Xiangyang is located at the confluence of various rivers beside the Han River. If you follow the river for one day, you can reach another larger city, Hannan, and then two days to reach Jingling.
Since Yang Guang was killed by Yu Wenhua and Qi Bing, the situation in various places has intensified.
Those who were already hegemonic and proclaimed themselves kings and emperors took advantage of the situation to expand their territory. Those who were originally Sui officials or who were adopting a wait-and-see attitude rose up one after another and became local forces to protect their urban and rural homes.
Qian Duguan in Xiangyang is a typical example.
Duangdaoqian Duguan is the leader of the Hanshui sect. He is between good and evil. He is very respectable in both black and white in the local area. He is a silk businessman and has a rich fortune.
When the news of Emperor Yang's death came, Qian Duguan was widely expected and was elected as the leader by the local wealthy gentry and gangs. He drove away the Xiangyang prefect and formed a militia to take over the governance power.
Although Qian Duguan knew that he did not have the strength to conquer the world, at this time when the world was in turmoil and chaos, he could still guard Xiangyang and take care of himself without having to look at anyone else's face. Under the influence of Li Mi, Du Fuwei, Li Zitong and other major
When the forces were confronting each other, he even used both sides to get what he wanted, and even did business in exchange for what he needed, just like ceding territory to become king.
At dusk, Shang Xiuxun and others rushed to Xiangyang before the city gate closed. They paid the city gate tax with yellow gold and entered the city.
Xiangyang City has high walls, thick city gates, arrow towers, Yue'e bell towers and drum towers. The confrontation is quite impressive. Even before entering the city, it gives a deep impression.
After entering the city, everyone walked on the street that connected the north and south city gates. At this time when the lights were on, there were numerous archways and pavilions standing across the street. There were many shops on both sides of the long street and quaint houses lined up. People and cars were passing by on the road. The peaceful and lively scene made people forget about the outside world.
The smoke of war is dangerous.
From time to time, armed men in blue uniforms would pass by in groups of three or five on the street. Just by looking at their fierce and domineering demeanor, you knew they were Qian Duguan's subordinates.
There are almost no traces of older women on the street. The occasional ones from other places are also hurriedly walking with their heads down.
Xu Yang, Luo Fang and others had already been waiting in the city for a long time. Luo Fang took them to a large hotel and settled them down. After that, Kou and Xu stayed in the room to wait for Shang Xiuxun's instructions.
Kou Zhong chuckled and said: "It's a good thing we were sitting down and wearing the groom's clothes just now. Otherwise, with our abundance, we might not be recognized by those two bastards Ling Feng and Jin Bo."
Xu Ziling said angrily: Are you narcissistic and crazy? If you don't praise yourself for a day, you will feel uncomfortable all over.
Kou Zhong said with a smile: Everything is fine! I just want to liven up the atmosphere. Alas! When I went to Jingling today, just thinking about Huan Huan made me feel so upset that I wanted to cry, not to mention my father to deal with it.
!
Xu Ziling sat on the edge of the bed for a while and then said: How do you feel about finally having sex with your father? Kou Zhong sat slumped in the chair next to the door with a bitter smile on his face and said: I know he will not let us go this time, but
If I had the chance, I would still let him go once and twice to make it even. No one owes anyone anything.
Xu Ziling said: This is a good man!
Kou Zhong sighed: "But this time I don't think I have a chance to be a good man. No matter fighting alone or fighting for supremacy on the battlefield, we are still a long way behind him. The Jianghuai Army is an invincible army, how can it be compared to the ragtag group of the Four Great Bandits?"
Xu Ziling pondered: What is the purpose of sending Liu Zongdao back to the ranch by the owner of Meirener Farm?
Kou Zhong smiled and said: Doesn’t Xu Yaodao know everything just by pointing?
Xu Ziling smiled and said: Damn it, you tried to trick me when you had the chance.
When Kou Zhong burst out laughing, Luo Fang knocked on the door and said, "We have booked two banquet tables on the second floor of Jiaxiang Building, the largest restaurant here. Come with me!"
