Chapter 9 Chapter 9: Poisonous Hand Medicine King
Both of them knew that Miao Renfeng suffered from the poison this time. Just hearing the word "heartbroken grass", they knew that it was an extremely powerful poison, and the eyes are the most delicate and soft organ in the human body. If it persists for a long time, there will be no salvation, so it will be better if it is cured as soon as possible.Apart from letting the mounts drink water and eat grass, the two of them didn't dare to delay for a moment. They bought some steamed buns and snacks along the way, and ate them randomly on horseback to satisfy their hunger.
On such a sleepless journey, both Zhong and Hu are superb in martial arts. Although they have not slept for two days and two nights, they can support themselves. The horses under their crotch have changed two on the way, but this day, they are already staggering. , Seeing that he ran any further, he would have to die on the road.Zhong Zhaowen said: "Little brother, we have to let the animals rest for a while." Hu Fei replied: "Yes!" He said in his heart: "If I were riding Miss Yuan's white horse, I would have already reached the bank of Dongting Lake by now." The thought of Yuan Ziyi , couldn't help reaching into her bosom, stroking the jade phoenix she left behind, the tentacles were warm, and there was a burst of warmth in her heart.
The two dismounted and sat under a tree beside the road, letting the horses graze and rest.Zhong Zhaowen remained silent, dazed and frowning.Hu Fei knew that this trip was uncertain, and asked: "Master Zhong, what kind of character is that poisonous hand medicine king?" What did you just say!"
Seeing that he was absent-minded, Hu Fei knew that he was worried about Miao Renfeng's illness, and thought to himself that although this person was strange, it was hard for him to be very loyal. He couldn't help blurting out: "Second Master Zhong, I'm really ashamed of how much I offended you yesterday. If the younger generation knew that the three of you are so righteous, they would have the courage to dare not offend."
Zhong Zhaowen opened his mouth wide, laughed, and said, "What is that? Hero Miao is a reputable hero. If my three brothers fail to save us in danger, are we still human? Why aren't you like this, little brother? My brother and Miao Although the hero has no friendship, there is always a chance, but you have never met him before."
In fact, a few years ago, Hu Fei met Miao Renfeng in the merchant fort, but Hu Fei knew about it, but Miao Renfeng turned a blind eye to the yellow and thin boy at that time.Earlier, eighteen years ago, Hu Fei was only one day old, and Miao Renfeng had seen him in a small inn in Cangzhou, Hebei. Miao Renfeng knew about this, but Hu Fei didn't.
But how could Miao Renfeng know that the newborn baby eighteen years ago was this faceless young hero today?
Zhong Zhaowen asked again: "What did you ask me just now?" Hu Fei said: "I asked what kind of person is that Poisonous Hand Medicine King?" Zhong Zhaowen shook his head and said: "I don't know." Hu Fei said strangely: "You don't know?" Zhong Zhaowen said: "I have quite a few friends in the world, but no one knows what kind of person the King of Poisonous Medicine is."
Hu Fei was very puzzled, and thought to himself: "I only know that you must know the details of this person, otherwise you can ask that Zhang Feixiong to find out." Zhong Zhaowen guessed his intention, and said: "It is that Zhang Feixiong, you may not know it. No , he will definitely not know." Hu Fei said "ah" and stopped talking.
Zhong Zhaowen said: "Everyone only knows that this man lives in the White Horse Temple by the Dongting Lake." Hu Fei said: "The White Horse Temple? Does he live in the temple?" Zhong Zhaowen said: "No, the White Horse Temple is a town." Hu Fei said: "I think he lives in seclusion, so no one has seen him." Zhong Zhaowen shook his head again and said, "No, many people have seen him. Just because people have seen him, no one knows what kind of person he is. Whether he is fat or thin, handsome or ugly, whether his surname is Zhang or Li."
The more Hu Fei listened, the more confused he became, thinking that since many people have seen him, even if they don't know his name, how can they not even know how fat, thin, handsome and ugly?
Zhong Zhaowen said: "Some people say that the poisonous hand Yaowang is an elegant-looking scholar, tall and thin, like a scholar. Some people say that the poisonous hand Yaowang is a short and fat man with a fleshy face, like a butcher who butchers a pig. Another person said, This medicine king is an old monk, almost a hundred years old." He paused and said, "Some people say that this medicine king is actually a woman, a lame and hunchbacked woman."
Hu Fei was confused, and wanted to laugh, but couldn't.
Zhong Zhaowen continued: "Since this person is known as the king of medicine, how could he be a woman? But the person who said this is a well-known figure in the world, with high morals and high prestige, and has never lied. , are monks, and they are not people who make false statements, all of them are convincing. Do you think it is strange?"
When Hu Fei left Miao's house, he was full of confidence. He expected that as long as he found that person, he would at least invite him to treat the injury, and even if it was not good, he would be able to get the antidote. At this moment, hearing what Zhong Zhaowen said, his heart sank Going on, no one can know what it is like, but who to turn to?After thinking about it, he said: "That's right! This man must be good at disguising himself. He turns from male to female, from handsome to ugly, so that people can't recognize his true face."
Zhong Zhaowen said: "Friends in the rivers and lakes also said the same thing. I think he used poison to kill many people and made too many enemies. Therefore, he was evasive, so that people could not seek revenge from him. But the strange thing is that he lives by the Dongting Lake. The White Horse Temple is not a very remote place, so it is not too difficult to find it."
Hu Fei said: "Has this man killed many people with poison?" Zhong Zhaowen was in a daze, and said: "That is impossible to calculate. But most of the people who died under his hands have their own ways of death, not because they did many evil things The Snitch is a local tyrant and evil gentry who is rampant. I have never heard of a chivalrous person who died under his hands. But because of his reputation, some people died of poisoning. As long as the poison is violent, the death is strange. It is all blamed on him, but in fact, he may not be responsible for most of it. Sometimes two people, one south and one north, separated by thousands of miles, were poisoned and died suddenly at the same time, so people in Yunnan said that the king of poisonous hand medicine came to Yunnan, and people in Liaodong But he said that the King of Medicine is haunting Liaodong. With such a publicity, this person is even more strange. It has been a long time since anyone mentioned the word "King of Poisonous Hands and Medicine". I never thought that Miao Daxia's poisoning would be related to him. Sigh , since it is the medicine used by this person, I'm afraid... I'm afraid..." At this point, he couldn't help shaking his head.
Hu Fei thought to himself that this matter was indeed extremely difficult, and he didn't know how to proceed.Zhong Zhaowen stood up and said, "Let's go! Little brother, you must remember one thing. Once you arrive at Baima Temple, you must not drink a sip of water or eat food within thirty miles of Yaowangzhuang. No matter how hungry and thirsty you are, you can't let a thing into your mouth."
Seeing that he spoke solemnly, Hu Fei immediately agreed, and suddenly remembered that when he accompanied him to leave Miao's house, Zhong Zhaoying and Zhong Zhaoneng's faces were not only worried, but also fearful, thinking of the "poisonous hand" of the medicine king. It must be a big deal, so that people like the three heroes of the Zhong family who dare to challenge Miao Renfeng, the "invincible hand in the world", are terrified when they hear the name of "King of Poisonous Hands and Medicine".I don't know how powerful I am, I really take things in the world too easily.
He went over to lead the horse, and said: "We are just inviting him to treat a disease, or to ask for an antidote. We don't mean any harm to him. At most he won't, so that's all, why kill us?" Zhong Zhaowen said: " Little brother, you are still young, and you don’t know the people in the world are treacherous. Although you have no malice towards him, but he has never met you, how can he trust you? This is an example, Liu He really has no malice towards Hero Miao , but why blinded his eyes?" Hu Fei was silent.Zhong Zhaowen said again: "What's more, this poisonous hand medicine king's Chou's family is all over the world, and many poisonous killings that have nothing to do with him are also counted on his account. How do you know that you are not a child of his Chou's family? This person is suspicious by nature and acts viciously, otherwise On top of 'King of Medicine', why is the word 'Poisonous Hand' added? Is this thrilling nickname easily obtained?"
Hu Fei nodded and said: "Master Zhong is right." Zhong Zhaowen said: "If you think highly of me and don't think my ability is low, then you will be called a brother. Don't be a master, call me so polite." Hu Fei said: "You It's the hero of the seniors, the junior..." Zhong Zhaowen stopped him and said loudly: "Bah, bah! Little brother, to tell you the truth, after my three brothers fought against you, I admire you very much. If you don't be my friend, Forget it." Hu Fei is also a straightforward person, so he smiled and called: "Second Brother Zhong."
Zhong Zhaowen was very happy, got on his horse, and said: "As long as there is no trouble with the two animals, we can reach the White Horse Temple without getting dark. You have to remember my words, don't say you can't eat and drink, just touch them." Chopsticks, you also have to beware of the poison on the chopsticks, which spreads to your hands. Brother, at such a young age, you are full of martial arts. If your whole body turns black and you become a zombie, I think it would be a pity!"
Hu Fei knew that what he said was not alarmist. Seeing that Miao Renfeng only tore a letter, he was blinded, and now he walked into the lair of the poisonous hands and medicine king. Where can he not poison?He thought to himself that Zhong Zhaowen is also a well-known figure in martial arts, he is definitely not a coward, he said so fiercely, it is obvious that this trip is extremely dangerous, it is indeed true.He knew it was dangerous, but he was obliged to accompany him to the White Horse Temple, which was even rarer than his ignorant rush.
After resting for a long time, the two horses regained their energy, and it was time to apply for cards at Linzikou.The two let their mounts go and run, and they arrived at the town of Baima Temple not long after.The streets in the town were narrow, and the two were afraid of bumping into pedestrians and causing trouble, so they led the horses and walked. Zhong Zhaowen's face was solemn and he kept his eyes fixed, but Hu Fei looked at the shops on both sides.When he was about to reach the end of the city, Hu Fei saw the plaster cover of the medicinal material shop picked out at the corner, and the signboard said "Jishitang Old Store". With a thought, he untied the single knife at his waist, held it in his hand with the scabbard, and said: " Zhong Er...brother, give me your judge's pen too." Zhong Zhaowen was startled, thinking of Baima Temple Town, he should be careful everywhere, why did he use the blade?But thinking that there must be the eyes and ears of Yao Wang in the town, it is inconvenient to ask, so he took out the judge's pen from his waist, handed it to him, and said in a low voice: "Be careful, don't cause trouble!" Hu Fei nodded, walked to the counter of the medicinal material shop, and said, "Excuse me! The two of us went to Yaowangzhuang to visit the owner. It is inconvenient to carry weapons. I want to deposit them in Baohao and come back to pick them up." Sitting behind the counter An old man listened with surprise on his face, and asked, "Are you going to Yaowangzhuang?" Without waiting for him to say anything, Hu Fei put the weapon on the counter, arched his hands, led the horse, and strode out of town. When the two arrived at a place where there was no one outside the town, Zhong Zhaowen raised his thumb and said, "Little brother, this move is really successful. Second Zhong has convinced you, thank you for thinking it out." Hu Fei smiled and said, "Hardly Pretend to be a hero, this is called helplessness." So he thought that the medicine shop in this town must have something to do with the medicine king, so he put his personal weapon in the shop, and someone from the shop would rush to report the news, which would prove himself There is no hostility here.Although going to meet such a powerful character empty-handed is more dangerous than dangerous, but on balance, this risk is still a big one. The two walked north along the main road, and were about to find a villager to inquire about the way to Yaowang Village, when they suddenly saw an old man holding a medicinal hoe on a small hill in the west, as if he was picking herbs.Hu Fei saw that this man was handsome in appearance, tall and thin, and he was a middle-aged scholar. He thought to himself: "Could he be the king of poisonous medicine?" How did Wangzhuang survive? The two juniors want to visit the owner of the village and ask for help." The man didn't even look at Hu Zhong and the two, and concentrated on digging the soil and grass by himself.Hu Fei asked several times, but the man ignored him all the time, as if he was deaf. Hu Fei didn't dare to ask any more questions, Zhong Zhaowen gave him a wink, and the two headed north again.After walking for more than a mile without making a sound, Hu Fei whispered: "Second brother Zhong, I'm afraid this person is the king of medicine, what do you think?" Zhong Zhaowen said: "I am also a little bit suspicious, but there is absolutely no way to break it. If he doesn't admit it himself, and we recognize him, it is a violation of his taboo. The only thing we need to do is to find Yaowangzhuang first, and we will recognize the place but not the people, then it will be fine."
