Many years later, when Wang Xi, the thirteenth disciple of the Sword Hut, stood in front of that group of riders, he would certainly think of that bright afternoon when Sang Wen had taken him to choose a girl. He would feel the same helplessness and headache.
At that time, Baoyue Brothel was already the number one money-squandering establishment in the world. The courtyards were like the residences of the Princes and Dukes, distributed on the two sides of the thin lake behind the building. There was thin ice on the lake, and on the ice was snow. In the snow, there were countless dark red flower petals blown off the wintersweet branches by the lake.
Yes, it was like blood and snow, cold and incomparably hot, just like the thoughts of the young noble who wrote the notice. But this was more like a bowl of noodle soup. The white and tender waists of noodles floated in the beautiful noodle soup. The dozen or so dried peppers that had been cut open with scissors were bright red, stimulating the diners' eyes, heart, mouth, and nose.
Wang Xi took a deep breath, rubbed his nose, and shook his head with some sadness. He placed his chopsticks on the table twice, pierced through the broth, and picked up a chopstick of noodles. He ate carefully and elegantly. He ate very politely, but his speed was very fast. In a short while, there was only white broth left in the bowl.
Without stopping, he picked up the bowl and drained it in one gulp.
Sang Wen, who had accompanied Deng Zi Yue back to the capital from Suzhou to report on his orders, looked warmly at this fortune-teller. Although she didn't know why the official had made such an arrangement, she was certain that this fortune-teller was not an ordinary person.
He was indeed extraordinary. He was very good-looking, with thin lips, sword-like eyebrows, and a pair of gentle and spirited eyes. There was a sense of tranquility about him, and even when he was drinking the noodle soup, he still looked very attractive.
Sang Wenjiu had been a bystander for a long time in the romantic scene in the capital. She knew that eating noodle soup was the most uncultured aspect of a person. Of course, she did not think that there was anything to look down on when those boorish men ate noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup noodle soup was as elegant as reciting poetry.
Wang Xi placed the bowl of noodles on the table, furrowed his brows, and sighed. His brows, eyes, and breathing were full of self-deprecation and helplessness. He turned to Sang Wen and looked at this woman who had a slightly broad jaw but looked exceptionally gentle. He said evenly, "Where is the girl you picked for me?"
…
…
"Between the young lady and the broth, you can only choose one." For some reason, Sang Wen felt that the young man in front of her was very cute. She smiled and said, "Since you've chosen the noodles in the soup, you can forget about this girl."
Wang Xi said with a bitter face, "Even if it's a part-time job, you still have to get paid."
Sang Wen calmly said, "You are not here to work for Daren."
Wang Xi suddenly quieted down. A moment later, he said in a soft voice, "I've already drunk this noodle soup. I just don't understand. With Miss Sang's status, why would she personally make a bowl of noodle soup for me?"
Sang Wen was slightly startled. She immediately smiled and said, "Director Chen likes the noodle soup I make."
When Wang Xi heard that person's name, he couldn't help but be startled. His countenance changed as he said, "This is my good fortune."
Sang Wen bowed slightly and finally said, "I just want to let you know one thing. Although the broth is too hot and you can't drink it in a hurry … if you wait for the broth to turn cold, it won't taste good."
The young lady didn't know what these words meant. She only followed Fan Xian's orders and lightly said this. Wang Xi knew very well what these words meant. At the beginning, the agreement said that before he entered the capital, he had to bring the little archer's head to Fan Xian. Now, Fan Xian had been recovering in Jingdou for a long time, yet there had been no movement from him. Furthermore, there was the attack in the valley.
The handsome young man sighed again with unspeakable sadness and sadness. With a flip of his hand, he picked up the green banner by the table and muttered, "But … I really don't like killing people."
Sang Wen didn't say anything more. She had no idea about the details of this matter. His meeting with this fortune-teller, who called himself Tie Xiang, was purely because Fan Xian wanted to borrow her eyes, which had seen many things, to see just what the other person's personality and character was like.
Very true and very pure. This was all that Sang Wen saw from his eyes.
