Chapter 23 The twenty-third time The Piper

nobody.There is no living or dead. Some lights are broken, some lights have been extinguished, deserted inn, deserted yard. Although the corpse had been removed, the courtyard was still full of blood, and the night wind was so cold that it could make blood coagulate. What about the flute player? The misty flute sounds seem to be very near, but also seems to be far away. When they were in the house, the sound of the flute seemed to be in the courtyard, but when they were in the courtyard, the sound of the flute was outside the wall. The night outside the wall was as thick as ink. They skimmed over the snow-covered wall, and in the boundless night, there was only a single lamp, flickering like a will-o'-the-wisp.

There seemed to be a ghostly figure under the lamp, as if playing the flute. Who is this guy? Is that the piper just now? Why did he play the flute alone under a lonely lamp?Could it be that he was waiting for them specially? In such a dark night, why did he stay here alone waiting for them? Only one person can answer these questions. A solitary lamp hangs on a dead branch and sways in the wind. Ding Linglin has seen this kind of lantern before, it is the lantern used by Hongbin Inn to welcome guests at night. But she couldn't see the man clearly. She wanted to rush over, but Ge Bing had already held her back, and she could feel the old man's palms were covered in cold sweat.

Why is it that the older a person is and the closer he is to death, the more he fears death? Ding Linglin bit her lip, lowered her voice, and said, "You might as well go back to the inn first, I'll go and have a look by myself." Ge Bing sighed. He knew that she had misunderstood him. He was not worried about himself, but for her. "I'm an old man, there's nothing to be afraid of, but..." Ding Linglin interrupted him and said, "I understand what you mean, but I must go and have a look." The sound of the flute suddenly stopped, and someone in the darkness suddenly said coldly: "I know you have been looking for me, why don't you come now?"

The sound was sharp, harsher than a sharp needle. Ding Linglin's palms also broke out in cold sweat. She has heard the voice. Whoever has heard the voice, once heard it, will never forget it. Could this person be one of the Four Heavenly Kings in the Demon Cult? Ge Bing's face had changed, and he whispered, "Who are you?" Someone under the solitary lamp was sneering: "Why don't you just come and see who I am?" Of course Ding Linglin has to go there. Even though she knew that she would die if she went there, she still had to go and have a look. But Ge Bing was still holding her hand tightly, saying: "I will know who you are sooner or later, I'm not in a hurry."

Ding Linglin said: "I'm in a hurry." She suddenly turned around and punched Ge Bing in the ribs with an elbow, and her men rushed over. The lights suddenly went out. The cold wind blows across the earth, and the earth is dark. But Ding Linglin has already rushed in front of this person, and has seen this person's face clearly. A pale and distorted face, a pair of eyes full of fright and fear, the eyes have protruded, staring at Ding Linglin like a dead fish. Ding Linglin has also seen this face and this person. This is the flute player who was frightened mad by standing in the pool of blood stupidly; he is also the only person who is still alive in the wedding hall.

Is he the murderer? Ding Linglin clenched her fists, and suddenly felt that a drop of blood was slowly oozing out from the corner of his eye, flowing across his pale face. As the cold wind blew, she couldn't help shivering cleverly. She suddenly discovered that this person was already dead. How can the dead speak? How can the dead play the flute? A dead man can never speak, let alone play the flute. He had no flute in his hand at all. Where did the flute sound just now come from? Ding Linglin stepped back step by step, just two steps back, suddenly, a hand stretched out and held her hand like lightning.

Cold hands, cold and stiff. How can the dead still make a move? Ding Linglin's hands were also cold, and she almost fainted again. She didn't faint because she had seen the hand protruding from behind the dead man's body. But this hand was too cold, colder than a dead man's hand. Not only cold, but also hard; harder than iron. It really doesn't look like a living person's hand, even though Ding Linglin tried her best, she couldn't break free. Behind the dead man came the voice thinner than the tip of a needle: "Do you really want to see who I am?"

Ding Linglin bit her lip hard, bleeding from her lip. "If you know who I am, you will die." His hand was even stronger: "Do you still want to see me now?" Ding Linglin suddenly nodded vigorously. If a person lived to her condition, what fear would there be in death? She stared at the man's hand, which glowed like metal in the dark. His sleeves are navy blue with cyan mountain peaks embroidered on them. "Potala" king. lone peak. Ding Linglin's heart was also cold. She even hoped that what she met was a ghost. In the hearts of people in Jianghu, the four heavenly kings of the Devil's Cult are actually more terrifying than ghosts.

