Chapter 18 Chapter 17 Black Stone Fire Order

It's really a narrow road!Although this Steward Liu was not as ruthless as Adjutant Zheng, Huo Xiaoxie was someone who Huo Xiaoxie really wanted to take revenge on.Seeing that it was Butler Liu, Huo Xiaoxie suddenly felt happy, snorted twice, walked up to Butler Liu, and asked sarcastically, "Why are you?" Butler Liu had a cloth strip tied around his mouth, unable to speak, he looked at Huo Xiaoxie with a begging face. Huo Xiaoxie smiled sideways, and reached out to untie the cloth strip from Butler Liu's mouth.Guan Liu's parents took a breath and said repeatedly: "Heroes help, heroes help!"

Huo Xiaoxie snorted, "Who is the hero? Who wants to save you! I want to ask you, why are you here?" Butler Liu said: "Good man, good man, do you know me?" Huo Xiaoxie didn't take off the makeup on his face, and he was dressed like a down-and-out kid, so Steward Liu probably wouldn't be able to recognize him right away. Huo Xiaoxie said: "Of course I do, Mr. Zhang's Housekeeper Liu! Everyone in Fengtian City knows you." Butler Liu said: "Hero, since you know me, save me, and I will definitely reward you!" Huo Xiaoxie scolded: "Who asked you to reward! Who cares about your stinky money! Tell me first, why are you here, and what's going on?"

Butler Liu said helplessly: "I took my servants out to do some errands. I just finished. On the way back, I was beaten unconscious for no reason, tied up and left here. I don't know anything else." Huo Xiaoxie felt something was wrong in his heart, and quickly asked, "What are you doing in this remote forest?" Butler Liu said sadly: "Hero, I have no grievances or enmity with you, so don't ask such detailed questions. Let go of me first, and then I will talk to you carefully. You all know that I am Liu from Fourth Master Zhang's house." Butler, just help me out. Whatever you want, just say it."

Huo Xiaoxie's teeth were itching with hatred, and he slapped Steward Liu on the face, scolding: "Old bastard, you are the one who is looking for! Tell me! What are you doing in the woods? If you don't say anything, I will do the same if others don't kill you. Kill you!" Huo Xiaoxie had a fierce look in his eyes, and he gritted his teeth. Housekeeper Liu knew that he was not joking, so he hurriedly said: "A good man, a good man, let me say what I say." "Then say it!" "Hero, in fact, this is all a private matter of Mr. Zhang's house. It's a shameful thing. If you want to know, I'll tell you."

"Stop talking nonsense!" "We came out to bury three dead people." When Huo Xiaoxie heard this, his brain buzzed wildly. He grabbed Steward Liu's clothes and said fiercely, "Three dead people! Which three dead people?" "Good man, don't be like this. Let me tell you, I said, it was Mr. Zhang who caught three thieves and killed them by mistake. Mr. Zhang was afraid of trouble, so he ordered me to secretly bury the corpses in this forest." .” "What, what kind of three little thieves, what's their name?" Huo Xiaoxie's voice trembled.

"They're all fifteen or sixteen years old. Names, names, I remember one called Lang Deben." Huo Xiaoxie trembled all over, loosened Butler Liu's collar, turned around and lowered his head, tears welled up in his eye sockets, bit his lips tightly, his heart pierced like a knife. Butler Liu said ignorantly: "My man, I have said everything, every word is true, there is absolutely no falsehood! My man, what I said is all about the shady affairs of Mr. Zhang's family, and it has nothing to do with me... Man, save me!" Help me, we have something to discuss."

Huo Xiaoxie roared violently: "Save your mother's cunt, I want your life!" He took out the sharp knife that Shui Yaoer gave him from his bosom, pressed Steward Liu's head, and held it up high. , It will end Liu Butler's life with a single blow. Butler Liu said miserably: "My man, I didn't lie! Please spare me!" In Huo Xiaoxie's mind, Shui Yao'er's words flashed countless times: "You are a thief but not a killer, you are a thief but not a killer, you are a thief but not a killer, you are a thief but not a killer. I have always regretted it, regretted it very much; I I've always regretted it, I've always regretted it, I've always regretted it, I've always regretted it, I've always regretted it, I've always regretted it, I've regretted it so much.”

Huo Xiaoxie yelled in his heart: "Shui Yaoer, it's not that I don't listen to you, it's that I hate, I hate!" Huo Xiaoxie couldn't take care of that much any longer, so he raised his knife and was about to stab down and kill Steward Liu! "Hehehehe, I said you come with me, I can help you, that's right, hehehehe." A soft female laugh came from the forest. Huo Xiaoxie was stunned, the knife was held in mid-air without stabbing it, and with a backhand, he held the knife in front of his chest, fully on guard, slowly stood up, and cursed at the place where the laughter came out: "What the hell are you doing?" Who is it, come out!"

A white figure swayed in the forest, and a woman in white came out from the darkness. It was the "female ghost" that Huo Xiaoxie had been chasing, but this time, the woman in white didn't let her hair loose, but put her hair in a coil. Standing up, she showed a pretty face, her smile was extraordinarily charming, she looked like a female ghost, she was clearly a fairy descending from the earth. Huo Xiaoxie saw the woman's appearance by the moonlight, and was stunned for a moment, and softly called out: "Shui Yaoer, why is it you..." The woman in white covered her mouth and smiled lightly, walked towards Huo Xiaoxie briskly, and said, "Am I so like a water demon? Is she usually like me?"

Huo Xiaoxie looked at the woman in white, thought of the ever-changing appearance of the water demon, and thought that the water demon was joking with him, and said, "Shui demon, what's wrong with you?" The woman in white smiled softly and said, "Okay, okay, I am the water monster. Huo Xiaoxie, I think I like you very much, so I am willing to help you. You should thank me." This woman was indeed exactly the same as Water Yao'er, but her demeanor and tone of voice were gentle and seductive.Although Shui Yao'er has a changeable personality in front of Huo Xiaoxie, she has never become like this.

