Late at night, when the lights were on and Zhao Shu was working on his desk, Jiang Ru pushed the door open and complained: "Can't you have a good rest? You are traveling during the day and writing at night. Even if you have advanced cultivation, it is useless to work so hard and mentally.
.”
"I am aware of my situation." Zhao Mo picked up the pen, gently dried the ink, and examined it: "Ding Muqiu asked me for advice on how to organize the garden. I didn't think I could stay in Lianxiao Mountain for a few days, so I quickly wrote it down.
This book "The Story of the Four Seasons" is going to be given to her before she leaves."
Along the way, Zhao Shu not only compiled rituals and rituals, but also copied down many of the secrets of the Dharma that he knew. The future chaos is coming, and his own future is uncertain. If an accident occurs and the Dharma is lost, it would be a shame to inherit the Dharma.
The ancestors of the past generations have secret recipes.
Jiang Ru casually sat on the couch, her skin rosy and her hair slightly damp, and she asked with a smile: "Are you using the Dharma Book as a betrothal gift to become a good son-in-law of Mingxia Pavilion?"
"Do you think I have such thoughts?" Zhao Shu was also amused: "Besides, Ding Muqiu has lofty aspirations, but he may not like me."
"Pretending." Jiang Ru brushed her hair: "She took us to the hot spring just now, and we happened to be talking about you. I think Ding Muqiu still has a good impression of you, otherwise he would not invite you to Mingxia Pavilion as a guest."
Zhao Shu shook his head: "You are thinking too much. I don't think Ding Muqiu will be affected by the love between men and women. She sees me as nothing more than a fellow cultivator."
"Not necessarily." Jiang Ru said with a smile: "I noticed that Ding Muqiu was hesitant to speak, so he might come to see you in the middle of the night."
"Listening to what you said, I thought Ding Muqiu was some kind of thief." Zhao Shu packed up the books.
Jiang Ru saw the sadness lingering on his brows and couldn't help but ask: "Are you still thinking about what Chief Ding said?"
Nowadays, there are only a few people who can make Zhao Shu open his heart, and Jiang Ru is one of them. He nodded and said: "I killed Wang Zhongding and Chu Mengchun, and Zheng Tunan's death was also related to me. Three of the four Chongxuan families,
It can be said that we are at odds with each other."
Jiang Ru said: "But if you can do this, isn't it because you have the tacit approval of the leader?"
"This is true, but have you ever thought that the situation in which I have made many enemies now is exactly what the Imperial Preceptor likes to see?" Zhao Shu sighed: "Chu Mengchun's cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, and he can even operate the Lingtai Ruins.
The mountain-protecting formation is not entirely his own ability."
Jiang Ru was slightly surprised and said: "Is it a deliberate arrangement by the Chief?"
"It's hard to say." Zhao Shu held his forehead a little tiredly: "The Imperial Master may just use Chu Mengchun to confirm the key points in cultivation, and this just makes Chu Mengchun and the Yi'an Chu family think they are powerful, secretly
Planning to establish another branch."
Jiang Ru sneered and said: "Without the leader, the four Chongxuan surnames are just a bunch of rabble."
"That's enough for the mob." Zhao Shu said: "The state master's cultivation has reached its peak. He borrowed my hand to rectify the Chongxuan Hall and bring blessings to the four surnamed families, so that he can become the supreme master. Only the state master can
While your Excellency is still here, Chongxuan Hall cannot be shaken. However, if the Imperial Master is no longer around, the four surnames will inevitably have differences and disputes. Not to mention anything else, except for the hussar general who refused Hongguan,
Sir, who can control the Huaxu Kingdom?"
Jiang Ru understood clearly: "So the first one cannot come out of seclusion, just to attract the other three to stir up trouble?"
"Right now, there are actually only two families of Wang and Chu." Zhao Shu rubbed his eyebrows: "But the Imperial Master does not want to drive them all away. In the future, the creation of the human Tao Kingdom will still require the efforts of the four surnames. But apart from that, there are also
There needs to be someone who can check and balance it, and the four surnames cannot be allowed to grow bigger."
"And that person is you." Jiang Ru asked tentatively: "Do you want to get rid of the control of the leader?"
"Don't say that again in the future." Zhao Shu gave Jiang Ru a deep look.
Jiang Ru knew she had made a mistake and quickly shut up. Zhao Shuze continued: "It's not about whether I have control or not, but that I don't have any room for maneuver. If my future plan fails, I'm afraid there will only be a dead end."
"It shouldn't be like this, right?" Although Jiang Ru said this, she did feel a little worried.
"Others may not care, but I must be prepared." Zhao Shu said, "The same goes for you. Your Jiang family is too close to the Imperial Master. If there is any accident, you will be most implicated."
Jiang Ru thought for a moment, and in the past, no matter what others said, she absolutely did not believe that Liang Tao could fail.
However, beside Zhao Shu, Jiang Ru also gradually understood that she could not trust her life and death to others. In the past, Xue Yin of the Immortal System, who seemed to be prosperous in the past, suffered a heavy blow in the past few years and was no longer what it used to be. Liang Tao was really an eternity.