While speaking, he made several turns and twists and turns, and saw a large flower garden tens of feet away from the main road, and a village girl in a green cloth shirt was bending over to arrange the flowers and plants. Hu Fei saw that there were three huts behind the flower garden. Looking far away, there were no people around, so he stepped forward a few steps, bowed to the village girl, and asked, "Ma'am, which way to go to Shangyaowangzhuang?" The village girl raised her head and looked at Hu Fei. Her eyes were extremely bright, and her eyeballs were as black as lacquer.Hu Fei was stunned: "How come this country girl's eyes are so unusually bright?" Seeing that her appearance was ordinary except for a pair of eyes, her skin was withered and yellow, and her face was disheveled. Yellow and thin, with shaved shoulders and a thin body, she is obviously a poor girl from a poor village, and she has lacked nourishment since she was a child.She looks like she is sixteen or seventeen years old, but her figure is like a young girl of fourteen or fifteen years old. Hu Fei asked again: "Whether Shangyao Wangzhuang is facing northeast or northwest?" The village girl suddenly lowered her head and said coldly: "I don't know." The voice was very clear. Seeing her being so rude, Zhong Zhaowen was about to get angry when his face sank, but then he remembered that this place is not far from Yaowangzhuang, and no one can offend anyone, so he snorted and said, "Brother, let's go, the Yaowangzhuang It is a very famous place of White Horse Temple, and it cannot be missed.” Hu Fei thought to himself that it was getting late. If he went the wrong way and wandered around in this dangerous place in the dark, it would be very bad. There was no one around to ask for directions, so he asked the village girl, "Girl, your parents Are you at home? They will definitely know the way to Yaowangzhuang." The village girl ignored her and pulled weeds on her own. Zhong Zhaowen clamped his legs, and the horse galloped forward, the road was narrow, the horse stepped on the road with its right and front hooves, but its left two hooves stepped into the flowerbed.Although Zhong Zhaowen had no malicious intentions, but he was rough and bold by nature, and he was annoyed that the village girl was being rude, so he hurried on his way, so he ignored her.Seeing that a row of flowers and plants near the road was about to be trampled by the horse, Hu Fei hurried forward, took the rein and moved to the right, and said, "Be careful that you trample the flowers and plants." The horse gave him such a lead, and stepped on the right hoof On the right side of the road, return the left foot to the road.Zhong Zhaowen said: "Come on, don't delay here!" He lifted the rein and galloped forward. Hu Fei was lonely and lonely since he was a child. Seeing the poor and weak girl in the village, he was not angry at her for refusing to guide her, but instead felt compassion. He led the horse and walked across the flower field before getting on the horse. Seeing this, the village girl suddenly raised her head and asked, "What are you going to Yaowang Village for?" Hu Fei Lema replied, "A friend injured his eyes with poison, so we came here to ask Yaowang for some antidote." The village girl said: "Do you recognize the King of Medicine?" Hu Fei shook his head and said, "We only hear his name, and we have never seen his old man." The village girl slowly stood up straight, looked at Hu Fei a few times, and asked Said: "How do you know that he is willing to give the antidote?" Hu Fei looked embarrassed, and replied: "This matter is hard to say." Suddenly, his heart moved: "This girl lives here, or she knows the temperament of the King of Medicine and acts." So he got off his horse, gave a deep bow, and said: " I just want to ask the girl to show me the way." The word "suggest the way" has a double meaning, it can be said to ask her to show the way to Yaowangzhuang, or it can be said to ask for advice on the way to ask for medicine. The village girl looked him over from head to toe, without answering, pointing to a pair of dung buckets in the flower garden, said: "Go to the dung tank over there to fill half a bucket of dung, fill the stream with clean water, and give me Water this flower." These three sentences were beyond Hu Fei's expectation, thinking I was just asking you for directions, why did you tell me to water the flowers?Moreover, you speak out in a bossy manner, and treat me like a hired worker in your family?Although he was poor when he was young, he never did such dirty things as picking manure and pouring manure. After saying these few words, the village girl leaned over to pull weeds and never looked at him again.Hu Fei was stunned, and looked into the hut, but there was no one there. He thought to himself: "This girl is born thin, and it is really not easy to pick these two big buckets of dung. I am a strong man, so why not help her pick a load of dung? "So he tied the horse to a willow tree, picked up the dung bucket, and went to the dung pond to load the dung. Zhong Zhaowen walked for a while, but Hu Fei didn't follow him. Looking back, he saw a pair of dung buckets on his shoulders and walked towards the stream from a distance. He couldn't help being surprised, and shouted: "Hey, what are you doing?" Hu Fei shouted : "I'll help this girl with some work. Brother Zhong, take a step first, and I'll come right away." Zhong Zhaowen shook his head, thinking that young people really don't care about the importance, and they are so nosy at this moment , So the horse walked slowly. Hu Fei picked up a load of dung water, went back to the flower field, scooped it up with a wooden ladle, and was about to pour it next to the flowers.The village girl suddenly said: "No, the dung water is too thick, and the flowers will wither once it is watered." Hu Fei was stunned, at a loss.The village girl said: "You pour it back into the cesspool, keep only half of it, and then add half a bucket of water, and that's it." Hu Fei felt a little impatient, but wanted to be a good person to the end, so he poured out the manure and added water as he said, and came back water the flowers. The village girl said: "Be careful, the dung and water should not touch the petals and leaves." Hu Fei replied: "Yes!" Seeing those flowers are dark blue in color and strange in shape, each flower is like a shoe, with a faint fragrance, I don't know Its name, poured it carefully one by one, till the two buckets of dung were poured out. The village girl said: "Well, I went to pick up another load." Hu Fei stood up straight, and said gently: "My friend is anxious to wait, how about watering the flowers for you when I come back from Yaowangzhuang?" The woman said: "It's better for you to water the flowers here. I saw that you are a nice person, so I asked you to pick the dung." Hearing her strange words, Hu Fei thought to herself that she had been delayed anyway, and he didn't want to fight for this moment, so he quickened his hands and feet, and hurriedly picked up another load of dung water, and watered all the blue flowers in the ground.At this time, the setting sun had already set on the mountain col, and the golden light reflected on a large area of blue flowers, which was brilliant and very gorgeous.Hu Fei couldn't help but praised: "These flowers are so beautiful!" He poured two loads of dung, and he had a little affection for these flowers, and his praise was quite sincere. The village girl was about to speak when she saw Zhong Zhaowen gallop back on her horse and shouted, "Brother, don't you want to leave now?" Hu Fei said, "Yes, here we come, here we come!" Looking at the village girl , with the meaning of prayer in his eyes. The village girl's face sank, and she said, "You watered the flowers for me, so you wanted me to show you the way, didn't you?" Hu Fei thought to himself, "I really hope that you can show me the way, but it's purely for you to water the flowers. In order to take pity on your thinness, asking for help at this time has turned into a deliberate favor." Suddenly remembering that day when Tie Xiezi and Xiao Zhurong were captured and handed over to Yuan Ziyi, she once said: "This is called Shi En, the worst guy is like this." Can't help but feel a little sweetness in his heart, he immediately smiled and said: "These flowers are so beautiful!" Walking to the willow tree, he unleashed the horse and got on the horse's back. The village girl said: "Wait a minute." Hu Fei turned around, afraid that she would talk about something, and felt very impatient.The village girl pulled up two blue flowers, threw them at him, and said, "You said these flowers are beautiful, so I will give you two." Hu Fei reached out to catch them, and said, "Thank you!" He put it in his arms.The village girl said: "His surname is Zhong, what is your surname?" Hu Fei said: "My surname is Hu." The village girl nodded and said: "You are going to Yaowangzhuang, or go northeast." Zhong Zhaowen was heading northwest. He waited for a long time for Hu Fei not to come, and felt irritable, so he turned around and looked for him. Hearing what the village girl said, his impatience disappeared immediately, and he whispered with a smile: "Little brother, I really have you!" It will save the older brother from going the wrong way.” Hu Fei was quite skeptical, and thought to himself: “If Yaowangzhuang is in the northeast, then the straightforward advice is, why do you say ‘it’s better to go to the northeast’ ?” But he didn’t want to ask the village girl any more, so he led his horse to the northeast. The two of them galloped for eight or nine miles, and there was a lake in front of them, and there was no way to go, only a small road leading to the west. Zhong Zhaowen scolded: "This girl is really hateful. It's fine if she refuses to show the way, but she made us go the wrong way. When we go back, we have to teach her a lesson." Hu Fei was also very strange, thinking that he didn't offend her, why? He wanted to make fun of himself and said: "Second brother Zhong, this country girl must have something to do with Yaowangzhuang." Zhong Zhaowen said: "Well, do you see any clues?" Hu Fei said: "Her eyes are piercing. , and the way she speaks doesn’t look like a country girl who has never seen the world.” Zhong Zhaowen was startled, and said, “That’s right! The two flowers she gave you should be quickly thrown away.” Hu Fei took out the blue flowers from his bosom, and saw that the flowers were bright and beautiful, but he couldn't bear to throw them away, and said, "Two little flowers, it's not a big problem if you think about it!" So he still put them back in his bosom, and galloped westward .Zhong Zhaowen shouted from behind: "Hey, you'd better be careful." Hu Fei agreed vaguely, whipped the horse's buttocks, and galloped west.In the haze of dusk, gusts of returning crows passed overhead. Suddenly, I saw two people on the right hand leaning over the lake, as if they were drinking water.Hu Fei reined in his horse, and was about to ask, but saw that the two of them were still not moving. Knowing that there was a difference, he jumped off the horse and shouted: "Excuse me!"Zhong Zhaowen stretched out his hand to grab a man's shoulder, and the man fell on his back, but he saw that his eyes were white, he had been dead for a long time, his face was covered with black spots, and his muscles were twisted.It was terrifying, even when looking at another person.Zhong Zhaowen said: "He was poisoned to death." Hu Fei nodded, seeing that the two deceased were wearing weapons, he said, "The enemy of the Poison Hand Medicine King?" Zhong Zhaowen also nodded.
