The gathering was warm and interesting, but everyone had their own things to do, so they would naturally disperse later. When Ning Ji returned home, he continued to practice martial arts according to what he had learned today. He did not go to monitor the little dog.
The next day was the Double Seventh Festival. It was the time when women prayed to the moon and looked forward to marriage. For men, the main program was to worship the Leading Star and pray for fame. The Huaxia army held many activities on this day. The most lively one was probably the discount of several designated examination books in the book market.
For example, the price of the exquisitely printed collection Principle of Investigating Things was reduced to an ordinary rough print. The quality of the paper alone was very attractive. Because the various rules of the examination had just been released yesterday, a large number of scholars went to buy the books on this day, causing congestion in various specialty shops. The great scholars and celebrities stayed in the nearby teahouses to identify people and scold them bitterly. Some people shouted that this was an overt plot of the Huaxia army to divide people and call for unity.
On the surface, most of the people who bought the books were poor scholars. Some of them bowed their heads and left after buying the books, while some of them were righteous and did not care about the criticism of a group of great scholars. In the afternoon of this day, many people gradually asked others to buy the books on their behalf. The Huaxia army did not stop them. They limited each person to buy two books, one for their own use, and the other could be secretly sold to others.
The chaotic situation accompanied the bustle of the festival. On this day, Ning Ji, who was working in the martial arts competition venue, heard a lot of discussions outside. There was also a group fight between scholars on the nearby streets, which made the crowd and martial artists watching the competition in the venue run out to see the fun. When they came back, they sighed and said that the scene was a mess. Unfortunately, the Huaxia army arrived too early and did not kill anyone.
In the next few days, the wind in the city was often so restless and chaotic. For Ning Ji, the most profound feeling was probably that the number of participants in the martial arts competition had increased greatly. There were also gradually more and more martial artists with internal skills and extraordinary skills.
In the outside world, after a month or two of gathering and working together, the leaders of scholars and martial artists had become famous through this big gathering. People who had the same purpose gradually recognized their companions and gathered together.
Among them, there were Confucian scholars who wanted to directly overwhelm the Huaxia army in terms of knowledge, so they were the most open and aboveboard. Some scholars who had strong ideas and became increasingly wary of the Huaxia army began to dive into the water and secretly contact like-minded people. Some of the scholars swayed left and right and were the most idle. There were also a few who accepted the Huaxia army's ideas of the four people, the investigation of things, and enlightenment, and began to openly oppose the great Confucian scholars. Of course, it was not easy to tell how many of them were spies.
As for the martial artists, several masters of the Internal Style finally began to show their overwhelming strength in the arena, which made Ning Ji's enthusiasm to watch the martial arts competition rise a little. However, with the news that the Huaxia Army was going to select talents from the Martial Arts Competition, the desire of the warriors to perform became stronger. There were often incidents of breaking people's hands and feet, which greatly increased his workload.
Sometimes, Huang Shan would come over to greet him and chat with him. Before these bad guys started to work, Ning Ji had begun to hate them.
He worked during the day and wandered at night. He went to Wen Shoubin's place to listen to all kinds of strange remarks and to watch Qu Longjun, who was locked in the yard all day long. After a long time, he found that women were really terrible.
Qu Longjun had been locked in the yard for more than a month since she came to Chengdu. She didn't feel bored watching the same scenery every day. Ning Ji had been running around in the mountains since he was a child, learning martial arts from masters and watching the army training. There were also girls among his childhood friends, who had learned martial arts from Aunt Hongti and Aunt Gua. They were usually no different from boys, and they were vicious. Sometimes they fought in groups without scruples, which gave Ning Ji a headache. For these girls, they could be alive and kicking in the wild for ten days without food. But if Qu Longjun was locked in the yard for three days, she would probably cry for her parents.
They really had their own specialties …
While the bad guys talked nonsense but didn't do anything, Ning Ji's thoughts became more and more scattered. He looked at Qu Longjun and didn't want to kill her as much as before.