The two of them were shocked and didn't expect that Shang Xiuxun still paid attention to pomp and circumstance under such circumstances.
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Jiaxiang Building is divided into three floors: upper, middle and lower floors.
The third floor is all VIP rooms and reservations will not be accepted unless you are a regular customer or a prominent local figure.
Outsiders like Pegasus Ranch could only book the tables on the second floor and downstairs, and Xu Yang had to bribe the innkeeper to make arrangements with him.
Shang Xiuxun not only put on men's clothing, but also darkened her face a little and put on a double-twisted beard to look like a Taoist gentleman. Although it may be eye-catching, it is better than showing off her stunning beauty.
When Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling saw her strange appearance, they were so moved that they couldn't bear it without knowing how hard it was.
Surprisingly, Shang Xiuxun didn't feel dissatisfied. He just smiled and took the lead with Liang Zhi.
A group of people were divided into groups and strolled along the street.
Two old men, Shang Peng and Shang He, were responsible for the delay.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling knew in their hearts that more and more people were recognizing them, so they had to pull their hats down over their eyebrows and stoop down, walking without knowing how hard it was.
Luo Fangqi asked next to him: Why have you become so sneaky?
Kou Zhong dodged a group of evil men from all walks of life who came towards him and said in a serious tone: The owner of the venue also has to pretend, and we the servants have to cover up and hide, right?
Suddenly, there was chaos on the left. Pedestrians scattered to avoid it, but two gangs of more than ten people each started fighting and chasing each other down the street with swords and swords.
Luo Fang was distracted and pulled the two of them to hide aside.
Shang Xiuxun stood with his hands behind his hands, seemingly watching the bloody fight with great interest.
Kou Zhong was puzzled and said to Luo Fang and Xu Ziling: "Look at those people who are not from the Xianghan faction under Qian Duguan's command? Why did they stand by and not interfere?"
Xu Ziling looked over and saw a group of seven or eight burly men in blue attire mixed in with the crowd watching the fun. They not only watched from the sidelines, but also pointed at them, foaming at the mouth and happily watching.
But Luo Fang didn't think it was strange and said: This is Qian Duguan's rule. As long as it does not harm his interests, he will adopt a neutral attitude towards all struggles and vendettas in the Jianghu. What's more, even if he wants to control it, he can't control so much?
Kou Zhong was speechless and said: Is there any royal law in this?
Xu Ziling smiled bitterly and said: There is no king's law for a long time.
Kou Zhong's eyes flashed sharply and he said nothing.
At this time, the winner was decided, and the defeated party left a few corpses and fled into the alley.
The big men in blue clothes from the Xianghan faction swarmed up and dragged away the body. In an instant, the street returned to the lively scene before, making people doubt that anything had ever happened.
Both Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were shocked, but Luo Fang looked as if nothing had happened.
A block away, the big signboard of Jiaxianglou can be seen in the distance, and from across the street comes the sounds of silk and bamboo orchestra, guessing and gambling.
Kou Zhong looked away and saw that it was a brothel. He saw that the entrance was full of people and very lively.
Four or five rogue-like bodyguards were intercepting guests who wanted to enter. I wonder if they should first see if they have enough silver in their bags.
Kou Zhong couldn't help but stop and watch. He remembered that every time he and Xu Ziling broke into the brothel, nothing good came of it. He couldn't help but feel amused when the three people bumped into him in a circle.
He didn't dare to show off his martial arts skills and just moved aside at a normal pace. At this moment, one of them reached out and touched his arms.
Kou Zhong thought with great joy in his heart that using your empty hand against my ancestor, who specializes in stealing people's money bags, would be like dancing a big ax in front of Luban's gate, so he used the pulse-cutting technique passed down by Zhai and his subordinate Xi Jiajiang, who had been taught by Tu Shu Fang.
The opponent's pulse gate.
The man tried to break away and a burst of Qi was sent to him, which immediately made his whole body numb.
The other two people fled in a hurry when they saw that they had failed.
You hurt me!
