The world was like the autumn wind, and life was like the fallen leaves.
Some memories vaguely seemed to exist in the previous life. The past life would leave traces in the present life, but not many. If one thought about it carefully, it could be said that it didn't exist.
In the city of Wozhou, Lin Chong and his wife had lived in peace for many years. As time went by, even the tattoos on people's faces would fade. Because no one talked about it anymore, he gradually forgot about it.
In this fleeting time, many things had happened, but where was it not like this? Whether it was the fake peace or the chaos and restlessness of the world, as long as people stayed together and stayed calm, no matter how bumpy it was, there would be a place to go back.
People in this world had to suffer. After all, the real heaven didn't exist anywhere …
"We need to buy the rice in the house."
On the morning of the 3rd of July, Xu Jinhua said this to Lin Chong during breakfast. Their child, Mu Anping, was eating a steamed bun next to them. Lin Chong nodded: "Recently, the price of rice has increased."
"It's said that there will be a war again."
"It's not the first time. When Lady Zhenren attacked the capital, we came here. It will be fine. We have already surrendered. "
"It's not peaceful outside." Xu Jinhua muttered. Lin Chong smiled: "I will bring a cold melon back tonight."
"It's expensive. Don't waste money."
Lin Chong smiled and nodded. After breakfast, an old constable with the surname Zheng came to find him. He took the white spear and followed him to work.
Wozhou was located in the north of the Central Plains. It was on the border between Prince Jin's force and Wang Juyun's bandits. It was not peaceful, but it was not chaotic either. Lin Chong worked for the government, but he was not an official constable. He was a patrolman under the name of an official constable. Due to the chaotic times, it was not easy to find a job in the yamen. Lin Chong was not a strong-willed person, and he had lost interest in making a name for himself these past few years. Therefore, he used his connections to find a job to make a living. After all, he was quite capable, and after all these years in the city of Vaud, he was finally able to live a stable life.
His companion, Arrester Zheng, was a government official. He was a bit older, so Lin Chong called him "Big Brother Zheng". Over the past few years, the two of them had been on good terms. Arrester Zheng had also tried to persuade Lin Chong to find some connections and send some gifts so that he could officially become a government official. In the end, Chong Lin gave up.
He was already living a stable life, but in the end, he was still afraid of the filth above.
"I'm about to get my job done." On the way to the yamen, Big Brother Zheng chatted with Lin Chong about family matters. His son, Zheng Xiaoguan, was 18 years old this year. He learned some martial arts and wanted to work in the yamen. He talked to the yamen's advisor, but he found a better way. It was Qi Ao, the young master of the Qi family outside of Vaud, who was recruiting family warriors. Qi Ao's family was a branch of an even bigger family. It used to be a big family in Hebei and Hedong, led by the great scholar Qi Yan. After they turned to the Jurchen, they still had a great influence in the Central Plains.
Through this kind of relationship, Zheng Xiaoguan could join the Qi family and work for this young master of the Qi family. He had a great future. "Today, the advisor is going to invite Young Master Qi to Xiaoyan Restaurant. He allowed me to bring a small official with me, and he also asked me to arrange a girl for Young Master Qi. He said that the girl must be plump."
"Then go to Jinlou and find one," Lin Chong said. After being a constable for so many years, he was well aware of the various situations in Ozhou City.
"We have to find a top girl." Since it was related to his son's future, Constable Zheng was very serious. "The martial arts club has also asked Xiaobao's master to invite Grandmaster Tian to accompany him. Unfortunately, Grandmaster Tian is busy today and can't go. But Grandmaster Tian also knows Young Master Qi, so he promised to put in a good word for Xiaobao in the future."
Lin Chong nodded. Tian Weishan was a famous martial arts master around Vaud. He had a lot of influence in the government and the army. This was a relationship that Lin Chong, Constable Zheng, and the others usually couldn't reach. If they could use this relationship well, they would never have to worry about anything for the rest of their lives.
While they were talking, they arrived at the yamen. It was another normal day of patrol. It was the beginning of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. The weather was hot and the sun was scorching, but it was not uncomfortable for Lin Chong. In the afternoon, he went out to buy some rice and a watermelon. He left it at the yamen for the time being. When it was almost evening, the advisor asked him to work overtime on behalf of Constable Zheng. Lin Chong agreed and watched as the advisor and Constable Zheng left.
That night, a very ordinary thing happened.
