In the south of Chang 'an, the autumn wind was chilly and there were few travelers. The sun shone through the clouds, clear as water, without any warmth. Chen Pipi and Tang Xiaotang were saying their goodbyes in the pavilion beside the road.
"Ning Que is missing or dead. Anyway, there is no one from the Academy to enter the human realm. Now that the situation is tense, the Academy needs to establish its power. Since the idiots from Qinghe County have come to us, there is no reason not to make use of them. Apart from you, I am the last one. I have to do something before I leave. "
"You also know that the situation is tense now. Although the Academy is not afraid, it does not want the world to be in chaos. Why do you insist on leaving at this moment?"
Chen Pipi looked at the girl's beautiful face and said, "Things between us still need to be decided by the elders in the family. I want to know my father's attitude on this matter."
After knowing that Chen Pipi's father was the legendary bigwig, Tang Xiaotang felt extremely complicated. However, she had already calmed down and asked, "What if your father does not agree?"
The Zhishou Abbey's abbey dean's son wanted to marry a girl from the Devil's Doctrine. No matter how one looked at it, it seemed that this matter would eventually come to a tragic end.
Chen Pipi said, "I asked for his opinion because I respect my father as a son. Since the teacher did not object to us being together, then it does not matter whether he agrees or not. If he disagrees, I will come back. Will he imprison me? Or does he want to be beaten by the teacher again? "
Tang Xiaotang smiled and said, "How can he laugh at his own father like this?"
Chen Pipi smiled and said, "Isn't there one in front of you?"
Tang Xiaotang asked again, "Are you going to the South Sea directly or go to the Zhishou Abbey first?"
Chen Pipi's smile faded and he said seriously, "I will go to the Zhishou Abbey first and then find a chance to go to the West-Hill Divine Palace to figure out what happened in the Lanke Temple last year. Also, the West-Hill Divine Palace seems to be ready to reveal Sangsang's identity. If this really happens, even if Ning Que and Sangsang reappear in the world, they will face endless pursuit. I want to see if I can buy some time."
Tang Xiaotang nodded and said, "When will you come back?"
The sky suddenly darkened and a cold wind blew. Gradually, raindrops fell. Chen Pipi looked at the autumn rain outside the pavilion and said, "I will come back before the first spring rain next year."
"Take care on the road," said Tang Xiaotang.
Chen Pipi said, "If Ning Que comes back, remember to inform me."
"How do I inform you?" Tang Xiaotang asked.
Chen Pipi said, "Just look for the Southern Gate Temple. They are the fastest to contact Haotian Taoism."
Tang Xiaotang nodded and said, "Then take care."
Chen Pipi turned around and walked out of the pavilion. Just as he was about to step into the rain, he suddenly turned back.
Tang Xiaotang looked at him and said with a smile, "Can this little rain make you sick?"
Chen Pipi looked at her seriously and said, "The rain can't make me sick, but lovesickness can make me sick."
Hearing this, Tang Xiaotang blushed and began to roll up her sleeves out of habit.
Chen Pipi was startled and said, "You told me to take care of myself twice. It seems that you really want me to leave?"
Tang Xiaotang bit her lower lip and refused to speak.
Chen Pipi was about to leave, but he still felt reluctant. He plucked up his courage and walked up to her and held her in his arms.
With the young girl in his arms, he didn't feel very proud or intoxicated. His heart was anxious, and he was constantly paying attention to her two hands. He found that although the young girl's hands were clenched very tightly and were slightly trembling, she didn't seem to have any signs of making a move. He couldn't help but feel a little relieved, so he hugged her even tighter and then lowered his head.
After an unknown amount of time, the two figures in the Departure Pavilion gradually separated.
Chen Pipi walked into the rain heroically and waved goodbye without looking back.
In the pavilion, Tang Xiaotang looked at his broad back and also waved, her cheeks still blushing.
At this time, the autumn wind was blowing, but it was unknown whether her slightly messy hair and mood were disturbed by the annoying autumn wind or by that person.
…
…
Some people left Chang 'an, and naturally some people returned.
Not long after Chen Pipi and Tang Xiaotang parted at the pavilion, a couple holding green paper umbrellas walked into the pavilion in the patter of autumn rain.
The wife was a delicate girl with a gentle expression and a satisfied look. She looked at the majestic city of Chang 'an in the rain a few miles away and was shocked. She whispered, "It's so high."