Huo Xiaoxie felt a chill in his heart, and became vigilant: "Who the hell are you! Don't come over! Stop! If you come over again, I won't be polite!" The woman in white stopped Yingying, and said with a coquettish smile, "Why are you so fierce? I managed to bring you here, let you find Steward Liu, and let you know what you want to know. You didn't even say thank you. Knife? Oh, I'm really sad." Huo Xiaoxie said harshly: "You goblin, don't pretend to be a water goblin!" The woman in white smiled again and said: "One mouthful of water monster, water monster's, no wonder water monster is willing to be with you, you are really likable." Holding the knife, Huo Xiaoxie gradually backed away. This white-clothed woman would have captivated thousands of men during the day, but in Huo Xiaoxie's eyes, she felt as terrifying as a deep poisonous pool. The woman in white smiled and said: "What? Are you afraid of me? Isn't it the water monster? Really, like the water monster, I can change as I want, isn't that the case?" The woman in white turned her face, then turned back, and With a mischievous face, he shouted: "Huo Xiaoxie, I'm a water monster. I told you not to leave the room, but you just wouldn't listen! It's a great experience, I'll teach you a lesson, so that you can remember better in the future. " Huo Xiaoxie was really confused, isn't this what Shui Yaoer usually looks like? Huo Xiaoxie stopped, and said indifferently: "Water monster, is it really you?" The woman in white jumped and scolded: "You idiot, idiot, there is only one water monster in the world, is it me or who? I just deliberately frightened you!" Huo Xiaoxie's mind was muddled, and he was about to move forward in a daze. "Huo Xiaoxie! Don't go there! She's not me!" Another woman's voice shouted loudly in Lin Zhongmeng. When the woman in white turned her head, she suddenly returned to her gentle and charming look, and said softly, "Yo! You're so fast!" There was a clatter in the forest, a woman in black jumped out of the forest, and jumped in front of the woman in white in three steps, blocking Huo Xiaoxie.The woman in black didn't cover her face, she was just another water monster, she pointed at the woman in white and cursed: "Shui Meier! How dare you pretend to be me!" The woman in white smiled and said, "Water demon, what do you look like, can you explain clearly yourself? What do you want me to pretend to be like you?" Now it is clear that Shui Yaoer is wearing a black tights, and the woman in white is called Shui Meier. The water demon said coldly: "Shut up! It's not your turn to speak!" Shui Meier smiled and said: "Okay, okay, no matter what, I'm helping you, there's no need to be so fierce when you see me." Shui Yaoer snorted: "Who asked you to help! When I saw Mr. Zhang's house, I felt something was wrong. I didn't expect you to be messing around!" Shui Meier smiled and said: "Come on, Shui Yaoer, don't you just care about this kid named Huo Xiaoxie? I'm just curious to see what this kid is like, hehe, he really is a likable little brother .” Shui Yaoer scolded: "Are you going to shut up or not? If you say another word, I will definitely be rude to you." Shui Meier said: "I won't steal your man, I'm just curious!" Shui Yaoer's face turned cold, and she rushed towards Shui Meier with the knife in her hand, and stabbed with the knife.Shui Meier let out a coquettish cry, dodged sideways, and scolded coquettishly, "Really do it?" The water monster didn't say a word, and then raised the knife to stab it. The two of them, one black and one white, kept jumping and chasing in the forest. It was impossible to see how they were fighting, only the sound of ding ding ding ding knives collided. Continuously. Huo Xiaoxie froze in place, all this happened so fast, beyond his imagination. Black shadows and white shadows were fighting endlessly in the forest, Huo Xiaoxie was completely dumbfounded and didn't know what to do, but suddenly heard a deep man's voice in the forest scolding: "Yaoer, Meier, you two are too much!" It's gone! Don't stop!" The black and white two suddenly separated, and they all ran to the forest and knelt down, saying in unison: "Father, calm down! It's our fault." The man's voice continued: "You two are siblings, why do you have to fight to the death every time you meet?" Shui Meier shouted: "Daddy, you should have seen it, it is Shui Yaoer who is unreasonable! The first move!" Shui Yaoer also shouted: "Daddy, Shui Meier is not bullying too much, and I won't do it either!" The man's voice scolded: "If you two dare to be presumptuous today, don't blame me for imprisoning you for half a year!" Shui Meier and Shui Meier clasped their fists together and shouted: "Don't dare! Daddy, please forgive us!" The two spoke at the same time, and just after finishing speaking, they stared at each other again. The man's voice said: "Take that kid named Huo Xiaoxie to see his brother's grave, and put an end to his thoughts! Shui Meier, you lead the way! Besides, Shui Yaoer, you and Huo Xiaoxie are never allowed to be together again. Evil entanglement!" Shui Meier said happily: "Yes!" She got up and ran to Huo Xiaoxie, saying, "Hey, Huo Xiaoxie, come with me, kowtow to your dead brother." Water Yaoer knelt on the ground and answered