Sometimes in our lives, we will encounter some things like this. If it never happened, we would have lived our lives normally. But somewhere, it will eventually fall on someone's head, and everyone else will be able to continue with their simple lives.
This year was already the ninth year of the Wu Dynasty's Jian Shuo. Compared to the Jinghan Dynasty of the past, it was a long enough time for people to forget many things. On the third day of the seventh month, Lin Chong's life came to an end.
On this day, the advisor of the Vaud government, Chen Zeng, invited Young Master Qi Ao of the Qi family to a banquet at the Xiaoyan Restaurant in the city. The guests and the host were happy. After eating and drinking to their heart's content, Chen Zeng asked Zheng Xiaoguan to come out and practice a set of boxing to liven things up. After the matter was settled, Chen Zeng sent Constable Zheng and his son away. He accompanied Young Master Qi to the Golden Restaurant to spend the rest of his time. Young Master Qi, who had drunk too much, got off the carriage and wandered on the street in a drunken state. Xu Jinhua came out of her room with a basin of water and poured it on the street. A few drops of water splashed onto Young Master Qi's clothes.
Qi Ao walked into Lin Chong's house.
By the time Constable Zheng and his son arrived, the matter was already coming to an end. There were not many people living in the nearby streets. Because of Qi Ao's bodyguards, most people were hiding in their homes. But there were certainly some who had seen what had happened. Chen Zeng pulled Constable Zheng back. "This is Mu Yi's house," said Chen Zeng.
"Young Master Qi was drunk. I couldn't stop him." Chen Zeng was taken aback. In the past few years, he hadn't had much contact with Lin Chong. The official's opinion of this good-tempered colleague was that he "knew some kung fu". After thinking for a moment, he said, "You have to settle this matter."
Qi Ao came out of the house, swaying. He tidied up his clothes, and stumbled back into the carriage. Patrolman Zheng, Zheng Xiaoguan, and that person went in together. He told them what he knew about Lin Chong. "He's a person who doesn't like to cause trouble, but … he most likely knows some martial arts. He's very strong, and there's a tattoo on his face. Back when the Wu Dynasty was still around, he was a person who committed a great crime …"
"Then we have to find a way to deal with it."
"Alas … alas …" Constable Zheng sighed. "I'll talk to him first. I'll talk to him first."
In the room, Xu Jinhua was already dead. The floor was covered in blood. The child Mu Anping was lying on the floor. It seemed that he had been knocked out by Young Master Qi. He slowly woke up and began to shout. Constable Zheng went over and held him. "Don't shout, don't shout. I'm your Uncle Zheng …"
"Mother … mother …" The child's voice was shrill and shrill. Zheng Xiaoguan, who had some dealings with Lin Chong's family, was at a loss for what to do. Constable Zheng knocked Mu Anping out again and handed him to Zheng Xiaoguan. "Hurry up, hurry up. Take Anping to another place. Call your uncles here to deal with this matter … Mu Yi usually has no temper, but he is very skilled. I'm afraid that if he does something stupid, I won't be able to control him …"
Zheng Xiaoguan carried Mu Anping and left as if he was flying. He ran very fast, and the people he called also came very fast. Before the old patrolman could figure out how to deal with Xu Jinhua, Zheng Xiaoguan's hesitant voice came from outside, "Uncle, Uncle Mu, don't … don't go in …"
"What do you mean don't go in? Come, I bought some cold melons. Let's eat together. You …"
Something had stopped here.
It was not just a sound.
Constable Zheng didn't know what to say. The watermelon fell to the ground. The color was similar to the color of blood. Chong Lin walked to his wife's side and reached out to feel her pulse. He timidly felt it a few times, and then his tall body suddenly collapsed to the ground. His body began to tremble like a leaf in the wind.
"Fake, fake, fake …"
Then, he vaguely heard Constable Zheng say something. He didn't know what those words meant, and he didn't know where they came from. The mortal world was like the autumn wind, and life was like the fallen leaves. His leaves fell to the ground, and everything collapsed.
Some memories, no matter how far away they were, could be clearly seen in front of his eyes. That high-spirited youth, the helplessness and indignation after being framed, the humiliating tattoo. Gao Qiu, Gao Muen, wandering from place to place, Liang Shan, troubled times. The sabers, spears, swords, halberds, spears, spears, and armored horses, they pierced through the gray screen like a mountain toppling the sea. Xu Jinhua and the child were lying in a pool of blood.
