Chapter 8 Chapter Seven: Ritual
It was late at night, Yun Jisang returned to his room with tired steps, and sat on the head of the bed loosely.He really wanted to go to see Zhuo Anjie right away, just today.Everything that happened made him physically and mentally exhausted, and the internal injuries that had been dormant for a long time also raged again.The sharp pain spread along the Tianfu acupoint in the lung meridian of hand Taiyin, and when he reached the Yunmen acupoint, the severe pain had already made it difficult for him to breathe, so he had to bend over and take out a pill to take.
Feeling the power of the medicine dissipating slowly, Yun Jisang's body was finally able to relax again.In fact, he had already realized that Yiteng Bozhao's dying palm was definitely not an ordinary palm technique. Even the master's unique skill Jin Chanbu couldn't make him retreat from that sharp and strange palm. One can imagine the horror.The frightening thing is that the damage from this palm has continued to this day, and it is becoming more and more difficult to suppress.If I don't seek a good doctor early, I'm afraid I will lose more than just a right arm.
Without the dark consciousness of the six spirits, I am no different from ordinary people, most of my martial arts have been abolished, and even my mind is tortured by terrifying phantoms from time to time.
After nine deaths, there is a lot of worry and fear. (Note: Su Shi - with Fan Yuanchang)
With such a self, I am afraid that there is only a thread away from madness, so why should I solve such a confusing murder case?
At this moment, he has no confidence at all.All, just deep exhaustion and self-blame.
The drowsiness gradually struck, and before I knew it, a huge bell tied with a red silk thread began to shake back and forth in front of me, and my tiny self ran back and forth following the bell in vain.
On the bell there is a man with two heads sitting and laughing at himself, who is that?So familiar.
In a daze, he saw the figures of Zhu Changming and Chen Qi.
Both of them stood under the blazing sunlight, calling out to him anxiously.
Why, can't I hear anything?Are you deaf?
Turning back slowly, in the steaming water vapor, a white bag opened, and a woman with loose hair wearing a long skirt with bells got out of the bag and slowly crawled towards herself.
He stepped back in panic, suddenly stepped into the air, and fell into the endless abyss.
Countless grimace bells are beside him, falling with him, falling...
Yun Jisang was covered in cold sweat, tossing and moaning, in a half-dream and half-awake state, it seemed that someone came to him, covered him with the quilt, held his hand, and sat quietly beside him.
He finally fell asleep peacefully.
The first ray of morning light finally broke through the night of Pingan Town, and the darkness retreated silently from every corner of the house, quietly dormant, looking forward to the next coming.
Yun Jisang opened his eyes, but did not get up for a long time, lying on the bed, quietly feeling the warmth of the sun.
Such a clean sunshine, such a white world, as if nothing had happened.
Yun Jisang sat up, looked at the quilt on her body, and felt warm in her heart.Suddenly there seemed to be some noise outside, so he got up and pushed the door open, and as soon as he opened the door, he saw a dazzling silver light drifting past in front of him, leisurely but elusive.
"It's the senior sister who is practicing sword!" Yun Jisang thought in surprise, it had been a long time since he saw his beautiful senior sister practicing sword in the early morning.
Ever since Zhuo Anjie changed her sword name from "Zhu Ri" to "Bie Yue" at the age of eighteen, she has never practiced swords during the day.Yun Jisang only caught a glimpse of that beautiful figure leisurely wielding a sword on a cliff thousands of miles away in a quiet moonlit night.
Why did the senior sister practice sword again in the daylight?He thought suspiciously, but his eyes were fixed on the bright figure spinning endlessly on the snow.
The light of the sword is like a rainbow, and the steps of the sword are like a dance. Zhuo Anjie's figure is as graceful as a dragon, swaying freely and freely between the sky and the earth.
The world of mortals refines the sword of wisdom, and the flowing water crosses the spring stone.
The idle heart is like the moon, and the scenery is so self-aware.
Only take the gulls on the wave as a partner, and don't care about human affairs.
The piano is near the autumn water and the bright moon is playing, and the wine is drinking white clouds in the cold mountains.
A move of swordsmanship, a sentence of sword intent.A drunken dance, a song of joy.
As Yun Jisang interpreted, that confused and tired heart gradually became clear and warm again.
Sister...I understand...Thank you...
As if hearing his answer, Zhuo Anjie sheathed her sword, stood still, looked at him leisurely and smiled.In an instant, the beauty that changed from extreme motion to extreme stillness made him hold his breath involuntarily.
"Xifu!" An immature voice sounded beside him, and the fleshy little hands couldn't wait to grab his skirt.
"Ming Huan! You're awake!" Yun Jisang hugged the little guy in surprise, she giggled, pursed her mouth and kissed him vigorously, it seemed that she had completely recovered from yesterday's fright .
"Ming Huan woke up last night. I saw that you were too tired after you came back, so I didn't let her come over." Zhuo Anjie came over and took Ming Huan from his arms, "How are you, are you alright? "
"It's okay, it's just that the old injury happened again." Yun Jisang took a deep breath of the cold morning air, and stretched his slightly stiff limbs.
Zhuo Anjie habitually raised the wine gourd and took a sip: "Yu Zhenren told me what happened last night, you can't blame you for what happened to Chen Zitong, you don't have to blame yourself."
Yun Jisang shook his head mockingly: "Maybe it's because I've seen too many dead people in recent years, and I don't see them lightly. I'm not particularly sad about Zitong's death. I only hate myself for being incompetent. I'm called a wise man in vain, but I can't do it." Do your best for the teacher."
"The Sixiangsha case back then was even more bizarre and bloody than it is now. It can be called a murderous intent. Every step of the way was frightening. Didn't you solve it in the end?" Zhuo Anjie glanced at him and encouraged.
"It was different then, when I..." Yun Jisang was about to continue, but was interrupted by Zhuo Anjie.
"I know, did you have the dark consciousness of the six spirits at that time! It's just that you solved the case at that time, did you really rely on the dark consciousness of the six spirits? In the final analysis, you still have to rely on your own mind.
If not, there are tens of thousands of people who can learn the dark consciousness of the six spirits, why would Senior Gongshen accept you as a disciple? "
Indeed, the reason why Gong Shenheng accepted Yun Jisang as his disciple at that time was that he valued his quick mind, not sticking to the predecessors, and being able to draw inferences from one instance to create a new chapter, so he was his best successor.It's just that Yun Jisang's character flaws have always made it difficult for him to reach the realm of his master Gong Shenheng.
Yun Jisang smiled awkwardly, but her confidence gradually grew in Zhuo Anjie's words.
Indeed, what if there is no dark consciousness of the six spirits?So what if the skill is greatly reduced?I will always be me, one of the twin jades of the Ming Dynasty, and the successor of Gong Shenheng, the most wise man in the world!
Thinking of this, Yun Jisang raised his head and chest, and shouted to the sky.
