The white horse parked outside the tree house, with falling yellow leaves stepping on its hooves.
"Snowing!"
Zhang Heng stretched out his hand and looked at the snowflakes that fell on his palm and dissipated.
A few months have passed since the Black Mountain Old Demon was eliminated.
Unfortunately, after a few months, the improvement in Xuanyuan Sword Jue was not obvious, and Zhang Heng was still stuck on the Hundred Swords Flying Together and was unable to save.
The only good news is that his flying sword can fly further.
Within a hundred miles, the flying sword will arrive in an instant.
If this was used to deliver food, whoever could beat him would definitely make a fortune.
"Mr. Zhang, your letter."
At noon, a postman came to deliver a letter to Zhang Heng.
Zhang Heng was a little surprised. He didn't know many people in the world of Liaozhai, and even fewer would write to him.
At first, he thought it was written by Cui Hongjian.
But Cui Hongjian's letter only arrived two days ago, so there is no reason to write another letter two days later.
"Well, it turns out it's a letter from Ning Caichen!"
Zhang Heng opened the envelope and saw that the letter was actually written by Ning Caichen.
The letter said that since he returned to Lanruo Temple, he has had good luck. A few days ago, a wealthy family even took a fancy to him and wanted to betroth their daughter to him.
Ning Caichen's family was very satisfied with this marriage.
But Ning Caichen was a little worried, because the big family moved from other places a few years ago and usually didn't interact with their neighbors at all.
They looked wealthy and prosperous, but no one knew where they came from or how they got such wealth.
Originally, Ning Caichen shouldn't think too much.
But when he went to that house, the peace charm Zhang Heng gave him was burned.
Now that family is getting more and more anxious to finalize the marriage, but Ning Caichen is getting more and more afraid.
As a last resort, I could only write to Zhang Heng and ask him if he had time to go to Mushan Mansion and help him find out the origin of this family.
"Mushan Mansion, Widow's Alley!"
Zhang Heng closed the letter and decided to go over and take a look.
In any case, Ning Caichen had some friendship with him. Now that the letters for help have been sent, it would be unreasonable not to go and take a look.
"I have to go out to do some errands. You have to take care of the house during the days when I am away."
Before leaving.
Zhang Heng explained to Nie Xiaoqian again and again.
As for Grandma Shu, she is currently hibernating to recuperate from her injuries and does not have much waking time.
"Master, walk slowly."
After defeating the old demon from Montenegro, Nie Xiaoqian was not in a hurry to reincarnate.
Because Zhang Heng had seen it for her, she had a lot of sins on her body. If she entered the underworld and was reincarnated with all her sins, she would inevitably have to go into the oil pan several times.
So she didn't plan to reincarnate for the time being. She borrowed some money from Zhang Heng and built a porridge shed on the old site of Lanruo Temple to help travelers and earn merit.
A few months down the line.
People in nearby counties and towns all know that Lanruo Temple is no longer there. It has been replaced by a row of tree houses and an ugly woman who is doing alms in the tree house.
Of course, Nie Xiaoqian is not ugly.
The so-called ugly woman is just a cover-up to avoid causing more trouble.
Two days later.
Mushan Mansion.
Zhang Heng rode a tall horse and arrived at Mushan Mansion.
It's just that in this current world, the state capital is not peaceful either.
At least that's the case in Mushan Mansion.
At first glance, the streets are full of depression, with eight out of ten shops closed and very few still open.
Pedestrians on the street were all on guard against each other, carrying knives and swords, as if they would get into a fight if they disagreed.
Occasionally, a stray dog runs by, holding a broken limb in its mouth. I don’t know who left it. It’s very desolate.
"Uncle, okay."
Seeing Zhang Heng riding a white horse, the beggars were like flies that smelled the fragrance, their eyes were particularly greedy.
Zhang Heng had no idea of rescuing them.
Because when he looked at them with Dharma eyes, each of these beggars had blood mixed with them. They were beggars during the day, but it was hard to say what they did at night.
