Konoha Aogen

Zhou Lian was detained in a special cell. This is located in the "northeast corner" of the row of prison cells. It is a suite divided into "inner and outer rooms". It is not connected to other prison cells and is very secretive.

The "outer room" of the suite is guarded by guards, which can accommodate five to seven people and is dedicated to guarding the prisoners in the "inner room".

The "inner room" is more open and spacious. The area of ​​​​the "prison" only occupies less than half of the "inner room", which is still much larger than the ordinary prison cells outside. There are thick stone walls on the east and north sides, and iron bars on the west and south sides.

With this arrangement, if the guards were watching in the "inner room", they could see through from the west and south, ensuring that there was no blind spot in the prison. If the guards were stationed in the "outer room", the inner room would be just a "barred bedroom" where the prisoners could have privacy.

The furnace in this room is extremely hot, and the floor is not paved with "Taiyin Stone". Apart from the somewhat turbid air, it is barely comfortable. Zhou Lian was dressed in a plain white prison uniform, sitting on a soft bed and being bored. She had read "The Boring Calabash" and "The Barber" beside her pillow. Compared with her own stories, they were not very exciting. .

Suddenly I felt some itching on my forehead, and with a slight movement, the "silver bell" on the chain jingled. Fortunately, this silver bell is made of fine materials, and the sound like gravel being poured into a spring pool is not particularly harsh. Zhou Lian had two pairs of "fine steel chains" on each of her hands and feet, and a "steel ring" on her neck. The "steel ring" is close to the throat. A "steel chain" hangs from the chest and is connected to the "horizontal chains" on the hands. Another "steel chain" hangs from the center of the "horizontal chains" on the hands, which is connected to the "horizontal chains" between the feet. chain" connected.

As a result, the range of movement of her hands was very narrow, and it was impossible to go around behind her to pull out the steel needle buried in the key point on her back. As long as the one on the back is not pulled out, even if the one on the chest is pulled out, it will not be able to block the combined attack of the imperial guards; even if the steel needles all over the body are removed, the "dry realm" warrior cannot tear through the chain made of "fine steel".

What's more, as long as the silver bell rings for a little longer, or the frequency of continuous ringing is too frequent, it will attract the inspection of seven outside guards. Even so, Ye Xuan was still worried and asked the guards to touch her body again every six hours to see if the "thirty-six steel needles" on her body were still buried in the acupuncture points.

Zhou Lian felt that Ye Xuan was a bit ridiculous. The dignified and prosperous city lord could be so cautious. Sometimes, I can’t help but wonder: If my father had been as timid as a coward, wouldn’t he have died? She also felt that the guards were quite pitiful, spending their time in panic and panic all day long.

Zhou Lian was alone all day long and had no idea what was going on outside. When she found out that the person being carried into the cell was actually Gui Mo, she couldn't help but be stunned.

"you……"

Ye Xuan was completely worried. Zhou Lian took the initiative to talk to Gui Mo as soon as he came up. During these days of suffering in the prison cell, Zhou Lian was most afraid of seeing Gui Moth again. She never expected that she would appear in front of him in this state.

When she was hiding in the mountains and "practicing Qi", Zhou Lian didn't talk to anyone for a long time, but she didn't feel anything bad at that time. However, during this period of time, she was locked in a prison that was "brightly lit" and "dark from the sun". There were clearly people around her, but no one wanted to pay attention to her. It was a different feeling. She longed for someone to talk to. "What's...what's wrong with you?" Zhou Lian walked slowly to the "gurney" where Gui Moth was lying, squatted down and asked timidly.

"Are you blind?" When Gui Moth was lifted, the wound began to hurt again, and his voice trembled as he vented his anger on Zhou Lian.

Zhou Lian gave her a drink and was so frightened that she shrank back and retreated to the bed, not daring to say anything. The silver bells all over his body were jingling, and the guards were brought in again.

"Get out!" Seeing the seven guards filing in, Gui Mo felt extremely angry, feeling that they were all here to see his joke.

"Forgive me, sir. We are just following orders. His Highness the City Lord told us that if the silver bell rings, we need to enter the room for inspection." The leading guard "Cai Jiuyi" replied tremblingly.