The two got on their horses and walked again. At this time, it was getting dark, and they felt that the future was very dangerous.Another trip.The grass and trees beside the road were sparse, and the further we went, the fewer the grass and trees became. Finally, the ground was bare, and there was no grass, not a single big tree or small tree.Suspicious in Hu Fei's heart, he reined in his horse and said, "Second Brother Zhong, look at this place is very strange." Zhong Zhaowen also saw that something was wrong, and said, "If someone shovels it clean, it will leave traces of grass roots, I think..." He pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice: "The medicine Wang Zhuang is located near the left. I think he has poisoned the soil so much that there is not even a single grass." Hu Fei nodded, terrified in his heart, tore a few strips of cloth from the burden, bound the horse's mouth on Zhong Zhaowen's horse, and then tied the horse's mouth of his own horse.Zhong Zhaowen knew that he was afraid that when he walked forward, he would encounter poisonous vegetation, and the animals would inevitably be killed if they chewed it, so he nodded, secretly praising him for his careful thoughtfulness. After a short walk, I saw a house in the distance.Walking closer, I saw that the appearance of the house was extremely strange, it looked like a large tomb, without doors and windows, it was dark and very eerie.They both thought: "Look at the appearance of this house, it must be Yaowangzhuang." A few feet away from the house, there is a row of short trees growing around the house. The leaves are like maple leaves in autumn, bright red like blood. In the twilight, it makes people shudder to watch. Zhong Zhaowen has wandered around the world all his life, has he not seen any dangerous things?His three brothers dressed up as vicious mourners, which was intimidating to see, but when they saw such a scene, their hearts couldn't help jumping wildly, and they whispered: "What should we do?" Hu Fei said: "Let's Seek respect with courtesy, adapt to the situation." So he rode forward, walked a few feet away from the bushes, got off the horse and took the reins, and said loudly: "Zhong Zhaowen from Hubei, and Hu Fei from Liaodong, come here to pay respects to senior Yao Wang." Each of these three sentences was sent from the dantian, although they were not very loud, but people in the room must have heard them clearly. After a while, there was no movement in the house.Hu Fei said it again, there was still no response in the round house, as if no one lived there.Hu Fei said loudly again: "The hero of the golden-faced Buddha Miao was poisoned and injured. The poison used was stolen from the senior by a traitor. Please be merciful to the senior and give me the antidote." But no matter what he said, there was always silence in the round room. After a long time, the sky became darker.Hu Fei said in a low voice: "Second Brother Zhong, what should we do?" Zhong Zhaowen said: "It's impossible to see that Hero Miao is blind, so let's go back empty-handed." Go ahead." At this time, both of them had the intention to use force and force, thinking that although the Poison Hand Medicine King is good at using poison, his martial arts may not be very good, he used both soft and hard methods, so he had to get the antidote.The two put down their horses and walked towards the bushes.Seeing that the clump of trees had dense branches and leaves, and it was impossible to pass through, Zhong Zhaowen leaped and flew over the clump of trees. He was in the air, and suddenly he smelled a strong fragrance, his eyes went dark, he became dizzy, and fell into the bushes.Hu Fei was shocked when he saw it, and jumped forward. When he crossed the top of the bush, he felt the strange fragrance was pungent, and he wanted to vomit, and his chest was very disgusting.As soon as he landed on the ground, he quickly stretched out his hands to support Zhong Zhaowen, and checked his nose for breathing, but his eyes were closed tightly, but his fingers and face were cold. Hu Fei groaned secretly: "Hero Miao's antidote has not yet been obtained, but Second Brother Zhong has been poisoned again. It seems that I have also been infected with the poisonous gas, but it has not yet happened." , shouted: "Senior Medicine King, this junior came to pay homage to the manor empty-handed, there is no malice in it, if you don't see me again, this junior will be forced to be rude." After he said this, he looked at the wall of the round house, he saw that the whole body from the roof to the foot of the wall was black, obviously it was not made of earth and wood.He didn't dare to stretch out his hand to push it, but he cleaned the ground so cleanly that he couldn't find even a tiny piece of brick or stone, so he took out an ingot of silver taels from his pocket, tapped it three times on the wall, and as expected, there was a clank. The sound of metal. He put the silver taels back into his bosom, bowed his head, and suddenly smelled a faint fragrance in his nose, which lifted his spirits, his mind was groggy at first, but when he smelled the fragrance, he immediately cleared up.He bent over slightly, and the fragrance became stronger. It turned out that the fragrance came from the blue flower given by the village girl.Hu Fei's heart moved: "It seems that this fragrance has the power of detoxification, she really has good intentions." He quickened his pace and ran around the round house for a week, but he couldn't find any doors or windows, even small holes and crevices, wondering if there was really no one living in the house?Otherwise, there is no ventilation, how can it not be suffocated?He didn't have a weapon in his hand, so he couldn't do anything to this round house made of iron.After contemplating for a moment, he took out the blue flower from his bosom and placed it under Zhong Zhaowen's nose. After a while, he sneezed and woke up slowly. Hu Fei was overjoyed, and said to himself: "Since that girl has a detoxification method, why don't you go back and ask her for advice." So he put a branch of blue flower on Zhong Zhaowen's lapel, took one in his hand, and helped Zhong Zhaowen jump over the short tree.He fell to the ground with both feet, and suddenly he heard someone in the round room exclaim "Huh!"The voice came through the iron wall, quite depressed, but one could still hear the meaning of surprise and anger. Hu Fei turned around and shouted: "Senior Medicine King, would you like to meet me?" There was silence in the round room.He asked twice in succession, but the other party remained silent. Suddenly there were two bangs, and the heavy object fell to the ground.Hu Fei turned his head and saw two horses fell down at the same time. He jumped over and saw that the eyes of the two horses were closed, and they were foaming at the mouth. They had been poisoned and died, but there was no scar on their bodies. At this point, the two did not dare to stay in this dangerous place any longer, discussed in a low voice, and decided to go back to ask the village girl for advice, so they hurried back the same way. After being poisoned, Zhong Zhaowen's legs were exhausted, so he walked and rested until the second watch before returning to the village girl's thatched hut.In the dark night, the blue flowers in the flower garden were fragrant, Zhong and Hu felt relieved when they smelled it.
Suddenly there was a light in the window of the hut, and the firewood door opened with a bang, and the village girl opened the door and said, "Please come in! It's just that there is no hospitality in the country, and the guests are neglected with simple tea and light food." Hu Fei heard her speak well, She clasped her fists and said, "I'm sorry for bothering you in the middle of the night." The village girl smiled slightly, and walked to the door to let the two of them into the house. Hu Fei stepped into the thatched hut, and saw that the wooden tables and benches in the house were no different from ordinary farmhouses, but they were spotless, too clean, and even under the walls and in the cracks of the boards, there was no dust left. .Such a clean appearance, like the surroundings of the round house, makes people feel uneasy. The village girl said: "Master Zhong and Master Hu, please sit down." As she spoke, she went to the kitchen and took out two sets of bowls and chopsticks, followed by three dishes and one soup, and two large bowls of steaming white rice.The three bowls of dishes are fried tofu, fried bean sprouts with fresh bamboo shoots, boiled cabbage with straw mushrooms, and the soup is pickled vegetable watercress soup.Although it is a vegetarian dish, it is also fragrant. The two of them raced for most of the day, and they were already hungry.Hu Fei smiled and said: "Thank you!" Picking up the rice bowl, he picked up the chopsticks and ate.Zhong Zhaowen was very suspicious and thought: "She has prepared this meal a long time ago, she obviously expected that we will come back after we go. She would rather starve to death than eat this meal." Seeing the village girl turn around and go back into the kitchen Next, he winked at Hu Fei and said in a low voice: "Brother, I told you that you must not eat or drink within thirty miles of Yaowangzhuang. How did you forget?" But Hu Fei thought: "If this girl has evil intentions towards me, she must never send me flowers. Although it is necessary to be defensive, if you don't eat this meal, you must offend her." He was about to answer , the village girl took out a wooden plate from under the kitchen, and on the plate was a small wooden barrel filled with rice. Hu Fei stood up and said, "Thank you for your kindness, girl. We want to visit your father's hall." The village girl said, "My parents have passed away, so I am the only one here." Hu Fei said "ah", sat down and raised his hand Eat with chopsticks, the three bowls of dishes are delicious, and Hu Fei is full of praise to please her. Zhong Zhaowen thought to himself: "If you don't listen to my advice, then there's nothing you can do, the two of you can't get along with others." He said to the village girl, "I just fainted for a long time, my stomach felt very uncomfortable, and I didn't want to eat. The village girl poured a cup of tea and said: "Then please use a cup of clear tea." Zhong Zhaowen saw that the tea was green, clear and lovely. drink. The village girl didn't care. Seeing Hu Fei devouring bowl after bowl, she couldn't help but show joy in the corners of her eyebrows and eyes.Hu Fei saw it and thought that I ate it anyway. If I eat less, I will be poisoned, and if I eat more, I will be poisoned. I simply let go of my stomach, ate four big bowls of white rice, and ate three dishes and one soup to the bottom of the bowl.When the village girl came to clean up, Hu Fei rushed to put the bowls and chopsticks on the plate, put them under the kitchen, scooped water in the water tank, washed the bowls