sad, his heart suddenly moved: " I'm really confused, Gu Zhen is naturally not here, isn't there still something there?" He took out the ring of the God of Wealth from his bosom, held it in the palm of his hand, and thought to himself: "The God of Wealth has a treasure, and the order is issued. Ying Wancheng once said that all wealthy businessmen in the world will be punished. This is the envoy of the little ring. Now the situation is urgent, so I have the right to give it a try." Thinking of asking an old man, "Is there a very rich merchant in a hundred miles around?"
The old man said: "When it comes to rich merchants, there is no better salt merchant. Within a hundred miles, Yangzhou is where the salt merchants in Huaihe and Huaihe Rivers are located." Lu Jian said: "Then who is the richest salt merchant?" The old man said without hesitation: "Needless to say, it's naturally a senior official from Chengdong Ding!"
Lu Jian nodded slightly, and said in a loud voice: "Everyone wait here, I'm going to Yangzhou to raise food." Without waiting for everyone's answer, he took a big step and came to a place where there was no one, and then he performed his lightness kung fu, and the wind and lightning traveled fifty miles It's a snap of the fingers.When he arrived in Yangzhou, he went straight to the east gate and asked passers-by. Before he found Ding's mansion, he saw giant jacarandas of Zhumen in the distance, with cornices covering the sky, and a hundred and ten colored silk lanterns hanging on the two-foot-high wall, swaying in the wind.There are several men and women standing in front of the door. Although they are servants, they are all well-dressed and full of arrogance.People in front of the door came in and out, cars and horses flowed like a stream, Lu Jian saw this grandeur, he came out of the palace suspiciously, hesitated for a long time, and then stepped forward.As soon as he reached the door, a male servant stopped him with his arms outstretched, and said with a smile, "Do you have any thorns?"
The thorn is the so-called "business card" of later generations. In ancient times, when you hang out in the officialdom and shopping malls, you can't do without a thorn. If you want to see a powerful family, you must first pass the thorn.Lu Jian was a grassroots person who didn't know these rules. Hearing this, he said in a daze, "What thorn?"
All the servants laughed and looked at Lu Jian up and down. They saw that his clothes were shabby and rustic. Not to mention the servants in the mansion, even the cats and dogs in the concubine's room were more pleasing to the eye than him.All of a sudden, men and women showed disdain. Lu Jian thought about the business, but he didn't realize it, and said: "I want to see Mr. Ding, please let me know."
The male servant didn't answer, but just sneered, and the person next to him said coldly: "Officer Ding is very busy, how can he have time to meet people? Besides, can any stupid cow and horse enter the Ding's house?"
Lu Jian saw everyone's cold eyes, and thought to himself: "These men and women are just domestic slaves. Once they become rich, they will look down on ordinary people. There is no better way than to rely on others." Wei Wei pondered, took out the "Ring of the God of Wealth" and put it on his finger. With a flick of his sleeves.Showing "the appearance of the bright moon and the flowing wind", all the servants and maidservants only felt a blur in front of their eyes, and Lu gradually lost his rustic appearance.
Unexpectedly, in a flash, Lu Jian was transformed into a different person, and all of them turned pale with shock.Lu Jian turned the jasper ring and said loudly: "Please tell Officer Ding, the owner of the ring of the God of Wealth is asking to see you."
All the servants looked at each other, and one of them hurried into the mansion.After about a cup of tea, there were loud footsteps inside the door, before anyone arrived, a laughing voice came first: "Master Gu, what can I do for you..." While speaking, a middle-aged man rushed out, with a burly physique and a face like a crown jade, A beautiful beard on his chest fluttered in the wind. He came to the door, looked around, and his eyes fell on the jade ring on Lu Jian's fingertips, with a look of surprise in his eyes.
Lu Jian knew that when this person heard the ring of the God of Wealth, he would definitely regard himself as Gu Zhen, but unfortunately the ring remained the same, but he was no longer a person, so he couldn't help feeling sad, and sighed: "Your Excellency is Mr. Ding?" The man was stunned. , cupped his hands and said with a smile: "It's just Ding Huaichu, how dare you ask your title?"