"Xi Gu, what's wrong with Xi Fu?" Ming Huan whispered in Zhuo Anjie's ear.
Zhuo Anjie smiled and patted her little butt: "Your master has finally untied the knot in his heart, and he is going to show off his power."
"Dismiss the god?" Ming Huan scratched his little head, wondering, and asked himself: "What is the dismissal of the god? What if you can't get rid of it?"
"By the way, Ming Huan, did you see that ghost yesterday?" Yun Jisang asked carefully.
Ming Huan thought for a while, then shook his head: "Huan'er has never seen the end, but..." He stopped suddenly, and waved at Yun Jisang with his little hand.
Yun Jisang smiled slightly and moved his head closer.
"That ghost is a male!" Ming Huan whispered in his ear.
"Male?" Yun Jisang's expression changed, "You mean, that's a man?"
Ming Huan nodded her head vigorously.
"How did Ming Huan know?" Zhuo Anjie asked softly from the side.
Ming Huan exaggeratedly compared her small hands: "Those feet are really big! They must be male!"
It turned out that Ming Huan only saw the man's feet, Yun Jisang thought secretly.Indeed, if the feet are really very large, there is a very good chance that the person is a man.It's just that why does Ghost Winding Bell appear during the day?In the past three years, not every time the Ghost Winding Bell appeared would kill someone.The legend, as long as you lie down and don't look at it, you can avoid being harmed by the ghost winding bell. It is clearly hoped that everyone who encounters the ghost winding bell will avoid it.Master once said: There must be a strange reason for the abnormality of things.It seems that what I need most is to find out the reason for the appearance of Ghost Winding Bell. If I find out, then the murderer will naturally have nowhere to hide.So far, this is the first time that Ghost Winding Bell has been encountered in Wei Mansion, and it seems that we still have to go to the stone house where Master and Ming Huan encountered Ghost Winding Bell yesterday.
"Senior Sister, I want to go out and have a look at the place where Ming Huan met Ghost Lingling yesterday. Ming Huan should trouble you to take care of her." Yun Jisang said to Zhuo Anjie.
Before Zhuo Anjie could answer, Ming Huan said urgently in her arms: "Xifu, take Huaner there! Huaner, you can lead the way, and point you to see where the ghost is!"
Zhuo Anjie smiled and said: "You can take her there, I also want to see what is so strange about the place where ghosts haunt."
Yun Jisang hesitated slightly before agreeing, and the three of them walked towards the back garden amidst Ming Huan's childlike laughter.
Suddenly, Zhuo Anjie stopped and looked towards the side of the road.
Yun Jisang hurriedly asked: "Senior sister, what's the matter?"
Zhuo Anjie stared at the distant pine forest for a while, then smiled slightly: "It's nothing, let's go."
After the three of them drifted away, a pair of black boots slowly came out from the pine forest, and after standing for a while, they retreated into the forest again.
As soon as he entered the barren courtyard, Yun Jisang's heart throbbed inexplicably.For some reason, he felt that something extremely tragic had happened here.
The entire courtyard was filled with a desolate atmosphere isolated from the world, every plant and tree looked haggard and gloomy, and it seemed that deep sorrow was buried in every corner.
"What a sad yard." Zhuo Anjie said softly.
Yun Jisang walked to the stone house, raised his hand and pushed the thick copper lock, frowning.
"Do you want to open it?" Zhuo Anjie asked behind him.
Yun Jisang shook his head: "The keyhole is rusted, it seems that no one has entered it for a long time." After speaking, he started to walk along the stone house.When he came to the small window, he stopped.
The window is not high, but extremely small.Yun Jisang stretched out his hand and pushed it, and found that the window edge was actually made of iron, so he couldn't help being taken aback.Could it be that this is a prison cell?
He poked a small hole in the window paper and looked inside.
After a while, he looked back again.
"How is it?" Zhuo Anjie asked in a low voice.
"There should be writing on the wall, but I can't see what it is. I want to ask the teacher first, if the stone house can be opened." Yun Jisang replied, while hugging Ming Huan who was watching from the window.
Zhuo Anjie curled her lips, it was because Wei Sheng was Yun Jisang's teacher, otherwise, according to her temperament, she would definitely break in openly.
"Xifu, that's where Huan'er and Auntie met Guiguai!" Ming Huan pointed to a bush.
Yun Jisang carried her to the side of the bushes and observed carefully.
"It seems that this is the place where Master Mistress is hiding with Ming Huan in her arms, the traces are very obvious." Yun Jisang judged.
Zhuo Anjie came to the other side of the bush, and suddenly said: "Junior brother, look at the traces on this side are very messy." Sure enough, Yun Jisang found that there were many footprints on the other side, and it was obviously not the footprints of a single person.
"It seems that a lot of people have been here, maybe they want to find out something." He whispered, "Or..."
"Or cover up something." Zhuo Anjie continued.
The two looked at each other, and they both saw deep worry in each other's eyes.
"Xifu, Huan'er is hungry!" Ming Huan said with a bitter face in Yun Jisang's arms.
"Never mind, let's go eat first. I'll take you to the town to eat today. I know a very good noodle restaurant. The sliced noodles there are very authentic. I haven't eaten it for many years. I don't know if that restaurant is still there. Then The taste is really delicious." Yun Jisang looked nostalgic.
The noodle shop that Yun Jisang mentioned is at the west end of Ping'an Town, half a mile away from Wei Mansion.The restaurant is not big, but the business is good. Although it is not until noon, there are already three or four tables of customers eating noodles.A short but clever waiter was busy inside and out.Steaming heat came out from the kitchen through the curtain from time to time, and the room exuded the smell of chopped green onions mixed with soju.
As soon as Yun Jisang entered the restaurant, he said skillfully and loudly: "Little Si, here are three bowls of noodles, one plate of dried bream meat, and one plate of Guan Weng vegetables!" Looking at Zhuo Anjie, he said again: "Boil the pot again. Shochu! Hurry up! If you are slow, the young master will not reward you!"
The waiter in the store saw Yun Jisang, and his face showed surprise: "It's Master Yun! You really haven't come for a while, a rare customer! The shopkeeper is still talking about you! Shopkeeper! Shopkeeper! Master Yun is here Yes! You chat with the shopkeeper first, and I will serve you!" Saying that, he slipped into the kitchen again.
"Chewing (nonsense) what, why did Master Halo come to our store?" The fat shopkeeper with a Shanxi accent raised his head in a daze from under the counter, and immediately widened his eyes: "Master Halo! Four you!"
"Isn't it just me? Shopkeeper Xu, I'm going to entertain people today, you can give me enough food, otherwise I won't pay for the meal!" Yun Jisang laughed.
"No problem!" Shopkeeper Xu shook Yuanyuan's head, "Xiao Sier, add ingredients to Master Halo's dishes! Do you hear me?"
