storyteller

Qiu Lingfu's sudden laughter came from behind, and it scared Qiu Xiaoshi smartly. When he saw the scattered people in the inn early in the morning looking here, he hurriedly turned his head and said to the always moody young master: "You laugh again! What?"

Xu Bichuan didn't ask, but he only needed to look at Qiu Lingfu's eyes, and he could easily discover the reason why Qiu Lingfu was so happy. He said humbly to a middle-aged woman who still had a charm coming towards him: "Boss Lin is really nice." heart."

Boss Lin is no longer young, but his smile is as vivid as a girl's, "Where! Mr. Xu laughed!"

As if he was afraid of hurting the beggar's self-esteem by talking about it loudly, he whispered, "This beggar is also stupid, I am afraid he is a newcomer, he has stayed downstairs for a few days, and my shop is not It’s open in a place with a lot of people, it’s okay for little beggars to take a nap at the door, but begging for food is useless. It seems that I’m about to starve to death, and it’s just a matter of raising my hands to give away some leftovers.”

There was meaning in Xu Bichuan's eyes, and he and Boss Lin looked at each other like this, and they knew what was in each other's minds.

Since this small inn belongs to Hua Yuye, at least the boss or shopkeeper must be a disciple of Hua Yuye who is well-informed enough to control most things.

Boss Lin's heart to help is true, but his doubts are not false.Although I don't know what the relationship between Xu Zhuge and the head is, but since the head has orders, the news that should be conveyed must be conveyed. Otherwise, if something happens to the guest, it will be my negligence.

The beggar over there had already eaten and drank enough, ignored the man's eye-catching laughter, and was about to stand up to thank Boss Lin and leave, when he saw a white and slightly callused hand pressing on his bamboo hat .In fact, he had already noticed this man before he approached him. When he saw this well-groomed hand, he knew who it was without even raising his head.

Qiu Lingfu sat down next to him, and put his left hand on his hat and his right hand propped his chin. The beggar slowly raised his head and saw the undisguised and arrogant smile in his eyes, but he didn't move. looking at that person.

Qiu Lingfu asked casually, "Beggar, are you full?"

The beggar had already taken off his hat at this time, and a simple, high bunch of black long hair was on the half shawl, and a few strands of hair hung down on both sides of his cheeks, looking a little messy, his face could not be seen clearly, but his eyes were sharp. As bright as a star, he stared at the young man with clear eyebrows and good looks in front of him, as if he was unprepared for this person's approach and his next move, although the laughter he just laughed was probably aimed at himself.

He just breathed in and said softly: "You want to give me alms?"

It was the same scene as when a child threw chestnuts that day, but this person's reaction was quite different.Qiu Xiaoshi suddenly remembered this beggar, and remembered that the beggar made a lot of naughty children angry with two or three words that night. Now facing his young master, a really heartless person, why is he no longer as alert as he was that day.This beggar, he should ridicule Qiu Lingfu and defend his self-esteem like last time!Instead of revealing such kindness that made his bad young master playful.

But the beggar didn't smile, which gave Qiu Xiaoshi a pitiful illusion of seriousness. He was a little afraid that the young master would play hard on this innocent and poor beggar.No one understands Qiu Lingfu's unscrupulousness and indiscrimination between right and wrong better than him. It is so difficult to make him feel sympathy and pity. He has never even noticed that there are these two things in this person's nature.

Qiu Xiaoshi just called out "Young Master", but it was too late.Qiu Lingfu took out a piece of pine nut candy wrapped in paper from his bosom, put it on the table and said to him, "Here, this is my last piece. If you eat it, don't ask for it again." A realistic gesture of reluctance came.

He also pretended to say earnestly and earnestly, "People must learn to be grateful and not be greedy."

Qiu Xiaoshi was stunned by Qiu Lingfu's shamelessness. "People must learn to be grateful" is what he often said, and the latter sentence was often said by the young lady. When they said such words, they would never think that this bastard Qiu Lingfu would use them on this place.

That beggar, didn't he realize that Qiu Lingfu was going to play with him?No, he must be able to realize that a few days ago he responded smartly to a few children who caused trouble. Qiu Lingfu's smile just now was almost undisguised, and his thoughts were clear, so he must be clear.

But what is he going to do now?He must have thrown that piece of candy away, then lifted his hat and walked away with only a back view?