"Catch the fugitive, don't leave!"
Suddenly a shout came from the crowd.
Zhang Heng looked back and saw that a government official and four or five swordsmen were searching the streets for wanted criminals.
"It's not you, get out of here."
The officer held a stack of reward documents in his hand.
When they see anyone acting suspicious, they stop them for questioning, with a simple and rough style.
"The one on horseback, don't leave."
The beggars fled in all directions.
The government officials ignored them because these beggars had no fat on them. Instead, they were Zhang Heng who was riding a white horse. He looked like a fat sheep at first glance.
"You're quite handsome. Where do you come from? What are you doing in Mushan Mansion?"
The yamen officer led his men to catch up with Zhang Heng, asking questions while looking through the reward documents.
"Come from Guobei County to visit friends in Mushan Mansion."
Zhang Heng was riding on his horse and did not forget to ask: "This catcher, could you please tell me how to get to Widow's Alley?"
"Widow's Alley?"
After being called out for arrest, the yamen officer seemed very happy. He checked the reward documents twice and didn't think Zhang Heng was imagining any wanted criminal. He said: "Go straight from here, turn left at the second street, and then continue straight."
Just go south when you encounter a hitching post."
"Thank you, Captor."
Zhang Henggong cupped his hands and followed the guidance.
Finally, we went to Widow’s Alley to have a look.
This must be a slum in Mushan Prefecture. There are mummies hanging from the trees, the streets are full of filth, and the eight or nine-year-old children have no clothes to wear and only have a few straw ropes tied around their bodies.
Ordinary people also have yellow faces and muscles, and their bodies are not covered by clothes.
Some people were wandering on the street like zombies, their eyes were numb and there was no light in them.
"This uncle looks a bit unfamiliar!"
The more chaotic a place is, the easier it is for maggots to breed.
Seeing Zhang Heng approaching, several local snakes carrying knives and swords surrounded him.
"Hey, I'm talking to you, why are you pretending to be dumb?"
Seeing that Zhang Heng was turning a blind eye to him, the leader of the bullies pulled out the iron sword from his waist and pointed the bloody sword tip at Zhang Heng: "Do you want to test whether my sword is sharp?"
Zheng!!
Zhang Heng drew his sword instantly.
A sword slashed across the man's neck, but no drop of blood touched the sword body.
"Good, what a fast sword!"
The bully covered his neck with a look of disbelief.
"Killing, killing!"
They dispersed in a hurry.
Zheng!
Zhang Heng sheathed his sword and whispered: "Is my sword sharp?"
"Profit!"
The bully fell to the ground and died.
"Who is killing, who is killing?"
The shouts here quickly attracted the government officials.
Zhang Heng looked up and found that it was the acquaintance who showed him the way. He smiled and said, "Captain, I'm going to trouble you again."
After saying that, he took out a piece of silver from his pocket and threw it directly to the Yamen servant: "Wash the ground and then take him to the mass grave to bury him, so that no one will say that I am responsible for killing him and not burying him."
"Ouch!"
The yamen servant stretched out his hand to take it, and when he saw it, he saw five clear fingerprints on the silver.
At this glance, the yamen officer knew that he could not afford to offend the man in front of him. Then he looked at the twelve taels of snowflake silver ingots in his hand, and suddenly he smiled brightly: "The villain Kuai Dao Liu is the patrolman of these streets. How dare you
May I ask what your last name is?"
Zhang Heng replied: "My surname is Zhang. I have a friend in this widow's alley named Ning Caichen. If nothing happens, I will stay in Mushan Mansion for a few days."
When Kuai Dao Liu heard this, he hurriedly said: "This villain is quite famous in this area. If you find something useful, please send someone to inform me."
Any time you make a move, you can get ten taels of snowflake silver.
This is the financial owner. I don’t dare to say anything if I hug him. It would be good to give him instructions a few more times and earn more money.