Wang Xi shook his head and sighed. Like an old man, he bent his body and walked out of the courtyard. When he reached the door, he suddenly tilted his head and asked with confusion, "Calling me here, are you not afraid that someone will suspect you?"
"You are intelligent, that is why you came to find me," Sang Wen calmly said. "It is precisely because you are intelligent that you know how to avoid other people's eyes and ears."
Wang Xi shook his head again and left Baoyue Brothel.
Sang Wen returned to her room and sat quietly for a long time. The door to the courtyard was pushed open. A man came in with furrowed brows and asked, "Wen 'er, you just came back yesterday. Why have you come to this brothel again?"
This man was none other than the protector Fan Xian had sent flying with one palm when he had visited Baoyue Brothel that night. This jianghu man was infatuated with Sang Wen, so he always had a sense of disgust toward Baoyue Brothel.
Sang Wen raised her eyes to look at him and smiled slightly. Although she was moved by this person's infatuation, she could not allow him to know all the details related to the commissioner. She smiled and said, "I am now the shopkeeper of Baoyue Brothel. If I don't come here, where else would I go?"
The man looked at the big bowl on the table and smelled the faint fragrance coming from inside. Involuntarily, his brows relaxed and he chuckled. "Make me a bowl to eat too. I haven't eaten in a long time."
Sang Wen glared at him and said, "I don't have that kind of free time right now."
The man said unhappily, "You make it for other people."
Sang Wen said without good humor, "Do you think this bowl of noodles is that good? If you really eat it, you'll probably be so upset that you want to die. "
…
…
At this moment, Wang Xi was so upset that he wanted to die. He sat in the shop by the city gate and stared at the bowl of noodles in a daze. His incomparably soft eyes were wide open. No matter how good the noodles were, if he ate three meals a day, it would always make him want to vomit.
Thus, he didn't touch the bowl of noodles at all. He only drank the tea beside it, cup after cup, as if he was extremely thirsty.
To the side, the tea bartender looked at this fortune-teller with cold and disdainful eyes. He thought to himself that of all the things this young man could do, he had to pretend to be a charlatan. Seeing how poor he was, he could only use tea to go with the noodles.
After drinking a bellyful of tea, the sun in Jingdou, where the wind and snow had already stopped, finally sank. Wang Xi picked up the green banner and coughed gently. He passed through the previously closed city gate and became the last person to leave the city today.
Seven li north of the city, he stopped his steps at the top of a mountain and sat down on a large rock. Raising his head to glance at the snowy branches in the forest, he lowered his head to pick up a large handful of snowflakes and sent them into his mouth to chew. He then placed the green banner in the snow and looked at the military camp on the other side of the mountain in a daze.
The Yuantai Camp of the Jingdou Garrison.
Wang Xi suddenly tilted his head, opened his mouth, and vomited with a "wah" sound. This vomiting was endless. He vomited out all of the noodles and noodle soup he had eaten and the bellyful of tea he had gulped down.
A clump of muddled and ugly paste was vomited onto the clean snowy ground. It looked unusually disgusting, particularly the faint fishy smell hidden in it. It made the nose want to cough.
However, Wang Xi didn't vomit again. He only ate another clump of snow and then stared at the puddle on the ground. A moment later, he sighed and said, "What a powerful medicine to be able to raise the zhenqi in a person's body to such a tyrannical realm in one day."
He shook his head and sighed in admiration. This medicine had been placed in the noodle soup by Fan Xian through Sang Wen's hands. Presumably, Fan Xian wanted him to do it but also didn't want anything to happen to him.
This medicine was the small yellow pill he had taken when he was fighting against Lang Tiao and Friar He, two ninth-level aces, in Northern Qi. Other than collapsing a little afterward, there weren't many side effects.
Of course, Wang Xi had also sensed this. He still smiled bitterly and said, "Your honey is my arsenic. This medicine is poison to me. It almost killed me."
However, Fan Xian would not be so kind as to help Wang Xi increase his chances of success. As for what he was planning, Wang Xi didn't quite understand.
…
…
Night gradually fell. Wang Xi rose. Without another glance at the green banner beside him, he used the cover of the darkness to head toward the Jingdou Garrison's Yuantai Camp. The target he wanted to kill had been hiding in that camp the entire time. He was only using the identity of an officer, so the security around him was not very tight.