Lu Jiandao: "My surname is Lu, so call me Xiao Lu." Ding Huaichu hurriedly said: "How dare you, please come into the house to speak."
The two entered the mansion side by side. Along the way, there are clusters of green peaks, strange rocks piercing through the sky, nine curved corridors, dark willows and bright flowers. It doesn't seem to be walking in a mansion in a busy city, but it seems to go deep into the mountains. .Lu Jian frowned: "The hungry people outside the city are wailing, but these rich merchants are so luxurious, it's really chilling."
As soon as the "appearance of the bright moon and flowing wind" is displayed, with every gesture, you will have the posture of a dragon and a phoenix, and a noble spirit.Ding Huai Chuxiong has a beautiful beard, a gorgeous dress and a crown, and he claims to be the leader of Yangzhou, a gentleman, but standing side by side with Lu Jian, he is half shorter for no reason.I just feel that this young man is obviously rough and messy, but his whole body is like a bright light, illuminating the room, making people spontaneously admire him.Ding Huaichu was suspicious by nature, Lu Jian claimed to be the owner of the ring, he was very skeptical at first, but at this moment, his doubts disappeared, and he was so impressed: "A real celebrity is a man of style. This person's demeanor, in today's world, I am afraid that only Gu Ye can match it. "
Sitting opposite each other in the living room, Ding Huaichu smiled and said, "When will Lord Lu replace Lord Gu as the owner of the God of Wealth ring?" Lu Jian wanted to say, "I'll keep this ring for now, not the owner of the ring." But then he thought again: " Those servants are all so snobbish, let alone these businessmen. If I tell the truth, I am afraid that Ding Huaichu will be contemptuous and unwilling to buy it. I am humiliated. If I delay thousands of hungry people, it will not be a great sin He seldom lied in his life, hesitated in his heart, hesitated to speak, and suddenly raised his eyes, only to see Ding Huaichu's eyes fixed on himself, uncertain.
Lu Jian's heart skipped a beat, he picked up the tea bowl, covered up his embarrassment, and said slowly, "Not long ago." Great wind.Ding Huaichu saw his expression, and his doubts disappeared. He had a delicate mind and knew that Lu Jian came for a reason, so he smiled and said: "Congratulations to Master Lu for becoming the new owner of the ring, but I don't know what orders Master Lu has for coming?"
Lu Jian regained his composure, said his future intentions, and said: "I also ask Mr. Ding to find a way to get some food to help the hungry people outside the city." Ding Huaichu was silent for a long time, then sighed: "It's not like Ding has no heart at all. Seeing that the people suffered disasters. It was only three feet of ice, not a one-day cold. This great famine has accumulated day by day and is fierce. Now let alone the official warehouses are exhausted, all four of Ding’s rice warehouses have been released. Now it is There is a lot of gold and silver, but little rice and wheat, and with silver, you can’t buy food for disaster relief.”
Lu Jian said: "Then how about transferring grain from other provinces?" Ding Huaichu said: "This matter is already being prepared, but there are some troubles." Lu Jian said: "What trouble?" To buy grain in Shandong, Huguang, Sichuan and other places, three groups of people were sent before and after, and there was no news so far for more than two months. Not only that, the disaster relief food raised by the government passed through Jiangxi, and the grain boat encountered water bandits. He led a boat into the Yangtze River, and never escaped, one person and one boat."
Lu Jian was surprised and said, "In this way, is there anything weird?" Ding Huaichu nodded and said, "Master Lu is right, I'm afraid someone deliberately set up a trick to prevent food from entering Jiangsu and Zhejiang." Lu Jian couldn't help but said angrily: " Who is so vicious?" Ding Huaichu sighed: "Recently, I also sent someone to investigate, but who knows that the spy has disappeared like a stone in the sea, and there is no news."
Lu Jian thought for a while, and said: "Anyway, the people are pitiful, so please ask Mr. Ding to find a way to raise some food. To relieve the urgent need." Ding Huaichu smiled bitterly: "Master Lu has a life, and Ding will go through fire and water. From today onwards, I will raise food from my colleagues in the city and try my best to relieve the hunger, and if I want to support it for one or two months, it will be possible."