At this moment, Xu Bichuan was watching quietly, observing the beggar's reaction with the eyes of an old-fashioned quack, and did not stop the shameless Qiu Lingfu.Boss Lin smiled and greeted the buddy to go to work.

The beggar stared at the small candy in the paper, and a light from the window just covered the half of the table. The candy was crystal clear, reflecting an attractive luster like gemstones.

But he smiled, and that smile was really the same as that night's. It seemed to be a disdainful pride, but it was just a pure smile without any deep meaning.

Then he really picked up the candy just like that night.

He brought the candy close to his mouth, still smiling slightly.

However, Qiu Lingfu suddenly felt an indescribable sense of discomfort, as if it wanted to drive him to obey his instinct and do something that made him feel more comfortable.

He couldn't help changing his posture, put both hands on the table, and looked at him: "Don't worry! You can eat it later. You eat as soon as I give it to you, it's more rude."

He always likes to see other people's embarrassment with these little tricks, but this time he prefers to imagine the consequences of this person himself, maybe this time he feels that what he imagines will be more ridiculous than what he sees.

But the man didn't appreciate it. He naturally picked up the candy that had been melting on his chest, just like picking up an ordinary food.He raised his obsidian-like eyes, and stared at Qiu Lingfu's straight and delicate bridge of nose, with a more casual smile on his lips: "Eat while it's hot."

Put it in your mouth and taste it.Qiu Lingfu seemed to have returned to the night a few days ago, this man also peeled the hot chestnuts nonchalantly, and ate them while they were hot, just as a child expected.

The pine nut candy in his mouth melted sweetly, giving the beggar a real sweet taste.But he smiled regretfully, "But the pine nut candy brought by Songzizhou is not as good as half a piece of mung bean cake."

He lazily stood up, took out the hat from Qiu Lingfu, bent down and laughed in a low voice: "There are too many vomiting-inducing leaves here in Lidu."

Qiu Lingfu was surprised, but he just looked at the person in front of him, the dissatisfaction and unfulfilled excitement in his eyes were clearly revealed.At this time, he felt that he was like the children that night, his seemingly superior pride and the beggar's seeming to be played with, but everything was wiped away by this person with a smile, and cause and effect were reversed.

When he came back to his senses, the beggar had already got up and thanked the proprietress, then turned and left.Just outside the door of the store, I saw the beggar's tall body suddenly leaning against the door, trembling uncontrollably, with his arms pushed against the door, he actually vomited.Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he vomited out all the chaotic skin, vegetables, leafy meat and slag from the meal he had just been donated to.The ground was in a mess after several days of hunger, and everyone passing by turned their eyes away.

He cursed silently: "Stupid."

Then with a kick, a cloud of sand was thrown up to cover up the filth, and then he put on the broken hat, without turning his head, and walked away with a vain drunken gait.

Before leaving Liling in a carriage, Qiu Lingfu took advantage of Xu Bichuan's checkout, ordered all his favorite dishes, and after a full meal, he felt refreshed and swept away the lingering unhappiness in his heart!He sat on his back in the carriage, opened the curtain that blocked his eyes, and hummed an out-of-key tune to the people on the side of the road.

He never cares about the joys, sorrows and joys in his heart, but he also instinctively approaches the other shore of pleasure and stays away from the suffering of the sea.Others never cared too much about the emotions in his heart. First, he himself didn't care, and second, his negative emotions were as little as his goodwill.

As dull as Qiu Xiaoshi, after learning that the beggar was suspicious from Xu Bichuan and Qiu Lingfu, his sympathy for him was also swept away.

Accompanied by him cursing all the way, the three of them drove away from this lonely Liling in the early morning.

Five days later, the three of them arrived at the purple domain before the sunset city gate closed.

Although Ziyu is not Huaijing, it is also the three cities of Jiuqu, soft red and fragrant soil, and the bustling and bustling city is comparable to Huaijing.Here, Huaijing is one south and one north. If Huaijing is a strictly controlled imperial power, then Ziyu runs through the main roads of all major sects. There is no need to discuss the choice of place at all, there is only one purple domain.

The reason for this is that the area of ​​Ziyu is special. There are many mountains in the northwest, while the south is lush with trees and many insects and snakes.

The Purple Territory is like an oasis in the treacherous desert, and the main roads and paths in all directions lead to it.It's not impossible to bypass the Purple Territory, but if you can have a flat place to rest, why go on a long and dangerous road without peace?

