Chapter 3 The third round of strange incidents in the abandoned garden

Night, the night is already thick, thick as ink.In the autumn wind, weeds, poplars and dead trees, a bright moon like an ice plate has just risen, obliquely shining on this gloomy and desolate garden, no one can be seen, not even ghosts. Even if there are ghosts, you can't see them.Facing the blowing autumn wind, Lu Xiaofeng couldn't help shivering Lingling. Every time before the ominous murder happened, he would always have a strange premonition.Now he has this premonition, there is no light, no starlight, even the moonlight is gloomy and deserted. The dead trees swayed under the wind and moon, looking like ghost shadows. Suddenly, there was another sound of blowing bamboo in the darkness.

Lu Xiaofeng rushed over like an arrow, this time he finally saw the bamboo blower, he was under the dead tree in front, but Lu Xiaofeng's figure suddenly stopped, he seemed to be stunned again.The person who played the bamboo was actually a boy in his teens. The child was not tall, wearing a ragged jacket, with a round face, big eyes, wiping his nose and shivering at the same time, looking cold and frightened.But he was holding a strange-shaped bamboo whistle in his hand. Lu Xiaofeng looked at him, walked over slowly, the child didn't notice at all, looked around, looked around, suddenly saw the shadow on the ground, immediately yelled, and ran away, of course he couldn't run.

After running a few steps, Lu Xiaofeng grabbed him, and the child immediately screamed like a pig. After he finished yelling, Lu Xiaofeng said: "I'm not a ghost, I'm a human being." The child raised his face and glanced at him. Although he was sure that he was a human being, his face was still full of horror and fear, and the snot started to flow out again: "You... are you really not a ghost?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Ghosts don't have shadows, but I have shadows." The child finally breathed a sigh of relief, pouted and said, "Then why did you arrest me?"

Lu Xiaofeng said: "I have a few words to ask you." The child hesitated, and said, "Are you going to let me go after asking?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Not only let you go, but also give you two dongs of money!" He couldn't laugh at first, but he was always unwilling to put on a straight face in front of the children. Seeing his smile, the child felt relieved, blinked and said, "What do you want to ask?" Lu Xiaofeng said softly: "What's your name? Where is your home?" The child said: "My name is Poor, I have no home!" Of course Poor is homeless, only children without homes are called Poor.

The child looked not only pitiful, but also very honest, and he would not lie. Lu Xiaofeng's voice was more gentle, and said: "It's so dark, are you afraid to come here alone?" Poor little puffed up her chest and said, "I'm not afraid, I dare to go anywhere." People who say they are not afraid are often more afraid than anyone else in their hearts. Lu Xiaofeng said: "Do you think this place is very interesting?" Little pitiful said: "It's not fun at all!" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Since it's not fun, why did you come here to play the bamboo whistle?"

Little pitiful said: "I was called by a hunchbacked old man, and he also gave me two pennies." Another hunchbacked old man, he was the one who went to buy coffins for Ximen Chuuxue and Ye Gucheng, and he was also the one who killed Master Sun. Who is he? Lu Xiaofeng said: "He also gave you this whistle?" Little Poor nodded, and said: "This whistle is more fun than the ones sold in the store, and the sound is very loud!" He obviously liked the whistle, and he couldn't help picking it up and blowing it again.As soon as the sharp whistle sounded, other sounds were completely inaudible.Lu Xiaofeng didn't hear any other voices, but suddenly he had a strange premonition, and couldn't help but look back.

He couldn't explain why he felt this way, the moment he turned his head, he suddenly saw a crimson shadow jumping up from the ground like an arrow, but its speed was far faster than that of an arrow. Arrows are faster! Even faster than lightning!The red shadow flashed, and suddenly it reached Lu Xiaofeng's throat, at the same instant, Lu Xiaofeng's hand stretched out, pinching it with two fingers! He had something in his grip, something cold, sticky, and slippery, a red viper. The poisonous snake's red letter has been spat out, almost licking Lu Xiaofeng's Adam's apple, but it can no longer move, Lu Xiaofeng's two fingers happen to pinch seven inches of it.If his hand was a little slower, if the pinching position was a little bit wrong, if the pinching force was a little lighter, then he would be a dead man now!

Since his debut, Lu Xiaofeng can indeed be said to have crossed the dragon pool and entered the tiger's den!He didn't know how many fierce battles where life and death depended on the front line, and he didn't know how many villains who killed people like grass, he had encountered.But he had never encountered anything more dangerous than this moment.Holding this icy poisonous snake in his hand, his whole body seemed to be icy cold, he only felt his stomach constricting, and he just wanted to vomit. "Snake... There are poisonous snakes here!" Little Poor shouted and ran away.

