There were four pig trotters on the chopping board. The trotters had been de-haired and watered. They looked like tender lotus roots that had just been plucked from the mud. A thick knife slid across the chopping board. The yellow straw paper unfolded like lotus leaves. The four trotters fell into the paper and rolled up.
The Butcher handed the wrapped trotters to the waiting lad without saying anything. Li Guangdi took out some copper coins and placed them on the table outside the butcher's shop. Then he turned around and walked out.
Suddenly, the Butcher felt something and looked up. His eyes passed through the smoke-blackened wall and looked in the direction of the West-Hill Divine Kingdom in the south. His face suddenly turned pale.
The big white pig hanging on the iron hook behind the butcher's shop suddenly moved. The Butcher's knife also trembled. There was no wind, but there was a whistling sound.
The Butcher held the knife and looked in the direction of the West-Hill Divine Kingdom. He understood something.
So he lifted the thick and oily knife as fast as he could and held it with both hands. He covered his face so that no wind or anything else could penetrate it.
The big white pig hanging on the iron hook was still swaying. The blood in the pig's abdomen was shaken out and dripped to the ground. It sounded like a clock.
Time passed slowly. Nothing happened. The Butcher squatted in the corner with his back bent. He held the thick knife with both hands and covered his face, like a turtle hiding in its shell.
Outside the butcher's shop, Li Guangdi and Zhang Nianzu walked toward the calligraphy and painting shop. If they got closer, they could hear one of them mumbling something, as if he was memorizing something.
Zhang Nianzu asked nervously, "Did you see anything wrong?"
"Don't talk." Li Guangdi looked very nervous. He stared at him and said, "And don't think about taking notes and paper. Just remember it with your brain."
Zhang Nianzu shut his mouth tightly and didn't say anything else. Li Guangdi recalled the scene he had seen and guessed that the Butcher's weakness was his face.
The four pig trotters wrapped in yellow straw paper were swinging in the hands of the two lads. They looked no different from the human arms cut off by the Butcher.
…
…
In the front yard of Peach Mountain, thousands of miles away.
Ning Que's iron arrow was no longer aimed at the small town at the border of Song and Yan, but at the northwest.
The Drunkard and the Butcher were in that small town. They were the Academy's most feared opponents and also the biggest threat to Chang 'an City. He really wanted to see if he could kill them.
However, these two were great cultivators who had experienced the Everlasting Night after all. To be able to successfully hide from Haotian for tens of thousands of years, one could imagine how profound their realms were and how powerful their concealment techniques were.
Cultivators in the Knowing destiny State would have an almost intuitive sense of the possible turning points in their lives, not to mention the Drunkard and the Butcher.
When Ning Que raised his iron bow and aimed at the town, the Drunkard and the Butcher sensed it immediately and responded accordingly. The Drunkard was ready to leave, while the Butcher raised his butcher knife.
After the Abbey Dean became disabled, the Drunkard became the fastest person in the world. He was even faster than the Eldest Brother. He was in the Distanceless State and had infinite skills. It was hard to kill him unless he was trapped.
The Butcher had always been the most powerful person in the world. No one, not even Yu Lian, could be mentioned in the same breath as the Chief Preaching Monk of the Xuankong Temple in terms of strength and physical strength.
The Drunkard was ready to leave, and the Butcher raised his knife. Ning Que's Primordial Thirteen Arrows could not kill them. Since it could not kill them, he could not shoot them.
It was not because he had too few iron arrows and they were too precious. For the Academy, they were willing to pay any price if they could kill the Drunkard and the Butcher.
The reason why Ning Que did not shoot them was simple. Since he could not kill them, he would not shoot them. He seldom did things that he was not absolutely sure of and that required great risks.
The so-called risk, of course, was not to kill them but to anger them.
He could not help but feel a little regretful, but not too much. Because the Academy had always wanted to try, but they had never lost their cool. It was a wish, but not an ambition.
And the Academy had already made arrangements for the Drunkard and the Butcher.