"I'm right here, you're doing nothing to investigate! If I don't call you to serve me, don't come in, get out."

"Cai Jiuyi" gritted his teeth and summoned up the courage to whisper: "'His Royal Highness the City Lord' confessed that today... no, starting from yesterday, the guards in the 'Xingyuan' are under the control of 'Lord Hanxing' and will no longer serve." Lord Mo's order, please forgive me."

"If I kill you, how many times do you think I will be beaten?" The more Gui Mo listened, the angrier he became, and the angrier and more painful he became. The five fingers of his left hand dug deeply into the wooden eaves of the gurney.

"I'm just following orders, my lord, I'm sorry!" Cai Jiuyi knelt down on one knee, feeling extremely aggrieved. The six subordinates beside him also knelt down: "My lord, please forgive me!"

Unable to see the threat, Gui Mo closed his eyes in humiliation and ignored everyone. The guards of the Night Palace are all from "Xuanqing Academy", and no matter what Gui Mo does, he can't really kill them. Besides, at this time, how could she still have the courage to kill people indiscriminately?

"Sister Cai, it's my fault. I just won't move around anymore. I didn't pull out the needle, and I didn't commit suicide. If you're worried, you can come over and check. It's almost time for a 'routine check-up,' right?" As soon as Zhou Lian finished speaking, the "water clock" in the outer room rang muffled. It was indeed time for a routine inspection.

"Cai Jiuyi" led the other three guards, opened the iron gate and walked in. When passing by Gui Moth, the four of them stayed away from each other, as if if they were not careful, the "Hraceless Hand" would brush against their ankles. Four people and eight hands reached into Zhou Lian's loose prison uniform and touched it quickly and carefully.

After the four of them looked at each other and nodded, they stood up, bowed slightly to Zhou Lian, and exited the prison cell. According to Ye Xuan's instructions, the imperial guards were not allowed to talk to Zhou Lian unless absolutely necessary. No one knew whether he should salute the ghost moth or not. "Cai Jiuyi" was angry and afraid of making too many mistakes, so he simply turned his head and refused to look at her.

"Call the afterimage!" When the four guards were about to retreat to the "outer room", Gui Mo ordered arbitrarily.

"Master Ying... I'm afraid he's not in the palace at this time." Cai Jiuyi Nuonuo responded.

"Fuck you! Don't you know where the 'Mowen Tower' is?" To avoid insulting Zhou Lian's parents, Gui Mo had no choice but to scold "Cai Jiuyi," the motherless child.

"Yes, I will send someone to invite you." In Cai Jiuyi's heart, he also replied, "Fuck you."

Half an hour later, the afterimage walked into the prison cell lightly with double blades hanging from its waist.

"What's going on? It took so long?" Gui Mo complained with great dissatisfaction.

"There is an employer on the third floor. I picked him up personally. You have to finish talking, right?" Afterimage glanced at Zhou Lian, ignored him, and sat down next to Gui Mo with his knees in his arms.

Gui Mo was even more aggrieved after hearing this: "Things on the third floor are also called trouble? Are the things on the third floor more important than me?"

"Okay, I'm here to see you and you're AWOL. Are you okay? I'll leave if you're fine." Afterimage knew that if he had the patience to coax her at this moment, he might not be able to go back today.

"I...I want to relieve myself."

"Oh, that's fine. What's the use of calling me?" Biying responded with pity and helplessness.

"Nonsense, I can't move! What are you pretending to be? Don't you understand!" Gui Mo didn't want to be heard by the guards guarding the "outer room", so he could only curse in a low voice.

Afterimage pulled out Gui Mo's messy hair, gently caressed her earlobe, and said softly: "I understand, but I can't help it. The wound is on you, and you can only bear it by yourself." She raised her head and glanced Zhou Lian, who was sitting a little further away, lowered her voice: "It's not like you didn't see how I was doing at that time."

"Kick those people out and come back to help me." Gui Mo whispered his real request.

"Aren't those your subordinates?" The words flashed in my mind, but before they were spoken, Afterimage already understood them. "Cai Jiuyi"'s martial arts skills are outstanding among the guards, and he was not a deacon in the "Xingyuan". After Zhou Lian was imprisoned, Ye Xuan transferred her over. What's more, with Gui Mo's current situation, I'm afraid she won't be able to command any of the guards in the "Night Palace".