However, Wang Xi truly did not like killing people. Ever since he left home, his hands had never been stained with blood. He pitied the people of the world and respected all life. Even under Fan Xian's powerful suppression, he had tried countless times and still could not truly assassinate someone he had no grudge against.
This was why he had continued his pledge of allegiance to this day.
In reality, the condiment Fan Xian added to the noodle soup was a stimulant. He wanted Thirteenth Wang to be a little braver and more ruthless. However, he had not expected that this condiment would not be of much use to Thirteenth Wang. On the contrary, it would harm him.
Thus, Thirteenth Wang remained calm and merciful. However, since he had not become crazy and knew that the most powerful aspect of an archer was their eyesight and that archery was most effective in the darkness, why did he still choose this time to strike?
… …
In a corner of the barracks in the Yuantai Camp, Yan Xiaoyi's son, Yan Shendu, was carefully using a feather hinge to repair an arrow. His hands were incomparably steady. He repaired the long feathers attached to the tail of the arrow until they were unusually smooth. To do a good job, one must first sharpen their tools. He had a pair of hands that a godly archer should have, so he could repair his arrow to the fastest and most accurate.
Governor Yan had always believed in one principle. Only children who were far away from their parents could truly have a future. It was just like how his parents had died at a young age and he had hunted in the mountains for a living. Only then could he cultivate such a cruel and ruthless will. Only then would he be noticed by the young Eldest Princess, who had come into the mountains to play, and be taken out of the mountains to join the ranks. With his skills, he had achieved countless military merits and obtained such a lofty position.
When Yan Shendu was only 12, Yan Xiaoyi chased him out of the family and entrusted him to the Eldest Princess. The Eldest Princess knew the thoughts of her top general. Although she was gentle toward Yan Xiaoyi, she did not stop at sharpening him. After he had finished his skills, she had secretly sent him to the Jingdou Garrison.
The Jingdou Garrison now controlled by the Qin family.
Other than a few high-ranking generals and the Eldest Princess's trusted aides, no one knew that the son of the Governor of the North, Yan Shendu, was an unremarkable officer in the Jingdou Garrison.
Yan Shendu was like his name. He did not like to communicate with other people. He only liked to communicate with arrows. Thus, he did not have many companions in the military. He only had a group of subordinates he had personally trained, subordinates loyal to the Eldest Princess.
The day he ambushed the Second Priest of the Temple, Great Master San Shi, on the outskirts of Jingdou was Yan Shendu's first operation. He thought the operation was very successful because he did not know what happened later. Thus, the confidence that had long been suppressed in the depths of his heart surfaced. He thought that other than his father, no one would be able to stop his long-distance attack.
Even a ninth-level ace could not. The length of a weapon's effective range determined life and death on the battlefield. This was a supreme principle that Yan Xiaoyi had never forgotten to teach his son.
Because of his confidence, he was arrogant and egotistical. When he heard that his father and the Jiangnan Road imperial envoy Fan Xian had been summoned back to Jingdou at the same time and that the two sides were likely to fight in the martial conference that had stopped for many years, Yan Shendu could not sit still.
He worshipped his father, but he actually had a glimmer of worship and jealousy hidden in his heart toward the brilliant and dazzling Sir Fan junior.
All the young people under heaven were like this, and Yan Shendu was no exception. Thus, he wanted to test just what kind of remarkable power Sir Fan junior had. On one hand, it was to test the other party's depths on behalf of his father. On the other hand, it was difficult to resist the temptation of being able to shoot down the world-famous Fan Xian. Regardless of whether it was for his father or the Eldest Princess, Fan Xian's death was, without question, a hard to suppress piece of honey.
However, he did not act on his own because he was a soldier. He would not act on his own that would disrupt the overall situation. He had to wait for the orders of his elders.
The elders had given the orders, but strangely, the person who had given the orders was the military elder who knew him very well and who he deeply respected.
Yan Shendu was very confused, but he had no time to inform the Eldest Princess. He could only go on his way alone. He shot an arrow in the snowy night but was blocked by the green banner.