Lu Xiaofeng took a long breath, threw the poisonous snake on a stone with a backhand throw, and when he raised his head again, the poor and honest child had disappeared. The wind blew the wild grass, the dead trees swayed, Lu Xiaofeng stood in the autumn wind, and took a few deep breaths before his heartbeat returned to normal, but at this moment, there was another exclamation in the darkness, it was the boy sent out! Little Poor had already fainted on the ground, and when Lu Xiaofeng rushed over, the child had already fainted from fright.In such a dark night, in such a desolate garden, if such a big child suddenly saw a dead person, how could he not be afraid?

The dead man was right in front of the child, a hunchbacked old man with white hair strangled to death by a bright red ribbon.He was the one who ordered the coffin, and he was the one who did the harm. How could he die in the hands of others?Who strangled him?Why? Looking at the ribbon in the night, it was still bright red, as red as blood.Lu Xiaofeng has seen the same ribbon, and also seen a person strangled to death by the same ribbon. That's what the ribbon on Gongsun Da Niang's dagger looks like, and the "Snake King" in Yangcheng was strangled to death by this ribbon.Who is the murderer this time?Could it be Aunt Gongsun?

Aunt Gongsun may have already arrived in the capital, and she did not want to miss the battle on September 15th, so who is this hunchbacked old man?Why did he kill Master Sun?Why did Aunt Gongsun want to kill him? Lu Xiaofeng had never heard of such an old man in the Jianghu, he hesitated, and finally squatted down - this old man probably had some things that could prove his identity. There may also be a poisonous snake hiding!Lu Xiaofeng only felt that his fingertips were getting cold, and with two fingers, he lifted the old man's lapel.Without snakes, snakes move. Lu Xiaofeng stretched his hand in, and suddenly froze again, what he was looking at was a white-haired head and a face that was too old and withered.But his hand felt different—the old man was a woman! What he touched was a plump and smooth body of a woman, her white hair was indeed fake, and her face was wearing an extremely delicate mask.Lu Xiaofeng tore off his white hair, lifted the mask, and saw a stiff and pale face, but still very beautiful! He recognized the face!This hunchbacked old man is unexpectedly Aunt Gongsun! Of course, Lu Xiaofeng knew that Aunt Gongsun's disguise was exquisite, and he believed that no matter what kind of person Aunt Gongsun pretended to be, few people in this world would be able to see through her. Lu Xiaofeng also knew that Aunt Gongsun had high martial arts skills, who in this world could strangle her alive?Couldn't the murderer's martial arts be even more terrifying.Lu Xiaofeng couldn't help but shivered again. He came to Jinghua for only one day, and he encountered too many strange things during this day. He couldn't figure out why Aunt Gongsun wanted to kill Master Sun, let alone why Aunt Gongsun died here. If there are too many things that you can't figure out, you can only think about it. If the more you think about it, it's better not to think about it. This has always been Lu Xiaofeng's principle. But even though he didn't want to, he still seemed to be able to vaguely feel that in a certain dark corner of this ancient city, someone was staring at him with eyes more cunning than a fox and more vicious than a poisonous snake, waiting for him. Want to kill him! No matter who this person is, he will definitely be the most terrifying opponent he has never met in his life.He seemed to have a faint sense of who this person was! The lights were dim.The dim light shone on Ouyang Qing's pale face.Her beautiful face was completely pale, her beautiful eyes were closed tightly, and her teeth were clenched tightly. Can she still open her eyes?Can you still speak?Lu Xiaofeng stood quietly by the bedside, looking at her, only wishing that she could stare at him a few times and scold him a few words like before.Li Yanbei and Thirteenth Aunt were behind him, and their expressions were also very heavy. "By the time we got to the kitchen, she had collapsed!" Lu Xiaofeng stared at her throat, there was no blood on her throat: "Where is her wound?" Thirteenth Aunt said: "It's in the hand, the left hand." Lu Xiaofeng breathed a sigh of relief, when the poisonous snake came, she must have wanted to grab it with her hands just like Lu Xiaofeng.Although her reaction was not as fast as Lu Xiaofeng's, she was faster than Master Sun, who drank too much wine. Li Yanbei said: "Fortunately, you asked us to rescue her, so it's not too late for us to go." After discovering Ouyang Qing's wound, he immediately sealed the acupuncture point on her left arm to prevent the poison from spreading. Li Yanbei said again: "So the one who really saved her life was not me, but you!" Aunt Thirteen said: "It's just that I still don't understand, how do you know that she will be plotted against?