Chapter 9 Chapter Nine "Liang Shanbo Zhu Yingtai"
Di Yun stayed in the snow valley for another half a month, and practiced the sword skills and internal skills in the "Blood Knife Sutra" so proficiently that he would never forget it again, so he burned the "Blood Knife Sutra" to ashes and scattered it on the blood knife ancestor. on the grave.
During the past half month, he still slept on the big rock outside the cave. Although Shui Sheng had left, he still didn't dare to sleep in the cave, and naturally he didn't dare to use her mattress or mat.
He thought: "I should go! I don't need to take this bird feather clothes with me. I will come back to live in this snow valley after I finish my work. The people outside are very smart, I don't understand what they are thinking. Here No one will come, it's better to live here."
So he left the snow valley and headed eastward.The first thing is to go back to my hometown Maxipu in Xiangxi to see how Master is doing.He was brought up by his master since he was a child, and he is the only relative in the world.
From the border of Tibet to the west of Hunan, one has to cross Sichuan.Di Yun thought to himself that if he met the heroes of the Central Plains, a fight would be unavoidable, he had no grudges against them, all the incidents started because he shaved his hair and wore Baoxiang's monk robe.At this time, although his martial arts are already extremely high, he has no confidence at all, he expected that if he meets one or two masters from the Central Plains, he will definitely be killed by them.So I bought a set of villagers' green cloth clothes and changed them into it, burned Baoxiang's monk clothes, and then blackened his face with coal char from the bottom of the pot.Farmers in Xiangxi, Sichuan like to wrap their heads in white cloth, which is said to be a legacy of mourning for Zhuge Liang.Di Yun also found a dirty white cloth and wrapped it around his head.Traveling eastward all the way, he occasionally ran into people from the rivers and lakes on a narrow road, but no one recognized him.
What he was most afraid of was meeting Shui Sheng, Wang Xiaofeng, and Hua Tiegan. Fortunately, he never saw them.
After walking for more than 30 days, I arrived at Maxipu's hometown. At that time, the weather was already warm, and the seedlings in the field had grown to four inches high.The closer you get to the former residence, the more emotion you feel, gradually your face becomes hot and your heart beats faster.
He walked along the mountain road that he was used to walking when he was a teenager, and came to the door of the former residence. He couldn't help being shocked, and he couldn't believe his eyes.The three huts by the stream and the willow tree have turned into a big house with white walls and black tiles.This house is at least three times larger than the original hut. At first glance, although it looks rather sloppy, it looks very majestic.
Surprised and delighted at the same time, he looked carefully at the surrounding scenery, and found that it was indeed the hometown of Master, and thought: "Master has made a fortune and returned home, that would be wonderful." He was overjoyed, and shouted loudly: "Master !" But he just yelled, and then he stopped, thinking: "I wonder if there is anyone else in the room? I look like a beggar, don't lose face of Master, let's see and understand." It's also him After many years of hard work, it is only because of this caution that he was thinking about himself, when a person walked out of the room, squinted at him, his face was full of contempt, and asked, "What are you doing?"
Di Yun saw that the man's hat was crooked and his body was covered in dust, which was quite out of place with this mansion. Looking at his expression, he seemed to be the head of a mason and carpenter, so he said, "Excuse me, boss, is Master Qi at home?"
The man snorted, and said, "Seventh Master, Eighth Master, there are none here." Di Yun was stunned, and asked, "Isn't the owner here surnamed Qi?" The man asked back, "Why are you asking this?" Do you want to beg for rice, and you don’t need to make friends with others. No, there is no! Little beggar, let’s go, let’s go!”
Di Yun missed his master, so he came back after a long journey, how could he leave with just one word from him, and said: "I'm not begging for rice, so I'll ask you about it. There used to be a person named Qi who lived here. I don't know his old man." Do you still live here?"
The man sneered and said, "Look at you little beggar, you are so wordy. The owner here is not surnamed Qi, nor is he surnamed eight, nine, or ten. Your old man will invite me early."
While talking, another person came out of the room. This person was wearing a melon skin hat and bright clothes. He looked like a housekeeper of a rich man's house. He asked, "Old Ping, who are you arguing with?" The person laughed and said: "Look, is this little beggar too wordy? Just begging for rice, but he came to find out what our master's family name is?" The housekeeper's face changed slightly when he heard that, and he looked at Di Yun for a while, and said, "My little friend." , why did you inquire about our master's name?"
If it were Di Yun five or six years ago, he would have stated the matter directly, but at this time he was rich in experience and well aware of the dangers of the human heart. Seeing the suspicious look in the housekeeper's eyes, he thought to himself: "I don't want to say it directly. It’s not too late to inquire slowly, maybe there’s something weird about it.” Then he said, “I’m just asking the master’s surname, I want to call him loudly and ask him to give me some rice, you... you’re the master, right?” He deliberately pretended Be stupid, so as not to arouse the other party's suspicion.
The housekeeper laughed out loud, although he felt that this person was very stupid, but he mistook himself for the master, he was also happy in his heart, and said with a smile: "I am not the master, hey, silly boy, why do you think I am the master?" Yundao: "You...you look...good-looking, you are majestic, you...you look like a rich man."
The housekeeper was even more happy, and said with a smile: "Silly boy, my old Gao will really make a fortune in the future, and I will definitely benefit you. Hey, silly boy, I see that you are strong and strong, why don't you do things well, but want Begging for rice?" Di Yun said: "No one asked me to do something. Rich man, give me some food, will it work?" The housekeeper patted Ping on the shoulder vigorously, and said with a smile: "Listen , he kept calling me the rich man, and it’s impossible not to eat. Lao Ping, tell him to carry the soil too, and give him a share of the wages.” The surname Ping said: “Yes, it’s up to you That's the old order."
Listening to the accents of the two, Di Yun found that the foreman surnamed Ping was a native of Xiangxi, and the housekeeper surnamed Gao was from the north, so he calmly said respectfully, "Master rich man, young master rich man, thank you both "The foreman scolded with a smile: "Damn it, nonsense!" The butler just stumbled with a smile, and said, "I am the rich man, and you are the rich man's young master. This... isn't this a cheap old man for you?" The foreman grabbed Di Yun's ear and said with a smile, "Go in, go in! Have a good meal first, and start working at night." Di Yun followed him in without any resistance, thinking, "Why do you start working at night?"
Entering the big house and passing through a hall, one could not help but be shocked, what he saw was really strange.I saw a huge deep pit dug in the middle of the house, and the edge of the pit was almost connected to the four walls, leaving only a narrow passage.Iron hoes, shovels, dustpans, shoulder poles and other utensils were thrown into the pit, apparently still digging.Seeing the majestic and majestic appearance of this big house, one would never have imagined that such a big earth pit would be dug in the house.
The foreman said: "You are not allowed to talk about things outside, do you know that?" Di Yun said: "Yes, yes! I know, the Feng Shui here is good, and the owner's family wants to bury the grave, so no one outside can know about it." The foreman smiled and said: "That's right, the fool is smart, come and eat with me."
Di Yun had a hearty meal in the kitchen.The foreman told him to wait in the corridor and not to wander around.Di Yun agreed, feeling more and more suspicious.I saw that all the furnishings in the house were very simple, there was no built-in stove in the kitchen, there was only a large stove and an iron wok.The desks, benches and other things are also cheap things from poor families, which are really not commensurate with this big house.
In the evening, more and more people came into the house. They were all young and strong villagers from the surrounding area. Everyone was drinking and eating noisy.Di Yun ate with the crowd, and he spoke the local dialect with a very correct voice.The housekeeper and the foreman didn't have the slightest suspicion after hearing this, and they all said that he was just a local young man doing nothing.
After everyone finished eating, the foreman led everyone to the hall and said, "Guys, let's work hard to dig. I hope you will have good luck tonight. If you dig something useful, you will be rewarded." Everyone agreed, and the hoes and shovels hit the soil. The sound rang out.An older villager said in a low voice: "I've been digging for more than two months, and I haven't dug half of it. Even if there is a treasure here, it depends on whether you are lucky enough to get it."
Di Yun thought to himself: "They want to dig treasures? What treasures will there be here?" He waited for the foreman to turn his back, slowly approached the old villager, and whispered: "Uncle, what treasures are they going to dig?" The man said in a low voice: "This treasure is amazing. The owner of this place will be disappointed. He is not a local. He saw the precious light rising from a distance, and knew that there was a treasure in the field, so he bought this piece of land for fear of leaking it." The sound of the wind, so we built this big house first, telling us to sleep during the day and dig treasures at night." Di Yun nodded and said: "So that's it, uncle, do you know what kind of treasure it is?" The man said: "The foreman said, it is a treasure. Cornucopia, a copper coin is put into the basin, and after one night, it becomes a basin of copper coins in the morning. A tael of gold is put in the basin, and it becomes a basin full of gold in the morning. Don’t you think it’s a treasure?”
Di Yun nodded again and again, and said, "What a treasure, what a treasure!" The man said again: "The foreman specially ordered that the hoe should be light. If you break the cornucopia, it's not for fun. The foreman said, after digging the cornucopia, You can lend it to each of us for one night, and you can put whatever you like. You can figure out what you want, silly boy." Di Yun thought for a while, and said: "I am often hungry, so I put it away for a while. Wouldn't it be nice to put a grain of white rice in and make a pot full of white rice tomorrow?" The man laughed loudly and said, "Yes, yes!"
Hearing the laughter, the foreman came over and shouted: "Don't waste your time and say no, dig quickly, dig quickly!"
Di Yun thought to himself: "Where is there such a cornucopia in the world? The owner is definitely not a fool, he must have another plan to deceive people by fabricating nonsense about the cornucopia." Then he asked in a low voice: "What is the owner's last name here? You said he is not from the local area? Human?" The human said: "Look, didn't the master come out?"
Di Yun followed his gaze and saw a man in his fifties coming out of the back hall. He was thin, with piercing eyes and extremely gorgeous clothes.Di Yun only glanced at him, and his heart was beating wildly. He turned his head, not daring to look at him again, and kept saying in his heart: "I've seen this man before, I've seen this man before. He is Who is it?" I felt that this person looked very familiar, but I couldn't remember where I met him.
I only heard the man say: "Everyone dig the western half three feet deeper tonight. No matter what scraps of paper, wooden strips, bricks and tiles there are, don't miss a single bit. Bring them up to me." Di Yun heard His heart trembled at the sound of his words, and he suddenly realized: "Yes, it was him." He lowered his head, glanced at him again with sideways eyes, and said in his heart: "Yes, it really is him."
The owner of this big house is actually an old beggar who taught him three moves of swordsmanship at Wan Zhenshan's home in Jingzhou.
At that time, his clothes were torn, his hair was disheveled, and his whole body was extremely filthy. Today, he is a rich man with luxurious clothes, and his whole body has been transformed. Therefore, I didn't recognize him until I heard his voice.
Di Yun immediately wanted to jump up from the pit and recognize him, but the sufferings of the past few years have taught him to be cautious in everything, not to be rash and impatient, thinking: "This old beggar treats me very well. Back then when I fought with the bandit Lu Tong, I was already defeated. Fortunately, he came to the rescue. Later, he taught me three exquisite sword skills, and I was able to defeat the disciples of Wanmen. Now that I think about it, these three moves of his Swordsmanship was mediocre and nothing extraordinary, but it saved me from humiliation at the time."
I thought again: "We meet again today, I should have thanked him well. But this is my master's old residence, what is he digging here? Why did he build such a big house to hide it? He used to be a beggar, and How did you make a lot of money?" Thinking to himself, "I'd better see it clearly. Although he is my benefactor, there is no need to rush to thank him. Why is he not afraid of my master coming back? Could it be...could it be...the master died Is it gone?"
He was brought up by his master since he was a child, and he always regarded him as his father. Thinking that his master might have passed away, his eyes turned red.
