Chapter 55 Chapter Fifty-fifth: Thieves have their way

Hu Buchou said: "Sure enough, there is no one on board." Shui Tianji said: "Well, if there was someone, they would have come out to see it." Hu Buchou said: "If this ship is really ransacked by pirates, I hope the pirates will show mercy." Shui Tianji said: "Don't take away the water too." Hu Buchou said: "You sit down, I..." Shui Tianji said: "I'll accompany you in to have a look." Both of them are extremely intelligent people, there is no need to finish a sentence, they can continue talking conveniently.The two looked at each other and smiled, hugging each other.

They leaned against each other, wanting to enter the cabin, but before taking a few steps, the two couldn't help but stop at the same time, and exclaimed at the same time. dead body!Suddenly they found a dead body. The dead body fell on the hatchway, the clothes on his body were ragged, his beard and hair were also dirty and messy, obviously he had been wandering at sea for a long time before he was alive. There were no scars on the body of the dead body, but between the eyebrows... There was a bloody mouth between the eyebrows. Shui Tianji trembled and said, "Look...look at the deadly wounds on this corpse."

Hu Buchou's complexion changed drastically, and he lost his voice and said, "The man in white." Shui Tianji said: "One...it must be him. Apart from the man in white, I can't think of anyone else with such a neat technique. But who is this person who died?" Hu Buchou said: "Whoever deserves to be attacked by the men in white must not be ordinary people." Shui Tianji said: "I'll wipe off the blood on his face, maybe I'll recognize him." Hu Buchou focused his eyes a little, and said slowly: "No need to wipe, I have recognized him."

Shui Tianji followed his gaze, and there was a strange weapon shining brightly beside the cabin door—a strange knife. Shui Tianji lost her voice: "Tiandao Meiqian?" Hu Buchou said in a deep voice: "Although I have never seen Mei Qian, nor have I seen this weapon, but this person must be 'Heavenly Sword' Mei Qian." Shui Tianji said: "So they didn't die. It turns out that this ship is the one that Mrs. Wan took. After they woke up, they secretly sailed away, but they didn't want to meet the man in white at sea." Hu Buchou said: "Since Mei Qian is here, Gongsun Hong must also be here."

Shui Tianji sighed: "Gongsun Hong must also escape the evil hands." Hu Buchou pondered: "But there is something strange about it." Shui Tianji said: "That's right, it's a bit strange... Even though they met men in white at sea, but the sea is so wide, how did the men in white know they were on this boat, and how could they come to this boat to take their lives? " The two walked around the dead body, and then walked inside, and they found another dead body. The dead body was facing down, with both hands stretched out in front of it, fingers like hooks, as if trying to scratch through the deck. Before he died, he was obviously still struggling to crawl forward.

Hu Buchou said: "Gongsun Hong is indeed here." Shui Tianji said sadly: "He can be regarded as..." Before finishing a sentence, the dead body suddenly made a sound. Shui Tianji and Hu Buchou were really taken aback, and couldn't help but took two steps back.Hearing the voice was indistinct, he moaned, "I... am not Gongsun Hong..." Shui Tianji grasped Hu Buchou's hand, tremblingly said: "Who are you?" The "dead body" could no longer answer, but kept moaning: "Water...water...water..." As soon as "water" was mentioned, Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji immediately felt that their lips were split like fire, and they were almost speechless immediately.

Shui Tianji said hoarsely, "Water... Where is the water?" The finger of the "dead corpse" moved and tapped the deck. Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji rushed over immediately, slammed on the ship's plank, lifted the plank, and there were indeed several tile water tanks and copper kettles underneath. Both hands stretched down together and lifted the kettle.Hu Buchou wants to send the spout to Shui Tianji's mouth, and Shui Tianji wants to give the spout to Hu Buchou. But the two of them took a look at the "dead corpse" and sent the spout over together. Water is really the source of life.

