the enlightener says

After finishing this series of things, Qin Ke lay face up on the ground at once. He raised his hands and placed them in front of his eyes. Although the surrounding area was still dark, he could clearly feel the fishy and sticky smell on his hands and face. Li's blood and venom must have been stained a lot, maybe he will die here in a short time.

As a result, after lying down and resting for nearly a quarter of an hour, Qin Ke jumped up suddenly, and was surprised to find that he seemed to be completely fine. He couldn't help but wondered in his heart. He groped on the ground and found the fire bag that fell just now. After lighting up, he began to carefully observe the surrounding situation.

Jiuli's severed head was not far from him, and even if Qin Ke came closer to see it, it would open its mouth and bite the guy who killed him.

The old people said that the dead spirits attached to the snakes in the mountains would not die for a while.Qin Ke is also very familiar with this characteristic of them, and will not rashly go to admire his trophies.

However, he still believed in what the old people said. He put his hands together and bowed to the quiet snake from a distance, and said softly: "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I know you must have lived for many years, just to save people." One life is worth building a seven-level pagoda, you always donated the snake gall this time, and you will be reborn in the next life...uh, to be a dragon! Yes...a dragon."

Thinking of the shocking sight in King Ye's tomb and the breathtaking mountain-like body of Shenlong, Qin Ke felt that his prayer was extremely pious.

Qin Ke coughed, and found that some changes seemed to have taken place on his arms, some dark black vine patterns appeared, and he quickly raised his head to look at the similar patterns on the body of the snake demon, and his heart suddenly felt like a drum. I don't know if it's a blessing or a curse.

It's just that it wasn't accompanied by any kind of pain, he persuaded himself: "Or, this Jiuli is a vegetarian all the year round...with all his heart for good..."

Qin Ke scratched his head, thinking that the snake demon who wanted to kill him just now was really not a good-hearted master, so he stopped thinking about it.

A cold snake gall with a fishy smell was cut off by him with a dagger, it was as big as his palm, and it was already covered with snake blood anyway, so he didn't care about anything anymore, he directly held the snake gall with his fleshy palm, observing After a while.

This snake gall looks like a piece of crystal clear jade, dark green, if it is not covered with sticky snake blood, it is really comparable to any precious palace collection.

Perhaps it was caused by the psychology of a child from a poor family. Just as he took a few steps, he turned around, bent down, and lifted the entire Jiuli body on his back.

Since Jiuli's poisonous blood can't do anything to him, wouldn't it be nice to have some extra meals with Xiao Hei later on?

Chapter 1: The Dead Black Bear

It's a pity that Qin Ke only tried to lift the monster snake's body, and immediately showed a look of "sorry for disturbing...".

The body of this big snake is too heavy, and its skin is covered with a layer of scales like copper armor. Qin Ke sighed. It seems that the idea of ​​taking the whole snake out is a bit far-fetched. Large chunks of snake meat are a good choice that is easier to achieve.

Qin Ke also dug up a large piece of snake oil and made a temporary torch for himself. When more light shone around the cave wall, he felt a feeling of rebirth as a human being.

It's just that, after he killed the demonized Jiuli, he didn't even meet another Jiuli along the way.

He smelled the bloody smell on his body, and wondered if it was because he had slaughtered their ancestors just now, causing other snakes to hide in the crevices of the rocks?

Sure enough, when he pried open a more suspicious cave wall, he really pulled out a one-foot-long dove glass, but unfortunately the dove glass was already dying. When he opened the snake's belly to take the snake gall, he found Where there should have been snake gallbladder, there was only a puddle of black and purple smelly water, which was——

Terrified?

Qin Ke could only accept this fact with a wry smile, and walked slowly forward.

After turning around for a long time, he turned back to the place where he killed the demon snake just now. Is the whole cave completely closed?

Even if he found some small forks in the road and heard the sound of terrestrial bats flapping their wings, how could a living person like him fit into the small hole that he could barely see clearly with his eyes closed?

After standing there in a daze for a while, he returned to the place where he fell in silence, and looked up at the entrance of the cave which was still not far from him, his expression became more and more ugly.

However, it may be that there is no unparalleled road. Just when he was thinking wildly, he suddenly discovered that there was a finger-thick vine extending slowly from the hole. He could clearly see that there were many fresh and tender leaves on the vine. All the way down to his feet, finally there was no movement.

Qin Ke's eyes were filled with surprise immediately, he looked up at the entrance of the cave and murmured: "Who is so reliable?"

