Chapter 29 Chapter Twenty-Eight

You TanZhi saw Xiao Feng and his party heading northward without turning back, he realized that he was not going to die, he thought: "Why doesn't this traitor kill me? Hmph, he doesn't look down on me at all, he thinks he killed me I dirty hands. He...he did something great in Liao Kingdom, it will be even more difficult for me to take revenge in the future. But I finally found the whereabouts of this traitor." He bent down and picked up the lime bag, then went to look for the dagger that Xiao Feng had snatched away with a whip and threw it away, suddenly saw a small oilcloth bag in the grass on the left, it was Xiao Feng's that he took out from his pocket and put it back, he immediately picked it up , opened the oilcloth, saw a book inside, flipped through it casually, every page was filled with squiggly words, no one could read it.It turned out that when Xiao Feng saw things and thought about people, he was in a daze, when he put this "Yi Jin Jing" back into his bosom, he didn't put it securely, the horse jolted a little, then fell into the grass, he didn't notice it.

You TanZhi thought: "This is probably in Khitan script, the traitor carries this book with him, it must be of great use to him. I'm not going to return it to him, it's good to make him difficult." He faintly felt a trace of revenge Ruyi, wrapped the book back in the tarpaulin, put it in his arms, and headed southward. He has been learning martial arts from his father since he was a child, but he suffers from a weak body and weak physical strength, which is completely different from the You Clan's powerful foreign martial arts methods. After learning martial arts for three years, he has made very little progress, not like the children of famous families.When he was twelve years old, You Ju became discouraged and discussed with his elder brother You Ji.They both said: "My You family's son has played such a three-legged cat, wouldn't it make people laugh? What's more, when others hear that he is the nephew of the You family's twin male nephews in Juxianzhuang, they don't want to do anything. He used all his strength, and the first move killed him. It is better for him to study literature obediently to save his life." So You Tanzhi stopped learning martial arts when he was twelve years old, and You Ju hired a Su Confucianism taught him to read.

But he refused to pay attention to reading, always thinking wildly.The teacher said: "Zi said, learning and practicing from time to time, isn't that the same thing?" He then said: "It depends on what to learn. My father taught me boxing, and I learn and practice it from time to time. I am not happy." The teacher said angrily: "Confucius is talking about the knowledge of sages and sages, the great achievements of the world, what is the matter of punching and guns?" You Tanzhi said: "Okay, you say my uncle and father are not good at punching and guns, I will tell dad Go." In short, the teacher was angry and left.In this way, he continued to drive the teacher away, and You Ju beat him dozens of times, but the more he beat him, the more stubborn and naughty he became.Seeing that his son is disrespectful, stubborn and difficult to teach, You Ju has no choice but to let him go and ignore him after sighing.So You TanZhi is 18 years old this year, although he comes from a famous family, he knows neither literature nor martial arts.After his uncle and father committed suicide and his mother committed suicide by committing suicide, he was lonely and wandering around, all he could think of was to seek revenge from Qiao Feng.

That day during the battle at Juxian Village, he hid behind the screen wall to watch the battle, and he saw Qiao Feng's appearance clearly. He heard that he was a Khitan, so he came northward in a daze, and saw a little thief throwing a knife on the river and lake. The lime bag hurt the enemy's eyes, so he thought it was a good idea, so he made one and kept it by his side. He wandered around the border, and was caught by the Khitan soldiers when they came out to hunt grass valleys. It can be said that it was a perfect coincidence that he threw it. He thought to himself: "The most important thing right now is to go as far as possible, and don't let him catch me back. I try to catch a poisonous snake or a big centipede, and secretly put it on his bed. Killed him with one bite. That little girl...that little girl, oh, she...she's so pretty!"

Thinking of Ah Zi's appearance, his chest felt inexplicably hot, and his face also felt hot, thinking: "I don't know when, I will see this pale, delicate and beautiful little girl again." He bowed his head and walked with big strides, he passed the group of refugees that Xiao Feng sent back in a short while.Someone kindly asked him to go with him, but he ignored them and just walked on his own.After walking for more than ten miles, my stomach was growling with hunger, and I looked around to find something to eat. There was nothing in the grassland except dry grass and white snow. I thought: "If I were a cow or a sheep, it would be fine. Well, eating grass and drinking snow, I am very happy. Well, if I were a lamb, and someone took my father and mother to slaughter and eat them, would I take revenge? I want to repay it. But how to repay the law? Hit the person who killed my parents with two horns? They raised cattle and sheep, which were slaughtered to eat, so what is the point of retribution?"

He was thinking wildly, walking casually, when suddenly he heard the sound of horseshoes, three Khitan cavalry galloped towards him in the snow, when they saw him, they cheered loudly.A Khitan soldier waved out a rope loop, put it around his neck with a swipe sound, and tightened it immediately after pulling it.You TanZhi hastily stretched out his hand to pull it.The Khitan soldier let out a howl, and galloped away.You TanZhi couldn't stand his footing, he fell and was dragged out by the soldier.You TanZhi screamed a few times, then the rope around his throat was tightened, he couldn't scream anymore.

The Khitan soldier was afraid that he would be strangled to death, so he stopped his horse immediately.You TanZhi struggled to get up from the ground, loosened the rope loop around his throat.The Khitan soldier pulled hard, You TanZhi staggered, nearly fell down.The three Khitan soldiers all laughed loudly.The Khitan soldier holding the rope said a few words loudly to You TanZhi.You TanZhi did not understand Khitan's language, so he shook his head.The Khitan soldier waved his hand and galloped his horse, but this time he didn't rush.You TanZhi was afraid that his throat would be strangled again and he would not be able to breathe, so he could only walk two steps and run three steps to follow.

Seeing the three Khitan cavalry marching northward, he felt frightened: "This guy Qiao Feng said nicely that he let me go, but then he turned around and ordered his subordinates to arrest me. This time he will arrest me." Where is life left?" When he left his home and headed north, all he could think of was revenge, he didn't know the heights of heaven and earth, when he suddenly saw Xiao Feng, the feeling of his parents' tragic death came to his mind, and he tried to pack it with lime. Blind his eyes, then pounced on him and stabbed him to death with a short knife.But he missed a hit, lost all vigor, just wanted to escape with his life, but was taken away by the Khitan soldiers.

At first he was captured by the Khitan soldiers when they came out to dig grassy valleys, and he was mixed with women, who couldn't walk fast, but he could keep up with them, and he didn't suffer much, but was stabbed in the back when he was captured.But now it's very different, he stumbled and ran away, out of breath, he fell down after he couldn't walk more than dozens of steps, every time he fell, there was a bloodstain on the back of his neck when the rope was fixed.The Khitan cavalry never stopped, regardless of his life or death, they dragged him straight into Nanjing city.When he entered the city, You TanZhi was already covered in blood, he only hoped to die soon, so as not to suffer so much.

The three Khitan soldiers walked several li in the city and dragged him into a big house.You TanZhi saw that the floor is covered with bluestone slabs, the pillars are thick and the door is high, he doesn't know where it is.Before stopping for a cup of tea at the door, the Khitan soldiers who were leading him rode into a large courtyard, suddenly there was a whistling sound, and the horse galloped as soon as its legs were pinched.You TanZhi could not have expected that when the soldier arrived in the courtyard, he would gallop on his horse, take three steps, then he would bend over and fall down.

