Relying on the scholar's plan, the dark clouds that had been following behind them temporarily dissipated, and several people had enough energy to find a place to rest temporarily.
However, what was supposed to be a time for toasting and celebrating came to an imperfect end because of the words of the White Lotus Saint by the lake.
After arriving there, Yan Xinglie had been looking gloomy. This decisive man actually became hesitant.
At the moment, he is guarding the wing where the White Lotus Saint is housed, and is not going in. He is just pacing back and forth at the door. Sometimes he holds the hilt of his sword and gnashes his teeth, sometimes he shakes his head and sighs.
"If you are in a hurry to kill her, just go in and kill her with a sword; if you are not in a hurry..."
Li Changan raised two jars of old wine and a bunch of side dishes he bought conveniently.
"You might as well have a drink with me first."
……………………
The two of them sat down in the pavilion in the courtyard.
Even if the bearded man didn't say anything, Li Changan wouldn't bother to ask.
He just pushed the cups and changed them in silence for a long time, until the cups and plates were in a mess, the bearded man put down the wine glass again, and was lost in thought for a while, then finally spoke.
"Does the Taoist priest know this thief Li Kuiqi?"
The Taoist priest nodded.
He really knows a thing or two about this person. The world is in chaos, and the small court in Chang'an is unable to command the local area. There are many warlords fighting in various places. In small cases, they occupy mountains and establish strongholds, and in large cases, they annex prefectures and merge counties. This Li Kuiqi is a powerful force in the north.
The big one.
"The Taoist Master must have noticed that Yan was born in the military..."
Li Changan did not answer, waiting for Yan Xinglie to continue talking.
He poured a glass of wine, but did not take it for a long time. His expression became more and more dazed, and the focus of his eyes became more and more unfocused, as if he was immersed in the past and unable to extricate himself.
"...Back then, I served in Northern Xinjiang and served as the captain of Zhechong in Pinglu Prefecture, leading the children in my hometown to resist the Turks. At that time, Li Kuiqi, Cheng Liang and I were both in the army, and we were brothers, and we were called the Three Tigers..."
When he mentioned these two names, his body trembled slightly.
"That year when the Turks invaded the border, I led my troops to fight, leaving Li Kuiqi to guard Pinglu... Although the rebel army was strong, thanks to the joint efforts of the soldiers, the war situation gradually turned dangerous. Seeing that victory was in sight, Li Kuiqi...
That traitor actually started a rebellion! The enemy is in front of us, the way back is blocked, and there is no food and fodder... There are dead and wounded on the way back, and all the children in my hometown are about to die in a single battle. I have pity on my wife, children, and children who are trapped in Pinglu City..."
He didn't say anything about what was going on at home. He just crushed the wine glass in his hand into pieces, then kneaded it into powder, mixing it with the wine like blood dripping from his heart.
"...I felt ashamed to see my brother Paoze in the army and my elders in my hometown, so I resigned from the army. But how can I not avenge the hatred of my country and my family?! After living in the rivers and lakes, I planned to ambush the traitor many times, but the traitor failed.
Suddenly, there are many evil demon guards around me, and now I think they are the White Lotus Sect. They have tried again and again in vain, but they have cost the lives of several relatives and friends...ahem..."
At this point, Yan Xinglie, who was getting more and more excited, suddenly coughed violently.
"Brother Yan..." The Taoist priest frowned in concern.
"It doesn't matter." The bearded man waved his hand, "It's an old habit, it doesn't matter."
When he was about to pour the wine, he realized that the wine glass had been crushed by himself, so he just drank most of it with his head raised from the wine jar.
"After that, I learned the hard way and realized that I could not avenge myself with swords, bows and crossbows, so I joined the Zhenfu Division...Does the Taoist still remember my bronze sword?"
The Taoist priest nodded. He still remembered that ferocious bronze dagger.
"That sword was the one I found to fight against the demons of the White Lotus Sect. It was made using the ancient sword immortal's method of refining flying swords. It is extremely ferocious and can slay demons, cut gold and jade with ease! It's a pity.
It was with the help of Zhenfusi's power, but after nearly ten years, the materials are still lacking, and the sword is still just a sword embryo."
Sword embryo?!