A black shadow flashed, and he felt his shoulders sinking. When he turned his head to look, Xiao Hei landed on his shoulders impartially.

A pair of black eyeballs flickered twice, and Xiao Hei immediately spotted the piece of monster snake meat tied to Qin Ke's belt, and jumped up with a creak.

Qin Ke untied the piece of meat and put it on the ground, stroked Xiao Hei's head and asked, "Is this the person you found?"

Xiao Hei ignored him, apparently more interested in the bright red piece of meat in front of him.

Qin Ke rolled his eyes and sighed: "As for what? People who don't know think that I abuse you and often don't give you food."

It was strangely quiet above the entrance of the cave, and there was no sound of anyone talking. Qin Ke was a little puzzled, glanced at Xiao Hei, and thought to leave other things alone, since someone was willing to put down the vines to save him, he would not want to "catch" him up and then hurt him ...

Simply climb up the vines first.

The vines were very tough, completely different from those growing around the hole. He worried several times that the vines were not strong enough and he would fall down again, but in the end he climbed out of the hole safely.

However, when he climbed out of the cave, he didn't see any people around him at all, only the leisurely sound of the wind, the shadow of the whirling tree, and the cold moonlight projected through the dense canopy, far away, He could clearly hear the echoes of howling wolves and howling tigers in the mountains.

Qin Ke looked around, walked along the vine in his hand to a towering giant tree, squatted down to study the ugly and rough knot, the knot was already a little loose, if it wasn't for Qin Ke's hands and feet when he climbed up. It's still brisk, maybe it will fall back again.

"What's the situation?" Qin Ke threw away the vine, puzzled.

Just as he was about to sit down against the big tree and rest for a while, he suddenly felt that something was wrong behind him. Thinking, he went around and walked behind the tree, but covered his mouth all of a sudden!

In front of him, a tall black bear was lying face up on the ground, staring at two eyes the size of copper bells. With a low growl, Qin Ke saw it lift its paw, as if it was about to get up and rush towards him!

He subconsciously pulled out the dagger from his waist, and even more sensitively retreated to the back of the tree. His shortness of breath caused his chest to rise and fall violently. He wondered if the person who rescued him just saw this bear and scared him away?

Holding the dagger vigilantly, he stood under the tree and waited quietly for a while, but the giant bear didn't get up, and even the low growl gradually disappeared.

Under the Wind Sight technique, the sound of breathing he heard was extremely weak. It didn't look like a ferocious beast, but like a dying old bear.

But following the light of the torch, he clearly saw that the bear's mane was shiny and shiny, and its figure was tall and strong, it should be in the prime of life.

Qin Ke waited until the bear's breathing stopped, and finally couldn't help it. He frowned and leaned over. He checked the bear's body, but he didn't see any scars.

Under the firelight, he moved his head closer with some difficulty, and finally saw a very tiny wound on its chest. There was hardly much blood gushing from this wound, only a handful of hairs were stained with dried blood scab.

"Can such a small wound be fatal?" Qin Ke couldn't believe it, but he had to believe that this should be the only reason for the death of this black bear.

But if there is such a master who can pierce the heart of the demon bear with a sharp weapon, cut off its vitality, and then throw down the vine to save himself, why would he not come out to meet him?

Qin Ke's mind became more and more confused.

Xiao Hei must have eaten his fill in the cave at this time, and climbed up along the vines. Seeing its contented appearance, Qin Ke suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked, "Hey? You were on the top just now, right?"

Xiao Hei glanced at him, tilting his head in confusion.

Qin Ke asked solemnly: "Xiao Hei, did you see the person who killed the bear and left the vine just now?"

Xiao Hei let out a low cry, but didn't make any response. Instead, he slipped into the open skirt of his chest, curled up into a ball, and quickly closed his eyes.

Qin Ke helplessly opened his clothes and looked at it, and said softly: "Can't you understand me? Nod when you see it, and shake your head if you don't see it, okay?"

However, Xiao Hei took a long breath and fell asleep peacefully.

Qin Ke hated his teeth itching, and knew that this guy would get sleepy every time he ate a big meal, so he had nothing to do with it, so he could only temporarily suppress the doubts in his heart.

I have collected more than half of the snake gall, and I also got a snake gall that turns into a demon, which is a surprise.However, seeing the pitch-black night, Qin Ke knew that it was not appropriate to walk around at such a time, so he climbed up a big tree and prepared to simply sleep.

