The giant boats on both sides of the river, illuminated by brilliant lights, sailed around the bend of the river towards the Tianjin Bridge.
The sails were all lowered and the boat was propelled by eighteen oars on each side protruding from the belly of the ship.
A wind lantern was hung at every other step along the ship's edge. They circled the ship densely and used the light to outline the outline of the entire ship, giving off a mysterious and inexplicable atmosphere.
A two-story building rose in the center of the deck. On the lookout outside the wheelhouse, there were more than ten men and women standing in an orderly manner, but Kou Zhong and the other three could only see one of them.
Because this person stood out from the crowd and immediately attracted their attention, leaving them no time to pay attention to other people.
This gentleman was about thirty years old, wearing Hu clothes and a thick beard. He was tall and majestic. He was still half a head taller than the tallest person around him and was as tall as Kou Zhong and three others.
Although he is standing with his hands behind his back, he can give people the extraordinary aura of being hidden like a tall mountain and have the air of an arrogant and heroic overlord.
The face surrounded by the beard is actually strange and handsome. Although the cheekbones are high, the nose is plump and powerful. The eyes are surprisingly slender, and the inner pupil shines with a clear and intelligent light, looking at Xu Kou and the others from a distance.
On either side of him stood a beautiful bearded woman, but in the eyes of the three of them, they were not as attractive as this masculine bearded man.
Kou Zhong faced the giant boat that was sailing against the current twenty feet away and shouted: "Who is coming? If he comes for us, please name him. I, Kou Zhong, have no interest in killing unknown people tonight."
In the last sentence, he picked up Fenghan's bold words to Hou Xibai, which turned out to be aggressive.
Ba Fenghan smiled at him.
Xu Ziling remained silent, regulated his breath and healed his wounds.
The rare innate sword energy that Master Fei Xuan vomited would not have been completely healed in this life if it hadn't come from the Taoist secret treasure (Eternal Life Secret) and the meridians had been transformed by the power of the Heshi Bi.
At that time, he felt that Shi Feixuan had temporarily withdrawn part of his true energy. Otherwise, he might have felt better for a few days.
From the beginning of the battle, although Shi Feixuan seemed to be aggressive, she was actually quite measured. She was purely testing and had no intention of hurting anyone.
This woman has an unworldly noble temperament that is different from Princess Dongming and Shang Xiuxun's noble temperament that comes from status and status, which makes her very unique among these beauties.
A burst of laughter made Xu Ziling wake up from his deep thoughts and couldn't help but feel stunned.
He has never thought about a woman so carefully.
The bearded man raised his voice and said: Brother Kou, you are laughing! My brother Fuqian is here to make friends and say hello to the three of you!
His Chinese pronunciation and pronunciation are better than those of Ba Fenghanshang who has been wandering in China for many years.
The three of them had already guessed who he was from his appearance and trademark beard, so they were not surprised when they heard this. The only thing they didn't expect was that he looked so majestic and overwhelmingly heroic.
The giant ship was gradually diminishing. Otherwise, if the ship's masts, which were two feet higher than the bridge, rushed towards it, the bridge would be shaken and even the upper deck of the ship would be damaged.
His deep and melodious voice just fell. Ba Fenghan smiled and said: Brother Fu is famous like thunder. Ba Mou admires him greatly, but he has something unclear and wants to ask for advice!
Hi!
The shouts and shouts of thirty-six people came from the belly of the ship, as if they were coming from one person.
Thirty-six oars were driven into the water in opposite directions at the same time. The huge ship miraculously froze on the river, only about three feet away from the bridge.
Fu Qian and the other ten people were standing at a height that was just level with the bridge head, so there would be no awkward situation of one side being high and the other side being low.
The surrounding area was dimly lit, except for the section of Luoshui Tianjin Bridge that was so brightly lit that the stars and moon in the sky were immediately eclipsed.
The water in the river rustled against the banks as the giant boats moved forward.
Everything is so peaceful and harmonious.
The oars cleverly moved the river water to keep the giant boat stable in the middle of the river.