The Khitan soldiers howled repeatedly, dragged You TanZhi around the courtyard three times, urged the horse to gallop faster, dozens of officers and soldiers watching shouted loudly to cheer.You TanZhi said in his heart: "So he wants to drag me to death underground!" His forehead, limbs, body collided with the blue stones on the ground, there is no pain anywhere. Amidst the laughter of all the Khitan soldiers, there was a clear female laughter.You TanZhi was in a daze, faintly heard the woman laughing and saying: "Haha, I'm afraid this person won't be able to let go of the kite!" You TanZhi said in his heart, "What is a kite?" At this moment, he felt a tightness in the back of his neck, and his body flew into the air, and he immediately understood that this Khitan soldier galloped on his horse, and he was pulled up into the air, playing like a kite. His whole body was in the air, the back of his neck was so painful that he lost consciousness, his mouth and nose were filled with wind, he couldn't breathe, but he heard the woman clapping her hands and laughing: "Very good, very good, I really let go of the human kite!" Looking around the sound, I saw that the one clapping and laughing was the beautiful girl in purple.At first glance, his chest trembled violently, he didn't know whether it was joy or sorrow, his body was floating in the air, and he really couldn't think. That beautiful girl is Ah Zi.Seeing Xiao Feng releasing You TanZhi, she was not happy, she rode for a distance, then deliberately lagged behind, and ordered her followers to quietly capture You TanZhi, but not to let King Xiao know about it.The attendants knew that King Xiao loved her very much, so they readily accepted the order, pretended to straighten the horse's girth, stopped behind the hillside, waited for Xiao Feng and his party to go far away, then turned around to catch You TanZhi.AhZi returns to Nanjing, she waits at Yousheng Palace which is far away from Xiao Feng's residence.After You TanZhi was caught, she asked the Khitan people for any new and interesting methods of torturing criminals.Someone talked about "releasing people's kites".This method was very favorable to AhZi, she ordered it to be implemented immediately, and actually "released" You TanZhi. AhZi saw it interestingly, applauded repeatedly, and said: "Let me let you go!" He got on the saddle that the soldier was riding on, took the rope, and said: "Get down!" The soldier jumped off his horse and let AhZi release the "human kite".AhZi pulled the rope, galloped her horse around, laughed loudly, and repeatedly shouted: "Interesting, interesting!" But she had just recovered from a serious injury, her hands were exhausted after all, her wrists softened, the rope drooped, and there was a bang, You TanZhi He fell down heavily and landed on the bluestone slab, his forehead bumped into the sharp corner of the main step, and a hole was broken immediately, blood gushed out like a fountain.AhZi was very disappointed, annoyed: "This stupid boy is too heavy!" You TanZhi was in so much pain that he almost fainted, he heard that she was still blaming him for being too heavy, he wanted to explain a few words, but he was too painful to speak.A Khitan soldier approached and untied the rope around his neck, another Khitan soldier tore off the skirt of his body, and wrapped up his wound indiscriminately. The blood kept oozing from the wound, but how could it stop? AhZi said: "Okay, okay! Let's play again, put him up again, the higher the better." You TanZhi didn't understand the Khitan dialect she said, but seeing her gesticulating and pointing at the top of his head, he didn't know Knowing is not a good thing. Sure enough, a Khitan soldier lifted the rope, passed through his armpit, and wrapped it around his body for a circle, so as not to strangle him to death, he shouted: "Get up!" After a few laps, he was "released" again.The rope in the hands of the Khitan soldier gradually became longer and longer, You TanZhi's body gradually floated higher. The Khitan soldier let go of his hand suddenly, with a whoosh, You TanZhi flew upwards like an arrow leaving the string.AhZi and all the officers and soldiers applauded loudly.You Tanzhi couldn't help but flew towards the sky, he only said in his heart: "This time I'm dead!" When the upward force was exhausted, he rushed down head to foot, his head was about to hit the bluestone slab, four Khitan officers and soldiers simultaneously swung out rope loops, wrapped around his waist, and pulled in all directions.You TanZhi passed out immediately, but the four forces had already frozen his body in mid-air, his head was about three feet off the ground.This blow was extremely dangerous, as long as one of the four hit the rope a bit late and the force was uneven, You TanZhi's brains would definitely burst from the impact.A group of Khitan soldiers used to play like the Song people. The captives were released by the kite, and eight or nine out of ten were killed. Even if they dived down from such a high height on the soft ground of the grassland, even if they didn't hit their heads, they would be broken. Head and neck, generally killed. Amid the applause, four Khitan soldiers put You TanZhi down.Ah Zi took out the silver taels, and a group of officers and soldiers rewarded five taels each.All the soldiers thanked loudly and asked: "What else do you want to play?" AhZi saw You TanZhi passed out, she didn't know whether it was dead or alive, when she released the "human kite" just now, she used too much force, her chest hurts, she couldn't play any more, she said: "Enough playing. If this kid He is not dead, bring him to see me tomorrow, and I will try to amuse him. This man wants to plot against King Xiao, but he cannot die too easily." All the officers and soldiers agreed in unison, and put You Tan, who was covered in blood, on the frame. out. When You TanZhi woke up, a musty smell came straight to his nose, he opened his eyes, it was pitch black, he couldn't see anything, his first thought was: "I don't know if I'm dead or not?" Then he felt everywhere in his body Pain, thirsty throat unbearable.He shouted hoarsely: "Water! Water!" But who cares? He yelled a few times, fell asleep in a daze, and suddenly saw his uncle, father and Qiao Feng fighting, blood flowed everywhere, and saw his mother hugging him in her arms, comforting him softly, telling him not to be afraid.Then Ah Zi's beautiful face appeared in front of his eyes, and there was a strange light in his bright eyes.This face suddenly shrunk and turned into a triangular snake head, sticking out a long blood-red tongue and baring its fangs to bite him.You TanZhi struggled desperately, but he couldn't move at all, the snake bit him every bite, on his hands, legs, neck, everywhere, especially on his forehead.Seeing his own flesh being bitten off piece by piece, he just wanted to scream, but he couldn't make a sound... So tossed all night, tortured when awake, and general pain in sleep. The next day two Khitan soldiers escorted him to see AhZi again, his high fever still persisted, he only took a step and fell forward.Two Khitan soldiers hurriedly grabbed his left arm and right arm respectively, scolded him loudly, and dragged him into a big room.You TanZhi thought: "Where did they drag me? Did they drag me out to kill me?" His head was dizzy and he couldn't think about it, but he passed two long corridors and came out of a hall.Two Khitan soldiers reported a few words outside the door, a woman inside responded, the hall door was pushed open, and the Khitan soldiers embraced him in. You TanZhi raised his head, he saw a huge carpet