Seeing that he agreed, Lu Jian was overjoyed, and got up to leave immediately. Ding Huaichu tried to persuade him to stay, but Lu Jian politely refused, so he had to call a carriage to take Lu Jian outside the city. When they parted, Ding Huaichu couldn't bear it and asked, "" Master Lu, dare to ask, is Master Gu still okay?"
Lu Jian's expression darkened, and he sighed, "He has passed away." Ding Huaichu's body trembled violently, and his face turned pale.Lu Jian smiled wryly and said goodbye.Walking out for a while, dissipating the "bright moon and flowing wind", and returning to his original face, he was about to take off the ring and keep it close to his body, when he suddenly heard a loud and clear voice: "Wait a minute, boy, show me that ring."
Lu Jian turned around and looked around, only to see a giant man approaching from a distance, about ten feet tall, like an iron tower, his blue cloth clothes were full of muscles, and his face was full of beards like steel needles, as he stared around, his roots stood upright , holding a brass pipe as thick as an arm in his mouth, the pipe was gleaming red, and white smoke was like a column, zigzagging out from the big nostrils.
Lu Jian had never seen such a giant in his life. What's more interesting was that the giant had broad shoulders. On his left shoulder sat a little old man, thin and thin, with thin beard and hair.Seeing that the old man looked familiar, Lu Jian's heart skipped a beat, and he suddenly changed his color and called out, "Sha Tianhuan..."
The little old man raised his eyelids, his eyes gleamed brightly, he said in a loud voice, "Who is your name?" Although he was thin and small, his voice was very sonorous.Lu Jian thought it was the giant man who greeted him, but now he realized it was him. He was quite surprised for a moment, and after a closer look, he realized that the old man was similar to Sha Tianhuan in appearance, but his body was much thinner, and there was more strands between his brows Seriously upright.Lu Jian knew that he had misjudged the wrong person, so he hurriedly said, "I'm sorry, kid with poor eyesight, I misjudged the wrong person."
The giant man laughed out loud, like a thunderclap in mid-air.The little old man's voice had already startled Lu Jian, and the gigantic man's laughter startled him even more.The giant man looked at Lu Jian, took two puffs of his cigarette, and said with a smile: "Little boy is very polite, very good, very good. Monkey spirit, don't you think so?"
The little old man rolled his eyes: "If you know how to be polite, old fool, Confucius will be happy to come back to life." The giant man laughed and said: "Confucius is not my father, so we won't support him when he is alive. But you, monkey, be careful, listen to this little kid's tone, that bastard is not dead yet."
The little old man snorted, looked sad, lowered his head and pondered for a while, and suddenly realized something, blood rushed to his cheeks, and said angrily: "Old stupid bear, who are you calling a bastard?" The giant man giggled and said: "I But I forgot, if I scold him, I scold you, and if I scold you, I scold him. Forget it, if I scold you again, how about scolding him?"
The little old man was furious, raised his pipe, and struck the giant man hard on the head.Lu Jian saw that his attack was sharp, and couldn't help but exclaimed, who knew that the giant man was hit hard, and he didn't lift his eyelids a little.Still smiling, puffing out the clouds, hearing Lu Jian screaming, he immediately said happily: "Very good, the little one is polite and has a good conscience, tsk tsk, monkey spirit, compared to others, But it's not far off."