A solid backer for collapse?
"Then what should we do?" Jiang Ru asked seriously.
Zhao Shu shook his head: "I can't find a way out myself, so how can I help you?"
Jiang Ru's expression was slightly depressed, and Zhao Shu could only say: "If you have to say it, you Jiang family had better not cling to the wish of following Liang Tao to move up the house and ascend. When necessary, the monsters in the mountains are actually a way to avoid disaster.
method."
When Jiang Ru heard this, she smiled bitterly and said, "I'm afraid my people simply can't accept this way out."
"No one is willing to give up until a disaster is imminent." Zhao Shu sighed: "It's okay for one person, but once the worldly connection is not broken, he will be affected everywhere."
Jiang Ru asked: "Is this the reason why you are alone? So that you can give up your worldly fate one day?"
"Maybe." Zhao Shu replied ambiguously.
Jiang Ru didn't say anything more and left Zhao Mi's room to think about it by herself.
Zhao Shu was sitting alone in the house doing exercises, until after midnight, Ding Muqiu sneaked into the house through the window.
"Fellow Daoist Ding, you..." Before Zhao Mian could finish his words, Ding Muqiu signaled to be silent and flicked the purple silk around his waist to isolate the sound from inside and outside.
"I have something to ask you." Even though he was fully prepared, Ding Muqiu lowered his voice.
Zhao Shu was used to Ding Muqiu's turbulent behavior and asked, "I wonder what is so important that makes you, fellow Daoist Ding, be so cautious?"
"You promise to keep it secret first." Ding Muqiu came forward, and Zhao Shu could see that she was a little nervous, fearing that he would not agree.
"Okay." Zhao Shu had a subtle premonition in his heart. He suspected that Ding Muqiu had originally invited him to the Lianxiao Mountain Dojo for other purposes, so he nodded and said, "I promise that what happens next will not be publicized to outsiders."
Ding Muqiu's expression widened slightly, as if he had received great help. He took a deep breath to calm down, and then said: "I suspect that Master has been bewitched by evil people."
Zhao Shu was fully prepared, but he was still surprised when he heard this: "Fellow Daoist Ding, is there any evidence for this? With Chief Ding's level of cultivation, what kind of evil spirit can bewitch her?"
As the head of the Mingxia Pavilion, Ding Feiling is not as good as a living immortal like Liang Tao, but she is definitely not a mediocre person. Zhao Shu dare not say whether Ding Feiling is in the realm of becoming an immortal, but
Definitely above yourself.
The head of a pavilion was bewitched by an evil spirit. What kind of evil spirit could bring disaster to the world? Zhao Shu didn't even dare to think about it.
Ding Muqiu said: "Yes! Master always goes to the Shanyin Cottage for retreat a few days every month. I planned to ask Master for advice, so I went to the Shanyin Cottage and found that there were men nearby!
"
"Man?" Zhao Shu was puzzled.
"That's right!" Ding Muqiu said: "You still don't know that the Shanyin Cottage was the place where previous leaders of the Mingxia Sect used to practice. There are many mazes around it, and outsiders can't get close to it. But when I went to the Cottage, I found that
A man entered easily and was not blocked at all!"
Zhao Shu frowned and said: "So you think Chief Ding was bewitched by evil spirits and handed over the means of entering and exiting the maze to that man?"
"Exactly!" Ding Muqiu became anxious: "Master never treats men with false pretense, and Master behaves as usual in the past. After thinking about it, I can only be bewitched by evil spirits!"
"Fellow Daoist Ding, please don't rush to this conclusion." Zhao Shu comforted him: "If you have any doubts, you should ask Chief Ding. It would be inappropriate to tell me about this to an outsider. If this is not possible, you can also discuss it with other colleagues."
"I don't believe other people!" Ding Muqiu's eyes flashed wildly.
Zhao Shu saw her like this, so he asked: "Ding Daoyou, could it be that you noticed something strange?"
"I, when I am practicing recently, I always feel vaguely that someone is spying on me." Ding Muqiu hugged his arms: "If my prediction is correct, the evil spirit may be lingering in the Lianxiao Mountain area!"
Zhao Shu was silent for a moment, and then asked, "Fellow Taoist, can you let me take a pulse?"
Ding Muqiu nodded slightly and took off his wrist guard, revealing an arm as white as snow. Zhao Shu raised his hand and pressed it lightly. After sensing for a moment, he was slightly surprised: "Fellow Taoist Xuanzhu is about to ascend to the Niwan?"
"Huh? Oh, probably so." Ding Muqiu shrank his hands, a little absent-minded.
Zhao Shu felt troubled, because Ding Muqiu's situation looked like an illusion caused by the Xuanzhu's ascent. At this time, it was easiest to have random thoughts. Zhao Shu had experienced it himself, so how could he not understand?