"Okay!" Xiaosi replied loudly from the kitchen.
Looking at Yun Jisang's words and deeds, Zhuo Anjie showed a gentle smile on her face.As my younger brother, I never put on airs, and I can get along with the people around me wherever I go.Especially the people in the market, they all welcome him very much.Perhaps, in their eyes, the junior brother is not a hero, nor is he a double jade of the Ming Dynasty, he is just a naughty kid from the neighborhood, a relative whom he has grown up with since childhood.
They couldn't help being unhappy with such a junior...
Ming Huan is not surprised that Master is popular, when she was in Korea, her compatriots also liked Master the most.I don't know how many sisters Gao Li secretly gave Ming Huan delicious food in order to get more information about Master, but unfortunately, Ming Huan's mouth is very strict!
Soon, the dishes came up.
Ming Huan looked at the noodles in the bowl curiously. Bai Shengsheng's noodles were thin and looked like leaves, very cute.She picked up the noodles with chopsticks and asked curiously, "Xifu, are these noodles?"
"That's right! This is Master's favorite knife-shaved noodles! You see, the noodles are cut out with a kitchen knife, so they are thick and thin, with sharp edges and sharp edges, shaped like willow leaves. This Xu's noodle restaurant The taste of the sliced noodles is the best! It tastes smooth on the outside and gluten on the inside, soft but not sticky, it is definitely the best in noodles! Eat it with confidence, the more you chew, the more delicious it is, your master and I are experts in noodles!" Yun Jisang boasted to her.
"Oh? I don't know if you are an expert in noodles, who brought you to eat sliced noodles for the first time?" Zhuo Anjie beside him stirred the noodles in the bowl with chopsticks and asked casually.
Yun Jisang was speechless for a moment, the first time he ate noodles with a knife in his life, it was the senior sister in front of him who took him there.I remember that my senior sister was already an out-and-out glutton at that time, and today I actually came to play a sword in Zhuomen, and let my senior sister see my jokes.
After Zhuo Anjie stabbed Yun Jisang, she said with a smile to Ming: "Huan'er, when cutting noodles with a knife, it is important that the knife does not leave the surface, and the surface does not leave the knife. When the chef slices the noodles, he holds the dough in one hand and the knife in the other. Chasing the moon like shooting stars in the soup pot! Chasing! Chasing! One knife chases one knife, one leaf after another, the face leaves fall into the boiling soup pot, like whitebait swimming in water, it is really beautiful! Do you know, when I was with your master ..."
Yun Jisang watched the senior sister explain the origin of the knife-shaved noodles to Ming Huan with great interest, and couldn't help showing a knowing smile.When I was a child, my senior sister took my hand and stole her master's money to eat noodles. The two children were both fascinated and admired by the chef's superb knife skills when he sliced noodles.I remember that at that time, the senior sister vowed to create a "Swordsmanship of Slicing Noodles", which can not only kill the enemy, but also cut delicious noodles.I was also very enthusiastic to help, and took all the noodles in the kitchen to knead the dough for her to practice swords.As a result, he didn't master his swordsmanship, but he was full of noodles.Later, the elders of the master's school found out and punished them, and the senior sister stepped forward again and took full responsibility.Until now, he still remembers his senior sister laying bloodstained on the bed and beating his head, saying, "Little Sangzi, why are you crying, isn't it just hitting the board? If you cry like this, you don't have any manliness at all, you are really useless..."
Sister, do you know that from then on, my biggest wish is that one day you can smile and knock your head and say: "Little Sangzi, you have finally become a man..."
Senior sister, am I a man now?
"...a good cook can cut hundreds of knives in an instant, which is enough to dazzle people, so there is a poem to praise it: a leaf falls into the pot and a leaf floats, a leaf leaves the surface and a knife is thrown, the whitebait falls into the water and turns white waves, The willow leaves ride the wind down the treetops." On the one hand, the heroine Zhuo Anjie finally ended her long explanation with a poem, mainly because the shochu was finally boiled.
Yun Jisang listened to her poem, but his heart moved, thinking of the fragmented poem Zhu Changming left before his death.
It's not like Huilan envious of flowers, just like Chaoyun in front of the hall...
I remember that Zhu Changming used to like to use allusions when composing poems. That poem has something to say, but is there any allusion in it?
Ming Huan muttered to himself Zhuo Anjie's 'Poem on Sliced Noodles', and pointed to a plate of dark green vegetables with his round fingers and asked, "Xifu, what's the matter?"
"Ah? This, this is Guan Weng Cai." Yun Jisang replied casually, still thinking about the poem.
"Xifu, what is it about Weng Caiwei?" Ming Huan asked resolutely, tugging at his arm.
Yun Jisang smiled helplessly: "Okay, Master told you, don't drag it. Guan Weng Cai is turnip, also called turnip or kohlrabi. Guan Weng Cai is a pickled vegetable made by putting it in a jar .understand?"
Ming Huan nodded half-understood, and then asked: "Then Xifu, do you have any poems to praise it?"
"Yes!" Yun Jisang nodded her little nose, "Su Dongpo loves manjing very much. He praised manjing in his poem "Spring Vegetables": Manjing's perennial roots have grown leaves, and leek buds wear earthen fists. If it is reduced, the rotten steamed fragrance wears the white fish fat, and the artemisia cold cake is slippery when drunk."
Zhuo Anjie had just finished drinking a glass of shochu at this moment, her cheeks were slightly red, and she purposely retorted: "It's really as good as you said?" Then she picked up her chopsticks and knocked on the edge of the bowl and sang, "Shut up behind closed doors, don't sigh forever. Mizuki Ninghui belongs to Xie’s family. Gou Ridge is uneven with residual dawn snow, Luobo is clear and shallow with dew and clear sand. Liu Gong’s spring is full of turnip color, Hua Yu’s melancholy is deep with alfalfa flowers.
Ming Huan didn't know what the good-looking aunt was singing, her eyes widened as she pondered the meaning of the poem, after thinking for a long time, she was still at a loss.Shaking his little head, he lowered his head and began to suck up the noodles.
This poem is Wen Tingyun's "Chengyuan Chushi", which is full of melancholy and melancholy.
Yun Jisang's heart was shocked: Wen Tingyun!Aren't his poems and books exactly Huajianji?What about Huilan?This name is so familiar, I seem to have heard it somewhere... Mr. Liu!In this poem by Wen Bacha, Liu Gong refers to Liu Bei who once planted turnips, and who is Liu Lao in Zhu Changming's poem at the tea party?Also Liu Bei?Or do you mean something else?Wait, old man Liu, it seems that the teacher once mentioned...
Badgers, wolves, and deer are not old, Tara is auspicious and always explains Zen.Badger, wolf and roe... It seems to be alluding to something, but I can't remember it for a while... Fengtai rides the three mountains of the mallard... Why is it riding the mallard instead of taking the phoenix or the luan?Brother Changming, you really gave me a problem...