"Okay, I'll go talk."

To facilitate monitoring, the thin wooden door between the inner and outer rooms, which is neither soundproof nor anti-theft, is never closed and is not allowed to be closed. The afterimage steps very lightly

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, when he walked out of the inner room, with the power of "Cai Jiuyi", he didn't hear anything at all, until he saw her walking towards him, getting closer and closer, still making no sound. The other six people did not notice the strangeness of "stepping silently" at all. They only felt that there was something different about her compared to when she walked in.

"Cai Cai, can you go out for a while?" Afterimage gently pulled "Cai Jiuyi"'s sleeve, walked to a corner of the "outer room", and begged gently and intimately.

"Cai Jiuyi" has been a guard in the "Night Palace" for nearly thirty years. Afterimage has no friendship with her, but she is still somewhat familiar with her.

Afterimage's attitude made "Cai Jiuyi" feel very comfortable, but what he said made her extremely embarrassed: "Master Ying, I'm afraid this is against the rules. We cannot leave the cell before the change of guard."

"Little Moth wants to relieve himself, and I don't want you to see or hear him. I'm here to keep an eye on him, so don't worry." Afterimage comforted him.

"Master Ying, it is your duty. Please... understand the difficulties of a humble position." Cai Jiuyi still did not dare to leave without instructions from Ye Xuan or Han Xing.

Afterimage put on a sympathetic expression, as if he was often caught in a dilemma between several bosses, and patted Cai Jiuyi's arm gently: "I understand, I understand. Look, Xiao Mo's request is also It's reasonable. I'll go to the young master and explain it now, and he will definitely agree. It's just that this time, the little moth has been holding it in for a long time, and it is inevitable that he will hate you. You also know that her things are... a bit messy. , let’s try not to offend her, what do you think?”

"Cai Jiuyi" hesitated and didn't know how to answer. The afterimage could tell that she was a little loose, and continued: "Cai Cai, I have to say something inappropriate, don't be angry with me. If I guard you, something will happen. The fact that there are seven more of you... makes no difference. Xiao Mo is a prisoner now, and she may have to work with you again someday in the future. Giving her a favor is also for the convenience of the future. Just for a little while, please."

"Cai Jiuyi" finally understood why the afterimage was inexplicably showing off his skills in front of him. She knew the level of Afterimage, but she never knew her abilities were so terrifying. Seeing her walk a foot in front of him, he could clearly see her footsteps landing, but he still couldn't hear any sound. It was like a ghost. With people like her around, the seven of us are really just like decorations.

"Master Ying, I am humbled to ask a rude question. I ask you to punish me if I offend you. His Highness the City Lord specifically told you, 'Beware of Zhou Lian, and beware of Lord Moth bullying Zhou Lian.' If I take someone out, you two will not Will..." Cai Jiu didn't finish what he said, he stopped in the middle, and the meaning was very clear.

A broad and sweet smile immediately appeared on the afterimage: "Don't worry, it won't happen. I don't want to be locked up together."

"Okay, that humble duty is waiting outside the door. Please hurry up. It's not appropriate for us to stand outside and be seen by others." Cai Jiuyi said sincerely.

"Well, I will try my best to be as quick as possible and not cause you any trouble. If anyone really asks, I will explain it myself. Little Moth just came in. Didn't it make you less angry? I will tell her later that you are taking risks. If you care about her face, if she dares not to think of you, I will never come to see her again."

"No, it's not good if Lord Mo thinks I'm suing her. Thank you sister for your consideration." After a few back and forths, Cai Jiuyi's favorable impression of Afterimage doubled, and he felt that it would be good if he could be transferred to work under her. But she didn't know how ruthless and hard-faced "Captain Afterimage" was when he was in charge of "Mowen Tower". In recent decades, there have been almost no leaks of secrets above the "first floor", and those rules were bought with a lot of blood.

"Don't worry, I know what to say. Thank you very much, Cai Cai." Afterimage said softly.