Since he came down from the battlefield, he went to see the families of many dead comrades. Then he heard that these enemies were going to make trouble. He was full of anger and wanted to kill whoever offended him. Who would have thought that after a month of surveillance, his ambitions would be worn down by the enemy. Sometimes Qu Longjun was in a daze downstairs, and he was in a daze upstairs. He only felt that these people were really sad, annoying, and pitiful.
After the hottest but not uncomfortable dog days, on the 13th of July, Chen Fan, his brother, and sister-in-law came to celebrate his birthday. In the evening, Aunt Gua and his father, who were busy every day, also secretly came to encourage him to make progress in his studies and make progress every day. It was the clear early autumn when he had just turned fourteen.
Time passed day by day. On the surface, Chengdu was restless, but it didn't seem to be in chaos …
*****
In the middle of the seventh month, yellow paper and white banners floated in the sky. During the day, there were occasional ox-headed and horse-faced people walking on the street.
Qu Longjun lit some paper money in the north corner of the yard to pay tribute to her father who died in the hands of the Huaxia Army many years ago.
In various places of the Chengdu plain, there were also big and small memorial services. Under the auspicious sunshine, in a captive camp near the station of the First Division of the Fifth Army of Huaxia in the north of Meizhou, Wanyan Qingjue stood in a high fence and looked at the scene of the cavalry gathering and setting off not far away.
"What's wrong?"
"Something happened to Han Gou …"
"Someone came to save us?"
This captive camp was not big, and there were many selected high-level captives in the middle. They already knew that they would be taken to Chengdu to participate in the captive offering ceremony in half a month. This would be one of the most humiliating moments for the Jurchen tribe in the past forty years, but there was no other way.
However, at this moment, a group of Jurchen nobles and generals who had enough brains for war could see that the Huaxia Army's expedition this time was unusual. They thought that they had met with some unexpected situation, and they couldn't help but think of something.
Of course, looking at the guards around the camp, they understood that it was impossible to escape. They could only hope that the marshal or the Goddess of Grains would have some good idea and come up with a good plan to rescue them …
Back in Chengdu, in the afternoon, Watermelon had already packed her luggage and was ready to leave Yingbin Road with a team of guards. Ning Yi sent her off for a while. "Take care this time."
"I'm leaving, you take care too. I have a feeling that some people can't hold back anymore." Watermelon held her husband's hand and looked slightly troubled. "Why don't we ask Sister Hongti to come over …"
"There are so many people here, and Chen Fan is watching in the dark. What's there to be hesitant about?" Ning Yi smiled. "If you leave, it'll be easier for them to fall in. Don't worry, what can a few gangsters do? Your man is a veteran, and anyone who comes will die."
"… After all, it's the blood-handed butcher who shocked the world." Watermelon hesitated for a while, but still smiled.
Ning Yi slapped her. "Alright, don't talk nonsense. Just leave the city with great fanfare. "
The two of them said goodbye to each other again. Watermelon brought her guards and rode towards the west gate of Chengdu. Along the way, she could feel an unusual stare.
…
At the same time, Elder Lu Liutong was at a gathering as the most important guest. In the courtyard, some young martial artists were sparring with each other, and he was giving some pointers to the older martial artists beside him.
"The most important thing in martial arts is still this kind of communication. Speaking of which, during the Jianshuo era, the Central Plains fell into enemy hands, and it also promoted the spread of the Northern Fist to the south. Look at these two martial artists' stances, the traces of the North and the South are very clear … In my opinion, if there is, it's a good thing because there is communication. If it's very clear, it's a bad thing because there is not enough communication … "
Although he was old, he had a lot of knowledge. After giving some pointers, everyone nodded and sighed. The two young martial artists who received pointers were even more delighted. They both felt that listening to the words of these older martial artists was better than practicing at home for ten years.
At the venue of the martial arts competition, Lu Liutong's son, Lu Xiaolun, broke one of his opponent's legs with a yellow mud hand. When the referee announced his victory, he was still talking to his opponent. Seeing the man holding the broken leg and rolling on the ground, he sneered. "I told you to jump. Are you going to jump or not?"
The young doctor who jumped onto the stage to treat the injured man with the broken leg pushed him away. With a cold face, he said unhappily, "Don't block me, you win."
"Hey, his injury can't be cured. Don't waste your time, he's lame!"
