Chapter 24: Watching the Sword and Asking the Heart in the Long Night
The sound of horse hooves gradually faded away, and the two figures on the horse became increasingly blurry under the hazy moonlight, disappearing from Lin Xiao's eyes. Lin Xiao couldn't help but feel a little dazed.
Some people can roughly tell what kind of person that person is after just one glance, and some people can't figure out what kind of person that person is even if they have frequent contact with him.
The female knight who made Lin Xiao feel as if she was galloping on the battlefield and carrying a chivalrous spirit at first glance was named Yan Lige. Lin Xiao didn't know her origin because the other party didn't tell her. As for the girl wearing Lin Xiao's white robe, Lin Xiao didn't know what his full name was, and he didn't want to know. After tonight, there was a high probability that it would be difficult to meet him again, and even if he did meet again, he would be a completely unrelated passerby.
What really concerned Lin Xiao was the few lines of dialogue just now.
"You saved Xiao Que'er. I thank you, but I also want to ask you two questions."
"Why don't you just kill such a heartless and inhumane villain?"
"What are you going to do if the evil thief is not executed and comes out of prison? Should you ignore it or pursue him to the end?"
The two questions were like sharp swords, piercing Lin Xiao fiercely. Before Lin Xiao could respond, Yan Zhuge took the little bird who had changed into clothes, got on his horse and galloped away. As for the white robe, it was He kept it and put it on Lin Xiao again.
The first question, in fact, Lin Xiao had already responded to the girl when he was in the underground prison, but he did not respond to Yan Lige because the words 'responsibility' were very perfunctory. After thinking about it, I really can't get over this hurdle in my heart, but not killing is indeed related to the rules of the Zhenwu Division, and the words "responsibility" are not perfunctory.
For a moment, Lin Xiao couldn't answer.
"I can't answer the first question, so I'll answer the second question for you." Lin Xiao looked at the direction in which the female knight was leaving and muttered to himself, his eyes suddenly becoming as sharp as a sword: "I will... Draw your sword and kill him."
Such a cruel and evil person cannot be appeased without killing him.
Son of aristocratic family!
Cao Huang is the eldest son of the Cao family, which is an aristocratic family, and Wen Jingxu is the third son of the Wen family. The Wen family is also an aristocratic family, and they are all sons of an aristocratic family.
Family son, is this really the case?
Disregarding laws and morals, taking advantage of power to bully others, and do whatever you want?
So where is justice in this world?
Three figures flew over under the moonlight, flew directly into the manor, and appeared in front of Lin Xiao. It was Chief Lin and the two envoys.
"Shenxiao's inspection, how is the situation now?" Chief Lin asked seriously.
"Chief, there are eight people imprisoned. One of them was just picked up by a person named Yan Xiangge. Two died. Five people are worse than dead." Lin Xiao stood up and responded slowly.
"Shenxiao is on inspection. You should stay and take them to Zhenwu Division for questioning before leaving." An imperial envoy immediately frowned and said, his voice was a bit stiff, as if he was dissatisfied with Lin Xiao for letting him go.
"This is the first time Shenxiao's inspection mission has been carried out. Some mistakes have been made. It is unavoidable. Is it ok?" Another imperial envoy said with a smile: "However, it is indeed inappropriate to let important people go. You need to remember this next time. Don’t do it again.”
Lin Xiao nodded and said "Yes". In fact, Lin Xiao himself knew that Xiao Que'er should not be allowed to leave with Yan Zhuge. According to the rules, he should take Xiao Que'er back to the Zhenwu Division for questioning, write down the confession and sign it. The painting was preserved as evidence to better judge Cao Huang's crimes.
However, firstly, Yan Yange's attitude was very tough and demanded that Xiaoqueer be taken away immediately, otherwise he would be fighting Lin Xiao desperately. Secondly, Xiaoqueer was almost humiliated just now, and going to the Zhenwu Division for interrogation was like opening up scars and blood. Dripping, I really can't bear it. The third is Lin Xiao's own idea. If Cao Huang is really sentenced, there will be one more little bird and one less little bird. The difference is not big. As for whether this is the case, Lin Xiao himself does not dare to affim.
But at the time, my mind was in a mess and I didn’t think about it in detail. Now that it has happened, I just did it.
Chief Lin and the two envoys then entered the manor. The darkness of night had little effect on true warriors, so they quickly saw clearly the two dead women and the woman who looked like a walking corpse. They frowned. Then he stepped into the underground prison, took a closer look, and his face changed drastically.
"Such a vicious thief loves prison cells so much. We must capture him and let him sit in prison for the rest of his life. He will never see the light of day again." The imperial emissary who had previously scolded Lin Xiao for neglecting his duties cursed angrily.
