The carriages and horses went all the way north along the official road, marked by the imperial talisman and the flag emblem of the palace, and no one dared to stop them at the county passes.
Huaiying Hall is located in the north of Huaxu Junior High School, so we didn't deliberately speed up our journey. It only took us about ten days to see the boundary monument of Xingluo County.
It's winter, and there's frost all over the place. Even if there's no snow falling at the moment, the gloomy sky makes people feel sleepy.
A paper crane flew from a distance and landed in Zhao Mi's fingers. Luo Xixian, who was riding on horseback next to him, asked: "How far is it?"
Zhao Shu looked back and saw that the convoy was moving slowly in the snow: "If we ride a horse, we can reach the inn in less than half an hour, but the convoy is too slow."
Ordinary people have to carry large and small baggage when they go on a long trip, and this time Huaiying Guan went to Xingluo County, and under the arrangement of Zhao Shu, he brought a lot of magic tools with him.
"I said at the beginning that there was no need to bring so many things." Luo Xixian complained: "You actually brought a whole set of alchemy furnaces!"
Zhao Shu couldn't laugh or cry: "Luo Da Sword Immortal, what we have to deal with this time is not a few insignificant monsters, but bandits that can invade half of Xingluo County. Fighting is not a street fight, nor is it just relying on brute force.
It will work.”
"What should we do now?" Luo Xixian asked.
Zhao Shu said: "You take a few people to the inn first, and I will drive behind. Use magic to illuminate the road, and we can arrive in the middle of the night."
"Okay." Luo Xixian didn't say any more nonsense, called a few horse guards, and galloped away with the talisman in hand.
Zhao Shu drove his horses to the rear of the motorcade and raised his hand to knock on the carriage of Xin Shunying and the other women.
"Brother Zhao, what's the matter?" Xin Shunying asked: "I noticed that Mr. Luo and the others were one step ahead. Could it be that they can't catch up with the inn before sunset?"
Zhao Shu nodded and admitted: "Now we can only try to speed up the convoy, but I want Senior Sister Xin to check if there is any evil and bandit aura nearby."
Xin Shunying got off the carriage and followed Zhao Shu to the slope beside the official road. He saw her silently reciting the mantra, with a dim light in her eyes, looking around in all directions.
"Everything is as usual, nothing unusual." Xin Shunying asked, "Does Junior Brother Zhao have any premonitions?"
Zhao Shu replied: "It's not a premonition, I'm just being cautious. During these days when I went north, I heard a lot of news about Xingluo County. Some villages were actually killed overnight and no chickens or dogs were left alive."
Xin Shunying reminded: "Those refugees who fled south? What they say may not be true and cannot be fully believed."
Zhao Miao's expression was complicated: "Senior Sister Xin, I probably haven't seen it before. When I was a child, I fled with my grandfather. I once passed through a village that was massacred. Hundreds of heads were built into the capital to attract resentment and perform evil spells. That kind of thing.
I have seen the scene once and will never forget it in my life.”
Xin Shunying was speechless, and Zhao Shu continued: "But what worries me more is that the banditry in Xingluo County is unusual. How can ordinary bandits break into the county and kill the chief?"
"Do you think someone is cooperating inside and outside?" Xin Shunying reacted immediately.
Zhao Shu said: "I don't trust the officials here very much. Sister Xin, you should be more careful."
"I understand."
…
When Zhao Shu saw the lanterns at the inn, the sky had completely darkened, and three Yunliang stones like torches were hanging above the motorcade. There were no accidents along the way.
The carriages and horses were settled properly, and everyone entered the guest house. Luo Xixian found Zhao Shu and whispered: "There is a group of merchants in the inn, something is not right."
Zhao Shuyan said: "I just saw it at the stable. The ruts were very deep, and there were people staring at the goods. What was being transported?"
"I asked, but didn't say anything. I hid in the guest room." Luo Xixian gestured to the courtyard next door: "What are your plans?"
"Don't take the initiative to cause trouble first." Zhao Shu said: "At this time, it is inevitable that someone will make a fortune by taking advantage of the chaotic situation."
Luo Xixian's expression changed: "It's already like this, why don't you do something?"
"Don't worry, let me test it out."
Zhao Shu called several talisman officials to a guest room. After removing the debris, he spread a five-foot-square apricot-yellow cloth towel on the ground, with the talisman seals drawn on it in advance, and then placed finger-sized Kunlun jade to secure the town in all directions.
.
Several talisman officials sat cross-legged around the cloth scarf, holding hands on their chests and chanting incantations in unison. Zhao Shu took out a bronze mirror. The surface of the mirror was covered with mottled patina and could not reflect the scenery at all.
They saw Zhao Shu put the bronze mirror in the middle of the apricot-yellow cloth towel, and took out a small lacquer box from his arms, which was like a dowry container used by his daughter to hold rouge and lip powder.
"What is this?" Luo Xixian looked over and saw bright white powder in the lacquer box, and couldn't help but ask in a low voice.