with colorful patterns on the hall, on the brocade mat at the end of the carpet sat a beautiful girl, it was AhZi.She was barefoot, stepping on the carpet.When You Tanzhi saw her pair of snow-white and crystal-clear little feet, they were really as soft as jade and as soft as satin, his heart suddenly jumped up violently, his eyes were firmly fixed on her pair of feet, when he saw her instep The flesh color of her skin is as transparent as it is, with a few blue veins faintly showing, I really want to reach out and touch it a few times.The two Khitan soldiers released him.You TanZhi swayed for a few times, and finally managed to stand still.He never took his eyes off Ah Zi's feet, he saw that the toenails of her ten toes were all light red, like ten small petals. AhZi saw in her eyes that it was an ugly boy covered in blood, his face was distorted, his jaw was protruding, but greedy flames shot out from his eyes.She suddenly thought of a wounded hungry wolf.When she was in Xingxiu Sea, she went hunting with her two senior brothers. She shot an arrow at a hungry wolf, but failed to kill the wolf.The wolf was seriously injured, and stared at him viciously, his eyes were just like You Tanzhi's, the wolf just wanted to jump up and bite him to death, even though it couldn't jump up, it still bared its white fangs and howled angrily .AhZi likes to look at this wild look, loves to hear the wolf's ferocious and helpless howl, but You TanZhi is too weak and doesn't resist at all, it's really not tasteful.Yesterday he threw a bag of lime at Xiao Feng, refused to bow down, spoke very stubbornly, and refused to take Xiao Feng's money, Ah Zi was very happy, thinking that this is a ferocious beast.She wanted to torture him, stab him with bruises all over his body, and wanted him to bite herself fiercely for every wound on his body. Of course, this bite must not let him bite.But when he was captured and let the "human kite" go, the beast didn't resist, it looked like it was alive, that's not fun.She frowned slightly, thinking: "Is there any new way to torture him for fun?" Suddenly, You Tanzhi made two "Hehe" sounds from his throat, he did not know where it came from, like a leopard, he rushed towards AZi swiftly, hugged her calf, bowed his head and kissed her The insteps of her feet.Ah Zi was taken aback and screamed.The two Khitan soldiers and the four maidservants serving beside Ah Zi shouted in unison, rushed forward and pulled them away. But he held it tightly with both hands, and refused to let go.The Khitan soldiers pulled Ah Zi off the brocade mat and sat down on the carpet.The two Khitan soldiers were frightened and angry, they didn't dare to pull any more, one hit him hard on the vest, and the other hit him on the right side of the cheek.You TanZhi's wound was swollen, his high fever did not subside, his mind was insane, he seemed to have gone crazy, he was completely at a loss for the scene in front of him.He hugged AhZi's calf tightly and kept kissing her feet. AhZi felt that his hot and dry lips were kissing her feet, she was afraid in her heart, but she also had a strange feeling of numbness and itching, she suddenly screamed: "Ah! He bit my toe." Busy He said to the two Khitan soldiers: "Go away quickly, this man has gone crazy, oh, don't let him bite off my toe." You TanZhi bit her toe lightly, although AhZi didn't feel pain, she was afraid He suddenly bit down hard, in a panic, he knew not to use force, fearing that if the Khitan soldiers beat him hard again, he would bite indiscriminately regardless of his life. The two Khitan soldiers had no choice but to let go.AhZi shouted: "Don't bite, I will spare you, ouch, let me let you go." You TanZhi's mind is in a frenzy at this moment, so why pay attention to what she said?A Khitan soldier held down his waist saber, he just wanted to draw the saber out of its sheath suddenly, cut off his head from the back of his neck with a saber, but he was holding Ah Zi's calf, he might hurt Ah Zi when he slashed Purple, hesitated. AhZi said again: "Hey! You are not a beast, why bite people? Let go, I will have someone heal your wounds and let you go back to the Central Plains." You TanZhi still ignored him, but his teeth did not use force, He didn't bite her, he gently caressed her instep with his hands, and his heart fluttered, as if he became a human kite again and rose into the clouds. A Khitan soldier had an idea and grabbed You Tanzhi by the throat.You Tanzhi's throat was choked, he opened his mouth involuntarily.Ah Zi hastily withdrew her legs, pulled her toes out of his mouth, and stood up, fearing that he would go crazy and bite again, her feet shrank behind the brocade mat.Two Khitan soldiers grabbed You Tanzhi and punched him in the chest.When he punched a dozen or so times, he spat out a few mouthfuls of blood and stained a brightly colored carpet. AhZi said: "Stop it, don't fight!" After the thrill just now, I think this kid is weird and interesting, I don't want to kill him immediately.The Khitan soldiers stopped fighting.AhZi sat cross-legged on the brocade mat, with her bare feet under her buttocks, thinking in her mind: "How can I torture him?" As soon as AhZi raised her head, she saw You TanZhi staring at her without blinking, she asked: "Why are you looking at me?" You TanZhi put life and death aside, and said: "You are beautiful, I will just watch you!" AhZi's face flushed, and she said in her heart: "This kid is so bold, he dared to say such frivolous words to me." But in her life, no young man has ever praised her for looking good in person.When he was studying in the Xingxiu School, all the senior brothers regarded her as an elf and naughty little girl; when he was with Xiao Feng, he was either afraid of making trouble for her, or worried about her sudden death, he never paid attention to whether she was beautiful or ugly.You Tanzhi praised so bluntly, it was obviously sincere, she couldn't help but secretly rejoiced, she thought: "I keep him by my side and use him for entertainment, it's very good. It's just that my brother-in-law said that he would let him go , If you know that I have arrested him again, you will be angry. If you can hide it from him today, you can't hide it tomorrow. What can you do if you want my brother-in-law to never know? Don't allow others to tell him, it can be done, but if my brother-in-law Come in suddenly and see him, so what?" She pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought: "Ah Zhu is the best at dressing up. If I pretend to be my father, my brother-in-law will not be able to recognize her. If I change this kid, my brother-in-law will not be able to recognize her. But if he doesn't want to, I will make up with him." After that, he immediately washed off the make-up and returned to his original appearance, wouldn't it be useless?" Her crooked eyebrows frowned towards the center of her brows, she immediately had an idea, she clapped her hands and laughed, "Good idea, good idea! That's how to do it!" She said to the two soldiers for a while.The two soldiers don't understand something, so please ask for instructions.Ah Zi explained in detail, and ordered the maid to take out fifty taels of silver and hand it over to them.Two Khitan soldiers took it, bowed and saluted, and carried You Tanzhi out of the hall. You TanZhi shouted: "I want to see her, I want to see this cruel and beautiful little girl." The Khitan soldiers and all the maids don't understand Chinese, so they don't know what he is shouting. A'Zi looked at his back with a smile, thinking of her clever idea, the more she thought about it, the more she became more and more proud.