"Boom!" It was Zhuo Anjie who tapped his head with chopsticks, "Stop thinking about it, hurry up and eat the noodles while they are hot!"
This knock made Yun Jisang seem to have returned to his childhood, he rubbed his head habitually, grinned, picked up the chopsticks and started to eat noodles.
The noodles were really delicious, even Zhuo Anjie, who rarely eats noodles, ate two bowls.Not to mention Ming Huan, her belly was so round that she had to shy her waist in annoyance when she walked, she looked like a round little red ingot.That cute appearance made Yun Jisang and Zhuo Anjie smile frequently.
When they returned to their residence, they saw a thin figure standing in front of the door from a distance, dressed in green clothes and wearing straight-sewn cowhide boots, it was Yang Shizhen, the housekeeper of the Wei family.
"It's Steward Yang, how long have you been waiting here?" Yun Jisang asked.
"The villain has been waiting here for half an hour." Yang Shizhen bowed deeply: "Master Yun, madam let me tell you, today you hour in front of the Lanxue tea house, the real fish is going to offer sacrifices to exorcise the master. Ten thousand in the past."
"You time? Got it, we must go then." Yun Jisang thought for a while and said, "How is the teacher?"
Yang Shizhen didn't raise his head, but bowed and said, "Master has been bedridden since last night, but luckily Madam has already given him medicine, saying that it's all right now."
Yun Jisang nodded, still secretly worried about the teacher's body.
"Master Yun, Miss Zhuo, the villain is leaving." Yang Shizhen saluted them again and left.
"It's cold today." Yun Jisang looked at his back and said.
Zhuo Anjie raised her eyebrows: "Yeah, what's the matter?"
"It's nothing, it's just that this Steward Yang has stood in the north wind for half an hour, and his expression has not changed. It's really admirable." A meaningful smile appeared on Yun Jisang's lips.
Zhuo Anjie didn't speak, but squinted her eyes and looked him up and down for a long time, making Yun Jisang a little at a loss.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
Zhuo Anjie shook her head and said nothing, suddenly smiled brightly, raised the gourd and took a swig.
Yun Jisang was puzzled at first, but then he came to his senses and felt warm in his heart.
"Xifu, what is fasting ceremony?" Ming Huan asked while tugging at his sleeve.
Yun Jisang lowered his head and pinched her little face lightly: "Let's go inside first, see that you were sweating profusely from eating just now, don't catch a cold."
After entering the room, Ming Huan still asked curiously, and Yun Jisang patiently explained to her: "Zhaijiao is the Taoist place, which is also the Buddhist ceremony I mentioned before. 'Zhai' means fasting. Before offering sacrifices, people must Bathing and changing clothes, not eating meat or alcohol, and not sleeping in the house, is used to express the piety in the heart. "Jiao" refers to sacrifice, that is, to commune with the gods. Simply put, Zhaijiao means that Taoists use a series of cumbersome rituals to communicate with ghosts and gods in order to Dispel disasters and pray for blessings, or save the dead. Do you understand?"
"Then, can you see Guiguai in the words of the fasting ceremony?" Ming Huan asked with wide-eyed eyes.
"Of course you can't see it. As I said, it's just a ceremony. Besides, most of the so-called magic spells in Taoism are just blindfolds, so they can't be taken as real." Yun Jisang said with a smile.
"Oh." Ming Huan nodded with a vague understanding.
"Go, go over there and play for a while, master has something to tell my aunt." Yun Jisang patted her little head and said.
Ming Huan pouted, and went to play with the stone ball that Zhuo Anjie gave her by himself.
"Why, but what did you find?" Zhuo Anjie asked.
Yun Jisang shook his head: "I just want to sort out everything that happened in the past few days, and I am afraid that I will miss something by myself, so I want to ask my senior sister to help me. Besides, with my senior sister by my side, I think The mind is clearer."
Zhuo Anjie glanced at him angrily: "Really, I didn't know I had such great supernatural powers."
Yun Jisang was a little embarrassed, and then said seriously: "I also ask my senior sister to give me some advice."
"Tell me, I'm listening." Zhuo Anjie said softly.
"Gulu Gulu—" A red stone bullet rolled to the edge of the wall, hit the wall and bounced back, Ming Huan hurriedly stretched out his little hand to cover it.She looked up.
My dear master and the good-looking aunt are still talking non-stop.She understood some words, but she couldn't understand some words, but she was very happy because she rarely saw Master in such a good spirit.Most of the time before, the master always sat silently by himself, and only when he was pestering him, did he show a little smile on his face.How I wish I could always see that smile!After meeting the good-looking Aunt Zhuo, Master's mood improved a lot.Alas, it would be great if I could keep doing this in the future, even if I don't want all these beautiful stone bombs!However, these stone bullets are really beautiful, Ming Huan tilted his head and thought for a while, but still felt a little heartache, so he secretly decided to keep half of these beautiful stone bullets, but I wonder if my dear master will agree?
"So, when Chen Qi was killed, no one had time to kill?" Zhuo Anjie thoughtfully said after listening to Yun Jisang's narration of last night's case.
"It should be like this. The key is the ghost bells in the house. It would take half a day for anyone to hang up so many ghost bells, but calculating from the time when Zitong was killed, no one has such a long time to commit crimes." .” Yun Jisang sighed.
"Will the murderer kill Chen Qi first, then hang up the bell and leave, and then come back to boil the water after he has found the witness?" Zhuo Anjie asked.
Yun Jisang shook his head and said: "In that case, the water in the bucket should have been changed. I looked around carefully, and there was no sign of changing the water. Besides, there was only a pot of charcoal fire in the room and no stove. Even if the murderer wanted to The water has to be boiled somewhere else, and I can't think of any way to bring so much hot water back for replacement."
"That is to say, the only possibility at present is that Chen Qi was killed not long after taking a bath, and the murderer left after calmly arranging. And not long after leaving, Mrs. Xu found Chen Qi's body." Zhuo Anjie thought.
Yun Jisang nodded: "It seems so now, but I think there should be another reason for this."
"So many ghost bells, where did the murderer get them?" Zhuo Anjie asked again.
Yun Jisang said with a wry smile: "There are ghost bells everywhere in this town, and it's easy to get some. Besides, these bells are small and light, hundreds of bells only weigh twenty or thirty catties, anyone can carry them with them, Just be careful not to be seen."
"If the murderer's lightness kung fu is high enough, can he spare time to do these things?" Zhuo Anjie proposed a new idea.
"Unless he can fly..." Yun Jisang's heart moved, and he remembered the rumor about Suni that Wang Yansi had said.
"I think you should have a good talk with your teacher, maybe you can find some clues." Zhuo Anjie looked at him and said.