When there is water in the mouth, the dying and immobile "dead body" suddenly becomes alive, holding the water bottle tightly with both hands, refusing to let go. The water also brightened Shui Tianji's eyes, like a withered flower, once moistened by the water, she regained her beauty. The "dead body" had already turned over, lying flat on the board, panting contentedly, there was also a bloody gash between the eyebrows, but it must not be very deep. Otherwise, how could he have lived to this moment. Hu Buchou finally drank the pot of water until there was nothing left, and panting, "Who are you?"

The "corpse" said: "Me? I am the 'Heavenly Sword' Mei Qian." Shui Tianji said: "Yeah...the dead person is Gongsun Hong?" Mei Qian said, "Well... who are you?" Hu Buchou was the first to say: "Hu Buchou, it's..." Before he could finish his sentence, Mei Qian suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Hu Buchou? Are you Fang Baoyu's uncle?" Hu Buchou smiled and said: "I don't think Bao'er's reputation is so loud." But Mei Qian closed his eyes again, and murmured: "Fortunately...fortunately...if I can see you before I die..."

Hu Buchou said in surprise: "Do you have anything to say to me?" Mei Qian said: "There are... there are many..." Hu Buchou said: "Talk slowly, you are not busy, anyway there is still plenty of time." Mei Qian hissed: "Time is running out, once I drink water, I won't live long, at most..." Hu Buchou stumbled and said, "Ah! I forgot that people who are seriously injured should avoid drinking raw and cold water. But since you know this, why do you want to drink it?" Mei Qian said with a sad smile: "If you can drink water, it doesn't matter if you die."