Suddenly, there was a soft ding on the southeast corner, and a villager's hoe hit something.The master jumped into the pit, bent down and lifted something.All the villagers in the pit stopped digging and looked at him, only to see that he was holding a rusty iron nail in his hand. !"
Di Yun and all the villagers had been busy all night, and the master had been engrossed in supervising them until dawn, and then they called it a day.Most of the villagers dispersed to go home, and seven or eight of them lived far away, so they slept on the ground under the porch on the east side of the big house.Di Yun also fell asleep on the porch.After sleeping until the afternoon, everyone got up to eat.Di Yun's body was dirty, and others didn't want to get close to him, and stayed far away from him when sleeping and eating.Di Yun was exactly what he wished for.He has learned to be cautious and dare not trust others, but he still finds it difficult to pretend to be a fake. After a long time, he will definitely show his feet, and it would be best if others do not come to get close to him. After eating, Di Yun went to a small village three miles away, looking for someone to ask if Master had ever been back.From a distance, he saw several playmates from his youth, all of whom were now strong adults, busy working in the fields. He didn't want to reveal his identity, and he didn't go up to greet him. The situation of the big house. The young man said that the big house was built last autumn, and the owner of the house was rich, so he came to dig the cornucopia, but he hadn't found it yet.The young man was talking and laughing, it can be seen that the matter of digging the cornucopia has become a laughing stock in the surrounding area. "The original huts? Well, no one has lived in them for a long time, and no one has ever returned. When the big house was built, the huts were naturally demolished." Di Yun bid farewell to the young man, feeling sullen and full of doubts, unable to figure out what the old beggar's intentions were for doing this strange thing.He walked among the fields and passed a vegetable field, but he saw a piece of green, full of water spinach. "Spinach, spinach!" Suddenly, these clear naughty voices sounded in his heart.Water spinach is the most common vegetable in western Hunan. It is thick and long, and the center of the vegetable stem is hollow.His junior sister Qi Fang gave him this nickname, laughing at him for being straightforward and not thinking at all.Since he left Xiangxi, he has never seen water spinach again until today.He stayed there for a while, bent over to pick one, smelled the smell of the vegetable juice, and walked west slowly. To the west are barren hills with jagged rocks, where even tung trees and camellia oleifera trees cannot be planted.In the barren hills over there, there was a cave that no one else knew about, but it was the place where he and Qi Fang used to play.He missed the old days and walked towards the cave.After climbing over two hillsides and entering a big cave, I came to this mysterious and desolate cave. There were clumps of shoulder-length grass covering the hole.Feeling sad again, he went into the cave and saw that everything in the cave was still exactly the same as when he and Qi Fang left, it hadn't moved at all, it was just full of dust. The clay figurines that Qi Fang made out of clay, the slingshot he used to play birds, the trigger to catch hares, and the piccolo that Qi Fang played while herding cattle were still placed on the rocks in the cave.Over there is Qi Fang's sewing basket.The scissors in the basket were covered with yellow rust. Back then, during the winter slack days, he would often weave straw sandals or bamboo baskets in this cave, and Qi Fang would sit beside him making shoes.She took some scraps of cloth, folded them into shoe soles, and sewed them on stitch by stitch.Both Master and his shoes have green cloth uppers.Her own shoes are sometimes embroidered with a flower and sometimes a bird. Of course, they are worn during Chinese New Year, and the shoes she usually wears are also made of blue cloth.If you go to the fields to make crops, you either wear straw sandals or go barefoot. Di Yun casually picked up an old book from the sewing basket. On the cover of the book were written the words "Selected Poems of the Tang Dynasty".Neither he nor Qi Fang could read much, and neither of them knew how to read Tang poems, which Qi Fang used to pinch shoes and embroider patterns.He opened the book casually and took out two paper patterns.It was a pair of butterflies, cut by Qi Fang for embroidery.The scene at that time emerged clearly in his mind. A pair of big yellow and black butterflies flew to the entrance of the cave, flying east and west for a while, but the two butterflies never separated.Qi Fang shouted: "Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai! Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai!" People in western Hunan called this colorful butterfly "Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai".This kind of butterfly must be a male and female pair, and they live together and fly together. Di Yun was playing straw sandals when the pair of butterflies flew to him. He raised half of the straw sandals and beat one butterfly to death.Qi Fang yelled "Ah" and said angrily, "You...what are you doing?" Seeing her suddenly angry, Di Yun couldn't help but be at a loss, and said in a low voice, "You like...butterflies, I...I'll call you." The dead butterfly fell to the ground and remained motionless, while the surviving one was circling around the dead butterfly. Qi Fang said: "Look, what a crime! They are such a good couple, and you tore them apart." Seeing her dejected look and hearing her sad voice, Di Yun felt apologetic in his heart, and said, "Oh, this But I was wrong." Later, Qi Fang cut out an embroidery pattern according to the dead butterfly, and embroidered it on her own shoes.During the Chinese New Year, I embroidered another purse for him. It was also a pair of butterflies, with yellow and black wings, and some thin red and green lines on the wings near the body.He kept this purse with him all the time, but after Jingzhou was arrested and imprisoned, he gave it to the jailer. Holding the pair of embroidered paper butterflies, Di Yun vaguely heard Qi Fang's voice in his ears: "Look, what a crime! They are such a good couple, and you tore them apart." He stayed for a while, then took the paper butterfly back to the book, flipped it casually, and saw that there were many red paper patterns on the pages, some were a carp, some were three goats, those were window grilles pasted on the windows during the Chinese New Year, all of them were red paper patterns. Qi Fang cut it. He was taking a closer look at the sheets, when he suddenly heard the sound of stones hitting each other dozens of feet away, and someone came.He thought to himself: "No one has ever come here, could it be a beast?" He stuffed the book with the embroidery pattern into his arms. Only someone said: "This area is very desolate, it won't be here." Another old voice said: "Hey, the more desolate, the more people come to collect treasures. We have to search here." Di Yun thought: "Why do you come here to hunt for treasure?" He stepped out of the cave and hid himself behind a big tree. After a while, someone came to this side, and there were seven or eight people who heard the footsteps.He looked out from behind the tree, and saw a person with bright clothes, oily face and a very familiar face, followed by another person with a shovel in his hand, walking over.This man is tall and imposing.When Di Yun saw it, he couldn't help but get angry, and immediately wanted to rush out and strangle him to death. This person is exactly Wan Gui who snatched his junior sister and sent him to prison, causing him to suffer untold hardships. How did he get here? The younger one next to him is Shen Cheng, the younger brother of Wanmen. As soon as those two people passed by, all disciples of Wanmen came behind, Lu Kun, Sun Jun, Bu Yuan, Wu Kan, Feng Tan all arrived. Wanmen originally had eight disciples, and the second disciple Zhou Qi was killed by Di Yun in the abandoned garden of Jingzhou City, leaving only seven disciples.Di Yun was very surprised: "What kind of treasure are these people rushing here to find? Could it be that they are also looking for a cornucopia?" Only Shen Cheng could be heard shouting: "Master, Master, there is a cave here." The old voice said: "Is that so?" The joy in the voice could not be suppressed.Followed by a tall figure came over, it was Wu Yunshou Wan Zhenshan.Di Yun hadn't seen him for many years, but he was hale and hearty, his steps were steady, and he didn't look old at all. Wan Zhenshan entered the cave first, and all the disciples rushed in.People's voices came from the cave: "There are people living here!" "The dust is so thick that no one has come here for many years." "No, no! Look, there are new footprints here." "Ah, there are New handprint, someone just came here." "It must be Master Yan, he... He stole the Liancheng Sword Manual." Di Yun was both surprised and amused at the same time: "Are they looking for the sword manual of Liancheng swordsmanship? Why can't they find it after so long? What is Yan Shishu? Master said that his second senior brother Yan Daping has been missing for many years and there is no news of him. , I’m afraid I’m no longer alive, so how come I got out and seized the Liancheng sword manual? It’s obviously my handprint and footprint, they guessed it, it’s really a hell.” I only heard Wan Zhenshan say: "Everyone, don't rush to make noise, look around carefully." Someone said: "Since Master Yan has been here, do you want to take it?" Someone said: "Qi Changfa, this fellow is really He is scheming, hiding the sword manual here, it is really not easy for others to find." Another person said: "Of course he is scheming, otherwise why would he be called 'Iron Lock Hengjiang'?" Wan Zhenshan said: "Just now we followed that countryman from afar, this person's footsteps were so fast, he disappeared after a while. This person may be a bit evil." Wan Gui said: "The local countryman is familiar with the mountain road, so he must turn up The path is gone. If it wasn't for him, even if we search for a year and a half, I'm afraid we won't find it here." Di Yun thought to himself: "So they came with me, otherwise how could they find this cave so secluded." I could only hear everyone rummaging and digging around.There was nothing in the cave at first, so everyone rummaged around like this, just throwing a few junk things here and there to move them.The sound of shovels digging the ground sounded, but the bottom of the cave was full of rocks, so there was no way to dig it down, Wan Zhenshan said: "There is nothing left, everyone, go out and do the sum outside." All the disciples followed Wan Zhenshan out, walked to the side of the mountain stream, and sat down on the rock.Di Yun didn't want them to see him, and he didn't dare to approach him.The voices of these eight people were very low, and they couldn't hear what they were saying.After a while, the eight people got up and left. Di Yun thought to himself: "They came to look for the Liancheng sword manual, but they suspected that it was stolen by my second master Yan Daping. My master's house was converted into a big house, and the old beggar said he was looking for some kind of cornucopia... ...ah, yes, yes!" Suddenly, a flash of inspiration flashed through my mind, and I suddenly realized: "This old beggar is not looking for any kind of cornucopia, he is also looking for the Liancheng sword manual. He believed that this sword manual fell into the hands of my master, so he came here Come and search carefully, in order to deceive people, first build such a big house, and then dig a hole in the house to search, lest others will be suspicious, and there will be rumors that they are looking for a cornucopia, which is naturally a lie to deceive the country people.” Then he thought: "That day Master Wan was celebrating his birthday, and this old beggar came and went day and night, obviously with ulterior motives. Well, Wan Zhenshan and the others couldn't find the sword manual, so why not go to the big house to check it? Most of them have already gone to investigate. This matter is not yet over, I will go to the big house and wait to see the excitement, there is a lot of weirdness in the middle, a hundred things are wrong!" "But what about my master? Where is his old man, his family has been turned upside down by others, does he know?" "Where's Junior Sister? She's staying in Jingzhou City and enjoying the blessings of being a young mistress. People from the Wan family are going to search her father's house, and they probably won't let her know. What is she doing at this time?"