Yun Jisang's heart sank, why didn't he know this?It's just that I can't bear the thought of talking to the teacher about the tragedy of the year.He clearly knew Wei Jiru's position in the teacher's heart, and because of this, he tried every means to understand the truth of the year from others, and avoided touching the scars in the teacher's heart.
"You are still the same." Zhuo Anjie shook her head.
Yun Jisang laughed at himself, he naturally knew his faults, but he never could change them.
"But that's okay, this is my Junior Brother Yun." On Zhuo Anjie's lips came a smile that moved his heart again.
Facing such a smile, Yun Jisang felt infinite confidence again.
"Zaijiao? Okay, I will definitely go when the time comes." Wang Zhenwu stroked his long beard and nodded.After Yang Shizhen left, he immediately turned around and went back to the back room.
"What do you think?" he whispered to the man in the room.
"It seems that there is a good show tonight. I have a feeling that the incident back then may be completely resolved tonight." The man said in a deep voice.
"Very well, Xiaomei must not die in vain. No matter who the murderer was back then, I will never let him go this time." Wang Zhenwu said in a deep voice, stroking the sword in his hand.
"I'm afraid that the real culprit will surprise you." The man sneered, "But you are right, no matter who it is, he will have to pay the death price for his crimes."
There was no sound in the room anymore, only infinite murderous intent permeated the air.
In the small pavilion, Tang Pan tasted the flute quietly by himself.
The low-pitched flute sound wanders leisurely between heaven and earth, as if telling a sad and long story.
"Brother Tang is so excited!" Liang Xideng came over, shaking his folding fan.
Tang Pan stopped, and said with a sneer: "Brother Liang is really in a good mood, he still shakes his fan in winter, so flirtatious, he is indeed the number one expert under Mr. Shen's seat, but I don't know what kind of tricks Brother Liang will use this time? "
"Mr. Tang has won the award. Mr. Liang is just a small person, not comparable to the pillars of the country like Mr. Tang and Mr. Wei. It's just that there are unforeseen circumstances, this life has ups and downs, good and bad depend on each other, and no one can tell who will die." Liang Xideng turned over the folding fan in his hand, revealing the seven large characters on it: "It's good to enjoy the shade under the big tree."
"It's good to enjoy the shade under the big tree..." Tang Pan snorted coldly, "Be careful that your big tree doesn't fall on you. The tree is too big, and it may be too late to avoid it."
Liang Xideng didn't take it seriously: "Mr. Tang was joking. The big tree that Liang relies on has deep roots and lush leaves. No matter how strong the wind is, it will not be shaken. It's just that some people are overconfident and always want to do the thing that makes the big tree shake. It's really ridiculous." Extremely. I think Mr. Tang, a scholar like you, wouldn't be so blind."
"Jingwei can still add to the sea, but how can a gnat can't shake a big tree, besides, this big tree is just strong on the outside and strong on the inside." Tang Pan said slowly.
Liang Xideng's complexion changed slightly, and then he smiled again: "I heard that Duke Wei is going to hold a feast in the mansion tonight, and when I see it, there must be a scene to watch. I like to join in the fun, but I wonder if Mr. Tang will be there? "
Tang Pan carried Xiao behind his back, and said coldly: "It's such a grand event, why is Tang Mou missing? In short, Tang Mou will naturally follow wherever Brother Liang goes."
"Isn't Liang Mouqi's ears blessed again? I hope to listen to Mr.'s elegant music again. Farewell!" Liang Xideng clasped his hands.
"No!" After watching Liang Xideng's chubby body leave, Tang Pan's face became more and more gloomy, "Could it be that this traitor really got any news? It was the same thing back then... No, absolutely not... ..." He muttered to himself, his face was cloudy and uncertain, and finally he hit the flute hard in his hand, as if he had finally made up his mind.
"Cousin, come, drink this bowl of fish soup. I just boiled it and it's hot." In a simple room, Mrs. Xu carefully handed a bowl of hot soup to the dumb servant.
The dumb servant showed gratitude in his ugly eyes, and with a "woo-woo" sound in his mouth, he took the soup bowl and drank it in big gulps.
Mrs. Xu watched from the side, her skinny face showed rare tenderness, and she gestured to him, "Drink slowly, don't burn yourself."
The dumb servant made a gesture to her and gave her a thumbs up.
"It's delicious. Drink more if it's delicious. I've endured a lot." Mrs. Xu said happily, then sighed again, and gestured to him: "Now I'm the only family member left. I have done so many things for you, and I don't ask you for anything in return. I just hope that you can live your life in peace. Tonight, the mansion will perform a ritual. You must remember what you promised me, and stay well. , can’t go anywhere, understand?”
The dumb servant nodded and lowered his head.
Aunt Xu smiled in satisfaction, but she didn't see the evil light flashing in his ugly eyes.
"Master, take your medicine." Xie Qingfang carefully lifted Wei Shengzeng who was lying on the bed.
Wei Sheng once took the medicine bowl, but didn't drink it, but just stared blankly.
Xie Qingfang tentatively said: "Master..."
Wei Shengzeng said vaguely: "What? Ah, yes, take medicine... Oh, I'm bothering you again. These two days, Chang Ming and Zi Tong have passed away one after another, which really makes my heart ache..." As he spoke, he began to be dazed again I was in a daze.
"Master, what's wrong with you?" Xie Qingfang anxiously persuaded, "No matter what, you have to take medicine first. Didn't Mr. Tang say that you will recover soon? If you don't have a healthy body, how can you contribute to the court? !"
"I'm old, I'm afraid I have more energy than energy..." Wei Shengzeng shook his head and drank the medicine in the bowl. "My mind is very messed up these days, and I always think of some old things, alas, it's not a good omen."
Seeing him finish drinking the medicine, Xie Qingfang felt relieved, and said softly: "Tomorrow is the master's birthday. After the birthday, these people will leave, and there will be no such messy things, so I can feel at ease."
"Yeah, if there were no such messy things, I would be at ease. If there were no such messy things, I would... be at ease..." Wei Shengzeng repeated her words in a murmur, his voice getting lower and lower, and finally not smellable.
"Really, the dharma altar has been set up. You can take a bath and change clothes." Yang Shizhen said to Yu Chen who was sitting upright.
Yu Chenji slowly opened his phoenix eyes: "Really, what time is it?"
"It's late now, there are still two hours before the feast." Yang Shizhen answered with a bow.
"There are only two hours left..." Captain Yuchen breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled slightly, "However, two hours is enough to do many things, is the fire for the lamp ready?"
Yang Shizhen said: "Ready, according to the real person's instructions, the fire source is obtained from the noon sun."
"That's good, so that through this ritual, I can shine on the heavens, continue the light and break the darkness, pass through the Nine Nether Hells, and show Wufu Jitang, Steward Yang..."
"What orders does the real person have?" Yang Shizhen stepped forward.