after a long time: "Yes..." Shui Meier was in front, Huo Xiaoxie was behind, and Shui Yaoer walked beside her with her head down without saying a word. Huo Xiaoxie wanted to talk to Shui Yaoer several times, but seeing Shui Yaoer's appearance, she forcibly held back. The three of them walked for a while in the forest, Shui Meier stopped, pointed to a small mound of dirt and said, "That's right here, there are three of them, one is quite a few. Yes. Huo Xiaoxie, do you want to pull up the soil and see your brother for the last time?" Huo Xiaoxie looked at the mound, it was really a hasty burial, not even a grave.Huo Xiaoxie was so sore in his heart, two lines of tears could no longer be held back, and burst out of his eyes. He knelt down in front of the mound and cried loudly: "Lao Lang, Lao Guan, little monkey, I'm late! It's me!" I'm sorry you guys! It's all my fault! It's me who killed you! It's all me!" Huo Xiaoxie vented her emotions, she cried so hard that she almost fainted to the ground.Huo Xiaoxie was lonely since she was a child, and came to Fengtian City to be bullied all the time. Finally, she had three sworn brothers who lived and died together. Huo Xiaoxie was the only one left.Huo Xiaoxie was so sad that she didn't want to live, she really felt that he was the only one left in this world, there was no one to rely on, and there was no sustenance in her heart. Huo Xiaoxie regretted thousands of times, if they didn't become thieves and became beggars, even if they could only eat pig chaff and dog food every day, would they still be able to survive together, and they wouldn't be where they are today.However, in this world, why there is such a profession as a thief, Huo Xiaoxie couldn't figure it out no matter how he thought about it. Huo Xiaoxie choked out of crying, put a hoe on the ground, her whole body convulsed.Shui Yaoer wanted to go forward several times, but she hesitated, her eyes were already red like apples, she simply turned her back, not daring to look at Huo Xiaoxie again. Shui Meier sighed sourly: "Poor, I want to cry." Huo Xiaoxie slowly raised her head, looked at Shui Meier, and asked in a low voice: "When they came, were they already dead? Did Steward Liu kill them?" Shui Meier said: "Don't worry, when I came here, I was already dead. I packed it in a sack, and when I poured it out, I saw that the body was intact, and it was a whole body. Do you want to kill Steward Liu for revenge?" Huo Xiaoxie said in a low voice: "No, I don't want to kill people. I'm just asking." Then he gnawed three heads at the mound, burst into tears again, and mourned: "Lao Lang, Lao Guan, little monkey, It's your elder brother, Huo Xiaoxie, who has no ability, not even the ability to build a grave for you. You are waiting for me at Lord Yan's place, and I will come to you." Huo Xiaoxie stood up, wiped away her tears with her sleeve, got up and left. Shui Meier shouted: "Just leave like this?" Huo Xiaoxie said without looking back, "Thank you." He continued walking forward. The water demon screamed: "Huo Xiaoxie! Where are you going?" Huo Xiaoxie said in a low voice: "Go where I should go." After saying that, he quickened his pace and sank into the darkness. The water demon screamed miserably: "Huo Xiaoxie, please come to me, please save me too! I'll be waiting for you in Shanxi!" There was silence in the forest, and no one answered.Shui Yaoer sat slumped on the ground, covered her face with her hands, and cried in a low voice. Shui Meier said calmly: "Shui Yaoer, do you really care about this kid? Sigh, what's so good about him?" The water monster didn't answer at all, just covered her face and couldn't stop sobbing. Two people came out from the forest far away, one of them was hidden in the darkness and could not see his face, and the other was Steward Liu! Butler Liu bowed to the man, and said, "Water King, can Water Monster and Huo Xiaoxie have a result?" The man said in a low voice: "No, there won't be a single sliver. The water monster is doomed to live a lonely life." Butler Liu said: "But Water Lord, aren't we being too cruel to Shui Yaoer and Huo Xiaoxie? At least Shui Yaoer and Huo Xiaoxie are together, and Shui Yaoer looks very happy." The man said: "Have you forgotten what kind of person Shui Yaoer is? She will kill herself and Huo Xiaoxie if she continues like this." Butler Liu hurriedly bowed and said, "Water King is right, but I forgot about that. Sigh, poor Water Monster was too smart when he was young..." The man said, "Shui Xinzi, don't mention her anymore." Butler Liu answered yes. That one said: "You have done a good job by Mr. Zhang's side these past few years, and you will come back in a few months." Butler Liu said, "Thank you Water King! I'm really bored staying at Fourth Master Zhang's house... Ah, Water King, do you have no confidence in Zhang Zuolin?" The man said: "Neither Zhang Zuolin nor his son Zhang Xueliang competed for the world's fate and wrist, and Zhang Zuolin is a short-lived person who can't live for ten years! Among the Five Elements family, the Fire King may still be interested in him, so let's let it go." .You also remove all the hook strings in Fengtian, so you don't have to pay attention to Zhang Zuolin's situation." Butler Liu responded, "Yes!" The