Wu County, camp.

"How many people died yesterday?" Abu asked the person in front of him.

If Qin Ke were here at this time, he would be extremely surprised.Because the person standing in front of Abu is none other than Zhang Mingqi, their biggest "rival" in the Taixue Academy.

It's just that after the "destruction of dikes and flooding of fields", the Zhang family faded from the clouds overnight, and the original "Heaven's Proud Son" is now almost dressed in white.

Although his old father is now out of prison, and the court thought of his meritorious deeds to save him from death, he can never go back to the Zhang family's mansion and compound, so he can only live in a simple and shabby room. In the earth-based courtyard house.

This kind of poor people's courtyard is not a motley house, but a motley place. Most of them are ordinary people who have done nothing all their lives. Of course, there are also some rogues who go out in the market, and even steal for a living. Thief and snitch.

His family was in decline, his life's painstaking effort was in vain, his father couldn't get rid of the depression in his heart, and he couldn't get sick in the prison. Now he can only lie on the bed all day long, looking at the dark top of the bed, lingering on his last breath.

This time Zhang Mingqi received the military order from above, and followed Gao Changgong's boat and set off half a day late. Before leaving, he used the money he had left to find a trustworthy old servant to take care of his father's daily life .

As a result, the honest-looking old servant disappeared the next day after receiving the deposit.

If it weren't for the fact that there are still a few kind-hearted people in the neighborhood who are willing to take turns to help take care of him, I'm afraid he really can't set off with the army at ease.

He knelt in front of his father's bed, knocked his head hard on the ground three times, and said like an oath: "Father, sooner or later, my son will get back what belongs to our family."

Maybe this sentence will never come true, but if he doesn't leave this thought for himself, how can he force himself to bow his "noble" head in front of those forces?How can I resolutely let go of my self-righteous "Mr. Zhang" status?How could he continue to struggle in this cruel and cold-blooded world? ?

But after arriving in Wu County, he felt that the humble confidence he had built up with great difficulty suddenly collapsed...

Chapter 151 The Belated Apology

"23. A few more serious patients were sent to Ms. Qiao's tent just this morning, but..."

Zhang Mingqi's voice was a bit heavy, and he didn't finish the sentence, but he knew that Abu must understand what his blank space meant.

He thought it was because the cowhide armor on his body was too tight. After all, he used to not be able to wear such rough clothes at all. At that time, he liked silk clothes. To the touch, it was like inviting the moon in Jianye City. Miss Lou's skin is so smooth.

He tugged hard, but still felt a little breathless.

"According to Ms. Qiao's new prescription, the number of serious patients is still increasing. The patients in each battalion are not emotionally stable. They all call Ms. Qiao a quack doctor. Some people even refuse to drink the medicine."

He looked at the pyre that was accumulating, and those corpses were sent into the pyre one by one. He knew that these were the sins of his father and those who made them.

He had never thought before that in such a prosperous Jingwu, there would still be people who could not eat enough or wear warm clothes, but when he really saw the disaster victims living in the shed cuddling each other to sleep, he really felt The feeling of thunder.

These ragged victims covered in dirty clothes, they can't even get enough food for a day, let alone a soft bed.

These people have lost their dignity.

When he passed by these victims, he thought silently.

Survival has become so heavy and difficult here.

When a person needs to exhaust all his strength to hold on to a little hope of living, it is impossible to take care of other trivial matters.

Even if a flatbread fell to the ground and was covered with muddy water, they could fight each other for a long time. The hounds in the barracks accidentally ran out to let the wind out, attracting groups of victims with big sticks to chase after them. Almost caught by them to stew soup.

Why is this so?

And when he stood at the center of this disaster, looking at those people who were suffering from the plague and struggling on the verge of life and death, their eyes gradually changed from hope to despair, and he clenched his fists inexplicably.

His nails were deeply embedded in the palm of his hand, and he frowned, as if he didn't feel any pain, and he was even a little thankful that he had found the only way to make him feel more relaxed.

"Drinking medicine is very important. Even if they don't want to drink it, they have to drink it." Abu nodded, and there was also some worry on his face. Qin Ke went to the dangerous place like Zhongyu Mountain alone. He must rush back within three days, although it has only been more than a day now, but in the vast mountains, it is not easy to find enough snake gallbladder for 6000 people to make medicine.