She is not afraid of death. But she also knew that if a person fell into the hands of the Demon Cult, that encounter must be more terrible than death. From this man's hand, she saw the sleeve, and then slowly looked up... She finally saw his face. A face as pale and indifferent as death. In Ding Linglin's eyes, this face is more terrifying than a dead person.She finally couldn't help crying, shouting: "It's you?" "You didn't expect it to be me?" "You...you are Potala?" "Yes, I am Potala, the king of the solitary peak, an unattainable, isolated mountain, no matter who sees my true face, there are only two ways to go."

Two ways?Besides the dead end, is there another way? "You don't have to die. As long as you are willing to accept our teachings, you are ours and you can live forever." "Live forever?" Ding Linglin suddenly sneered: "I have seen at least seven or eight people from your Demon Cult have their heads cut off like wild cats." "If they die, they die happily." "Pleasure? What's the pleasure?" "Because those who killed them have paid the price." Thinking of the pool of blood and corpses in the wedding hall, Ding Linglin could hardly bear to vomit.

Gufeng Tianwang said: "Although you are alive now, life is better than death, but as long as you are willing to accept our teaching, no matter whether you are dead or alive, no one will dare to bully you." Ding Linglin bit her lips again, these words really moved her. She has been wronged too much recently. The Gufeng Heavenly King looked at her, with a contemptuous sarcasm in his vulture-like eyes, and said coldly: "I know you don't really want to die, no one really wants to die." Ding Linglin lowered her head. She is still young and hasn't really enjoyed life yet, so why must she die? Wouldn't it be a pleasure for a girl who has been wronged and tortured to have the opportunity to torture others? The temptation is too great. There are not many girls in the world who can refuse this kind of temptation, let alone Ding Linglin is a competitive person. Of course the Heavenly King Gufeng knew this, and said calmly: "You might as well think about it, but I have to remind you of two things." Ding Linglin was listening. Gufeng Heavenly King said: "It is not easy to join our teaching. It is really your luck that you have such an opportunity." He continued slowly: "It's just because now is the time for our sect to reopen its sect and establish another pope. If you miss this opportunity, you will regret it for the rest of your life." Ding Linglin suddenly asked: "Do you want me to worship under your sect?" The Heavenly King of Gufeng proudly said: "It is also your luck to worship under my sect." Ding Linglin asked: "Am I useful to you?" The Lone Peak Heavenly King did not deny it. Ding Linglin said: "What use am I to you?" Gufeng Tianwang said: "You will naturally know in the future." Ding Linglin said: "Now..." The Gufeng Heavenly King interrupted her: "You are useful to me, and I am more useful to you. People are using each other. You can be used by others, so you can live. In addition, I I also want to remind you." Ding Linglin hesitated, and said, "You said you still want to remind me of one thing?" Gufeng Heavenly King said: "You don't have to wait for Ge Bing to save you, he will never save you, and he dare not." Ding Linglin couldn't help asking again: "Why?" Gufeng Heavenly King said: "Because he is also a disciple of our sect, he joined the sect many years ago." Ding Linglin was stunned. Gufeng Heavenly King said: "You don't believe it?" Ding Linglin really didn't believe it. Although she had known Ge Bing not long ago, she had always respected him. Because she knew that Ge Bing was Ye Kai's friend, he was a very lonely and talented person. She never believed that Ye Kai's friend would be a despicable person with a mask of hypocrisy all the time. But Ge Bing had already walked over, with his hands down, standing beside the Heavenly King of Gufeng, just like a slave standing beside his master. Ding Linglin's heart sank. The Heavenly King of Gufeng said coldly: "Do you believe it now?" Although Ding Linglin had no choice but to believe it, she still couldn't help asking Ge Bing: "Are you really a member of the Demon Sect?" Ge Bing actually admitted it. Ding Linglin clenched her fists and said with a sneer, "I thought you were always caring about me and helping me. I thought you were my friend. I didn't expect you to be such a shameless villain." Ge Bing's face was expressionless, as if he had become deaf. Ding Linglin said: "Do you know that I have always respected you, not only for your medical skills, but also for being a gentleman. Why do you want to degenerate?" Gufeng Heavenly King said: "Joining this religion is not self-deprecation." Ding Linglin let out a long breath and said, "Okay, very good, kill me quickly." Gufeng Heavenly King said: "You have already decided." Ding Linglin said: "Not bad." Gufeng Heavenly King said: "You would rather die?" Ding Linglin said: "Yes." King Gufeng couldn't help but look very surprised: "Why?" Ding Linglin yelled again: "Because I now know that no matter whoever joins your Demon Cult, he will become a shameless and despicable person." Gufeng Tianwang's pupils were shrinking, and he said slowly: "You don't want to think about it?" Ding Linglin said decisively: "I don't have to think