Li Yijie said in his heart, "How can you compare yourself to those two seniors?" But he thought that his remark was indeed full of contempt, which would give him something to talk about and stir up a dispute, which would not benefit him at all. He cleared his throat and said, "Lu Xian Xiong misunderstood, I really do not have any bias toward you. I only want to ask Cheng Gongzi several questions to verify the facts, so that we can all set our hearts at ease and work together to resist the demons. However, you insist on guarding against me, isn't that another kind of suspicion and jealousy? "
With a cold laugh Lu Qian said, "What's there to ask? Do you think you are allowed to be suspicious of others and put yourself in the opposite situation? Very well then, Li Meng Zhu, since you are chattering incessantly, insisting on a word or two as proof, let me also ask you several questions. On the outskirts of the wilderness, a group of bandits died trying to rob money. What kind of people do you think they are? "
Li Yijie was displeased. "Don't talk nonsense," he said, "I don't want to answer questions that have nothing to do with this matter." Lu Qian said, "I haven't finished asking, how do you know it has nothing to do with this matter? It can't be that you know you are in the wrong and don't dare to answer, right? "Li Yijie solemnly said," I, Li Yijie, have always been upright and upright, why would I not dare to answer? You don't need to provoke me with words. It's just that you are asking a question you already know the answer to, it's too absurd. What kind of bandits could they be? They must be a group of vicious people who do not shrink from any crime. "
Lu Qian nodded. With a faint smile he said, "Li Meng Zhu has always considered yourself righteous, I don't think you will stand idly by. May I ask what crime the people you beheaded were guilty of when they were alive? "Li Yijie said," Corrupt officials, devoid of conscience, must be eliminated. "Lu Qian said," All right, they can be considered as committing any crime. Actually, those bandits were poisoned first, and then they were ambushed, hence they suffered a crushing defeat. And you, Li Meng Zhu, happened to have the intention to behead these people. As soon as you see their bodies, shouldn't you be blamed? Although it's for the sake of the people, it's still an empty lawsuit. "
Li Yijie was slightly startled; he was confused by the question and asked, "What kind of strange question is this? How can the two be confused? " Lu Qian said, "This is called drawing parallels. It makes you understand that even if someone deliberately does something, it may not necessarily be him who did it after it happened. You must not rely on your old viewpoint to make the first impression. You said that I am a lowly person who committed crimes against the law, but you can't blame all the bad things in the world on my head. "Li Yijie said," When did I ever falsely accuse you? Now we are talking about Cheng Jiahua … "
Cheng Jiahua had been listening impatiently for a long time; he took out three small porcelain bottles from his pocket. The bottle's body was exquisitely carved, and the material was of the highest quality. It was obvious that the Imperial Palace's storage was not ordinary. Walking toward the two people, he raised his voice and said, "Don't quarrel, the antidote is here. Everybody take it as soon as possible, only then will you have the strength to carry out the next step of the operation." Li Yijie looked at him suspiciously; he stared at the blue and white porcelain bottles. The lines on the bottles reflected several rays of blue light, overlapping and dazzling, but he did not know whether the bottles contained deadly poison or not. For a moment he was really uncertain, and did not dare to act rashly.
Sha Qi said, "The ones who are poisoned are us, why are you so anxious instead? Why must you urge us to take the antidote as soon as possible?" As soon as he said this, not a few people in the group also voiced their doubts, "That's right, could it be that there is something strange in the antidote?"
Cheng Jiahua's countenance sank. With a cold laugh he said, "Turns out the righteous people are always overcautious and overcautious. No wonder that devil head was able to do this alone. I finally understand." A disciple angrily said, "What do you mean by that? What are you talking about? "
Cheng Jiahua said, "I'm saying that you don't know how to use your brains at all! If I am really a member of the Five Poison Cult, since you are already poisoned, as long as you don't deliver the antidote, everything will be settled naturally. Why would you want me to deliver the antidote? Isn't that superfluous? I know there are other people who want to say that they want me to use this as a pretext to get on your good side, to lower your guard, and then they can infiltrate your inner circle and spy for information. Mouths grow on people's bodies, won't they say whatever they want? Then I don't need to argue anymore. If you don't take the antidote, the one who will die from the poison won't be me. Why should I worry about you? "
Everybody heard the arrogance in his words, and was not as humble as before. But when a person is angry, it is hard to avoid speaking without thinking. Could it be that they had really wronged him? It's just that this was a matter of life and death, nobody dared to gamble with a stranger they had just met for the first time.