The iron arrow in Ning Que's hand was aimed at the northwest, which should be Qinghe Prefecture.
As the iron arrow moved slowly, the atmosphere in the front yard of Peach Mountain became more and more tense.
Until then, no one knew who he was going to shoot.
In fact, even Ning Que himself did not know. In his perception, Qinghe Prefecture was just an inconspicuous area in the vast sea of the human world. There was no bright spot there.
Suddenly, a spot of light appeared in his eyes.
So he loosened the bowstring.
…
…
Jun Mo and Mu You stood by the Fuchun River, looking at the magnificent gardens across the river. After a long silence, he asked, "Do you understand?"
Mu You took out the embroidery needle from the cloth and said, "It's a bit troublesome, but not difficult."
Jun Mo said, "Then let's go."
Mu You listened to the chanting from across the river. She frowned and said, "Youngest Brother's plan has nothing to do with the two of us."
Jun Mo said, "He underestimated the warlords. Wang Jinglue could not have done it."
In the original plan of the Academy, Ning Que would go to the West-Hill, Eldest Brother would go to the small town, and Second Brother, who was seriously injured in the Verdant Canyon, should stay in Chang 'an to ensure the safety of the rear.
But now he was in Qinghe Prefecture, which meant that the Academy was empty.
…
…
At this time, Wang Jinglue was in the Cui Garden by the Fuchun River. Today, the bigwigs of the Qinghe Prefecture gathered together because the West-Hill Divine Palace was holding the Rite to Light. Because of the tense situation in the prefecture, many of them could not go to the Peach Mountain to worship, so they chose to hold the ceremony in the Cui Garden.
He entered the Cui Garden through Cui Huasheng. Looking at the pious bigwigs of the warlords by the river, he frowned. Until now, he still could not figure out who his target was.
The Qinghe Prefecture was ruled by the families. The families relied on history and family rules. But the real reason why Qinghe Prefecture dared to betray Chang 'an was because of the two Knowing Destiny Masters by the Fuchun River.
Not many people knew who the two Knowing Destiny Masters of the Qinghe Prefecture were. Even Wang Jinglue did not know. Even if he knew, it would be difficult for him to complete the task given to him by Ning Que.
At this moment, a wind came from the south. The wind was not as wet as the Great Swamp. The few cultivators in the garden felt a sense of holiness.
The autumn flowers by the river were covered with a faint luster, looking especially holy.
There was an old man under the roofed corridor. He was an unknown person from the branch of the Song family. He was already old and had been dozing off. But now he suddenly opened his eyes.
The Divine Talisman moved the Peach Mountain and the Tianqi shocked the world. All the cultivators knew that something big had happened on the Peach Mountain because they felt the Qi of Heaven and Earth changing drastically.
The accuracy of this perception depended on the state of the cultivator. Grand cultivators like the Drunkard and the Butcher could naturally sense it more clearly. But Wang Jinglue, who was at the peak of the Seethrough State, could only guess roughly.
It was enough for him to guess roughly. According to the agreement between them, as soon as he sensed this, it would be the time to act.
Wang Jinglue had been watching all the movements in the field. Looking at this scene, his heart skipped a beat. He knew that he had finally found one. But how could he force the opponent to release all of his state?
He was known to be invincible among those below the Knowing Destiny State. But just as Chen Pipi had said, he was invincible among those below the Knowing Destiny State. A cultivator in the Knowing Destiny State did not have to release all of his state when facing him.
At this moment, a man wearing a bamboo hat and a walking stick and a woman dressed in red appeared by the stream of the Cui Garden on the banks of the Fuchun River. No one could clearly see how they had appeared.
Urgent alarms sounded in the Cui Garden. The sound of scabbards colliding could be heard everywhere. An ancient array was slowly released from the pond in the garden.
The old man of the Song family slowly raised his head and looked at the man and woman by the stream.
…
…
Jun Mo did not look at the old man of the Song family. Although he knew that the old man was one of the Knowing Destiny State that his Younger Brother was looking for, he was not the one he was looking for. The one he was looking for was even more powerful.