about it anymore." The Heavenly King of Gufeng looked at him, sighed suddenly, and said, "Ge Bing." Ge Bing said: "Yes." Gufeng Tianwang said: "Her life seems to be saved by you just now." Ge Bing said: "Yes." Gufeng Tianwang said: "So you don't have to buy her life anymore." Ge Bing said: "Yes." Gufeng Tianwang said: "Now you might as well take her life away." Ge Bing said: "Yes." He slowly put down the treasure chest, and the Qiankun Umbrella in his right hand had already pointed towards the center of Ding Linglin's eyebrows. The Wanbao Box is for saving people, but the Qiankun Umbrella is for killing people. His killing movements were fast and accurate, not like an old man's shots at all.He knew better than most that there was something about a man that was truly fatal. Between the eyebrows is the real deadly point. No one could withstand his blow; but Ding Linglin didn't dodge, but went forward with a sneer, she knew she couldn't dodge. Her wrist was still held in the steely hand of the King of the Lone Peak. The iron tip of the Qiankun Umbrella had already reached her eyes like lightning, she saw the cold light flashing, and suddenly heard a soft "boom", as if two steel needles were colliding. What happened next was so fast that she couldn't even see clearly. She only felt that Gufeng Tianwang's hand was suddenly released, and suddenly jumped up and turned over in the air.She also seemed to see that when Gufeng Tianwang jumped up, he stretched out his hand and slapped Ge Bing on the back. This move was as fast as lightning, and she really didn't see it clearly. The only thing she could see clearly was that the Heavenly King of Gufeng had left and Ge Bing had collapsed, but she still stood there perfectly. She really didn't understand what was going on. The night is darker, the wind is colder, the old lantern is still shaking on the dead branch; the body of the piper is still shaking on the dead branch. The Lonely Peak Heavenly King has disappeared into the darkness. Ge Bing was lying on the ground, coughing non-stop, and every time he coughed, a stream of blood spattered out. When the wind blew over his back, suddenly a piece of the clothes on his back was blown into ashes by the wind, revealing a palm print. Bright red palm prints. Ding Linglin had never seen such a terrifying palm force, but she finally understood what was going on. She is still alive, and she can still stand here, only because Ge Bing not only didn't kill her, but saved her. He risked his life to save her, but Ge Bing himself was dead now, and this kind of life-saving kindness was like a needle, which suddenly pricked her heart. Whether it's sadness or gratitude, when a feeling is too strong, it becomes like a needle. She squatted down and hugged Ge Bing. Her heart was throbbing, her stomach constricted, but she didn't know how to help this lifesaver. Her tears had fallen on him. Ge Bing gasped for breath, finally held back his cough, and suddenly said: "Quick...quickly open my box." Ding Linglin immediately grabbed the box and opened it. Ge Bing asked, "Is there a black wooden bottle inside?" There are. As soon as Ding Linglin found it, Ge Bing rushed over, bit off the bottleneck, and poured the whole bottle of medicine into his mouth. Then his panting gradually subsided. Ding Linglin also heaved a sigh of relief. "The treasure chest, the universe umbrella, the king of Hades can't take care of them." People who can't even take care of the king of Hades will certainly not die. Since he can save the lives of others, he can also save his own. But Ge Bing's face was still so terrifying, even the look in his eyes had disappeared. His face was no better now than that of the piper. Ding Linglin couldn't help worrying about him again: "May I help you go back to the inn?" Ge Bing nodded, just stood up, fell down again, and choked out another mouthful of blood. Ding Linglin gritted her teeth, and said bitterly: "Why is he so cruel, why did he do such a murderous thing?" Ge Bing suddenly forced a smile, and said: "Because I also killed him." Ding Linglin didn't understand, she didn't see Ge Bing attacking King Gufeng at all. Ge Bing said, "Look at my umbrella." Ding Linglin saw it. Ge Bing said, "Look at the handle of the umbrella." Only then did Ding Linglin realize that the handle of the umbrella was empty, and there was a hole the size of a needle at the top. She finally understood: "Is there a hidden weapon hidden here?" Ge Bing was smiling, but the pain made his smile look more sad than crying: "There are not only hidden weapons here, but also very poisonous hidden weapons." His Qiankun Umbrella was meant to kill people. "When I shot at you, the umbrella handle was facing him." Ding Linglin fully understood: "When you stabbed me with the umbrella tip, the hidden weapon in the umbrella handle shot out." Ge Bing nodded, as if he wanted to laugh: "He never dreamed that I would attack him. After all, he was fooled by me." Ding Linglin's eyes lit up: "Has he hit your hidden weapon?" Ge Bing nodded again, and said: "So although his palm strength is terrifying, we don't have to be afraid of him." The lights in the wedding hall are gloomy and dim, but in the Hongbin Inn, this place is the only one left with lights. So Ding Linglin had to bring Ge Bing here. Although there is no bed here, there is a table. The blood