Fu Qian said calmly: Brother Ba, please feel free to ask me everything you know and tell me everything.
Ba Fenghan's eyes flashed with cold light and he said coldly: The timing of Brother Fu Yinzhou's appearance was spot on, and I don't know what his intention is?
These words were not polite, but it was no wonder that Ba Fenghan had a close relationship with Wang Bo, which made him think that Fu Qian had bad intentions.
Everyone around Fu Qian showed displeasure, and the two beauties from Tuyuhun even looked disdainful, as if to blame Ba Fenghan for not knowing how to praise him.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were accustomed to Ba Fenghan's style of not selling anyone's credit, and they didn't feel anything strange at all.
Fu Qian didn't think about it and didn't feel dissatisfied. He laughed and said: There are three reasons. My favorite is to join in the fun. This is the real reason why I went to the Central Plains.
None of the three people expected him to be so frank and explicit that he came here to take advantage of the chaos in the Central Plains to fish in troubled waters. Kou Zhong glanced at the entourage beside him. The oldest one was only forty years old. Everyone's temples were bulging and their eyes were shining.
The strength of master Ruyun should not be underestimated. But I don’t know if Xing Mofei, who spoke in front of everyone at Manqing Courtyard that night, was one of them.
At that moment, he snorted coldly: "Sometimes you have to pay a price for having fun. I hope Brother Fu will have smooth sailing when he comes and goes!"
He knew from Song Yuzhi that Fu Qian was very interested in them. Song Yuzhi was shrewd enough to say such a thing because he had a certain basis and was not right or wrong.
A young man behind Fu Qian was about to retort, but he stopped him with a gesture to the royal expert from Tuyuhun and said with a calm smile: "It turns out that when I arrived in Zhongshan, I didn't expect to have a pleasant day of traveling around mountains and rivers. Thank you Brother Kou for your concern."
As for the second reason, I want to destroy the Tiele people's conspiracy and don't want Qu Ao and Tu Li to succeed. And the last reason is to see if the three of them have some leisure time to go to our ship to drink and chat until dawn?
Ba Fenghan looked up to the sky and smiled and said: Brother Fu, I appreciate these two good intentions! Now we just want to find a place to stay and have a good sleep. Please!
A hint of smile flashed across the corner of Fu Qian's lips and he said: "Those three are really heroes, and Fu Mou admires them."
The oars were turning and the giant boat was moving backwards.
Then the lights suddenly went out and disappeared into the darkness at the bend of the river.
※※※
The sound of wheels and donkey hooves touching the ground came from the street below. Kou Zhong stretched before opening his eyes and sitting up.
Xu Ziling got up early and stood at attention on the railing of the Bell and Drum Tower on the north bank of the Luo River, overlooking the Tianjin Bridge across the river. He wondered if he still recalled the scene of meeting Shi Feixuan last night.
Ba Fenghan was sitting cross-legged and meditating, seemingly unaware of what was going on outside him. The sword of Zhan Xuan was placed flat on his legs.
Kou Zhongtiao moved Ji Lai to the side of Xu Ziling.
There was a steady drizzle outside the building, and the entire banks of the Luo River were plunged into a vast expanse of white.
Kou Zhong took a few deep breaths of the morning air mixed with water mist, looked down at the misty and rainy scene far and near, and sighed: How wonderful!
We were still alive and had a long sleep.
Seeing his left hand playing with the pendant hanging on his chest, Xu Ziling asked curiously: Why are you suddenly interested in this pendant?
Kou Zhong said happily: I forgot to tell you that I met its original owner last night.
Xu Ziling said in astonishment: Have you seen Chu Chu?
This pendant was given to Kou Zhong by Su Su when Chu Chu took refuge with Zhai Jiao in Zhai Rang's Dalongtou Mansion.
When I think about this, I feel like I'm from another world.
Kou Zhong immediately told what happened to Zhai Jiao last night and said: Li Mi must have run out of energy, so Zhai Jiao appeared as a formidable enemy that he did not expect. Zhai Jiao had a subordinate named Xuan Yong who was definitely a talented person.