Her husband was a middle-aged man who smiled at her words.
He wore a green robe and looked gentle and elegant. His gestures were free and easy. If he did not carry a little girl on his back, who knew how many girls in Chang 'an would be attracted to him.
The little girl was about two years old. Her little hands tightly grasped the clothes of the middle-aged man and tried to raise her head to look at the city wall in the distance. Her eyes were black and white as if they were painted. They rolled around and looked particularly lively.
The autumn rain temporarily stopped. The middle-aged man took his wife, carried his daughter on his back, and carried his simple luggage out of the Farewell Pavilion. They walked toward the South Gate of Chang 'an. As he approached, his footsteps did not change, but they seemed to be much lighter.
It was quiet at the South Gate, but it was not that there were no people.
On the contrary, there were many people at the city gate today. There were officers in armor, officials in Chu clothes, and several hundred green-skinned men in green clothes and shoes who were obviously not good people. There was even a eunuch.
Looking at the gate, the middle-aged man did not stop but shook his head helplessly. His wife was born in the countryside. Although she had lived in the capital of the Great River Kingdom for two years and gained some knowledge, she had never seen such a big battle array. She could not help but feel a little frightened and subconsciously reached out to grab his sleeve.
Looking at the family of three walking towards the city gate, the crowd gradually became restless, even some of the men in black clothes had tears in their eyes. A man wearing the official uniform of the commander of the Valiant Cavalry Battalion took the lead and bowed down, followed by countless people, but their voices were not the same.
"Welcome, Grand Master!"
"Welcome, Big Brother!"
"Second Brother Chao!"
"Mr. Spring Breeze Pavilion, come with me to the palace. His Majesty has been waiting for you!"
…
…
The family of three who returned to Chang 'an in the autumn rain were Chao Xiaoshu of Spring Breeze Pavilion, his wife, and daughter. He had planned to return to Chang' an with his family last autumn, but his daughter, Little Pumpkin, suddenly fell seriously ill and the doctor told her not to be tired, so he delayed his return to this autumn.
Chao Xiaoshu did not follow Eunuch Lin to the palace. After meeting with his brothers, he directly went to the East City's Spring Breeze Pavilion Horizontal Second Street. As the saying goes, filial piety comes first. Eunuch Lin could only sigh helplessly and feel sorry for His Majesty.
The group of people entered the old house of Spring Breeze Pavilion. Old Master Chao was too lazy to talk with his unfilial son. He carried his granddaughter and went to the backyard to pick autumn fruits to eat. As for Chao Xiaoshu's wife, Linzi, she hadn't recovered from today's repeated shocks before she was invited to the backyard by several women.
Looking at his brothers in the hall, Chao Xiaoshu found that they had not suffered any pain or disaster in the past few years. He could not help but feel comforted. After a long separation, they naturally drank together and the scene was very lively. However, he noticed that one person at the table seemed to be a little silent. That person was the most trusted think tank, Chen VII.
Chao Xiaoshu knew that Chen VII's silence often represented some very difficult things, but he did not intend to discuss those things tonight, or even that thing at all.
He quietly looked at the wine cup in his hand and suddenly asked, "Is the Old Brush Pen Shop still there?"
As soon as this question came out, the table suddenly became very quiet. Chang San and others looked at Chen VII, but Mr. Qi shook his head, as if he had a different view on some things.
Chen VII knew that the question was directed at him, so he gently turned the wine cup and said, "The rental contracts of all the houses on Lin 47th Street have arrived. It will not be too glaring if they are all taken back."
Chao Xiaoshu calmly said, "I don't care about other shops, but I rented the Old Brush Pen Shop to him. If he doesn't come back, then he will continue renting it. No one can think about taking it back."
Mr. Qi finally had a chance to interrupt. He said, "The dividends of the gambling house in the western city have always been calculated, and we have saved it for Mr. Thirteen. The house by Yanming Lake has always been looked after by our brothers."
Chao Xiaoshu nodded.
Chen VII put down the wine cup in his hand, looked at Chao Xiaoshu and said, "If the rumor is true … In fact, I am 90% sure that the rumor is true. We should take advantage of the fact that no one is paying attention to it. We don't owe Ning Que anything, and there is no reason for everyone to be implicated because of him."