"It's nothing, I just want to say that you have taken care of me in Wei Mansion these days." Yu Chenji said indifferently.
"It's a villain's honor." Yang Shizhen said respectfully.
"It's the honor of the poor, to be helped by such an expert as Steward Yang." Yu Chenji bowed slightly to him.
Yang Shizhen's face changed slightly, and then he said more respectfully: "I can't deserve such praise from a real person."
“杨管家客气了。今夜的斋醮有杨管家在安排，贫道再放心不过。”鱼辰机又缓缓闭上了双眼。
杨世贞缓缓直起了身子，眼神凌厉地望着她，鱼辰机却再未曾睁眼。
杨世贞就这样在她面前静立了片刻，随即转身离开。
他刚刚走出屋子，鱼辰机的双目便再度睁开，唇边露出一抹意味深长的冷笑，随即重新闭合双眼，轻诵道：“然灯威仪，功德至重，上照诸天，下照诸地，八方九夜，并见光明。九幽之中，长徒饿鬼，责役死魂，身受光明，普见命根……”
诵声竟然中带着一丝寒意，让人听来仿佛不是在祷告，而是在诅咒……
这一夜，无星，无月，天地间所有的光明都消失了，只留下神秘而不可测的黑暗。这样的黑暗中，北风仿佛一个隐了形的女巫，不怀好意地将大片的雪尘抛洒在人们的脸上、怀中乃至脖颈的缝隙里，又桀桀怪笑着跑开。树枝在疯狂地摇动，但你却无法看到它们，只能听到阵阵嘶哑干涩的枯折声，作为它们最后垂死挣扎的残音。
是的，这是一个恐怖的夜晚，黑暗与幽冥主宰了一切。
云寄桑望着手中的灯笼，那团弱小的光明在黑暗的围攻中显得摇摇欲坠，似乎下一刻便会熄灭。
明欢的小脸也格外紧张，拉着他那只空空荡荡的袖子一刻也不敢放开，直到卓安婕将她抱在怀里才安心。
黑暗中，可以看到另外几盏灯笼也向这边移动着，只是不知提灯者是什么人。在云寄桑的眼中，每一盏灯笼都如同一个迷失在冥河中的游魂，孤独地蹒跚在这无尽的黑暗中。
在这样的黑夜中，云寄桑心中格外的悲茫。
在这个世上，人们都是孤独而痛苦的。自己在这些年曾经无数次面对死亡，又挣扎着从它的手里逃脱。之于短暂的生命，欢乐和幸福实在不过是弹指间事，可即便这样，人们还是要将自己有限的生命用于相互战斗、屠杀、谋害……究竟这是世间的本质，还是人类的天性？自己找不出答案，老师，你能给出解答吗？
小时候，自己总是天真地遐想着未来的种种，兴高采烈地盼望着人生大幕的开启，却对幕后行将出现的一切懵懂罔知。而当幕帷拉起的时候，纯真将被玷污，善良将被欺辱，勇气将被销蚀，一个孩子拥有的一切都将被幕后的残酷景象所粉碎……
今夜，面前的大幕又将被拉开，幕后存在的，又会是什么呢？
远远地，一盏又一盏灯笼亮了起来。那种耀眼的黄白光芒刺目地交织着，勾勒出一圈不真实的光晕。云寄桑知道，那是灯仪所备的燃灯。
灯，在道门中是照彻幽暗的象征。而灯仪，则是一种以燃灯为主要的法器的道门斋酿科仪。灯仪可分为金箓灯仪、黄箓灯仪，而此刻鱼辰机所行的，便是黄箓灯仪中的九幽灯仪。
几个身着素衣的女道童将灯一盏盏点燃，虔诚得仿佛她们不是在点燃灯火，而是在唤醒沉睡的神明。在这场灯仪中，她们任“侍灯”之职，其职可“景临西方，备办灯具，依法安置，火滔火燃，恒使明朗。”
灯光中，谢清芳扶着魏省曾来到法坛前。她今天穿了件鸦青色潞绸如意连云对襟袄，下面配条一尺宽大西番莲挖镶金沿边褶裙，头上围着销金箍，戴了羔皮手套，显得分外雍容华贵。魏省曾则是一身月下白的素绸长衫，披着银鼠裘，头戴方巾，看来很是朴素文雅。
梁樨登不知何时已久到了，他今日还是那身水獭裘，手里的折扇悠闲地摇着，一幅闲散从容的做派，此刻正和王振武低声交谈着。老镖头今日一身黑色的闪缎劲装，背着大刀，显得格外精神。
“云少侠，你也来了。”正看着，身后传来王延思那沉稳的声音。
云寄桑回头道：“王捕头，你来得正好，看来鱼真人这灯仪规模还真是不小啊。”
一身捕快服的王延思凝目望着那盏盏被点燃了的明灯，沉声道：“是啊，破毁铁图，罗酆幽阴，万神护送幽魂。王某也是第一次看到这般辉煌亮丽的九幽灯仪。”
“不只是你，就连老夫也是平生第一次得见啊！九幽地狱，嘿，生人真的可以和鬼魂相通么？”不知何时，王振武来到了王延思身边。此刻的话一改平时那粗豪的模样，灯光下那苍老的面容显得沧桑而忧伤。
云寄桑望着灯光下忽明忽暗，并肩站立的两人，心中忽然一惊，那天自己去见鱼辰机时，曾见王延思和一个人在小亭内争吵，当时只见那人的背影眼熟，此刻才突然醒悟，原来竟是王振武！
只不知这两人究竟是什么关系，又是为何事而争吵？
这时，坛场内已经按照古法以净砂按八角形铺设九幽之狱。女道童分灯后，已经开始按照九幽方位设灯树。灯树依九位陈列，树别九盏；每三盏灯为一组，三组齐燃为一树之灯，正暗合自一而三，从三至九，九九变化而生万光的至理。
黑暗中先亮起的是东方幽冥灯，接着南方的幽阴灯，西方的幽夜灯，北方的幽酆灯也接连被点燃，灿灿地辉耀着金黄的流銮。
在场的众人此刻都停止了交谈，静静地望着这神圣的一幕。那些燃灯在他们面前依照次序缓缓地，无声地亮起，那种深沉的悲怆，让每个人不知不觉中都生出一种苍茫的宿命感。