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Actually, I'm not sure either." Thirteenth Aunt said: "But you saved her life." Lu Xiaofeng smiled bitterly, and said: "There are many things I did in a daze. If you want to ask me how I did it, even I don't know." Thirteenth Aunt said: "Although you don't know it, you did it. There are many people who know it, but they can't do it." Li Yanbei said: "So Lu Xiaofeng will always be worthy of being Lu Xiaofeng, there is only such a Lu Xiaofeng in the world." Thirteenth Aunt sighed softly, and said, "It's no wonder why she fell in love with you." Is Ouyang Qing really devoted to him? Aunt Thirteen said again: "Although her left hand was bitten by a poisonous snake and she fell down, in her right hand, she still tightly held the plate of buttered snails, and she would not let go, because it was her. Made it for you, because..." She didn't go on, she had said enough.Just this one thing is enough to show Ouyang Qing's affection for him. Lu Xiaofeng looked at Ouyang Qing's face, and suddenly there was a feeling in his heart that no one could explain. He must never let Ouyang Qing die again, absolutely not!Xue Bing's death had brought him regrets that he could never make up for in his life. Li Yanbei had been waiting for a long time, and finally couldn't help asking: "Have you found the person who played bamboo and snake?" Lu Xiaofeng nodded. Li Yanbei said: "Who is it?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "It's a child." Li Yanbei was also taken aback, but immediately asked: "Is there someone else behind the scenes?" He really deserves to be an old Jianghu, he can always see a matter deeper than others , is also more accurate than others. Lu Xiaofeng said: "According to that child, the one who asked him to do this is a hunchbacked old man!" Li Yanbei said: "You also found that hunchbacked old man?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Perhaps there is no such a hunchbacked old man in this world, the one I found was disguised by Aunt Gongsun!" Li Yanbei said: "Who is Aunt Gongsun?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Aunt Gongsun is Ouyang Qing's elder sister and also my friend." Li Yanbei was stunned. Aunt Thirteen couldn't help but sneered, and said: "At last she has a good sister, and you finally have a good friend." Lu Xiaofeng pondered, and slowly said: "Aunt Gongsun is her good sister and my good friend." Thirteenth Aunt said: "Until now, do you still think so?" Lu Xiaofeng admitted: "Because I believe that the real murderer is definitely not Aunt Gongsun!" Thirteenth Aunt said, "Who is it?" Lu Xiaofeng clenched his fists and said: "He is more cunning and sophisticated than Huo Xiu, more sinister and vicious than Jin Jiuling, his martial arts may be higher than anyone I have ever seen." Both Huo Xiu and Jin Jiuling had been regarded by him as the most terrifying opponents, and they had almost put him to death.He has gone through countless dangers, spent countless painstaking efforts, and with a little bit of luck, he finally revealed the true colors of the two of them.But now this person is even more terrifying! Li Yanbei said: "How do you know that Aunt Gongsun is not the real murderer?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "I don't know." Aunt Thirteen said, "But can you feel it?" Lu Xiaofeng admitted. Thirteenth Aunt said: "Are you feeling it in a daze again?" Lu Xiaofeng also admitted. Aunt Thirteen sighed: "It seems that you are really a weird person, no matter who finds someone like you as an opponent, I'm afraid it will be unlucky!" Lu Xiaofeng smiled wryly: "But the one who will be unlucky this time is very likely to be me!" Li Yanbei said: "Where is Aunt Gongsun now?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Dead!" Thirteenth Aunt said: "That child?..." Lu Xiaofeng said: "Still fainting there!" Thirteenth Aunt said: "You didn't rescue him back?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "I saved him by keeping him there!" Thirteenth Aunt didn't understand. Li Yanbei said, "Do you think that child is also an accomplice?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "A ten-year-old child would never dare to go to that kind of place in the dark, and the bamboo whistle is made strangely. If it is not someone who has practiced internal skills, he will not be able to blow it at all." He smiled: "Besides, he didn't really faint at all!" Li Yanbei said: "Why don't you bring him back and ask him about his statement?