After the matter, only in the night did he helplessly discover that Fan Xian's protection was watertight. He watched in the snow forest in secret and could not find any opportunity to take advantage of, particularly as the deadly Black Knights were always near the Overwatch Council carriages. At any moment, they could turn the entire mountain over.
Only now did he realize that he had underestimated Fan Xian and the Overwatch Council. He didn't dare to act rashly, so he kept retreating. He only shot an ineffective arrow and kept retreating. He returned to Jingdou from the valley to the Qin manor to report, but he was not reprimanded.
Returning to the tent, he sank into deep thought. The elders in the military all looked out for each other in secret. His entry into the Jingdou garrison was something that the old Qin Master had nodded to. Not many people knew about it. Why did the old Qin Master want him to do something that appeared to be fooling around?
Then, the news of the attack in the valley came.
He was a soldier, so his sense of politics was not very sharp. However, he knew that his father seemed to have been dragged down by the old Qin Master. In other words, the old Qin Master had also been dragged down by the Eldest Princess.
The elders had finally huddled together. He was like a hostage that the elders did not say anything to each other but showed their intentions clearly.
Yan Shendu shook his head. He did not dislike this role playing. He just thought that under such powerful pressure, Sir Fan junior shouldn't be able to live for many more days.
He placed the small arrow in his right hand on the table and used his steady hands to stroke the arrow shaft. Narrowing his eyes, he measured it for a moment before nodding his head in satisfaction. Taking out the longbow at his side, he placed the slender and beautiful arrow on the string. Pulling the bow slightly, he aimed at the empty space in the barracks.
His forearm moved slightly to the right. The tip of the arrow was pointed at the thick cotton curtain at the front door of the barracks.
Yan Shendu's face was calm as he said, "Come out."
…
…
The cotton curtain was slowly lifted. Wang Xi walked in with an apologetic expression. Under the threat of the longbow, he didn't take another step. He only stood at the door and sighed, "Sorry."
Yan Shendu's pupils constricted slightly. He looked at the figure in front of him who was about the same age as him. His eyesight was startling. He had long recognized this person as the man with the green banner who had blocked his soul-stealing arrow in front of the snowy night family school.
He knew that although his identity in the garrison was kept a secret and he didn't have many guards protecting him, for the other party to be able to pass through the layers of defenses of Yuantai Camp and quietly get close to his barracks in the middle of the night, his skill was unusually high.
If it had been Yan Shendu's usual habits, he would have shot the arrow on the bow long ago. For anyone who wanted to ambush him, Yan Shendu would make them lose their lives.
Strangely, faced with this strange figure, Yan Shendu did not release the bowstring. He only coldly said, "Who are you?"
Wang Xi slowly lowered his head and said apologetically, "I am Thirteenth Wang. I have come under orders to kill you. It is not my wish. I am truly unwilling."
Yan Shendu used the tip of the arrow to aim between the man's brows. His hands were steady. The bow did not tremble at all. It was as if he would not feel a sliver of fatigue even if he pulled it for 10,000 years.
The killing intent carried by the tip of the arrow was already reflected in the other party's mind. He didn't think there was anyone in the world who could escape this arrow of his. Hearing the other party admit he was here to kill him, not only did Yan Shendu not panic, on the contrary, a glimmer of coldness appeared. "Fan Xian?"
Wang Xi bowed and helplessly said, "Other than him, who else in this world can force me to kill?"
The snow outside the barracks had long stopped. After nightfall, the sound of the wind rose again, whistling like the desperate cry of a wild beast in the mountains. It passed through the thick cotton curtains and crashed into people's eardrums. Yan Shendu looked at the person in front of him whose face was full of apology. A chill surged in his heart. Why was it that there was not a glimmer of nervousness or murderous intent on Thirteenth Wang's face? Instead, there was endless sorrow and guilt.
As an assassin, what did he need to feel guilty about?
Guilt to kill him?
Yan Shendu's state of mind was not in a mess, but he became cold. If the other party was not pretending to be mysterious, then he certainly had the ability to kill him. It was just like hunting beasts in the mountains. Faced with a child's arrow, a thick-skinned bear would steadily rub itself against the bark of a tree. It was extremely comfortable, because the bear knew that the arrow would not be able to kill it.