If sects of the rivers and lakes want to visit each other, they must pass through this place, so over time, the atmosphere of the rivers and lakes here is strong, almost using the city as a post.This place runs through the big factions of the rivers and lakes, and various forces check and balance each other here, forming their own rules, and the little ones consciously dare not make trouble here, but on the surface it is quieter and more peaceful.

With Xu Bichuan around, the speed of the three of them was obviously much faster, but after arriving at Ziyu, the three of them didn't go directly to Hua Yuye's stronghold here, but a secluded place called Ruyi Building. After resting for a day to make up for food, go to the Wuhua Forest. Behind the hidden and dangerous Wuhua Forest are the flowers and rain leaves of the pink rivers and lakes.

In the past few days, there have been more people coming and going in the Purple Domain, and Hua Yuye's annual Flower Festival will be held soon, inviting leisurely knights from all over the world to come and enjoy the flowers.

Qiu Lingfu sighed deeply after hearing what Xu Bichuan said.

Xu Bichuan asked, "What's the matter? Didn't you pick this day to come? Why are you still sighing?"

Qiu Lingfu would go to Huayuye every year during the Chinese New Year, and after Qiu Xinsu disappeared, he was not in the mood to come by himself this year. It was because Sun Qinghong, the head of Huayuye, sent a personal guardian Han Yan to give the New Year's gift, so that the New Year was still decent. down.But Qiu Lingfu and Qiu Xinsu couldn't wait any longer for the reply, and asked Hua Yuye for help, and they chose before and after the Huachao meeting. Xu Bichuan thought about it for a while, and determined that Qiu Lingfu was not a temporary idea.

Xu Bichuan looked at Qiu Lingfu, the compassionate kindness on Qiu Lingfu's face almost blinded him, and said, seeing him drooping his eyes, and sighing, "I just sympathize with you, especially Xiaohong."

Xu Bichuan raised his eyebrows and asked, "You want to make trouble? Don't forget that the visitors are either well-known families from all corners of the country, or sects that are so stable and powerful that the head is too idle. If you want to play with them, it's a bit difficult, so I advise you not to cause trouble. "

Qiu Lingfu lay on the chair and said leisurely: "This is just one of them." Then he straightened up suddenly, "Fanjiu said a few months ago that you lost my mother, and my mother lived in seclusion back then. After the turmoil in Jianghu for unknown reasons. According to the laws in the storytelling Jianghu stories, this Huachao will be the worst failure you have ever held."

This point, Xu Bichuan had already thought of this point after hearing Lao Er Fanjiu's remarks, so he kept a calm look, but instead raised his voice and said: "With Young Master Qiu here, we will compare each other every New Year's Eve. It even failed last year, a small Huachaohui, so what if it is messed up?"

Qiu Xiaoshi was silently speechless at the side, it turned out that the young master was already a kind of tempering of will for Hua Yuye.

Xu Bichuan asked the clerk to prepare the dinner and send it to the guest room. After the three of them had a full meal, another clerk sent a message saying that the Master Ding of Xiangshui Palace had come to visit Xu Zhuge.

Everyone in the world knows that Xu Zhuge travels all over the world and his whereabouts are uncertain. They only know that he has a simple and elegant small building in Ziyu, which is Ruyi Building.

However, because of his status in Huayuye, Xu Bichuan, like Qiu Lingfu and Qiu Xinsu, would have to disguise himself if he wanted to go to Huayuye.Therefore, even when he came to Ziyu, Xu Bichuan would rarely live in the Ruyi Building where his status was obvious.Therefore, it is extremely difficult to wait for Xu Bichuan in Ruyi Building.

But if others want to find Xu Bichuan, they can only come to Ruyi Building and wait. If they can't wait for a month, they can wait for two or three months.At this moment, Xu Bichuan stepped into the Ruyi Tower, and Palace Master Ding came. It seems that Palace Master Ding really wanted to ask for something, and sent someone to watch the Ruyi Tower for a long time.

Qiu Lingfu ate and drank enough, the so-called full and warm thinking, now he started thinking about having fun.As soon as he heard that someone was coming to see Xu Bichuan, he suddenly became interested and wanted to join in the fun and see what was going on, but after a second thought, he pretended to be indifferent: "Go and do your work, I'll rest here."

But Xu Bichuan knew everything in his chest, and only smiled meaningfully: "I have nothing in this Ruyi building. The only advantage is that it has thick walls and dense windows, and the sound is quiet. Young master Qiu, you are tired, you can rest in peace . " As he spoke, he waved a folding fan, followed the servants, turned and left.