Shui Tianji said sadly: "I also know this feeling, and I also know how you feel. Sometimes a sip of water is indeed more precious than life, you... just tell me!" Mei Qian said: "Do you recognize Bai Sankong?" He suddenly mentioned the name "Bai Sankong", Hu Buchou couldn't help being startled again, forced a smile and said: "Of course I recognize it, how could this disciple not recognize Master?" Mei Qian said: "Good! Good...your master is not dead..." Hu Buchou said: "I know." Mei Qian said: "Although people in today's Jianghu know that he is not dead, they think that he is living in seclusion in the Jin's garden and sees no outsiders, but they don't know that he has not only appeared incarnation, but also done a lot of things in the Jianghu. , that day Taishan will expose the gunpowder hiding place of the Fire Demon God, that is his old man." Hu Buchou was both surprised and delighted, but couldn't help asking: "What kind of Taishan meeting? What kind of gunpowder?" Mei Qian said: "You will know about these things when you return to Middle Earth." Hu Buchou said: "Could it be that you saw his old man?" Mei Qian smiled bitterly: "If I hadn't seen him, I wouldn't be here." Hu Buchou smiled and said, "Why?" Mei Qian said: "I only came to Dongying to learn martial arts when I was in my prime. Before I came to Dongying, I was an old childhood friend with him, so when we reunited here, he would tell me a secret." Hu Buchou was even more surprised, and asked urgently: "What secret?" Mei Qian said: "The secret of the man in white." Hu Buchou was shocked, and lost his voice: "What did the old man say?" Mei Qian said: "Since he was reborn under the sword of the man in white, he has worked hard to study the martial arts of the man in white. The emperor pays off his painstaking efforts. Over the years, he finally researched the way of breaking the man in white's martial arts. The man in white is merciful under the sword, so he has never been willing to say this breaking law." Hu Buchou said: "But...but how could the old man tell you?" Mei Qian said: "Because when I saw him, he was about to risk his life. It is impossible to know whether he will live or die. For his only grandson, Fang Baoyu, he told me this secret." Hu Buchou said: "For Bao'er?" Mei Qian said: "It's only because Fang Baoyu has been recognized by the martial arts world as the opponent of the man in white." Hu Buchou said: "Since this is the case, why did the old man tell you... Senior..." Mei Qian sighed: "If he told Fang Baoyu this secret, wouldn't it be a debt to the kindness of the man in white, but I... well, I and the man in white are also good friends, he told me this secret just to let me Go to Dongying quickly to dissuade the man in white... If the man in white knows that someone in the Central Plains martial arts has been able to decipher his martial arts, he will probably give up his intention to return to the Central Plains to wash his sword with blood. " Hu Buchou said with emotion: "But...but you, senior..." Mei Qian said: "After I was entrusted by him, I immediately traveled to the east, but I was misunderstood on the boat. I couldn't explain it, so there was only... only..." Hu Buchou said dejectedly: "Senior is really a hero in the matter of being entrusted by others and being loyal to others." Mei Qian said with a wry smile: "A hero? So what about a hero? After a massacre, another storm followed, and then, he met a jackal-like monster." Hu Buchou said with a wry smile: "Then, that is Master Jia Xing." Mei Qian lost her voice: "Oh! So it was him." After being silent for a while, he finally said: "Although I was knocked unconscious by his palm, I was not actually injured. After waking up, I immediately took the boat with Gongsun Hong when the tide was high and sailed away to Dongying." Hu Buchou said: "Then Gongsunhong..." Mei Qian sighed: "In order to avoid further obstruction from him, I had to reveal this secret to him, and he immediately helped me with all his strength, but he didn't expect me to meet a man in white at sea before I arrived in Dongpu. .” Hu Buchou couldn't help but said: "But senior, how would you know that there are people in white on that boat?" Mei Qian said: "Who else dares to cross the angry sea with a lone boat?" Hu Buchou let out a long sigh, bowed his head and said, "Not bad!" Mei Qian said: "I asked him to get on the boat, and politely told him that the Central Plains already had his own martial arts breaking method, and advised him to give up on going to the Central Plains again, and the original ship returned to Dongying." Hu Buchou said: "He... what did he say?" Mei Qian sighed, "He didn't say anything, he just sneered at me." Hu Buchou said sadly: "I can imagine his sneer." Mei Qian's face was full of cold sweat, and he said intermittently: "This sneer is no different from forcing me to take action. I was also confident, but who knows...Although Bai Sankong has researched the way to break his martial arts, in the past few years he has already Make up for this flaw. Alas! The mystery of this person's swordsmanship can be said to be