"What?" The little old man said angrily: "Old stupid bear, you think this old man is not as good as this brat?" He raised his hand and knocked on the giant man's pipe again.巨汉却是动也不动，乐呵呵只管抽烟。陆渐瞧得发呆，只觉这小老头儿出手快狠，生平少见，这巨汉连遭重击，嬉笑自若，更是奇怪极了。
小老头儿怒气稍减，冷哼一声，将身一纵，轻飘飘从巨汉肩头跳下，瞪着陆渐一摊手道：“拿来！”陆渐怪道：“拿什么？”小老头儿翻眼道：“老子要瞧你的戒指，乖乖拿来，少顿板子。”
陆渐见他气势汹汹，心中微微有气，说道：“老先生见谅，这枚指环是我好友的遗物，不能随便给人。”小老头儿脸一沉，说道：“那么你是不给了？”陆渐道：“不错。”小老头儿吹起胡子，巨汉却道：“猴儿精，人家一个小娃儿，面嫩心软的，你吓唬他做什么？”说罢倒空烟锅余烬，将烟头别在腰间，笑嘻嘻地道：“小娃儿，你这一枚指环，能将大盐商丁淮楚哄得晕头转向的，想必有些来历吧。”
陆渐暗自犯疑，这两人忽然而来，话不多说，便要戒指，莫不是垂涎指环的歹人？当下心生戒备，慢慢道：“是有来历，但二位无干。”
“故弄玄虚。”小老头儿冷笑一声，“当我不知道这狗屁指环的来历么？翡翠之环，血纹三匝，财神通宝，号令天下。若不是财神指环。丁淮楚富甲淮扬，怎么会老老实实听你使唤？”
陆渐无意隐瞒，便道：“老先生说得不错，这戒指正是财神指环。二位若要恃强抢夺，说不得，小子只好奉陪。”
巨汉哈哈大笑，如雷贯耳，小老头儿却冷笑一声：“就你这不成器的娃儿拿这玩意儿当宝，我老人家才没兴趣。我只问你，这指环谁给你的？”陆渐道：“不是说了么，使我好友。”
“好友？”小老头儿皱眉沉吟，“你那好友什么样子？是不是四五十岁年纪，高高瘦瘦，左眉上方有一颗朱砂小痣？”陆渐益发奇怪，摇头道：“那好友与我年纪相仿，不到二十呢。”
巨汉、小老头儿面面相对，小老头儿皱眉道：“奇怪。”巨汉也道：“奇怪。”小老头儿道：“没准这小子说谎骗人。”巨汉摇头道：“不像，这娃儿瞅来老实，跟我老笨熊有得一比。”小老头儿啐了一口，目不转睛打量陆渐半晌，忽然露出沮丧之色：“难道这么些年都白忙活了？”巨汉呵呵大笑，哄孩子似的拍拍他头：“也许瘦竹竿真的死了，都是你多疑。”
“放屁。”小老头儿打开巨掌，两眼上翻，“那厮从小鬼头鬼脑，诡计多端，杀了老夫，我也不信他死得那么容易。”巨汉笑道：“瘦竹竿鬼头鬼脑不假，你也是猴儿成精，半斤八两，都不是好人，还是我老笨熊实心眼儿，老实可靠。”
“你老实可靠？”小老头儿望着他冷笑，“吃饭喝酒怎么就没见你老实了，吃得多，喝得足，穿衣服也要两匹布，哼，左右不是你家的银子，就不知道心痛？不成，再跟你混下去，老子早晚倾家荡产，要散伙，一定要散伙……”
巨汉啧啧道：“猴儿精，何苦这么绝情？不就几两臭银子么？有什么了不起的，将来我发了财，一定还你……”小老头儿冷笑道：“发财，这辈子还是下辈子？”巨汉小道：“这辈子最好，下辈子也不赖。”小老头儿道：“不赖？我瞧你是无赖。”巨汉咧嘴憨笑，抽出烟斗，顺手一摸，忽觉烟袋已瘪，当下趁着小老头儿不备，一把从他腰间夺过烟袋，将袋内烟草全倒在大烟锅里，敲火石点着了，吧嗒吧嗒，抽得有滋有味。小老头儿怒极大骂，拳打脚踢，巨汉甘受殴辱，嘴里哼哼，仿佛不胜其苦，一双铜铃大眼却忽闪忽闪，间或掠过一丝狡猾。