The Cui family of Ruyang was the head of the seven families in Qinghe County. The Cui Garden was their property. The head of the family, Cui Shi, was naturally the one with the highest status. But today, in the Cui Garden, he could only stand.
Because Elder Cui was sitting, he, as his son, could only stand.
Elder Cui had once been a Grand Secretary in Chang 'an and a Prime Minister. When he retired, he was given the title of Grand Tutor. That was why he sat in the Grand Tutor's chair and drank Grand Secretary's tea.
Looking at the man and woman by the stream, Elder Cui slowly put down the tea in his hand. His face revealed a complicated expression. There was some confusion, some fear, and some mockery.
Seeing the man's empty sleeves, he knew the man's identity.
Elder Cui did not expect that the Academy would disregard the agreement with the West-Hill Divine Palace and send someone to Qinghe County. He did not expect it to be this person.
In a very short time, he woke up from his confusion. He remembered that the Headmaster he feared the most had already ascended to heaven. The Academy was no longer the Academy of the past.
"If it was in the past, I think I would not have the courage to fight Mr. Second."
Elder Cui looked at Jun Mo by the stream. His expression gradually became calm. He said, "But you have lost an arm and have not recovered from your injuries. How can you be my opponent?"
With these words, the array in the Cui Garden exploded. It was indeed a family with a long history. The array by the Fuchun River was indeed powerful. The aura of heaven and earth was chilling.
Jun Mo knew that this person's judgment of the situation was correct. If it was in the past, he would have killed all the enemies in the garden with his iron sword alone. But now, he might not even be this person's opponent.
But he did not say anything, nor did he do anything.
Mu You picked up an embroidery needle and pierced it into an autumn lotus in the stream.
Her movements were very natural, as if she had done it unintentionally.
Elder Cui's expression suddenly changed.
The terrifying array by the Fuchun River had been broken in the wind!
The families of Qinghe County indeed had a very rich history. They had existed even longer than the Academy. But that did not mean that they were powerful. Otherwise, the tortoise would have long ruled the world.
Mu You was the bride. She was the Seventh Sister who loved to eat melon seeds, chat, and play cards. She was also the world's most talented array master. She had observed the array for half a day by the Fuchun River and had long seen through it.
Jun Mo looked at Elder Cui quietly.
Elder Cui looked at him and said indifferently, "When I was the Prime Minister, I went to the Academy many times and saw you as a child. I never thought that I would kill you today."
Qinghe County still had many spies in Chang 'an. Elder Cui was very sure that Jun Mo had not recovered from his injuries. More importantly, no one knew that he was not only in the Knowing destiny State, but also at the peak of the Knowing destiny State! Although the big array by the Fuchun River had been easily broken by the girl from the Academy, Elder Cui was still confident that he could kill Jun Mo by the stream!
Wang Jinglue's face became abnormally pale in the crowd.
He could not help but be shocked when he saw Mr. Second appear. He was even more shocked when he realized that Elder Cui was the Knowing destiny State cultivator he had been searching for.
According to Ning Que's plan, he should have made a move now. However, to make a Knowing destiny State cultivator release his full state, he needed a sufficiently powerful person to use powerful means. But from Elder Cui's tone, he seemed to have endless confidence in defeating Mr. Second of the Academy. How could he do it?
Jun Mo did not make a move either. He only took a step forward.
Elder Cui's expression suddenly froze. The elder of the Song household under the corridor stood up with his sword in his arms.
Although everyone knew that Jun Mo had lost an arm and his state was not what it used to be, he was still Jun Mo.
Qinghe County was very close to the Verdant Canyon. The scene of Jun Mo single-handedly fighting ten thousand people in the Battle of the Verdant Canyon at the end of last year was like a nightmare imprinted in people's souls.
No one dared to underestimate Jun Mo. Even if Liu Bai were to fight Jun Mo now, he would definitely treat him as his most powerful enemy.
Elder Cui's aura suddenly rose to the peak of the Knowing destiny State!