You TanZhi was taken back to the dungeon and thrown on the haystack.In the evening, someone brought a bowl of mutton and some bread.You TanZhi's high fever persisted, he babbled nonsense loudly, the man was so frightened that he put down his food and immediately backed away.You Tanzhi didn't even know he was hungry, he never ate the mutton pancake. That night, three Khitans suddenly walked in.You TanZhi was in a daze, but seeing the strange expressions of these three people, they obviously had bad intentions, vaguely knew it was not a good thing, he struggled to stand up, but also wanted to climb out and escape.Two Khitan men came up and held him down, turned him over so that his face was upside down.You TanZhi scolded: "Dog Khitan, you will die badly, I will cut you into pieces." Suddenly, the third Khitan held a white ball in both hands, like cotton, like white snow, Pressed hard on his face.You TanZhi only felt his face was wet and cold, his mind cleared up for a while, but he couldn't breathe, he thought: "So they sealed my seven orifices, they want to suffocate me to death!" But this guess was wrong after a while, someone poked his nose and mouth a few times, and he could breathe, but he couldn't open his eyes, he felt his face was wet and greasy, and someone pressed and pinched his face everywhere, so it was sticky. A layer of wet surface, or a sticky piece of slime.You TanZhi thought in a daze, "What kind of strange method do these villains want to use to kill me?" After a while, the layer of ooze on his face was gently peeled off, You TanZhi opened his eyes, and saw a face model made of wet flour leaving his face.The Khitan held it with both hands carefully, lest it might be damaged.You TanZhi scolded again: "Smelly Liao dog, I will tell you to die without a place to bury you." The three Khitan people ignored him, took the piece of wet noodles and went away. You TanZhi suddenly remembered: "That's right, they put poison on my face, after a while, my face will be festered, skin and flesh will be peeled off, and I will become a ghost..." The more he thought about it, the more frightened he became, he thought: "It's better not If you are tortured to death by them, you might as well hit yourself to death!" Immediately, he slammed his head against the wall, bang bang bang three times.Hearing the sound, the jailer rushed in and bound his hands and feet.You TanZhi was knocked half to death, he had no choice but to let himself be manipulated. After a few days, there was no pain on his face, let alone any festering, but he was determined to die. Although he was hungry, he did not touch the food brought by the jailer. On the fourth day, those three Khitan men went into the dungeon again and dragged him out.You TanZhi suddenly felt sweet in the misery, thinking that AhZi called him to humiliate and torture again, although he suffered a lot, he could see her beautiful face again, he couldn't help showing a bitter smile on his face. The three Khitans led him through several alleys and into a large dark stone house.I saw blazing coals illuminating half of the stone house, a muscular blacksmith with his upper body bare, standing beside a big anvil, holding a dark object, carefully inspecting it.Three Khitan people pushed You TanZhi in front of the blacksmith, they took his hands separately, the other grabbed his back.The blacksmith turned his head sideways, looked at his face, and at the things in his hand, as if comparing each other. You TanZhi looked at the object in his hand, he saw it was a mask made of wrought iron, it had four holes for mouth, nose and eyes.He was thinking to himself: "Why do you make this thing?" The blacksmith picked up the mask and put it on his face.You TanZhi naturally tilted his head back, but the back of his head was immediately pushed by someone, unable to retreat, the iron mask covered his face.He only felt a burst of coldness on his face, and his skin was pressed against the iron. It was strange to say that the mask matched the shape of his eyes, mouth, nose and nose everywhere, as if it was custom-made. You Tanzhi was surprised for a moment, and immediately understood the truth, suddenly a chill came down his back: "Ah, this mask is just made for me. The other day they put the wet mask on my face, It’s a model for this mask. What’s the purpose of making this iron mask carefully? Could it be... Could it be..." He had already guessed the evil intentions of these Khitan people, but he didn’t know what it was for, and he dared not Thinking about it again, I struggled desperately to retreat. The blacksmith took the mask off his face, nodded, his face seemed to be quite satisfied, took a pair of large iron tongs to clamp the mask, put it in the stove until it burned red, and lifted the iron awl with his right hand, There was a clank and a clank.He touched the mask for a while, then stretched out his hand to touch You TanZhi's cheekbones and forehead, correcting the inconsistency of the mask. You TanZhi yelled: "God damn Liao Gou, you are doing such wicked things, so vicious and vicious, God has sent disasters to make you all die! Your cows and horses will die, and your babies will die young!" He They yelled and cursed, but those Khitan people didn't understand a word.The blacksmith suddenly turned around, stared fiercely, raised the red-hot iron tongs, and poked at his eyes.You TanZhi screamed in fright. The blacksmith just frightened him, he laughed loudly, retracted the iron tongs, took another piece of curved iron, and tried it on You Tan's back head.After it was repaired properly, the blacksmith burned the mask and the half-round iron cover in the furnace until they were red-hot, and said a few words loudly.Three Khitan men lifted You Tanzhi and placed him on a table, making his head protrude from the edge of the table.Another two Khitan men came to help him, they pulled his hair hard to prevent his head from moving, five people pressed hands and feet, how could You TanZhi move a little bit? The blacksmith picked up the red-hot mask, paused for a while, waited for it to cool down, let out a big shout, and put it on You TanZhi's face.White smoke rises, scorched smell scattered, You TanZhi yelled, and passed out.Five Khitans turned him over, the blacksmith clamped the other half of the iron mask and put it on the back of his head, the two semi-circular iron masks formed an iron ball and put it on his head, the iron mask was very hot, When it touches the skin, it burns to a bloody mess.That blacksmith is the most skillful ironworker in Yanjing City, the two hemispheres of the iron cover are put together, and they are perfectly inlaid. Like entering hell, experiencing the scorching flames of ten thousand zhang, You Tanzhi didn't know how long it took before he woke up, but he felt severe pain on his face and the back of his head, finally couldn't bear it anymore, and passed out again.After passing out three times like this, and waking up three times, he yelled loudly, but his voice was extremely hoarse, not like a human voice. He lay motionless, not thinking, and gritted his teeth to endure the pain in his face and head.After more than two hours, he finally raised his hand and touched his face. The tentacles were cold and hard, confirming that his conjecture was correct. The iron mask had been put on his head, and he tore it off in anger, but the mask was gone. The welding is solid, but how to move it?In desperation, I couldn't help crying loudly. At last he was young, although he suffered so much, he survived and did not die. After a few days, the wound healed slowly, the pain gradually subsided, and he also knew the hunger.Smelling the aroma of mutton and bread, I couldn't resist the temptation, so I ate it as soon as I brought it.At this time, he had already felt the iron cover on his head clearly, knowing that the iron cover had sealed his head tightly, and he was determined not to be able to get out. He was furious for the first few days, but finally calmed down, thinking: " What's the purpose of that thief Qiao Feng putting an iron mask on my face?" He only knew that all this was due to Xiao Feng's order, so naturally he couldn't guess that the reason why Ah Zi wanted to cover his face was to hide it from Xiao Feng. All these efforts were done by the head of the room under the instruction of Ah Zi.