Lin Sishou's eyes were as cold and sharp as spring water, while the smile on the face of the other imperial emissary, who loved to smile, had no smile at all and was ashen.
"Secretary Chief, is it possible that Cao Huang..." Hearing the envoy's words, Lin Xiao's heart skipped a beat and his expression changed drastically, and he quickly asked.
"On the way Tiebi was escorting Cao Huang back, someone came to the rescue. After injuring Tiebi, he rescued Cao Huang." Lin Si's first words were concise and to the point, and Lin Xiao fell silent.
Rescued?
Originally, Lin Xiao had actually made preparations, that is, Cao Huang would be sentenced to jail first, and then the Cao family would run some operations. Cao Huang's so-called uncle who was the envoy of the Military Division in the county and town would help, and he would eventually be released from prison for various reasons, and then After a period of silence, he began to do whatever he wanted to make trouble secretly, and even used various means to retaliate against himself.
If this was really the case, Lin Xiao also made up his mind to find an opportunity to kill him.
Unexpectedly, he ran away halfway before even being escorted to the Zhenwu Division.
Rescued?
Thinking of this, Lin Xiao became even more silent.
"Don't think too much, go back and have a good rest first." Lin Sishou said, patting Lin Xiao's shoulder lightly.
"I'll take my leave first." Lin Xiao suddenly felt very tired. This feeling of fatigue grew from within, and his words became weak.
After Lin Xiao left, only Lin Sishou and two imperial envoys were left.
"Chief Commander, will a good seedling lose its spirit like this?" the stern-looking emissary asked immediately.
"Anyone who joins the Zhenwu Division must go through a process. Only after they have seen and adapted can they stay in the Zhenwu Division. Otherwise, they will have no choice but to leave with regret." Before Chief Lin answered, another smiling emissary had already said it. : "But Shenxiao's inspection is indeed a good prospect. I hope he can pass this threshold."
As he said, any newcomer to the Zhenwu Division must go through this step, because there are all kinds of life in this world, and there are all kinds of people, and the same is true for cases, all kinds, sooner or later they must experience and experience them personally. , it will always make people feel unacceptable, painful, confused, and experience a struggle at the beginning.
Lin Xiao returned the same way, wearing a gauze garment made of moonlight. He walked very slowly, very slowly, because his steps were heavy and his heart was heavy.
All kinds of thoughts were lingering in his mind, and each strand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, so much that Lin Xiao almost suffocated.
Is this world really as bad as Tiebi said?
Facing such a terrible world, do we really want to just get used to it and adapt as Tiebi said?
With his heart heavy and his mind in chaos, Lin Xiao simply started running, spread out his body skills, and like a crane rising in the night wind, he flew faster and faster towards the inner city. It seemed that only in this way could he be able to
Let the oncoming night wind blow away the irritability in your heart and the heaviness in your mind.
Instead of returning directly to Zhou Mansion, he went to Zhenwu Division to find Tiebi.
Tiebi is considered a loner and usually lives in Zhenwu Division.
Knocking on Tiebi's door, Tiebi's face looked a little abnormally pale. When he saw Lin Xiao, he looked full of apologies: "Brother Shenxiao, I'm really sorry. I couldn't escort that evil thief Cao Huang back.
Because I met a master of the Cao family, I was defeated in a fight and Cao Huang was rescued."
"How's the injury?" Lin Xiao took a deep breath and asked softly.
"I was hit in the chest with a palm, and I lost my breath and suffered internal injuries, but it's okay. I'm a good man after training for ten and a half months." Tiebi smiled bitterly: "I just feel sorry for you, causing you to lose two or three things in vain.
Ten points of merit, but don’t worry, after my injury heals, I will definitely complete some tasks and return them to you."
"You take good care of yourself." Lin Xiao neither refused nor agreed, but took a deep look at Tiebi, left a few words, and turned around to leave.
tired!
Unspeakable fatigue!
I have never been so tired since I was born. In the early years, when I was running for a living and had to join gangs and fight for my life with other people, although it was extremely dangerous, I was very happy after I survived and received the reward money, even though it was extremely dangerous.
The money I got back then was incomparable to what I get now.
Because you don’t have to worry about it, you just need to work hard.
Lin Xiao felt that the physical fatigue was nothing, but the mental fatigue was even more uncomfortable.
On the way back to Zhou Mansion in the night, Lin Xiao asked himself.
"Lin Wuming, Lin Wuming, why can't you live a more relaxed life? Why bother yourself?"