Xu Ziling said: Li Mi made a big mistake by killing Zhai Rang. If it had been you, Mr. Zhong, you would have put Zhai Rang on a pedestal and let him occupy only a nominal name and real power. He would only invite Zhai when he really conquered the world.
If you abdicate, there will be no big loophole. Now how are you going to take advantage of it?
Kou Zhong was confident and said: If you know yourself and the enemy, you will never be in danger of a hundred battles. I have made an appointment with Zhai Jiao and she will provide me with all the information about Li Mi's movements. Huh! He, Li Mi, is the best at gathering intelligence and ambushes. I will use his methods to deal with him this time.
As long as he falls into my trap of luring enemies, there will be no place for him in the world.
Xu Ziling frowned and said: If Wang Shichong becomes powerful because of this, it will be of no benefit to you, right?
Kou Zhong said with a smile: This happens to be the most exciting part. Now everyone thinks that Wang Shichong can't fight Li Mi, so Dugu Feng dares to openly confront him. What's even better is that even Wang Shichong himself is not confident, so he secretly makes peace with Li Yuan and fights against Li Mi's envoy
Li Shimin dares to come to Luoyang to show off his power. Ha! But once Wang Shichong defeats Li Mi, the alliance between Wang and Li will be destroyed. Then the only thing Wang Shichong can do is to block Li Zi from letting him succeed, and we can carry the treasure.
Return to the south and retrieve Jingling from my father. Then the whole world in the north and south will belong to me, Kou Zhong!
Xu Ziling smiled bitterly and said: You are making a wishful thinking. But don't forget that we don't know where Mr. Yang's treasure house is.
Kou Zhong said dejectedly: There are many things that would be better if you didn't want to be so detailed. The so-called success is left to chance, what else can we mortals do besides try our best?
Then he changed the subject and said, "I'm going to see Wang Shichong later. Where are you going?"
Xu Ziling lowered his voice and said: Why should I follow Laoba closely today because Tuli is likely to pick him when he is alone.
Kou Zhong sighed: You seem to have forgotten that we are Qu Ao's biggest enemy who killed his son. His failure to seek revenge last night has puzzled me.
Xu Ziling stared at the endless misty rain falling in the wind and said spontaneously: You have a bad memory. Tonight, Fu Qian and Qu Ao will have a duel again in the Manqing Courtyard. This battle is about the honor and disgrace of Qu Ao's life.
The reputation of the Tiele people, so Qu Ao must recharge his batteries and put aside all other things to cope with tonight's duel.
Kou Zhongtou said: What you said makes sense, but I don't know what Tu Li's temperament is like. I heard that he has a close friendship with Li Zi, and Li Zi may be able to help him.
Xu Ziling sighed and said: I wonder if it is because we have always had a good relationship with Li Shimin that we subconsciously underestimated his power. The fact is that since he raised his army in Taiyuan, he has been invincible. How could he have done it without extraordinary means? If he was sure and
If Cibi is in our hands, they may take some thunderous measures against us.
Kou Zhong said easily: Who can be sure that we stole the Heshi Bi? At least Wang Bo, I believe what we say.
Xu Ziling's face darkened and he said coldly: Li Jinggai knew full well that we stole it. Because he had seen what I looked like after putting on the mask, he knew that I had a way to transform into other faces.
Kou Zhong's eyes flashed coldly and he said: "So if Li Shimin pursues He's Bi from us, it means that Li Jing does not miss his old feelings and betrays us. At that time, there will be no brotherhood with him."
Xu Ziling sighed and said: Although Li Jing has a debt to Sister Su, he is not a person who betrays his friends for glory. I may be worried for nothing. However, Shi Feixuan once pointed out that the master Ruyun under Li Zi has established some kind of Tiance Mansion. So we must not take it lightly.
Ignore it.
Kou Zhong was stunned for a while and suddenly said: Do you think anyone knows that we are hiding here?