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "He won't tell, and I can't force a confession from a child." Li Yanbei said: "You can at least keep an eye on him secretly, maybe you can chase the real culprit from him." Lu Xiaofeng sighed: "If I go to stare at him, this child will die." Li Yanbei said: "Are you afraid that the real murderer will kill him?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Yes!" Li Yanbei sighed: "My heart can no longer be considered too hard, but I didn't expect your heart to be softer than mine." Lu Xiaofeng was silent for a long time before slowly saying: "Someone said before that although my temper is like a stone in a latrine, smelly and hard, my heart is as soft as tofu." Aunt Thirteen sighed: "It's not only like tofu, it's like butter-soaked snails!" She suddenly smiled again, and said: "The plate of butter-soaked snails is still outside, since she made it for you, at least you have to Eat one." Lu Xiaofeng said: "I'll eat when I come back." Li Yanbei said: "You want to go out? Where are you going?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Go find someone." Li Yanbei said: "Who are you looking for?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Ye Gucheng." Li Yanbei was stunned again. Lu Xiaofeng said: "Since he can detoxify the hidden weapons of the Tang family, since he can save himself, he must also be able to save Ouyang Qing." Ouyang Qing's pale face had turned a terrible dead gray, and her left cheek was swollen. Li Yanbei's acupuncture technique was obviously not very clever, and could not completely prevent the spread of the poison. Thirteenth Aunt frowned and said, "A person with Ye Gucheng's temper is willing to help others?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Even if he refuses, I will go, even if I want to kneel down and beg him, I have to beg him to come." He stared at Ouyang Qing's face, and said word by word: "No matter what, I will find a way to keep her alive!" As the night got deeper, even the Chunmingju Teahouse, which had the best business and the latest closing time, had fewer and fewer customers, and it seemed that it was almost closing time.Lu Xiaofeng was still sitting there, staring at the pot of freshly brewed incense in front of him, dazed. He has traveled to many places and found many inns, but he couldn't even find Ye Gucheng. With Ye Gucheng's pomp and reputation, he should be easy to find, no matter where he lives. Every place is sure to attract attention. But since he showed his face in Chunhua Building at noon today, he suddenly disappeared in this city like Ximen Chuuxue, and no news about him was heard. Lu Xiaofeng also couldn't figure out what was going on, Ye Gucheng had no reason to hide, not even Tang Tianrong who was pierced by him in both shoulders and was bound to be crippled for life. Tang Tianrong's foothold is in a large-scale "Quanfu Inn" on Gulou East Street.It is said that many famous doctors who specialize in treating bruises have been sought.He hasn't left the capital yet, not because of his injury, but because the masters of the Tang family have come out in full force, rushing to the capital day and night to avenge their brothers.Of course, this will also be a major event that will cause a sensation in the martial arts world. The second major event was that although Yan Renying did not find Ximen Chuuxue, he found several extremely powerful helpers.It is said that among them are not only the lamas of the Tibetan Tantra, but also two mysterious swordsmen who have practiced hard for many years in the "Holy Mother of Water" peak. For some reason, they are willing to work for Yan Renying. These two things are equally unfavorable to Ximen Chuuxue and Ye Gucheng. The first group of people are looking for Ye Gucheng, and the second group of people are looking for Ximen Chuuxue, so no matter who wins or loses, as long as they are still alive, There will never be a good time. Lu Xiaofeng heard a lot of information, but there was nothing he wanted to inquire about, even Taoist Mu and Layman Gu Song, he couldn't find it. The tea customers were even more sparse, Dr. Cha had put down the big kettle in his hand, and kept looking at Lu Xiaofeng out of the corner of his eyes, obviously urging him to leave quickly.Lu Xiaofeng could only pretend not to see, because he really had no other place to go. If he didn't find Ye Gucheng, how could he go back and face Ouyang Qing? The freshly brewed tea is already cold, and the night is even cooler. Lu Xiaofeng sighed, picked up the tea bowl, and hadn't finished a sip of tea—suddenly, there was a flash of cold light, and with a sound of "ding", the tea bowl was smashed to pieces. When the cold light fell, it turned out to be a bone-piercing dart of three inches and six minutes long.There was a lantern hanging at the door, and a monk wearing a green cloth cassock, straw sandals and white socks was sneering at him. Few of the