Kou Zhong took a closer look and saw that the person holding the bag was a boy of sixteen or seventeen years old. His features were handsome and he didn't look like a gangster.
Kou Zhong remembered the time in Yangzhou when his heart softened. He took out a piece of gold with his left hand and put it into his hand and whispered:
Your pickpocketing skills are so bad, don't ever do it again!
The young man looked at him dumbfounded and then at the gold in his hand, with a grateful look in his eyes.
Luo Fang in front turned around and shouted: Ning, come quickly!
Kou Zhong patted him on the shoulder and hurried to catch up with Luo Fang and Xu Ziling.
※※※
The three of them went up to the second floor, where Shang Xiuxun sat down early and occupied two of the five large tables next to the window on the street side.
The entire lobby on the second floor was noisy and crowded with all kinds of people, but only one person occupied the big table in the middle of the street window.
This king has a majestic figure, and just looking at his back can tell you that he is imposing and imposing.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling changed their expressions at the same time, complaining in their hearts that this man had turned to ashes. They all recognized the back of Ba Fenghan. Whether it was the waiter or other guests, they seemed to be accustomed to this young master occupying the table alone, and they didn't even give him a strange look or expression.
The two of them were wondering whether they should turn around and run away immediately to avoid being exposed by him, when Ba Fenghan turned around and showed them a warm and meaningful smile.
Then he cast his eyes towards Shang Xiuxun with a look of surprise on his face.
Luo Fang was also glaring at Ba Fenghan, then he pulled the two of them and shouted: Don't block the channel here unless you want to cause trouble!
The two of them had no choice but to follow him to the table next to Ba Fenghan and sit down at the table next to Ba Fenghan. They also followed his example and turned their backs to the staircase in the middle of the back. Kou Zhong and Ba Fenghan were only half a foot apart, and they also blocked Ba Fenghan's gaze.
The sight of Shang Xiuxun sitting at the corner table.
Ba Fenghan put a pot of wine and a few dishes on the table, but looking at the dishes, he looked like he had never touched them at all. He was just pouring and drinking himself, showing the leisurely and contented style of a master.
The sword was placed by the table, but his saber was missing.
Shang Xiuxun leaned forward a little and looked back at Ba Fenghan. His beautiful eyes were filled with emotion, showing that he was shocked by Ba Fenghan's perfect and wild appearance and extremely masculine appearance.
Liang Zhi, Xu Yang, Wu Yan, Shang He, Shang Zhen and others who were at the same table with Shang Xiuxun all felt cold in their hearts when they were swept by Ba Fenghan's sharp and substantial eyes.
It's rare for a master to be so young but not know who he is.
Suddenly, someone shouted loudly on the street and said: Ba Fenghan, come down and die!
The whole restaurant immediately gradually became quiet, but it still came again! There was a lot of excitement and such loud shouts came one after another, and finally it was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked in surprise and saw four tall and short people standing across the street downstairs, all with fierce eyes and weapons in their hands, shouting at Ba Fenghan who was sitting upstairs.
Shang Xiuxun and others were all moved.
Ba Fenghan, a master from the Western Regions, has been challenging famous masters, masters, local tyrants and bullies from all over the world for the past two years without ever losing.
Even when the enemy gathered a crowd to besiege him, he could still escape calmly. It has long been rumored that Jianghu and Kou Zhong, Xu Ziling, Hou Xibai, Yang Xuyan, etc. are hailed as the most outstanding masters of the young generation today and have received the highest praise.
In the eyes of martial arts people, the reputation of Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling has barely caught up with the other three since they succeeded in assassinating Ren Shaoming. However, they have to be added together and are not considered to be masters who can stand on their own like the other three.
The four people in the formation were all dressed in black and well-dressed. They were between thirty and forty years old. They were tall and carried double hooks. The other three were all wielding knives and had fierce faces, which made people feel that they were not kind-hearted.
Luo Fang whispered: Have you seen the plum blossom logo embroidered on their lapels? These four are the leaders of the Plum Blossom Sect. Together with the boss Gu Le, they are called the Five Evils of Plum Blossom. Come to seek revenge.