At night, oil lamps and pine lights were lit on the walls of the big house.More than a dozen villagers picked up hoes and shovels to dig the ground.Di Yun was also digging among the crowd, neither particularly hardworking nor lazy, and the less people noticed him, the better.His hair was fluffy and he didn't shave his beard. Most of his face was covered by the hair, and he painted some plaster on it. The white cloth wrapped around the head and the green cloth belt around the waist were used interchangeably.This night, they were digging on the north side, and the old beggar was walking up and down by the pit with his hands behind his back.Of course, he didn't look like a beggar at all now, with rich clothes, a jasper ring on his left hand, and a big piece of Chinese jade hanging on his belt. All of a sudden, Di Yun heard someone quietly approaching from outside the house.These people were still far away, the old beggar obviously didn't realize it.Di Yun turned sideways, squinting at the old beggar, only to hear footsteps gradually approaching, five, six...seven...eight, that's right, they were Wan Zhenshan and his seven disciples .But the old beggar still didn't notice.Di Yun had already heard clearly, and the eight people seemed to be right in front of him, but the old beggar seemed to be deaf. Five years ago, Di Yun treated the old beggar like a god.He only learned three moves of swordsmanship from the old beggar, and he completely defeated the eight disciples of Wanmen, leaving no room for parry. "But why his martial arts has become so bad, isn't it him? Did he admit the wrong person? No, he will never admit his mistake." Di Yun didn't expect that his martial arts had advanced to an extremely high level, so he The clearly audible sound is completely silent in the ears of others. Eight people are getting closer.Di Yun was very strange: "These eight people are really funny, who can't hear you sneaking up, and still sneaking around like this?" The eight people approached more than ten feet, and suddenly, the old beggar Trembling slightly, he turned his ears to listen to the movement.Di Yun thought to himself: "Did he hear it? Is he deaf?" In fact, these eight people are still far apart. If it were Di Yun a year or two ago, he wouldn't have heard the footsteps, and he would have come closer. , and still can't hear it. The eight people got closer, took a few steps, and stopped for a while, obviously to prevent people in the house from finding out.But the old beggar has already noticed.He turned around and picked up a crutch leaning against the corner, which was a thick wooden crutch with a dragon head. All of a sudden, the eight people rushed forward at the same time and surrounded them on all sides.With a bang, the door was kicked open, Wan Gui rushed in first, followed by Shen Cheng and Bu Yuan.Each of the seven men raised their long swords and surrounded the old beggar. The old beggar laughed loudly and said, "Very good, you guys are here! Master Wan, why don't you come in?" A person outside the door laughed loudly and stepped in slowly. It was Wu Yunshou Wan Zhenshan.He and the old beggar stood across the pit, and the two looked at each other.After a while, Wan Zhenshan smiled and said, "Junior Brother Yan, I haven't seen you for a few years, you've made a fortune." These three words fell into Di Yun's ears, and his mind suddenly became confused: "What? This old beggar is... the second martial uncle... the second martial uncle... Yan Daping?" I just heard the old beggar say: "Senior brother, I made a small fortune. Your business has been very good these few years." Wan Zhenshan said: "Tofu! Hey, boys, why don't you kowtow to the uncle?" Lu Kun Kneeling down together, they said in unison: "I kowtow to Master Yan." The old beggar laughed and said, "That's all, that's all! It's not convenient to kowtow while holding a sword in your hand, so let's avoid it." Di Yun thought to himself: "This person is indeed Master Yan. He...he?" Wan Zhenshan said: "Brother, are you opening a coal mine here? How did you dig such a big hole?" Yan Daping chuckled and said, "Brother guessed wrong. My little brother has too many enemies, take refuge here, dig deep The pit serves two purposes. If the enemy is killed by the younger brother, he can be buried casually without digging a pit. If the younger brother is killed by others, this pit will be the place where the younger brother will be buried." Wan Zhenshan said with a smile: "Wonderful, junior brother I'm really thoughtful. The younger brother is not too fat, I think the pit is deep enough, so there is no need to dig any more." Yan Daping smiled and said, "It is more than enough to bury one person, but I'm afraid it is not enough to bury eight." Hearing that the two of them were confronting each other with tit-for-tat, he couldn't help thinking of Ding Dian's words, and thought: "These brothers killed their master with their joint efforts. The mentors who were trained would kill each other, so what kind of friendship is there between them? Listen to Ding Dian." The eldest brother said that their brothers had obtained the Liancheng Sword Manual, but not the sword formula. The sword formula is full of numbers, the first character is 'four', the second character is 'fifty', and the third character is 'three' Thirteen', the fourth word is 'fifty-three', Brother Ding didn't finish talking until his death. Isn't the sword manual already in their hands? Why come here to look for it again?" Wan Zhenshan said: "Good junior brother, we have been in the same school for many years, you understand my thoughts, and I have seen through your guts a long time ago, do you still need to talk in circles? Bring it!" After saying this " "Bring" two words, then stretched out his right hand. Yan Daping shook his head, and said, "I haven't found it yet. We are no match for Qi Laosan's scheming. I can never guess where he hides the sword manual." Di Yun frowned again: "Could it be that the two brothers and sisters worked together to snatch the sword manual, but gave it to my master? But why hasn't there been any movement during these years? That's right, my master must have done it very cleverly." , They have never noticed it. Since the master is not here, the sword manual will be carried with him, how could it be buried in this room? They desperately came here to search, isn't that too stupid?" But, he knew Wan Zhen Shan and Yan Daping are by no means fools, they are more than ten times smarter than themselves.What kind of conspiracy and institutions are hidden in the middle? Wan Zhenshan laughed loudly, and said: "Junior brother, why are you pretending? People say our third junior brother is 'Iron Lock Hengjiang', and his methods are powerful. Let me tell you, your second junior brother is the most powerful. Bring it!" Said right hand Stretch forward again. Yan Daping patted his pockets and said: "We are old brothers for many years, what else can we share? Brother, if brothers get this thing, I will definitely not be able to deal with it alone. You have to preside over the overall situation. Be a brother." Those who can only help from the side and share some benefits. But if the senior brother gets it, hehe, although the senior brother has many disciples, his skills are still young, I am afraid that the brothers will have to make do with it and add a leader." Wan Zhenshan frowned and said, "What did you get in the cave over there?" Yan Daping wondered, "What cave? Is there a cave near here?" Wan Zhenshan said, "Junior brother, you and I are the same age There are a lot of them, why bother to hurt the peace in the end? Please take it out, and everyone can read it together. How about sharing the blessings and difficulties in the future?" Yan Daping said: "This is amazing, why do you insist that I got it? What if I've got it, why are you still digging here?" Wan Zhenshan said: "You have so many tricks, who knows what you are doing?" Yan Daping said: "Third Junior Brother's things are not so easy to find. I Look, it won't be in this room. If there is still no result after digging for three more days, I don't want to disturb it any more." Wan Zhenshan sneered: "Hmph! I think you should dig for another ten days. Banyue’s is good, pretend to be a bit more.” Yan Daping's face suddenly changed, and he was about to turn his face, but in a flash, he held back his anger and said, "How do you believe it?" Putting down his