man said: "Shui Xinzi, after we leave, you immediately ask Three Finger Liu and Qi Jianer to take the two boys who are still alive out of Fengtian, and go to a small town in the south to settle down. They are never allowed to return to Fengtian, and tell them Huo Xiao Xie is also dead. I don't want Huo Xiaoxie to worry about his so-called brotherhood." Butler Liu said: "Water King, don't worry, I will definitely make it beautiful." The man said: "Okay! You go! I still have something to do." Butler Liu bowed again, and quickly disappeared into the darkness. Seeing Steward Liu leaving, the man stood still and shook his hand. A small oriole flew out of nowhere and landed on his finger, squeaking softly.He touched the feathers of the oriole with his hands, pinned a small cloth bag on the oriole's feet, and said in a low voice: "Fly, go find Huo Xiaoxie!" The oriole squeaked twice, seeming to understand, and fluttered its wings to fly high. The oriole hovered in the air, looking down at the man named Water King by Steward Liu. The appearance of that man was actually the waiter of the inn where Huo Xiaoxie was staying, but in his eyes, there seemed to be a very deep pool of water. No snooping.It doesn't look like a shop assistant. The oriole squeaked and flew away. The oriole flew over Shui Meier's head, and Shui Meier was still whispering to Shui Yaoer: "Okay, okay, Shui Yaoer, don't think about that kid anymore, daddy is here, let's go back. " Shui Yaoer said with red eyes: "Why did Daddy come to Fengtian?" Shui Meier said: "Daddy didn't tell me either, you know that I always follow Daddy's arrangement to do things, it's not like you still have some freedom." Water Yaoer said: "Why did you lie to Huo Xiaoxie?" Shui Meier said: "How could I lie to him?" Shui Yaoer looked into Shui Meier's eyes and said, "Because of your eyes! You haven't killed yourself yet!" Shui Meier was indifferent. The squirrel flew forward again, passed through the sky above the forest, circled in the air, and flew straight to the side of the forest. It is not imaginary that the water king sent the oriole to look for Huo Xiaoxie. The folks in the old days did have this kind of bird training thaumaturgy.It is mainly divided into three types: Sparrow Holding Technique, Eagle Calling Technique, and Falcon Falling Technique. They are all used by flying birds to track the target in mid-air, and report to the owner after locking or directly convey the information.Most of the common ones are eagle chirping and falcon falling, and they are mostly used on hills and plains.The sparrow-holding technique is usually used in cities, towns and other places where houses and jungles are densely populated, where small birds such as orioles and thrushes fly at low levels, and orioles are the most expensive.Sparrow holding technique is the most difficult in bird training, very few people are proficient in it. Later, due to the development of communication technology, bird holding technique has gradually been lost among the people, and no one knows it in modern times. Huo Xiaoxie sits in the corner of a dilapidated house. This dilapidated house is the place where Huo Xiaoxie, Lang Deben, Lao Guanqiang and Yanhou often stay. He has been caught countless times by Qi Jianer. Huo Xiaoxie leaned against the corner of the wall, rushing towards them as if they were right in front of her eyes, and squeezed to her side and asked, "Brother, brother, what delicious food did you steal?" Huo Xiaoxie had a blank look on his face, and grabbed it with his hand, but it was in vain.Huo Xiaoxie lowered his head, pulled out the knife, and slowly pressed it against his neck, the point of the knife pierced in hard, and bright red blood flowed out. Huo Xiaoxie seemed to have no pain, and murmured: "I'm here to find you." Huo Xiaoxie held the handle of the knife tightly, and for some reason, he paused, took the knife off his neck, and put it in his hand for a look.The moonlight was like water, shining in through the broken windows of the house, and cast it into Huo Xiaoxie's hands. On the handle of the knife, the word "water" was engraved. Huo Xiaoxie grabbed the knife fiercely and said, "Shui Yaoer..." Immediately, the scenes of the days and nights spent with Shui Yaoer emerged. Huo Xiaoxie sighed, and said: "Why did I find you? Why did I save you? Do you still need me to save you? What kind of thing am I?" It turned out that when Huo Xiaoxie left alone, he clearly heard the water demon The son called him miserably from behind.But Huo Xiaoxie thought of his brothers who had died, so he hardened his heart and refused to look back. Huo Xiaoxie lowered his hands, and suddenly smiled: "I'm such a worthless thing, I just wanted to die, at least I should burn paper for my brothers before I die, cough, no wonder the water monster said I was an idiot. Okay, okay Well, don't die, don't die." Huo Xiaoxie was about to get up from the ground when there was a creaking sound from the window, Huo Xiaoxie saw a yellow bird parked on the broken window, and it was chirping at him.Huo Xiaoxie felt strange, stretched his hand forward, and muttered to himself: "Why, are you looking for me?" The oriole screamed again, spread its wings and flew over, circled around Huo Xiaoxie's head, and