Returning to the inner room of the prison cell, the afterimage stared at Zhou Lian meaningfully until a look of panic gradually appeared on her face. She smiled, walked to Zhou Lian, leaned over and picked up the toilet bucket under the bed, and took it to the ghost moth room. Next to the lying "gurney". When the wooden lid was opened, the fine sand inside the barrel was fragrant and pungent, covering up any smell. The toilet bowl is replaced every morning and no one is using it at this time.

Afterimage reached out and patted Gui Mo's shoulder: "Come on, you will pass this level sooner or later." His left hand took out a handkerchief from his arms: "Do you want it? Just open your mouth."

After lying down on the "gurney" again, Gui Mo's face was full of tears, and a few strands of hair were sticky with sweat and stuck to his forehead. The afterimage was kneeling on the ground, bending very low, with his head and face close to the ghost moth, speaking some comforting words in her ear.

After a long time, Ghost Moth's breathing eased slightly. Afterimage finally raised his head and returned to the posture of sitting hugging his knees. He looked down at Gui Moth and said softly: "You are also deceiving yourself. Don't you know what's going on when they are standing outside the door? Besides, there is another As for Baitian, won't they have to help you sooner or later?" Afterimage said, he took out the cotton handkerchief from Gui Mo's mouth and threw it on the ground with a look of disgust.

"What do you mean? I'm like this, why don't you come here every day? Also, what did you do last night? What did you do this morning? I'm like this, why don't you come and see me!" With the nonchalant tone of the afterimage, all the accumulated grievances in Gui Mo's heart came out. Regardless of the pain in the wound, he raised his head and cried to the afterimage.

"Don't... don't move." Even though he knew that she was making excuses, Afterimage was still a little panicked. "I was here last night, but I didn't disturb you. Do you think a coward like him would dare to leave you, a 'vegetarian chicken' who is still angry, alone in the prison cell?"

Hearing what Afterimage said, Gui Mo felt slightly better: "What about from now on, will you come every day?"

"Don't be ungrateful. You are a prisoner. It is against the rules for me to come see you without asking for permission. Do you still want me to serve you every day?" Afterimage scolded softly.

"Don't tell me these things, I don't care! Isn't it all your fault that I'm suffering all this?" There were so many things that happened in the past two days, and they were too intense. Gui Mo had already forgotten that the "root of the disaster" was buried in Where, I suddenly thought of it, and my momentum immediately became stronger.

"This... can you blame me for this?" For this matter, Yiying has always felt a little guilty, but now that he was shouted at, his speech has become less eloquent. While he was in trouble and hesitating, he felt a deep gaze that seemed to be looking through his back. Looking back, Zhou Lian made eye contact with her and quickly lowered her head.

Zhou Lian had been sitting by the bed, silently looking at Gui Moth and Afterimage with envy.

"I don't blame you, but who else could come up with such a reckless idea? Tell your conscience, are you doing it to make me happy? You just want to persecute Sister Qing'er!"

Although Afterimage felt a little bit of grievance, he was unable to refute: "Okay, okay, I'll come every day, every day. I'll go ask for instructions tonight, okay?"

"No! You go and ask for instructions now, and I'll serve you tonight!" Gui Moth ordered arrogantly.

Afterimage took a deep breath and resisted the urge to hit: "Yes, Lord Mo. I'll go with you." Afterimage said, he stood up and walked out angrily.

"You should be more polite to the guards who are looking after you, especially Cai Jiuyi. Han Xing is a protective person, bullying her soldiers and causing her to treat you unfairly will make your life difficult in the future. Do you understand! "When the iron gate was closed, the afterimage shouted harshly at Gui Moth through the railings, his tone really sounded like a police officer scolding a prisoner.

Seeing that the afterimage suddenly became fierce towards him, Gui Mo was a little unhappy. Thinking of Han Xing's cold eyes, he was really a little scared, so he could only say lazily and perfunctorily: "Okay, I got it."

…………

"Sister Qing'er, you didn't go to the 'City Lord's Mansion' to be a deacon?" On the ice of the Night Palace martial arts arena, the afterimages found Ye Xuan and Mu Qing'er.

