The sky was gloomy as if it was going to rain again. Near the city gate of Jiangning, the soldiers guarding the city were closely checking the pedestrians going in and out. The vegetable vendors who entered the city were checked very strictly. It was even more difficult for them to leave the city. It had been more than ten days since the assassination of Song Xian. Near the city gate of Jiangning, it was still a scene of killing.
When a group of soldiers walked over from not far away, she hid in a nearby alley. "… It has been almost half a month. These days are still good.
A few days ago, when a cockroach left the city, they even wanted to turn it over and check it … Three great bandits were caught. In this way, it can be considered as indirectly eliminating evil for the people … It shouldn't last for long. After all, Jiangning is a big city. If this goes on, everyone will curse. The business of the shop has been affected these days. The imperial court has appointed officials … What does it have to do with the people? That Song Xian already has a bad reputation … But no matter what, I still think it is too risky for you to go out like this … How are your injuries? "
In the room, Ning Yi was doing experiments while talking endlessly. Lu Hongti stood not far from the experiment table, watching him mix some solution and then light up the alcohol lamp. She did not answer the question about his injuries.
"What are you doing?"
When Ning Yi poured the liquid into a cup and threw a rusty iron rod into it, she finally opened her mouth to ask. Smoke began to sizzle from the inside.
"Some chemical reactions. I don't know what I am doing …"
"Chemical reactions?"
"…"
"Huh?"
Ning Yi shrugged and looked at Lu Hongti, who had a strange expression. He then smiled and said, "I don't believe it. How do I magnify it?"
"Oh, there is a certain pattern. Let me show you the most basic one." Ning Yi said as he took a small box from the shelf next to him. He took out an irregularly shaped piece of glass and pushed a book over.
"This is a fragment of a glass cannon lamp sold in the market. It's not easy to find the ideal two sides that are protruding, but we can use it to look at it. Look, isn't the handwriting bigger? "
At this time, glass was already being sold on the market. It was called colored glass. It was probably different from the sodium-calcium glass in the West, but the transparency was already very high. Ning Yi didn't plan to study this at the moment. Otherwise, he would probably have to find a way to get a telescope. Now that she was showing off, the woman squinted her eyes and said, "Water droplets can be enlarged too, but I've never seen anything bigger than this."
"Once you understand the principle, you can magnify it. Studying things is the principle of studying all living things, haha …"
"But why is it that you scholars have studied things for so many years, yet you still haven't seen anything bigger than a water drop icicle?"
"Uh …"
For a moment, Ning Yi was speechless. He smiled and said, "Actually, according to what you said, you're doing this chemical reaction because you want to turn stone into gold?"
"When I really understand it, I can do anything. Some chemical reactions are unstable. If the unstable ones are stimulated, they will produce high heat and expand. Then, with a bang … Just like that bag of gunpowder on the shelf next to you. If its power can be increased by five or ten times, what do you think it can be used for? Ah, right … "As he spoke, Ning Yi took out the rusty iron rod from the quilt and washed it with some water." Look, the rust is gone. "
"You boiled it and then washed it with water," the woman said expressionlessly. Ning Yi rolled his eyes, but the woman laughed.
"That's a crooked way of doing things. Although I don't understand it, I don't believe you."
"If you really understand, then I won't tell you …" Ning Yi shook his head and sighed. "Right, martial arts masters all have very cool nicknames. What's yours?"
"Lu Hongti."
"It's too old-fashioned to not have a nickname. You have to choose a cool one. Otherwise, people will laugh at you if they hear that you don't have a nickname. Look at Fang La, who is rebelling outside. He calls himself Saint Duke and is very domineering. When he rebelled, many people came … I think it's time to prepare for this. How about we discuss and call him Invincible Iron Fist Lu Hongti … That's not appropriate. You can run fast, so you can call him Piercing North Forest Kick. But now people talk about serving the country and the people. How about Iron Sword Lu Hongti? Isn't it a bit too domineering … Or do you want to be more low-key? Hey, come out and talk … "
"Boring."
Lu Hongti turned back to the inner room coldly and closed the door. She put the long sword on the ground and couldn't help laughing. After a while, she asked, "Why weren't you upset at all when I said you couldn't learn martial arts?"
"You didn't say I couldn't learn martial arts." Ning Yi was probably mixing reagents again. "You mean I can't learn your internal strength."
"Huh? You're so confident that there's an internal strength for you to learn? "
"I've asked around about this. It's just a guess … Since internal strength is a way to exert force with breathing, even if there are extreme ways to force people to practice from a young age, there should be more people studying the way adults exert force. Even if the effect isn't as good as yours, there should be some effect. This … shouldn't be wrong."
There was a long silence. "You really want to learn? Do you think I'll teach you? "
"I don't know. How about this? You teach me martial arts and tell me your wish. As long as it's reliable, I'll find a way to help you achieve it."