At this time, the tall man shouted: "Bathier, get out of here! Brother's blood debt must be repaid with your blood."
Kou Zhong gave Luo Fang a thumbs up and praised him for his guess, which made Luo Fang feel very happy.
Ba Fenghan had so much time to pick up the pot and pour the wine without even looking at the remaining four evils of the five plum blossom evils. He smiled and said: "What qualifications do you have to ask me to get out? Your boss took care of me without three moves. Can you take one move?" This would surprise me.
As if he knew Shang Xiuxun was looking at him intently, he turned his head and raised his glass to pay tribute to her with a smile.
Shang Xiuxun unnaturally avoided his gaze.
A loud shout was like a thunderbolt rising from the ground, and one of them jumped up and was about to rush upstairs.
Ba Feng snorted coldly, his eyes still focused on the outline of Shang Xiuxun's profile. The left hand holding the cup moved quickly and incoherently. The wine in the cup turned into wine, and he shot arrows as fast as lightning towards the enemy who was about to leap up the stairs. And go.
As soon as the man's feet left the ground and he was still drinking, the wine arrow accurately pierced his mouth.
The man's whole body was shaken, and blood spurted out from his eyes, ears, mouth and nose. He opened his mouth wide and fell backwards, killing him on the spot.
Everyone on the second floor stood up and made a commotion like thunder.
It was the first time for everyone to witness the murder of a bully who turned into arrows using wine.
Everyone at Pegasus Ranch was also shocked.
Only Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling still raised their glasses and drank tea as if nothing had happened.
The other three villains were shocked and turned pale. The ferocious flames all disappeared. They picked up the body of the deceased and immediately scurried away with their heads in their hands. They were so embarrassed that the people watching on the street upstairs burst into mocking laughter.
Ba Fenghan continued to drink as if he had done the most trivial thing. After a while, the restaurant returned to its previous state, as if nothing had happened after a fierce fight between two gangs on the street.
At this time, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling heard the diners at the back table whisper: This is the seventh batch of fools who think they have a long life. They are lucky. The ones who came this morning were more powerful than them, but none of them could leave alive. .
The food and drinks have arrived.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were still interested in talking to Ba Fenghan and seeing that he didn't bother them, they started to eat. On the contrary, Shang Xiuxun, who had always been fond of food, didn't know whether he was influenced by Ba Fenghan and looked worried and ate two pieces of yellow croaker. The chopsticks stopped.
The two old guys Shang Peng and Shang He looked at Ba Fenghan from time to time.
Suddenly a voice sounded from the stairs: I want those two tables!
The waiter's voice said in astonishment: But the guest hasn't left yet!
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked at each other in shock, knowing something was wrong. They both recognized that it was the abominable voice of Qu Ao's disciple Chang Shumou.
He must have come here for Shang Xiuxun and others.
Everyone at Pegasus Ranch obviously knew who Chang Shumou was, except for the two old guys Shang Xiuxun and Peng He, they all looked nervous and alert.
Of course, the two of them did not dare to look back, thinking that the other party was well prepared and that they were lucky enough to retreat with all their troops.
Ba Fenghan seemed to be so absorbed in his thoughts that he didn't care about what was happening behind him.
The footsteps of more than ten people rushed behind Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, and a female voice shouted: "We have commandeered these two tables, hurry up!"
It was the voice of Hua Lingzi, a beautiful girl from Tie Le who had fought against Xu Ziling.
Since Kou and Xu had their backs turned to them, they did not yet know that these two great enemies were present.
Ba Fenghan laughed as if he had woken up and said: Are all the disciples taught by Qu Ao so domineering?
When the guests at the two tables at the back heard that it was Qu Ao's disciples who had commandeered their tables, they immediately ran for their lives as tamely as a lamb.
Chang Shumou came to the table behind Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling and deliberately sat down with his back to the window. Behind him, less than half a foot away, were Kou and Xu. Ba Fenghan on the left and Shang Xiuxun on the right were only a few feet away from him. The situation was strange.