"A few of the light-containing beads you gave me were ground into powder." Zhao Shu took out the Qingxuan pen, drew two circles in the box with the brush, dipped enough in the powder, and then handed it to his mouth, drawing a ray of true energy.
Attached.
Luo Xixian did not dare to say anything. He watched Zhao Shu leaning over and pressing the pen, and the tip of the pen was spinning in circles on the patina mirror. With the continuous sound of curses around him, the patina on the mirror disappeared, revealing the ripples on the surface of the water.
Before Luo Xixian could see clearly, he saw Zhao Shui raised his pen and the light on the mirror changed, revealing the Fu officials and Zhao Shui himself sitting around.
"Uh, your technique doesn't seem right?" Luo Xixian was glared at by Zhao Shu as soon as he finished speaking. He turned his head to identify the direction, then made a false stroke with the Qingxuan pen, and the light and shadow above the mirror flickered and changed, and appeared
A scene from another room.
"That's them!" Although there was only a light and shadow as big as a palm, Luo Xixian immediately recognized one of them and pointed at the merchant wearing a fur hat: "This man is their leader. I passed by him and felt that he
With his martial arts skills, he must have joined the army and fought in the war."
"Where can I find veterans who have fought in the war these days?" Zhao Shu sighed and signaled the other talisman officials not to continue chanting the curse, and a thin voice came from the light and shadow——
"...Yes, they are the troops from the Huaiying Pavilion. I saw their flag." said a young man who had just entered the room.
Another Scarface said: "Are they coming for us? Why not take advantage of them while they are sleeping..."
Scarface made a slicing motion with the palm of his hand, and the leader stopped him: "Don't mess around! They are all monks with magic skills. How can you deal with them with your tricks of taking advantage of others?"
Scarface said viciously: "It's not like we haven't killed monks before! Four or five spears were pierced on the battlefield, and they were still turned into bloody gourds!"
"That's our luck." The leader sighed and said, "The tall man who spoke to me just now was holding the imperial talisman in his hand and didn't say much. At first glance, he was ordered to come to Xingluo County to suppress bandits. I originally thought that
There were only a few people, but I didn’t expect that there was a whole motorcade following behind.”
"Is the imperial court really going to suppress the bandits?" Scarface looked unhappy: "Damn it, our business is doing well, why do you have to come and stir up trouble!"
The leader was silent, and the young man was also unhappy: "That is, the people in Xingluo County have been in trouble for more than ten years, and the imperial court has never sent people to suppress them before. If it weren't for the new county guard who collects taxes every now and then, as for
Did someone pick off your head?"
"Okay." The leader waved his hand: "Everyone takes turns to keep vigil. Don't sleep too much. Once those monks make any move, we will escape quickly."
"Where are the goods?" Scarface asked: "This batch of goods is very valuable. Boss, you also hope that you can settle down during this trip!"
"It's important to save your life." The leader sighed: "Let's all go to sleep. I'll go see those people again."
Seeing the leader stand up, Zhao Miao used the Qingxuan pen to remove the spell. The bronze mirror on the ground immediately returned to its original state, and the patina and rust stains once again occupied the surface of the mirror.
"Why is it over?" Luo Xixian was fascinated.
Zhao Shu smiled and said: "The art of moving objects and moving scenes is just like this. It is difficult to move the position if it is locked on a certain place. If you want the kind of art that can clearly follow someone, why don't you get me the magic machine from Chongxuan Pavilion first?
The Ming mirror that illuminates the world...what are your plans now?"
"I want to have a chat with this merchant leader."
…
Mr. Wu came to the stable and brought the bread and wine bottles to the companions who were guarding the goods. After talking to them for a few more words, he rubbed his palms together and passed by the convoy of Huaiying Hall intentionally or unintentionally, looking at it out of habit.
There were also guards on duty in the convoy at Huaiying Pavilion, and they were warming their hands around the brazier. Boss Wu wanted to talk to him, but the other person opened his mouth and just scolded him and drove him away, making it difficult to communicate.
"A bunch of lackeys from a big family, do you really think I can't tell?" Boss Wu cursed in a low voice: "They all have the same face. I don't think you can survive more than half a year in Xingluo County!"
Mr. Wu muttered, and as soon as he turned the corner, he ran into a young man in a blue shirt with wide sleeves. He was standing beside the brazier, raising his hand to hold it in a virtual gesture. He held a ball of flame in his palm. He was reflected by the flame.
Looking at Boss Wu with red eyes, he instinctively reached out and pressed the handle of the knife.
But Boss Wu did not choose to fight, but turned around and ran away.
Unexpectedly, a figure fell from the sky, causing snow and dust to fly. The tall Luo Xixian blocked the retreat.
"Why are you running?" Luo Xixian's eyes flashed with a frightening light: "Do you have a guilty conscience?"
Boss Wu's face changed several times, but he finally let go of the knife handle and asked in a deep voice: "You two are both well-educated people, why bother making things difficult for me, a businessman? If you want to ask for money, tell me a price, and I will do my best.
That’s it!”