两人一个愿打，一个愿挨，一个骂骂咧咧，一个闷头抽烟。陆渐但觉生平所见怪人，无出二人之右，一时啼笑皆非，见二人只顾打闹，不问自身，只好转身去了。
循那地图走了一日，地势越发起伏，先是丘峦连绵，不久渐入深山，小道蜿蜒，有如羊肠。两旁巨崖摩天，寸草不生，或如巨人头颅，凹眼凸鼻，或如垂钓老翁，佝偻屈曲，忽而一方怪石探出崖壁，形如展翅苍鹰，忽而一道石梁穿空而去，犹似蛟龙升腾。山势越高，道路越陡，两旁岩石形状越奇，将天光挤成窄窄一线，山道之上，晦暗莫名，倏尔间四周全黑，不见五指。
再爬一程，陆渐只觉道路变上为下，似乎登顶之后，转为下山，四周寂寂无声，偶尔传来细微响动，有如蛇虫爬行，饶是陆渐胆大，也觉汗毛竖起，心跳可闻。
又行一阵，前方亮光微露，陆渐紧赶几步，天光乍泄，豁然开朗，两片翡翠也似的山峦青碧发亮，夹着一道小溪，溪水静如不流，倒碧凝云，须发可鉴。
此地四面环山，北风不至，地气温润，四季繁花不断，将溪水两岸点缀得有如锦茵绣毯，绚丽异常。沿溪上溯，不时可见麋鹿漫步，白鹭梳翎，鸟雀啁啾，羚羊对食，无论禽兽。均是一派恬然，见了人来，亦不害怕。走了片刻，遥见一片桃林，桃花早凋，枝头挂着青油油的小桃，林子纵深无垠，走了足足半个时辰，前方水声大作，陆渐定眼望去，一道瀑布白龙倒挂，飞流百尺，独木桥树皮斑驳，飞架瀑布之上，踏足桥上，下方有如虎啸雷呜，动魄惊心。
桥那边是一条狭窄石栈，悬在半山腰上，仅容一人行走，下方山谷黑洞洞的，深不可测。陆渐走了两百来步，到了栈道尽头，眼前倏尔一亮，只见峰回路转，山开谷现，数畦水田围着一座石屋，竹管连缀成渠，自山崖边引来泉水，灌溉田中，石屋左边植松，右侧种柏，屋后几亩茶树，碧油油，绿艳艳，清气袭人。
陆渐不料这深山幽谷竟有如此人家，初时惊讶，继而不胜羡慕。多日来，他在红尘中目睹饥馑杀戮，阴谋不幸，好友惨死，爱人情变，已让他心灰意懒，生出弃世之想，这般桃源幽处，隐士居所，真是梦寐难求。
陆渐叫唤两声，却是无人答应，走上前去，只见房门大开。屋内空荡荡的，只有一方石榻，一张木案，西橱上置放几本发黄古籍，东窗挂一张焦尾古琴，清风掠过琴弦，韵声幽幽，几疑天籁。
望着眼前情形，陆渐痴痴怔怔，想象有朝一日，自己与姚晴隐居于此，忙时耕田纺纱，闲来养鹿拂琴，那是何等惬意。
一念及此，仿佛生出幻觉，田边树下、屋前水边，无一处没有姚晴的影子，或嗔或怒、或喜或忧，或是素手拈花，或是攒袖挥汗，音容笑貌，伸手可及，然而陆渐真的伸手摸去，却又空荡荡的，只有清风拂面，流水微响，鸟语如歌，在耳边悠悠回荡。
霎时间，陆渐心子一阵剧痛，有如千百钢针刺扎。姚晴冷漠眼神历历在目，她的倩影没入暗夜之时，陆渐怎也想不到会是今日结局。那天晚上，沈秀的每一句话都是一把刀子，插入陆渐心头，让他痛不欲生，即便黑天之劫，也难比拟。
探手入怀，摸出那条贝壳项链，珠光莹莹，恰如少女娇肤，陆渐眼前浮现出那张芙蓉脸儿，眼眶倏地一热，泪水夺路而出，点点滴滴，沾染得贝壳越发莹润。多日来，陆渐满腔愤懑，无处倾泻，此时身在空谷，旁无一人，不自禁悲从中来，竟似不能克制，蓦然间，他大叫一声，屈膝跪倒，将那项链紧紧贴在胸口，嚎啕大哭，哭声回荡盘旋，惊破一山秀色。