landed on Huo Xiaoxie's outstretched finger. Huo Xiaoxie was dumbfounded, there is such a squirrel that is not afraid of people in the world, probably it was raised by others, so she couldn't take her eyes off this squirrel. The little oriole was not afraid of Huo Xiaoxie at all, it hopped on Huo Xiaoxie's fingers, and then pecked at the little cloth bag tied to its leg with its beak. Huo Xiaoxie hurriedly reached out and untied the little cloth bag.The oriole squeaked several times at Huo Xiaoxie, fluttered its wings, as if asking Huo Xiaoxie to open the cloth bag, and then flew to Huo Xiaoxie's shoulder. Huo Xiaoxie dubiously untied the rope of the cloth bag, and saw a black stone the size of a fingernail lying in the cloth bag, and there were densely written words in the cloth bag. Huo Xiaoxie took out the black stone, but saw a character of fire engraved on the black stone. He couldn't understand it, so he hurriedly read the words written in the cloth bag carefully under the moonlight.Although Huo Xiaoxie is a thief, he is not illiterate. He can read a thousand characters when he is about ten years old.To be a thief is not to be a beggar, you can be illiterate, but if you want to reach a certain level, a thief must have a high level of culture, not only to be able to read and write, but also to have a good memory.Because sometimes, you don’t know a lot of Chinese characters, you can’t even read shit, let alone steal it, you can’t even find the door of a wealthy family, you have to treat the Three Character Classic as Tang Juyun. Inside the cloth bag was written in small print: Huo Xiaoxie, you have a predestined relationship with Yao'er, and Yao'er loves you very much, but unfortunately you are too fiery, and Yao'er is extremely watery, if you combine, you will surely turn into clouds and dissipate.But I love Yaoer, and I want to help you once more. The black stone you saw is the token of the Fire King among the Five Element Thief Kings to accept his disciples. I have always had a close relationship with the Fire King Yan Lie. When we travel around the world, we help the Fire King find These talents, so I have this thing.You took the black stone and rushed to Shanxi Wangjiabao Qingyun Inn before June 15th of this year, naturally someone will look for you.If you have this opportunity, you can become a disciple of the Huo family and practice the method of blending water and fire, which can save the life of my Yaoer.I entrust Yao'er's lifelong happiness to you, don't let me down.Water King Flows River. After reading it carefully, Huo Xiaoxie was dumbfounded.Huo Xiaoxie insisted on going back to Fengtian, but Huo Xiaoxie never expected such a big turning point in her life. Huo Xiaoxie looked at it quickly again, and made a silent note. Just as she was about to fold up the cloth bag, she saw a flash of flames in the cloth bag, which suddenly turned into a ball of flames, and burned it up in the blink of an eye. The oriole perched on Huo Xiaoxie's shoulder squeaked twice, spread its wings and flew out of the dilapidated house, disappearing without a trace, leaving only Huo Xiaoxie standing in the house for a long time holding the black stone. Huo Xiaoxie stood for a long time, until her body became cold, and then she took a long breath and walked out of the dilapidated room.He has been looking for the place where he broke up with the water monster, where can he see half a figure?There was no sound in the forest, everything that happened just now seemed like a dream, only the loess on the grave was especially fresh.Huo Xiaoxie knelt in front of the mound, gnawed three heads, and said in a low voice: "Lao Lang, Lao Guan, and Xiao Hou, you were all dead, and I didn't want to live alone, but someone entrusted me with the life of the water demon. I can’t let others down, otherwise I’m really a coward! Your big brother, Huo Xiaoxie, I’m not a coward, I’m not a useless idiot! I must live like a human being and bury you again! You, you can rest in peace Bar……" After Huo Xiaoxie finished speaking, shed tears and kowtowed three more times before getting up and reluctantly leaving. Huo Xiaoxie walked half a circle in the forest, but he couldn't find Butler Liu, so it wasn't surprising. It was expected that Butler Liu would either run away by himself, or be captured, released, or killed by the water monsters. Anyway, Butler Liu His whereabouts of life and death have nothing to do with him, so he is too lazy to pursue it.Huo Xiaoxie knew that she was alone and without the help of Shui Yaoer, she could never stay in Fengtian City for a long time, so she made up her mind and planned to sneak out of Fengtian City early in the morning and head towards Shanxi. On the fifth day of June of the same year, Wangjiabao, Shanxi. Wangjiabao was originally just a village, but at the end of the Qing Dynasty, there was a well-known Shanxi merchant named Wang Quan. After decades of business operations, Wang Quan's business can be said to be in the wealthy side of Shanxi, and Wang Quan bought a lot in Wangjiabao. Land, the Wang family compound was built, covering an area of ​​more than a thousand acres, with nearly a thousand houses inside and outside.Due to the wide variety of businesses in Wang’s family, including daily