Other masters of Chang Shumou took their seats one after another, and there were exactly twenty of them. Brother Geng Huer and Hua Lingzi sat on the two chairs to the left and right of Chang Shumou.
Chang Shumou watched the waiter with trembling hands and feet clearing the leftover food left on the table for them and said calmly:
When my uncle, Chang Shumou, was in our country, he had already heard about Brother Ba’s name. He was deeply moved and admired him. He wished he could have the opportunity to ask Gao Ming. I don’t know. If Brother Ba is free these two days, can we all pick some time to make out?
Ba Fenghan drank the wine in the cup and threw it on the ground between him and Chang Shumou.
Bang!
The porcelain cup was broken and scattered on the ground.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged glances and wondered whether Ba Zi was helping them like this intentionally or unintentionally!
Ba Fenghan said calmly and calmly: "It's better to choose a different day than to hit it. I have to leave the city tomorrow. Let me Ba Fenghan see how much Qu Ao's true biography has been obtained by the elder uncle."
Everyone in the audience stopped their chopsticks and turned hundreds of eyes on Chang Shumou to see how he would react.
Brother Geng Hu'er and Hua Lingzi suddenly changed their expressions and were about to stop Chang Shumou from waving their hands to stop a burst of laughter that shook the roof tiles.
Everyone in the building could tell that his laughter was high-pitched but not high-pitched, yet it could make people's ears hurt, showing that both his internal and external skills had reached a state of perfection.
The laughter stopped suddenly.
Chang Shumou, who was wearing white clothes without wind, suddenly felt a fierce and murderous look. His beautiful face showed a gentle smile and he shook his head and sighed: "It's really nice, but I have something important to do now. Brother Ba, can you stay for a while?"
Then he shouted to the helpless waiter on the side: Give me the food of the two Pegasus Ranch friends behind me and give me two more tables!
The guy left in a hurry.
Shang Xiuxun knew that the enemy would strike at any time and signal to everyone to fight and leave.
It is said that those who come are not good and those who are good will not come.
Chang Shumou and his faction were convinced that their attitude would be relied upon, and there would still be ambushes downstairs and outside.
But it’s just the third brother and sister Chang Shumou who already possess great strength.
The other seventeen Tiele masters all have a reserved and calm demeanor, and their eyesight is clear enough that they are not easy to mess with.
The building was completely silent, and no one was willing to leave without watching the excitement, all waiting for Ba Fenghan's answer.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling looked down the street and realized that the avenue, which was originally a busy road, had now become as quiet as a ghost land. All the shops were closed and deserted. They immediately realized that Chang Shumou had obtained money from his actions against Pegasus Ranch.
Du Guan's acquiescence can't help but be stunned.
Ba Fenghan's voice sounded: "This is such a coincidence. I also want to deal with some personal grudges with my two friends from Pegasus Ranch first. Brother, can you please wait a moment?"
Shang Xiuxun and Chang Shumou were both shocked.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling knew it was time for the ugly woman to see her father-in-law. When they looked at each other and smiled bitterly, Ba Fenghan suddenly said to himself:
Why is Jun Yu late?
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were shocked and thought that it would be terrible if they met Fu Junyu.
Shang Xiuxun's eyes flashed coldly on them.
Kou Zhong finally sighed and said: Now that the elder uncle has lost his golden shield, should he use an iron shield, a bronze shield, a wooden shield, a leather shield or a rotten shield?
These words stood out like a strange peak. Chang Shumou was shocked and turned around to look at Kou Zhong, staring at the two of them in disbelief.
Luo Fang was even more frightened and the others stared at them fiercely with golden eyes.
Kou Zhongbie turned to Chang Shumou with a bright smile and raised his hand to say hello before saying: You fell into the trap! Huanyuan and us colluded in secret. Otherwise, why would you, a fool, come to our door to be tortured today? Haha.
!How funny.
Then he pointed at the two new shields hanging on his back and laughed: It turned out to be iron shields! He suddenly became poor!