Qiu Xiaoshi knew what Qiu Lingfu wanted to do as soon as he rolled his eyes, he leaned over and asked, "Do you want to eavesdrop?"

Qiu Lingfu said: "Xiaoshi, the world has been calm recently except for a little gossip about chivalrous lovers, that is, the disappearance of a living person like my mother is a bigger problem. There is no harm in listening to other gossip, and it is also good for the elderly. Aging is good for children to think hard."

"Are you an old man or a child?"

"I'm in between. I want to prevent aging and think hard." Qiu Lingfu said shamelessly.

Qiu Xiaoshi sneered: "Once Xiangshui Palace opens an inn, what interesting trails can there be?"

Qiu Lingfu said: "Xiaoshi, there were no major events in Jianghu before my mother disappeared. There is only one thing, that is, Linghu Weiwo, the new master of Baigu Cave, annexed eleven small villages in one fell swoop. Smaller gossip trails, There are only three things that can be picked out and said on the stage. One of them is that someone in Xiangshui Palace said that he was a domestic servant of the Bai family 15 years ago. I went through the old meal again. All restaurants and teahouses are full of mixed news, do you think there is any story about Xiangshui Palace looking for Xu Bichuan this time?"

There was a cunning light in his eyes, which made Qiu Xiaoshi excited too. He took a breath and said, "Maybe... there will be news about Miss!" But he thought again, "But... What are the other two gossips you mentioned? If, if it is related to Miss, then Xu Zhuge will definitely tell us, why do you bother to go and eavesdrop."

Qiu Lingfu cut his mouth and smiled disdainfully: "Xiaoshi, my mother won't tell me if she doesn't see you. How can you guarantee that he will tell me?"

Qiu Xiaoshi was speechless for a moment, as if he was suffocated, he wanted to speak but couldn't speak.

Qiu Lingfu didn't care about Qiu Xiaoshi's reaction at all, ignored him, and just sighed: "Then there are two other things, one is the master of the book pavilion retreating, and the other is the young sect master of the Blood Bat Sect and Han Yan's gossip."

Qiu Xiaoshi calmed down, and listened to Qiu Lingfu's decent analysis, but he seemed amused: "Young master, you still remember a lot of gossip. It seems that Miss's disappearance has something to do with their trivial matters. The Bai family The sect was destroyed 15 years ago, but Miss has lived in seclusion 17 years ago. It is common for the head of the sect to retreat, and Shuge is a sect, which is naturally big news... Hey, why don't you go Ask Miss Hanyan, go and ask her, what does the gossip between her and the Blood Bat Young Sect Master have to do with Miss."

Qiu Lingfu sighed, with a frustrated look: "I asked Hanyan during Chinese New Year."

Qiu Xiaoshi just said that Qiu Lingfu was gossip, but now he asked, "What did she say?"

Qiu Lingfu said: "She said, who is the young master of the Blood Bat Sect!"

Qiu Xiaoshi was silent for a moment, and he couldn't help doubting the veracity of most of the gossip in the world. Are these storytellers really making up stories?

Qiu Lingfu stood up, and tightened the hem of his heavy and cumbersome clothes indiscriminately, as if he was really about to go out and cause trouble.

Qiu Xiaoshi looked at him skillfully tidying up his clothes, thinking that Qiu Lingfu would show off his kung fu and fly around the walls later, he couldn't help being envious and jealous: "Actually, I really want to know why Xiangshui Palace is looking for Xu Zhuge, But just now Xu Zhuge said..."

Qiu Lingfu mercilessly mocked, "Xiaoshi, that's not the reason, you can't go, it's because your martial arts are too bad!"

If you want to say which faction in the Jianghu the common people are most familiar with, it’s not the Zixiao and the Buddhist sect who are as stable as Mount Tai and the Big Dipper, it’s not the Bone Cave that makes people fearful, it’s not the Huayuye who is proud of women, but this one who has no real status in the Jianghu but Xiangshui Palace with strong financial resources.

Who doesn't know the four major industries under Xiangshui Palace: teahouse, restaurant, inn, and brothel.

In these industries, from the boss to the waiter in the shop who washes the dishes, they are all disciples of Xiangshui Palace, half of the rivers and lakes.Although knowing kung fu is nothing more than small troubles for real martial arts people, few people dare to cause trouble in Xiangshui Palace.