and chopsticks, wiped them dry and put them in the cupboard. The village girl washed the wok and swept the floor, and the two of them cleaned it up together.Hu Fei didn't mention the matter of talent just now, seeing that there was only half a tank of water left in the water tank, he took the bucket, picked two loads from the creek outside the door, and filled the water tank to the full. After picking up the water and returning to the hall, Zhong Zhaowen was already asleep on the table.The village girl said: "There is no place for guests in the country, so I have to wrong Mr. Hu and sleep on the bench for a night!" Hu Fei said: "You are welcome!" He closed the door, but he didn't hear the sound of the latch being closed. He thought that this girl lived here alone, and she dared to let two men stay in the house, but she was quite courageous. She stretched out her hand and gently pushed Zhong Zhaowen's shoulder, and said in a low voice. : "Brother Zhong, sleep more comfortably on the bench!" Unexpectedly, with such a light push, Zhong Zhaowen fell to the ground with a bang.Hu Fei was taken aback, and hurriedly hugged him by the waist to help him up, touched his face, and started to burn, it turned out that he had a high fever.Hu Fei hurriedly said: "Second Brother Zhong, what's the matter with you?" When he raised the oil lamp to look closer, he saw that his face was flushed, as if he was drunk, and there were bursts of extremely strong alcohol smell from his mouth and nose.Hu Fei was amazed: "He didn't even dare to take a sip of tea, why did he become drunk in such an instant?" Then he heard him say in a daze: "I'm not drunk, I'm not drunk! Come, come, let's talk to you again." Drink three big bowls!" Followed by "The leader of the Five Classics!" "Four seasons get rich!" When Hu Fei thought about it, he knew that he must have caught the hands and feet of the village girl. He refused to eat or drink tea, but the village girl used some wonderful method to make him feel drunk. The village girl treated him, and let him let him go with the flow and wake up slowly. Then he thought again: "This is poisoning, not really drunk, and it may not be able to wake up on its own." At this time, I suddenly heard the sound of ferocious howling of wild animals in the distance. I couldn't help but feel chills when I heard it in the middle of the night. The sound seemed to be howling wolves, but most of the Dongting Lake was a plain, even if there were one or two wild wolves , and will not be in groups like this. The sound gradually approached, Hu Fei stood up and listened intently, only to hear one or two bleating sounds of goats amidst the howling of wolves, obviously it was the wolves chasing and eating the sheep.She didn't take it seriously at the moment, and was about to check Zhong Zhaowen's situation again, when the door opened with a bang, and the village girl came out with a candlestick in her hand, with a little panic on her face, she said, "This is howling a wolf." Hu Fei nodded, and said, "Girl..." Pointing to Zhong Zhaowen. Only the sound of horseshoes, sheep bleating, and wolves howling could be heard, and they came straight to the thatched hut.Hu Fei's face changed color, thinking that if the enemy attacked in a large scale, the thatched hut would not be stormed, not to mention that the second brother Zhong was poisoned and his personnel were unknown, and the village girl was at the elbow and armpit. it is good?Before I finished thinking about it, I only heard a fast horse galloping towards me.胡斐手无寸铁，弯腰抱起锺兆文，冲进厨房，想要找柄菜刀，黑暗中却又摸索不到，只听那村女大声叫道：“是孟家的人么？半夜三更到这里干什么？” 胡斐听她口气严厉，不似作伪，看来她与来袭之人并非一路，心中稍慰，当下抢出后院，在地上抓起一把砖石，纵身上了一株柳树，将锺兆文搁在两个大桠枝之间，凝目望去。 星光下只见一个灰衣汉子骑在马上，已冲到了茅屋之前，马后尘土飞扬，叫声大作，跟着十几头饿狼。瞧这情势，似乎那人途中遇到饿狼袭击，纵马奔逃，但再一看，只见马后拖着白白的一团东西，原来是只活羊，胡斐心想，这多半是个猎人，以羊为饵，设计诱捕狼群。却见那人纵马驰入花圃，直奔到东首，圈转马头，又向西驰来，一群饿狼在后追叫，这么一来一去，登时将花圃践踏得不成模样。这汉子的坐骑甚是骏良，他骑术又精，来回冲了几次，饿狼始终咬不到活羊。 胡斐一转念间，已然省悟：“啊，这家伙是来踩坏蓝花！我如何能袖手不理？”当下双足一点，跃到了茅屋顶上，忽听那人“哎哟！”一声叫，纵马向北疾驰而去，那活羊却留在花圃之中。群狼扑上去抢咬撕夺，更将花圃蹂躏得狼藉不堪。 胡斐心道：“那人用心好不歹毒！”两块石子飞出，噗噗两声，打在两头恶狼脑门正中，登时脑浆迸裂，尸横就地。他跟着又打出两块石子，这一次石子较小，准头也略偏了些，一中狼腹，一中狼肩，但尽管如此，两头恶狼也已痛得嗷嗷大叫。群狼连吃苦头，知道屋顶有人，仰起了头望着胡斐，张牙舞爪，声势汹汹。胡斐见了群狼这副凶恶神情，心中大是发毛，自己赤手空拳，实不易和这十几头恶狼的毒牙利爪相抗，当下瞧准了一头最大的雄狼，一块瓦片斜削而下，正中咽喉。那狼在地下一个打滚，吃痛不过，转身便逃，另有一头大狼咬了白羊，跟着逃走。片刻之间，叫声越去越远，花圃中的蓝花却已被践踏得七零八落。 胡斐跃下屋来，连称：“可惜，可惜！”心想那村女辛勤锄花拔草，将这片蓝花培植得大是可观，现下顷刻之间尽归毁败，一定恼怒异常。哪知村女对蓝花被毁之事一句不提，只笑吟吟地道：“多谢胡爷援手了。”胡斐道：“说来惭愧！都怪我见机不早，出手太迟，倘若早将那恶汉在花圃外打下马来，这片花卉还能保全。” 那村女微微一笑，道：“蓝花就算不给恶狼踏坏，过几天也会自行萎谢。只不过迟早之间，那也算不了什么。”胡斐一怔，心想：“这姑娘吐属不凡，言语之间似含玄机。”说道：“在府上吵扰，却还没请教姑娘尊姓。”那村女微一沉吟，道：“我姓程，但在旁人跟前，你别提起我的姓氏。”这三句话说得甚是亲切，似乎已将胡斐当作是自己人看待。胡斐很是高兴，道：“那我叫你什么？” 那村女道：“你这人很好，我便索性连名字也都跟你说了。我叫程灵素，'灵枢'的'灵'，'素问'的'素'。”胡斐不知“灵枢”和“素问”乃是中国两大医经，只觉得这两个字很是雅致，不像农村女子的名字，这时已知她决不是寻常乡下姑娘，也不以为异，笑道：“那我便叫你'灵姑娘'，别人听来，只当我叫你'林姑娘'呢。”程灵素嫣然一笑，道：“你总有法儿讨我欢喜。”胡斐心中微微一动，觉得她相貌虽然并不甚美，但这么一言一笑，却自有一股妩媚的风致。
他正想询问锺兆文酒醉之事，程灵素道：“你的锺二哥喝醉了酒，不碍事，到天明便醒了。现下我要去瞧几个人，你同不同我去？” 胡斐觉得这个小姑娘行事处处十分奇怪，这半夜三更去探访别人，必有深意，便道：“我自然去。”程灵素道：“你陪我去，咱们可得约法三章。第一，你今晚不许跟人说话……”胡斐道：“好，我扮哑子便是。”程灵素笑道：“那倒不用，跟我说话当然可以。第二，不能跟人动武，放暗器点穴，一概禁止。第三，不能离开我三步之外。” 胡斐点头答应，心想：“原来她带我去见毒手药王。她叫我不能离开她身边三步，自是怕我中毒受害了。”当下甚是振奋，道：“咱们这便去么？”程灵素道：“得带些东西。”走进自己房内，约过了一盏茶时分，挑了两只竹箩出来，箩上用盖盖着，不知里面放着些什么，看她的模样，挑得颇为吃力。 胡斐道：“我来挑！”将扁担接了过来，一放上肩头，几有一百二三十斤。两只竹箩轻重悬殊，一只甚重，一只却是极轻，挑来颇不方便，只见锺兆文兀自伏在桌上，呼呼大睡，经过他身旁便闻到一股浓烈的酒气。 两人出了茅舍，程灵素将门带上，在前引路。胡斐道：“灵姑娘，我问你一件事，成不成？”程灵素道：“成啊，就怕我答不上。”胡斐道：“你若答不出，天下就没第二个人答得出了。我那锺二哥滴水没有入口，怎地会醉成这个模样？”程灵素轻轻一笑，道：“就因他滴水不肯入口，这才吃了亏。”胡斐道：“这个我就不懂了。锺二哥是老江湖，鄂北鬼见愁锺氏三雄，在武林中也算颇有名声。我却是个见识浅陋之人，哪知道他处处小心，反而……”说到这里，住口不说了。 程灵素道：“你说好了！他处处小心，反而着了我的道儿，是不是？处处小心提防便有用了吗？只有像你这般，才会太平无事。”胡斐道：“我怎么啊！”程灵素笑道：“叫你挑粪便挑粪，叫你吃饭便吃饭。这般听话，人家怎能忍心害你？”胡斐笑道：“原来做人要听话。可是你整人的法儿也太巧妙了些，我到现在还是摸不着头脑。” 程灵素道：“好，我教你一个乖。厅上有一盆小小的白花，你瞧见了么？”胡斐当时没留意，这时一加回想，果然记得窗口一张半桌上放着一盆小朵儿的白花。程灵素道：“这盆花叫做醍醐香，花香醉人，极是厉害，闻得稍久，便和饮了烈酒一般无异。我在汤里、茶里都放了解药。谁教他不喝啊？” 胡斐恍然大悟，不禁对这位姑娘大起敬畏之心，暗道自来只听说有人在饮食之中下毒，哪知她下毒的方法却高明得多，对方不吃不喝反而会中毒。程灵素道：“待会回去我便给他解药，你不用担心。”胡斐心中一动：“这位姑娘既然擅用药物，说不定能治苗大侠的伤目，那便不须去求什么毒手药王了。”于是问道：“灵姑娘，你知道解治断肠草毒性的法子吗？”程灵素道：“难说。” 胡斐听她说了这两个字，便没下文，不便就提医治之请，只见她脚步轻盈，在前不疾不徐地走着，虽不是施展轻功，但没过多少时光已走了六七里路，瞧方向是走向正东，不是去药王庄的道路，忽然又想到一事，说道：“我还想问你一件事，适才我和锺二哥去药王庄，你说还是向东北方去的好，故意叫我们绕道多走了二十几里路。这其中的用意，我一直没能明白。” 程灵素道：“你真正想问我的，还不是这件事。我猜你是想问：药王庄明明是在西北，咱们怎么向东走？”胡斐笑道：“你既猜到了，那我一并请问便是。”程灵素道：“咱们所以不朝药王庄走，因为并不是去药王庄。”这一下，胡斐又是出于意料之外，“啊”了一声。 程灵素又道：“白天我要你浇花，一来是试试你，二来是要你耽搁些时光，后来再叫你绕道多走二十几里，也是为了要你多耗时刻，这样便能在天黑之后再到药王庄外。只因药王庄外所种的血矮栗，一到天黑，毒性便小，我给你的蓝花才克得它住。” 胡斐听了，心中钦服无已，万想不到用毒使药，竟有这许多学问，这个貌不惊人的小姑娘用心深至，更非常人所及，当下说到在洞庭湖见到的两名死者。程灵素听说两名死者脸上满是黑点，肌肉扭曲，哼了一声，道：“这种鬼蝙蝠的毒无药可治。他们什么也不顾了。”胡斐心道：“'鬼蝙蝠'是什么毒，她说了我也不懂。反正一意听她吩咐行事便了，多说多问，徒然显得自己一无是处。”于是不再询问，跟在她身后一路向东。
又走了五六里路，进了一座黑黝黝的树林。程灵素低声道：“到了。他们还没来，咱们在这树林子中等候，你把这只竹箩放在那株树下。”说着向一株大树一指。胡斐依言提了那只份量甚重的竹箩过去放好。程灵素走到离大树八九丈处的一丛长草之旁，道：“这一只竹箩给我提过来。”随即拨开长草，钻进了草丛之中。 胡斐也不问谁还没来，等候什么，记着不离开她三步的约言，便提了另一只竹箩，也钻进草丛，挨在她的身旁。仰头向天，只见月轮西斜，已过夜半。树林中虫声此起彼伏，偶然也听到一二声枭鸣。程灵素递给他一粒药丸，低声道：“含在口里，别吞下！”胡斐看也不看便放入嘴中，但觉味道极苦。 两人静静的坐着，过了小半个时辰，胡斐东想西想，只觉这一日一晚的经历，实在大是诡异，可说是生平从所未遇之奇。突然之间，想到了袁紫衣：“不知她这时身在何处？如果这时在我身畔的，不是这个瘦瘦小小的姑娘而是袁姑娘，不知她要跟我说什么？”一想到她，便伸手入怀，去摸玉凤。 忽然程灵素伸手拉了他的衣角，向前一指。胡斐顺着她手指瞧去，只见远处一盏灯笼，正在渐渐移近。本来灯笼的火光必是暗红之色，但这盏灯笼发出的却是碧油油的绿光。 灯笼来得甚快，不多时已到身前十余丈外，灯下瞧得明白，提灯的是个驼背女子，走起路来左高右低，看来右脚是跛的。她身后紧随着一个汉子，身材魁梧，腰间插着明晃晃的一把尖刀。 胡斐想起锺兆文的说话，身子不由得微微一震：“锺二哥说，有人说毒手药王是个屠夫模样的大汉，又有人说药王是个又驼又跛的女子。那么这两人之中，必有一个是药王。”斜眼向程灵素一看，黑暗之中，瞧不见她的脸色，但见她一对清澈晶莹的大眼，目不转睛地望着两人，神情显甚紧张。胡斐登时起了侠义之心：“这毒手药王如要不利于她，我便是拚着性命，也要护她周全。” 那一男一女越走越近。只见那女子容貌甚是文秀，虽然身有残疾，仍可说得上是个美女，那大汉却是满脸横肉，形相凶狠。两人都是四十来岁年纪。胡斐一身武功，便是遇到江湖上最厉害的巨寇大贼环攻，也是无所畏惧，但这时却不由自主的心中怦怦乱跳，自觉武功有时而穷，对付这种人，武功未必便能管用。 那两人走到胡斐身前七八丈处，忽然折而向左，又走了十余丈，站定身子。那大汉朗声叫道：“慕容师兄，我夫妇依约前来，便请露面相见吧！” 他站立之处距胡斐并不甚远，突然开口说话，声音又大，只把他吓了一跳。那大汉说了两遍，无人答话，胡斐心想：“这里除了咱们四人，再没旁人，哪里还有什么慕容师兄？这两人原来是一对夫妻。” 那驼背女子细声细气地道：“慕容师兄既然不肯现身，我夫妇迫得无礼了。” 胡斐暗暗好笑：“这叫做一报还一报。适才我到药王庄来拜访，说什么你们也不理睬。这时候别人也给一个软钉子你们碰碰。”只见那女子从怀中取出一束草来，伸到灯笼中去点燃了，立时发出一股浓烟。过不多时，林中便白雾瀰漫，烟雾之中微有檀香气息，倒也并不难闻。 胡斐听她说“迫得无礼”四字。知道这股烟雾定然厉害，但自己却也不感到有何不适，想必是口中含了药丸之功，转头向程灵素望了一眼。这时她也正回眸瞧他，目光中充满了关注之色。胡斐心中感激，微微点了点头。 那烟雾越来越浓，突然大树下的竹箩中有人大声打了个喷嚏。 胡斐大吃一惊：“怎么竹箩中有人？我挑了半天一点也没知情。那么我跟程姑娘的说话，都让他听去了？”自忖对毒物医药之道虽然一窍不通，但练了这许多年武功，决不能挑着一个人走这许多路而茫然不觉，除非这是个死人，那又作别论。他心中大是惊奇，只听竹箩中那人又连打几个喷嚏，箩盖掀开，跃了出来。但见他长袍儒巾，正是日间所见在小山上采药的那个老者。 这时他衣衫凌乱，头巾歪斜，神情甚是狼狈，已没半点日间所见的儒雅神态，一见到那男女二人，怒声喝道：“好啊，姜师弟、薛师妹。你们下手越来越阴毒了。” 那夫妇俩见他这般模样，也似颇出意料之外。那大汉冷笑说道：“还说我们下手阴毒？你躲在竹箩之中，谁又料得到了？慕容师兄……”他话未说完，那老者嗅了几下，神色大变，急从怀中摸出一枚药丸，放入口中。 那驼背女子将散发浓烟的草药一足踏灭，放回怀中，说道：“大师兄，来不及啦，来不及啦！” 那老者脸如土色，颓然坐在地下，过了半晌，说道：“好，算我栽了。” 那大汉从怀中摸出一个青色瓷瓶，举在手里，道：“解药便在这里。你师侄中了你的毒手，得拿解药来换啊。”那老者道：“胡说八道！你们说是小铁哥么？我几年没见他了，下什么毒手？”那驼背女子道：“你约我们到这里，只是要说这句话么？”转头向那大汉说道：“铁山，咱们走吧。”说着掉头便走。那大汉尚有犹豫，道：“小铁……”那女子道：“他恨咱们入骨，宁可自己送了性命，也决不肯饶过小铁。这些年来，难道你还想不通？”那大汉想走又不肯走，说道：“大师兄，咱们多年以前的怨恨，到这时何必再放在心上？小弟奉劝一句，还是交换解药，把这个结子也同时解开了吧！”这几句话说得甚是诚恳。 那老者问道：“薛师妹，小铁中了什么毒？”那女子冷笑一声，并不回答。那大汉道：“大师兄，到这地步，也不用假惺惺了。小弟恭贺你种成了七心海棠……”那老者大声道：“谁种成了七心海棠？难道小铁中的是七心海棠之毒？我没有啊，我没有啊。”他说这几句话时神情惶急，恐惧之意见于颜色。 两夫妇对望了一眼，心中均想：“难道他假装得这般像？”那女子道：“好，慕容师兄，废话少说。你约我们到这里来相会，有什么吩咐？”那老者搔头道：“我没有约啊。是你们把我搬到这里来，怎么反说是我相约？”说到这里，又气又愧，突然飞起一腿，将竹箩踢出了六七丈外。 那女子冷冷地道：“难道这封信也不是你写的？师兄的字迹，我生平瞧得也不算少了。”说着从怀中取出一张纸笺，左手一扬，那纸笺便向老者飞了过去。那老者伸手欲接，突然缩手，跟着一掌发出。掌风将那纸笺在空中挡了一挡，左手中指一弹，发出了一枚暗器。这暗器是一枚长约三寸的透骨钉，射向纸笺，拍的一声，将纸笺钉在树上。 胡斐暗自寒心：“跟这些人打交道，对方说一句话，喷一口气，都要提防他下毒。这老者不敢用手去接笺，自是怕笺上有毒了。”只见驼背女子提高灯笼。火光照耀纸笺，白纸上两行大字，胡斐虽在远处，也看得清楚，见纸上写着道： “姜薛两位：三更后请赴黑虎林，有事相商，知名不具。” 那两行字笔致枯瘦，却颇挺拔，字如其人，和那老者的身形隐隐然有相类之处。 那老者“咦”的一声，似乎甚是诧异。 那大汉问道：“大师兄，有什么不对了？”那老者冷冷地道：“这信不是我写的。”此言一出，夫妇两人对望了一眼。那驼背女子冷笑了一声，显是不相信他的说话。那老者道：“信上的笔迹，倒真和我的书法甚是相像，这可奇了。”他伸左手摸了摸颏下胡须，勃然怒道：“你们把我装在竹箩之中，抬到这里，到底干什么来啦？”那女子道：“小铁中了七心海棠之毒，你到底给治呢，还是不给治？”那老者道：“你拿得稳么？当真是七心……七心海棠么？”说到“七心海棠”四字时声音微颤，语音中流露了强烈的恐惧之意。 胡斐听到这里，心中渐渐明白，定是另外有一个高手从中拨弄，以致这三人说来说去，言语总是不能接榫。那么这高手是谁呢？ 他不自禁地转头向身旁程灵素望了一眼，但见她一双朗若明星的大眼在黑暗中炯炯发光。难道这个面黄肌瘦的小姑娘竟有这般能耐？这可太也令人难以相信！ 他正自凝思，猛听得一声大喝，声音呜呜，极是怪异，忙回过头来，只见那老者和那对夫妇已欺近在一起，各自蹲着身子，双手向前平推，六掌相接，口中齐声“呜呜”而呼。老者喝声峻厉，大汉喝声粗猛，那驼背女子的喝声却高而尖锐。三人的喝声都是一般漫长，连续不断。突然之间，喝声齐止，只见那老者纵身后跃，寒光一闪，发出一枚透骨钉，将灯笼打灭，跟着那大汉大叫一声：“啊哟！”显是中了老者的暗算，身上受伤。 这时林中黑漆一团，只觉四下里处处都是危机，胡斐顺手拉着程灵素的手向后一扯，自己已挡在她的身前。这一挡他实是未经思索，只觉凶险迫近，非尽力保护这个弱女子不可，至于凭他之力是否保护得了，却绝未想到。 那大汉叫了这一下之后，立即寂然无声，树林中虽然共有五人，竟是没半点声息。 胡斐又听到了草间的虫声，听到远处猫头鹰的咕咕而鸣。忽然之间，一只软软的小手伸了过来，握住了他粗大的手掌。胡斐身子一颤，随即知道这是程灵素的手，只觉柔嫩纤细，倒像十一二岁女童的手掌一般。 在一片寂静之中，眼前忽地升起两股袅袅的烟雾，一白一灰，两股烟像两条活蛇一般，自两旁向中央游去，互相撞击。同时嗤嗤的轻响不绝，胡斐在黑暗中睁大了眼睛观看，隐约见到左右各有一点火星。一点火星之后是那个老者，另一点火星之后是那驼背女子。两人各自蹲着身子，用力鼓气将烟雾向对方吹去，自是点燃了草药，发出毒烟，要令对方中毒。 两人吹了好一会，林中烟雾瀰漫，越来越浓。突然之间，那老者“咦”的一声，抬头瞧着先前钉在大树上的那张纸笺。胡斐见那纸笺微微摇晃，上面发出闪闪光芒，竟是写着发光的几行字。那夫妇二人也大是惊奇，转头瞧去，只见那几行字写道： “字谕慕容景岳、姜铁山、薛鹊三徒知悉：尔等互相残害，不念师门之谊，余甚厌之，宜即尽释前愆，继余遗志，是所至嘱。余临终之情，素徒当为详告也。