martial arts masters outside Fang used this kind of darts. But this monk's technique of throwing darts is fast and accurate, no doubt he can be regarded as a first-class master in this way.Lu Xiaofeng didn't recognize him, and he couldn't figure out why he suddenly made an attack. The strangest thing was that he still stayed outside after missing a single blow. Lu Xiaofeng smiled, instead of chasing after him, he looked at the monk and smiled.There are enough troubles now, he doesn't want to cause other troubles anymore, who knows that the monk still doesn't relax, with a wave of his hand, two more darts are sent out, the dart clothes tied to the dart tails are fluttering in the wind, and the darts are sent out. The power is obviously very strong. Lu Xiaofeng sighed again, he could see that this monk had made trouble for him, he couldn't think about it, and he couldn't do it anymore. Before the dart hit, his men suddenly arrived outside the door.Unexpectedly, when the monk saw him coming out, he ran away immediately, and when he didn't want to chase anymore, the monk waved in front of him again. There are more and more strange things, all the strange things seem to be encountered by Lu Xiaofeng alone. He didn't want to chase anymore, but he couldn't stop chasing. After two streets, the monk suddenly stopped in a dark alley, and sneered, "Lu Xiaofeng, do you dare to come here?" Of course Lu Xiaofeng dares, there are very few things he dare not do in the world, although he knows that once he walks into a dark alley, this monk can strike at any time, there may be traps and ambushes in the dark alley that he cannot see, this monk There may also be stunt killers he doesn't know about. But he went in anyway.Unexpectedly, as soon as he walked in, the monk suddenly knelt down to him and kowtowed three times respectfully. Lu Xiaofeng was stunned again. The monk looked at him and smiled, "You don't recognize me?" Lu Xiaofeng shook his head, he had never seen this monk before. The monk said: "Don't you recognize the three ice-piercing darts?" Lu Xiaofeng's eyes lit up: "Are you from Guanzhong's Darts?" The monk said: "I will win." This name was not familiar to Lu Xiaofeng, and the dart winners were not a prominent and famous family in the Jianghu. Shengtong continued: "I'm here to pay off the debt!" Lu Xiaofeng was even more surprised, and said, "Pay off the debt?" Sheng Channel: "The Sheng family is full of families, and they all owe Daxia Lu a heavy debt!" Lu Xiaofeng said: "You must be mistaken, I never owe anyone, and no one owes me!" Victory channel: "I'm not wrong." He said very firmly, with a serious expression on his face: "Six years ago, the whole family was defeated by Huo Tianqing, and the whole family was expelled from the customs. , I was also forced into Buddhism, although I have the heart to avenge my shame, but Huo Tianqing's martial arts is so strong, I also know that revenge is hopeless!" Lu Xiaofeng said: "You think I killed Huo Tianqing and vented my anger for you, so I want to repay my favor?" Sheng Channel: "Exactly." Lu Xiaofeng could only smile wryly, Huo Tianqing didn't die at his hands, neither did Dugu Yihe and Xiao Shaoying, but others just put the blame on him, those who have grudges come to revenge, those who have kindness come to repay their kindness.Is it really so hard to tell the difference between right and wrong in the rivers and lakes? Lu Xiaofeng sighed and said, "Huo Tianqing is not..." Shengtong didn't seem to want to listen to his explanation at all, and rushed to say: "Anyway, if it wasn't for Mr. Lu's righteousness, Huo Tianqing must be still showing off his might in the Zhuguangbaoqi Pavilion today. How could he end up like that!" It's not completely unreasonable for him to say that, Lu Xiaofeng could only smile wryly: "Even if you owe me a debt, you have already paid it just now." Sheng Channel: "Kowtow is just a sign of respect, so how can it be regarded as repayment?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "That doesn't count?" Victory channel: "It must not be counted!" Lu Xiaofeng said: "How can I calculate it?" Shengtong suddenly took out a carefully wrapped cloth bag from his arms, and offered it with both hands: "This is what I want to send to Daxia Lu!" Lu Xiaofeng could only accept it, he suddenly realized that being forced to accept "repayment" was not much better than being forced to accept "revenge".He had never thought of this before, and what made him even more unexpected was that what was wrapped in the oilcloth bag was a white cloth belt with bloodstains on it and yellow pus. The stench that can be described emanates. Lu Xiaofeng couldn't even laugh: "You specially gave it to me, is this cloth belt?" Sheng Channel: "Exactly." Lu Xiaofeng said: "You gave me this thing in order to repay your