接着，东北幽都，东南幽治，西南幽关，西北幽府诸灯也被点燃了，当最后中央幽狱灯被点燃后，院中已是一片夺目的辉煌。
“喜福，好好看未……”明欢喃喃地道，显然被这美丽的景色惊呆了。
云寄桑想起自己在道书中所见，不禁轻声道：“焕焕万天，照明九地。内外朗彻，以袭其明。鸣金振玉，以和合阴阳，而生万化。”
卓安婕斜了他一眼：“说得倒是满好听的，点燃了这许多的灯，便真的能摆脱人世间的苦难么？不过多费了些灯油罢了。”
云寄桑苦笑了一声，不再多话。
一声玉磬声响，鱼辰机一身潮蓝氅衣，头戴芙蓉冠，手捧法笏，脚踏云霞朱履，在法灯的照耀下，如一朵透明的莲花，移步法坛。
入坛之后，这美丽的女羽士玉容如水，朗声念诵：“伏以太极太虚真人曰：阴阳成象，天地分形，昼夜既殊，昏明有异。所以清浮表质，九天为先圣之都；浊厚流形，九地为鬼神之府。九天之上，阴炁都消；九地之下，阳光永隔。由是幽冥之界，无复光明。当昼景之时，犹如重雾；及昏暝之后，更甚阴霾。长夜冥冥，无由开晓，致有沉沦北府，受报酆都，不睹光明，动经亿劫。是故天尊以无上道力，发广大慈悲，然九狱之神灯，救重泉之苦爽……”
随着她的话语，女道童配合着奏响了各种法器。院内光影缤纷，香烟缭绕，一时恍如天地初开，混沌又现，万生万象，鬼狱人间。
明欢的眼睛越瞪越大，心中却有些害怕起来，不由向云寄桑身后缩去。一边，王振武双眼似开似合，仿佛乎昏昏欲睡，魏省曾和谢清芳夫妇却一脸虔诚地聆听着。而梁樨登则将眼睛眯着，四处打量着，似乎在找什么人。王延思在梁樨登身后不远处站着，皱眉打量着他。
法坛上鱼玄机启白已毕，正在举玉宝皇上尊之号，以破东方风雷地狱：“……修建黄籙宝斋，兼点九幽神灯，奉用追荐亡过某人。恭以风雷地狱一切冥官，广赐慈悲……”
法坛四周，九名女道童配合着她轻轻敲响木鱼、云锣、帝钟、手磬等法器，同时轻声合唱，共赞天尊。
不知为何，今天云寄桑只觉得思维出奇地敏锐，听着鱼辰机那清朗的举号声，这几日在各种场合下所见那几首诗词竟然一首首浮上他的心头。朱长明临终前的诗，魏省曾的悼子诗，陈启的茶诗……交错的字迹一句句随着女道童们天籁般的偈颂声在他的脑海中慢慢滑过，似乎每一句都充满了难明的意义……
不似慧兰羡花间，恰如朝云伴堂前……慧兰，花间是指温飞卿的花间集，慧兰……等等，慧兰，那不是一个人的字吗？她曾和温庭筠曾有半诗半友之谊，更曾对其寄以丝萝托乔木之心……
没错，那正是晚唐女道，风流才女鱼玄机！
他猛地抬头向法坛上望去。
那里，鱼辰机正在举玄上玉晨尊，破北方溟冷地狱。她的口中念念有词，容颜如雪，神色森然，仿佛真的身处冰冷的地狱之中。
荒芜的院落中，一个高大的黑影披散着头发退出了石屋。他将沉重的石门缓缓合上后，静立在门前好一会儿，随即低声笑了起来。只是这笑声更像是一种压抑的哭泣声，听起来让人毛骨悚然。那人笑了一会儿，从怀中掏出一个红线系着的铃铛，轻轻摇了摇。随即身形一闪，消失在无边夜色中。
法坛上，鱼辰机已经开始行摄召之法，以明九幽之狱，破其幽暗，度化亡魂。她神色庄严地执着灵宝策杖，脚踏天罡，由南方起步，顺时钟方向绕灯坛一周，最后站定，用法杖重重地在地上一击，意为破狱。
她不愧为峨眉高弟，功力纯正，每次破狱一击，众人都可以清晰地感到地面微微一震。加之她法相庄严，容颜清丽，这破狱之举看来便如真的天尊降世，正在附体行大神通一般。
八声巨响，八方破狱。她又重新踏着步罡回到中央幽狱灯树下，手掐玉清诀，开始焚烧法符法幡。
望着法符和法幡在自己面前化为星星点点的灰烬，这美丽的女羽士似乎想起了什么往事，竟然有一瞬间的失神。随即，她又迅速地恢复了庄严的神情，沉声道：“收灯——”
于是女道童们又开始依次将八方法灯熄灭，黑暗中，那一盏盏缓缓熄灭的灯火宛如一个个生命的无声的谢幕，充满了难言的伤感和惆怅。生命的消逝对所有人都是平等的，这一刻，场中静悄悄的，连梁樨登脸上那一贯虚伪的笑容都消失不见，只余下一片茫然。
最后，终于只剩下鱼辰机身边的中央幽狱灯还静静地燃烧着。她口中默念法决，伸指轻弹，每弹一指，便有一盏法灯熄灭。转眼间，八灯俱灭，天地间便只余下那一盏孤灯在落寞地燃烧着。
鱼辰机站立在渐渐微弱的灯光中，轻声道：“请覆金莲之焰，恭愿亡过之千生罪垢，随落烬以俱消；万劫殃缠，逐倾光而书灭。身度光明之界，永离黑暗之乡……”
说完，伸指一弹，那最后一点光明也沦于黑暗。
便在此时，一声清脆的铃音在黑暗中响起。
“叮——”。
“鬼缠铃！”这是云寄桑脑海中闪过的第一个念头。王延思先前已让杨世贞将魏府中所有的鬼铃摘除，如今铃声再现，唯一的可能便是鬼缠铃又出现了！
疾风猎猎，从他身后高处飞速掠过，那分明是轻功极高的夜行人刚刚从上方经过。刺耳尖锐的铃声便夹杂在这风中，飘忽不定，似乎已化为那呼啸的北风。显然，那持铃者正以卓绝的轻功不断在黑暗中游走。
场内一片混乱，惊叫声和铃声响成一片。
“大家小心！”云寄桑高声喝道，同时对卓安婕道：“师姐，你护着明欢，我去老师那边。”
卓安婕的别月剑轻轻拔出了剑鞘，此刻正背在身后，以免发出闪光。按她的天性，自然是想摸黑出去，和这鬼缠铃大战一场。只是身边有云寄桑和明欢，让她在黑暗中不敢轻离，此刻听了他的话却道：“想的美，我和你一起过去。”
云寄桑知道她不放心自己，点了点头：“好，出剑时小心点，不要误伤了旁人。”
“你太小瞧你师姐了，管好你自己吧。小桑子！”卓安婕哼了一声。
虽然身处黑暗，可云寄桑还是可以想象到她此刻的表情，不禁尴尬地一笑。
“喜福，喜姑，欢儿好好怕未……”明欢在卓安婕怀里可怜兮兮地道。
“欢儿别怕，师姑在这里。”卓安婕将搂着她的手紧了紧。