The situation in this camp became more and more serious, but he could only shoulder this heavy burden with a muffled voice.

Gao Changgong left Wu County shortly after Qin Ke left. The army has been assembled, so he will naturally go back to sit in the army. The banditry caused by the disaster around Dahe County is becoming more and more rampant. Endless troubles.

As for Abu staying here alone, he is actually quite lonely. Zhang Fu is not a very good person to him, and there is a difference between men and women, so they can only be regarded as acquaintances.

Now that there is one more Zhang Mingqi, he suddenly feels an inexplicable comfort.

Although he and Zhang Mingqi didn't deal with each other very much before, and had another fight, it didn't prevent them from temporarily forming an "alliance" with him to deal with the current predicament together.

Zhang Mingqi was exhausted physically and mentally, so he found a firewood and sat down, staring at the sky blankly: "You and I both know that those medicines are just things that calm the mind and calm the mind, and it is impossible to cure the plague. You said that Qin Ke has already gone to The drug primer is gone, when will he come back?"

"I don't know." Abu also sat down and sighed, "What else can I do? Although some people refuse to take the medicine, most people are still unwilling to give up the lifeline. , They are afraid that they will be even more desperate. When the time comes, troubles will arise. What should we do? We cannot let them escape. Once they escape, what if the plague spreads to the whole county or even the entire Dahe County? Then what should we do? People are the sinners of Jing Wu in the future."

"Sinners are sinners." Zhang Mingqi bowed his head and said, "It's better than doing meaningless things here all day long."

He felt an inexplicable guilt, even though he kept persuading himself: what does these things have to do with him?He didn't do the thing of destroying embankments and flooding fields. Even if his former father participated in it, what does it matter if these untouchables... die more?There has never been equality between people, there will always be someone on top, looking at these people below with cold eyes, as if looking at a bunch of ants trapped in a jar...

aloft -

He suddenly remembered.

He has fallen from a high place, he has lost the halo that he was blessed with all over his body, he has lost the glory he thought he was holding in his hands...

Now he too is one of the untouchables.

Thinking of this, his heart throbbed again, and he quickly covered his chest with his hands, biting his lips fiercely with his teeth.

Abu became nervous, looked at him and said, "You don't know...what do you want to do..."

Zhang Mingqi sneered: "What can I do? I'm just a soldier right now. The only power I have is...they eat porridge, but I can eat white flour steamed buns. I just...just say it, you will take it seriously ? Do you think I am still the old Mr. Zhang who spends a lot of money? Hehe, then I can directly buy koi flowers from everywhere with twice the price of gold. How can I sit here with you..."

Zhang Mingqi didn't continue talking, and laughed at himself again.

Hearing the lonely and angry meaning in his words, Abu didn't know how to comfort him, so he could only muttered embarrassingly: "I'm also worried that you will be overwhelmed for a while, and I'm afraid that you will do something out of the ordinary..."

"Don't worry." Zhang Mingqi's voice was a bit desolate. He was clearly a young man growing like a seedling, but he had the calmness of an old man. "I'm not that stupid."

He stood up and said, "I'm leaving, I still have work to do, and I think you will too."

Abu chased after him and said, "I'll see you off..."

"Send?" Zhang Mingqi smiled even more sadly, turned his head to look at Abu carefully, and said coldly, "Are you pitying me?"

Abu didn't speak, maybe he also had to admit that he did have a little bit of pity for him, from the day when he knelt in front of Gao Changgong, covered in mud and water, he already had that kind of meaning, although not all.

"Forget it." Zhang Mingqi shook his head, and said while striding: "I hate pity, just like... I used to not have no pity for you poor people whose families are clinking. In the past, I Treat you as a group of dogs, now... I have become a dog myself, but even so, you still have no right to despise me..."

"No...it's not like this." Abu shouted quickly, but finally said in a low voice: "We, we are classmates... We have classes in the same school."

Zhang Mingqi's whole body was shocked, and his footsteps stopped.

After a long time, Abu heard Zhang Mingqi's cold voice, very soft, but just enough for him to hear.

"Thank you." Zhang Mingqi walked away slowly without turning his head.

"What is this?" Zhou Gongjin looked at the black piece of cloth in his hand and asked suspiciously.

Standing in front of him was a general named Kang Li, who Gao Changgong single-handedly pulled up. He was cautious and prudent, but his body was a little weak. His thin cheeks looked like they had been stabbed several times with an axe. Deep sunken, showing a bit weak and tired.