Could this arrow of his kill Thirteenth Wang in front of him?
For the first time in his life, Yan Shendu had doubts about the arrow in his hand because the green banner had moved on that snowy night.
"Can we talk?" Wang Xi sighed and licked his unusually dry lips. "I don't have to kill you. If you are willing to come with me and no longer participate in the matters of this world, destroy your martial arts, cut off all contact with the world, and let the world think you are dead, then Fan Xian will be appeased. His goal will be achieved, and I won't have to kill you."
Yan Shendu didn't smile. He just felt it was very absurd.
Thus, he let go.
The arrow was like a black line, flying out with a whoosh. One moment it seemed to be on Yan Shendu's bowstring. In the next moment, it was already in front of Wang Xi.
Then, Yan Shendu saw a scene that shocked him greatly. He saw Wang Xi's feet move slightly. He took three consecutive steps. After three steps, he returned to where he had been standing.
Where was that arrow?
The arrow carrying an endless gust of wind brushed past Wang Xi's face and passed through the thick cotton curtain. With a whoosh, it shot into the endless darkness. It merged with the sound of the wind whistling in all directions and could no longer be heard.
It looked like three simple steps, but Yan Shendu's pupils had already constricted. He saw the profoundness within. To be able to avoid his swift arrow at such a short distance required not only a terrifying reaction speed, but also a matching, extremely high control of zhenqi.
Who exactly was this person? Where did such an ace come from? Why would he risk his life for Fan Xian?
Three questions surged into Yan Xiaoyi's mind. However, his hands did not slow at all. He had already shot out three arrows that turned into three streaks of lightning and shot toward Wang Xi's upper, middle, and lower body. He raised a small knife and flipped up. Slicing through the camp cloth behind him, he disappeared into the darkness. This series of actions and the three consecutive arrows had already used up too much of his energy. He didn't have the energy to call for help. Furthermore, he knew that even if the soldiers in the camp rushed over, they would not be able to save him in front of this mysterious fortune-teller.
…
…
Behind the tent, Yan Shendu still held his bow, but he did not shoot. He looked at Wang Xi in front of him like he was looking at a ghost. He didn't know how Wang Xi had dodged those three arrows or how he had rushed ahead of him to block his path of retreat.
Fortunately, Yan Shendu's eyes were sharp. He saw the fresh blood dripping down Wang Xi's sleeve. Wang Xi was injured. This reality made Yan Shendu's spirit rise. The seemingly profound footwork could not completely dodge the Yan family's divine arrows.
The sky had not yet snowed. The wind whistled past, sweeping up the remaining snow on the ground. It was no different from falling snow.
Wang Xi lowered his head and glanced at his blood-soaked sleeve. He shook his head and said, "I truly don't want to kill."
"Then why did you come?" Yan Shendu narrowed his eyes and asked coldly.
"Because …" Wang Xi gazed at the night sky above his head with some confusion. "Because I have to help Fan Xian for the peace of the world, for the balance of the entire land, for my home, or for something else? I have to help him. "
"The peace of the world rests on one person's body? Fan Xian is not the Emperor … "Yan Shendu retreated to the left and bent back slightly. He placed the arrow against his quiver. As he spoke, he silently prepared.
"There is no one left in my family," Wang Xi sighed. "For the peace of the world, I have to help him, so I can only let you down … but in every great era, there is always a need for the sacrifice of minor figures."
Minor figure? Yan Shendu had never seen him like this. He was the son of the Governor, the successor of the Yan family's archery skills, and an influential figure in the future. Right now, he had only killed the Second Priest of the Temple. His glory had not been completely released, so how could he die?
Wang Xi once again raised his head to gaze at the sky. It was as if he wanted to see through the thick clouds to the starry sky. Faintly, he said, "I hope I didn't help the wrong person."
Raising his head to gaze at the sky, how could he let such a good opportunity slip by?
Yan Shendu straightened his body, controlled the bowstring, and shot out seven arrows in a row. Then, with one hand, he reached for the quiver and pulled out the last arrow. Nocking it, nocking it, and shooting.