After resting for a long time, the two horses regained their energy, and it was time to apply for cards at Linzikou.The two let their mounts go and run, and they arrived at the town of Baima Temple not long after.The streets in the town were narrow, and the two were afraid of bumping into pedestrians and causing trouble, so they led the horses and walked. Zhong Zhaowen's face was solemn and he kept his eyes fixed, but Hu Fei looked at the shops on both sides.When he was about to reach the end of the city, Hu Fei saw the plaster cover of the medicinal material shop picked out at the corner, and the signboard said "Jishitang Old Store". With a thought, he untied the single knife at his waist, held it in his hand with the scabbard, and said: " Zhong Er...brother, give me your judge's pen too." Zhong Zhaowen was startled, thinking of Baima Temple Town, he should be careful everywhere, why did he use the blade?But thinking that there must be the eyes and ears of Yao Wang in the town, it is inconvenient to ask, so he took out the judge's pen from his waist, handed it to him, and said in a low voice: "Be careful, don't cause trouble!" Hu Fei nodded, walked to the counter of the medicinal material shop, and said, "Excuse me! The two of us went to Yaowangzhuang to visit the owner. It is inconvenient to carry weapons. I want to deposit them in Baohao and come back to pick them up." Sitting behind the counter An old man listened with surprise on his face, and asked, "Are you going to Yaowangzhuang?" Without waiting for him to say anything, Hu Fei put the weapon on the counter, arched his hands, led the horse, and strode out of town. When the two arrived at a place where there was no one outside the town, Zhong Zhaowen raised his thumb and said, "Little brother, this move is really successful. Second Zhong has convinced you, thank you for thinking it out." Hu Fei smiled and said, "Hardly Pretend to be a hero, this is called helplessness." So he thought that the medicine shop in this town must have something to do with the medicine king, so he put his personal weapon in the shop, and someone from the shop would rush to report the news, which would prove himself There is no hostility here.Although going to meet such a powerful character empty-handed is more dangerous than dangerous, but on balance, this risk is still a big one. The two walked north along the main road, and were about to find a villager to inquire about the way to Yaowang Village, when they suddenly saw an old man holding a medicinal hoe on a small hill in the west, as if he was picking herbs.Hu Fei saw that this man was handsome in appearance, tall and thin, and he was a middle-aged scholar. He thought to himself: "Could he be the king of poisonous medicine?" How did Wangzhuang survive? The two juniors want to visit the owner of the village and ask for help." The man didn't even look at Hu Zhong and the two, and concentrated on digging the soil and grass by himself.Hu Fei asked several times, but the man ignored him all the time, as if he was deaf. Hu Fei didn't dare to ask any more questions, Zhong Zhaowen gave him a wink, and the two headed north again.After walking for more than a mile without making a sound, Hu Fei whispered: "Second brother Zhong, I'm afraid this person is the king of medicine, what do you think?" Zhong Zhaowen said: "I am also a little bit suspicious, but there is absolutely no way to break it. If he doesn't admit it himself, and we recognize him, it is a violation of his taboo. The only thing we need to do is to find Yaowangzhuang first, and we will recognize the place but not the people, then it will be fine."
While speaking, he made several turns and twists and turns, and saw a large flower garden tens of feet away from the main road, and a village girl in a green cloth shirt was bending over to arrange the flowers and plants. Hu Fei saw that there were three huts behind the flower garden. Looking far away, there were no people around, so he stepped forward a few steps, bowed to the village girl, and asked, "Ma'am, which way to go to Shangyaowangzhuang?" The village girl raised her head and looked at Hu Fei. Her eyes were extremely bright, and her eyeballs were as black as lacquer.Hu Fei was stunned: "How come this country girl's eyes are so unusually bright?" Seeing that her appearance was ordinary except for a pair of eyes, her skin was withered and yellow, and her face was disheveled. Yellow and thin, with shaved shoulders and a thin body, she is obviously a poor girl from a poor village, and she has lacked nourishment since she was a child.She looks like she is sixteen or seventeen years old, but her figure is like a young girl of fourteen or fifteen years old. Hu Fei asked again: "Whether Shangyao Wangzhuang is facing northeast or northwest?" The village girl suddenly lowered her head and said coldly: "I don't know." The voice was very clear. Seeing her being so rude, Zhong Zhaowen was about to get angry when his face sank, but then he remembered that this place is not far from Yaowangzhuang, and no one can offend anyone, so he snorted and said, "Brother, let's go, the Yaowangzhuang It is a very famous place of White Horse Temple, and it cannot be missed.” Hu Fei thought to himself that it was getting late. If he went the wrong way and wandered around in this dangerous place in the dark, it would be very bad. There was no one around to ask for directions, so he asked the village girl, "Girl, your parents Are you at home? They will definitely know the way to Yaowangzhuang." The village girl ignored her and pulled weeds on her own. Zhong Zhaowen clamped his legs, and the horse galloped forward, the road was narrow, the horse stepped on the road with its right and front hooves, but its left two hooves stepped into the flowerbed.Although Zhong Zhaowen had no malicious intentions, but he was rough and bold by nature, and he was annoyed that the village girl was being rude, so he hurried on his way, so he ignored her.Seeing that a row of flowers and plants near the road was about to be trampled by the horse, Hu Fei hurried forward, took the rein and moved to the right, and said, "Be careful that you trample the flowers and plants." The horse gave him such a lead, and stepped on the right hoof On the right side of the road, return the left foot to the road.Zhong Zhaowen said: "Come on, don't delay here!" He lifted the rein and galloped forward. Hu Fei was lonely and lonely since he was a child. Seeing the poor and weak girl in the village, he was not angry at her for refusing to guide her, but instead felt compassion. He led the horse and walked across the flower field before getting on the horse. Seeing this, the village girl suddenly raised her head and asked, "What are you going to Yaowang Village for?" Hu Fei Lema replied, "A friend injured his eyes with poison, so we came here to ask Yaowang for some antidote." The village girl said: "Do you recognize the King of Medicine?" Hu Fei shook his head and said, "We only hear his name, and we have never seen his old man." The village girl slowly stood up straight, looked at Hu Fei a few times, and asked Said: "How do you know that he is willing to give the antidote?" Hu Fei looked embarrassed, and replied: "This matter is hard to say." Suddenly, his heart moved: "This girl lives here, or she knows the temperament of the King of Medicine and acts." So he got off his horse, gave a deep bow, and said: " I just want to ask the girl to show me the way." The word "suggest the way" has a double meaning, it can be said to ask her to show the way to Yaowangzhuang, or it can be said to ask for advice on the way to ask for medicine. The village girl looked him over from head to toe, without answering, pointing to a pair of dung buckets in the flower garden, said: "Go to the dung tank over there to fill half a bucket of dung, fill the stream with clean water, and give me Water this flower." These three sentences were beyond Hu Fei's expectation, thinking I was just asking you for directions, why did you tell me to water the flowers?Moreover, you speak out in a bossy manner, and treat me like a hired worker in your family?Although he was poor when he was young, he never did such dirty things as picking manure and pouring manure. After saying these few words, the village girl leaned over to pull weeds and never looked at him again.Hu Fei was stunned, and looked into the hut, but there was no one there. He thought to himself: "This girl is born thin, and it is really not easy to pick these two big buckets of dung. I am a strong man, so why not help her pick a load of dung? "So he tied the horse to a willow tree, picked up the dung bucket, and went to the dung pond to load the dung. Zhong Zhaowen walked for a while, but Hu Fei didn't follow him. Looking back, he saw a pair of dung buckets on his shoulders and walked towards the stream from a distance. He couldn't help being surprised, and shouted: "Hey, what are you doing?" Hu Fei shouted : "I'll help this girl with some work. Brother Zhong, take a step first, and I'll come right away." Zhong Zhaowen shook his head, thinking that young people really don't care about the importance, and they are so nosy at this moment , So the horse walked slowly. Hu Fei picked up a load of dung water, went back to the flower field, scooped it up with a wooden ladle, and was about to pour it next to the flowers.The village girl suddenly said: "No, the dung water is too thick, and the flowers will wither once it is watered." Hu Fei was stunned, at a loss.The village girl said: "You pour it back into the cesspool, keep only half of it, and then add half a bucket of water, and that's it." Hu Fei felt a little impatient, but wanted to be a good person to the end, so he poured out the manure and added water as he said, and came back water the flowers. The village girl said: "Be careful, the dung and water should not touch the petals and leaves." Hu Fei replied: "Yes!" Seeing those flowers are dark blue in color and strange in shape, each flower is like a shoe, with a faint fragrance, I don't know Its name, poured it carefully one by one, till the two buckets of dung were poured out. The village girl said: "Well, I went to pick up another load." Hu Fei stood up straight, and said gently: "My friend is anxious to wait, how about watering the flowers for you when I come back from Yaowangzhuang?" The woman said: "It's better for you to water the flowers here. I saw that you are a nice person, so I asked you to pick the dung." Hearing her strange words, Hu Fei thought to herself that she had been delayed anyway, and he didn't want to fight for this moment, so he quickened his hands and feet, and hurriedly picked up another load of dung water, and watered all the blue flowers in the ground.At this time, the setting sun had already set on the mountain col, and the golden light reflected on a large area of blue flowers, which was brilliant and very gorgeous.Hu Fei couldn't help but praised: "These flowers are so beautiful!" He poured two loads of dung, and he had a little affection for these flowers, and his praise was quite sincere. The village girl was about to speak when she saw Zhong Zhaowen gallop back on her horse and shouted, "Brother, don't you want to leave now?" Hu Fei said, "Yes, here we come, here we come!" Looking at the village girl , with the meaning of prayer in his eyes. The village girl's face sank, and she said, "You watered the flowers for me, so you wanted me to show you the way, didn't you?" Hu Fei thought to himself, "I really hope that you can show me the way, but it's purely for you to water the flowers. In order to take pity on your thinness, asking for help at this time has turned into a deliberate favor." Suddenly remembering that day when