kindness?" Victory Channel: "Not bad." Looking at the pus and blood on the cloth belt, Lu Xiaofeng felt a little dumbfounded.The monk gave him three darts, and then gave him such a piece of stinky cloth, saying it was to repay his kindness.Such a way of repaying kindness is rare. ——Fortunately, he still came to repay his favor. If he came to take revenge, what should he do? Lu Xiaofeng's only hope now is to quickly get this monk away: "Now you have finally repaid your favor!" Shengtong didn't deny it, and said in a deep voice: "This cloth belt may not be worth a penny in ordinary times, but at this moment, it is priceless." Whoever wants to come, no matter how you look at it, you can't see that this cloth belt is a priceless treasure, but this monk just said it very seriously, it doesn't look like he is joking. Lu Xiaofeng couldn't help being curious: "Is there something special about this cloth belt?" Sheng Channel: "Only a little." Lu Xiaofeng said: "Which point?" Shengtong looked more cautious, lowered his voice, and said, "This cloth belt was untied from Ye Gucheng's body!" Lu Xiaofeng's eyes lit up immediately, this smelly and dirty cloth belt, in his eyes, was actually more precious than the gold and jade belt. Sheng Dao said: "In order to avoid enmity and shameless people, I specially chose a small temple with little incense and desolation to become a monk. After the old monk died, I will be the only abbot there!" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Where is Ye Gucheng?" Sheng Tongdao: "He stayed overnight after noon today. There were only two monk's rooms in the temple. After the old monk died, no one lived in that monk's room, and there were no pilgrims to stay overnight. Someone came today. I'm sorry." It was a surprise." Lu Xiaofeng said: "He went alone?" Shengtong nodded, and said: "When he came, I didn't think that he was the famous Baiyun City Lord!" Lu Xiaofeng said: "How did you find out later?" Sheng Channel: "After he came, he locked himself in the room, and every half an hour, he asked me to bring a basin of clean water in..." He was also a member of the rivers and lakes, so of course he would pay special attention to people who behaved suspiciously like this. "In addition to clean water, he asked me to buy a piece of white cloth, and gave me this oilcloth bag to bury in the ground." Of course, Ye Gucheng would never have thought of the abbot of this ruined temple who was neglected by incense. He was also a veteran in the past, so he was not wary of him. "When I went to the city to buy cloth, I heard that Ye Gucheng was injured by a hidden weapon of the Tang Sect in Zhangjiakou, but severely wounded Tang Tianrong in the Chunhua Building. So I carefully inquired about the appearance of the Baiyun City Lord. After a couple of confirmations, I found out that the strange guest who came to the temple to stay overnight is the Lord Baiyun who has already shaken Jinghua." Lu Xiaofeng let out a long breath, now he has finally figured out two things that he couldn't figure out before. ——Ye Gucheng, who neither likes to admire flowers nor is close to women, wants beautiful women to pave the way with flowers in front, just to cover up the stench of pus and blood from the wound on his body. ——Lu Xiaofeng couldn't find him in the city, just because he didn't stay in an inn at all, but threw himself into a ruined temple in the wilderness. ——Of course he can't let others know that his injury has not healed, but has worsened. ——After the lion is wounded, he will definitely hide in the deep mountains alone, otherwise even the wild dogs will bite him. Lu Xiaofeng's heart sank, he had hoped to heal Ouyang Qing's injury, but now he knew that Ye Gucheng himself was in danger, how could he save others? Channel of victory: "When I entered the city just now, at least eight out of ten people in the city believed that Ye Gucheng would surely win. The betting line has even reached seven to one, betting on Ye Gucheng's victory." The "Flying Immortals Outside the Sky" in Chunhua Tower must have shocked Nine Cities. Shengtong said again: "Now if anyone knows the news, look at the cloth belt, I'm afraid..." He didn't continue. Now if someone knows the news, what will happen in the capital, not only can't he tell, he can't even imagine it. Lu Xiaofeng sighed and said: "You are right, this cloth belt is indeed a priceless treasure, I am truly ashamed of it!" "To be ashamed" means "to be disrespectful". Shengtong finally showed his face and smiled, and said: "Although I'm not a great person, like Lu Daxia, I never want to owe anyone a debt. As long as Lu Daxia is willing to accept this kindness, I will feel at ease." Lu Xiaofeng pondered, then asked again: "Where is your temple?" Sheng Channel: "Could it be that Daxia Lu still wants to meet that Baiyun City