"Lao Qi, you have always been the one with the best brains among all of us. Whether it was the lawsuit with the Ministry of Revenue or the conflict with the Military Ministry, it was all thanks to your advice. His Majesty has always appreciated you. If it were not for the criminal record, perhaps you would have already entered the Military Ministry. Your thinking is not wrong. The words of an experienced and prudent person always make sense at any time and in any place. "
Chao Xiaoshu raised his wine cup and toasted Chen VII, and then slowly drank it up.
Chen Qi sighed. He knew Second Brother Chao's temperament very well. Once he started talking like that, it was tantamount to saying that there was no turning back. He picked up the wine cup and drank it in one gulp. He felt a bit bitter.
As expected, Chao Xiaoshu continued, "But Lin 47th Street is not the public property of the gang. It is my private property, so I want to maintain the status quo for the time being."
Looking at his most respected brother, Chen VII was still a little unwilling. He said anxiously, "This matter is too big. Not to mention the Fish-dragon Gang, even the imperial court and the Academy can't handle it."
Chao Xiaoshu put down the wine cup and calmly said, "There are some things in the world that have nothing to do with whether they can handle it or not, but whether they should handle it or not. On that rainy spring night, I invited Ning Que to go to the Spring Breeze Pavilion with me in front of the Old Brush Pen Shop to kill people. He didn't ask me who I was, so now I don't want to know who he is."
…
…
Ning Que and Sangsang had been missing for a whole year. No one knew where they had gone. It was as if they had disappeared into thin air. Logically speaking, the two of them should be dead, and the prefectural magistrate of Chang 'an had already issued a death certificate. However, in fact, many people believed that they were not dead.
Some people didn't believe that Ning Que and Sangsang were dead because their bodies were not found in the Lanke Temple. Some people didn't believe it because they didn't want Ning Que and Sangsang to die. However, no matter which one it was, no one could find or even guess where they were now if they were not dead.
Even the Headmaster didn't know where Ning Que and Sangsang were now if they were not dead.
On the precipice of the back mountain of the Academy, the Headmaster was enjoying chrysanthemums, eating crabs and drinking yellow wine. Although the chrysanthemums were far away in the mountains in the south of Chang 'an, he could still see them clearly.
"If there is another world or another space in the chessboard, then Ning Que and Sangsang would naturally be destroyed if the chessboard was destroyed. If Qi Nian had successfully accelerated the flow of time in the chessboard, then one year in the human world would have been three lifetimes for the two poor guys in the chessboard."
The Headmaster picked up the warm wine pot and took a sip. He said, "Either way, it doesn't seem to be a good result. However, the good news is that I don't think anyone can destroy the chessboard. You know, it is something that Buddha left for the monks in the Xuankong Temple to save their lives. I also don't think that Qi Nian has the ability to accelerate the flow of time in the chessboard world to the extent of turning the chessboard over. Therefore, they should still be alive and haven't been in there for a long time. We just have to see when they can come out."
Jun Mo knelt beside the Headmaster and was using a set of very complicated tools to cut the crab meat for the Headmaster. He said, "According to what the Calligraphy Addict told Qishan, only you can open the chessboard. The problem is that we don't even know where the chessboard is."
The Headmaster said, "The chessboard is in the chessboard."
Jun Mo immediately understood the meaning of this sentence. He slightly raised his eyebrows and said, "Isn't this a cycle of death?"
The Headmaster shook his head and said, "Since it is a cycle, it will naturally grow and multiply. How can it be a death? The chessboard itself will break this doom. I just don't know how long Qishan will stay."
Jun Mo said, "The West-Hill Divine Palace will announce to the world three days later. The edict has already been sent here. It states that Sangsang is the Daughter of Yama and the followers of Haotian are to be hunted down and killed. They even released a portrait. However, the Academy and Youngest Brother are not mentioned in the edict."
After a short pause, he continued, "Eldest Brother has been looking for Youngest Brother and Sangsang in the world for a whole year. I don't know if he can find them, or if he can find them before the Buddhism and Taoism Sects."
The Headmaster looked up at the drizzling autumn sky and said, "If those Taoist priests and monks can really find Ning Que and Sangsang before your Senior Brother, then this is really God's will."
At this time, Jun Mo had already peeled a lake crab. He placed it on a plate and respectfully handed it to the Headmaster.