necessities, rice, oil, salt, food, housing, and transportation, the chickens and dogs in this area were driven to heaven, and the Wang family’s compound was densely surrounded by nearly a thousand merchants. For the homeless people who came here to make a living, this Wangjiabao has suddenly become a new town. The street facing the main gate of the Wang Family Courtyard is called Wang Xing Street, named after Wang Quan's eldest son, Wang Xing.Wangxing Street is the main road of Wangjiabao, which can accommodate four carriages passing side by side. There are many merchants on both sides of the road, colorful flags fluttering, and many tourists. The bustling level makes people feel like entering a provincial city. "Get out of the way! Get out of the way! Get out of the way!" Someone yelled loudly at the end of the street, and everyone on the street turned their heads to look, and saw four tall horses galloping towards the main gate of the Wang family compound, kicking up a cloud of dust .The people on the street hurriedly made way for the four fast horses to pass.The crowd backed away in a hurry, huddled together in a panic, some old people with inconvenient legs and feet trembled and almost fell down. These riders were all dressed as martial artists, with the word "Jin Yuxiang" embroidered on their chests, and they beat the horses desperately, urging them to run fast.There are local people in Wangjiabao who recognize them. These people are the martial arts guards in the Wangjia compound. Some people commented and said: "In the past few days, I have seen the martial arts masters in the Wang family compound in a hurry. Could it be that something happened?" "Ghost knows, not to mention the past few days, the past month, the Wang family compound has been mysterious." "That's right, Master Wang Quanwang hasn't come out for a walk for many days!" "Don't you think some strange people have come to our place recently? They are wandering around, doing nothing, and have no intention of leaving yet." "Yes, that's true! Two days ago, Second Uncle Wang's family lost an ancestral gold ingot, and he was clamoring for death. Could it be that these people stole it?" "Let's stop talking nonsense, Boss Kong is investigating!" These martial artists galloped past, and the crowd gradually returned to calm, bustling, as if nothing had happened. A thin old man who almost fell down on the street just now yelled, "Where's my money? My money! It's gone! It's gone! My mother, my money was stolen!" Everyone hurriedly gathered around , a kind person asked: "Old man, why is there no money?" The old man patted his body and cried, "My money is in my pocket! It's ten oceans in total! My mother! It's my family's savings! We came to Wangjiabao to buy medicine to save our lives! We A family of seven! Six people are waiting to buy medicine and go back to save their lives! How can I live! Save people! Catch the thief!” The old man was so sad that he squatted on the ground, crying and slapping the ground.All the onlookers sighed and comforted the old man. In a street corner outside the crowd, there was a disheveled and disheveled young man, sitting against the corner, slowly eating a piece of dry and hard pancake, watching this scene quietly with a pair of clear but sharp eyes .On the young man's face under his right eyebrow, there was a finger-length scar, which made him a bit more masculine. The young man took a bite of pancakes, turned his eyes, and saw a short man with a short crew cut opposite him, with the corners of his eyes slightly raised, he glanced at the crowd, flashed a gloating expression, walked straight across the street, and got into the room next to the young man. , in an alley more than ten steps apart. The young man smiled slightly, stuffed the pancakes into his arms, chewed non-stop, stood up, patted the dust off his buttocks, and then turned around and went into the alley beside him. The young man walked forward quickly, and when he reached a T-shaped intersection, he poked his head around and saw the short-haired man walking forward quickly with his back on his back.The young man looked around and saw that there was no one coming and going in this alley, so he walked out and followed the crew-cut man silently. The crew-haired man didn't realize that there was someone following behind him. He walked triumphantly for a while, turned a corner, and got into a narrower and secluded alley. He had just walked a few steps when he heard someone behind him shout: " Brothers in front, go slowly!" The flat-headed man was taken aback for a moment, then turned around suddenly, his expression tense.The short-haired man saw that it was a young man dressed as a beggar with a hippie smile walking towards him, and he knew that he was not a local. His face immediately relaxed and he cursed: "You stinking beggar, what do you want your grandpa to do?" When a person opens his mouth, he reveals his secrets even more. It is an accent from Hubei. The young man yelled: "Keep your mouth clean, who is begging for food! Young Master, I am walking with you!" The crew cut man snorted, "Hey, come together? Do you see what I'm doing?" The boy said: "If you see it, you have seen it. You are not a local. Let's follow the rules of the road—newcomers, half