AhZi asked the room every day how You TanZhi was doing after he put on the mask, at first he was worried that he would die because of this, but he was not interested, but later he knew that he would not die, he was very happy.This day they learned that Xiao Feng was going to the southern suburbs for a military parade, the mission room summoned You Tanzhi to "Duanfu Palace".Yelu Hongji, in order to make Xiao Feng like him, has granted Ah Zi the title of "Princess Duanfu Princess", and this Duanfu Palace is given to her to live in. As soon as AhZi saw You TanZhi's appearance, she couldn't help feeling a surge of joy from the bottom of her heart, thinking: "My method works. This kid put on such a mask, so my brother-in-law will face him Standing face to face, I am determined not to recognize him." You Tanzhi walked a few steps forward, Ah Zi applauded and said: "In the room, this mask is very well made. You can take another fifty taels of silver to reward it To the blacksmith!" The room said: "Yes! Thank you Princess!" You TanZhi looked out from the two eye holes of the mask, saw AhZi's face was full of joy, her face was charming, and he heard her clear and melodious voice, he couldn't help staring at her blankly. AhZi saw that he wore a mask on his face, his expression was strange, but he could still see it through his eyes, so he asked: "Silly boy, why are you looking at me?" You TanZhi said: "I...I ...I don't know. You...you look good." AZi smiled and said: "Do you feel comfortable wearing this mask?" You TanZhi said resentfully: "Do you want to feel comfortable?" AZi giggled, Said: "I can't think of it." Seeing that the mouth hole on his mask is just a narrow slit, he can barely drink soup and eat. If he wants to eat meat, he has to tear it up with his hands before he can stuff it in, and then bite His own toes can no longer be used, and he said with a smile, "I tell you to wear this mask, and you will never be able to bite me again." You Tanzhi was overjoyed, and said: "Miss, you call me... tell me... to always serve by your side?" Ah Zi said: "Bah! You are a big villain. When you are by my side, you always think Ways to harm me, how can I tolerate it?" You Tanzhi said: "I...I...I will definitely not harm the girl. My enemy is only Qiao Feng." Ah Zi said: "You want to harm my brother-in-law? Don't you? Is it the same as harming me? What's the difference?" Hearing this sentence, You Tanzhi's chest felt sore, he was speechless. AhZi laughed and said: "You want to harm my brother-in-law, that's called hard to reach the sky. Silly boy, do you want to die?" You TanZhi said: "Of course I don't want to die. But now I have this troublesome thing on my head, why don't you die?" It has been treated so that people don't look like people, ghosts don't look like ghosts, and it's not much different from being dead." Ah Zi said: "If you would rather die, that's fine, I will fulfill your wish, but I won't let you die." You simply died. I will cut off your left hand first." Turning his head to Shi Li who was standing beside him, he said: "Shi Li, you pull him out and cut off his left hand first!" Shi Li replied : "Yes!" She stretched out her hand to pull his arm. You TanZhi was shocked, and shouted: "No, no! Miss, I don't want to die, you...you... don't cut off my hand." Ah Zi smiled faintly, said: "What I said, it is very difficult Not counting, unless...unless...you kneel and kowtow." You TanZhi hesitated slightly, the