Lu Qian said, "You don't trust my disciple. If you have the ability, then be unyielding to the end, don't give in to anyone. Jiahua, right now you are the one who is bestowing kindness, you don't need to plead with them. Other people doubt you, do you think I, as their Shifu, will doubt you? Just let me give in. " Cheng Jiahua's anger had not yet subsided. He handed over a porcelain bottle in his hand and warned, "Just take one pill and swallow it directly. In a moment, you will feel a warm feeling rising from the bottom of your lungs. That is the sign that the poison gas is gradually dissipating and your internal energy is slowly gathering. Don't panic. "
Lu Qian said, "Yes, yes." He took the porcelain bottle but did not rush to open it. He first turned it over and over in his hands, as if he suddenly had an interest in the fragmented flowers on the bottle.
That medicine bottle was sealed in the most ordinary way. There was a cork at the mouth of the bottle, with a few strands of bright red hair on the cork. Lu Qian fiddled with the hair between his fingers, either holding it, rubbing it, or twirling it. He said, "My disciple is still the best, unlike that group of great heroes. Other than grumbling, they are so scared that they can't speak. It's a pity that it's hard to be a good person these days. You have the heart to save him, but he may not appreciate it. He may even accuse you of wanting to give him poison. "
Not long after, the hair was pinched into a ball of withered grass. His fingers slid down and touched the cork. It should have been easily removed, but he was like a three year old child who had never seen a porcelain bottle before. He held the bottle in one hand, the thumb and forefinger of the other hand gently pinched the cork, twisting it left and right. He talked to himself, "Don't have the heart to harm others, but don't have the heart to guard against others. Nowadays, everyone's heart to guard against others is too much. It's as if other than themselves, everyone else is a big evil person. That heart to harm others. People die for wealth, birds die for food. Perhaps the two words' fame and fortune 'are enough to stir up evil thoughts. "
Thereupon he pulled the cork out and poked around with his finger. He said, "Believing words is not beautiful. Good people don't argue, good people don't argue. Knowledgeable people don't know, knowledgeable people don't know. Saints don't accumulate. If they think of people, the more they have; if they think of people, the more they have. The Way of Heaven is beneficial but not harmful. The Way of Saints is to fight but not to fight. I believe what I should believe and suspect suspicious people. That's why I can often succeed. I can always turn danger into safety, and achieve the Way of Virtue. "
The mouth of the bottle was narrow. As soon as he put his finger in, it was already full. How could he take out more pills? After saying a few words, he looked around several times. In the end he had no choice but to tilt the mouth of the bottle and pour the pills into his palm. The pills were scarlet in color, each one was only the size of a fingernail. In a moment of carelessness, he poured out too many. About twenty pills came out.
Lu Qian looked through them one by one, as if he was observing their color and shape. He said to himself, "Man follows Earth, Earth follows Heaven, Heaven follows Tao, Tao follows Nature. Let's see which one I pick." After dawdling for half a day, he finally made his choice. He picked up the rest of the pills one by one and put them into the mouth of the bottle. He said, "This antidote is not easy to concoct. You must be very careful. If one pill leaks out, my sin will be big. "
Finally he had used all his delaying tactics. He was hoping that when someone saw that he was about to take the antidote and was unwilling to fall behind, they would snatch the antidote and take it first. Then he would become a ready-made scapegoat. However, no matter how much he tried to persuade them, no one in the surroundings was moved.