of the meeting!" The flat-headed man looked ugly, and cursed: "Stinky beggar, you still know the rules? I'll tear you apart, do you believe it or not?" The boy said: "If you have the ability, you come, you fucking, you come! Let's see if it's your unlucky luck or my unlucky one!" The man with the crew cut scolded: "Your mother is a pout! I believe in your evil!" He rolled his sleeves and rushed towards the boy while cursing. "Guo Laoqi! Don't be presumptuous!" A crisp male voice came from above the head of the crew-cut man. The flat-headed man was taken aback for a moment, and stopped quickly.A slender man jumped off the wall and landed next to the crew cut man. This man was twenty-one or twelve years old, well-dressed and handsome, if he hadn't jumped off the wall, walking on the street would definitely be regarded as a rich man. The crew-cut man Guo Laoqi quickly smiled and said to the man, "Master! Why are you here!" The man ignored Guo Laoqi, but clasped his fists at the young man opposite, and said with a smile on his face: "I'm from northern Jiangsu, my surname is Zheng and my name is Zeliang, and I have a naughty nickname called 'Small Buwei'. I'm new here, I'm offended! Dare I ask what the name of the brother on the other side is?" The boy hummed: "I don't have any nickname, my name is Huo Xiaoxie! Fengtian came here!" Zheng Zeliang's expression remained unchanged, and he said thoughtfully, "Oh! Huo Xiaoxie, what a word for fire. Dare I ask Brother Huo what's the matter of coming here so far away?" Huo Xiaoxie snorted, "You don't care about that, or you tell me first, what are you doing all the way from Subei?" Guo Laoqi said to Zheng Zeliang: "Eldest Young Master, let me go up and kill him. He has never even heard of your nickname, so he must be an idiot." Zheng Zeliang still ignored Guo Laoqi, and said to Huo Xiaoxie: "Oh! Since everyone has something to do here, let's stop talking about it, hehe, Brother Huo, when we meet for the first time, let's not divide it in half according to any rules. It’s all yours, count it as my gift to Brother Huo.” Guo Laoqi's face was displeased, and he said: "Young master, you can't!" Zheng Zeliang tilted his head slightly, and said to Guo Laoqi: "How many times have I told you that stealing is not allowed here, which finger is itching for you? Chop it off yourself." Guo Laoqi's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly said: "Eldest young master calm down, the younger one is wrong! I beg you to spare the younger one!" Zheng Zeliang snorted, "Then give Brother Huo all the things you stole!" With cold sweat on his face, Guo Laoqi took out a small cloth bag from his pocket and threw it at Huo Xiaoxie.Huo Xiaoxie reached out to take it, squeezed it, there were about ten oceans in the bag.Huo Xiaoxie put away the cloth bag and said, "Since Brother Zheng is so generous, then I'm not welcome! Let's take a step first, and we'll meet later." After Huo Xiaoxie finished speaking, he smiled at Zheng Zeliang and Guo Laoqi, turned around and quickly left without a trace. Guo Laoqi was so angry that he gritted his teeth and cursed: "You are so arrogant! Young master, we are in northern Jiangsu. Which thief heard your name and wouldn't retreat three feet. Today, this little bastard is too arrogant, too arrogant! I It doesn't matter if you are a little angry, but you can't lose your prestige!" Zheng Zeliang smiled lightly and said: "Guo Laoqi, this is not Subei, and we are not here to steal. Wangjiabao has gathered many masters of stealing. Don't underestimate the strangers here, even if it is a beggar. You look like a boy." He said, his face turned cold, but he still smiled, and said lightly, "Guo Lao Qi, if you dare to steal things with your hands again, I will chop off your remaining six fingers at once. !" Guo Laoqi looked at the palm of his hand. He only had three fingers on his left and right hands. His face was ashen, and he nodded like he was smashing garlic and said, "Young master, I dare not kill me! Don't worry, if I dare to steal again, I will take my own head." Chop it off! I will continue to inquire about the Qingyun Inn!" Zheng Zeliang said to himself: "It seems that there are still ten days left, that is, the fifteenth day of June. We have been here for more than ten days, but we haven't even seen the Qingyun Inn. Could it be that this is the first pass?" Huo Xiaoxie walked quickly with the cloth bag filled with ocean, and when he arrived at a sparsely populated place, he checked that there was no one following behind him, and then he was relieved, and found a haystack and burrowed in.Huo Xiaoxie understood that just now it was a chance to win, it was really a fluke, if it hadn't been for the son named Zheng Zeliang, he probably wouldn't have been the opponent of Guo Laoqi. It took Huo Xiaoxie nearly two months to travel from Fengtian to Shanxi, and it took Huo Xiaoxie all the way. Not only was she penniless, but she also had to walk for the first time. Needless to say, the hardships involved.为了能够提早几天赶到山西王家堡，最后几天更是连日奔波，顾不上冷暖饥饿，弄的自己和乞丐一般，才提前了十天，于六月初五赶到。但凡做贼的人，都有个好习惯，除非特别叮嘱过，一般赶早不赶点，说是六月十五到，一定要提前到达，以做好准备。火小邪知道来山西王家堡事关重大，自然不敢怠慢。火小邪能这样想，这天下收到黑石火令的贼人，手段比火小邪只怕更高，哪个想不到？所以无不提前赶来！那个郑则良是苏北贼道里响当当的人物，更比火小邪早了十天，就到了王家堡，一直窝在普通客栈中，默默寻找青云客栈的下落。 