crutches, unbuttoning his clothes, he took off his robe, grabbed the hem of the robe, and shook it upside down After a few shakes, a few taels of silver and a snuff bottle clanged out, and fell to the ground. Wan Zhenshan said: "You are so stupid, you will keep it with you after you get it? Even if you hide it by your side, you must keep it close to the meat, and you will not put it in your robe pocket." Yan Daping sighed, and said: "Brother If you don’t believe it, then come and search.” Wan Zhenshan said: "So offended." He winked at Wan Gui and Shen Cheng.The two nodded, put their swords back into their sheaths, walked to Yan Daping's side, one on the left and one on the right.Wan Zhenshan gave Bu Yuan and Lu Kun another wink, and the two slowly circled behind Yan Daping, tightly grasping the hilt of the sword. Yan Daping patted his underwear pocket and said: "Please search!" Wan Gui said: "Master, I offended you!" He reached out to touch his pocket. All of a sudden, Wan Gui screamed "Ah", and hurriedly withdrew his hands and backed away. Under the firelight, he saw a big three-inch-long scorpion crawling on the back of his hand.He hit the side of the pit with his backhand, and with a slap, the scorpion was smashed to pieces, but the back of his hand was already poisoned, and it swelled up immediately.He wanted to be a hero, he refused to moan, but beads of sweat oozed from his forehead like soybeans. Yan Daping was startled and said: "Ah, Nephew Wanxian, where did you disturb this poisonous insect? This is a piebald poisonous scorpion, but it is very powerful. This thing is not to be played with. Brother, hurry up, hurry up , do you have an antidote? As long as the rescue is one step late, it will be terrible, amazing! Be good to my mother!" I saw the back of Wan Gui's hand turn from red to purple, from purple to black, a red line slowly rising towards his arm.Knowing that he had fallen into Yan Daping's trap, Wan Zhenshan had no choice but to hold back his breath and said, "Junior brother, I've convinced you as a brother. I'll admit defeat right now. You bring the antidote, and we'll walk clapping our hands and never come back again." You are wordy." Yan Daping said: "Is this antidote? I had it before, but it's been a long time and I don't know where I lost it. I'll look for it with you in a few days, maybe I can find it. Otherwise, I'll go to Daming Mansion , I found a prescription, and I prepared it for you, that's fine too. Who taught us that there is a deep friendship between brothers and sisters." When Wan Zhenshan heard this, his chest really exploded with anger. This kind of poisonous snake and poisonous scorpion injury can kill a person in an instant. As long as the red line reaches his chest, he will die immediately. What do you say? In a few days, I will search slowly." Here, I have traveled thousands of miles to Daming Mansion in Hebei, and I said that I am so shameless to find prescriptions and dispense medicines. I also said, "Who taught our brothers and sisters to have a deep friendship", but seeing Aizi With his life at stake, he had no choice but to hold back his anger, thinking that a gentleman would take revenge, and it was not too late in ten years, so he said, "Junior brother, I'm doomed for this somersault. Whatever you want me to do, just draw a path." Yan Daping put on his robe slowly, buttoned it up, and said, "Senior brother, what can I give you? Do whatever you like." Wan Zhenshan thought in his heart: "Today, I'll let you talk about it."足顺风旗，日后要你知道我厉害。”说道：“好罢，姓万的自今而后，永不再和你相见。再向你罗嗦甚么，我姓万的不是人。”言达平道：“这个可不敢当。做兄弟的只求师哥说一句，那'连城剑谱'，该当归言达平所有。倘若兄弟侥幸找到，自然无话可说；就算落入了师哥手里，也当让给兄弟。” 万圭毒气渐渐上行，只觉一阵阵晕眩，身子不由自主的摇摇摆摆。鲁坤叫道：“师弟，师弟！”伸手扶住，撕破他衣袖，只见那道红线已过腋下。他转头向着万震山叫道：“师父，今日甚么都答允罢！” 万震山道：“好，这连城剑谱，就算是师弟你的了，恭喜！恭喜！”这两句“恭喜”，却说得咬牙切齿，满腔怨毒。 言达平道：“既是如此，让我进屋去找找，说不定能寻得到甚么解药，那要瞧万贤侄是不是有这门造化了。”说完慢吞吞的转身入内。万震山使个眼色，鲁坤和卜垣跟了进去。 过了好一会，三人都没出来，也没听到甚么声息，只见万圭神智昏迷，由沈均扶着，已是不能动弹。万震山心中焦急，向冯坦道：“你进去瞧瞧。”冯坦道：“是！”正要进去，只见言达平走了出来，满面春风的道：“还好！还好！这不是找到了吗？”手中高举着一个小瓷瓶，说道：“这是解药，行，治蝎毒再好不过了。万贤侄，你好大的命啊。以后这种毒物可玩不得了。”说着走到万圭身边，拔开瓶塞，在万圭手背伤口上洒了些黑色的药末。 这解药倒也真灵，过不多时，便见伤口中慢慢渗出黑血，一滴滴的掉在地下，黑血越渗越多，万圭手臂上那道红线便缓缓向下，回到臂弯，又回到手腕。 万震山吁了口气，心中又是轻松，又是恼恨，儿子的性命是保全了，可是这一仗大败亏输，还没动手却受制于人。又过了一会，万圭睁开了眼睛，叫了一声：“爹！” 言达平将瓷瓶口塞上，放回怀中，拿过拐杖，在地下轻轻一顿，笑道：“这就行啦，万贤侄，你今后学了这个乖，伸手到人口袋里去掏摸甚么，千万得小心才是。” 万震山向沈城道：“叫他们出来。”沈城应道：“是！”走到厅后，大声叫道：“鲁师哥、卜师哥，快出来，咱们走了。”只听得鲁卜二人“啊，啊，啊”的叫了几下，却不出来。孙均和沈城不等师父吩咐，径自冲了进去，随即分别扶了鲁坤、卜垣出来。但见两人脸无人色，一断左腿，一折右足，自是适才遭了言达平的毒手。 万震山大怒，他本来就有意立取言达平的性命，这时更有了借口，这口恶气哪里还耐得到他日再出？当即刷的一声，长剑出鞘，刃吐青光，疾向言达平喉头刺了过去。 狄云从未见万震山显示过武功，这时见他一招刺出，狠辣稳健，心中暗道：“这一剑好像没有漏洞。”狄云此时武学修为已是深湛，虽然无人传授，但在别人出招之时，自然而然的首先便看对方招数中有甚么破绽。 言达平斜身让过，左手抓住拐杖下端，右手抓住拐杖龙头，双手一分，擦的一声轻响，白光耀眼，手中已多了一柄长剑。原来那拐杖的龙头便是剑柄，剑刃蒙在杖中，拐杖下端便是剑鞘。他一剑在手，当即还招，只听得叮叮叮叮之声不绝，师兄弟二人便在土坑边上斗了起来。斗得数招，均觉坑边地形狭窄，施展不开，同声吆喝，一齐跃入坑中。 众乡民见二人口角相争，早已惊疑不定，待见动上了家伙恶斗，更是吓得缩在屋角落中，谁也不敢作声。狄云也装出畏缩之状，留意观看两位师伯，只看得七八招，心想：“二位师伯内力太过不足，招法却尽够了，就算得到了甚么'连城剑谱'，恐怕也没甚么用处，除非那是一部增进内功的武经。但既是'剑谱'，想来必是讲剑法的书。” 他又看几招，更觉奇怪：“刘乘风、花铁干他们'落花流水'四侠的武功，比之我这两位师伯高得多了。两位师伯一味讲究招数变化，全不顾和内力配合。那是甚么道理？当年师父教我剑术，也是这么教。看来他们万、言、戚师兄弟三人全是这么学的。这种武功遇上比他们弱的对手，自然占尽了上风，但只要对方内力稍强，他们这许多变幻无穷的剑招，就半点用处也没有了。为甚么要这样学剑？为甚么要这样学剑？” 只见孙均、冯垣、吴坎三人各挺长剑，上前助战，成了四人合攻言达平之势。 言达平哈哈大笑，说道：“好，好！大师哥，你越来越长进啦，招集了一批小喽罗，齐来攻打你师弟。”他虽装作若无其事，剑法上却已颇见窒滞。 狄云心想：“他师兄弟二人的剑招，各有各的长处。言师伯当年教了我刺肩、打耳光、去剑三式，用以对付万门众弟子，那是十分有用的，用来对付万师伯，却是半点用处也没有了。唉，他们大家都不懂，单学剑招变化，若无内功相济，那有甚么用？半点用处也没有，真是奇怪，这样浅的道理，连我这笨人也懂，他们个个十分聪明，怎么会谁也不懂？难道是我自己胡涂了？” 突然之间，心头似乎闪过了一道灵光：“丁大哥跟我说过那神照经的来历，显然，师祖爷梅念笙是懂得这道理的，却为甚么不跟三个弟子说？难道……难道……难道……”他心中连说三个“难道”，背上登时渗出了一片冷汗，不由得打了个寒噤，身子也轻轻发抖。 旁边一个年老的乡民不住念佛：“阿弥陀佛，阿弥陀佛，别弄出人命来才好。小兄弟，别怕，别怕。”他见狄云发抖，还道他是见到万言二人相斗而害怕，虽出言安慰，自己心中可也着实惊惧。 狄云心底已明白了真相，可是那实在太过阴险恶毒，他不愿多想，更不愿将已经猜到了的真相，归并成为一条明显的理路，只是既然想通了关键的所在，一件件小事自会汇归在一起。万震山、言达平、孙均、冯坦……这些人每一招递出，都是令他的想法多了一次印证。“不错，不错，一定是这样。不过，又恐怕不会罢？做师父的，怎能如此恶毒？不会的，不会的……可是，倘若不是，又怎会这样？实在太也奇怪了。” 一张清清楚楚的图画在他脑海中呈现了出来：“许多年以前，就是在这屋子外面，我和师妹练剑，师父在旁指点。师父教了我一招，很是巧妙。我用心的练，第二次师父却教得不同了，剑法仍然很巧妙，却和第一次有些儿不同。当时，我只道是师父的剑法变幻莫测。这时想来，两次所教的剑招为甚么不同，道理是再也明白不过了。” 突然之间，心里感到一阵阵的刺痛：“师父故意教我走错路子，故意教我些次等剑法。他自己的本事高得多，却故意教我学些中看不中用的剑招。他……他……言师伯的武功和师父应该差不多，可是他教了我三招剑法，就比师父高明得多……” “言师伯却又为甚么教我这三招剑法？他不会存着好心的。是了，他要引起万师伯的疑心，要万师伯和我师父斗将起来……” “万师伯也是这样，他自己的本事，和他的众弟子完全不同……却为甚么连自己的儿子也要欺骗？唉，他不能单教自己儿子，却不教别的弟子，这一来，西洋镜立刻就拆穿了。” 言达平左手捏着剑诀，右手手腕抖动，剑尖连转了七个圈子，快速无伦的刺向万震山胸口。万震山横过剑身，以横破圆，斜劈连削，将他这七个剑圈尽数破解了。 狄云在旁看着，又想：“这七个圈子全是多余，最终是一剑刺向万师伯的左胸，何不直接了当的刺了过去？岂不既快又狠？万师伯斜劈连削，以七个招式破解言师伯的七个剑圈，好像巧妙，其实笨得不得了，若是反刺言师伯小腹，早已得胜了。” 猛地里脑海中又掠过一幕情景： 他和师妹戚芳在练剑，戚芳的剑招花式繁多，他记不清师父所教的招数，给迫得手忙脚乱，连连倒退。戚芳接连三招攻来，他头晕眼花，手忙脚乱，眼看抵敌不住，已无法去想师父教过的剑招，随手挡架，跟着便反刺出去…… 戚芳使一招“俯听文惊风，连山石布逃”，圈剑来挡，但他的剑招纯系自发，不依师授规范，戚芳这一招花式巧妙的剑法反而挡架不住。他一剑刺去，直指师妹的肩头。正收势不及之际，师父戚长发从旁跃出，手中拿着一根木柴，拍的一声，将他手中的长剑击落了。他和戚芳都吓得脸色大变。戚长发将他狠狠责骂了一顿，说他乱刺乱劈，不依师父所教的方法使剑，太不成话。 当时他也曾想到：“我不照规矩使剑，怎么反而胜了？”但这念头只是一闪即逝，随即明白：“自然因为师妹的剑术还没练得到家。要是遇上了真正好手，我这般胡砍乱劈当然非输不可。”他当时又怎想得到：自己随手刺出去的剑招，其实比师父所教希奇古怪、花巧百端的剑法实用得多。 现下想来，那可全然不同了。以他此刻的武功，自是清清楚楚的看了出来：万震山和言达平两人所使的剑术之中，有许多是全然无用的花招，而万震山教给弟子的剑法，戚长发教给他和戚芳的剑法，其中无用的花招更多。不用说，师祖梅念笙早瞧出三个徒儿心术不正，在传授之时故意引他们走上了剑术的歪路，而万震山和戚长发在教徒儿之时，或有意或无意的，引他们在歪路上走得更远。 临敌之时使一招不管用的剑法，不只是“无用”而已，那是虚耗了机会，让敌人抢到上风，便是将性命交在敌人手里。为甚么师祖、师父、师伯都这么狠毒？都这么的阴险？ “他们会和自己的儿子、女儿有仇么？故意要坑害自己的徒弟么？那决计不会。必定另外有更重大的原因，一定有要紧之极的图谋。难道是为了那本《连城剑谱》？ “应该是的罢？万师伯和言师伯为了这剑谱，可以杀死自己的师父，现在又拚命想杀死对方。” 不错，他们在拚命想杀死对方。土坑中的争斗越来越紧迫。万震山和言达平二人的剑法难分高下，但万门众弟子在旁相助，究竟令言达平大为分心。斗到分际，孙均一剑刺向言达平后心，言达平回剑一挡，剑锋顺势掠下。孙均一声“啊哟！”虎口受伤，跟着当的一声，长剑落地。便在这时，万震山已乘隙削出一剑，在言达平右臂割了长长一道口子。 言达平吃痛，急忙剑交左手，但左手使剑究竟甚是不惯，右臂上的伤势也着实不轻，鲜血染得他半身都是血污。七八招拆将下来，左肩上又中了一剑。 众乡民见状，都是吓得脸上变色，窃窃私议，只想逃出屋去，却是谁也不敢动弹。 万震山决意今日将这师弟杀了，一剑剑出手，更是狠辣，嗤的一声响，言达平右胸又中一剑。 眼看数招之间，言达平便要死于师兄剑底，他咬着牙齿浴血苦斗，不出半句求饶的言语。他和这师兄同门十余年，离了师门之后，又明争暗斗了十余年，对他为人知之极深，出言相求只有徒遭羞辱，绝无用处。 狄云心道：“当年在荆州之时，言师伯以一只饭碗助我打退大盗吕通，又教了我三招剑法，使我不受万门众弟子的欺侮，虽然他多半别有用意，但我总是受过他的恩惠，决不能让他死于非命。”当下假装不住发抖，提起手中铁铲在地下铲满了泥土。 只见万震山又挺剑向言达平小腹刺去，言达平身子摇晃，已闪避不开。狄云手中的铁铲轻轻一抖，一铲黄泥向万震山飞了过去。泥上所带的内劲着实不小。万震山被这股劲力一撞，登时立足不住，腾的一下，向后便摔了出去。 众人出其不意，谁也不知泥土从何处飞来。狄云几铲泥土跟着迅速掷出，都是掷向点在壁上的松明和油灯，大厅中立时黑漆一团，众人都惊叫起来。狄云纵身而前，一把抱起言达平便冲了出去。