"Okay, I remember."
Zhang Heng nodded in agreement, and then asked: "If I kill this beast, there won't be any trouble, right?"
"Don't worry, sir. They are just some bastards who lick blood from their knives. There is no tomorrow. If there is a fight on any street, just count him in. For people like this, ten or eight will die one day."
The world is tough and people are dying every day.
Although Kuai Dao Liu is a policeman, he is used to life and death and does not care about it.
"Brother Zhang!"
Don't wait to be polite any more.
I met a scholar approaching with a hen in his arms.
Zhang Heng looked up and saw that it was not Ning Caichen, and said happily: "I was worried that I couldn't find your home, but I didn't expect to see you."
Seeing Zhang Heng coming, Ning Caichen was overjoyed: "My mother asked me to take this hen that didn't lay eggs to sell on the street, but I didn't expect it to be sold in one day. I thought it was a bad thing, but I didn't expect it.
It is God's will that I keep the hens and make soup for Brother Zhang to drink at night!"
Seeing Zhang Heng met his friend, Kuai Dao Liu Gong handed him over and dragged the body away.
Zhang Heng didn't care about this. He got off his horse and said to Ning Caichen: "In Lanruo Temple, you ate half of my pheasant. It seems that today is the time for you to pay me back."
After listening to the words, I replied.
Ning Caichen slapped his thigh: "When I left, I borrowed a couple of silver from my elder brother. It happened that during this period I copied books for others and made a small profit. I later gave the money to my elder brother to make up for it."
Zhang Heng has no idea about money.
Hearing that Ning Caichen wanted to pay back the money, he said nonchalantly: "There is no need for the money. You can use the money to buy some food and drinks and treat me to a meal in the evening. By the way, you can also have a toothpaste with your family."
Ning Caichen was dressed cleanly, but there were many patches on his clothes.
It can be seen that his family conditions are average and not superior, and he does not eat much meat on weekdays.
He wouldn't ask for money, and refusing directly would inevitably hurt Ning Caichen's self-esteem.
It's better to just buy the food, eat it to your heart's content, and take care of the next family.
"Okay, I'll listen to big brother."
Ning Caichen responded immediately and rushed home with Zhang Heng.
When I arrived at Ning's house, I took a look.
The Ning family may have been wealthy before. Although the house is old and visibly dilapidated, the house is not small. It has a front yard, a middle yard, and a back yard.
But it's not surprising.
Ning Caichen came from a poor family, was educated, and had a reputation as a scholar.
A poor family is also a family. If it were an ordinary farmer's family, it would be impossible for their children and grandchildren to study, and there would even be no concept of studying.
"Caichen, who is here?"
Hearing the noise outside, a woman in her sixties came out of the courtyard.
Ning Caichen looked up and said to Zhang Heng: "Brother Zhang, this is my mother. I also have an elder brother who acts as a son-in-law. He doesn't come back often."
Zhang Heng praised: "He is blessed with infinite blessings."
After praising him, he took out a sutra book from the Qiankun bag and said, "This is the first time we meet, so I have nothing to give as a gift. I copied this Sutra of Supreme Peace with my own hands, so please accept it, old man."
Ning Caichen's mother heard that it was just a Taoist scripture copied by Zhang Heng himself. She thought it was not a valuable thing, so she accepted it immediately: "Thank you, Taoist Master."
Zhang Heng nodded with a smile.
He did not tell Ning Caichen's mother that this Taoist scripture was written by him while he was practicing swordsmanship, and the strokes contained the meaning of the sword.
Although it is not like Bodhidharma's handwriting, where the phantom of the Buddha can emerge from the scriptures, it is also capable of frightening demons and killing evil spirits.
Enshrine this book in your home, and no ghosts will dare to take a step inside it.
If placed in the hands of a wealthy family, it would be worth a thousand dollars, enough to be regarded as a family heirloom, protecting future generations from evil spirits.