The scouring of time would make the tattoo on a person's face fade. However, there would always be something lurking on the other side of the body like maggots in tarsal bones. It accumulated there every day and every year, causing people to feel an unbearable pain.
"… This is not the first time … This is the way of the world … Brother Mu … marry another one, marry a better one … Think about it, we are all ordinary people. There's nothing we can do. The emperor was captured by the Female Zhenren and sent to the north to be a dog. Brother Mu, this is not the first time you've worked in the yamen. You have to accept it …"
Amidst the countless sounds of collapsing, the nagging noises occasionally mixed in. Lin Chong's body sat paralyzed for a long time. He knelt and slowly crawled forward. In front of Xu Jinhua's body, a mournful cry finally came from his throat. But facing the body, he didn't dare to reach his hand out. Constable Zheng pulled a quilt over and covered the naked corpse. Some people came over to drag Lin Chong, and some people tried to support him. Lin Chong's body swayed, and he wailed loudly. Not many people had heard a man cry so pitifully.
This cry lasted for a long time. In the room, two of Constable Zheng's cousins supported Lin Chong. Zheng Xiaoguan and the others also surrounded him. Constable Zheng occasionally said a few words to comfort him. In the darkness of the night outside the room, some people came to see, and some people left. Lin Chong was supported to sit on a chair. Many things collapsed, and many things emerged again. What that voice said was reasonable. In fact, this kind of thing had happened more than once or twice over the years. When Tian Hu was still alive, it wasn't strange for Tian Hu's relatives to rob and plunder in his territory. When the Female Zhenren came, the number of people who were killed and died in vain was more than one or two. This was a chaotic world to begin with. Those with power would naturally oppress those without power. When he saw it in the government, he could only feel it and hope that it would never happen to him.
Obviously, such a chaotic time had passed peacefully …
Why did it happen …
In the room, Lin Chong dragged Constable Zheng, who was walking over. Constable Zheng struggled a bit, but Lin Chong grabbed his neck and pressed him on the wooden table: "Where is it …" Even Constable Zheng couldn't hear his own voice clearly.
The surrounding people rushed over, and Zheng Xiaoguan also hurried over: "Uncle Mu, Uncle Mu …"
"Brother Mu, don't be impulsive …"
"Don't act recklessly, it's okay …"
Many arms reached out, pushing him, holding him back. Constable Zheng patted the hand on his neck. Lin Chong reacted and let go of the hand to let him speak. The old man stood up and comforted him: "Brother Mu, I know you are angry, but we can't do anything …"
The world was spinning, and his vision was gray. Lin Chong's soul was not in his body. He mechanically stretched out his hand, grabbed the right hand of 'Brother Zheng', and tore off his little finger. Two people beside him each grabbed one of his hands, but Lin Chong didn't feel it. Blood spurted out. Some people were stunned, and some people screamed. Lin Chong threw away the finger like a piece of dough.
"Where is it?" A weak voice came out from his throat. Beside him was a chaotic scene. The old man opened his mouth and shouted: "My finger, my finger!" He bent down to pick up the finger on the ground, but Lin Chong didn't let him go. The chaos continued for a while. Someone hit him with a chair. Lin Chong tore off one of the old man's fingers. "Tell me, where is it?"
The great pain made the old man lose control of his bladder. Someone punched him from behind. Zheng Xiaoguan screamed and punched Lin Chong twice. Lin Chong looked at him in confusion until Zheng Xiaoguan shouted: "Mu Anping, you don't want Mu Anping anymore?" Lin Chong's dull eyes showed some reaction. The surroundings were in chaos. Someone raised a stick and smashed it down. Someone was rude and unreasonable, wielding a long knife. Lin Chong subconsciously waved his hand. The wooden stick exploded into several pieces, and the long knife was curled up and flew out. Someone's body hit the wall, creating a big hole with a loud bang. Lin Chong grabbed Zheng Xiaoguan's hand: "Where is it?"
"It was taken away by Young Master Qi's people. They … they said … if you are willing to take the money, they will return it to you … Uncle Mu …"
Lin Chong let go of Zheng Xiaoguan and looked at Patrolman Zheng. Patrolman Zheng told Jin Lou: "We have no choice. We have no choice. I have to go to his house to work. Brother Mu …"
Lin Chong nodded, then started crying again. He nodded: "Brother Zheng, you're right, you're right …" Then he pressed the old patrolman on the table, reached out his hand, and tore off his throat. Zheng Xiaoguan screamed and rushed over from the side.