Little gangsters dare not, because everyone in Xiangshui Palace knows martial arts, and it is a decent martial art after all; most old Jianghu dare not, because Xiangshui Palace has shallow martial arts practice, but has a wide network of contacts and great influence.

As long as there is no chaos in the rivers and lakes, the common people and guests will be safe and sound.

However, Xiangshui Palace is majestic and majestic in the imperial city, but it has always kept a low profile in the Jianghu. Seeing and eavesdropping, so all disciples must observe everything with eyes and mind.

In fact, Xiangshui Palace can only be regarded as half of the Jianghu sect

But at this moment, Xiangshui Palace, who has always kept himself safe and not involved in any Jianghu affairs, came to find Xu Bichuan. As long as this matter got out, it would be news, and even Qiu Xiaoshi became interested in it from the bottom of his heart.He is not from the rivers and lakes, but he once loved listening to books in his spare time like ordinary people, and it is true that he always wanted to join in the fun.

But even though Qiu Xinsu had no scruples to teach Qiu Xiaoshi a set of elegant Suxin swordsmanship, he could only understand a little bit.The patriarch didn't want to reward him for his food, nor for his indomitable abilities, nor for his magnificence and grievances.

Qiu Xiaoshi was not reconciled and could only accept his fate. At this moment, he could only say to Qiu Lingfu: "Ziyu is not Huai'an. There are experts everywhere here. Be careful."

And Qiu Ling Fu ignored it, and didn't know if he heard it, like a flexible and self-care cat, he plunged headlong into the night full of lights outside the window.

Compared with the tall buildings in Ziyu, Ruyi Building stands more like a chic small house, with no more than two floors, four floors and five floors, and only nine rooms including the kitchen.The first floor is for hospitality, and the second floor is for living, that's all.

It was the first time for Qiu Lingfu to come to Ruyi Building for so many years, but he was quick to think about such sneaky things. He walked around Ruyi Building on tiptoe, carefully watching the light and shade of each window, and carefully Thinking about the smell from the tip of his nose, he sneaked to the window of a brighter room in comparison.The smell of the incense there is light, and it was just lighted not long ago.

Suxin swordsmanship and Huayuye's kung fu routines have similarities, they emphasize elegance and lightness, which makes it possible for Qiu Lingfu to step on the rustling leaves deliberately or unintentionally laid outside the Ruyi Building without making a sound.

But Qiu Lingfu just squatted down and before he put his ears to the wall, he saw a little boy rushing out from the corner with a lamp in his hand. He stared at Qiu Lingfu for a while with big eyes, and then said seriously: "Sir, let me Come out and drive away the cat stealing food from the window."

Qiu Lingfu and the little boy Tongtong looked at each other for a moment, thinking: How did he know I was here?This suspicious Xu Bichuan is really difficult to deal with.Qiu Lingfu thought about it, and looked at the boy's thin clothes that refused to give in, and glanced at his mouth.

Since there is no play, let's go first, even if the kid doesn't complain, it's not easy for the people here to hear the movement outside the window.It's better to pretend to be lost, wait for a while to see for yourself, and think of another way.

Thinking of this, Qiu Lingfu turned around and jumped to the roof of Ruyi Building in front of the serious little boy.Like a monkey, he bent down to see the little boy staring at him in a daze, feeling proud.His soft-lined face looks even more impressive in the night, and he looks like a banished fairy, but he used this face to pull out a mocking grimace-like smile, ostentatiously asking the child to see clearly, He deliberately wanted to anger the kid downstairs carrying the lamp.That fairy-like alien and ethereal aura only exists on the surface, but he is actually a very vulgar and evil mortal.

The child didn't seem to be angry when he saw that there was nothing left. He turned around with a lamp and left as if he had completed the task.

Seeing him like this, Qiu Lingfu found it boring, so he carefully groped on the roof to stand up.At this time, the moonlight was bright, the sky was a dark blue with appropriate shades, the outlines of the buildings far and near in the purple area were clear, and Qiu Lingfu's hair color was light, but at this time, under the moonlight, it was hazy as if shrouded in a velvet light.

But his back suddenly trembled, as if the deer had sensed the peeping of the cheetah, and discovered the danger and uneasiness hidden in the night.He turned around sharply as if being stung, and the next moment he saw a person sitting sideways on the ridge of the roof silently behind him, lazily, as if he had been staring at him for a long time.

That person was tall and slender, familiar yet unfamiliar, Qiu Lingfu knew who it was from the bottom of his heart.