“欢儿乖，不要出声，知道么？”云寄桑叮嘱道。
明欢听话地点了点头。
黑暗中突然传来几声短促的闷响，听来仿若沉雷乍起，显然是有人在交手了。云寄桑心中更加焦急，弯腰向魏省曾所在的方向摸去。一道微弱的光明忽然在黑暗中亮起，紧接着便是一道锐响和一声清脆的惊叫。显然是一个女道童试图点燃灯火，却遭到了袭击。
云寄桑知道，目前大家身处黑暗，而且没有人知道谁才是真正的凶手，轻易地暴露只能让自己成为凶手的镖靶。更可怕的是，一旦有人因为混乱而产生误会，就更容易造成扑朔迷离的场面，凶手下手的机会也就更多。
在这一刻，没有人是可以信任的。
他回头看了一眼，虽然无法看到，他却清晰地感觉到卓安婕正悠然地抱着明欢，跟随在他的身后。心中一暖，那无边的黑暗竟也再不恐怖。
梁樨登弯着腰，谨慎地趴伏在地上。刚才在灯火熄灭的一瞬间，他就已经离开了原地，以防有人偷袭，结果还是受到了攻击。对方的武功很高，但更可怕的是他的轻功。那神出鬼没的轻功在伸手不见五指的黑暗中对他形成的威胁是致命的！
额头的冷汗刚刚沁出便结成了冰粒，梁樨登却不敢伸手去抹，他屏住呼吸，心念急转：这人到底是谁？Yuchen machine?不象，她没理由来杀自己……唐磐？很可能！此人深藏不露，是个大敌！王延思？自己看不透这个捕快，只是他定是隐藏了些什么……有生以来，自己不知多少次曾经暗中取人性命，可被人偷袭却是第一次。虽然身处危机，但这种既熟悉又陌生的感觉竟让他有些心神恍惚。
一道锐风响起，没入他右侧不远的雪地，迸溅的雪花打到了他的脸上，他不由得闭紧了双眼。又是一道锐风，显然，对方也摸不清自己的位置，只能发暗器来试探。他暗暗向自己从未相信过的那个上苍祷告，希望暗器不要打中自己的藏身之所。
显然他的祷告没有起到作用，锐风突然从左上方向他袭来，直指他的脊背！梁樨登灵敏地在雪地上打了个滚，险险避开。他立足未稳，头顶上方又是劲风扑面！心中叫苦，梁樨登却不敢稍停，肥胖的躯体竟然瞬间使出铁板桥这样的功夫，平平向后急仰。便在此时，又一道锐风带着诡异的厉声，直奔他的面门而来！
他本能地伸手挡去，却挡了一个空——那瞬间，他似乎在拼命地抓住他那空空如也的生命。
只是不知为何，那个动作竟然显得那样的可笑而笨拙。
铃声在黑暗中飞快地游走着，没有一刻停歇。怪异地铃声动人心魄，像一首咒附在了恐怖之矛上的殇歌，硬生生地，邪恶地刺入人的灵魂中去。
明欢在云寄桑的怀中紧紧捂住耳朵，不敢去听。云寄桑心中也是烦躁欲呕，他的心灵本就受创甚重，更是不堪这铃声的刺激。黑暗中，他感觉卓安婕伸手按在自己的背上，绵绵的真气不住涌入体内，为他定住心神。
他平静下来，扭头向后看了一眼。他知道自己什么也看不到，可还是忍不住看了这一眼，他知道她就在那里。
感觉到他的平静，卓安婕把手缩回，用剑鞘拍了拍他的肩膀。
云寄桑抬手轻轻推开剑鞘，示意自己没事，继续向前摸去。又走了几步，似乎感觉有人在自己的身边。
“老师……”他低声地呼唤道。
No one answered.
他试探着伸手沿着冰冷的地面小心地摸索。
忽地，他感觉自己摸到了成团的丝线一般的东西。随即他省悟到，那是人的头发！那种恶心的感觉沿着他的左手蔓延上来，令人作呕。好在他在战场搏杀多年，见惯血腥，所以还能继续摸索下去。
“怎么了？”卓安婕在他耳边低声问。
“是死人。”云寄桑压低了声音回答，“应该是我们那位可疑的茶商。”
“梁樨登？”
“看样子错不了，只不知谁杀了他。”云寄桑收回了手。
“是幼清吗？”不远处，传来谢清芳略带惊慌却依旧动人的声音。
“是师娘吗？老师怎么样了？”云寄桑忙问，同时摸黑急走几步来到谢清芳的身边。
“老夫没有大碍，只是受了点惊。”魏省曾苍老的声音此刻略显沙哑，显然也受惊不小。
“幼清，现在怎么办？”似乎感觉到了他的到来，谢清芳的声音稳定了许多。
“我们得先想办法安全地把灯火点亮。”云寄桑回答，心中犹豫是否要拜托师姐去做这件事。
就在此时，铃声突然停止了，似乎那摇铃者已经离去。
黑暗中却没有人敢妄动，只有凄厉的风声在不断地驱散着死一般的寂静。
隔了好一会儿，一点又一点的灯火渐渐亮了起来，借着灯火的余光，云寄桑看到鱼辰机正伸指轻弹，正如同她熄灭灯火一样，那纤纤的玉手每弹一指，便有一盏燃灯被点亮。片刻间，大片的灯火重燃，将场中照得如同白昼。
众人又重新在灯光下现身出来，只是大都脸色苍白，神情狼狈，只是场中多了徐嫂，唐磐和杨世贞，却不知他们何时到的。灯光下，一身玄色长衫的唐磐脸色铁青，手中紧紧地握着他那只玉箫。杨世贞换了一身浅灰的长衫，此刻正垂手站立在魏省曾身边。徐嫂则依旧是一幅下人的打扮，手里提着一盏刚刚点着的灯笼，脸色十分惊惶。
倒在地上的尸体果然是梁樨登，致命的伤口在额头上，那里深深地嵌入了一个鬼铃。这位茶商睁大了双眼，显然是死不瞑目，手中的折扇却依旧开着，“大树底下好乘凉”几个大字此刻显得格外刺目。
“啊！”几个女道童见了他的惨状，惊叫起来。
谢清芳也举起袖子，遮住脸不忍看。
“这……这又是鬼缠铃做的么？”魏省曾颤抖着问。
“还不知道，虽然我们都听到了鬼铃声，可梁先生的死法却和鬼缠铃所杀的人截然不同。”王延思摇头道，“唯一可以肯定的，是杀他之人定是一位高手！”
云寄桑暗暗点头，的确，刚才听到的铃声诡异非常，但并不致命，甚至连明欢都可以忍受，很难说那是真的鬼缠铃，梁樨登死于高手之下倒是可以确认无疑，毕竟那鬼铃明显是被人硬生生击入梁樨登的额头的，没有超凡的内力和暗器手法根本无法做到。
“唐先生，杨管家，你们是什么时候来的？”王延思厉声问。“唐某来了