也不知哭了多久，忽觉一只大手轻轻抚摸头顶，一个温和的声音道：“好孩子，你哭什么呢？”
陆渐沉浸悲伤之中，有人近身，竟然不觉，听到这话，不由得腾身而起，转眼望去，只见身后立着一个四旬男子，青布长衫洗得发白，荷锄提篮，体格高瘦，左眉上一点朱砂小痣，面容棱角分明，虽然不算英俊，但神气空灵，不染半点尘世浊气。
陆渐瞠目结舌，吃吃道：“你是，你是……”青衣人笑道：“这是我家。”陆渐又惊又喜，说道：“你就是谷缜的师傅么？”
那人目不转睛瞧他时许，笑了笑，默默点头。陆渐心生敬仰，拱手作揖。青衣人笑道：“远来是客，不妨入屋一叙。”陆渐这才惊觉自己挡住门户，慌忙闪开，又觉脸上冰冰凉凉，泪痕未干，更是羞赧不胜，攒袖拭去。
那人放下药锄，坐在案前，望着一面空壁，微微出神。陆渐屏息凝神，正不知如何开口，青衣人忽地徐徐道：“谷缜什么时候死的？”
陆渐吃惊道：“你怎么知道他死了？”青衣人道：“我曾与他有约，此生再不相见，他只需活着，便不可见我，但若他先我而死，却可托人报讯。”
陆渐不觉黯然，叹道：“他半月前死在天柱山。”只因谷缜死得太惨，陆渐不忍说出死因，便取出财神指环，搁在桌上，青衣人拈起指环，凝视不语，容色淡淡的，无喜无悲。陆渐本以为他与谷缜师徒一场，得知爱徒死讯，势必极为伤痛，见他如此淡泊，心中好生不解。
青衣人将指环纳入袖中，摘下墙上瑶琴，按宫引商，弹奏起来，沉郁顿挫，尽是商调。陆渐听得心神摇曳，悲不能禁，忽听那琴声响了片刻，铮的一声，琴弦断了一根，将青衣人食指割破，点点鲜血，滴在琴上。
“琴犹如此，人何以堪。”青衣人叹一口气，忽地抓起古琴，掷出窗外，哗然落入水田之中，顺水飘荡。陆渐不由心想：“爷爷常说，琴为心声，这人表面上看不来出难过，但从琴声来听，心里还是难过得很。”
正自出神，忽听青衣人道：“谷缜让你前来，是想让我将这财神指环改传给你，只不过，你担当得起吗？”
陆渐目瞪口呆，连连摇头：“我，我哪担当得起？前辈定是错解了谷缜的意思。”
“不错。”青衣人叹道：“你老实有余，机警不足。的确不是经商的料子。也不知谷缜那小子想些什么？运财有如养虎，智能不足，驾御不周，势必为财势反噬，难道他就不怕害了你么？”说到这里，他又凝视陆渐半晌，忽有所悟，点头道：“原来如此，你人不聪慧，但却淡泊财势，能够托付大事。嗯，是了，你方才在我门前哭些什么？”
陆渐脸一红，只觉这人温文可亲，与他交谈，心中不胜安稳，恨不得将所有心事全盘托出。自从姚晴离开，他胸中苦闷无处宣泄，心想这人既是谷缜师长，也就不啻于自家长辈，顿时按捺不住，吞吞吐吐，将情变经过说出。
那人静静听罢，忽而笑道：“世间情孽，大同小异，那女子不是池中之物，别说你应付不来，你那位情敌怕也要空欢喜一场。呵呵，八图和一，天下无敌。有些意思，呵呵，有些意思。”
笑了两声，他轻抚桌沿，闲闲地道：“只你一个人来么？”陆渐不防他突发此问，怔了怔，说道：“是啊。”
青衣人微微一笑，目视屋外，徐徐道：“阁下鬼鬼祟祟，竟是盯梢的鼠辈。”语音清而不散，远远送出，回音沉沉不绝，激荡山谷，直如虎啸龙吟一般。陆渐听得骇然，暗忖自己虽也能吐劲发声，震山动谷，但绝不能这般从容。