Seven arrows were in front, but the arrow with the strongest killing intent was hidden at the end.
Yan Shendu had never been as satisfied with his cultivation as he was today. To be able to shoot out such a number of seven to one was already the peak of what he could achieve in his life. He was even a bit more valiant than his father had been in the past. With such a terrifying arrow attack, he believed that even if it was Fan Xian standing opposite him, Fan Xian would not be able to dodge it.
However, he forgot one thing. Everyone's way of fighting was different. If Fan Xian wanted to personally kill him, he would certainly be very sinister. He would poison him again and again and stab him again and again. He would not give him any chance to shoot out an arrow.
If it was Fan Xian who came to kill him, Yan Shendu would certainly not be able to keep his body intact. He would die a stupid and ugly death.
Thirteenth Wang appeared to be gentle and kind, but the way he chose to fight was completely different from his appearance. It was brave and terrifying.
Yes, it was terrifying.
Wang Xi directly pounced over, like a large bird soaring in the dark night. He spread his wings, and a strong gust of wind blew. He ignored the seven arrows piercing his body, and his eyes shone with a keen light. His right hand reached out, and he directly caught the last terrifying arrow!
With a number of puffs, the arrows pierced through Wang Xi's body. However, his body was moving through the air and did not harm any vital parts. They only passed through his shoulder and lower arm.
With a ripping sound, the last arrow slid out of Wang Xi's right hand like a wheel bearing heavy weight on a rough road, carrying with it an unpleasant grinding sound.
A faint burning smell seemed to rise in the night sky. Wang Xi's right hand was burned by the lightning-like speed of the arrow. What kind of speed did this kind of high temperature mean?
However, the arrow finally stopped just before it was about to pierce into Wang Xi's eye socket. It was only an inch. Just like this, he used a hand made of flesh and blood to hold onto this arrow.
He had already swept in front of Yan Shendu like a bird. He was only a foot away.
Wang Xi gave a muffled grunt and flipped his wrist, thrusting the tip of the arrow into Yan Shendu's heart. His hand moved like lightning and was unavoidable.
Yan Shendu staggered and fell. Looking at the blood and arrow in his chest and the assassin covered in blood in front of him, he opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. Just like this, he sat in front of his barracks. His body twitched weakly a few times.
He had forgotten what his father had once taught him. As an archer, the effective distance of a weapon determined life and death. He was still too close to the person in front of him.
Wang Xi panted as he stood in front of him. Looking at the archer's gradually weakening breathing, he said, "Little archer, don't worry and go on your way."
It was not until the moment of his death that Yan Shendu finally understood that he was truly just a minor figure in this great age. However, for someone skilled in archery to die under his own arrow, was that not a good end? However, he was not satisfied. He futilely circulated all the strength in his body and stretched forward. He wanted to catch this assassin and kill him. He wanted to kill the impending death.
The tip of his finger touched Wang Xi's belt. There was a patch of ice-cold blood at the tentacle. He hooked onto something. Little archer Yan Shendu finally ran out of strength. With a gurgling sound in his throat, his head tilted to the side and he died.
Wang Xi straightened his body and released his right hand. He looked at the long and terrifying scorch mark in his palm and lowered his head to look at the seven arrows stuck in his body. He looked at the blood all over his body and couldn't resist the pain. In a trembling voice, he said to himself, "It hurts so much …"
He endured the pain and used the night snow and wind to escape Yuantai Camp. Returning to the top of the mountain, he picked up the green banner and once again disappeared into the night.
He was silent for a moment. He then shook his head and sighed, "Thirteenth Wang, a brave warrior, but also an idiot."
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(This month, the monthly votes rankings are filled with blood and foul wind. My position as the thousand-year Number Five … urgently asking for monthly votes. It's still the same old saying. I can't guarantee that there will be many updates. I just sincerely ask for monthly votes. I've always wanted to post a separate chapter to get votes. Look, scratch my head, scratch my head again. I don't want to become Thirteenth Wang … Everyone, if you have monthly votes, fly over, fly over! If you want to know what happened after, please log on to WWW. QIDIAN. COM. More chapters. Support the author. Support original reading!
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