room pulled him back two steps.You TanZhi didn't dare to delay any longer, his knees softened, he fell to his knees, he knocked his head down, the iron cover collided with the green brick, and there was a loud noise.Azige smiled coquettishly, and said: "The sound of kowtowing is so nice, I've never heard it before, please kowtow a little more." You Tanzhi is the small village owner of Juxian Village. Although he is not successful in literature and martial arts, everyone in the village knows that he is a worthless young man, but You Ji's son died early, and You Ju is only such a treasure. Son, the young owner called Bainuo, who has been pampered since childhood, how often has he suffered such humiliation?When he first met Xiao Feng, he still had an arrogance that would rather die than surrender. In the past few days, he has suffered severe trauma in his mind and body, and his youthful arrogance has disappeared without a trace. Kowtow, there was a bang, and this fairy-like girl actually praised herself for kowtow, and she felt faintly happy in her heart. AhZi smiled sweetly and said: "Very good, from now on you listen to me and don't disobey at all, that's fine, otherwise I will cut off your arm at any time, remember?" You TanZhi said: "Yes, yes! "AZi said: "I put this iron mask on for you, do you know why?" You TanZhi said: "I just don't understand." AZI said: "You are so stupid, I will save you You don’t know how to thank me for taking your life. King Xiao wants to chop you into mincemeat, don’t you know?” You Tanzhi said: “He is my father and enemy, so I won’t tolerate him.” Ah Zi Said: "He pretended to let you go, then asked someone to catch you back, and ordered someone to chop you into meat paste. I saw that you are not too bad, it would be a pity to kill you, so I hid you without telling him. But Xiao If your majesty bumps into you, will you survive? Even I have a lot to do with it." You TanZhi suddenly realized, and said: "Ah, it turns out that the girl made this iron mask for me to wear, it was for my own good and saved my life. I... I'm so grateful, really... I'm so grateful." AhZi played tricks on him, and even tricked him into being grateful. She was very proud and said with a smile, "So, next time you see King Xiao, you must not speak, so as not to let him hear the voice. If he recognizes it is You, hum, hum! With this pull, your left arm will be pulled off, and with another pull, your right arm will be torn off. In the room, go and change him into a Khitan shirt, and put him on Wash it, it smells like blood, it smells so bad." The room agreed and took him out. Not long after, You TanZhi came in again from the room, and changed him into Khitan clothes.In order to please AhZi, the room deliberately dressed him up colorfully, neither male nor female, like a clown. AZi pursed her lips and smiled: "I will give you a name, called... Tie Chou. From now on I will be Tie Chou, you have to agree. Tie Chou!" You TanZhi hurriedly replied: "Yes!" 阿紫很是欢喜，突然想起一事，道：“室里！西域大食国送来了一头狮子，是不是？你叫驯狮人带狮子来，再召十几个卫士来。”室里答应出去传令。 十六名手执长矛的卫士走进殿来，躬身向阿紫行礼，随即回身，十六柄长矛的矛头指而向外，保卫着她。不多时听得殿外几声狮吼，八名壮汉抬着一个大铁笼走进来。笼中一只雄狮盘旋走动，黄毛长鬃，爪牙锐利，神情威武。驯狮人手执皮鞭，领先而行。 阿紫见这头雄狮凶猛可怖，心下甚喜，道：“铁丑，你嘴里虽说得好听，也不知是真是假。现下我要试你一件事，瞧你听不听我的话。”游坦之应道：“是！”他一见到狮子，便暗自嘀咕，不知有何用意，听她这么说，更是心中怦怦乱跳。阿紫道：“不知道你头上的铁套子坚不坚固，你把头伸到铁笼中，让狮子咬几口，瞧它能不能将铁套子咬烂了。” 游坦之大吃一惊，道：“这个……这个是不能试的。倘若咬烂了，我的脑袋……”阿紫道：“你这人有什么用？这样一点小事也害怕，男子汉大丈夫，应当视死如归才是。而且我看多半是咬不烂的。”游坦之道：“姑娘，这件事可不是玩的，就算咬不烂，这畜生把铁罩咬扁了，我的头……”阿紫格格一笑，道：“最多你的头也不过是扁了。