"Fellow Taoist is here tonight. Could it be that Chief Ding has gone to Shanyin Caotang for retreat?" Zhao Shu asked.
Ding Muqiu replied: "Yes, I hope you will come with me to the Shanyin Cottage secretly to expose the evil traces!"
Zhao Shu was half-convinced about the evil spirit. If an evil spirit that could seduce Ding Feiling really existed, it would have turned Huaxu Kingdom into chaos. It was impossible that this evil spirit had any kind of love and came all the way to meet Ding Feiling.
First tryst, right?
"Okay." Facing Ding Muqiu's expectant look, Zhao Shu had no choice but to agree, and then said: "But since fellow Taoist has asked me for help, if there is any unexpected danger, please follow my orders and escape."
Just run away, don't take any chances."
"Okay! I'll listen to you!" Ding Muqiu replied straightforwardly: "We'll set off now!"
Zhao Shu took the magic talisman and together with Ding Muqiu, took advantage of the night to leave the Lianxiao Mountain Dojo, flew north against the wind, and soon approached the Shanyin Thatched Cottage.
With the help of Yingxuan's illumination technique, Zhao Shu discovered that a mountain col was shrouded in fog, with qi machines swirling and intertwined, and the light and color were hazy and mixed, making it impossible to see the scene inside the fog.
If you don't know how to break through the maze of such a maze, once you break in, you will be immediately noticed by the people in the formation. Usually, only by mastering the formation talismans can you get in and out without hindrance.
With Zhao Shu's current ability, if he wants to solve this maze, it will take at least several days of observation and deduction. The premise is that there cannot be any new changes in this maze, otherwise he will have to start all over again. And even if he solves the maze, it will still be difficult.
It will also alarm those inside.
Zhao Shu and Ding Muqiu just stood guard outside the maze, hiding in the grass. After waiting for more than half an hour, no one else came.
Just as Zhao Shu was thinking about how to guide Ding Muqiu to advance through the barrier, he suddenly sensed a dim light coming from the northeast across the mountains and into the maze.
"Look!" Ding Muqiu exclaimed in a low voice involuntarily and grabbed Zhao Shu's arm.
"Don't worry." Zhao Shu checked the magic spell again. If the person who came was really powerful and evil, he should not act rashly.
The dim brilliance gradually disappeared after entering the maze. Although he couldn't see his face, a tall and straight figure could be vaguely seen. He wore a wide robe and long sleeves, and had a somewhat immortal air. Judging from his steps and posture, he must be a man.
Until the man disappeared into the mist, Ding Muqiu couldn't hold it in any longer. She got up angrily and was about to rush out. Zhao Shu quickly held her down: "Fellow Taoist, don't worry!"
"How can I not be anxious?!" Ding Muqiu was extremely anxious: "The evil is so rampant, it will be too late if we don't take action!"
Zhao Mo looked at her eagle-like eyebrows and phoenix-like eyes, and then looked at the purple silk ribbon around her waist. Several thoughts flashed through his mind, and he felt sad for a moment, so he had no choice but to let Ding Muqiu fly away.
"Hurry up and follow!" Ding Muqiu took out a talisman and made a move towards the maze formation. His movement was like an arrow from the string, and he rushed straight into it. Zhao Shu sighed secretly and had no choice but to follow closely.
When the simple thatched cottage appeared in front of you, you could vaguely see the flickering candlelight inside, reflecting the silhouettes of the two people depending on each other.
Ding Muqiu was furious, and with a wave of Chang Ling, like purple clouds opening, rolling thunder crashed down, directly leveling nearly half of the thatched cottage. Ding Feiling happened to be holding hands with a man, looking at each other, and wanted to get close.
"You evil rat, let me go!" Seeing this situation, Ding Muqiu raised her purple silk ribbon and pulled it down hard towards the man.
But the other party didn't look back, he just raised his hand and easily held the purple silk that was full of energy.
There are probably not many people in the world who are capable of capturing magic weapons with bare hands. The man just pulled gently, and Ding Muqiu was dragged to the ground, causing him to stagger a few steps.
"You—" Ding Muqiu was shocked and angry. As soon as he raised his head, he saw a handsome man with eagle eyebrows and eagle eyes standing in front of him. When he saw this man, he felt familiar for some reason.
"Xiao Qiu'er has grown up, I'm afraid she won't remember me." The handsome man raised his hand and patted Ding Muqiu on the head.
Ding Muqiu was so frightened that she took a few steps back. She saw Ding Feiling standing aside, her face full of shame, her head lowered and silent.
"Who are you?! Who are you?" Ding Muqiu saw the man approaching slowly, feeling an inexplicable fear in his heart. His voice trembled, his legs and feet went weak, and he fell to the ground.
"Me? I'm yours..."
Before the handsome man finished speaking, a talisman was placed on Ding Muqiu's head. She suddenly felt extremely tired and fell asleep.
Behind Ding Muqiu, there was Zhao Shu with a gloomy face. He looked at the handsome man with eagle eyebrows and falcon eyes and said, "Master Imperial Master, long time no see."