"This is the way the world is, so just adapt to it. If you can't adapt, then just hide away, find a place to farm and live your life, and ignore everything outside."
"In this world, without you, the sun will still rise, the moon will still set, the four seasons will cycle through life and death, and there will be no changes because of your presence or absence."
"Why bother so much? Sometimes you just turn a blind eye and pass. You are just one person. You have a younger brother to bring up and train. You can't control so much."
"If you don't do it for yourself, heaven and earth will destroy you, Lin Wuming."
"If I care too much, I will really answer your name and lose my life. Why should I care if my life is lost."
"Other people's lives are life, but your own life is not?"
Asking himself, Lin Xiao returned to Zhou Mansion and walked towards Brother Ax's door. He stretched out his hand and was about to knock, but paused. It was the time when he was most sleepy. Wouldn't it be bad to disturb Brother Ax like this? He put down his hand and wanted to knock.
Lin Xiao was about to turn around and leave when he reached for the door.
"If you have anything to say, just say it." A deep voice came from inside the door.
"Brother Ax, tonight..." Lin Xiao spent a long time telling all what happened tonight and all the helplessness and confusion in his heart.
"A lot of nonsense." After dozens of breaths, Lin Xiao turned around, and the voice coming from the door was unceremonious: "Go back and think about it for yourself, what were the three questions your master gave you when you apprenticed? And you yourself
What's the answer? If you still can't figure it out, just sell the sword, stop practicing martial arts, quit the world, return to Qingtong Township, plant some sweet potatoes, and be a farmer with peace of mind."
Lin Xiao couldn't help but be startled.
Three questions to ask as a disciple!
Three Questions about Kendo!
The master asked the question at that time, and when he answered it, he actually responded with a certain degree of superficiality. He didn't think too much at all, so he had already put those three questions aside.
He jumped up, thought about it, then jumped down again, went to the room to get a jar of wine, then jumped up to the roof, put the jar aside, Lin Xiao pulled out the White Bird Sword and held it in front of him, facing him.
Staring at the moonlight, he opened the lid of the altar with one palm, lifted it up, and took a big sip. This way, it tasted good enough. Although it still didn't taste very good, I just wanted to drink it now, at least some.
With the drink in his stomach, Lin Xiao unknowingly saw that the White Bird Sword seemed to be in a trance, and a vague figure appeared, speaking to him, with a solemn expression.
"The first question is, people living in this world are like duckweeds in the water. Should they just go with the flow or stay the mainstay?"
"Second question, how about cultivating your moral character?"
"The third question is, what if you feel guilty after swinging the sword?"
how?
how?
how?
A sound seemed to explode in his ears, deafening him. Lin Xiao suddenly raised his sword up. The sword's sharp blade reflected the moonlight. He stood tall like a green onion on dry land and jumped into the sky. The sword was suddenly swung out, and he seemed to be drunk with the sword.
And dispersed.
how?
His body fell, and Lin Xiao grabbed the wine jar and took a sip, but he choked and coughed repeatedly.
"The first question is, how am I going to do? I want to go ashore, jump out of the river and get out of the mud, but do I have to stand by and watch? Sorry, I can't do it. Since I can't do it, what should I do? Of course I have to take care of myself, but the road will be rough.
Draw your sword to help. This world is so unfair. If you don’t see it, you will see it. If you see it, I will use the sword in my hand to seek justice, whether it is yours, mine or his..."
"Second question, if I cultivate myself and cultivate the character of others, if I am strong enough, if my status is high enough, if I am powerful enough, then I can make rules and let others abide by the rules, so that the world can be governed.
Justice can be achieved, justice can be spread, good people can live long, and evil people cannot cause harm for thousands of years."
"Third question, I have never felt guilty about drawing my sword so far. If one day I really feel guilty about it..."
Lin Xiao paused for a moment, then raised the wine jar and took a big sip. The wine soaked his chest and robe, but he felt uncomfortable, and a daze flashed through his eyes.
I really have a guilty conscience, what should I do?
Do you really convince yourself not to feel guilty?
"...We'll talk about it then..."
I sat down and took another sip. I felt that the bright moon in my eyes seemed to turn into two and then into four, as if it had turned into infinity, filling the night sky. A strong dizziness hit me, and I fell down, but my last thought was:
It's over, it's over, I'd have known better not to drink.
The deep night is silent. Only the night wind blows slowly in and out of the world. It can blow away the smoke in the sky and the earth, but it cannot blow away the haze in the heart.
As if a gust of wind was blowing by, a burly body stood on the roof, standing with hands behind his hands. He lowered his head and stared at the drunken man, laughing and cursing: "You are stupid, you don't know how to drink and imitate others to drink."