狄云一到屋外，便将言达平负在背上，往后山疾驰。 他于这一带的地势十分熟悉，尽往荒僻难行的高山上攀行。言达平伏在他背上，只觉耳畔生风，犹似腾云驾雾一般，恍如梦中，真不信世间竟有这等武功高强之人。 狄云负着言达平，攀上了这一带最高的一座山峰。山峰陡峭险峻，狄云也从未上来过。他曾与戚芳仰望这座云围雾绕的山峰，商量说山上有没有妖怪神仙。戚芳说：“哪一日你待我不好了，我便爬上山去，永远不下来了。”狄云说：“好，我也永远不下来。”戚芳笑道：“空心菜！你肯陪着我永远不下来，我也不用上去啦。” 当时狄云只是嘻嘻傻笑，此刻却想：“我永远愿意陪着你，你却不要我陪。” 他将言达平放下地来，问道：“你有金创药么？”言达平扑翻身躯便拜，道：“恩公尊姓大名？言达平今日得蒙相救，大恩不知如何报答才是。”狄云不能受师伯这个礼，忙跪下还礼，说道：“前辈不必多礼，折杀小人了。小人是无名之辈，一些小事，说甚么报答不报答？”言达平坚欲请教，狄云不会捏造假名，只是不说。 言达平见他不肯说，只得罢了，从怀中取出金创药来，敷上了伤口；抚摸三处剑伤，兀自心惊：“他再迟得片刻出手，我这时已不在人世了。” 狄云道：“在下心中有几件疑难，要请问前辈。”言达平忙道：“恩公再也休提前辈两字。有何询问，言达平自当竭诚奉告，不敢有分毫隐瞒。”狄云道：“那再好不过了。请问前辈，这座大屋，是你所造的么？”言达平道：“是的。”狄云又问：“前辈雇人挖掘，当然是找那《连城剑谱》了。不知可找到了没有？” 言达平心中一凛：“我道他为甚么好心救我，却原来也是为了那本《连城剑谱》。”说道：“我花了无数心血，至今未曾得到半点端倪。恩公明鉴，小人实是不敢相瞒。倘若言达平已经得到，立刻便双手献上。姓言的性命是恩公所救，岂敢爱惜这身外之物？” 狄云连连摇手，道：“我不是要剑谱。不瞒前辈说，在下武功虽然平平，但相信这甚么《连城剑谱》，对在下的功夫也未必有甚么好处。”言达平道：“是，是！恩公武功出神入化，已是当世无敌，那《连城剑谱》也不过是一套剑法的图谱。小人师兄弟只因这是本门的功夫，才十分重视，在外人看来，那也是不足一哂的了。” 狄云听出他言不由衷，当下也不点破，又问：“听说那大屋的所在，本来是你师弟戚老前辈所住的。这位戚前辈外号叫作'铁锁横江'，那是甚么意思？”他自幼跟师父长大，见师父实是个忠厚老实的乡下人，但丁典却说他十分工于心计，是以要再问一问，到底丁典的话是否传闻有误。 言达平道：“我师弟戚长发外号叫作'铁锁横江'，那是人家说他计谋多端，对付人很辣手，就像一条大铁链锁住了江面，叫江中船只上又上不得、下又下不得的意思。” 狄云心中一阵难过，暗道：“丁大哥的话没错，我师父竟是这样的人物，我从小受他欺骗，他始终不向我显示本来面目。不过，不过他一直待我很好，骗了我也没有甚么。”心中仍是存着一线希望，又道：“江湖上这种外号，也未必靠得住，或许是戚师父的仇人给他取的。你和令师弟同门学艺，自然知道他的性情脾气。到底他的性子如何？” 言达平叹了口气，道：“非是我要说同门的坏话，恩公既然问起，在下不敢隐瞒半分。我这个戚师弟，样子似乎是头木牛蠢马，心眼儿却再也灵巧不过。否则那本《连城剑谱》，怎么会给他得了去呢？” 狄云点了点头，隔了半晌，才道：“你怎知那《连城剑谱》确是在他手中？你亲眼瞧见了么？” 言达平道：“虽不是亲眼瞧见，但小人仔细琢磨，一定是他拿去的。” 狄云道：“我听人说，你常爱扮作乞丐，是不是？”言达平又是一惊：“这人好厉害，居然连这件事也知道了。”便道：“恩公信讯灵通，在下的作为，甚么都瞒不过你。初时在下料得这本《连城剑谱》不是在万师哥手中，便是在戚师弟手中，因此便乔装改扮，易容为丐，在湘西鄂西来往探听动静。”狄云道：“为甚么你料定是在他们二人手中？”言达平道：“我恩师临死之时，将这剑谱交给我师兄弟三人……” 狄云想起丁典所说，那天夜里长江畔万、言、戚三人合力谋杀师父梅念笙之事，哼了一声，道：“是他亲手交给你们的吗？恐怕……恐怕……不见得罢？他好好死的吗？” 言达平一跃而起，指着他道：“你……你是……丁……丁典……丁大爷？”丁典安葬梅念笙的讯息后来终于泄漏，是以言达平听得他揭露自己弑师的大罪，便猜想他是丁典。 狄云淡淡道：“我不是丁典。丁大哥嫉恶如仇。他……他亲眼见到你们师兄弟三人合力杀死师父，倘若我是丁大哥，今日就不会救你，让你死在万……万震山的剑下。” 言达平惊疑不定，道：“那么你是谁？”狄云道：“你不用管我是谁。若要人不知，除非己莫为。你们合力杀了师父之后，抢得《连城剑谱》，后来怎样？”言达平颤声道：“你既然甚么都知道了，何必再来问我？”狄云道：“有些事我知道，有些事我不知。请你老老实实说罢。若有假话，我总会查察得出。” 言达平又惊又怕，说道：“我如何敢欺骗恩公？我师兄弟三人拿到《连城剑谱》之后，一查之下，发觉只有剑谱，没有剑诀，仍是无用，便跟着去追查剑诀……”狄云心想：“丁大哥言道，这剑诀和一个大宝藏有关。现下梅念笙、凌小姐、丁大哥都已逝世，世上已无人知道剑诀，你们兀自在作梦。”只听言达平继续说道：“我们三个人你不放心我，我不放心你，每天晚上都在一间房睡，这本剑谱，便锁在一只铁盒之中。我们把铁盒锁上的钥匙投入了大江，铁盒放在房中桌子的抽屉里，铁盒上又连着三根小铁链，分系在三人的手上，只要有谁一动，其余二人便惊觉了。” 狄云叹了口气，道：“这可防备得周密得很。”言达平道：“哪知道还是出了乱子。”狄云问道：“又出了甚么乱子？”言达平道：“这一晚我们师兄弟三人在房中睡了一夜，次日清晨，万震山忽然大叫：'剑谱呢？剑谱呢？'我一惊跳起，只见放铁盒的抽屉拉开了没关上，铁盒的盖子也打开了，盒中的剑谱已不翼而飞。我们三人大惊之下，拚命的追寻，却哪里还寻得着？这件事太也奇怪，房中的门窗仍是在内由铁扣扣着，好端端的没动，因此剑谱定非外人盗去，不是万师哥，便是戚师弟下的手了。” 狄云道：“果真如此，何不黑夜中开了门窗，装作是外人下的手？”言达平叹了口气，说道：“我们三人的手腕都是用铁链连着的。悄悄起身去开抽屉，开铁盒，那是可以的，要走远去开门开窗，铁链就不够长了。”狄云道：“原来如此。那你们怎么办？”言达平道：“剑谱得来不易，我们当然不肯就此罢休。三个人你怪我，我怪你，大吵了一场，但谁也说不出甚么证据，只好分道扬镳……” 狄云道：“有一件事我想不明白，倒要请教。你们师父既有这样一本剑谱，迟早总会传给你们，难道他要带到棺材里去不成？何以定要下此毒手？何以要杀了师父来抢这剑谱？” 言达平道：“我师父，我师父，唉，他……他是老胡涂了，他认定我们师兄弟三人心术不正，始终不传我们这剑谱上的剑法，眼看他是在另行物色传人，甚至于要将本门武功尽数传于外人。我们三人忍无可忍，迫于无奈，这才……这才下手。” 狄云道：“原来如此。你后来又怎断定剑谱是在你戚师弟手中？” 言达
Di Yun and all the villagers had been busy all night, and the master had been engrossed in supervising them until dawn, and then they called it a day.Most of the villagers dispersed to go home, and seven or eight of them lived far away, so they slept on the ground under the porch on the east side of the big house.Di Yun also fell asleep on the porch.After sleeping until the afternoon, everyone got up to eat.Di Yun's body was dirty, and others didn't want to get close to him, and stayed far away from him when sleeping and eating.Di Yun was exactly what he wished for.He has learned to be cautious and dare not trust others, but he still finds it difficult to pretend to be a fake. After a long time, he will definitely show his feet, and it would be best if others do not come to get close to him. After eating, Di Yun went to a small village three miles away, looking for someone to ask if Master had ever been back.From a distance, he saw several playmates from his youth, all of whom were now strong adults, busy working in the fields. He didn't want to reveal his identity, and he didn't go up to greet him. The situation of the big house. The young man said that the big house was built last autumn, and the owner of the house was rich, so he came to dig the cornucopia, but he hadn't found it yet.The young man was talking and laughing, it can be seen that the matter of digging the cornucopia has become a laughing stock in the surrounding area. "The original huts? Well, no one has lived in them for a long time, and no one has ever returned. When the big house was built, the huts were naturally demolished." Di Yun bid farewell to the young man, feeling sullen and full of doubts, unable to figure out what the old beggar's intentions were for doing this strange thing.He walked among the fields and passed a vegetable field, but he saw a piece of green, full of water spinach. "Spinach, spinach!" Suddenly, these clear naughty voices sounded in his heart.Water spinach is the most common vegetable in western Hunan. It is thick and long, and the center of the vegetable stem is hollow.His junior sister Qi Fang gave him this nickname, laughing at him for being straightforward and not thinking at all.Since he left Xiangxi, he has never seen water spinach again until today.He stayed there for a while, bent over to pick one, smelled the smell of the vegetable juice, and walked west slowly. To the west are barren hills with jagged rocks, where even tung trees and camellia oleifera trees cannot be planted.In the barren hills over there, there was a cave that no one else knew about, but it was the place where he and Qi Fang used to play.He missed the old days and walked towards the cave.After climbing over two hillsides and entering a big cave, I came to this mysterious and desolate cave. There were clumps of shoulder-length grass covering the hole.Feeling sad again, he went into the cave and saw that everything in the cave was still exactly the same as when he and Qi Fang left, it hadn't moved at all, it was just full of dust. The clay figurines that Qi Fang made out of clay, the slingshot he used to play birds, the trigger to catch hares, and the piccolo that Qi Fang played while herding cattle were still placed on the rocks in the cave.Over there is Qi Fang's sewing basket.The scissors in the basket were covered with yellow rust. Back then, during the winter slack days, he would often weave straw sandals or bamboo baskets in this cave, and Qi Fang would sit beside him making shoes.She took some scraps of cloth, folded them into shoe soles, and sewed them on stitch by stitch.Both Master and his shoes have green cloth uppers.Her own shoes are sometimes embroidered with a flower and sometimes a bird. Of course, they are worn during Chinese New Year, and the shoes she usually wears are also made of blue cloth.If you go to the fields to make crops, you either wear straw sandals or go barefoot. Di Yun casually picked up an old book from the sewing basket. On the cover of the book were written the words "Selected Poems of the Tang Dynasty".Neither he nor Qi Fang could read much, and neither of them knew how to read Tang poems, which Qi Fang used to pinch shoes and embroider patterns.He opened the book casually and took out two paper patterns.It was a pair of butterflies, cut by Qi Fang for embroidery.The scene at that time emerged clearly in his mind. A pair of big yellow and black butterflies flew to the entrance of the cave, flying east and west for a while, but the two butterflies never separated.Qi Fang shouted: "Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai! Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai!" People in western Hunan called this colorful butterfly "Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai".This kind of butterfly must be a male and female pair, and they live together and fly together. Di Yun was playing straw sandals when the pair of butterflies flew to him. He raised half of the straw sandals and beat one butterfly to death.Qi Fang yelled "Ah" and said angrily, "You...what are you doing?" Seeing her suddenly angry, Di Yun couldn't help but be at a loss, and said in a low voice, "You like...butterflies, I...I'll call you." The dead butterfly fell to the ground and remained motionless, while the surviving one was circling around the dead butterfly. Qi Fang said: "Look, what a crime! They are such a good couple, and you tore them apart." Seeing her dejected look and hearing her sad voice, Di Yun felt apologetic in his heart, and said, "Oh, this But I was wrong." Later, Qi Fang cut out an embroidery pattern according to the dead butterfly, and embroidered it on her own shoes.During the Chinese New Year, I embroidered another purse for him. It was also a pair of butterflies, with yellow and black wings, and some thin red and green lines on the wings near the body.He kept this purse with him all the time, but after Jingzhou was arrested and imprisoned, he gave it to the jailer. Holding the pair of embroidered paper butterflies, Di Yun vaguely heard Qi Fang's voice in his ears: "Look, what a crime! They are such a good couple, and you tore them apart." He stayed for a while, then took the paper butterfly back to the book, flipped it casually, and saw that there were many red paper patterns on the pages, some