Tie Xiezi and Xiao Zhurong were captured and handed over to Yuan Ziyi, she once said: "This is called Shi En, the worst guy is like this." Can't help but feel a little sweetness in his heart, he immediately smiled and said: "These flowers are so beautiful!" Walking to the willow tree, he unleashed the horse and got on the horse's back. The village girl said: "Wait a minute." Hu Fei turned around, afraid that she would talk about something, and felt very impatient.The village girl pulled up two blue flowers, threw them at him, and said, "You said these flowers are beautiful, so I will give you two." Hu Fei reached out to catch them, and said, "Thank you!" He put it in his arms.The village girl said: "His surname is Zhong, what is your surname?" Hu Fei said: "My surname is Hu." The village girl nodded and said: "You are going to Yaowangzhuang, or go northeast." Zhong Zhaowen was heading northwest. He waited for a long time for Hu Fei not to come, and felt irritable, so he turned around and looked for him. Hearing what the village girl said, his impatience disappeared immediately, and he whispered with a smile: "Little brother, I really have you!" It will save the older brother from going the wrong way.” Hu Fei was quite skeptical, and thought to himself: “If Yaowangzhuang is in the northeast, then the straightforward advice is, why do you say ‘it’s better to go to the northeast’ ?” But he didn’t want to ask the village girl any more, so he led his horse to the northeast. The two of them galloped for eight or nine miles, and there was a lake in front of them, and there was no way to go, only a small road leading to the west. Zhong Zhaowen scolded: "This girl is really hateful. It's fine if she refuses to show the way, but she made us go the wrong way. When we go back, we have to teach her a lesson." Hu Fei was also very strange, thinking that he didn't offend her, why? He wanted to make fun of himself and said: "Second brother Zhong, this country girl must have something to do with Yaowangzhuang." Zhong Zhaowen said: "Well, do you see any clues?" Hu Fei said: "Her eyes are piercing. , and the way she speaks doesn’t look like a country girl who has never seen the world.” Zhong Zhaowen was startled, and said, “That’s right! The two flowers she gave you should be quickly thrown away.” Hu Fei took out the blue flowers from his bosom, and saw that the flowers were bright and beautiful, but he couldn't bear to throw them away, and said, "Two little flowers, it's not a big problem if you think about it!" So he still put them back in his bosom, and galloped westward .Zhong Zhaowen shouted from behind: "Hey, you'd better be careful." Hu Fei agreed vaguely, whipped the horse's buttocks, and galloped west.In the haze of dusk, gusts of returning crows passed overhead. Suddenly, I saw two people on the right hand leaning over the lake, as if they were drinking water.Hu Fei reined in his horse, and was about to ask, but saw that the two of them were still not moving. Knowing that there was a difference, he jumped off the horse and shouted: "Excuse me!"Zhong Zhaowen stretched out his hand to grab a man's shoulder, and the man fell on his back, but he saw that his eyes were white, he had been dead for a long time, his face was covered with black spots, and his muscles were twisted.It was terrifying, even when looking at another person.Zhong Zhaowen said: "He was poisoned to death." Hu Fei nodded, seeing that the two deceased were wearing weapons, he said, "The enemy of the Poison Hand Medicine King?" Zhong Zhaowen also nodded.
The two got on their horses and walked again. At this time, it was getting dark, and they felt that the future was very dangerous.Another trip.The grass and trees beside the road were sparse, and the further we went, the fewer the grass and trees became. Finally, the ground was bare, and there was no grass, not a single big tree or small tree.Suspicious in Hu Fei's heart, he reined in his horse and said, "Second Brother Zhong, look at this place is very strange." Zhong Zhaowen also saw that something was wrong, and said, "If someone shovels it clean, it will leave traces of grass roots, I think..." He pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice: "The medicine Wang Zhuang is located near the left. I think he has poisoned the soil so much that there is not even a single grass." Hu Fei nodded, terrified in his heart, tore a few strips of cloth from the burden, bound the horse's mouth on Zhong Zhaowen's horse, and then tied the horse's mouth of his own horse.Zhong Zhaowen knew that he was afraid that when he walked forward, he would encounter poisonous vegetation, and the animals would inevitably be killed if they chewed it, so he nodded, secretly praising him for his careful thoughtfulness. After a short walk, I saw a house in the distance.Walking closer, I saw that the appearance of the house was extremely strange, it looked like a large tomb, without doors and windows, it was dark and very eerie.They both thought: "Look at the appearance of this house, it must be Yaowangzhuang." A few feet away from the house, there is a row of short trees growing around the house. The leaves are like maple leaves in autumn, bright red like blood. In the twilight, it makes people shudder to watch. Zhong Zhaowen has wandered around the world all his life, has he not seen any dangerous things?His three brothers dressed up as vicious mourners, which was intimidating to see, but when they saw such a scene, their hearts couldn't help jumping wildly, and they whispered: "What should we do?" Hu Fei said: "Let's Seek respect with courtesy, adapt to the situation." So he rode forward, walked a few feet away from the bushes, got off the horse and took the reins, and said loudly: "Zhong Zhaowen from Hubei, and Hu Fei from Liaodong, come here to pay respects to senior Yao Wang." Each of these three sentences was sent from the dantian, although they were not very loud, but people in the room must have heard them clearly. After a while, there was no movement in the house.Hu Fei said it again, there was still no response in the round house, as if no one lived there.Hu Fei said loudly again: "The hero of the golden-faced Buddha Miao was poisoned and injured. The poison used was stolen from the senior by a traitor. Please be merciful to the senior and give me the antidote." But no matter what he said, there was always silence in the round room. After a long time, the sky became darker.Hu Fei said in a low voice: "Second Brother Zhong, what should we do?" Zhong Zhaowen said: "It's impossible to see that Hero Miao is blind, so let's go back empty-handed." Go ahead." At this time, both of them had the intention to use force and force, thinking that although the Poison Hand Medicine King is good at using poison, his martial arts may not be very good, he used both soft and hard methods, so he had to get the antidote.The two put down their horses and walked towards the bushes.Seeing that the clump of trees had dense branches and leaves, and it was impossible to pass through, Zhong Zhaowen leaped and flew over the clump of trees. He was in the air, and suddenly he smelled a strong fragrance, his eyes went dark, he became dizzy, and fell into the bushes.Hu Fei was shocked when he saw it, and jumped forward. When he crossed the top of the bush, he felt the strange fragrance was pungent, and he wanted to vomit, and his chest was very disgusting.As soon as he landed on the ground, he quickly stretched out his hands to support Zhong Zhaowen, and checked his nose for breathing, but his eyes were closed tightly, but his fingers and face were cold. Hu Fei groaned secretly: "Hero Miao's antidote has not yet been obtained, but Second Brother Zhong has been poisoned again. It seems that I have also been infected with the poisonous gas, but it has not yet happened." , shouted: "Senior Medicine King, this junior came to pay homage to the manor empty-handed, there is no malice in it, if you don't see me again, this junior will be forced to be rude." After he said this, he looked at the wall of the round house, he saw that the whole body from the roof to the foot of the wall was black, obviously it was not made of earth and wood.He didn't dare to stretch out his hand to push it, but he cleaned the ground so cleanly that he couldn't find even a tiny piece of brick or stone, so he took out an ingot of silver taels from his pocket, tapped it three times on the wall, and as expected, there was a clank. The sound of metal. He put the silver taels back into his bosom, bowed his head, and suddenly smelled a faint fragrance in his nose, which lifted his spirits, his mind was groggy at first, but when he smelled the fragrance, he immediately cleared up.He bent over slightly, and the fragrance became stronger. It turned out that the fragrance came from the blue flower given by the village girl.Hu Fei's heart moved: "It seems that this fragrance has the power of detoxification, she really has good intentions." He quickened his pace and ran around the round house for a week, but he couldn't find any doors or windows, even small holes and crevices, wondering if there was really no one living in the house?Otherwise, there is no ventilation, how can it not be suffocated?He didn't have a weapon in his hand, so he couldn't do anything to this round house made of iron.After contemplating for a moment, he took out the blue flower from his bosom and placed it under Zhong Zhaowen's nose. After a while, he sneezed and woke up slowly. Hu Fei was overjoyed, and said to himself: "Since that girl has a detoxification method, why don't you go back and ask her for advice." So he put a branch of blue flower on Zhong Zhaowen's lapel, took one in his hand, and helped Zhong Zhaowen jump over the short tree.He fell to the ground with both feet, and suddenly he heard someone in the round room exclaim "Huh!"The voice came through the iron wall, quite depressed, but one could still hear the meaning of surprise and anger. Hu Fei turned around and shouted: "Senior Medicine King, would you like to meet me?" There was silence in the round room.He asked twice in succession, but the other party remained silent. Suddenly there were two bangs, and the heavy object fell to the ground.Hu Fei turned his head and saw two horses fell down at the same time. He jumped over and saw that the eyes of the two horses were closed, and they were foaming at the mouth. They had been poisoned and died, but there was no scar on their bodies. At this point, the two did not dare to stay in this dangerous place any longer, discussed in a low voice, and decided to go back to ask the village girl for advice, so they hurried back the same way. After being poisoned, Zhong Zhaowen's legs were exhausted, so he walked and rested until the second watch before returning to the village girl's thatched hut.In the dark night, the blue flowers in the flower garden were fragrant, Zhong and Hu felt relieved when they smelled it.