flawless today." Hu Buchou lowered his head again, remained silent for a while, and murmured: "Once senior is defeated, he will naturally refuse to let Gongsun Hong go." Mei Qian said sadly: "I don't regret my death, but it's a pity that the Central Plains Wulin..." Shui Tianji suddenly said: "Is there really no one in the Central Plains Wulin who is his opponent?" Mei Qian said: "Until now, I really can't think of who is his opponent!" Shui Tianji said: "That side...Fang Baoyu..." Mei Qian sighed: "Although Fang Baoyu's martial arts are superb, it's a pity that the fire is not yet perfect, and it is not yet comparable to the swordsmanship of the man in white." Speaking of this moment, every time he said a word, he didn't know how much effort he had to expend. Every time he said a word, his body would tremble. Shui Tianji couldn't help shivering cleverly, and couldn't speak anymore. She seemed to have heard the indifferent voice of the man in white: "Come back after seven years, and wash away the humiliation on the sword with blood." In her eyes, she seemed to have seen the Central Plains martial arts corpses strewn all over the field, blood flowing like rivers. Mei Qian's chest heaved rapidly, and his breathing became shorter and shorter. After saying so many words, there was not much life left in him. Hu Buchou murmured: "But the broken method researched by my teacher is still somewhat useful after all. It is the predecessor who survived the deadly sword of the man in white." Mei Qian said: "Exactly...exactly..." Hu Buchou said: "I don't know if senior can tell the broken law?" Mei Qian said: "It's... of course, it's just... just... I..." That kind of profound martial arts can't be described in a few words. At this moment, Mei Qian doesn't have the energy to go on. Hu Buchou also saw this point, pondered for a while, and said decisively: "Senior, first tell the whereabouts of the family teacher, and the same is true for the disciple to ask the family teacher." Mei Qian said: "But... I hope he... is not dead... he... he has already gone to... White Water Palace." Hu Buchou lost her voice: "White Water Palace?" Shui Tianji also changed her color, and said in a trembling voice, "He...why does the old man go to White Water Palace?" Mei Qian said: "Just because of him...his..." "His" what? Mei Qian would never be able to tell. The night shrouded the ocean. Without a light, Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji sat quietly in the dark.The boat was bobbing and the waves were heaving and they were all just sitting still. They don't know how long they have been sitting there. Hu Buchou suddenly murmured: "What about him? Could it be 'his grandson' that Mei Qian wanted to talk about?" Could it be that Baoyu has gone to the White Water Palace and is trapped in it, so the old man rushed to rescue him? Shui Tianji didn't speak - what else could she say? Hu Buchou murmured again: "I hope he's not dead yet... Since Mei Qian said 'hope', he must be in great danger as an old man, so Bao'er... Isn't Bao'er even more..." Shui Tianji suddenly hissed: "You don't have to say anything." Hu Buchou said: "Yes, I won't say anything." Shui Tianji said: "I know some things even if you don't tell them." Hu Buchou smiled sadly: "You...you know?" In the darkness, he couldn't see her face, but he could still see those ecstasy eyes—these eyes were filled with crystal clear tears at this moment. Shui Tianji said quietly: "Don't worry, although I...although I treat you well, but...but your master is in Baishui Palace, if there are any problems, you will never see me again, I...I will never blame you." Hu Buchou lowered his head and remained silent for a long time before Fang Zi said sadly, "Thank you." He lowered his head because he didn't want Shui Tianji to see the tears in his eyes, but who can't hear the bitterness in the three words "thank you". Thank you, thank you for your consideration and understanding, thank you for your grievance and patience for me, thank you - although my heart is also broken. Thank you also for the darkness, which hides endless sorrows and endless tears, although darkness can make death lovely and life painful. The two sat like this in the dark. After an unknown amount of time, Hu Buchou rushed out suddenly and took control of the rudder. But the sky is full of stars. The wind is erratic during the day, and there are no stars at night. They lost their way at sea. A day, two days... the boat drifts blindly at sea. Although there was still some drinking water on board, there was no food—all the food had been taken away by Master Jia Xing, and it was for them to eat.Unexpectedly, they can't eat it instead—fate, the arrangement of fate is really wonderful sometimes, but it's really cruel. So they discovered that hunger is not as terrible as thirst. Although hunger can only kill people, thirst can make people crazy. Naturally, they also found that the vastness of the ocean was beyond their imagination. For several days, not only did they see land, but they also couldn't see a shadow of a ship. They are off course. At some point, the