"Go away."
The young doctor squatted on the ground and began to skillfully deal with the emergency. The corner of Lu Xiaolun's eyes moved. He had been treating people with broken bones all year round, so he was also good at treating. This young doctor looked very skilled, so he might really be able to cure 70% to 80% of his opponent. This young doctor might be from the Huaxia Army who came down from the battlefield. Lu Xiaolun immediately disliked the cold face of the Huaxia Army.
Just like the ungrateful guys like Ba Dao that day, they were arrogant and proud!
After the referee announced the victory, he got off the stage and walked over to the injured man and the young doctor who were giving first aid. He stood beside them and said, "Little friend, have you been to the battlefield?"
The young doctor's face was stained with blood. His eyes were focused and he ignored him. Lu Xiaolun walked to the side and casually pulled with his feet. He wanted to silently pull that person's broken leg askew again.
He had just lifted his foot casually when, for some reason, the young doctor's hand had already pressed on his thigh. The strength of the young doctor was not great, but he had pressed his leg back before he could exert any force. In an instant, the hair on Lu Xiaolun's back stood up. The young doctor who was squatting on the ground looked at him like a cold snake. "What are you doing? Walk better. "
As he said that, he let go of his hand. That moment of coldness faded away like an illusion. Lu Xiaolun walked out of the arena.
His back was faintly covered in cold sweat.
Lu Xiaolun was already in his early fifties. When he was young, he liked to enjoy life and socialize. Although he traveled everywhere, the occasional socializing had indeed broadened his horizons. Now, he could be said to be skilled in martial arts in the forest. But at that moment, he could not even tell if the young doctor's intuition or martial arts had stopped him.
He only vaguely felt that if the other party had martial arts skills and had any sharp weapons in his hands, the blood vessels in his thigh would have been cut open. Such a vital part had been casually pressed by someone, and he actually could not react in time. Was the other party's martial arts skills high, or was he careless …
Considering the other party's age, he believed that the biggest possibility was that he had been careless.
The early autumn evening sunlight shone on the streets of Chengdu. After he met up with a junior brother who had followed him here, he walked towards the place where his father was attending the gathering not far away. On the way, he kept thinking about the young military doctor. After walking a few streets, on a street with few pedestrians, the junior brother beside him suddenly tugged at him. Lu Xiaolun raised his head and looked ahead. A tall man wearing a grayish-white headscarf was walking towards them. His eyes did not look kind.
This man was tall and sturdy. He was half a head taller than Lu Xiaolun. The joints of his hands were thick, and his fists and knuckles were full of calluses. Clearly, he was also a skilled person from the forest. Lu Xiaolun did not care about the other party's build. He had learned to break bones in his life, so he was not afraid of hard body skills. Instead, some swift and sharp weapons could pose a threat to him. He looked at the other party and cupped his hands.
"Who are you, sir?"
The man's footsteps were steady, and he was still walking over while shaking his fists. "Lu Xiaolun, the successor of Old Man Liu Tong. Recently, people in the city have been talking about the weakness of the Tyrant Blade. I'm here to test your martial arts skills. "
Recently, Lu Xiaolun and his father had been attending various gatherings. He had also paid attention to the experts who had come to Chengdu to participate in the Martial Arts Tournament. However, he did not have any impression of this person in front of him. The other party's attitude was calm. In the blink of an eye, he was in front of Lu Xiaolun. He opened his arms, and with his figure, he really did have an imposing manner that could devour heaven and earth. Lu Xiaolun pounced forward.
Their arms collided twice in the air. Lu Xiaolun only felt pain in his arms. He put his arms together and used the Eagle Claw skill to grab the other party's left arm. He grabbed it and was about to break it. The wind from the punch whistled by his side!
This punch went along the left side of Lu Xiaolun's ribs. He felt his internal organs churning, and he wanted to vomit out the food he ate the night before. The surging pain spread to his head. The next moment, his Eagle Claw could no longer hold on to the other party's arm. The other party took a step back and punched Lu Xiaolun in the face. After that, he grabbed Lu Xiaolun and took a step forward, spinning and throwing him away.