"Yeah. I've been practicing swordsman a lot lately, but I've been away less." The afterimage is now becoming more and more certain. Since the battle with Hu Kang, the number of words Sister Qing'er has spoken to her has increased, and her tone of voice has become softer than before. This change made her extremely happy, and it also made her feel even more guilty about that incident.

"Master Ying, you didn't go to the 'Mowen Tower' to be the butler?"

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Ye Xuan imitated the tone of Afterimage and sneered.

Afterimage is eager to return to "Mowen Tower". She is willing to chat with Mu Qing'er for a few more words, but is too lazy to talk to Ye Xuan: "Young Master, Xiao Mo does not want to relieve himself in front of the guards. I will go there every night from now on." Guard her for a while. Let the guards go out while I'm here, okay?"

"No. I sent Xiao Mo there to collect Zhou Lian. What are you talking about if you stay with her all day? Also, who allowed you to see her?" Ye Xuan said dissatisfied.

"If you want to take Zhou Lian, you should let me go. You haven't seen the way she looked at me and Xiao Mo, she was so envious that she almost stuck out her tongue. You asked Xiao Mo to seduce her, why not show it to her directly? The thing she desires most is for her to crawl over on her own." Afterimage's tone was like lecturing the subordinates of "Mowen Tower", confident and domineering, as if she had said a few words and the matter was over. It’s settled.

Ye Xuan thought for a moment and nodded: "Well, that makes sense. Then you might as well live in the 'prison cell', work as a blood organizer during the day, and play sisterhood at night. Those who are capable should keep working. Don’t waste another moment.”

"What the hell is that place? I can't live there." Afterimage said angrily: "If you agree, give an order to the guards before tonight. Don't let me beg for help with low eyebrows anymore. Also, , Cai Jiuyi is a very conscientious person. Today I was forced to do nothing and stood outside the door for a short while. If you want to punish me, don't cause trouble for her. "

"Well, I know Cai Jiuyi is reliable in his work. How sure are you about Zhou Lian's matter?" Ye Xuan was very dissatisfied with his own scheming and planning. Why didn't I think of what Xiaoying said?

"More than 90%." Afterimage said with some reluctance: "Is it really okay for you to bring her into your home? Although you can use her more often, you will soon be reluctant to send her to die. No matter what big thing you want to do in the future, a chess piece that can be 'redeemed' will be more valuable than a small moth or a cold star. Especially if you have no pieces to redeem.

‘Yanzi’ was originally a chess piece that could be redeemed, but after playing the bird card together for so many years, at least in my mind she was no longer. You have to think clearly about how to use Zhou Lian. It's not too late yet. "Afterimage didn't want to discuss this in front of Mu Qing'er, but she still couldn't hold back the words.

"When you need 'Duizi', don't you still have 'Mowen Tower'?" Ye Xuan was very dissatisfied with Afterimage's statement and attitude. This is not about indifference or lack of rules, but it is really teaching myself a lesson.

Afterimage lowered his head and was silent for a long time, then raised his eyes to look at Ye Xuan, and said in a more solemn tone than before: "Young Master, since we are rushing to talk to each other today, let's just speak more clearly. You know that I want to trick you. He still has mercenaries who are willing to die for me. But those few people, I don’t want to send them to death.

Over the years, while you have reused me, you have also been worried that I am not loyal enough. This makes sense. If our identities were reversed, I would think the same thing about you.

I am a loyal minister, not a loyal dog, so there are limits to my obedience to you. We should not test each other unclearly, let’s make it clear: you saved my life, taught me my skills, and I have been with you the longest and worked most closely with you in this world. Regardless of 'grace' or 'love', my body will never betray you! But if you fill in the lives of my 'friends' one by one for your selfish desires, I can't do it. "

Ye Xuan was like looking into the abyss, staring at the afterimage's unflinching eyes for a long time, feeling a mixture of various feelings in his heart. Five points were happy, three points were disappointed, and two points were jealousy that the desire for "possession" and "control" could not be satisfied.

"I know, this is a very stupid statement. After all, you are the real boss of 'Mowen Tower' and I am just the shopkeeper. I kicked you out in tears and made a fuss, just because I simply thought, 'I can make more money without you causing trouble. '. But later on, things gradually changed.