Zhao Shu approached slowly and extinguished the flame with a pinch of his fingers: "What? Do you think we are here to blackmail you?"
Boss Wu looked at the two men, raised his hands and said: "The common man's surname is Wu. Along the way through the customs and counties, in addition to paying the customs tax, he also has to pay some tea money for the clerk. It's just the little bits and pieces, and the two masters
I'm afraid it's not worth mentioning in my eyes. I'm a small businessman, so I ask you to show me your kindness and forgive me."
Zhao Mo didn't say anything. A paper crane flew to his fingers. He put it under his nose and sniffed it for a few times. He narrowed his eyes and said, "This pungent sweet smell...is it dragon blood fat?"
Boss Wu swallowed secretly, and Luo Xixian asked: "What is that?"
This question completely broke the tense atmosphere. Zhao Shu resisted the urge to curse and explained in front of Boss Wu: "The so-called dragon blood fat is a kind of resin produced in the smoky land in the south of Kunlun Continent. It can
As a spice, if it is extracted by water method in the hands of the herbalists, it has the effect of activating blood circulation and strengthening muscles. When combined with some strong drugs, it can make people excited and dementia. I have heard that the group of people in Jiuli Kingdom have red mouths, and they are used on the battlefield.
Rhinoceros soldiers charging madly? They just chew fragrant leaves mixed with dragon blood fat to stimulate their potential and madness."
"No wonder." Luo Xixian nodded as if he had a sudden realization, and then asked: "But in this case, there should be no dragon blood fat produced in Huaxu Country, right?"
Zhao Shu looked at Boss Wu: "Of course. The origin of dragon blood fat is under the control of Jiuli Kingdom, and is managed by the high priest of Shengsi Valley. It is never sold to outsiders. And this Brother Wu... can actually buy it
I got a whole truckload of dragon blood fat and traveled through the entire Huaxu Kingdom from south to north. It really opened my eyes to my ability."
Boss Wu looked nervous, and Luo Xixian laughed: "What did I think it was? It turned out to be smuggling from Jiuli Country. This is a good thing! If the crazy people in Jiuli Country have no use for dragon blood fat, Brother Wu can be regarded as making a contribution to the country.
!”
Not to mention Boss Wu, even Zhao Shu was stunned by these words.
"Come on, come on! Don't hang around here in the ice and snow. I'll invite Brother Wu to drink. Come in and talk!" Luo Xixian was tall and strong. He held Brother Wu's shoulders and took him into the tavern in the post station. He directly asked the store owner to serve him wine.
Zhao Shu had no choice but to follow him. He looked at Luo Xixian's heroic demeanor and poured wine for Boss Wu: "Brother Wu, don't worry, we are the monks from Guanshi who went to Xingluo County to quell the rebellion under the orders of the imperial court. It was fate that we met by chance.
I’ll drink this first.”
Boss Wu didn’t know why, but he was obviously not as fearful as before. Just as he was raising his glass, he heard Zhao Shu say:
"We won't ask where the dragon's blood fat comes from. But the current situation in Xingluo County is uneasy. Who does Brother Wu plan to sell the dragon's blood fat to?"
Zhao Shu's tone was gloomy, adding a chill to the wine table that even the warm wine could not dispel. Even Luo Xixian suspected that Zhao Shu had cast some strange spell.
Mr. Wu rolled his eyes back and forth: "This... I sell it to anyone who needs it. I'm just a businessman."
"Who needs it?" Zhao Shu laughed: "Even if it is unextracted dragon blood fat, ordinary people cannot afford it. Could it be that someone has reserved the whole truck of yours? As far as I know
, Xingluo County does not have anyone who is proficient in prescriptions and medicines, and if this quantity of medicine is made into powder, I am afraid it can be taken by thousands of people? Is this going to be a war? "
Mr. Wu's fingertips trembled slightly and he did not respond.
"Let me make a statement again." Zhao Shu picked up the wine glass and took a sip: "We came to Xingluo County to suppress bandits and eliminate demons under the orders of the imperial court. In front of you, Luo Sanqing acts according to the rules of the talisman and has the right to deal with the situation. If found out,
If you are colluding with thieves, not to mention that you can't do business, you can't even save your life. By the way, 'This batch of goods is very valuable, boss, you also hope that you can settle down during this trip'... Am I right?"
When Boss Wu heard Zhao Shu repeating the private words he and his group had said in the guest room, his face was filled with horror.
"Because of this business trip, your family must be having a hard time, right?" Zhao Shu said: "Think about your family, your wife and children. I see that you are a calloused person. You also joined the army during the Five Kingdoms War, right? From that point of view,
Surviving in a killing field and still doing this kind of risky livelihood is just for your family to live a peaceful and prosperous life, but don't harm yourself and your family because of greed and impulse."
After hearing these words, Mr. Wu's chest couldn't help but rise and fall, and he didn't know whether it was fear or anger.
But before he could get angry, Luo Xixian held his wrist and said, "Hey! Xingluo County is going to war! Brother Wu also said that we can sell it to anyone who needs it, so why not just sell it to our Huaiying Pavilion!"