Lu Xiaolun's body rolled for seven or eight feet on the road, and the yellow soil on the ground flew up. The junior brother who was standing at the side was about to rush forward, but the big man punched him with a vinegar-bowl-sized fist, knocking him to the ground and causing him to faint.
Lu Xiaolun spat out a mouthful of blood on the ground. He wanted to get up, but because his stomach was churning, he struggled but failed. The big man didn't want to kill them. At this moment, looking at the two brothers on the road, he finally shook his head. "Sigh, fishing for fame again …"
"You are, you … are …"
Lu Xiaolun resisted the feeling of vomiting and spoke with difficulty. After living in the forest for thirty years, he knew that he could take a beating, but he had to know the identity of his own people. For example, if he was beaten by Zhou Dong, Lin Zongwu, or his inner demon, it should be a glorious achievement to not die after being beaten. The man in front of him was so strong, how could he be unknown?
Under the setting sun, the man didn't answer. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared on the other side of the road.
…
The figure who beat Lu Xiaolun passed through several streets. When he arrived outside the martial arts arena, he saw that today's competition was about to end. He found a bamboo hat and put it on. He quietly looked at the resumes and deeds of the 'experts' in front of the billboards on the roadside. He estimated their martial arts skills and hoped to find some clues about the power of the Huaxia army. Or, he hoped to find out how strong the inner demon's martial arts skills were.
These days, he had been carefully looking for companions who might be trustworthy. He thought that the Lu family, who were boasted to be the leader of the forest and seemed to have some grudges with Domineering Blade, would be very powerful. Who knew that after a fight, it was another scoundrel.
Looking at the crowd walking out of the martial arts arena, his gaze was slightly complicated. He had practiced boxing all his life and loved martial arts so much that he was crazy about it. If it was possible, he originally wanted to join such a fight between experts and see the real situation of the world's martial arts.
But it didn't matter.
This time, it was Left Prime Minister Tie Yan who personally came to visit him and begged him to come out of retirement.
A warrior would die for a bosom friend.
He could only let go of some small interests.
Wang Xiangfo thought so in his heart.
After watching for a while, he walked forward and left the street. On the side of the road, the junior doctor, who had bought a portion of pig head meat, stepped on the road home and passed by him.
*****
The sun sank into the horizon. Some people were gathering in private.
"… If we don't act soon, the Huaxia army will finish dealing with the surrounding matters and enter the city."
"… Today's meeting is for this matter."
"… This afternoon, Liu Watermelon brought some people out of the city."
"… She has to go deal with an urgent matter."
"… After the southwest war, the Huaxia army captured nearly forty thousand Jin soldiers, and the number of Han soldiers who surrendered totaled more than a hundred thousand …"
"… The arrangement and incorporation of these people, the control of the entire Sichuan Fourth Road, and all kinds of aftermath have exhausted the strength of the Fifth Army of Huaxia …"
"… They are preparing to take action. At the beginning of August, they will hold a military parade and present prisoners of war …"
"… Militaristic."
"… There's no use scolding them …"
"… The Huaxia army needs time to deal with matters. Our people can't come fast enough. Right now, it's noisy outside. Now it seems that if we don't act soon, these scholars will have internal strife …"
"… If we want to do something, we only have this little time …"
"… Fortunately, something happened to that old ox head next to them …"
"… The Domineering Blade surnamed Liu has appeared to calm the situation. I heard that the First Division of the Fifth Army of Huaxia has also received the order to move out urgently. In this way, their military strength will be tight for a few more days …"
"… Zhongyuan festival, open the gates of hell. In a few days … Everyone, what do you think? "
…
…
…
Time was silent for a long time. Then, someone knocked his finger down.
Bang.
"… Hundreds will respond to a single call."
…
…
In the courtyard, Ning Ji, who came back a little late, lit the yellow paper and placed the pig head meat in front of him as a memorial to the two or three people in his memory. The autumn night was even more pleasant. He was not at the age to really understand the meaning of memorial. After talking for a while, he ate the pig head meat with rice.
Summer was over, and he was one year older. It was peaceful outside, completely different from the atmosphere before the Female Zhenren came. There might not be any fighting and killing in the future.
… Disappointment.
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