Li Changan couldn't help but be stunned. Such a murderous weapon was only a semi-finished product?
Yan Xinglie nodded. When he mentioned the sword, although his tone was troubled, he also somewhat cheered up.
"Taoist Priest Li also saw it. That day in the tiger demon's lair, I forced it to kill the pig demon. In the blink of an eye, it was about to break free and bite me, its master..."
Yan Xinglie was still shaking his head, but Li Changan understood the reason for his hesitation and depression.
Listening to his story, since the fall of Pinglu City, he has actually been living for revenge for the rest of his life. But now, on the one hand, the enemy's daughter is right in front of him. Even if killing her cannot be said to be revenge, it can still provide some comfort.
On the other hand, the bearded man is almost stubborn about the word "loyalty". If he kills the White Lotus Demon Girl, he has betrayed his duty on the one hand, and he can't help Zhen Fu who died for this matter on the other.
Si Paoze.
Therefore, I am wandering and tossing and turning.
Li Changan thought for a while, remembered some of his travel experiences, and comforted:
"I heard that the imperial court appointed famous generals to conquer Li Kuiqi. He was retreating steadily and his destruction was imminent..."
"It's just false talk." Yan Xinglie shook his head, "Although the general is a famous general in the world, the combat effectiveness of his officers and soldiers is worrying, and there are many constraints in the court. The previous high-altitude songs and triumphant advances were just Li Kuiqi's strategy to shrink and stand firm. Behind the traitor
There are Turks who have been recruited as reinforcements, and the outcome is still in doubt... Sigh."
As he spoke, he suddenly let out a long sigh, and this breath seemed to let out all the depression in his body.
He bowed his hands to the Taoist priest and said:
"Thanks to Taoist Master's food and wine, Yan also figured it out..."
"Isn't it a man's behavior to vent his anger by using his children?"
Yan Xinglie's face was as high-spirited as before.
"How can you take revenge on others and wait for the imperial court to suppress the rebellion?!"
"I have made up my mind. I just want to escort the demon girl to Qianfo Temple. So I put aside this old face and returned to the army to serve under the general. Even if I am just a big soldier, I will personally cut off that Li Kuiqi's head.
Brain!”
"Come!"
He grabbed the wine jar, only to realize with embarrassment that the two jars of old wine had drained him of his sorrow. As for the Taoist priest, the cups were almost dry.
"But it's Yan who lost his temper. I heard that there is a Huiyanlou nearby that sells good wine and meat. I would like to trouble the Taoist Priest to look at the enchantress, and I will buy some."
After saying that, he was about to stand up, but was stopped by Li Changan raising his hand.
"not busy."
The Taoist priest moved his nose and smiled.
"The food and wine will be delivered to your door."
Immediately, a cheerful voice came from outside the yard.
"I only know that Taoist Li is very fast with his sword, and he can even pinch him unexpectedly."
"It's just a good nose."
The Taoist priest smiled and turned around, and the scholar pushed the door in with wine and food in hand.
…………………………
Although Han Zhiwei is a descendant of Longhu Mountain, Ziyun only learned magic but did not enter the Taoist sect. He also passed the scholar examination, but unfortunately he failed, so it is appropriate to call him scholar.
After that night, the scholar asked ghosts and gods to send the two of them and the White Lotus Saint to the shore, but he was kept by the city god, saying that he was helping with some official duties.
The two of them stayed here, on the one hand to repair, and on the other hand, waiting for him to meet up again.
The three of them sat down in the pavilion again, put on new food and wine, and were not busy arguing about the White Lotus Demon Girl. They just set up the Dragon Gate Formation in the north and south, and then started eating and drinking.
Finally, when he was full of wine and food, the scholar leaned on the pavilion pillar, broke off a grass stalk and picked his teeth, while stroking his belly, he complained:
"This Pingye City God is so petty that he kept me for a long time before letting me go back to the world. Unfortunately, I haven't had a drop of water or rice since last night. I was so hungry that I felt dizzy and almost died.
I really went to work in the underworld."
He rambled on for a while, and saw that both of them looked calm and didn't seem to be unable to sit still. Then he put away his frivolous expression, sat upright, and said to the two of them, cupping his hands.