"A businessman?"
"No, I've never thought of taking advantage of you. Why don't you treat it as an equivalent exchange?"
"Although the arts of the sect are not good, it's not something that can be casually exchanged with others. You saved my life, so I should repay you. You can also ask me to do something for you. But I won't teach you martial arts. I can't see why a scholar like you would want to learn martial arts. You don't go to the battlefield, and you don't want to use martial arts to fight with others. You're just … curious, so you want to learn it for fun … "Her speech gradually sped up." You scholars talk about fighting ten thousand enemies every time you open your mouth, about saving the world and saving the people. But now, there are so many of you scholars, and I can't see how you save them … You're a talented person, yet you waste your talent on these crooked ways. Why don't you go save the world and save the people? Establishing life for the people, establishing peace for all ages … If you can establish peace for all ages, I'll give you anything in exchange. How about it? "
Confucianism had prevailed in this world for thousands of years. The Wu dynasty had flourished even more. Perhaps this woman hadn't read much, but she had heard many principles and understood them. Perhaps these words weren't directed at Ning Yi. Ning Yi smiled. "Establishing peace for all ages? This proposition is too broad and too general. Your wish isn't very reliable."
"Heh, then I'll have peace for all ages."
"That depends on the Wu dynasty, the world, or peace for the people …"
"What if it's peace for the people?"
"It's not worth it. I've spent so much time and effort, and I'll lose my entire life. I can't train to become a top-notch expert, and if I have to do so many things, I won't have time to train. I'm afraid it'll be difficult for me to become a second-rate expert … "
"Heh, what big words. You scholars … all have big words." Lu Hongti laughed inside, thinking that Ning Yi was joking. "Civil and military are two different paths. I know many of you scholars have skills, but they're different. There's no need for you to learn. You don't go to the battlefield, don't fight with others, and don't have true ruthlessness. Perhaps you can't even bear to pick up a knife to kill a chicken. There's no use in learning it. It'll only distract you, and it'll affect your original career … I don't think there's a need to teach you. "
"Tsk, think about it …" Ning Yi shrugged. "Besides, I can still kill a chicken."
There was still time. Ning Yi wasn't in a hurry. After that, he changed the topic. In the cloudy room, he continued to talk about the follow-up story of the demi-gods and semi-devils. In fact, Lu Hongti was a little depressed. If she had told him in advance, she would have to listen to the content she already knew when the little maid came tomorrow. But at this time, she couldn't bear it.
The next day, she heard footsteps at the door and heard the crow of a hen. That guy walked outside and knocked on the door. "Come out, come out. I have something for you to see." Lu Hongti walked out and saw that he was holding a small package in his hand. He grabbed a hen and pointed at the stove. "Help me boil some hot water. Thank you." It was obvious that he wanted to show off his ruthlessness in killing a chicken in front of her. Lu Hongti didn't know whether to laugh or cry. The young man had a temperament that seemed to make people feel that whatever he did, even if it was strange and deviant, was natural.
She went to the side and turned on the stove to boil some hot water. The wind chimes under the eaves rang softly. Ning Yi skillfully killed the hen, then removed its feathers, washed its internal organs, and opened the small package to prepare all kinds of seasonings. After brushing it once, he prepared to skewer the hen with an iron rod.
"I have received reliable information that in two days, the defense at the city gate will be withdrawn. The magistrate's office can't hold on any longer. But after the public sentries are withdrawn, the hidden sentries will probably be more vigilant. I don't know how your injury is. During this time, I can't bring any delicious food over. Today, I will treat you. In the future, when you travel in Jianghu, don't say that I, the bloody butcher Ning Liheng, treat you badly … Uh, it's best not to say that I have treated you well … "
"You gave yourself a nickname?"
"How is it? Is it full of murderous intent? "
"It sounds terrible …"
"This chicken can testify. The nickname is very appropriate."
Ning Yi didn't lower himself to her level. He prepared all kinds of powder, including cumin, and then slightly changed the stove. Lu Hongti said, "My injury has recovered by 50%. If I want to go out now, I will have to take risks. If I fully recover, it won't be a problem for me to not go through the city gate."
Ning Yi was stunned. "So … I still have a chance to get the martial arts secret manual out of your mouth?"
"You are … really annoying."
"Hehe." Ning Yi laughed and stopped provoking her. He began to roast the chicken on the charcoal fire. This was a new recipe made by the chef of Takeshi. After a while, the aroma filled the air. Thunder rumbled outside, and it seemed that it was going to rain again. Ning Yi turned his head.
"By the way, it's not convenient for me to ask you. Why did you kill Song Xian?"
On the other side, Lu Hongti's eyes narrowed slightly. Like a cat whose hair stood on end, she looked at Ning Yi …
*****
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