two snuggled together again—although death is terrible, it also has one advantage, that is, it can shorten the distance between people. People are always alienated by "life" and approached by "death". But the two could no longer speak. Hunger has slowly eaten away their consciousness of life. At some point, their minds are only blurred and blank. They no longer have the determination to survive and the courage to struggle. In the end, even though there was starlight, moonlight, and direction, Hu Buchou couldn't stand up anymore, he even didn't want to stand up. Darkness, sweet darkness is getting closer. I'm going to sleep, I'm going to sleep... Although the two also knew that they would never wake up after this sleep, neither of them could resist the magic power of this sleep—they were even unwilling to resist. Hu Buchou held Shui Tianji's hand and murmured: "You don't have to worry anymore..." Shui Tianji said: "Yes, no one in the world can separate us." Hu Buchou said: "No one... nothing..." Both of them seemed to have smiles on their faces. Shui Tianji snuggled into Hu Buchou's arms, and softly hummed a sweet hypnotic song—the two waited quietly for death in this song. Suddenly, there were three wind sounds of "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh". Three iron arrows pierced into the cabin and were nailed to the plank of the ship. This is a powerful arrow with a black body and blood feathers. When the arrow feathers break through the air, the sound of the wind is sharp and shrill, as if it wants to tear people's souls apart. But Hu Buchou just opened his eyes and said: "Pirates... pirates..." Shui Tianji murmured, "Pirates?" Suddenly he laughed wildly, and said with a smile: "They must be very disappointed if they get on the boat." She was laughing wildly, but the laughter was weak as a whisper. I only heard a rough voice yelling outside the cabin: "Ba Hai is invincible! The world will show its power!" Another person shouted: "Those who obey me will live! Those who resist me will die!" Amid the animal-like shouts, there was a "bang bang bang bang" sound from the ship's plank, and dozens of people jumped over from the pirate ship by climbing on the ropes. It was a small pirate ship with black sails. The pirates wore bright trousers, leather vests, and gleaming, tanned muscles that looked as if they had been wrought iron. They shouted and rushed in, waving all kinds of curved and odd-shaped long knives, like a group of crazy beasts. But Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji didn't even bother to open their eyes. A wrecked ship, an empty cabin, dead bodies, and two half-dead and dying people—the pirates were also stunned, unable to cry out. Several people muttered cursing in their mouths, looking around for valuables.The two walked up to Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji, and leaned over to look at them. One grinned and said, "These two are still alive." Another person said: "I don't know where these two people came from. Look, what are they wearing on their bodies? It looks like they came from the country of savages." The third person came over and said with a smile: "But the girl is really good, as long as she eats well for two days, she will be a big beauty, hehe, haha..." Amidst the laughter, other people also joined in. But they don't know that the "big beauty" can kill them as long as they eat well for a long time-Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji are too lazy to open their eyes. Suddenly, a person on the pirate ship said with a chuckle: "My dear sons, why are you reluctant to come back? If there is anything good, you should send it to my old man first!" The voice came from afar, but it was very clear in the ear, Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji felt that the voice seemed very familiar, but they didn't bother to think about who it was. The pirates all frowned, and everyone murmured: "This old man is so domineering and stands guard." One person said: "Is there any way, we can't beat her together." Another person said: "If I knew it was like this, it would be great to let her drown, why bother to save her." While scolding, several people lifted Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji up—the bodies of Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji were as soft as sackcloth bags. They were sent to the pirate ship in a coma, and their noses were immediately filled with the smell of tobacco, alcohol, and men's sweat. Hearing the voice just now, he said with a strange smile: "Ah! It turned out to be you... This world is really small, it really is too small." Hu Buchou and Shui Tianji finally couldn't bear to open their eyes. What they saw was Mrs. Wan. There are really all kinds of things in this pirate cabin, large pieces of bacon, large pots of wine, piles of various clothes, and pieces of gold, pieces of silver...all of these things They were piled up in a mess in the cabin, like a grocery store. There is a table in the middle of the "grocery store", and the table is even more chaotically piled up with all kinds