Lord face to face?" Lu Xiaofeng smiled and said: "It's not that I don't believe you, but I really want to see him." In his smile, there was the sadness and loneliness of a rabbit and a dead fox, and he continued slowly: "Although he and I are only in a hurry. I have met twice, but I always regard him as my friend..." He knew that Ye Gucheng must need friends very much now, and he also knew that Ye Gucheng didn't have many friends.At this moment, for Ye Gucheng, a true friend may be more difficult to find than an antidote. The room is damp and dark, and the place is not very narrow, but there is only one bed, one table, and one stool, so the walls are even more desolate, empty and lonely, and the lonely lamp is even more dim.The dust on the walls has not been removed, there are cobwebs on the roof, and the broken scriptures next to the solitary lamp have not been read for a long time. ——The old monk who lived here before, what kind of desolate and lonely years did he live?From his point of view, isn't death just a kind of liberation? Ye Gucheng reclined on the cold and hard wooden bed, although he felt very tired, he tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep. He had long been used to loneliness.A swordsman like him is destined to be isolated from the world, just like an ascetic monk, he has no chance to enjoy all the joys in the world. Because "Tao" can only be understood in loneliness and hardship, and the same is true for swordsmanship. There is no home, no friends, no wife, no children, and no relatives. In his life, loneliness was his only companion.But he still couldn't bear this kind of desolation and neglect that was more terrifying than loneliness.For his former days, though lonely, were full of honor and splendor.And now... The wind blew in from the window, and the broken windows sounded like fallen leaves, and there was still a stench in the house that couldn't be blown away by the wind.He knew his wound had festered completely, like a piece of rotten meat with maggots. He was originally a lonely and noble person, but now he is hiding in this black hole like a wounded wild dog. This kind of torture and pain is something he would not have endured even if he died, but he must endure it.Because he must live until September 15th. The sound of autumn is still and the wind is bleak, how can he spend this long night? If there is a relative and a friend to accompany him now, the situation may be much better, but he is destined to be a lonely person, never willing to accept other people's friendship, and never give his feelings to others. Suddenly he realized that this was the first time in his life that he also needed a friend. He thought of many things again, the daily morning and evening, the uninterrupted hard training, the blood that his opponent shed under his sword, the blue sea and the blue sky, the golden sunshine, and the beauty of white jade the floating clouds... He wanted to die, but he didn't want to die.Why are there always so many helpless contradictions in a person's life? The wound began to ooze pus again, and it was smelly. He wanted to struggle, wash it again with clean water, and change a bandaging cloth. Although he knew that doing so would not help his injury, and was even tantamount to drinking poison to quench his thirst.But there was only so much he could do. ——What a powerful hidden weapon, what a terrible poison. He finally sat up and just got out of bed when he suddenly heard the sound of wind passing by outside the window—it was by no means a natural sound of wind. The sword is on the table.With a backhand, he had already grasped the hilt of the sword, his reaction was still fast, and his movements were still sensitive. "There's no need to draw your sword." Someone outside the window smiled and said, "If you have wine, you might as well have a glass." Ye Gucheng's hand holding the sword slowly relaxed, he could already hear this person's voice: "Lu Xiaofeng?" Of course it was Lu Xiaofeng, Ye Gucheng reluctantly stood up, stood up straight, covered the skirt of his clothes, suppressed his sorrow, strode over, and opened the door. Lu Xiaofeng was smiling, looked at him, and said, "You didn't expect me to come?" Ye Gucheng turned around silently and sat down on the only stool, then slowly said: "You shouldn't have come here, there is no wine here!" Lu Xiaofeng smiled and said, "But there are friends here." friend!These two words are like wine. A cup full of hot wine flows into Ye Gucheng's throat and into his chest.He suddenly felt that the blood in his chest was hot, but he still kept a straight face and said coldly: "There are no friends here, only a murderous swordsman." "A swordsman who kills can also have friends." Although the only chair was occupied, Lu Xiaofeng did not stand still.He removed the lamp, the yellow scripture and the iron sword beside the lamp, and sat down on the table: "If you didn't regard me as a friend, why would you leave your sword on the table?" Ye Gucheng closed his mouth and stared at him, the frost on his face seemed to be melting gradually.When a person is at the end of his life, he suddenly finds that he still has a friend. This feeling cannot be replaced by anything, not even love. Ye Gucheng was silent for a long time, and slowly said: "You didn't seem to be friends with me before?