你这小子真麻烦，你本来的长相也没什么美，脑袋扁了，套在罩子之内，人家也瞧你不见，还管他什么好看不好看。”游坦之急道：“我不是贪图好看……”阿紫脸一沉，道：“你不听话，好，现下试了出来啦，你存心骗我，将你整个人塞进笼去，喂狮子吃了罢！”用契丹话吩咐室里，室里应道：“是！”便来拉游坦之的手臂。 游坦之心想：“身子一入狮笼，哪里还有命在，还不如听姑娘的话，将铁脑袋去试试运气罢！”便叫道：“别拉，别拉！姑娘，我听话啦！” 阿紫笑道：“这才乖呢！我跟你说，下次我叫你做什么，立刻便做，推三阻四的，惹姑娘生气。室里，你抽他三十鞭。” 室里应道：“是！”从驯狮人手中接过皮鞭，刷的一声，便抽在游坦之背上。游坦之吃痛，“啊”的一声大叫出来。 阿紫道：“铁丑，我跟你说，我叫人打你，是瞧得起你。你这么大叫，是不喜欢我打你吗？”游坦之道：“我喜欢，多谢姑娘恩典！”阿紫道：“好，打罢！”室里刷刷刷连抽十鞭，游坦之咬紧牙关，半声不哼，总算他头上戴着铁罩，鞭子避开了他的脑袋，胸背吃到皮鞭，总还可以忍耐。 阿紫听他无声抵受，又觉无味了，道：“铁丑，你说喜欢我叫人打你，是不是？”游坦之道：“是！”阿紫道：“你这话是真是假？是不是胡诌骗我？”游坦之道：“是真的，不敢欺骗姑娘。”阿紫道：“你既喜欢，为什么不笑？为什么不说打得痛快？”游坦之给她折磨得胆战心惊，连愤怒也都忘记了，只得说道：“姑娘待我很好，叫人打我，很是痛快。” 阿紫道：“这才像话，咱们试试！” 拍的一声，又是一鞭，游坦之忙道：“多谢姑娘救命之恩，这一鞭打得好！”转瞬间抽了二十余鞭，与先前的鞭打加起来，早已超过三十鞭了。阿紫挥了挥手，说道：“今天就这么算了。你将脑袋探到笼子里去。” 游坦之全身骨痛欲裂，蹒跚着走到笼边，一咬牙，便将脑袋从铁栅间探了进去。 那雄狮乍见他如此上来挑衅，吓了一跳，退开两步，朝着他的铁头端相了半晌，又退后两步，口中荷荷的发威。 阿紫叫道：“叫狮子咬啊，它怎么不咬？”那驯狮人叱喝了几声，狮子得到号令，一扑上前，张开大口，便咬在游坦之头上。但听得滋滋声响，狮牙摩擦铁罩。游坦之闭上了双眼，只觉得一股热气从铁罩的眼孔、鼻孔、嘴孔中传进来，知道自己脑袋已在狮口之中，跟着后脑和前额一阵剧痛。套上铁罩之时，他头脸到处给烧红了的铁罩烧炙损伤，过得几日后慢慢结疤愈合，狮子这么一咬，所有的创口一齐破裂。 雄狮用力咬了几下，咬不进去，牙齿反而撞得甚痛，发起威来，右爪伸出，抓到游坦之肩上。游坦之肩部剧痛，“啊”的一声大叫起来。狮子突觉口中有物发出巨响，吃了一惊，张口放开了他脑袋，退在铁笼一角。 那驯狮人大声叱喝，叫狮子再向游坦之咬去。游坦之大怒，突然伸出手臂，抓住了驯狮人的后颈，用力一推，将他的脑袋也塞入铁笼之中。驯狮人高声大叫。 阿紫拍手嘻笑，道：“很好，很好！谁也别理会，让他们两人拚个你死我活。” 众契丹兵本要上来拉开游坦之的手，听阿紫这么说，便都站定不动。 驯狮人用力挣扎。游坦之野性发作，说什么也不放开他。驯狮人只有求助于雄狮，大叫：“咬，用力咬他！”狮子听到催促之声，一声大吼，扑了上来，这畜生只知道主人叫它用力去咬，却不知咬什么，两排白森森的利齿合了拢来，喀喇一声，将驯狮人的脑袋咬去了半边，满地都是脑浆鲜血。 阿紫笑道：“铁丑赢了！”命士兵将驯狮人的尸首和狮笼抬出去，对游坦之道：“这就对了！你能逗我喜欢，我要赏你。赏些什么好呢？”她以手支颐，侧头思索。 游坦之道：“姑娘，我不要你赏赐，只求你一件事。”阿紫道：“求什么？”游坦之道：“求你许我陪在你身边，做你的奴仆。”阿紫道：“做我奴仆？为什么？有什么好？嗯，我知道啦，你想等萧大王来看我时，乘机下手害他，为你父母报仇。”游坦之道：“不！不！决计不是。”阿紫道：“难道你不想报仇吗？”游坦之道：“不是不想。只是一来报不了，二来不能将姑娘牵连在内。” 阿紫道：“那么你为什么喜欢做我奴仆？”游坦之道：“姑娘是天仙下凡，天下第一美人，我……我……想天天见到你。” 这话无礼已极，以他此时处境，也实是大胆之极。但阿紫听在耳里，甚是受用。她年纪尚幼，容貌虽然秀美，身形却未长成，更兼重伤之余，憔悴黄瘦，说到“天下第一美人”六字，那真是差之远矣，听到有人对自己容貌如此倾倒，却也不免开心。 她正要答允游坦之的请求，忽听得宫卫报道：“大王驾到！”阿紫向游坦之横了一眼，低声问道：“萧大王要来啦，你怕不怕？”游坦之怕得要命，硬着头皮颤声道：“不怕！” 殿门大开，萧峰轻裘缓带，走了进来。他一进殿门，便见到地上一滩鲜血，又见游坦之头戴铁罩，模样十分奇怪，向阿紫笑道：“今天你气色很好啊，又在玩什么新花样了？这人头上搅了些什么古怪？”阿紫笑道：“这是西域高昌国进贡的铁头人，名叫铁丑，连狮子也咬不破他的铁头，你瞧，这是狮子的牙齿印。”萧峰看那铁罩，果见猛兽的牙印宛然。阿紫又道：“姊夫，你有没本事将他的铁套子除了下来？” 游坦之一听，只吓得魂飞魄散。他曾亲眼见到萧峰力斗中原群雄时的神勇，双拳打将出去，将伯父和父亲手中的钢盾也震得脱手，要除下自己头上铁罩，可说轻而易举。当铁罩镶到他头上之时，他懊丧欲绝，这时却又盼望铁罩永远留在自己头上，不让萧峰见到自己的真面目。 萧峰伸出手指，在他铁罩上轻轻弹了几下，发出铮铮之声，笑道：“这铁罩甚是牢固，打造得又很精细，毁了岂不可惜！” 阿紫道：“高昌国的使者说道，这个铁头人生来青面獠牙，三分像人，七分像鬼，见到他的人无不惊避，因此他父母打造了一个铁面给他戴着，免他惊吓旁人。姊夫，我很想瞧瞧他的本来面目，到底怎样的可怕。” 游坦之吓得全身发颤，牙齿相击，格格有声。 萧峰看出他恐惧异常，道：“这人怕得厉害，何必去揭开他的铁面？这人既是自小戴惯了铁面，倘若强行除去，只怕令他日后难以过活。” 阿紫拍手道：“那才好玩啊。我见到乌龟，总是爱捉了来，将硬壳剥去，瞧它没了壳还活不活。” 萧峰不禁皱眉，想象没壳乌龟的模样，甚觉残忍，说道：“阿紫，你为什么老是喜欢干这等害得人不死不活的事？” 阿紫哼了一声，道：“你又不喜欢我啦！我当然没阿朱那么好，要是我像阿朱一样，你怎么会连接几天不来睬我。”萧峰道：“做了这劳什子的什么南院大王，每日里忙得不可开交。但我不是每天总来陪你一阵么？”阿紫道：“陪我一阵，哼，陪我一阵！我就是不喜欢你这么'陪我一阵'的敷衍了事。倘若我是阿朱，你一定老是陪在我身旁，不会走开，不会什么'一阵'、'半阵'的！” 萧峰听她的话确也是实情，无言可答，只得嘿嘿一笑，道：“姊夫是大人，没兴致陪你孩子玩，你找些年轻女伴来陪你说笑解闷罢！”阿紫气忿忿的道：“孩子，孩子……我才不是孩子呢。你没兴致陪我玩，却又干什么来了？”萧峰道：“我来瞧瞧你身子好些没有？今天吃了熊胆么？” 阿紫提起凳上的锦垫，重重往地下一摔，一脚踢开，说道：“我心里不快活，每天便吃一百副熊胆，身子也好不了。” 萧峰见她使小性儿发脾气，若是阿朱，自会设法哄她转嗔为喜，但对这个刁蛮恶毒的姑娘忍不住生出厌恶之情，只道：“你休息一会儿！”站起身来，径自走了。 阿紫瞧着他的背影，怔怔的只是想哭，一瞥眼见到游坦之，满腔怒火，登时便要发泄在他身上，叫道：“室里，再抽他三十鞭！”室里应道：“是！”拿起了鞭子。 游坦之大声道：“姑娘，我又犯了什么错啦？”阿紫不答，挥手道：“快打！”室里刷的一鞭，打了下去。游坦之道：“姑娘，到底我犯了什么错，让我知道，免得下次再犯。”室里刷的一鞭，刷的又是一鞭。 阿紫道：“我要打便打，你就不该问什么罪名，难道打错了你？你问自己犯了什么错，正因为你问，这才要打！” 游坦之道：“是你先打我，我才问的。我还没问，你就叫人打我了。”刷的一鞭，刷刷刷又是三鞭。 阿紫笑道：“我料到你会问，因此叫人先打你。你果然要问，那不是我料事如神么？这证明你对我不够死心塌地。姑娘忽然想到要打人，你倘若忠心，须得自告奋勇，自动献身就打才是。偏偏啰里啰唆的心中不服。你不喜欢给我打，不打你就是了。” 游坦之听到“不打你就是了”这六个字，心中一凛，全身寒毛都竖了起来，知道阿紫若不打他，必定会另外想出比鞭打惨酷十倍的刑罚来，不如乖乖的挨上三十鞭，忙道：“是小人错了，姑娘打我是大恩大德，对小人身子有益，请姑娘多多鞭打，打得越多越好。” 阿紫嫣然一笑，道：“总算你还聪明。我可不给人取巧，你说打得越多越好，以为我一高兴，便饶了你么？”游坦之道：“不是的，小人不敢向姑娘取巧。”