Suddenly there was a light in the window of the hut, and the firewood door opened with a bang, and the village girl opened the door and said, "Please come in! It's just that there is no hospitality in the country, and the guests are neglected with simple tea and light food." Hu Fei heard her speak well, She clasped her fists and said, "I'm sorry for bothering you in the middle of the night." The village girl smiled slightly, and walked to the door to let the two of them into the house. Hu Fei stepped into the thatched hut, and saw that the wooden tables and benches in the house were no different from ordinary farmhouses, but they were spotless, too clean, and even under the walls and in the cracks of the boards, there was no dust left. .Such a clean appearance, like the surroundings of the round house, makes people feel uneasy. The village girl said: "Master Zhong and Master Hu, please sit down." As she spoke, she went to the kitchen and took out two sets of bowls and chopsticks, followed by three dishes and one soup, and two large bowls of steaming white rice.The three bowls of dishes are fried tofu, fried bean sprouts with fresh bamboo shoots, boiled cabbage with straw mushrooms, and the soup is pickled vegetable watercress soup.Although it is a vegetarian dish, it is also fragrant. The two of them raced for most of the day, and they were already hungry.Hu Fei smiled and said: "Thank you!" Picking up the rice bowl, he picked up the chopsticks and ate.Zhong Zhaowen was very suspicious and thought: "She has prepared this meal a long time ago, she obviously expected that we will come back after we go. She would rather starve to death than eat this meal." Seeing the village girl turn around and go back into the kitchen Next, he winked at Hu Fei and said in a low voice: "Brother, I told you that you must not eat or drink within thirty miles of Yaowangzhuang. How did you forget?" But Hu Fei thought: "If this girl has evil intentions towards me, she must never send me flowers. Although it is necessary to be defensive, if you don't eat this meal, you must offend her." He was about to answer , the village girl took out a wooden plate from under the kitchen, and on the plate was a small wooden barrel filled with rice. Hu Fei stood up and said, "Thank you for your kindness, girl. We want to visit your father's hall." The village girl said, "My parents have passed away, so I am the only one here." Hu Fei said "ah", sat down and raised his hand Eat with chopsticks, the three bowls of dishes are delicious, and Hu Fei is full of praise to please her. Zhong Zhaowen thought to himself: "If you don't listen to my advice, then there's nothing you can do, the two of you can't get along with others." He said to the village girl, "I just fainted for a long time, my stomach felt very uncomfortable, and I didn't want to eat. The village girl poured a cup of tea and said: "Then please use a cup of clear tea." Zhong Zhaowen saw that the tea was green, clear and lovely. drink. The village girl didn't care. Seeing Hu Fei devouring bowl after bowl, she couldn't help but show joy in the corners of her eyebrows and eyes.Hu Fei saw it and thought that I ate it anyway. If I eat less, I will be poisoned, and if I eat more, I will be poisoned. I simply let go of my stomach, ate four big bowls of white rice, and ate three dishes and one soup to the bottom of the bowl.When the village girl came to clean up, Hu Fei rushed to put the bowls and chopsticks on the plate, put them under the kitchen, scooped water in the water tank, washed the bowls and chopsticks, wiped them dry and put them in the cupboard. The village girl washed the wok and swept the floor, and the two of them cleaned it up together.Hu Fei didn't mention the matter of talent just now, seeing that there was only half a tank of water left in the water tank, he took the bucket, picked two loads from the creek outside the door, and filled the water tank to the full. After picking up the water and returning to the hall, Zhong Zhaowen was already asleep on the table.The village girl said: "There is no place for guests in the country, so I have to wrong Mr. Hu and sleep on the bench for a night!" Hu Fei said: "You are welcome!" He closed the door, but he didn't hear the sound of the latch being closed. He thought that this girl lived here alone, and she dared to let two men stay in the house, but she was quite courageous. She stretched out her hand and gently pushed Zhong Zhaowen's shoulder, and said in a low voice. : "Brother Zhong, sleep more comfortably on the bench!" Unexpectedly, with such a light push, Zhong Zhaowen fell to the ground with a bang.Hu Fei was taken aback, and hurriedly hugged him by the waist to help him up, touched his face, and started to burn, it turned out that he had a high fever.Hu Fei hurriedly said: "Second Brother Zhong, what's the matter with you?" When he raised the oil lamp to look closer, he saw that his face was flushed, as if he was drunk, and there were bursts of extremely strong alcohol smell from his mouth and nose.Hu Fei was amazed: "He didn't even dare to take a sip of tea, why did he become drunk in such an instant?" Then he heard him say in a daze: "I'm not drunk, I'm not drunk! Come, come, let's talk to you again." Drink three big bowls!" Followed by "The leader of the Five Classics!" "Four seasons get rich!" When Hu Fei thought about it, he knew that he must have caught the hands and feet of the village girl. He refused to eat or drink tea, but the village girl used some wonderful method to make him feel drunk. The village girl treated him, and let him let him go with the flow and wake up slowly. Then he thought again: "This is poisoning, not really drunk, and it may not be able to wake up on its own." At this time, I suddenly heard the sound of ferocious howling of wild animals in the distance. I couldn't help but feel chills when I heard it in the middle of the night. The sound seemed to be howling wolves, but most of the Dongting Lake was a plain, even if there were one or two wild wolves , and will not be in groups like this. The sound gradually approached, Hu Fei stood up and listened intently, only to hear one or two bleating sounds of goats amidst the howling of wolves, obviously it was the wolves chasing and eating the sheep.She didn't take it seriously at the moment, and was about to check Zhong Zhaowen's situation again, when the door opened with a bang, and the village girl came out with a candlestick in her hand, with a little panic on her face, she said, "This is howling a wolf." Hu Fei nodded, and said, "Girl..." Pointing to Zhong Zhaowen. Only the sound of horseshoes, sheep bleating, and wolves howling could be heard, and they came straight to the thatched hut.Hu Fei's face changed color, thinking that if the enemy attacked in a large scale, the thatched hut would not be stormed, not to mention that the second brother Zhong was poisoned and his personnel were unknown, and the village girl was at the elbow and armpit. it is good?Before I finished thinking about it, I only heard a fast horse galloping towards me.