He bumped into Lin Chong's hand, but Lin Chong's body was like steel. He didn't move at all. Zheng Xiaoguan crawled up from the ground, grabbed a steel knife, and chopped down. Lin Chong waved his hand, and the steel knife flew up to the beam. The blade pierced through Zheng Xiaoguan's body. Zheng Xiaoguan's head was also pressed on the table by Lin Chong. Lin Chong slapped Zheng Xiaoguan's head. His head was dented, and red and white stuff flew out. Lin Chong slapped Zheng Xiaoguan again. Zheng Xiaoguan's head and the wooden table that Lin Chong made with his own hands were smashed.
Behind him, there were people rushing over with white waxen spears. Lin Chong just grabbed them and stabbed them a few times. He didn't think about these things at all. Xu Jinhua was lying quietly on the ground. He met her carelessly, and he also left her carelessly. At this time, she didn't even leave a word for him. These years, he had been in danger. He knew that one day, those things might befall him.
But why did it have to happen to him? If it didn't happen …
Lin Chong carried Xu Jinhua's corpse, which was covered in blood, out of the room. However, he didn't know where he should bury her. When he left in the morning, he had even said that he wanted to buy rice and winter melons. Why would a dying person want to buy rice? Lin Chong couldn't understand this at all. And their son, Mu Anping. He already had a son like this. Did they have a son like this?
If this hadn't happened …
He thought about all these, and in the end, he could only think of one thing: evil people …
Evil people.
Lin Chong walked toward the Golden Tower, covered in blood …
…
Weishan Hall. On this ordinary day on the third day of the seventh month, an unexpectedly big day arrived.
Lin Zongwu headed north and had only been in Vaud Province for half a day. After meeting up with Wang Nantuo, he met with the local tyrant of Vaud Province. Now, he was truly unrivaled in the Lulin Forest. Not only was his martial arts high, but he also had good morals. Tian Weishan, who was also a guest in the Great Radiant Sect, was extremely happy that Lin Chong was willing to come over.
They had seen the performance of a group of disciples in the dojo. Lin Zongwu would occasionally chat with Wang Nantuo, talking about the unusual movements in the north and also asking for Tian Weishan's opinion.
"… It's not just the Qi Clan. It's said that quite a few major characters have moved, wanting to intercept and kill the messengers from the Black Flag Army who are coming down from the north. Putting aside the fact that the female enlightened being isn't involved … To be able to create such a big commotion, it means that that person must have incredible information on him … "
"If we can get our hands on it, it'll be of great use," Wang Nantuo said. "We can also suppress the arrogance of the Black Flag Army …"
Lin Zongwu nodded. "This time around, I'll personally take action. Let's see who can walk past the central plains!"
As they chatted, the martial arts practice below was still ongoing. Lin Zongwu took a few glances and then smiled as he guided a group of young people in their martial arts. During this period of time, Tian Weishan's eldest disciple, Tan Lu, had also returned once to greet Lin Zongwu and Wang Nantuo. On the scorching summer night, Lin Zongwu guided for a while and then rested for a while. At this moment, a commotion broke out outside. Someone had fought their way in.
It was a disheveled and dispirited figure covered in blood. He was holding onto the body of an injured person whose upper limbs were all broken, and he was almost pushing a few of Tian Weishan's disciples in. The person seemed to be swaying, and six to seven people couldn't even push him back. With just a glance, everyone knew that the other party was an expert. However, this person's eyes were lifeless and there were tears on his face. He didn't have the disposition of an expert at all. Tan Lu said a few words to Tian Weishan in a low voice, "… Young Master Qi had some misunderstandings with him …" In such a world, everyone more or less understood some of the reasons.
"Where's Qi Ao? Where's Tan Lu? Vile man …"
The man surveyed the surroundings and said these words. In the dojo, someone had already come over with a weapon. Tan Lu stepped out. "I'm Tan Lu. Brother, you've gone overboard …" He was in charge of helping Qi Ao clean up the mess and had arranged for his subordinates to wait in the golden tower. He had come to his master's side because he was prepared to see if the other party was really capable. Before he could finish his words, Tian Weishan waved his hand and then said to Lin Zongwu, "Sorry for the inconvenience." He then walked over.