were a carp, some were three goats, those were window grilles pasted on the windows during the Chinese New Year, all of them were red paper patterns. Qi Fang cut it. He was taking a closer look at the sheets, when he suddenly heard the sound of stones hitting each other dozens of feet away, and someone came.He thought to himself: "No one has ever come here, could it be a beast?" He stuffed the book with the embroidery pattern into his arms. Only someone said: "This area is very desolate, it won't be here." Another old voice said: "Hey, the more desolate, the more people come to collect treasures. We have to search here." Di Yun thought: "Why do you come here to hunt for treasure?" He stepped out of the cave and hid himself behind a big tree. After a while, someone came to this side, and there were seven or eight people who heard the footsteps.He looked out from behind the tree, and saw a person with bright clothes, oily face and a very familiar face, followed by another person with a shovel in his hand, walking over.This man is tall and imposing.When Di Yun saw it, he couldn't help but get angry, and immediately wanted to rush out and strangle him to death. This person is exactly Wan Gui who snatched his junior sister and sent him to prison, causing him to suffer untold hardships. How did he get here? The younger one next to him is Shen Cheng, the younger brother of Wanmen. As soon as those two people passed by, all disciples of Wanmen came behind, Lu Kun, Sun Jun, Bu Yuan, Wu Kan, Feng Tan all arrived. Wanmen originally had eight disciples, and the second disciple Zhou Qi was killed by Di Yun in the abandoned garden of Jingzhou City, leaving only seven disciples.Di Yun was very surprised: "What kind of treasure are these people rushing here to find? Could it be that they are also looking for a cornucopia?" Only Shen Cheng could be heard shouting: "Master, Master, there is a cave here." The old voice said: "Is that so?" The joy in the voice could not be suppressed.Followed by a tall figure came over, it was Wu Yunshou Wan Zhenshan.Di Yun hadn't seen him for many years, but he was hale and hearty, his steps were steady, and he didn't look old at all. Wan Zhenshan entered the cave first, and all the disciples rushed in.People's voices came from the cave: "There are people living here!" "The dust is so thick that no one has come here for many years." "No, no! Look, there are new footprints here." "Ah, there are New handprint, someone just came here." "It must be Master Yan, he... He stole the Liancheng Sword Manual." Di Yun was both surprised and amused at the same time: "Are they looking for the sword manual of Liancheng swordsmanship? Why can't they find it after so long? What is Yan Shishu? Master said that his second senior brother Yan Daping has been missing for many years and there is no news of him. , I’m afraid I’m no longer alive, so how come I got out and seized the Liancheng sword manual? It’s obviously my handprint and footprint, they guessed it, it’s really a hell.” I only heard Wan Zhenshan say: "Everyone, don't rush to make noise, look around carefully." Someone said: "Since Master Yan has been here, do you want to take it?" Someone said: "Qi Changfa, this fellow is really He is scheming, hiding the sword manual here, it is really not easy for others to find." Another person said: "Of course he is scheming, otherwise why would he be called 'Iron Lock Hengjiang'?" Wan Zhenshan said: "Just now we followed that countryman from afar, this person's footsteps were so fast, he disappeared after a while. This person may be a bit evil." Wan Gui said: "The local countryman is familiar with the mountain road, so he must turn up The path is gone. If it wasn't for him, even if we search for a year and a half, I'm afraid we won't find it here." Di Yun thought to himself: "So they came with me, otherwise how could they find this cave so secluded." I could only hear everyone rummaging and digging around.There was nothing in the cave at first, so everyone rummaged around like this, just throwing a few junk things here and there to move them.The sound of shovels digging the ground sounded, but the bottom of the cave was full of rocks, so there was no way to dig it down, Wan Zhenshan said: "There is nothing left, everyone, go out and do the sum outside." All the disciples followed Wan Zhenshan out, walked to the side of the mountain stream, and sat down on the rock.Di Yun didn't want them to see him, and he didn't dare to approach him.The voices of these eight people were very low, and they couldn't hear what they were saying.After a while, the eight people got up and left. Di Yun thought to himself: "They came to look for the Liancheng sword manual, but they suspected that it was stolen by my second master Yan Daping. My master's house was converted into a big house, and the old beggar said he was looking for some kind of cornucopia... ...ah, yes, yes!" Suddenly, a flash of inspiration flashed through my mind, and I suddenly realized: "This old beggar is not looking for any kind of cornucopia, he is also looking for the Liancheng sword manual. He believed that this sword manual fell into the hands of my master, so he came here Come and search carefully, in order to deceive people, first build such a big house, and then dig a hole in the house to search, lest others will be suspicious, and there will be rumors that they are looking for a cornucopia, which is naturally a lie to deceive the country people.” Then he thought: "That day Master Wan was celebrating his birthday, and this old beggar came and went day and night, obviously with ulterior motives. Well, Wan Zhenshan and the others couldn't find the sword manual, so why not go to the big house to check it? Most of them have already gone to investigate. This matter is not yet over, I will go to the big house and wait to see the excitement, there is a lot of weirdness in the middle, a hundred things are wrong!" "But what about my master? Where is his old man, his family has been turned upside down by others, does he know?" "Where's Junior Sister? She's staying in Jingzhou City and enjoying the blessings of being a young mistress. People from the Wan family are going to search her father's house, and they probably won't let her know. What is she doing at this time?"
At night, oil lamps and pine lights were lit on the walls of the big house.More than a dozen villagers picked up hoes and shovels to dig the ground.Di Yun was also digging among the crowd, neither particularly hardworking nor lazy, and the less people noticed him, the better.His hair was fluffy and he didn't shave his beard. Most of his face was covered by the hair, and he painted some plaster on it. The white cloth wrapped around the head and the green cloth belt around the waist were used interchangeably.This night, they were digging on the north side, and the old beggar was walking up and down by the pit with his hands behind his back.Of course, he didn't look like a beggar at all now, with rich clothes, a jasper ring on his left hand, and a big piece of Chinese jade hanging on his belt. All of a sudden, Di Yun heard someone quietly approaching from outside the house.These people were still far away, the old beggar obviously didn't realize it.Di Yun turned sideways, squinting at the old beggar, only to hear footsteps gradually approaching, five, six...seven...eight, that's right, they were Wan Zhenshan and his seven disciples .But the old beggar still didn't notice.Di Yun had already heard clearly, and the eight people seemed to be right in front of him, but the old beggar seemed to be deaf. Five years ago, Di Yun treated the old beggar like a god.He only learned three moves of swordsmanship from the old beggar, and he completely defeated the eight disciples of Wanmen, leaving no room for parry. "But why his martial arts has become so bad, isn't it him? Did he admit the wrong person? No, he will never admit his mistake." Di Yun didn't expect that his martial arts had advanced to an extremely high level, so he The clearly audible sound is completely silent in the ears of others. Eight people are getting closer.Di Yun was very strange: "These eight people are really funny, who can't hear you sneaking up, and still sneaking around like this?" The eight people approached more than ten feet, and suddenly, the old beggar Trembling slightly, he turned his ears to listen to the movement.Di Yun thought to himself: "Did he hear it? Is he deaf?" In fact, these eight people are still far apart. If it were Di Yun a year or two ago, he wouldn't have heard the footsteps, and he would have come closer. , and still can't hear it. The eight people got closer, took a few steps, and stopped for a while, obviously to prevent people in the house from finding out.But the old beggar has already noticed.He turned around and picked up a crutch leaning against the corner, which was a thick wooden crutch with a dragon head. All of a sudden, the eight people rushed forward at the same time and surrounded them on all sides.With a bang, the door was kicked open, Wan Gui rushed in first, followed by Shen Cheng and Bu Yuan.Each of the seven men raised their long swords and surrounded the old beggar. The old beggar laughed loudly and said, "Very good, you guys are here! Master Wan, why don't you come in?" A person outside the door laughed loudly and stepped in slowly. It was Wu Yunshou Wan Zhenshan.He and the old beggar stood across the pit, and the two looked at each other.After a while, Wan Zhenshan smiled and said, "Junior Brother Yan, I haven't seen you for a few years, you've made a fortune." These three words fell into Di Yun's ears, and his mind suddenly became confused: "What? This old beggar is... the second martial uncle... the second martial uncle... Yan Daping?" I just heard the old beggar say: "Senior brother, I made a small fortune. Your business has been very good these few years." Wan Zhenshan said: "Tofu! Hey, boys, why don't you kowtow to the uncle?" Lu Kun Kneeling down together, they said in unison: "I kowtow to Master Yan." The old beggar laughed and said, "That's all, that's all! It's not convenient to kowtow while holding a sword in your hand, so let's avoid it." Di Yun thought to himself: "This person is indeed Master Yan. He...he?" Wan Zhenshan said: "Brother, are you opening a coal mine here? How did you dig such a big hole?" Yan Daping chuckled and said, "Brother guessed wrong. My little brother has too many enemies, take refuge here, dig deep The pit serves two purposes. If the enemy is killed by the younger brother, he can be buried casually without digging a pit. If the younger brother is killed by others, this pit will be the place where the younger brother will be buried." Wan Zhenshan said with a smile: "Wonderful, junior brother I'm really thoughtful. The younger brother is not too fat, I think the pit is deep enough, so there is no need to dig any more." Yan Daping smiled and said, "It is more than enough to bury one person, but I'm afraid it is not enough to bury eight." Hearing that the two of them were confronting each other with tit-for-tat, he couldn't help thinking of Ding Dian's words, and thought: "These brothers killed their master with their joint efforts. The mentors who were trained would kill each other, so what kind of friendship is there between them? Listen to Ding Dian." The eldest brother said that their brothers had obtained the Liancheng Sword Manual, but not the sword formula. The sword formula is full of numbers, the first character is 'four', the second character is 'fifty', and the third character is 'three' Thirteen', the fourth word is 'fifty-three', Brother Ding didn't finish talking until his death. Isn't the sword manual already in their hands? Why come here to look for it again?" Wan Zhenshan said: "Good junior brother, we have been in the same school for many years, you understand my thoughts, and I have seen through your guts a long time ago, do you still need to talk in circles? Bring it!" After saying this " "Bring" two words, then stretched out his right hand. Yan Daping shook his head, and said, "I haven't found it yet. We are no match for Qi Laosan's scheming. I can never guess where he hides the sword manual." Di Yun frowned again: "Could it be that the two brothers and sisters worked together to snatch the sword manual, but gave it to my master? But why hasn't there been any movement during these years? That's right, my master must have done it very cleverly." , They have never noticed it. Since the master is not here, the sword manual will be carried with him, how could it be buried in this room? They desperately came here to search, isn't that too stupid?" But, he knew Wan Zhen Shan and Yan Daping are by no means fools, they are more than ten times smarter than themselves.What kind of conspiracy and institutions are hidden in the middle? Wan Zhenshan laughed loudly, and said: "Junior brother, why are you pretending? People say our third junior brother is 'Iron Lock Hengjiang', and his methods are powerful. Let me tell you, your second junior brother is the most powerful. Bring it!" Said right hand Stretch forward again. Yan Daping patted his pockets and said: "We are old brothers for many years, what else can we share? Brother, if brothers get this thing, I will definitely not be able to deal with it alone. You have to preside over the overall situation. Be a brother." Those who can only help from the side and share some benefits. But if the senior brother gets it, hehe, although the senior brother has many disciples, his skills are still young, I am afraid that the brothers will have to make do with it and add a leader." Wan Zhenshan frowned and said, "What did you get in the cave over there?" Yan Daping wondered, "What cave? Is there a cave near here?" Wan Zhenshan said, "Junior brother, you and I are the same age There are a lot of them, why bother to hurt the peace in the end? Please take it out, and everyone can read it together. How about sharing the blessings and difficulties in the future?" Yan Daping said: "This is amazing, why do you insist that I got it? What if I've got it, why are you still digging here?" Wan Zhenshan said: "You have so many tricks, who knows what you are doing?" Yan Daping said: "Third Junior Brother's things are not so easy to find. I Look, it won't be in this room. If there is still no result after digging for three more days, I don't want to disturb it any more." Wan Zhenshan sneered: "Hmph! I think you should dig for another ten days. Banyue’s is good, pretend to be a bit more.” Yan Daping's face suddenly changed, and he was about to turn his face, but in a flash, he held back his anger and said, "How do you believe it?" Putting down his crutches, unbuttoning his clothes, he took off his robe, grabbed the hem of the robe, and shook it upside down After a few shakes, a few taels of silver and a snuff bottle clanged out, and fell to the ground. Wan Zhenshan said: "You are so stupid, you will keep it with you after you get it? Even if you hide it by your side, you must keep it close to the meat, and you will not put it in your robe pocket." Yan Daping sighed, and said: "Brother If you don’t believe it, then come and search.” Wan Zhenshan said: "So offended." He winked at Wan Gui and Shen Cheng.The two nodded, put their swords back into their sheaths, walked to Yan Daping's side, one on the left and one on the right.Wan Zhenshan gave Bu Yuan and Lu Kun another wink, and the two slowly circled behind Yan Daping, tightly grasping the hilt of the sword. Yan Daping patted his underwear pocket and said: "Please search!" Wan Gui said: "Master, I offended you!" He reached out to touch his pocket. All of a sudden, Wan Gui screamed "Ah", and hurriedly withdrew his hands and backed away. Under the firelight, he saw a big three-inch-long scorpion crawling on the back of his hand.He hit the side of the pit with his backhand, and with a slap, the scorpion was smashed to pieces, but the back of his hand was already poisoned, and it swelled up immediately.He wanted to be a hero, he refused to moan, but beads of sweat oozed from his forehead like soybeans. Yan Daping was startled and said: "Ah, Nephew Wanxian, where did you disturb this poisonous insect? This is a piebald poisonous scorpion, but it is very powerful. This thing is not to be played with. Brother, hurry up, hurry up , do you have an antidote? As long as the rescue is one step late, it will be terrible, amazing! Be good to my mother!" I saw the back of Wan Gui's hand turn from red to purple, from purple to black, a red line slowly rising towards his arm.Knowing that he had fallen into Yan Daping's trap, Wan Zhenshan had no choice but to hold back his breath and said, "Junior brother, I've convinced you as a brother. I'll admit defeat right now. You bring the antidote, and we'll walk clapping our