He looked at Jun Mo and said with a smile, "Are you surprised?"
Jun Mo looked at him and said, "I am surprised by your stupidity."
The wind suddenly blew, the Fuchun River was chaotic, the stream in the Cui Garden was boiling, and the autumn lotus floated like a dead fish.
An arrow came from the south.
Elder Cui's face suddenly paled, and then it collapsed.
He became hundreds of pieces of flesh and blood, scattered all over the Cui Garden.
Because of the Academy, Elder Cui had kept a low profile his entire life, keeping his cultivation state a secret until he was a hundred years old. Until today, when Jun Mo came to the Cui Garden, he felt that the opportunity had finally come. He wanted to give the Academy a surprise. He wanted to show the edge that he had endured for many years, and he wanted to vent the anger that he had suppressed for so many years.
And so he died without an accident.
From the beginning to the end, he did not have the chance to fight with Jun Mo.
Because Jun Mo did not make a move. He only took a step forward.
He only needed to take a step forward, and his opponent would have to show his full state.
Because he was Jun Mo.
The elder of the Song family saw Elder Cui turn into countless pieces of flesh and blood, and his expression became abnormally terrified. He had been stuck at the lower level of the Short Life State for all these years, and he was still one of the few powerhouses in the world. However, he saw Jun Mo just take a step forward, and Elder Cui, who was at the peak of the Knowing destiny State, died on the spot. How could he still have the courage?
Jun Mo turned to look at him.
The elder of the Song family let out a shrill cry and forced out all his state in despair. The sword in his arms broke through the air.
He was only at the lower level of the Knowing destiny State. Even if he forced out all his state, he was still not bright enough in someone's sea of consciousness. So there was no second iron arrow from the south.
Jun Mo stretched out his left hand and clenched it slightly in the autumn wind.
The flying sword suddenly turned in the air and pierced deeply into the chest of the elder of the Song family.
…
…
(Let me say a few words to everyone. It has nothing to do with canvassing for votes. Yesterday I said two chapters, and today's chapter is more than 4,000 words. I really can't write anymore because I need to think clearly about some problems.
I thought I had written well recently. I finished earlier last night, so I went back and read it again. In the end, I found that many of the chapters were terrible, really terrible, and I couldn't even find an excuse. I was a little dissatisfied, so I went to read the first volume of The Coming of Night. I found that the first volume was better, but the first few chapters were so dull and stale. Then I went to the second volume, Possessed by the Devil, and found that it was so long. I was still dissatisfied, so I read my favorite Battle of the Verdant Canyon. Only then did I realize that Jun Mo and Liu Bai's fight was so troublesome. I actually used so many damn short sentences and so many repetitive words.
So I had insomnia again. It was pure discomfort. I didn't know why it was like this. I really had a problem with my emotions. It turned out that I didn't write as well as I thought I could. I used to think that I wrote very well. I always thought that this was what I was best at and what I was most proud of. But today, I felt that it was really bad, really bad. You don't need to comfort me, I can see it myself.
This was a problem of seriousness, time, and ability. If one's ability was not good, it would be difficult to improve in a short period of time. The first two should be able to improve, so all the problems were ultimately my own problems. It was a problem of attitude and diligence.
I didn't know why I thought so. Maybe after a few days, I would feel that The Coming of Night was especially good. Was it just a period of self-doubt? But I was really depressed. I felt that it was really bad, and I didn't want it to be like this. Tomorrow was the fourth of Saturday. Originally, I thought that it would be double, so I wanted to postpone my leave until later. But now that I was in such a bad mood, I didn't want my monthly vote anymore. Tomorrow, I would rest as usual and reflect on myself.
At night, I saw another book review. I found out that the reader, Shooting Bird, had passed away in a car accident in March. His wife posted a post in the book review section, saying that he had been looking forward to writing The Coming of Night until August. I replied that I would write well, so I would definitely write well in the future, better than the previous ones. Cherish the present, we can't waste life. May he rest in peace, and may his wife live a happy life.) (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian.Com to vote for me. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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