General

There was a sudden sound of rustling footsteps in the shadows beyond the firelight. The three of them held their breaths vigilantly and looked around. They could only hear the chaotic voice getting closer and closer in the dark bushes, but they couldn't feel each other at all. internal force.

Who is it?Li Xuan looked to see that Lan Jing was still within the range he could protect, and his deep black eyes stared motionlessly at the place where light and darkness meet.

The nearby grass swayed violently suddenly, and a thin figure emerged from the dry branches and leaves. Everyone looked closely, and it turned out to be the boy who was pushed into the field just now.

Immediately afterwards, another middle-aged man also walked over.

"In Xiaqiu Dahai, thank you gentlemen for your kindness in saving my son!" The man took a few steps to grab the lead, took the boy's arm and bowed respectfully to Lan Jing, solemnly said, " My son Qiu Yang accidentally offended that foreigner a few days ago, and he has always held a grudge in his heart, and today he even took the opportunity to take revenge, thanks to the help of several people, the son is safe and sound, Qiu is very grateful!"

"Thank you, gentlemen!" Qiu Yang also bowed deeply, raised his head, and stared blankly at Lanjing.He never knew that there was such a good-looking man in this world, who was as exquisite as a fairy who couldn't eat fireworks in the world, but his phoenix eyes were lightly raised, and his red lips smiled lightly, but he carried an indescribable charm, just like a flirtatious girl. Fairy-like, charming and charming.

"You're welcome." Lan Jing seemed to have sensed his gaze, but instead looked back undisguisedly, slightly curling the corners of her lips.

Qiu Yang felt his heart throbbing so hard that he almost forgot to beat. He hurriedly lowered his head in embarrassment, and his side face hidden in the night suddenly turned red.

"You guys are passing through the local area, right? It's late at night and it's freezing cold. If you don't mind, come to my house to have something to eat, rest for a night, and it's not too late to leave tomorrow morning." Qiu Dahai looked Looking at the carriage parked in the distance, he rubbed his cold fingers vigorously, and seriously suggested.But those eyes unconsciously glanced at the big yellow ox tied with red silk, revealing a look of envy.

Originally, Ling Feng was leading this big guy and didn't know how to deal with it. Seeing his expression, he immediately took two steps forward, put the rein in Qiu Dahai's hands, and said with a sigh of relief: "That's fine, then the cow will be sent to you." Give it to you, the right is our reward."

"Oh, what an embarrassment!" Although Qiu Dahai held the rein tightly in his hand, he was trying to be polite.Lan Jing pursed her lips and smiled, glanced lightly at Ling Feng who had made his own decision, and continued, "Brother Qiu, you're welcome, then we won't bother you."

Ling Feng shuddered quietly, but saw that Lan Jing didn't seem to have any intention of going deeper, but turned around and pulled Li Xuan to follow Qiu Dahai to the village.So he hurriedly signaled to Ning Yu, and chased after her together.

The night was very dark, half a bright moon hung quietly in the twilight, the bright moonlight sprinkled on the riverside path, faintly carrying a touch of intoxicating coldness.Qiu Dahai's home was right by the river, and everyone walked along the gravel path, and from a distance, they saw a ray of candlelight quietly shining out of the lonely hut, flickering, but with the warmth of home.

"Here we are." Qiu Dahai pushed open the simple wooden courtyard door and let everyone in. There were a few dried fish hanging on the shelf outside the window, and a few old fishing nets were drying on the sandy ground.

Obviously, the father and son are fishermen who rely on the river to eat the river and make a living by fishing.

"Young master, please." Qiu Dahai took Lan Jing and others into the house, found a clean place to sit down, and turned on the candle a little bit, then smiled apologetically and said, "I'll go to the wing room. After sorting it out, I will boil some hot water for the young masters later."

Looking back, seeing that Qiu Yang had tied up the cow, he followed him in with his hands down, then patted him on the back and continued: "If you need anything else, just tell the kid."

"Excuse me." Lan Jing looked around and found that there was neither charcoal fire nor earth dragon in the room, and it was actually not a little warmer than the outside.

Qiu Dahai turned around and went out the door, and Qiu Yang stood there blushing and helpless.Several people looked at each other, no one spoke, only the sound of the waves of the rushing river not far away beating the boulders, which was very clear in the silence.

"Your father just said that that person is a foreigner?" Li Xuan, who had been silent just now, suddenly raised his head thoughtfully, and asked Qiu Yang in a low voice.

"Well, I've only been in the village for half a month, and I'm working as a long-term worker at the Tian family." Qiu Yang nodded.

"Did you tell me where it came from?" Li Xuan frowned slightly, and continued to ask.