The Headmaster looked at the crab that looked as good as before. In fact, the crab's shell and flesh had been peeled off, and even the smallest piece of flesh had been peeled off. He said, "The fun of eating crab is to do it yourself. Whether chewing or peeling, what fun is there in this situation?"
…
…
In the autumn of last year, a scholar left the Lanke Temple and then appeared in the field deep in the west of the Wilderness. In front of him were hundreds of monks with profound Dharma. Those monks looked at the gentle and dusty scholar as if they were facing a formidable enemy.
A voice that could only be described as magnificent sounded in the field. The voice first chanted the name of Buddha and then indifferently asked, "Mr. First, what brings you to our Xuankong Temple?"
Eldest Brother replied, "Greetings, Chief Preaching Monk. I want to know if you have seen my Youngest Brother."
In the following three days, the bell in the Xuankong Temple rang loudly and the Light of Buddha shone brightly. There seemed to be a wind blowing in the temple. The scholar found nothing and left.
In the spring of this year, the scholar visited the seventy-two temples of the Yuelun Kingdom. Every time he went to a temple, he would take out a portrait and ask the monks in the temple, "Have you seen my Youngest Brother and this little girl?"
In the summer, the scholar visited the Taoist temple of the Song Kingdom and found nothing.
In autumn, the scholar returned to the Lanke Temple and asked the abbot of the Lanke Temple, Monk Guan Hai, to mobilize more than a thousand workers to dig up a few huge rocks in the back of the temple. Then, he stood in the ruins and looked at the broken well and ruins for a long time.
He always felt that it was his responsibility not to know whether his Youngest Brother was alive or not.
After a while, he came to a very shabby Taoist temple and knocked on the door politely. He took out the wrinkled portrait and looked at the old Taoist in the temple. He coughed uncomfortably and then asked in a slightly hoarse voice, "If you come from the Tile Mountain Town, have you seen these two people?"
The old Taoist had no idea what he was talking about and did not understand how the scholar knew that he came from the Tile Mountain Town. He shook his head in confusion. There was no disappointment on the scholar's face. He calmly said goodbye to the old Taoist and turned to leave the Taoist temple. He went to the next place.
From autumn to autumn, for more than three hundred days a year, the Eldest Brother of the Academy searched for the traces of Ning Que and Sangsang in the world. He went to four hundred Buddhist temples, two thousand and one hundred Taoist temples, forty-seven cities, and traveled all over the mountains and seas. He was tired and haggard and covered with dust, but he never stopped.
…
…
The autumn rain fell on Chang 'an.
A cat was lying on the wall of the Old Brush Pen Shop. It was wet all over and screamed at the sky. Then it jumped into the small courtyard and walked into the bedroom with familiarity. It lay down on the bed and wiped the rain off its body with the quilt.
This small courtyard had been uninhabited for a long time. The hateful young man who liked to hit it with stones had died somewhere. Therefore, the cat felt that its current life was very happy.
It slept sweetly on the dusty quilt. It slept on its stomach, on its back, with its tail between its legs, holding its tail, or with its four feet facing the sky. It changed countless positions and slept for many days. Finally, it felt a little bored.
The cat bent its two front legs and put its head on its soft paws. It looked at the door with its head slightly tilted. It suddenly felt a little lonely and even began to expect to hear the sound of someone pushing the door open.
The servants in the house by the Yanming Lake had either been dismissed or returned to the Grand Secretary's Mansion. There was no light in the whole house, making it seem particularly deserted. The lotus leaves in the lake were withered and swayed slightly in the autumn rain. No one knew if any of the lotus leaves still remembered the thunder and the things that happened in the past.
…
…
A cold sun hung over the wasteland.
The yellow grass was covered with frost. Even if two finger-sized small fish trapped in the pond wanted to help each other, the foam that they spat out would be frozen into ice in a very short time. Suddenly, the shallow pond became deeper!
The wheels roared past.
A black carriage rushed out of the air with a violent momentum and landed heavily on the slightly hard ground of the Wilderness. It continued to rush forward at an amazing speed, as if it wanted to catch up with the distant sun!
…
…
(This chapter has 5,000 words. I don't know when I can write the next chapter. Don't wait for me. Go to bed early. I will continue to write.) (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my biggest motivation.)
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