"This hero, I'm Tian Weishan. No matter what conflict you have with Young Master Qi today, I'll be so bold as to mediate on behalf of the two of you. Please give me some face. If you have anything to say, please sit down first …"
Lin Chong looked at the people in the dojo and then at the tyrant who was walking over. The other party was Tian Weishan. Lin Chong had been a constable here for many years and had naturally met him a few times. In the past, they didn't have a chance to talk. But now, they were standing in front of him again.
Vile man …
His tears fell again, and the scenes in his mind were fragmented. He thought of the White Tiger Hall, of Liangshan, of the unfairness along the way, and of the day his master had kicked him in the chest …
(I clearly didn't do anything bad …)
(Why must it be me …)
(How should people live well?)
(Why must it be me …)
(Vile man …)
Before he knew it, he had already walked up to Tian Weishan. Two of Tian Weishan's disciples came over, each holding a podao, and tried to separate him. Tian Weishan looked at this man. The first instinct that flashed through his mind was to raise his fist, but then he realized that it was inappropriate. Given his status in the Vaud underworld, how could he make such a move? But the next moment, he heard the man say, "Vile man."
"Ah!" Lin Chong spread his arms and rushed forward.
In an instant, an overwhelming pressure erupted. The hair on the back of Tian Weishan's head stood on end, and he suddenly retreated. In front of him, the two warriors with their swords in front of their chests didn't even have time to react before their bodies were hit by a landslide. In the blink of an eye, they were sent flying. At that moment, Lin Chong grabbed the two men with his arms and pushed them toward Tian Weishan.
In the blink of an eye, Tian Weishan kept on retreating. The footsteps in front of him sounded like thunder, and with a loud bang, four figures charged across a large half of the dojo's courtyard. Tian Weishan kept retreating until he reached a pillar at the side of the courtyard, wanting to turn around.
A loud sound spread through everyone in the courtyard. It was as if Tian Weishan and his two disciples had been hugged by Lin Chong alone, and they crashed into the red wooden pillar supporting the veranda like cannonballs. The pillar collapsed with a loud bang, and tiles and weights came crashing down. For a moment, everything was covered in dust. Amidst the dust, there were people sobbing. It was only after quite a while that everyone could faintly see the figure standing in the rubble. Tian Weishan had been completely pinned down.
All the Weishan Hall's cultivators in the courtyard had never seen such a scene before. Even the members of the Great Radiant Cult, who had followed Lin Zongwu and the others, were trembling in fear. Wang Nantuo laughed out loud, "Alright, take a punch from me!" His voice was filled with heroism as he walked toward the disheveled figure.
Lin Chong walked toward Tan Lu in a swaying manner. Looking at the person who was walking toward him, Lin Chong threw out a punch. Lin Chong put out his hands to block it, but his body continued to move forward. Then, another two punches blasted over. The punches were very powerful, so Lin Chong blocked them two more times.
(Why does it have to be me?)
Xu Jinhua's face appeared in his mind. Her face when she was alive and her face when she was dead. They were together, they had escaped together, they had built a home, they had a child … It was like another life that existed in his fantasy.
(Why does it have to happen to me?)
(How good would it be if none of this had happened … When I left today, everything was clearly fine …)
Lin Chong walked toward Tan Lu. The fist in front of him was still coming toward him. Lin Chong blocked a few times and then put out his hands to push away the other party's arms. He grabbed the other party's shoulders and pulled him over, headbutting him.
A headbutt smashed fiercely onto Wang Nantuo's face.
Wang Nantuo put out his hands to push him away. His fists danced wildly like a screen and then came punching over again. Lin Chong walked forward, only wanting to grab Tan Lu and ask him about the whereabouts of Young Master Qi and the child. He blocked a few of Wang Nantuo's fists randomly, but the wind from the fists seemed to be endless. Lin Chong grabbed onto Wang Nantuo's clothes and then grabbed his arms. Wang Nantuo twisted his body, retaliating while trying to break free from Lin Chong's grip. His fist brushed past Lin Chong's forehead, causing blood to flow. Lin Chong's body swayed unsteadily, almost unable to stand stably. He lifted Wang Nantuo's body up in frustration and then smashed him fiercely onto the ground.
With a loud boom, all the green bricks in the surroundings shattered. Lin Chong staggered a few times and then walked forward in a swaying manner …
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