"To be honest, I came here for two things."
"First, I say goodbye to you two."
Li Changan remained calm, and as expected, he continued:
"Second, I beg Brother Yan to kill the White Lotus Demon Girl."
Li Changan laughed a little, thinking that if you had come a moment and a half earlier and took advantage of the bearded man's hesitation, you might still be able to get his acquiescence, but right now...
"Brother Han's kindness of helping me cannot be repaid by Yan even if my body is broken into pieces. However, the matter of the witch is really my duty and I can't bear to do it."
The scholar's expression was calm, and he had obviously guessed this answer. However, since he was making a last-ditch effort, he naturally would not give up easily.
He pondered for a long time:
“Do you two know ‘blame’?”
Although Big Beard has an official background, he is a monk halfway after all. After hearing this word, he just shook his head and did not know. Li Changan had heard Liu Laodao mention it a few times, but he did not know the details. He said half as a reminder, half as a question:
"Da Nuo?"
"Da Nuo" is a ritual popular among the people and even in the palace to ward off epidemics and evil spirits. Specifically, it imitates the ancient god Fang Xiangshi and drives the twelve divine beasts to devour the plague ghosts from all directions, thus intimidating the evil spirits and making them
It is far away from the world.
At this mention, Yan Xinglie suddenly understood, and the scholar nodded in agreement. The latter even clapped his hands and sang the "Twelve Beasts Eating Ghost Song" from a Nuo opera:
"A eats miscellaneous food, eats tigers with his stomach, Xiong Bo eats evil spirits, Teng Jian eats unlucky, and takes over all food faults, Bo Qi eats and dreams, strong beams, ancestors and Ming dynasties eat together to kill parasites, follow the food view, and eat by mistake.
Qiongqi, Tenggen eats Gu together. Whenever the twelve gods chase evil spirits, they will humiliate your body, pull your trunk, cut off your flesh, and pull out your lungs and intestines. Don't rush away, the latter will be food!"
The scholar continued.
"When people in the world hear the word 'plague ghost', they think they are evil ghosts spreading plague. In fact, this is not the case. These eleven plague ghosts all appeared in the world in response to various disasters in the world. They are immortal and immortal. They are called ghosts, but they are actually
Gods, the plague is just one of them. For example, 'Jiu' came to the world in response to the disaster of weapons and weapons in the world. He likes killing and is fond of war..."
Hearing this, Li Changan's expression changed.
"White Lotus Sect?"
Isn't it? The White Lotus Sect is a well-known troublemaker in the world. Their favorite thing is to stir up trouble and start wars everywhere. It is quite similar to the scholar's description of "blame".
The scholar also nodded.
"At the beginning of the founding of our dynasty, when the world was at peace, 'Jiu' fell into the hands of the White Lotus Sect for some unknown reason, and was even managed to be sealed into the body of the White Lotus Saint at that time. From then on, the White Lotus Sect rapidly expanded to become the best in the world.
He is a cult, and in order to feed the plague ghosts, he has been constantly instigating wars for hundreds of years...and now."
The scholar looked at the two of them with bright eyes.
"The opportunity to cut off the foundation of the White Lotus Sect is right in front of us!"
After listening to these words, the Taoist priest probably understood that the 'blame' must be in the body of this generation of White Lotus Saint. No wonder the White Lotus Sect mobilized so many people, and even his own young master got involved. He also understood that last night in the White Lotus Sect,
Under the lake, why was the judge frightened?
"It's just..." Li Changan was still a little confused, "If you kill the demon girl, wouldn't you also release the plague ghost and let it cause trouble in the world?"
The scholar shook his head:
"Taoist Priest, do you think the world will collapse because of a plague ghost?"
"Won't."
"Then, will the world be peaceful again because of a plague ghost?"
"Won't."
"Of course." The scholar nodded and said, "Heaven's actions are consistent."
He turned to ask Yan Xinglie again.
"Brother Yan, in your opinion, which one is more harmful to the world, the White Lotus Sect or the Epidemic Ghost?"
The bearded man did not hesitate.
"White Lotus Sect."
The scholar then touched his palms and smiled.