I haven't had the courage to talk to you about this. Firstly, I don't want you to be angry, and secondly, I really can't bear to part with this job. Young Master, you must understand: If you keep letting me control the 'Mowen Tower', sooner or later it will become my personal property. The money you earn is yours, but the 'employer' and 'mercenary' are mine. They only recognize me and only listen to me.

The cooperation between employers and mercenaries, and between mercenaries, can only be through me. As long as I continue to accept and assign missions, my employer and mercenaries will gradually develop feelings for me and even become friends.

Let's plan the most dangerous, cruel, and obscene thing in the world together. But you know, if it happens too often and over time, it’s called a ‘friendship between life and death’. If..." Afterimage clenched his fists and made a firm determination: "If as the power of 'Mowen Tower' becomes stronger and stronger, it will one day separate you and me, then this hidden danger... might as well be eliminated now. It! "

"Oh...I understand." Ye Xuan suppressed the depression in his heart and said in a calm tone: "There are some people who you are not willing to let die for me. Isn't that what happened? He looks like a strong man who has cut off his wrist. Still want to give up the job? Let me tell you, you must take good care of the 'Mowen Tower'. Even if it cannot be 'changed', it still has other values. You can't just throw it away. Down!

Also, I have made up my mind regarding Zhou Lian. From now on we will only discuss how to do it, not whether it should be done. Over there with the guards, I'll say hello, get lost. "After saying that, he waved his hand to the afterimage a little tiredly, as if to drive him away.

The afterimage stood there, motionless. A pair of smart eyes were filled with tears, and with a strong nasal voice, he said with extreme grievance: "Young Master, I feel uncomfortable in my heart, can you hug me?"

"You bitch, you are so shameless. It's obvious that you hurt me, why do I still have to comfort you?" Ye Xuan said this, and took the residual image into his arms. He thought that the residual image would cry, and the residual image did plan to cry, but she did not cry. Mu Qing'er's cold gaze prevented her half-real and half-drama emotions from flowing out.

After hugging him silently for a long time, the afterimage slipped out of Ye Xuan's arms in embarrassment. She was extremely regretful at this moment: Sister Qing'er finally got closer to me, why did she say this in front of her? Sister Qing'er has such a simple temperament. Can she accept this kind of flawed and conditional loyalty? Will she think that I am a traitor who eats in and out of things, a white-eyed wolf who is not familiar with me?

"Sister Qing'er, after I said such things, you don't like me even more, right? No matter what, I like you. I'm sorry about Xiao Mo!" After the shadow finished speaking, he put his wrist on the tip of his nose and really started to lose his voice. Cry loudly. This time she didn't act, but she couldn't stop crying. She didn't dare to ask Mu Qing'er to hug her, so she just stood there alone, crying.

"If you don't run away, I will like you." Mu Qing'er's voice was still indifferent with a hint of warmth, and it did not become the same as before, or even colder. This made Yiying feel extremely forgiving, and also made her cry even more hoarsely. Although she didn't understand at all why she wanted to run.

Ye Xuan shook his head at Mu Qing'er and signaled her not to talk nonsense. Then he smiled at the afterimage and said: "Wipe your nose clean, senior sister will like you."

Afterimage knew that he was talking nonsense, but still reached out to touch the cotton handkerchief in his arms, but unexpectedly it came up empty. After taking the handkerchief out of Gui Mo's mouth, she had thrown it in the prison cell. Seeing this, Ye Xuan winked at Mu Qing'er. Mu Qing'er understood, took out her handkerchief, and handed it to the residual image.

When Afterimage took the handkerchief, he deliberately stretched his hand too long, and his fingertips gently slid across Mu Qing'er's palm. Afterimage has no desire for Mu Qing'er like a ghost moth does, but she never gives up any opportunity to touch her body, and in this way, she humblely asks for a ray of warmth.

Exile Diary - Excerpt (51)

Anese is completely "full", and there is no gap in her Dantian and meridians to accommodate new things. This time it took less than three years. Is Gu Changqing so fast?

I told Anese to give her a month to adapt. Anese told me that she didn't need time.

"I said one month, it means one month!" I glared at Anese and yelled angrily.

(End of this chapter)