stains on the ground had dried up, so she found some quilts from the counting room and put them under Ge Bing's body. His face was still terrified, and whenever he coughed, there would still be blood oozing from the corners of his mouth. Fortunately, he also has a life-saving treasure chest. Ding Linglin looked at the painful expression on his face, and couldn't help asking: "Is there any other medicine in the box that can make you feel better?" Ge Bing shook his head, said with a wry smile: "There are many kinds of deadly medicines, but usually there is only one kind of medicine that can really save lives." Ding Linglin also forced a smile, and said: "No matter what, you have finally saved your own life." Ge Bing glanced at her, and slowly closed his eyes, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't say it. Ding Linglin said: "I know you will recover soon, because you are really a good person." Ge Bing laughed again. Ding Linglin wished him not to smile, his smile felt painful even to those who saw it. The cold wind is like a knife. Ding Linglin had already closed all the doors and windows, but the cold wind like a blade still pierced in through the cracks in the doors and windows. She suddenly said, "Do you know what I'm thinking?" "You want to drink?" Ding Linglin laughed, this time for real, because she had seen several jars of wine in the corner of the room. She moved an altar and smashed the clay seal. The wine is very fragrant.Ding Linglin smelled the aroma of the wine, but suddenly felt a sharp pain in her heart. This was originally her wedding wine, what about now? Although the wine was fragrant, how could she bear to drink it. She thought of Guo Ding, Ye Kai, and Han Zhen who went to find wine for Ye Kai. ——Of course she still doesn't know that Han Zhen is not dead. She only knew that if she hadn't stabbed Ye Kai, Han Zhen would not have died.She also knew that if it wasn't for the evil method of the demon sect, she would not have stabbed Yekai that knife. "The Devil's Cult..." She couldn't help asking, "How could a person like you join the Demon's Cult?" Ge Bing was silent, and finally heaved a long sigh, and said with a wry smile: "It is because I am such a person that I joined the Demon Sect." "It's your own will." "yes." "I can't figure it out." Ding Linglin could only smile bitterly: "I really can't figure it out." Ge Bing said, "Maybe it's because you don't know what kind of person I am." Ding Linglin said: "But I know you are definitely not their kind of vicious villain." Ge Bing was silent for a long time, and then slowly said: "I studied medicine originally to save myself, because I found out that nine out of ten famous doctors in the world are stupid." Ding Linglin said: "I know." Ge Bing said: "But later on, I didn't study medicine to save myself, nor to save others." Ding Linglin said: "What are you doing for?" Ge Bing said: "Later, I studied medicine only because I was completely possessed." No matter what you do, if you are too addicted, you will be possessed. "So you joined the Demon Cult?" Ge Bing said: "Although there are many terrible murderous sorcery in the devil's religion, there are also many miraculous life-saving secrets. For example, if their soul-absorbing method is used correctly, it can often be beneficial when healing wounds and diseases. Unexpected miraculous effect." Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it. It's like this no matter what. "Arsenic is also a life-saving medicine if you use it correctly." "But what's the use of their soul-absorbing method for curing diseases?" Ding Linglin still didn't understand. Ge Bing said: "It's what the doctor means, do you understand this sentence?" "don't know." "That is to say, whether a person's own willpower is strong or not can often determine his life or death." His explanation is not only profound, but also fresh, and he also knows that Ding Linglin must still not understand. So he explained: "That is to say, whether a seriously ill person can survive at least half depends on whether he wants to survive." Linglin finally understood, because she suddenly thought of a good example; she thought of Guo Ding.If she hadn't inspired Guo Ding's will to survive, he would have died long ago without waiting for the people in the Demon Cult to attack. Her heart was throbbing again, and she couldn't help but picked up the wine jar and took a big sip. Ge Bing suddenly said: "Give me a sip too." Ding Linglin said: "Your injury is so serious, can you still drink?" Ge Bing smiled and said, "Since it's the same whether you drink it or not, why not drink it?" Ding Linglin's heart sank. "Why is it the same whether you drink it or not? Didn't the medicine you just took work?" Ge Bing didn't answer, and there was no need to answer. Ding Linglin suddenly noticed that his pale face had become red and hot, as if a flame was burning. The bottle of medicine just now obviously couldn't save his life, it just held his breath temporarily. Seeing his increasingly frightening expression, Ding Linglin burst into tears again: "You...how do you feel?" "I think it's fine." Ge Bing closed his eyes: "I said, I'm an old man, there's nothing to be afraid of." He was not afraid of death, not at all. Ding Linglin suddenly understood that what he was worried about just now was not himself, but her. This