For a person who has been fasting for many years, eating is not a pleasure, but a kind of torture. Zhang Yuelu just drank a spoonful of chicken soup and then pushed the whole bowl of wontons in front of Qi Xuansu. The meaning was obvious.
Master Zhang has something to do, and Master Qi will accept his help.
Naturally, Qi Xuansu would not refuse. For a warrior who returned to his true form, this food was not even an appetizer. It is said that the food intake of the heavenly warrior was even more astonishing, one meal every ten days, nine oxen per meal.
Then Zhang Yuelu watched Qi Xuansu finish the bowl of chicken soup wontons, a bowl of duck blood vermicelli and a basket of soup dumplings without saying a word.
After Qi Xuansu finished eating, he joked: "Brother Tantai, you look at me with such affection, it is inevitable that people will misunderstand that you are a good person from Long Yang."
Zhang Yuelu snorted lightly and turned away his eyes.
After being reminded by Qi Xuansu, Zhang Yuelu also remembered that she was now Mr. Tantai, not Miss Tantai. Of course she would not make such a mistake normally, but in front of Qi Xuansu, she was always "distracted" easily.
Qi Xuansu carefully looked at Zhang Yuelu after his disguise: "I remember when I met Li Qingnu in Shangqing Mansion, you looked like this."
Zhang Yuelu said: "Do you still remember what I looked like at that time?"
"It's been less than half a year, and I'm not a forgetful person." Qi Xuansu said.
Zhang Yuelu said: "I thought you had forgotten, that's why you didn't recognize me when you were in Jiangling Mansion."
Qi Xuansu coughed violently: "You never mentioned it, and I thought you had forgotten it. You were waiting for me here."
"I forgot about it at first, but I remembered it again in my dream last night." Zhang Yuelu laughed, "It seems that I am not a forgetful person."
Qi Xuansu explained: "Actually, I underestimated you at the time. After you were hit by the 'Bliss Needle', I was afraid that you would lose your cultivation and be taken advantage of by those 'inn' killers, so I wanted to capture you and hand you over
Mr. Pei, I didn't expect that you still have the strength to fight. I can't take you down, and I'm afraid that you will turn around and take me down, so I have to fight with all my strength."
Zhang Yuelu's face showed a look of reminiscence: "At that time, I was surprised how we cooperated so well when we jointly dealt with the Yuan family. It turned out to be you."
Qi Xuansu was about to speak when Zhang Yuelu changed the subject: "I'm leaving."
Qi Xuansu said: "If you want to find me, go to Taiping Inn and tell me Wei Wugui's name."
"I know." Zhang Yuelu had already stood up and left.
When Qi Xuansu got up to pay the bill, he realized that Zhang Yuelu had already paid the bill, and it was Zhang Yuelu who paid him to have breakfast.
However, Qi Xuansu couldn't catch up anymore and returned the Ruyi money to Zhang Yuelu, so he calmed down a little and left the place.
There are generally two ways to find the local beggar king. One is to find the local gangsters, just like Qi Xuansu was looking for the black market in Bohai Prefecture. As long as you are willing to spend Taiping money, you will definitely find it. The second is that as the name suggests, the beggar gang must be related to beggars.
, just find a local beggar, but you will also have to bleed.
No matter which road you take, peace and quiet money is indispensable to pave the way. Otherwise, money can make the world go round. This is why Qi Xuansu applied for "task funds".
Qi Xuansu thought about it and felt that the Beggar Clan was very cunning and had a bad reputation. Moreover, the Beggar Clan was not a true Jianghu person, not the "Hewu" in the slang. It might be a bit troublesome to deal with them directly, so it would be better to contact them.
It's better to have a middleman.
There are many such middlemen in such a large Jinling Prefecture. After Qi Xuansu left the breakfast stall, he wandered aimlessly through the streets, but before he could find the middleman, he was stopped by a beggar.
This beggar was a middle-aged man, with no trace of cleanliness on his body, and his clothes were in tatters. He was clearly begging for money, but he said confidently: "Hero, please donate your money generously and reward me with a piece of peace money."
Qi Xuansu did not rush to give him money or drive him away, but asked: "Are you disabled?"
"Of course not." The beggar shook his head and said, "My hands are good and my legs are good too. A few days ago, I beat a man to death."
Qi Xuansu raised his eyebrows: "With bare hands?"
"It's a wooden stick. It's also my fault that guy was unlucky. I hit him on the back of the head with a stick. He started bleeding from his ears and nose on the spot, and it disappeared that night." The beggar said in a calm tone, "But you can't blame me. We are in this business.
If you take other people's money and help them fight, you must be prepared. Today he was beaten to death by me, maybe tomorrow I am beaten to death by someone else, and the end will be the same, being thrown into the gutter."
Qi Xuansu has understood that this is not an ordinary beggar, but a professional beggar, that is, a member of the beggar gang, who is often hired by others to participate in armed fights. Since someone comes to his door, he does not have to find a local snake.
Qi Xuansu took out a peace coin from his sleeve and flashed it in front of the beggar's eyes.
The beggar's eyes lit up and he reached out to take it, but Qi Xuansu dodged it.
"Want to eat for free?" Qi Xuansu said coldly, "Or do you want to grab it openly?"