火小邪刚到王家堡，就看到郭老七偷老汉的东西，心中一口气实在咽不下去。他尽管从小做贼，但十分遵从奉天城“荣行”中的老旧规矩——三不偷。所谓三不偷是指，救命钱不偷，孤儿寡妇钱不偷，砍头钱不偷。救命钱和孤儿寡妇钱容易理解，砍头钱乃是指有的犯人被当街处决也有亲戚朋友收尸的时候，会在尸体手中、嘴里、衣兜中放几个钱，根据家境贫富状况，有多有少，乃是指望着死者能投个好胎，以后能生在富贵人家。还有一种砍头钱，是指有人不幸从高处坠落、被车马撞死等等全身流血的暴毙，死的时候身上带着的钱，特别是粘了死人血液的钱。偷这种砍头钱，乃是妨碍别人转世投胎，必遭阴魂怨恨，所以偷不得。 郭老七偷那老汉的钱，就是偷救命钱。火小邪最看不起的就是这种。那老汉面如菜色，衣着破旧，一副病泱泱、苦命的样子，还小心翼翼的护着怀中钱袋，是个人都看得出来，这个人处境极为糟糕，身上带了一些银钱。换了火小邪在奉天当贼的时候，见到这种老汉都躲的远远的，绝不会动他分毫，而一到王家堡就看到郭老七如此无贼德无贼耻，真是气不打一处来，心想还有这么不要脸狗贼，八成是个“贱粽”。“贱粽”是旧时东北一带“荣行”里骂人的说法，是骂有的贼人，刚刚学会偷东西不久，专门干“三不偷”的事情，这些贼人往往好吃懒做，坑蒙拐骗，又嫖又赌，恶习满满，还不懂“荣行”规矩，必将脸腐身烂而死。 贼和贼之间也是互相瞧不起的，照样分成三六九等，有正宗和野路子之分，也不是会偷东西的人都敢称自己是“荣行”。火小邪的老大齐建二，尽管也是一身恶习，却是三指刘正二八经收入堂下的弟子，算得上奉天城的正宗“荣行”，对“荣行”的规矩看的比命还重要。齐建二带着火小邪他们暴打“贱粽”，乃至于剁了“贱粽”的手指的事情，一年中怎么都有个二三次。 郭老七偷老汉的手段，并不新鲜，火小邪十分精熟，在贼术中称之为“大步颠”。“大步颠”是说要偷的“马儿”做出摔跤、跳跃、蹬梯上楼这些比较大的动作时，下手去偷，这时候人体与衣物之间的空隙较大，注意力比较分散，容易下手，但时机稍纵即逝。还有“小步颠”，是说“马儿”在慢慢行走或站立时，有转弯、弯腰、咳嗽、捡东西等幅度较小的动作时下手，“小步颠”时机较多，更重视手法。 火小邪跟着郭老七，郭老七浑然不觉，最开始火小邪以为这个“贱粽”没什么本事，大可用贼道规矩吓唬吓唬他。谁知郭老七动了杀机，准备对火小邪下手之时，火小邪顿时看出来这个郭老七恐怕更擅长动武杀人，而不是偷盗，惊出一身冷汗。好在郑则良及时现身，止住郭老七，要不火小邪初到王家堡，就要载个大跟头。 火小邪在草堆中把布袋里的大洋倒出来，除了十块完整的大洋以外，还有七八枚民国通宝（铜币，云南东川铸币，一枚民国通宝相当于十铜钱）。火小邪嘿嘿笑了声，自言自语道：“老头，算你走运，碰到我啦！这几个小钱打赏给我吧，算是个谢礼！”说着火小邪把那七八枚民国通宝取出塞入怀中，其余大洋依旧放入袋子里。 大街上丢了钱的老汉当街哭了半天之后，被人扶起，搀扶到街边台阶上坐下。那老汉面色惨白，哭倒是不哭了，可行若痴傻，嘴巴不停颤动，连话都说不出来，呆呆的在台阶上坐着。 有几个好心人凑了几十个铜钱，塞给了老汉，并让这老汉去找王家堡孔镖头报案，说不定还有追回的可能。说白了，这都只是安慰，旧时被人偷窃了钱财，除非当场抓到，才可能要的回来，否则钱一离身，极难有追回的可能。 老汉失魂落魄的拿了钱，喃喃称了几声谢。众人见暂时安抚住了老汉，渐渐散去。 老汉又坐了片刻，才站起身一步一颤的向前走去，刚走了没几步，一个乞丐打扮的少年急急走来，迎面撞上老汉，生生把老汉撞倒在地。 那乞丐骂道：“老头，你走路是不看路啊。”说罢也不搀扶，拔腿就跑。 老汉这个时候根本就生不出气，只能慢慢从地上爬起，拍了拍身上的灰尘。可这老汉的手拍在身上，却停住了，随即剧烈颤抖起来。老汉将手探入怀中，竟摸出一个钱袋，正是自己刚才丢掉的那个。 老汉慌忙把钱袋打开，摸了摸里面的大洋，一块不少，还有一张纸条塞在里面。老汉把纸条取出，展开了一看，纸条上用黑炭写着：“帮你要回来了。下次小心！我没钱吃饭，少的几个钱算你赏我的！”这老汉看了纸条，四下张望，可撞上自己的那个乞丐，早就不见了踪影。 老汉哭道：“好人啊！恩公啊！救苦救难观世音菩萨！”老汉抬手擦了擦眼泪，赶忙快步离开。 火小邪躲在一边角落，探出头看到老汉走远，才懒洋洋的说道：“若再被人偷了去，我可帮不了你。” 火小邪抖擞精神，从角落钻出，打定主意，去寻找青云客栈。 火小邪身上有了七八个民国通宝，便找了一家旧衣店，花一个钱买了一身干净的短褂衣裤，又寻到一个水井，把头脸手脚洗了个干净，才换上干净衣衫。这一番打扮下来，火小邪终于不象乞丐，活脱脱一个省城来的商贾子弟。火小邪自幼在奉天生长，就算做贼，也是城里人，加上本身气质尚佳，这样打扮，自然比王家堡的乡下小子多了几分洋气。 王家堡尽管常住人口不多，但因为各地客商云集，所以客栈竟有四五十家之众，分布在王家堡各处路口要道。这些客栈规模大的能容二三百人吃住，小一点的也有十多间客房，东南西北皆有，彼此隔的远的，要从王家堡整个地界上穿行而过，走上一二个时辰才能到。 火小邪花钱吃了顿饱饭，便一路打听着青云客栈，本以为很简单的事情，却无论问到谁，都回答王家堡从来没有青云客栈。火小邪并不甘心，坚持一家一家的客栈进店寻找，问问客栈掌柜、小二是否青云客栈是个化名。可整整找了一天，问了不少人，仍然一无所获。 火小邪寻思着，莫非是自己弄错了，山西还有其他的地方叫王家堡？可想想自己自从进入山西境内，一路打听着找到此地，从没有听到还有第二个王家堡的说法。火小邪又问了一些外地过来的运货车夫，车夫也都说山西只有一个王家堡。 眼看着日头西沉，天色渐暗，街头人烟渐稀，火小邪心想，恐怕今天是没有结果了。 火小邪见前方还有一家客栈，看样子十分简陋，心想这种客栈倒是适合我这种穷光蛋，今晚就在那里住一晚吧，明天再说。 火小邪走到客栈前，才看清了这家客栈的名字原来叫“大道客栈”。火小邪会心一笑，心想：“大道大盗，这名字起的，不是招惹着贼来偷吗？也好，我是个小贼，住在大盗客栈，平升三级！不错不错。” 火小邪迈步走进大道客栈，有店小二迎上来，一看火小邪单身一人，又不是买卖人的打扮，便问道：“这位小爷，你是找人还是住店啊？” 火小邪故意拿出身段，瓮声瓮气的说道：“小爷我住店，怎么，以为我是个跑堂伙计？” 店小二忙巴结道：“不是不是，一看您就是城里的大少爷，里面请，里面请。” 火小邪大摇大摆的走到帐台前，一个微微发胖的中年男子冲火小邪抱了抱拳，一脸笑意的说道：“我是这家店的老板，我姓张。这位小哥，是住店啊？不知有几位？” 火小邪抬头看了看这家客栈的布局，寻常的很，没有什么出彩之处。房屋年久失修，角落里遍布蜘蛛网不说，屋子里还飘着一个股子酸臭味道。 火小邪明白这家店寒酸，估计也贵不到哪里去，便问道：“哦，张老板，我一个人住，都有什么房间啊？” 张老板一听，赶忙笑道：“呦！我这家点别看破旧了点，倒有两间上好的单间，一间都已经被人住了，还剩一间，一块钱一晚？你看行不行？” 火小邪叫道：“你真是见一个宰一个啊，这么贵！还什么有人已经住了一间，我看鬼才住！” 张老板愁着脸说道：“这位小哥，有人住了就是有人住了，我骗你做什么。你要是嫌贵，我们这里还有其他的客房。” 火小邪眼珠一转，口气一缓，问道：“哦，张老板，我问你个事？你要是知道，我就住。” 张老板忙道：“什么事？” 火小邪问道：“这个王家堡有没有一个青云客栈？” 张老板抓了抓头，说道：“小哥，你这个问题，还真不是头一遭听见，算上你，怎么都十来人问过我了。” 火小邪神色一紧，忙道：“怎么？都十来人问过你了？” 张老板说道：“是啊，什么打扮的人都有。” 火小邪啧了一声，问道：“那你到底知不知道？” 张老板愁道：“我从小就在王家堡生活，都四十多年了，哪里石头缺了一块我都知道，可就是没有听说过我们这里有什么青云客栈。五十里外的平成镇倒有个踏云客栈，就是没有青云客栈啊。” 火小邪追问道：“青是青色的青，云是云彩的云，有没有读音相似的客栈？” 张老板说道：“这个字怎么写我知道，在你前面来问我的人，也是这么说的。可真是没有啊，没有青云客栈。” 火小邪叹了口气，低声自语：“看来青云客栈就根本不是一个住人的客栈。”火小邪看着张老板，继续说道，“这样吧，张老板，你没有回答出我的问题，这个住店嘛……” 张老板十分恳切的看着火小邪。 火小邪从怀中摸出一个钱，丢在桌上，说道：“我就这一个钱，你看我能住哪里吧。” 张老板看着桌上的钱，面露难色，犹豫了一下，还是慢慢捡了起来，塞进袖子里，说道：“那，那只有住柴房了。” 火小邪说道：“行啊！那就带我去吧！小爷我不是出不起钱，是我就是喜欢睡柴房！” 张老板只好招呼着店小二，让店小二带着火小邪去后院的柴房。 火小邪刚想跟着店小二走，张老板在身后叫他：“这位小哥，问你个问题！” 火小邪哼道：“还有什么要问的，快问快问。” 张老板说道：“敢问一句，你们找这个青云客栈是有什么事情吗？” 火小邪笑道：“想知道啊，给我三个钱我就告诉你。” 张老板赶忙把袖口中的钱袋一捏，连连说道：“怎么你们都是些怪人！不说就不说，我也不想知道了！” 火小邪说道：“我可给你机会了啊。”说罢一挥手，对店小二说道，“走吧，带我去柴房。” 店小二领火小邪进了柴房，有气无力的说道：“就是这里啦，茅房在出门右手边走到头。” 火小邪看了看，说道：“不错，不错，你这个柴房不错！上好的睡觉的地方。” 火小邪走到干草堆边，一屁股坐了下去，见店小二还站着不走，说道：“那你就走吧，还等着我打赏不成啊？” 店小二突然谄媚的笑了笑，说道：“这位小爷，我有个消息，和你要找的青云客栈有关，你听不听？” 火小邪坐直了身子，说道：“哦？那你说。” 店小二说道：“小爷，这哪能随便说的啊，你给我三个钱，我就告诉你。” 火小邪骂道：“没有！你能知道什么，懒得听。” 店小二赶忙说道：“别着啊，一个钱，给我一个钱，我就告诉你！保证物超所值！” 火小邪略略一想，说道：“行，你说！” 店小二伸着手，猴吧吧的看着火小邪，说道：“小爷，先给钱。” 火小邪骂道：“谁还会赖你的！”说着摸出一个钱，丢给店小二。 店小二赶忙接了，连声称谢，然后神秘兮兮的说道：“小爷，我们这客栈里有两个单间，平时也没有人愿意住，不过昨天晚上，有一个找青云客栈的人，住进去了，就再没有看见他出来。” 火小邪一愣，问道：“什么样子的？” 店小二说道：“小爷，这又是一个问题了，要么您再给我一个钱？” 火小邪骂道：“你要说就说！信不信我告诉你老板去，看他怎么收拾你。” 店小二慌了神，说道：“别，别，小爷你可千万别和老板说，他会打死我的。哎呀，你怎么这么抠门啊，太狠了你！” 火小邪骂道：“你当我赚钱容易啊？要说就说，不说就走，你自己掂量，反正说出来我就不告诉你老板了！”火小邪抓店小二的把柄，一试就准，这多亏了火小邪在奉天城里市井中打滚，摸索出的识人相面经验。 在贼道里面，判断一个人好不好偷，要有“三道眼”，乃是：一看面相喜善富贫，二看身手迟重缓快，三看脾气冷暖愁困。象这种店小二是不是害怕店老板，耐不耐的住咋呼，几乎写在脸上，火小邪一看就知，一问就明。哪像现代的一些狗贼，以为人长的胖，就定会身上藏金戴银，皮肉太厚不敏感，便下手去偷，没准偷到个刚被炒了鱿鱼的厨子，体胖但身手敏捷，不仅偷不到，还能让厨子拿着菜刀追砍几条街。又没准偷到个看似粗苯，实则精细的悍妇，让悍妇五爪齐伸，抓个满脸花。 店小二连忙说道：“我说，我说就是。嗯，那个，那个客人，我也不知道是男是女……” 火小邪说道：“得，幸好没给你钱！” 店小二说道：“不是我蒙你，是那个客人穿着大袍子，个子不高，脑袋包的严严实实的，声音又尖又细，听着好像是男人，也好像是女人。” 火小邪挠了挠下巴，说道：“好了，我知道了，你去吧，我要睡觉。” 店小二笑道：“谢小爷打的赏，谢了，谢了，千万别和我老板说。”说着点头哈腰的退出柴房。 火小邪见店小二退出柴房，身子一松，躺在干草堆里，拔出一根干草棍，叼在嘴上慢慢咀嚼，喃喃自语道：“看来，我没有找错地方，青云客栈就在王家堡，只是没有人能一下子找到而已。这些和我一样来找青云客栈的人，都是些什么人呢？那青云客栈，又到底是什么呢？” 火小邪翻来覆去，琢磨了半天，不得其解。火小邪又累又困，拢了拢衣服，慢慢进入梦乡。 “火小邪，火小邪，醒醒。”火小邪在睡梦中隐隐约约听到有人叫他名字，火小邪迷迷糊糊的，还以为在做梦。 “火小邪，嘻嘻嘻嘻。”睡梦中那声音渐渐清晰，竟是女子的声音。 “水妖儿！” 火小邪脑子里精神一振，大喊一声，翻身坐起，四下到处观看。柴房里黑乎乎、静悄悄的，并没有任何人在。 火小邪从柴房窗口看出去，一轮皓月当空，四周寂静无声。 火小邪叹道：“又是场梦？唉，水妖儿，你在哪里呢？” 火小邪长叹一声，正想躺下继续睡觉，大道客栈的前厅却猛然吵杂了起来。