Lu Qian thought, "This is going to be awkward. If the poison immediately takes effect after I take it, the others will know that Jia Hua has bad intentions and will take him down. They won't take the antidote anymore. But I've been poisoned before, I can't be saved. Won't I be wronged if I become the only scapegoat for this group of people? But if I continue to insist, I won't be able to keep my face because of what I boasted just now. In the end people will laugh at me and say that I'm a shameless person who only talks but doesn't do anything. "
He tilted his palm back and forth. The pills rolled slowly in the hollow of his palm. Originally it would have been better if he didn't say anything. The longer he talked, the more he attracted everybody's attention. Everybody's attention was on him. Lu Qian deeply hated the fact that he was muddle-headed just now. He unexpectedly tried to be brave and ended up in a situation where he couldn't back down.
— — —
Back to Cheng Jiaxuan followed Jiang Liechen and Ji Qiannian to Mount Dongmeng. This was the Five Poison Cult's temporary stronghold in the Central Plains. Their return trip this time was mainly to look at the scenery and to pick up several Cult instruments. Along the way, the two of them talked and laughed from time to time. They completely ignored Cheng Jiaxuan. It was as if they didn't care whether she was still following them or dropped off halfway.
But Cheng Jiaxuan felt even more upset. He'd rather he beat and scold her like he did a few days ago. It was better than him ignoring her like this. Between him and Ji Qiannian, it seemed like she couldn't get a foot in. But she could only weep in private. The thought of taking the Residual Shadow Sword and running away never even once crossed her mind.
The day had finally arrived, and in front of him was a magnificent palace. It was originally a Taoist temple named 'Cheng Tian Gong'. It was built in the Ming Dynasty. It was made of bricks and wood. Three pavilions were built on the platform. It was elegant and dignified. In front of the stone square, a three-arched bridge was built across the mountain stream. It was named 'Ying Xian Bridge'. It was made of big stones. The head of the bridge was decorated with a dragon's head.
The Five Poison Cult was temporarily in the Central Plains. They were too lazy to move so they chose to stay in the current place. This Taoist temple had been abandoned for a long time. It didn't take much effort to occupy this place. The four walls of the hall were empty. There was no decoration. They wouldn't be here for a few days so there was no need to decorate. The hall was spacious and clean. It looked quite grand.
Two golden lacquered thrones were placed side by side. They were deeply embedded in the ground. They were very conspicuous in this simple Taoist temple. There was a dragon on the left and a phoenix on the right. The two dragon and phoenix thrones set off the owner's noble status. In front of the thrones, there was a square table.
Ji Qiannian waved her hand to dismiss the guards in the hall. Seeing his gaze on the thrones, she took the initiative to explain, "It's a little thought of mine. Although I haven't seen you in these years, sitting on the dragon and phoenix thrones, it's like you've always been by my side." A sweet smile appeared on her face. She was as pure as a naive girl.
Cheng Jiaxuan stood at the side. Her heart was burning with jealousy, but she could only keep a smile on her face as she repeatedly praised.
Jiang Liechen didn't take her infatuation to heart. He said coldly, "Childish."
Cheng Jiaxuan was delighted. Ji Qiannian's smile froze for a moment. Then she forced a smile. She took him to sit in front of the thrones. She returned to the inner room and took out some fruits and tea. She put them on the table in front of him. Then she passed another small plate to Cheng Jiaxuan. She smiled and said, "Sister, try it. This Wanhua Tea is specially made by the Miao people. It's also a good drink for guests. The taste is sweet and refreshing. Speaking of the brewing method, it's to cut the ripe winter gourd and the unripe grapefruit skin into finger-sized and shaped strips. Then it's to carve a variety of colorful, beautiful and lifelike pictures of insects, fish, birds, beasts, flowers and other auspicious things. The pictures are like 'Fish in Autumn Water', 'Silver Tree Hanging Fruit', 'Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix', 'Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Prosperity', 'New Lotus Bud', 'Butterfly Loves the Peony'. In our Miao stockade village, this is also called the matchmaker of young men and women. "
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