"In this way, releasing a plague ghost will only add a scabies, and killing a demon girl will eliminate a big problem. Why not?"
The scholar was right, but Yan Xinglie still said the same thing.
"I'm sorry, but I obey."
At this moment, the scholar almost became anxious, but the bearded man raised his hand to signal the other party to calm down.
"Brother Han doesn't know that Yan's trip is to escort the demon girl to the famous Thousand Buddhas Temple to fill in the Demon Transformation Cave. If nothing else, as long as you enter the cave, even the demons in the Nine Nethers will escape.
No, I can only wait until death, let alone a mere witch. In this way, the foundation of the White Lotus Sect can be cut off, and the plague ghost will not be allowed to harm the world. Isn't it the best of both worlds?!"
Unexpectedly, after hearing this, the scholar looked at the bearded man with a strange expression for a long time, until he frowned, and then said:
"Brother Yan, don't you know?"
……………………
The bearded man and Li Changan looked at each other, and both smelled a hint of uneasiness in the scholar's words.
"Brother Han might as well say it clearly."
The scholar meditated for a moment, as if he was organizing his words and trying to soothe his mood.
"Do you two know that this White Lotus Saint is the daughter of Pinglu Li Kuiqi?"
It turns out to be this!
Both of them looked a little weird, but they just nodded. The scholar didn't pay attention, and just revealed another shocking news.
"Then Li Kuiqi is summoned by the court and granted the title of general, and the White Lotus Demon Girl will become a noble daughter of a prince!"
The Taoist priest immediately made a "thump" in his heart. The bearded man was now counting on following the imperial court to quell the rebellion and take revenge. If the other party was recruited... Li Changan looked worriedly, but found that the bearded man started to laugh instead.
"What kind of joke did Brother Han make?"
The scholar said solemnly: "Every word is correct and there are absolutely no lies."
"That's because I heard the rumors." Yan Xinglie still didn't believe it, but he explained, "Back then, Li Kuiqi led the Turks south, invaded Prince Yan's Mansion, and cooked Prince Yan. Today's emperor is the son of Prince Yan, and he has no intention of killing his father.
We live together, how can we recruit people?"
However, the scholar sneered:
"If the person in charge of the affairs of the imperial court is the emperor, then it is not allowed. But no one in the world knows that the little emperor on the dragon throne is just a 'fake emperor', and the great eunuch Yu Huai'en standing next to him is the real emperor."
"Impossible!" Yan Xinglie suddenly changed his expression, "How dare you risk the disapproval of the world!"
"Why don't you dare?"
The scholar's tone also became more intense.
"It was rumored all over the world that Li Kuiqi had given all the wealth he had collected from the North over the past ten years to Yu Huai'en. The cart loaded with rare treasures, writings, antiques, gold, silver and jade entered the Mingde Gate via Zhuque Street and entered Yongye Square.
, walked for a whole day and night!”
"What about the general? It's impossible for the general to agree..."
"The general was convicted and imprisoned."
The scholar was so excited as he spoke that he didn't realize that the bearded man opposite him had a red face and a shaky body.
"Then Li Kuiqi is heading to Chang'an City to be granted the title of Pinglu Jiedu Envoy and Huaiyuan Marquis. Counting the days, I'm afraid he will soon reach Juzhou City!"
"Rebellious ministers and thieves... cough cough!"
"Brother Yan?"
"……puff."
Yan Xinglie vomited blood and fell to the ground.
……………………
"How's it going, doctor?"
This famous miracle doctor, the little old man who was half-invited and half-tied, said with a cold face:
"It's too late. The disease is terminal and there is no cure."
"Then you can still live...sigh..."
The scholar looked ashamed. He always felt that it was his mistake that had offended Yan Xinglie.
"The strong man inside has old diseases in his heart, and his body is full of old wounds..."
Speaking of the patient, the little old man's expression softened.
"This anger is so intense that it breaks out all at once. If I can hide and rest, I might be able to lie down for a year and a half. If I can't..."
The old man prescribed some prescriptions to kill himself, then ignored the scholar's repeated accusations and walked away.
The Taoist priest organized his words in his mind and opened the door.
Yan Xinglie put on his armor, wore a long bow and heavy sword, and stood proudly behind the door.