Xu Ziling pondered for a moment and then affirmatively said: There shouldn't be. The most significant improvement since absorbing He's Bi's superpower is that it is easy to breathe in the air and lighten one's body. For now, even if Ning Daoqi wants to follow us, he can't.
easy.
Kou Zhong was suddenly shocked and said: We are so stupid that we don't know how to use this advantage. If we can use this advantage to the fullest, the enemy will not be able to surround us even if they are more numerous.
Xu Ziling's eyes lit up and shone but he said nothing.
Ba Fenghan's voice came: Are you two brothers interested in having a cup of hot tea at Dong's Restaurant?
※※※
Dong's restaurant was noisy. The three of them sat down in a corner, feeling like they had returned from hell to earth.
After the waiter handed the cup and chopsticks of tea and left, Kou Zhong listened carefully and said with a smile: Eight of the ten tables were talking about what happened last night. The martial law was indeed issued by Wang Shichong. This guy really doesn't know what his good intentions are.
As if we think our enemies are not convenient enough.
Ba Fenghan remained silent and listened as if he didn't hear anything.
Ever since he woke up this morning, he seemed to be full of thoughts and not talkative.
Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling knew his temper and dared to offend him.
Xu Ziling lowered his voice and said: I guessed a possibility that could explain why Wang Shichong did this.
At this time, the waiter served the cake and waited for him to go. Kou Zhong put the head close to Xu Ziling and said: Quick!
Xu Ziling sighed: Wang Shichong may have done this at Li Zi's request.
Kou Zhongju was shocked and said: Doesn't that mean Li Jing really betrayed us?
This sentence is the most reasonable inference.
Li Shimin was by no means an unkind person, and he would only take drastic measures to deal with them when he was sure that they had ruined the good relationship between him and his concubine.
Among the major forces in Luoyang, only Li Shimin made Wang Shichong move because Wang Shichong was reluctant to offend the Li clan, otherwise he would be trapped in a bad situation of being attacked from the east and west.
Li Shimin may still be nostalgic and not want to confront them head-on, but it is understandable to make some arrangements for Shi Feixuan so that she can deal with the three of them.
Xu Ziling sighed: This is just a guess. I hope it is not the case!
Ba Fenghan suddenly spoke up and said: Kou Zhong, when you see Wang Shichong, you might as well ask him directly and see how he responds.
Kou Zhong stood up with a dark face and said in a deep voice: Now in this world except you, I can no longer trust anyone easily.
After saying that, he left happily.
※※※
After Kou Zhong disappeared outside the door of the restaurant, Ba Fenghan said to Yanyan: "Today we will go our separate ways. You will be responsible for checking the whereabouts of the Yingui people, while I will go see Shan Wanjing."
Xu Ziling said in astonishment: How to find out?
Ba Fenghan said: The Yingui sect must have a secret nest here, which is where Shangguanlong recuperates. There are two indirect ways to check them because the Yingui sect always has more yin and less yang, and most of them are beautiful women. Women love beauty.
It comes from nature, so as long as you pay attention to the most famous shops in Tianjie that specialize in rouge and gouache, you may get unexpected results.
Xu Ziling said: The fruit is a wonderful method! What about the other method?
Ba Fenghan said: Although Zhu Yuyan has the ability to cure the internal injury of Shangguanlong Meridian, she has to use the medicine to strengthen the essence afterwards, so as long as she chooses the most large-scale herbal shop and waits, she may see the suspect. Xu Ziling said calmly:
Anyway, when I had nothing to do, I followed Brother Fenghan's advice and tried my luck.
Then Jian Mei frowned slightly and said in confusion: But didn't you just have a quarrel with Princess Dongming? Why did you go to see her?
Ba Fenghan's eyes flashed with a complicated expression and he whispered: I'll meet you later! I'm going!
Xu Ziling did not answer him but he knew clearly in his heart that what he wanted to see was not Shan Wanjing, but the old lover who came to the Central Plains with Tuli and was entangled with him.
This is a very dangerous thing. What should he do?