Then he blinked at Shang Xiuxun, who looked at him fiercely, and said: "Master, there are a lot of brothers and I who will atone for their sins!"
Except for those involved, everyone else was at a loss as to who Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were. However, just by looking at Chang Shumou and others who still did not fall out and take action, we knew that these two people had a lot of background.
Hua Lingzi smiled sweetly and said, "It's our turn to be interesting, so I'll let you see how you two perform meritorious deeds."
After saying this, the two short blades slid from the sleeves to the hands at the same time.
Ba Fenghan shouted: "Wait a minute!"
One sentence temporarily suppressed the tense atmosphere.
Brother Geng Hu'er had long disliked Ba Fenghan and sneered, "Brother Ba is here to meddle in other people's business, isn't he?"
Ba Fenghan said: "No matter what, it depends on my mood at that time. But if I don't even wait for a moment with a thin face, then no wonder I want to get in the way."
With Chang Shumou's usual arrogance and arrogance, he was unwilling to establish a strong enemy like Ba Fenghan while dealing with the masters of Pegasus Ranch and Kou Xu.
He was a heroic figure who could lift and put him down, carried Kou Zhong on his back, sat down comfortably in the chair, took pictures, and shouted: "You haven't brought the food and wine yet!"
Shang Xiuxun's silver bell-like laughter rang out, attracting the attention of the audience, and then calmly said: Can Brother Suwenba's sword-fighting glory open Xiu Xun's eyes?
Everyone, including Ba Fenghan, was shocked and didn't understand why she suddenly took the initiative to challenge Ba Fenghan.
However, Xu Ziling understood her mood. He was angry that he and the two of them had been deceived, and even more resentful that Ba Fenghan had intervened at this moment to settle old scores with the two of them so that Chang Shumou could gain the advantage of being a fisherman.
At this time, he turned his head and looked at Ba Fenghan.
Ba Fenghan had just looked at him, and when their eyes touched, it was like four electric lights lighting up at the same time, clashing fiercely in the air.
Xu Ziling straightened his shoulders, his momentum suddenly increased, revealing a breathtaking style that no one, including Kou Zhong, had ever seen before. He glanced at Ba Fenghan and said with a smile: Brother Ba's knife is broken?
Ba Fenghan was shocked and said: Brother Xu really guessed correctly. Ten days ago, I met an unprecedented master and broke my saber. How did Brother Xu guess it?
The word "Brother Xu" immediately aroused a buzz of discussion. At this time, everyone guessed that the two brothers were Xu Ziling and Kou Zhong, who had killed Ren Shaoming.
Shang Xiuxun looked extremely annoyed and stamped his feet in anger under the stage. But his heart was filled with surprise and contradiction.
Liang Zhi, Luo Fang and others still stared at them with mixed feelings of surprise.
When Kou Zhong saw Ba Feng Hanqi encountering a strong opponent he had never seen before, there was a complex look in his eyes and he seemed to have endless aftertaste. He said in his heart: What is so difficult to guess? We also know that the opponent Brother Ba encountered is beautiful.
It must be like a fairy from the sky whose name is Huanhua! Right?
Ba Fenghan laughed dumbly and said: Yes! Ha! But Brother Kou only guessed half of it right. She is indeed surprisingly beautiful, but she is not some kind of Huan Huan, but the most outstanding female master in the history of the Dugu Clan.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling lost their voices at the same time: Dugu Feng?
This time Ba Fenghan was also astonished and asked in surprise: Have you ever fought against her?
Chang Shumou interjected: Does Brother Ba lose the battle? Why have I never heard of this woman?
Kou Zhong said: "You haven't heard of anything strange. Brother Ba, doesn't he also have no idea who the witch is?"
Chang Shumou said displeasedly: I'm talking to Brother Ba, so it's up to you to interrupt.
When Kou Zhong was about to say something, Shang Xiuxun shouted: "Why do you shut up with all this nonsense? Ba Fenghan asked me to see if your sword is harder than yours."