hands and never come back again." You are wordy." Yan Daping said: "Is this antidote? I had it before, but it's been a long time and I don't know where I lost it. I'll look for it with you in a few days, maybe I can find it. Otherwise, I'll go to Daming Mansion , I found a prescription, and I prepared it for you, that's fine too. Who taught us that there is a deep friendship between brothers and sisters." When Wan Zhenshan heard this, his chest really exploded with anger. This kind of poisonous snake and poisonous scorpion injury can kill a person in an instant. As long as the red line reaches his chest, he will die immediately. What do you say? In a few days, I will search slowly." Here, I have traveled thousands of miles to Daming Mansion in Hebei, and I said that I am so shameless to find prescriptions and dispense medicines. I also said, "Who taught our brothers and sisters to have a deep friendship", but seeing Aizi With his life at stake, he had no choice but to hold back his anger, thinking that a gentleman would take revenge, and it was not too late in ten years, so he said, "Junior brother, I'm doomed for this somersault. Whatever you want me to do, just draw a path." Yan Daping put on his robe slowly, buttoned it up, and said, "Senior brother, what can I give you? Do whatever you like." Wan Zhenshan thought in his heart: "Today, I'll let you talk about it."足顺风旗，日后要你知道我厉害。”说道：“好罢，姓万的自今而后，永不再和你相见。再向你罗嗦甚么，我姓万的不是人。”言达平道：“这个可不敢当。做兄弟的只求师哥说一句，那'连城剑谱'，该当归言达平所有。倘若兄弟侥幸找到，自然无话可说；就算落入了师哥手里，也当让给兄弟。” 万圭毒气渐渐上行，只觉一阵阵晕眩，身子不由自主的摇摇摆摆。鲁坤叫道：“师弟，师弟！”伸手扶住，撕破他衣袖，只见那道红线已过腋下。他转头向着万震山叫道：“师父，今日甚么都答允罢！” 万震山道：“好，这连城剑谱，就算是师弟你的了，恭喜！恭喜！”这两句“恭喜”，却说得咬牙切齿，满腔怨毒。 言达平道：“既是如此，让我进屋去找找，说不定能寻得到甚么解药，那要瞧万贤侄是不是有这门造化了。”说完慢吞吞的转身入内。万震山使个眼色，鲁坤和卜垣跟了进去。 过了好一会，三人都没出来，也没听到甚么声息，只见万圭神智昏迷，由沈均扶着，已是不能动弹。万震山心中焦急，向冯坦道：“你进去瞧瞧。”冯坦道：“是！”正要进去，只见言达平走了出来，满面春风的道：“还好！还好！这不是找到了吗？”手中高举着一个小瓷瓶，说道：“这是解药，行，治蝎毒再好不过了。万贤侄，你好大的命啊。以后这种毒物可玩不得了。”说着走到万圭身边，拔开瓶塞，在万圭手背伤口上洒了些黑色的药末。 这解药倒也真灵，过不多时，便见伤口中慢慢渗出黑血，一滴滴的掉在地下，黑血越渗越多，万圭手臂上那道红线便缓缓向下，回到臂弯，又回到手腕。 万震山吁了口气，心中又是轻松，又是恼恨，儿子的性命是保全了，可是这一仗大败亏输，还没动手却受制于人。又过了一会，万圭睁开了眼睛，叫了一声：“爹！” 言达平将瓷瓶口塞上，放回怀中，拿过拐杖，在地下轻轻一顿，笑道：“这就行啦，万贤侄，你今后学了这个乖，伸手到人口袋里去掏摸甚么，千万得小心才是。” 万震山向沈城道：“叫他们出来。”沈城应道：“是！”走到厅后，大声叫道：“鲁师哥、卜师哥，快出来，咱们走了。”只听得鲁卜二人“啊，啊，啊”的叫了几下，却不出来。孙均和沈城不等师父吩咐，径自冲了进去，随即分别扶了鲁坤、卜垣出来。但见两人脸无人色，一断左腿，一折右足，自是适才遭了言达平的毒手。 万震山大怒，他本来就有意立取言达平的性命，这时更有了借口，这口恶气哪里还耐得到他日再出？当即刷的一声，长剑出鞘，刃吐青光，疾向言达平喉头刺了过去。 狄云从未见万震山显示过武功，这时见他一招刺出，狠辣稳健，心中暗道：“这一剑好像没有漏洞。”狄云此时武学修为已是深湛，虽然无人传授，但在别人出招之时，自然而然的首先便看对方招数中有甚么破绽。 言达平斜身让过，左手抓住拐杖下端，右手抓住拐杖龙头，双手一分，擦的一声轻响，白光耀眼，手中已多了一柄长剑。原来那拐杖的龙头便是剑柄，剑刃蒙在杖中，拐杖下端便是剑鞘。他一剑在手，当即还招，只听得叮叮叮叮之声不绝，师兄弟二人便在土坑边上斗了起来。斗得数招，均觉坑边地形狭窄，施展不开，同声吆喝，一齐跃入坑中。 众乡民见二人口角相争，早已惊疑不定，待见动上了家伙恶斗，更是吓得缩在屋角落中，谁也不敢作声。狄云也装出畏缩之状，留意观看两位师伯，只看得七八招，心想：“二位师伯内力太过不足，招法却尽够了，就算得到了甚么'连城剑谱'，恐怕也没甚么用处，除非那是一部增进内功的武经。但既是'剑谱'，想来必是讲剑法的书。” 他又看几招，更觉奇怪：“刘乘风、花铁干他们'落花流水'四侠的武功，比之我这两位师伯高得多了。两位师伯一味讲究招数变化，全不顾和内力配合。那是甚么道理？当年师父教我剑术，也是这么教。看来他们万、言、戚师兄弟三人全是这么学的。这种武功遇上比他们弱的对手，自然占尽了上风，但只要对方内力稍强，他们这许多变幻无穷的剑招，就半点用处也没有了。为甚么要这样学剑？为甚么要这样学剑？” 只见孙均、冯垣、吴坎三人各挺长剑，上前助战，成了四人合攻言达平之势。 言达平哈哈大笑，说道：“好，好！大师哥，你越来越长进啦，招集了一批小喽罗，齐来攻打你师弟。”他虽装作若无其事，剑法上却已颇见窒滞。 狄云心想：“他师兄弟二人的剑招，各有各的长处。言师伯当年教了我刺肩、打耳光、去剑三式，用以对付万门众弟子，那是十分有用的，用来对付万师伯，却是半点用处也没有了。唉，他们大家都不懂，单学剑招变化，若无内功相济，那有甚么用？半点用处也没有，真是奇怪，这样浅的道理，连我这笨人也懂，他们个个十分聪明，怎么会谁也不懂？难道是我自己胡涂了？” 突然之间，心头似乎闪过了一道灵光：“丁大哥跟我说过那神照经的来历，显然，师祖爷梅念笙是懂得这道理的，却为甚么不跟三个弟子说？难道……难道……难道……”他心中连说三个“难道”，背上登时渗出了一片冷汗，不由得打了个寒噤，身子也轻轻发抖。 旁边一个年老的乡民不住念佛：“阿弥陀佛，阿弥陀佛，别弄出人命来才好。小兄弟，别怕，别怕。”他见狄云发抖，还道他是见到万言二人相斗而害怕，虽出言安慰，自己心中可也着实惊惧。 狄云心底已明白了真相，可是那实在太过阴险恶毒，他不愿多想，更不愿将已经猜到了的真相，归并成为一条明显的理路，只是既然想通了关键的所在，一件件小事自会汇归在一起。万震山、言达平、孙均、冯坦……这些人每一招递出，都是令他的想法多了一次印证。“不错，不错，一定是这样。不过，又恐怕不会罢？做师父的，怎能如此恶毒？不会的，不会的……可是，倘若不是，又怎会这样？实在太也奇怪了。” 一张清清楚楚的图画在他脑海中呈现了出来：“许多年以前，就是在这屋子外面，我和师妹练剑，师父在旁指点。师父教了我一招，很是巧妙。我用心的练，第二次师父却教得不同了，剑法仍然很巧妙，却和第一次有些儿不同。当时，我只道是师父的剑法变幻莫测。这时想来，两次所教的剑招为甚么不同，道理是再也明白不过了。” 突然之间，心里感到一阵阵的刺痛：“师父故意教我走错路子，故意教我些次等剑法。他自己的本事高得多，却故意教我学些中看不中用的剑招。他……他……言师伯的武功和师父应该差不多，可是他教了我三招剑法，就比师父高明得多……” “言师伯却又为甚么教我这三招剑法？他不会存着好心的。是了，他要引起万师伯的疑心，要万师伯和我师父斗将起来……” “万师伯也是这样，他自己的本事，和他的众弟子完全不同……却为甚么连自己的儿子也要欺骗？唉，他不能单教自己儿子，却不教别的弟子，这一来，西洋镜立刻就拆穿了。” 言达平左手捏着剑诀，右手手腕抖动，剑尖连转了七个圈子，快速无伦的刺向万震山胸口。万震山横过剑身，以横破圆，斜劈连削，将他这七个剑圈尽数破解了。 狄云在旁看着，又想：“这七个圈子全是多余，最终是一剑刺向万师伯的左胸，何不直接了当的刺了过去？岂不既快又狠？万师伯斜劈连削，以七个招式破解言师伯的七个剑圈，好像巧妙，其实笨得不得了，若是反刺言师伯小腹，早已得胜了。” 猛地里脑海中又掠过一幕情景： 他和师妹戚芳在练剑，戚芳的剑招花式繁多，他记不清师父所教的招数，给迫得手忙脚乱，连连倒退。戚芳接连三招攻来，他头晕眼花，手忙脚乱，眼看抵敌不住，已无法去想师父教过的剑招，随手挡架，跟着便反刺出去…… 戚芳使一招“俯听文惊风，连山石布逃”，圈剑来挡，但他的剑招纯系自发，不依师授规范，戚芳这一招花式巧妙的剑法反而挡架不住。他一剑刺去，直指师妹的肩头。正收势不及之际，师父戚长发从旁跃出，手中拿着一根木柴，拍的一声，将他手中的长剑击落了。他和戚芳都吓得脸色大变。戚长发将他狠狠责骂了一顿，说他乱刺乱劈，不依师父所教的方法使剑，太不成话。 当时他也曾想到：“我不照规矩使剑，怎么反而胜了？”但这念头只是一闪即逝，随即明白：“自然因为师妹的剑术还没练得到家。要是遇上了真正好手，我这般胡砍乱劈当然非输不可。”他当时又怎想得到：自己随手刺出去的剑招，其实比师父所教希奇古怪、花巧百端的剑法实用得多。 现下想来，那可全然不同了。以他此刻的武功，自是清清楚楚的看了出来：万震山和言达平两人所使的剑术之中，有许多是全然无用的花招，而万震山教给弟子的剑法，戚长发教给他和戚芳的剑法，其中无用的花招更多。不用说，师祖梅念笙早瞧出三个徒儿心术不正，在传授之时故意引他们走上了剑术的歪路，而万震山和戚长发在教徒儿之时，或有意或无意的，引他们在歪路上走得更远。 临敌之时使一招不管用的剑法，不只是“无用”而已，那是虚耗了机会，让敌人抢到上风，便是将性命交在敌人手里。为甚么师祖、师父、师伯都这么狠毒？都这么的阴险？ “他们会和自己的儿子、女儿有仇么？故意要坑害自己的徒弟么？那决计不会。必定另外有更重大的原因，一定有要紧之极的图谋。难道是为了那本《连城剑谱》？ “应该是的罢？万师伯和言师伯为了这剑谱，可以杀死自己的师父，现在又拚命想杀死对方。” 不错，他们在拚命想杀死对方。土坑中的争斗越来越紧迫。万震山和言达平二人的剑法难分高下，但万门众弟子在旁相助，究竟令言达平大为分心。斗到分际，孙均一剑刺向言达平后心，言达平回剑一挡，剑锋顺势掠下。孙均一声“啊哟！”虎口受伤，跟着当的一声，长剑落地。便在这时，万震山已乘隙削出一剑，在言达平右臂割了长长一道口子。 言达平吃痛，急忙剑交左手，但左手使剑究竟甚是不惯，右臂上的伤势也着实不轻，鲜血染得他半身都是血污。七八招拆将下来，左肩上又中了一剑。 众乡民见状，都是吓得脸上变色，窃窃私议，只想逃出屋去，却是谁也不敢动弹。 万震山决意今日将这师弟杀了，一剑剑出手，更是狠辣，嗤的一声响，言达平右胸又中一剑。 眼看数招之间，言达平便要死于师兄剑底，他咬着牙齿浴血苦斗，不出半句求饶的言语。他和这师兄同门十余年，离了师门之后，又明争暗斗了十余年，对他为人知之极深，出言相求只有徒遭羞辱，绝无用处。 狄云心道：“当年在荆州之时，言师伯以一只饭碗助我打退大盗吕通，又教了我三招剑法，使我不受万门众弟子的欺侮，虽然他多半别有用意，但我总是受过他的恩惠，决不能让他死于非命。”当下假装不住发抖，提起手中铁铲在地下铲满了泥土。 只见万震山又挺剑向言达平小腹刺去，言达平身子摇晃，已闪避不开。狄云手中的铁铲轻轻一抖，一铲黄泥向万震山飞了过去。泥上所带的内劲着实不小。万震山被这股劲力一撞，登时立足不住，腾的一下，向后便摔了出去。 众人出其不意，谁也不知泥土从何处飞来。狄云几铲泥土跟着迅速掷出，都是掷向点在壁上的松明和油灯，大厅中立时黑漆一团，众人都惊叫起来。狄云纵身而前，一把抱起言达平便冲了出去。
狄云一到屋外，便将言达平负在背上，往后山疾驰。 他于这一带的地势十分熟悉，尽往荒僻难行的高山上攀行。言达平伏在他背上，只觉耳畔生风，犹似腾云驾雾一般，恍如梦中，真不信世间竟有这等武功高强之人。 狄云负着言达平，攀上了这一带最高的一座山峰。山峰陡峭险峻，狄云也从未上来过。他曾与戚芳仰望这座云围雾绕的山峰，商量说山上有没有妖怪神仙。戚芳说：“哪一日你待我不好了，我便爬上山去，永远不下来了。”狄云说：“好，我也永远不下来。”戚芳笑道：“空心菜！你肯陪着我永远不下来，我也不用上去啦。” 当时狄云只是嘻嘻傻笑，此刻却想：“我永远愿意陪着你，你却不要我陪。” 他将言达平放下地来，问道：“你有金创药么？”言达平扑翻身躯便拜，道：“恩公尊姓大名？言达平今日得蒙相救，大恩不知如何报答才是。”狄云不能受师伯这个礼，忙跪下还礼，说道：“前辈不必多礼，折杀小人了。小人是无名之辈，一些小事，说甚么报答不报答？”言达平坚欲请教，狄云不会捏造假名，只是不说。 言达平见他不肯说，只得罢了，从怀中取出金创药来，敷上了伤口；抚摸三处剑伤，兀自心惊：“他再迟得片刻出手，我这时已不在人世了。” 狄云道：“在下心中有几件疑难，要请问前辈。”言达平忙道：“恩公再也休提前辈两字。有何询问，言达平自当竭诚奉告，不敢有分毫隐瞒。”狄云道：“那再好不过了。请问前辈，这座大屋，是你所造的么？”言达平道：“是的。”狄云又问：“前辈雇人挖掘，当然是找那《连城剑谱》了。不知可找到了没有？” 言达平心中一凛：“我道他为甚么好心救我，却原来也是为了那本《连城剑谱》。”说道：“我花了无数心血，至今未曾得到半点端倪。恩公明鉴，小人实是不敢相瞒。倘若言达平已经得到，立刻便双手献上。姓言的性命是恩公所救，岂敢爱惜这身外之物？” 狄云连连摇手，道：“我不是要剑谱。不瞒前辈说，在下武功虽然平平，但相信这甚么《连城剑谱》，对在下的功夫也未必有甚么好处。”言达平道：“是，是！恩公武功出神入化，已是当世无敌，那《连城剑谱》也不过是一套剑法的图谱。小人师兄弟只因这是本门的功夫，才十分重视，在外人看来，那也是不足一哂的了。” 狄云听出他言不由衷，当下也不点破，又问：“听说那大屋的所在，本来是你师弟戚老前辈所住的。这位戚前辈外号叫作'铁锁横江'，那是甚么意思？”他自幼跟师父长大，见师父实是个忠厚老实的乡下人，但丁典却说他十分工于心计，是以要再问一问，到底丁典的话是否传闻有误。 言达平道：“我师弟戚长发外号叫作'铁锁横江'，那是人家说他计谋多端，对付人很辣手，就像一条大铁链锁住了江面，叫江中船只上又上不得、下又下不得的意思。” 狄云心中一阵难过，暗道：“丁大哥的话没错，我师父竟是这样的人物，我从小受他欺骗，他始终不向我显示本来面目。不过，不过他一直待我很好，骗了我也没有甚么。”心中仍是存着一线希望，又道：“江湖上这种外号，也未必靠得住，或许是戚师父的仇人给他取的。你和令师弟同门学艺，自然知道他的性情脾气。到底他的性子如何？” 言达平叹了口气，道：“非是我要说同门的坏话，恩公既然问起，在下不敢隐瞒半分。我这个戚师弟，样子似乎是头木牛蠢马，心眼儿却再也灵巧不过。否则那本《连城剑谱》，怎么会给他得了去呢？” 狄云点了点头，隔了半晌，才道：“你怎知那《连城剑谱》确是在他手中？你亲眼瞧见了么？” 言达平道：“虽不是亲眼瞧见，但小人仔细琢磨，一定是他拿去的。” 狄云道：“我听人说，你常爱扮作乞丐，是不是？”言达平又是一惊：“这人好厉害，居然连这件事也知道了。”便道：“恩公信讯灵通，在下的作为，甚么都瞒不过你。初时在下料得这本《连城剑谱》不是在万师哥手中，便是在戚师弟手中，因此便乔装改扮，易容为丐，在湘西鄂西来往探听动静。”狄云道：“为甚么你料定是在他们二人手中？”言达平道：“我恩师临死之时，将这剑谱交给我师兄弟三人……” 狄云想起丁典所说，那天夜里长江畔万、言、戚三人合力谋杀师父梅念笙之事，哼了一声，道：“是他亲手交给你们的吗？恐怕……恐怕……不见得罢？他好好死的吗？” 言达平一跃而起，指着他道：“你……你是……丁……丁典……丁大爷？”丁典安葬梅念笙的讯息后来终于泄漏，是以言达平听得他揭露自己弑师的大罪，便猜想他是丁典。 狄云淡淡道：“我不是丁典。丁大哥嫉恶如仇。他……他亲眼见到你们师兄弟三人合力杀死师父，倘若我是丁大哥，今日就不会救你，让你死在万……万震山的剑下。” 言达平惊疑不定，道：“那么你是谁？”狄云道：“你不用管我是谁。若要人不知，除非己莫为。你们合力杀了师父之后，抢得《连城剑谱》，后来怎样？”言达平颤声道：“你既然甚么都知道了，何必再来问我？”狄云道：“有些事我知道，有些事我不知。请你老老实实说罢。若有假话，我总会查察得出。” 言达平又惊又怕，说道：“我如何敢欺骗恩公？我师兄弟三人拿到《连城剑谱》之后，一查之下，发觉只有剑谱，没有剑诀，仍是无用，便跟着去追查剑诀……”狄云心想：“丁大哥言道，这剑诀和一个大宝藏有关。现下梅念笙、凌小姐、丁大哥都已逝世，世上已无人知道剑诀，你们兀自在作梦。”只听言达平继续说道：“我们三个人你不放心我，我不放心你，每天晚上都在一间房睡，这本剑谱，便锁在一只铁盒之中。我们把铁盒锁上的钥匙投入了大江，铁盒放在房中桌子的抽屉里，铁盒上又连着三根小铁链，分系在三人的手上，只要有谁一动，其余二人便惊觉了。” 狄云叹了口气，道：“这可防备得周密得很。”言达平道：“哪知道还是出了乱子。”狄云问道：“又出了甚么乱子？”言达平道：“这一晚我们师兄弟三人在房中睡了一夜，次日清晨，万震山忽然大叫：'剑谱呢？剑谱呢？'我一惊跳起，只见放铁盒的抽屉拉开了没关上，铁盒的盖子也打开了，盒中的剑谱已不翼而飞。我们三人大惊之下，拚命的追寻，却哪里还寻得着？这件事太也奇怪，房中的门窗仍是在内由铁扣扣着，好端端的没动，因此剑谱定非外人盗去，不是万师哥，便是戚师弟下的手了。” 狄云道：“果真如此，何不黑夜中开了门窗，装作是外人下的手？”言达平叹了口气，说道：“我们三人的手腕都是用铁链连着的。悄悄起身去开抽屉，开铁盒，那是可以的，要走远去开门开窗，铁链就不够长了。”狄云道：“原来如此。那你们怎么办？”言达平道：“剑谱得来不易，我们当然不肯就此罢休。三个人你怪我，我怪你，大吵了一场，但谁也说不出甚么证据，只好分道扬镳……” 狄云道：“有一件事我想不明白，倒要请教。你们师父既有这样一本剑谱，迟早总会传给你们，难道他要带到棺材里去不成？何以定要下此毒手？何以要杀了师父来抢这剑谱？” 言达平道：“我师父，我师父，唉，他……他是老胡涂了，他认定我们师兄弟三人心术不正，始终不传我们这剑谱上的剑法，眼看他是在另行物色传人，甚至于要将本门武功尽数传于外人。我们三人忍无可忍，迫于无奈，这才……这才下手。” 狄云道：“原来如此。你后来又怎断定剑谱是在你戚师弟手中？” 言达