阿紫道：“你说打得越多越好，那是你衷心所愿的了？”游坦之道：“是，是小人衷心所愿。”阿紫道：“既然如此，我就成全你。室里，打足一百鞭，他喜欢多挨鞭子。” 游坦之吓了一跳，心想：“这一百鞭打了下来，还有命么？”但事已如此，自己就算坚说不愿，人家要打便打，抗辩有何用处，只得默不作声。 阿紫道：“你为什么不说话？是心中不服吗？我叫人打你，你觉得不公道么？”游坦之道：“小人心悦诚服，知道姑娘鞭打小人，出于成全小人的好心。”阿紫道：“那么刚才你为什么不说话？”游坦之无言可答，怔了一怔，道：“这个……这个……小人心想姑娘待我这般恩德如山，小人心中感激，什么话也说不出来，只想将来不知如何报答姑娘才是。” 阿紫道：“好啊！你说如何报答于我。我一鞭鞭打你，你将这一鞭鞭的仇恨，都记在心中。”游坦之连连摇头，道：“不，不！不是。我说的报答，是真正的报答。小人一心想要为姑娘粉身碎骨，赴汤蹈火。” 阿紫道：“好，那就打罢！”室里应道：“是！”拍的一声，皮鞭抽了下去。 打到五十余鞭时，游坦之痛得头脑也麻木了，双膝发软，慢慢跪了下来。阿紫笑吟吟的看着，只等他出声求饶。只要他求一句饶，她便又找到了口实，可以再加他五十鞭。哪知道游坦之这时迷迷糊糊，已然人事不知，只是低声呻吟，居然并不求饶。打到七十余鞭时，他已昏晕过去。室里毫不容情，还是整整将这一百鞭打完，这才罢手。 阿紫见游坦之奄奄一息，死多活少，不禁扫兴。想到萧峰对自己那股爱理不理的神情，心中百般的郁闷难宣，说道：“抬了下去罢！这个人不好玩！室里，还有什么别的玩意儿没有？” 这一场鞭打，游坦之足足养了一个月伤，这才痊愈。契丹人见阿紫已忘了他，不再找他来折磨，便将他编入一众宋人的俘虏里，叫他做诸般粗重下贱功夫，掏粪坑、洗羊栏、拾牛粪、硝羊皮，什么活儿都干。 游坦之头上戴了铁罩，人人都拿他取笑侮辱，连汉人同胞也当他怪物一般。游坦之逆来顺受，便如变成了哑巴。旁人打他骂他，他也从不抗拒。只是见到有人乘马驰过，便抬起头来瞧上一眼，心中记挂着的只是一件事：“什么时候，姑娘再叫我去鞭打？”他只盼望能见到阿紫，便是挨受鞭笞之苦，也是心所甘愿，心里从来没有要逃走的念头。 如此过了两个多月，天气渐暖，这一日游坦之随着众人，在南京城外搬土运砖，加厚南京南门旁的城墙。忽听得蹄声得得，几乘马从南门中出来，一个清脆的声音笑道：“啊哟，这铁丑还没死啊！我还道他早死了呢！铁丑，你过来！”正是阿紫的声音。 游坦之日思夜想，盼望的就是这一刻辰光，听得阿紫叫他，一双脚却如钉在地上一般，竟然不能移动，只觉一颗心怦怦大跳，手掌心都是汗水。 阿紫又叫道：“铁丑，该死的！我叫你过来，你没听见么？”游坦之应道：“是，姑娘！”转身向她马前走去，忍不住抬起头来瞧了她一眼。相隔四月，阿紫脸色红润，更增俏丽，游坦之心中怦的一跳，脚下一绊，合扑摔了一交，众人哄笑声中，急忙爬起，不敢再看她，慌慌张张的走到她身前。 阿紫心情甚好，笑道：“铁丑，你怎么没死？”游坦之道：“我说要……要报答姑娘的恩典，还没报答，可不能便死。”阿紫更是喜欢，格格娇笑两声，道：“我正要找一个忠心不二的奴才去做一件事，只怕契丹人粗手粗脚的误事，你还没死，那好得很。你跟我来！”游坦之应道：“是！”跟在她马后。 阿紫挥手命室里和另外三名契丹卫士回去，不必跟随。室里知她不论说了什么，旁人决无劝谏余地，好在这铁面人猥崽懦弱，随着她决无害处，便道：“请姑娘早回！”四人跃下马来，在城门边等候。 阿紫纵马慢慢前行，走出了七八里地，越走越荒凉，转入了一处阴森森的山谷之中，地下都是陈年腐草败叶烂成的软泥。再行里许，山路崎岖，阿紫不能乘马了，便跃下马来，命游坦之牵着马，又走了一程。眼见四下里阴沉沉地，寒风从一条窄窄的山谷通道中刮进来，吹得二人肌肤隐隐生疼。 阿紫道：“好了，便在这里！”命游坦之将马缰系在树上，说道：“你今天瞧见的事，不得向旁人泄露半点，以后也不许向我提起，记得么？” 游坦之道：“是，是！”心中喜悦若狂，阿紫居然只要他一人随从，来到如此隐僻的地方，就算让她狠狠鞭打一顿，那也是甘之如饴。 阿紫伸手入怀，取了一只深黄色的小木鼎出来，放在地下，说道：“待会儿有什么古怪虫豸出现，你不许大惊小怪，千万不能出声。”游坦之应道：“是！” 阿紫又从怀中取出一个小小的布包，打了开来，里面是几块黄色、黑色、紫色、红色的香料。她从每一块香料上捏了少许，放入鼎中，用火刀、火石打着了火，烧了起来，然后合上鼎盖，道：“咱们到那边树下守着。” 阿紫在树下坐定，游坦之不敢坐在她身边，隔着丈许，坐在她下风处一块石头上。寒风刮来，风中带着她身上淡淡香气，游坦之不由得意乱情迷，只觉一生中能有如此一刻，这些日子虽受种种苦楚荼毒，却也不枉了。他只盼阿紫永远在这大树下坐着，他自己能永远的这般陪着她。 正自醺醺的如有醉意，忽听得草丛中瑟瑟声响，绿草中红艳艳地一物晃动，却是一条大蜈蚣，全身闪光，头上凸起一个小瘤，与寻常蜈蚣大不相同。 那蜈蚣闻到木鼎中发出的香气，径身游向木鼎，从鼎下的孔中钻了进去，便不再出来。阿紫从怀中取出一块厚厚的锦缎，蹑手蹑足的走近木鼎，将锦缎罩在鼎上，把木鼎裹得紧紧地，生怕蜈蚣钻了出来，然后放入系在马颈旁的革囊之中，笑道：“走罢！”牵着马便行。 游坦之跟在她身后，寻思：“她这口小木鼎古怪得紧，但多半还是因烧起香料，才引得这条大蜈蚣到来。不知这条大蜈蚣有什么好玩，姑娘巴巴的到这山谷中来捉？” 阿紫回到端福宫中，吩咐侍卫在殿旁小房中给游坦之安排个住处。游坦之大喜，知道从此可以常与阿紫相见。 果然第二天一早，阿紫便将游坦之传去，领他来到偏殿之中，亲自关上了殿门，殿中便只他二人。阿紫走向西首一只瓦瓮，揭开瓮盖，笑道：“你瞧，是不是很雄壮？”游坦之向瓮边一看，只见昨日捕来的那条大蜈蚣正在迅速游动。 阿紫取过预备在旁的一只大公鸡，拔出短刀，斩去公鸡的尖嘴和脚爪，投入瓦瓮。那条大蜈蚣跃上鸡头，吮吸鸡血，不久大公鸡便中毒而死。蜈蚣身子渐渐肿大，红头更是如欲滴出血来。阿紫满脸喜悦之情，低声道：“成啦，成啦！这一门功夫可练得成功了！” 游坦之心道：“原来你捉了蜈蚣，要来练一门功夫。这叫蜈蚣功吗？” 如此喂了七日，每日让蜈蚣吮吸一只大公鸡的血。到第八日上，阿紫又将游坦之叫进殿去，笑眯眯的道：“铁丑，我待你怎样？”游坦之道：“姑娘待我恩重如山。”阿紫道：“你说过要为我粉身碎骨，赴汤蹈火，那是真的，还是假话？”游坦之道：“小人不敢欺骗姑娘。姑娘但有所命，小人决不推辞。”阿紫道：“那好得很啊。我跟你说，我要练一门功夫，须得有人相助才行。你肯不肯助我练功？倘若练成了，我定然重重有赏。”游坦之道：“小人当然听姑娘吩咐，也不用什么赏赐。”阿紫道：“那好得很，咱们这就练了。” 她盘膝坐好，双手互搓，闭目运气，过了一会，道：“你伸手到瓦瓮中去，这蜈蚣必定咬你，你千万不可动弹，要让他吸你的血液，吸得越多越好。” 游坦之七日来每天见这条大蜈蚣吮吸鸡血，只吮得几口，一只鲜龙活跳的大公鸡便即毙命，可见这蜈蚣毒不可当，听阿紫这么说，不由得迟疑不答。阿紫脸色一沉，问道：“怎么啦，你不愿意吗？”游坦之道：“不是不愿，只不过……只不过……”阿紫道：“怎么？只不过蜈蚣毒性厉害，你怕死是不是？你是人，还是公鸡？”游坦之道：“我不是公鸡。”阿紫道：“是啊，公鸡给蜈蚣吸了血会死，你又不是公鸡，怎么会死？你说过愿意为我赴汤蹈火，粉身碎骨，蜈蚣吸你一点血玩玩，你会粉身碎骨么？” 游坦之无言可答，抬起头来向阿紫瞧去，见她红红的樱唇下垂，颇有轻蔑之意，登时意乱情迷，就如着了魔一般，说道：“好，遵从姑娘吩咐便是。”咬紧了牙齿，闭上眼睛，右手慢慢伸入瓦瓮。 他手指一伸入瓮中，中指指尖上便如针刺般剧痛。他忍不住将手一缩。阿紫叫道：“别动，别动！”游坦之强自忍住，睁开眼来，只见那条蜈蚣正咬住了自己的中指，果然便在吸血。游坦之全身发毛，只想提起来往地下一甩，一脚踏了下去，但他虽不和阿紫相对，却感觉到她锐利的目光射在自己背上，如同两把利剑般要作势刺下，怎敢稍有动弹？ 好在蜈蚣吸血，并不甚痛，但见那蜈蚣渐渐肿大起来，但自己的中指上却也隐隐罩上了一层深紫之色。紫色由浅而深，慢慢转成深黑，再过一会，黑色自指而掌，更自掌沿手臂上升。游坦之这时已将性命甩了出去，反而处之坦然，嘴角边也微微露出笑容，只是这笑容套在铁罩之下，阿紫看不到而已。 阿紫双目凝视在蜈蚣身上，全神贯注，毫不怠忽。终