The beggar glanced at the fire gun and horizontal knife on Qi Xuansu's waist, and swallowed: "I don't dare, I don't dare."
Generally speaking, the beggar gang will not take the initiative to provoke the Jianghu Rangers. Everyone does not offend the Jianghu.
Keep it in mind.
Qi Xuansu softened his tone: "I want to meet the local Beggar King."
"This..." The beggar pretended to hesitate, his eyes rolling around.
Qi Xuansu said: "As long as you see the Beggar King, I will promise you ten peace coins."
The beggar shook his head and said: "That can't be done. With my identity, I can't see the Beggar King. I need to ask for instructions from the boss, and I also have to use money to manage the relationship."
Qi Xuansu asked: "How much Taiping money do you think is appropriate?"
"Fifty peace money." The beggar held out five dirty fingers.
Qi Xuansu said: "I can only give you forty peace coins. I don't care how much you keep and how much you spend, as long as I can see the Beggar King."
The beggar thought for a moment, nodded and said: "Deal."
Qi Xuansu put away the peace money and took out two small receipts: "This is the deposit. I will pay you after the rest is completed."
The beggar reached out and took it.
Then I heard Qi Xuansu say: "Let me remind you, if you use your tricks of deception and abduction on me, the peace money will be used to buy you a coffin, which will be more comfortable than living in the gutter."
"I don't dare, please don't worry." The beggar said quickly, "You know the right and the wrong, and you won't do that kind of thing where lard has blinded your heart."
Qi Xuansu waved his hand and said: "Lead the way."
Under the leadership of the beggar, the two passed eight intersections in one go and spent nearly an hour arriving at a place with fireworks.
There are also differences between the place of fireworks and the place of romance.
Let’s not talk about the superior courtyard. The courtyard is deep, quiet and elegant. The women are beautiful and proficient in writing, calligraphy and music. In addition to the women who are prostitutes, there are also musicians, tailors, craftsmen and servants.
You can have everything you need without leaving home.
There is also a special situation. For example, the famous Shili Qinhuai in Jinling Prefecture is mostly in the form of a private residence or a painting boat. Many famous prostitutes do not want to be controlled by the old bustard, so they set up their own business and usually only receive regular customers. To put it bluntly, they are financially dependent on their lovers and benefactors.
, and don’t openly show off their laughter, and usually have to act dignified and serious.
As for the low-class brothels, they are far behind. Both in terms of background and capital, they are all very different. Although there are singing, drinking, chess, tea party and other means of accompanying customers, the small business cannot afford it.
A woman at the level of an oiran does not have so many servants to serve her, and the area is small. It is a place where upper-class people disdain to go, and it is a place where small gentry and small businessmen like to visit.
There is also the most unpopular kind of business, called "ajar door" business. There is no sentiment. You just walk in and do the job. The charges are not high. It is a place where ordinary people go.
This place of fireworks is where the low-class brothels are located. Looking up, there are dozens of high and low colored buildings arranged in a chaotic manner. It is far worse than the Wutong Courtyard that Qi Xuansu once visited, but compared with those with the door ajar.
Business is much better, because it is still early in the morning, so it is very quiet. If it is night, the sound of silk and bamboo can be heard in the place, and the laughter of men and women can be heard one after another.
With a status like a beggar, he naturally could not walk the right path openly. He led Qi Xuansu into a dark alley. There were only some simple shacks on both sides, connected together in darkness. The eaves were next to the eaves, leaving only a ray of skylight and a gap between the houses.
There are piles of debris in the alleys. Naturally, there are no drainage ditches in these alleys, sewage is everywhere, and the smell is not small.
The beggar stole a glance at Qi Xuansu and saw that his face was expressionless and he did not cover his nose. He couldn't help but feel a shiver in his heart.
He is discerning. People who don't care about the harsh environment at all are probably real outlaws and are not easy to mess with.
The beggar took Qi Xuansu to an inconspicuous shack and knocked on the door.
The man guarding the door blocked the door frame, revealing his dark hair that protected his heart, and looked at Qi Xuansu with unkind eyes.
The beggar took out a handful of lucky money and stuffed it into the man's hand.
The man then turned sideways.
There is a cave behind the door. It is not a cramped and narrow house as imagined, but a passage similar to a mine tunnel. The light is dim and it is unknown where it leads.
The beggar led Qi Xuansu into the passage, which was about half a mile away. When he came out, he was already in a city within a city.
To put it bluntly, it is a shantytown or slum area located in the city. Countless shantytowns are connected together, extending in all directions, like a maze, and are clearly separated from the bustling city outside. It is cramped, chaotic, and dark.
Some people call it another Jinling Mansion. Although it is located on the ground, it is like an underground city that cannot see the light. It is a real mixture of fish and dragons. There is no law and no morality. However, there are rules, but they are not the rules of the imperial court. Even the Qingluan Guards
, and don’t want to set foot here.
As for the Taoist sect, there is no such thing as willingness or unwillingness, only necessity. If necessary, let alone these low-level people, even the high-level gentry will be destroyed at will.
The beggar turned to look at Qi Xuansu again.
Qi Xuansu still had no expression, just gently stroking the horizontal knife on his waist.