话音方落，便听一个声音道：“当真是你。”嗓音洪亮，却是微微颤颤，仿佛颇为恐惧。
陆渐纵身抢出，只见水田对岸站立一人，精瘦矮小，正是路上遭遇的小老头儿。他孤身一人，随从巨汉不知去向。陆渐惊道：“你，你一直跟着我？”
小老头儿却不看他一眼，双眼死死盯着屋内，咬牙道：“你，你果然没死。”陆渐掉头看去，那青衣人负手踱出，青衫磊落，气质冲和，眉眼温润，淡淡有神，瞧了小老头儿一眼，笑道：“山不离泽，陷空已至，将军何在？”
蓦听一声大喝，犹似晴空里打了一个响雷：“瘦竹竿儿，老子在这儿呢。”陆渐举头一望，见那巨汉立在近处高峰之上，双手按腰，神威凛凛，身旁层层叠叠，堆满斗大巨石。
青衣人却不回头，只笑了笑，说道：“你们怎么找来的？”小老头儿冷然道：“你自以为聪明，当别人都是傻子？你我三人一同长大，你瞒得过天下人，又怎么瞒得过我和老笨熊？当年你死之后，我便生疑，十多年来，我和老笨熊无时不在追查此事，天可怜见，终叫老夫发觉，你除了本来面目，竟还是号令天下的大豪商，大财神。哼，三年前，我和老笨熊本已经发现财神指环的下落，不知怎的，我二人赶到江南，那指环复又消失，三年之中，半点儿消息也无……”
陆渐听到这里，心道：“是了，谷缜三年前被关入狱，财神指环自也失踪了。”想到这里，隐隐觉得自己犯了大错，心中大为不安，只听那小老头洪声续道：“都是你作孽太多，老天行罚。我与老笨熊四处寻找线索，偶然游至扬州，发现这傻小子为了赈济饥民，竟然大张旗鼓，将指环在闹市中招摇，我和老笨熊问他，他也说不出个子曰诗云，于是乎，老夫便来了个欲擒故纵，一路追踪而来，果然逮个正着。”
陆渐听在耳里，面红耳赤，无地自容，向青衣人道：“对不住，我，我……”青衣人摆手道：“你不必愧疚，以我一身，换取千万饥民的性命，倒也值得。”陆渐听得这话，愧疚之感更甚，却听小老头怒啐一口，骂道：“你少来装善人，扮隐士，骗得了谁？”
巨汉也叫道：“不错不错，你瘦竹竿儿都成了好人，我老笨狼还不做他奶奶的活菩萨了？”他声如阵雷，压过高天罡风，震得群山皆应。
陆渐越听越气，一纵身，拦在青衣人身前，高叫道：“你二人才是可恶，先向我强讨指环，强讨不到，又跟踪于我。如今更对这位老先生无礼，你们到底想做什么？”
他有意立威，这几句话也用上真力，如雷车滚动，声势之强，不在巨汉之下。小老头儿不料这少年浑不起眼，竟有如此神通，不觉吃了一惊，喝道：“臭小子，这是我门派中的大事，与你无关。”陆渐哼了一声，道：“你若与这位先生为难，便是与我有关，你若惭愧，早早离开，要么休怪我无礼。”
小老头儿暴跳如雷，一跳三尺，骂道：“我惭愧？放你妈的屁，你知道他是谁？他就是万……”话未说完，那水田中的泥水蓦地激荡，哗啦一声冲天而起，浇头盖脸，扑将过来，小老头儿猝不及防，灌了满嘴泥浆，将到口的话又堵了回去。
陆渐只觉身周气流一荡，便生奇变，心中颇为讶异，但见小老头儿跌跌撞撞倒退两步，瞪着中年男子，面露惊惶之色。中年男子笑笑，漫不经心踏出一步，小老头儿顿时又退两步，吐出嘴里泥水，叫道：“你别狂，番婆子公母俩也得了消息，随后就到，你，你别狂……”初始声色俱厉，但为青衣人目光所逼，嗓音不觉颤抖起来。