thought was also like a needle, piercing into her heart. She didn't know what to say, and she didn't know how to repay this favor and affection. Ge Binghu smiled again, and said: "I also said that I have become obsessed with medicine, so I have neither friends nor relatives, because I don't care about anyone." But he cared about Ding Linglin. She knew, she could see it, but she didn't know why? In any case, he was already an old man, and there was too much age difference between them, so of course they wouldn't have the kind of feelings that she couldn't even imagine. He cared for her, perhaps no more than a father cared for his children. But Ge Bing has opened his eyes and is staring at her. His face was even redder, and there seemed to be flames burning in his eyes. This kind of flame had already made him lose his usual indifference and composure. He has gradually lost control of his reason. Ding Linglin couldn't help avoiding his gaze, she didn't dare to look at him again. Ge Bing suddenly smiled again, and said with a sad smile: "I am already an old man, our ages are too different, otherwise..." How else?He didn't go on, and there was no need to ask any more. Ding Linglin already understood what he meant and also understood his feelings. Old people are people too.As long as you are human, you have the right to love others. Old people, like young people, have feelings. Sometimes their feelings are even more sincere and deeper than young people, because they have already understood the value of this kind of feeling, because they have a mind of gain and loss for this kind of feeling. When I got it, I was afraid that it would be lost. But Ge Bing is not an ordinary person after all, after all he has not completely lost his mind. So he just sighed, and said lightly: "No matter what, you don't have to worry about me. As I said just now, I have neither friends nor relatives... My life and death have nothing to do with others." - But it has something to do with me - the needle in Ding Linglin's heart was pierced even deeper. If it wasn't for her, he wouldn't have died at all; if it wasn't for him, she would have died long ago; how could his life or death have nothing to do with her, how could she watch him die?But how could she save him? ——Whether a seriously ill person can live or not depends at least half on whether he wants to live. These words seemed to ring in Ding Linglin's ears suddenly, she knew that he didn't want to live anymore, he was already an old man, he had no friends or relatives, and he didn't even dare to tell others what he felt in his heart. If you were him, what would be the point of living? Ge Bing's eyes were castrated again, and he suddenly said: "You go... let's go..." "Why do you want me to go?" "Because I don't like people seeing me dead." Ge Bing's body had already started to convulse, apparently trying to control himself: "So you must go." Ding Linglin clenched her hands tightly, her left hand held her right hand, as if she was afraid that her determination would change. "I won't go!" She suddenly said loudly, "I will never go." "why?" Ding Linglin held her hand even harder: "Because I want to marry you." Ge Bing suddenly opened his eyes and looked at her in surprise: "What did you say?" "I said I want to marry you, I must marry you." She really made up her mind again. At this moment, she had forgotten Guo Ding, Ye Kai, everyone and everything. At this moment, she only knew one thing. ——She absolutely can't just watch Ge Bing die in front of her like this, as long as she can save him, even if she is asked to marry a pig or a dog, she will agree without hesitation.She is an emotional girl, and she is often desperate in doing things.If someone bullied her or harmed her, she will soon forget it, but as long as you do her a little bit of good, she will always remember it in her heart. What she does may be stupid, even ridiculous, but she is definitely a lovely person because she has an absolutely kind heart. "You want to marry me?" Ge Bing was smiling, with three points of bitterness in his smile, three points of gratitude, and three points of what?He doesn't know it himself, and he can't tell the difference. He is not a very sober person. Ding Linglin jumped up, she suddenly found that the only light on here was the pair of dragon and phoenix candles.This was originally prepared for her and Guo Ding; just in front of the pair of dragon and phoenix candles, Guo Ding fell down wearing a groom's auspicious attire. Now, the pair of flowers and candles have not been burned out, but she is going to marry another person. If someone else is going to do this kind of thing, no matter who you are, you will think that this person is an absurd and heartless lunatic.But Ding Linglin is not someone else, and no matter who treats her, she only has pity and sympathy; because what she does is not ruthless, but affectionate, not revenge, but sacrifice. Kindness.Besides, she really didn't know any other way to save Ge Bing. Of course, this method is not necessarily effective, and this kind of thinking is also ridiculous and naive.But if a person is willing to sacrifice herself to save others, then no matter how absurd or childish what she does is worthy of respect. Because this kind of sacrifice is the real sacrifice, and it is what others are neither willing nor able to do.