胡斐手无寸铁，弯腰抱起锺兆文，冲进厨房，想要找柄菜刀，黑暗中却又摸索不到，只听那村女大声叫道：“是孟家的人么？半夜三更到这里干什么？” 胡斐听她口气严厉，不似作伪，看来她与来袭之人并非一路，心中稍慰，当下抢出后院，在地上抓起一把砖石，纵身上了一株柳树，将锺兆文搁在两个大桠枝之间，凝目望去。 星光下只见一个灰衣汉子骑在马上，已冲到了茅屋之前，马后尘土飞扬，叫声大作，跟着十几头饿狼。瞧这情势，似乎那人途中遇到饿狼袭击，纵马奔逃，但再一看，只见马后拖着白白的一团东西，原来是只活羊，胡斐心想，这多半是个猎人，以羊为饵，设计诱捕狼群。却见那人纵马驰入花圃，直奔到东首，圈转马头，又向西驰来，一群饿狼在后追叫，这么一来一去，登时将花圃践踏得不成模样。这汉子的坐骑甚是骏良，他骑术又精，来回冲了几次，饿狼始终咬不到活羊。 胡斐一转念间，已然省悟：“啊，这家伙是来踩坏蓝花！我如何能袖手不理？”当下双足一点，跃到了茅屋顶上，忽听那人“哎哟！”一声叫，纵马向北疾驰而去，那活羊却留在花圃之中。群狼扑上去抢咬撕夺，更将花圃蹂躏得狼藉不堪。 胡斐心道：“那人用心好不歹毒！”两块石子飞出，噗噗两声，打在两头恶狼脑门正中，登时脑浆迸裂，尸横就地。他跟着又打出两块石子，这一次石子较小，准头也略偏了些，一中狼腹，一中狼肩，但尽管如此，两头恶狼也已痛得嗷嗷大叫。群狼连吃苦头，知道屋顶有人，仰起了头望着胡斐，张牙舞爪，声势汹汹。胡斐见了群狼这副凶恶神情，心中大是发毛，自己赤手空拳，实不易和这十几头恶狼的毒牙利爪相抗，当下瞧准了一头最大的雄狼，一块瓦片斜削而下，正中咽喉。那狼在地下一个打滚，吃痛不过，转身便逃，另有一头大狼咬了白羊，跟着逃走。片刻之间，叫声越去越远，花圃中的蓝花却已被践踏得七零八落。 胡斐跃下屋来，连称：“可惜，可惜！”心想那村女辛勤锄花拔草，将这片蓝花培植得大是可观，现下顷刻之间尽归毁败，一定恼怒异常。哪知村女对蓝花被毁之事一句不提，只笑吟吟地道：“多谢胡爷援手了。”胡斐道：“说来惭愧！都怪我见机不早，出手太迟，倘若早将那恶汉在花圃外打下马来，这片花卉还能保全。” 那村女微微一笑，道：“蓝花就算不给恶狼踏坏，过几天也会自行萎谢。只不过迟早之间，那也算不了什么。”胡斐一怔，心想：“这姑娘吐属不凡，言语之间似含玄机。”说道：“在府上吵扰，却还没请教姑娘尊姓。”那村女微一沉吟，道：“我姓程，但在旁人跟前，你别提起我的姓氏。”这三句话说得甚是亲切，似乎已将胡斐当作是自己人看待。胡斐很是高兴，道：“那我叫你什么？” 那村女道：“你这人很好，我便索性连名字也都跟你说了。我叫程灵素，'灵枢'的'灵'，'素问'的'素'。”胡斐不知“灵枢”和“素问”乃是中国两大医经，只觉得这两个字很是雅致，不像农村女子的名字，这时已知她决不是寻常乡下姑娘，也不以为异，笑道：“那我便叫你'灵姑娘'，别人听来，只当我叫你'林姑娘'呢。”程灵素嫣然一笑，道：“你总有法儿讨我欢喜。”胡斐心中微微一动，觉得她相貌虽然并不甚美，但这么一言一笑，却自有一股妩媚的风致。
他正想询问锺兆文酒醉之事，程灵素道：“你的锺二哥喝醉了酒，不碍事，到天明便醒了。现下我要去瞧几个人，你同不同我去？” 胡斐觉得这个小姑娘行事处处十分奇怪，这半夜三更去探访别人，必有深意，便道：“我自然去。”程灵素道：“你陪我去，咱们可得约法三章。第一，你今晚不许跟人说话……”胡斐道：“好，我扮哑子便是。”程灵素笑道：“那倒不用，跟我说话当然可以。第二，不能跟人动武，放暗器点穴，一概禁止。第三，不能离开我三步之外。” 胡斐点头答应，心想：“原来她带我去见毒手药王。她叫我不能离开她身边三步，自是怕我中毒受害了。”当下甚是振奋，道：“咱们这便去么？”程灵素道：“得带些东西。”走进自己房内，约过了一盏茶时分，挑了两只竹箩出来，箩上用盖盖着，不知里面放着些什么，看她的模样，挑得颇为吃力。 胡斐道：“我来挑！”将扁担接了过来，一放上肩头，几有一百二三十斤。两只竹箩轻重悬殊，一只甚重，一只却是极轻，挑来颇不方便，只见锺兆文兀自伏在桌上，呼呼大睡，经过他身旁便闻到一股浓烈的酒气。 两人出了茅舍，程灵素将门带上，在前引路。胡斐道：“灵姑娘，我问你一件事，成不成？”程灵素道：“成啊，就怕我答不上。”胡斐道：“你若答不出，天下就没第二个人答得出了。我那锺二哥滴水没有入口，怎地会醉成这个模样？”程灵素轻轻一笑，道：“就因他滴水不肯入口，这才吃了亏。”胡斐道：“这个我就不懂了。锺二哥是老江湖，鄂北鬼见愁锺氏三雄，在武林中也算颇有名声。我却是个见识浅陋之人，哪知道他处处小心，反而……”说到这里，住口不说了。 程灵素道：“你说好了！他处处小心，反而着了我的道儿，是不是？处处小心提防便有用了吗？只有像你这般，才会太平无事。”胡斐道：“我怎么啊！”程灵素笑道：“叫你挑粪便挑粪，叫你吃饭便吃饭。这般听话，人家怎能忍心害你？”胡斐笑道：“原来做人要听话。可是你整人的法儿也太巧妙了些，我到现在还是摸不着头脑。” 程灵素道：“好，我教你一个乖。厅上有一盆小小的白花，你瞧见了么？”胡斐当时没留意，这时一加回想，果然记得窗口一张半桌上放着一盆小朵儿的白花。程灵素道：“这盆花叫做醍醐香，花香醉人，极是厉害，闻得稍久，便和饮了烈酒一般无异。我在汤里、茶里都放了解药。谁教他不喝啊？” 胡斐恍然大悟，不禁对这位姑娘大起敬畏之心，暗道自来只听说有人在饮食之中下毒，哪知她下毒的方法却高明得多，对方不吃不喝反而会中毒。程灵素道：“待会回去我便给他解药，你不用担心。”胡斐心中一动：“这位姑娘既然擅用药物，说不定能治苗大侠的伤目，那便不须去求什么毒手药王了。”于是问道：“灵姑娘，你知道解治断肠草毒性的法子吗？”程灵素道：“难说。” 胡斐听她说了这两个字，便没下文，不便就提医治之请，只见她脚步轻盈，在前不疾不徐地走着，虽不是施展轻功，但没过多少时光已走了六七里路，瞧方向是走向正东，不是去药王庄的道路，忽然又想到一事，说道：“我还想问你一件事，适才我和锺二哥去药王庄，你说还是向东北方去的好，故意叫我们绕道多走了二十几里路。这其中的用意，我一直没能明白。” 程灵素道：“你真正想问我的，还不是这件事。我猜你是想问：药王庄明明是在西北，咱们怎么向东走？”胡斐笑道：“你既猜到了，那我一并请问便是。”程灵素道：“咱们所以不朝药王庄走，因为并不是去药王庄。”这一下，胡斐又是出于意料之外，“啊”了一声。 程灵素又道：“白天我要你浇花，一来是试试你，二来是要你耽搁些时光，后来再叫你绕道多走二十几里，也是为了要你多耗时刻，这样便能在天黑之后再到药王庄外。只因药王庄外所种的血矮栗，一到天黑，毒性便小，我给你的蓝花才克得它住。” 胡斐听了，心中钦服无已，万想不到用毒使药，竟有这许多学问，这个貌不惊人的小姑娘用心深至，更非常人所及，当下说到在洞庭湖见到的两名死者。程灵素听说两名死者脸上满是黑点，肌肉扭曲，哼了一声，道：“这种鬼蝙蝠的毒无药可治。他们什么也不顾了。”胡斐心道：“'鬼蝙蝠'是什么毒，她说了我也不懂。反正一意听她吩咐行事便了，多说多问，徒然显得自己一无是处。”于是不再询问，跟在她身后一路向东。
又走了五六里路，进了一座黑黝黝的树林。程灵素低声道：“到了。他们还没来，咱们在这树林子中等候，你把这只竹箩放在那株树下。”说着向一株大树一指。胡斐依言提了那只份量甚重的竹箩过去放好。程灵素走到离大树八九丈处的一丛长草之旁，道：“这一只竹箩给我提过来。”随即拨开长草，钻进了草丛之中。 胡斐也不问谁还没来，等候什么，记着不离开她三步的约言，便提了另一只竹箩，也钻进草丛，挨在她的身旁。仰头向天，只见月轮西斜，已过夜半。树林中虫声此起彼伏，偶然也听到一二声枭鸣。程灵素递给他一粒药丸，低声道：“含在口里，别吞下！”胡斐看也不看便放入嘴中，但觉味道极苦。 两人静静的坐着，过了小半个时辰，胡斐东想西想，只觉这一日一晚的经历，实在大是诡异，可说是生平从所未遇之奇。突然之间，想到了袁紫衣：“不知她这时身在何处？如果这时在我身畔的，不是这个瘦瘦小小的姑娘而是袁姑娘，不知她要跟我说什么？”一想到她，便伸手入怀，去摸玉凤。 忽然程灵素伸手拉了他的衣角，向前一指。胡斐顺着她手指瞧去，只见远处一盏灯笼，正在渐渐移近。本来灯笼的火光必是暗红之色，但这盏灯笼发出的却是碧油油的绿光。 灯笼来得甚快，不多时已到身前十余丈外，灯下瞧得明白，提灯的是个驼背女子，走起路来左高右低，看来右脚是跛的。她身后紧随着一个汉子，身材魁梧，腰间插着明晃晃的一把尖刀。 胡斐想起锺兆文的说话，身子不由得微微一震：“锺二哥说，有人说毒手药王是个屠夫模样的大汉，又有人说药王是个又驼又跛的女子。那么这两人之中，必有一个是药王。”斜眼向程灵素一看，黑暗之中，瞧不见她的脸色，但见她一对清澈晶莹的大眼，目不转睛地望着两人，神情显甚紧张。胡斐登时起了侠义之心：“这毒手药王如要不利于她，我便是拚着性命，也要护她周全。” 那一男一女越走越近。只见那女子容貌甚是文秀，虽然身有残疾，仍可说得上是个美女，那大汉却是满脸横肉，形相凶狠。两人都是四十来岁年纪。胡斐一身武功，便是遇到江湖上最厉害的巨寇大贼环攻，也是无所畏惧，但这时却不由自主的心中怦怦乱跳，自觉武功有时而穷，对付这种人，武功未必便能管用。 那两人走到胡斐身前七八丈处，忽然折而向左，又走了十余丈，站定身子。那大汉朗声叫道：“慕容师兄，我夫妇依约前来，便请露面相见吧！” 他站立之处距胡斐并不甚远，突然开口说话，声音又大，只把他吓了一跳。那大汉说了两遍，无人答话，胡斐心想：“这里除了咱们四人，再没旁人，哪里还有什么慕容师兄？这两人原来是一对夫妻。” 那驼背女子细声细气地道：“慕容师兄既然不肯现身，我夫妇迫得无礼了。” 胡斐暗暗好笑：“这叫做一报还一报。适才我到药王庄来拜访，说什么你们也不理睬。这时候别人也给一个软钉子你们碰碰。”只见那女子从怀中取出一束草来，伸到灯笼中去点燃了，立时发出一股浓烟。过不多时，林中便白雾瀰漫，烟雾之中微有檀香气息，倒也并不难闻。 胡斐听她说“迫得无礼”四字。知道这股烟雾定然厉害，但自己却也不感到有何不适，想必是口中含了药丸之功，转头向程灵素望了一眼。这时她也正回眸瞧他，目光中充满了关注之色。胡斐心中感激，微微点了点头。 那烟雾越来越浓，突然大树下的竹箩中有人大声打了个喷嚏。 胡斐大吃一惊：“怎么竹箩中有人？我挑了半天一点也没知情。那么我跟程姑娘的说话，都让他听去了？”自忖对毒物医药之道虽然一窍不通，但练了这许多年武功，决不能挑着一个人走这许多路而茫然不觉，除非这是个死人，那又作别论。他心中大是惊奇，只听竹箩中那人又连打几个喷嚏，箩盖掀开，跃了出来。但见他长袍儒巾，正是日间所见在小山上采药的那个老者。 这时他衣衫凌乱，头巾歪斜，神情甚是狼狈，已没半点日间所见的儒雅神态，一见到那男女二人，怒声喝道：“好啊，姜师弟、薛师妹。你们下手越来越阴毒了。” 那夫妇俩见他这般模样，也似颇出意料之外。那大汉冷笑说道：“还说我们下手阴毒？你躲在竹箩之中，谁又料得到了？慕容师兄……”他话未说完，那老者嗅了几下，神色大变，急从怀中摸出一枚药丸，放入口中。 那驼背女子将散发浓烟的草药一足踏灭，放回怀中，说道：“大师兄，来不及啦，来不及啦！” 那老者脸如土色，颓然坐在地下，过了半晌，说道：“好，算我栽了。” 那大汉从怀中摸出一个青色瓷瓶，举在手里，道：“解药便在这里。你师侄中了你的毒手，得拿解药来换啊。”那老者道：“胡说八道！你们说是小铁哥么？我几年没见他了，下什么毒手？”那驼背女子道：“你约我们到这里，只是要说这句话么？”转头向那大汉说道：“铁山，咱们走吧。”说着掉头便走。那大汉尚有犹豫，道：“小铁……”那女子道：“他恨咱们入骨，宁可自己送了性命，也决不肯饶过小铁。这些年来，难道你还想不通？”那大汉想走又不肯走，说道：“大师兄，咱们多年以前的怨恨，到这时何必再放在心上？小弟奉劝一句，还是交换解药，把这个结子也同时解开了吧！”这几句话说得甚是诚恳。 那老者问道：“薛师妹，小铁中了什么毒？”那女子冷笑一声，并不回答。那大汉道：“大师兄，到这地步，也不用假惺惺了。小弟恭贺你种成了七心海棠……”那老者大声道：“谁种成了七心海棠？难道小铁中的是七心海棠之毒？我没有啊，我没有啊。”他说这几句话时神情惶急，恐惧之意见于颜色。 两夫妇对望了一眼，心中均想：“难道他假装得这般像？”那女子道：“好，慕容师兄，废话少说。你约我们到这里来相会，有什么吩咐？”那老者搔头道：“我没有约啊。是你们把我搬到这里来，怎么反说是我相约？”说到这里，又气又愧，突然飞起一腿，将竹箩踢出了六七丈外。 那女子冷冷地道：“难道这封信也不是你写的？师兄的字迹，我生平瞧得也不算少了。”说着从怀中取出一张纸笺，左手一扬，那纸笺便向老者飞了过去。那老者伸手欲接，突然缩手，跟着一掌发出。掌风将那纸笺在空中挡了一挡，左手中指一弹，发出了一枚暗器。这暗器是一枚长约三寸的透骨钉，射向纸笺，拍的一声，将纸笺钉在树上。 胡斐暗自寒心：“跟这些人打交道，对方说一句话，喷一口气，都要提防他下毒。这老者不敢用手去接笺，自是怕笺上有毒了。”只见驼背女子提高灯笼。火光照耀纸笺，白纸上两行大字，胡斐虽在远处，也看得清楚，见纸上写着道： “姜薛两位：三更后请赴黑虎林，有事相商，知名不具。” 那两行字笔致枯瘦，却颇挺拔，字如其人，和那老者的身形隐隐然有相类之处。 那老者“咦”的一声，似乎甚是诧异。 那大汉问道：“大师兄，有什么不对了？”那老者冷冷地道：“这信不是我写的。”此言一出，夫妇两人对望了一眼。那驼背女子冷笑了一声，显是不相信他的说话。那老者道：“信上的笔迹，倒真和我的书法甚是相像，这可奇了。”他伸左手摸了摸颏下胡须，勃然怒道：“你们把我装在竹箩之中，抬到这里，到底干什么来啦？”那女子道：“小铁中了七心海棠之毒，你到底给治呢，还是不给治？”那老者道：“你拿得稳么？当真是七心……七心海棠么？”说到“七心海棠”四字时声音微颤，语音中流露了强烈的恐惧之意。 胡斐听到这里，心中渐渐明白，定是另外有一个高手从中拨弄，以致这三人说来说去，言语总是不能接榫。那么这高手是谁呢？ 他不自禁地转头向身旁程灵素望了一眼，但见她一双朗若明星的大眼在黑暗中炯炯发光。难道这个面黄肌瘦的小姑娘竟有这般能耐？这可太也令人难以相信！ 他正自凝思，猛听得一声大喝，声音呜呜，极是怪异，忙回过头来，只见那老者和那对夫妇已欺近在一起，各自蹲着身子，双手向前平推，六掌相接，口中齐声“呜呜”而呼。老者喝声峻厉，大汉喝声粗猛，那驼背女子的喝声却高而尖锐。三人的喝声都是一般漫长，连续不断。突然之间，喝声齐止，只见那老者纵身后跃，寒光一闪，发出一枚透骨钉，将灯笼打灭，跟着那大汉大叫一声：“啊哟！”显是中了老者的暗算，身上受伤。 这时林中黑漆一团，只觉四下里处处都是危机，胡斐顺手拉着程灵素的手向后一扯，自己已挡在她的身前。这一挡他实是未经思索，只觉凶险迫近，非尽力保护这个弱女子不可，至于凭他之力是否保护得了，却绝未想到。 那大汉叫了这一下之后，立即寂然无声，树林中虽然共有五人，竟是没半点声息。 胡斐又听到了草间的虫声，听到远处猫头鹰的咕咕而鸣。忽然之间，一只软软的小手伸了过来，握住了他粗大的手掌。胡斐身子一颤，随即知道这是程灵素的手，只觉柔嫩纤细，倒像十一二岁女童的手掌一般。 在一片寂静之中，眼前忽地升起两股袅袅的烟雾，一白一灰，两股烟像两条活蛇一般，自两旁向中央游去，互相撞击。同时嗤嗤的轻响不绝，胡斐在黑暗中睁大了眼睛观看，隐约见到左右各有一点火星。一点火星之后是那个老者，另一点火星之后是那驼背女子。两人各自蹲着身子，用力鼓气将烟雾向对方吹去，自是点燃了草药，发出毒烟，要令对方中毒。 两人吹了好一会，林中烟雾瀰漫，越来越浓。突然之间，那老者“咦”的一声，抬头瞧着先前钉在大树上的那张纸笺。胡斐见那纸笺微微摇晃，上面发出闪闪光芒，竟是写着发光的几行字。那夫妇二人也大是惊奇，转头瞧去，只见那几行字写道： “字谕慕容景岳、姜铁山、薛鹊三徒知悉：尔等互相残害，不念师门之谊，余甚厌之，宜即尽释前愆，继余遗志，是所至嘱。余临终之情，素徒当为详告也。