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Because you used to be the mighty and famous Lord of Baiyun City!" The corners of Ye Gucheng's mouth were stiff again: "What about now?" Lu Xiaofeng sighed, and said: "Before the decisive battle, you shouldn't have fought against someone like Tang Tianyi. You should know that Tangmen's hidden weapons are indeed incurable." Ye Gucheng's expression changed: "How much do you already know?" Lu Xiaofeng said: "Maybe I already know too much!" Ye Gucheng closed his mouth again, and after a long silence, he said slowly: "I really didn't want to fight him!" Lu Xiaofeng said: "But you..." Ye Gucheng interrupted him, saying: "But he came to me and insisted on forcing me to draw my sword. He said that I... said that I molested his wife while he was away." Lu Xiaofeng said: "Of course you didn't." Ye Gucheng sneered. Lu Xiaofeng said: "Since there isn't one, why didn't you explain it?" Ye Gucheng said: "If you were me, would you explain?" Lu Xiaofeng was sighing, he admitted that if he encountered such a thing, he would definitely not explain it, because this kind of thing is not worth explaining at all, and he must not be able to explain it: "So you can only draw your sword." Ye Gucheng said: "I only have to draw my sword!" Lu Xiaofeng said: "But I still don't understand, with your sword skills, Tang Tianyi shouldn't have the chance to hurt you." Ye Gucheng said coldly: "He didn't have one in the first place." Lu Xiaofeng said: "But you were injured." Ye Gucheng clenched his hand tightly, and after a long time, he said bitterly: "I didn't want to talk about this, he had a chance to make a move, because when I was drawing my sword, I heard a strange whistling sound." Bamboo sound." Lu Xiaofeng's face also changed: "So you immediately found a poisonous snake?..." Ye Gucheng suddenly stood up: "How do you know?" Lu Xiaofeng also clenched his fists, and said: "Only today, two of my friends died under the kiss of that poisonous snake, and one fell on the bed, life and death are unknown." 叶孤城的瞳孔在收缩，慢慢地坐下，两个人心里都已明白，这件事根本是有人在暗中陷害的。 这究竟是谁的阴谋？What for? 陆小凤沉吟着，缓缓道：“你重伤之后，最有好处之人，本该是西门吹雪。” Ye Gucheng nodded. 陆小凤道：“但害你的人，却绝不是西门吹雪！” 叶孤城道：“我知道，我相信他绝不是这种无耻的小人！” 陆小凤道：“你真的相信？” 叶孤城道：“像这种卑鄙无耻的人，绝对练不成那种孤高绝世的剑法。” 陆小凤长长吐了口气，道：“想不到你居然也是西门吹雪的知己。” 叶孤城注视着桌上的剑，缓缓道：“我了解的并不是他的人，而是他的剑。” 陆小凤却在凝视着他：“也许你们本来也正是同样的人。” 叶孤城虽没有承认，也没有否认。两柄孤高绝世的剑，两个孤高绝世的人，又怎能不惺惺相惜？ 陆小凤叹道：“看来这世上不但有肝胆相照的朋友，也有肝胆相照的仇敌。” 当然有的，只不过后者远比前者更难得而已。 叶孤城忽然又道：“据说已有很多人在我身上投下重注，赌我胜！” 陆小凤苦笑道：“现在赌你胜的盘口是七比一。” 叶孤城目中带着深思之色，道：“其中当然也有人赌西门吹雪胜的？” Lu Xiaofeng said: "Not bad." 叶孤城道：“我若败了，这些人岂非就可以坐收暴利？” 陆小凤道：“你认为陷害你的人，就是赌西门吹雪胜的人？” 叶孤城道：“你认为不是？” 陆小凤也闭上了嘴。 他虽然没有说出来，但心里却知道绝不是，因为这个人不但陷害了叶孤城，也同样害了孙老爷、公孙大娘和欧阳情。他一定还有更可怕的阴谋、更大的目的，绝不止要赢得这笔赌注而已。 叶孤城又站起来，推开窗户，看着窗外的明月，喃喃道：“现在已可算是九月十四了。” 陆小凤道：“难道你还要如期应战？” 叶孤城冷冷道：“你看我像是个食言悔约的人？” 陆小凤道：“可是你的伤……” 叶孤城又笑了笑，笑得很凄凉：“伤是无救的，人也已必死，既然要死，能死在西门吹雪剑下，岂非也是一大快事？” 陆小凤道：“你……你们可以改期再战。” 叶孤城断然道：“不能改！” Lu Xiaofeng said: "Why?" 叶孤城道：“我这一生中，说出来的任何话，都从未更改过一次。” 陆小凤道：“莫忘记你们改过一次！” 叶孤城道：“那有特别的原因！” 陆小凤道：“什么原因？” 叶孤城沉下脸，道：“你不必知道！” 陆小凤道：“我一定要知道！” 叶孤城冷笑。 陆小凤道：“因为我不但是西门吹雪的朋友，也是你的朋友，我有权知道。” 叶孤城慢慢地掩起窗子，又推开，窗外月明依旧。他一直都没有回头，仿佛不愿让陆小凤看到他脸上的表情，又过了很久，忽然道：“你知不知道他已有孩子了？” 陆小凤跳了起来，失声道：“你说什么？” 叶孤城并没有再说一遍，他知道陆小凤听得很清楚。 陆小凤当然已听清楚，但却实在不能相信：“你是说西门吹雪已有了孩子？” Ye Gucheng nodded.陆小凤再问：“是孙秀青有了身孕？” 叶孤城又点点头，陆小凤怔住，一个男人，在生死的决战前，若是知道他深爱的女人腹中有了他的孩子，他应该怎么办？ 陆小凤终于明白：“原来是他去求你改期的，因为他一定要先将孙秀青以后的生活安排好，他并没有胜你的把握。” 叶孤城道：“他是个负责任的男人，也知道自己的仇人太多。” 陆小凤道：“他若死在你手里，他的仇家当然绝不会让他的女人和孩子再活下去。” 叶孤城道：“他活着时从不愿求人，就算死了，也绝不愿求人保护他的妻子。” 陆小凤道：“所以他要你再给他一个月的宽限，让他能安排好自己的后事。” 叶孤城道：“你若是我，你答不答应？” 陆小凤长长叹息，现在他终于明白，西门吹雪为什么会突然失踪。他当然要找个绝对秘密的地方，将他的妻子安顿下来，让她能平平安安的生下他自己的孩子，这地方他当然绝不能让任何人知道。 叶孤城仰视着天上的明月，月已圆：“月圆之夜，紫金之巅……” 陆小凤忍不住又问道：“月圆之夜，还是改在月圆之夜，紫金之巅又改在哪里？” 叶孤城又沉吟了很久，才缓缓道：“改在紫禁之巅。” 陆小凤耸然动容，道：“紫禁之巅？紫禁城？” 叶孤城道：“不错。” 陆小凤脸色变了：“你们要在紫禁城里太和殿的屋脊上决战？” 太和殿就是金銮殿，也就是紫禁城里最高的一座大殿。紫禁之巅，当然也就在太和殿上。殿高数十丈，屋脊上铺着的是滑不留足的琉璃瓦，要上去已难如登天，何况那里又正是皇帝接受百官朝贺之处，禁卫之森严，天下绝没有任何别的地方能比得上。这两人偏偏选了这种地方做他们的决战处。 陆小凤忍不住长长叹了口气，苦笑道：“你们的胆子也未免太大了些。” 叶孤城淡淡道：“你若害怕，本就不必去。” 陆小凤恍然道：“你们选了这地方，为的就是不愿别人去观战？” 叶孤城道：“这一战至少不是为了要给别人看的！” 陆小凤又忍不住要问：“这一战究竟是为了什么？” 叶孤城道：“就因为他是西门吹雪，我是叶孤城！” 这并不能算是真正的答复，却已足够说明一切。西门吹雪和叶孤城命中注定了就要一较高下的，已不必再有别的理由。两个孤高绝世的剑客，就像是两颗流星，若是相遇了，就一定要撞击出惊天动地的火花。这火花虽然在一瞬间就将消失，却已足照耀千古！ 月明星稀，夜更深，叶孤城缓缓道：“你想知道的事，现在全都知道，你为什么还不走？” 陆小凤却还不肯走：“除了我之外，还有没有别人知道你们的决战处？” 叶孤城冷冷道：“我没有告诉过别人，我没有别的朋友。”他的声音虽冷，这句话却是火热的。他毕竟已承认陆小凤是朋友，惟一的朋友。