of food and drink, and it looks like a mess. Mrs. Wan was sitting behind this mess, her hands were full of oil, her mouth was full of oil, as if she had been eating non-stop since she got on the boat. Hu Buchou couldn't help but smiled bitterly and said, "So... so it was you." Mrs. Wan laughed loudly and said, "Unexpectedly, my old lady is so blessed that she is not dead yet." The pirates looked at each other in blank dismay: "So they actually know each other." Everyone thought about it, I am afraid that everything will be in vain now, since there is no hope, it is better to retire earlier. The pirates on this side pulled back one by one and walked back, but Shui Tianji on the other side cuddled tightly in Hu Buchou's arms, whispering sadly: "This time, everything is over." Hu Buchou also said sadly: "Everything is over." Shui Tianji said: "She will never let you go." Hu Buchou said: "Yes." The two shook hands tightly, knowing in their hearts that this was the last time they shook hands.They would rather be trapped in a pack of tigers and wolves than fall into the hands of Mrs. Wan. The pirates were about to leave, but Mrs. Wan suddenly giggled and said, "Why did you leave without taking your spoils away?" The pirates were all taken aback, and said, "But...they..." Mrs. Wan giggled and said: "Although they are my old man's friends, I can't let you all fail... Well, you men are useless anyway, so leave it to my old man, women... haha I think you still have something to use, but my old man doesn’t need her.” The pirates were surprised and delighted, Mrs. Wan laughed and said: "Silly children, what are you waiting for? You haven't got this beauty out yet...but this beauty is a tigress, you must not feed her Thing, if you let her raise enough strength, none of you will be able to live... Haha! Anyway, she has no strength, so you can use it too." Hu Buchou seemed to be numb, as if he couldn't even get angry, he could only watch Shui Tianji being carried out. Shui Tianji was also looking at him. The two looked at each other, knowing that this was the last time. Mrs. Wan closed the hatch tightly, and said with a smile: "Those turtles outside must laugh at me as an old coquettish old man. At such an age, I still want to lock a young man in the room..." She picked up a chicken leg, put it on her nose and sniffed it, glanced at Hu Buchou, smiled even more strangely, and said with a giggly smile: "Actually, what does my old man want you to do, do you know?" Hu Buchou closed his eyes and ignored her at all. Mrs. Wan said with a smile: "Why are you closing your eyes? But you dare not look at these delicious things? Actually, what's the matter if you look at them, these things are for you to eat anyway." Hu Buchou gritted his teeth, struggled, and endured, but finally couldn't help but opened his eyes, and the chicken leg was in front of his eyes. The bursts of strong aroma stimulated Hu Buchou to tremble all over. Mrs. Wan smiled and said, "Take a look, isn't this chicken leg really fragrant?" The muscles at the corners of Hu Buchou's mouth trembled like strings, he gritted his teeth desperately, but couldn't help it, he finally stretched out his hand trembling. The chicken leg has shrunk back. Mrs. Wan giggled and said, "Do you want to eat it? It's very easy, as long as you promise me one thing, this chicken leg... the whole chicken leg will be yours." Hu Buchou hissed, "What... what's the matter?" Mrs. Wan said: "As long as you tell the secret of Zi Yihou's martial arts." Hu Buchou roared wildly: "Don't say it... I will never say it." Mrs. Wan said: "Don't tell me? Well, my old man will never force you, but this chicken leg... Sigh! The taste of this chicken leg is really good." She held the chicken leg and kept shaking it in front of Hu Buchou. Hu Buchou fell to the ground and rolled, beating his chest desperately. Mrs. Wan smiled and said, "Silly boy, why are you abusing yourself? As long as you say it... Sigh! This chicken drumstick is really good, if you don't believe me, just try it first." She actually tore off a piece of chicken and put it on the ground. Hu Buchou's whole body shrank into a ball, but he was still trembling. He hates, he hates himself, how could he become like this.But although he hates it, there is nothing he can do about it—he is a human after all, and hunger is a devil. He struggled, struggled, and kept his hands off the chicken—one who hadn't been starved mad would never know how hard it was. Beads of sweat were all over his face, and his lips were bleeding from biting. Mrs. Wan said softly, "Son, eat, why are you polite?" Hu Buchou finally pounced wildly and swallowed the chicken. It's okay not to eat this mouthful, but after this mouthful, the taste of the meat made him tremble not only in his body, but also in his soul. His whole body has been thrown into the magic fire of hunger, tortured and tortured!It is no longer physical pain, that pain belongs to the soul. Mrs. Wan smiled softly: "Son, tell me, you have memorized those things by heart, how easy it is for you to say it, it is much easier than enduring hunger..."