青衣人忽而笑道：“猴儿精，你既然怕我，又来做甚，送死么？”小老头儿面红耳赤，怒道：“怕你祖宗，老子为天下人除害，什么也不怕。”青衣人笑道：“若是好汉，站着别动。”说着又进一步，小老头儿不由得又退两步，但觉心跳如雷，血往上涌，忍不住高叫道：“老笨熊，动手。”
叫罢不见动静，举目望去，巨汉站在峰顶，呆如木鸡，小老头儿焦急起来，叫道：“老笨熊，愣着做甚，先下手为强。”那巨汉张耳倾听，面露古怪之色，忽地张嘴大叫，小老头儿见他嘴巴大开大合，耳边却是狂风呼啸，听不到只言片语，不由得心中奇怪，目光一转，忽见青衣人面露冷笑，顿时心中咯噔一下，暗道：“糟糕，这厮神通不减当年，不知用了什么邪法，竟将我二人隔开，我听不见老笨熊说话，老笨熊也听不见我。山泽通气，始见威力，一旦声气不通，威力岂不减了一半。一着失算，满盘皆输，莫非我和老笨熊此番竟是肉包子打狗，有来无回？”想着暗悔莽撞，不待援兵齐至，轻举妄动。
陆渐不知这其中玄妙，见那小老头儿忽而烦躁，忽而愤怒，忽而犹豫，忽而沮丧，脸色瞬息数变。正觉奇怪，忽听耳旁一声闷哼，转头望去，那青衣人脸上腾起一股青气，眉间发黑，身子摇晃数下，蓦地两腮鼓起，噗地喷出一口鲜血。
陆渐大惊，伸手将他扶住，急道：“你怎么了？”那小老头儿却是一呆，蓦地转惊为喜，哈哈大笑：“妙极，妙极，你果真未脱天劫，天人合一，万物相谐，你一团杀气，又怎能合天地，谐万物，不遭天劫，才是奇怪。哈哈，可笑你虚张声势，几乎将老夫骗过。”
青衣人挣了一下，但觉五内俱焚，全身气血沸了也似，不由叹了口气，苦笑道：“不想造化弄人，竟死在你猴儿精手里。”
小老头儿面露狞笑，向陆渐一瞪眼：“臭小子，不要多管闲事，快快闪开，误伤了你，可不是玩儿的。”
陆渐越听越怒，他对青衣人极有好感，心想他是谷缜的师父，与自己的长辈无异，长辈有难，岂有袖手旁观的道理。当下将身一挺，冷笑道：“你二人乘人之危，落井下石，不嫌可耻么？”小老头儿大怒，吹起胡子，喝道：“你小娃儿懂什么，再不滚开，我便代你爹娘教训你了。”
陆渐一言不发，将那青年人扶到一旁，足下不丁不八，双手撑腰，瞪眼喝，显出“惟我独尊之相”，气势盈张，小老头儿远在十余丈之外，也能知觉，心大惊：“这小娃儿什么来历？好了得的气势。”忽见陆渐左手一圈，右拳击向田，霎时禾苗颓倒，霍的一声，泥水激荡，化为丈高水墙，遮天蔽日，压了过来。
小老头儿不胜骇异，这一拳威力虽大，却不似青衣人神通诡谲，来去均无征兆，水墙一起，小老头儿便向后掠，避开泥水，大喝一声：“动手。”
陆渐耳边只有巨汉纵声大笑，笑声未绝，便听青衣人涩声道：“当心。”陆渐未知何意，忽觉恶风压顶，陆渐挥拳急扫，夺的一声，一块巨石斜斜弹出，陆渐倒退两步，半个身子几乎失了知觉。抬眼望去，那巨汉双手各举一块巨石，呼呼两下，一前一后掷将过来。每块巨石均逾百斤，乘高下坠，其势不下万钧。陆渐纵有金刚神力，也不敢硬接，背起青衣人，正要躲闪，却听青衣人叹了口气，道：“躲不开的。”
陆渐此时进退趋止，如鬼如魅，闻言不以为意，一躬身，早已横掠数丈，这当儿，便听一声巨响，后面石块快过前石，将落未落之际，当空一撞，双双化为千百碎块，崩裂四溅，笼罩十丈方圆。那碎石强劲绝伦，胜于箭镞火铳，陆渐忙乱中避开大半，仍被几块打中身子，痛不可当，忽听青衣人失声痛哼，不由惊道：“先