Qiu Yang pondered for a moment, then bravely took another peek at Lan Jing, and then replied timidly: "I never mentioned it, it has always been mysterious."

A blush quietly bloomed on that slightly immature face.

"We have nothing to do, let's help your father..." Li Xuan smiled, walked slowly to the window, looked at the magnificent river in the distance through the dilapidated window, the clear moonlight shattered in the ripples The sparkling water is as beautiful as the sky full of stars.

Qiu Yang looked at Li Xuan, then Lan Jing, and finally retreated reluctantly.Ling Feng then closed the door and felt that there seemed to be nothing unusual around him, so he turned around and nodded seriously.

"Is this person... a spy from Xuanming Kingdom?" Li Xuan looked sideways at Ling Feng, although the words were just a question, he already had some certainty in his heart.

"Yes. And it's not just here, the capital and several nearby towns have also been infiltrated." Ling Feng took out a secret letter from his arms and handed it to Li Xuan, and continued, "I sent someone to investigate before. It is speculated that it may be related to General Le's withdrawal from the northwestern border."

"Xuanming Kingdom is located in the desert, the land is barren, and there is a lack of food all year round. When the grassland dries up in winter, it becomes even more covetous to the wealth of Longxiao Kingdom." Li Xuan snorted coldly, "Now that I have been withdrawn to the capital, they don't know the truth, Don't dare to act rashly for the time being, if these spies confirm that this matter is not a trick to lure the enemy, I'm afraid it won't be long before they will send troops to attack."

"It's a pity that we can't do anything." Lan Jing sighed quietly, her half-down eyes were full of helplessness, "Even if we rushed to the four counties in the south of the Yangtze River and caught the little prince who had escaped, would we be able to find him? It is a big problem for people who are willing to exchange Feng Yu Guoshi, let alone, I don't know if they have the ability..."

Li Xuan and Ling Feng lowered their eyes, and neither of them said anything. How could they not know that the regent holds a lot of power, how difficult it is to overthrow him now, and how difficult and dangerous their trip will be.

A burst of chaotic footsteps gradually came from far and near, and the few people stopped talking.The dark wooden door was slowly pushed open, and the Qiu family father and son walked in one after the other with steamed buns and vegetables in their hands.

"My father and son are from a poor family, and we don't have anything good to entertain you, so let's try to eat." Qiu Dahai put all the meals on the table and greeted him with a smile, but looking at the expression on his face, it seemed that Some hesitated to speak.

Lan Jing tilted her head to look at Qiu Dahai, and asked with a slight smile on her face, "Brother Qiu, do you have something to say?"

"Uh...yes..." Qiu Dahai wiped the thin sweat from his forehead with his worn-out sleeves, and continued after a moment of hesitation, "Your son just told me that he wants to follow the young master and learn some martial arts..."

He looked at Lan Jing's slightly frowned brows, and hurriedly explained: "Although my son is only fifteen years old, he lived with me by the river since he was a child. Although the river is turbulent, my son's water quality is very good, and he can enter the water without a shadow. The rapids are going against the flow, if the young masters are willing to take him with him, there will be a place for him to go south by boat in the future."

Standing behind his father, Qiu Yang also looked at Lan Jing eagerly, with a touch of expectation on his face.

"Brother Qiu...Forgive me for not obeying my orders..." Lan Jing walked slowly in front of Qiu Yang, curled her lips, and touched his head tenderly, "It's not that Yang'er is bad, but Our trip is too dangerous, I don't want to stir him into this muddy water, I hope you can understand."

"No, no, I was being rude." Qiu Dahai put the bowl and chopsticks away, bowed slightly ashamed and apologized.

"Father—" Qiu Yang whispered anxiously, but before he could speak, Qiu Dahai grabbed his arm and yanked him to the door, "Masters, use it slowly, and we will clean it up later. .”

"Thank you." Li Xuan slightly clasped his fists at the side, watching the father and son retreat quickly, turned around and sat back at the table, and the dimly tinged yellow room fell into silence again...

……

Clothes and sleep, it's midnight in a blink of an eye.

The river tide didn't stop all night long, with the sound of waves constantly drifting in with the cold winter wind.

A gleaming dagger was suddenly inserted into the gap of the courtyard door, and with a light flick on the simple door bolt, the mottled wooden door was pushed open a gap without a sound.Four burly men squeezed sideways into the yard, looked around vigilantly, and tiptoed to the door until they were sure it was safe.

Ning Yu, who was guarding the courtyard, suddenly appeared from the shadows at some point, holding two daggers, and stood in front of several people like a ghost.

Although these people covered their faces with black cloths, Ning Yu still recognized the leader at a glance as the strong man who fought with Ling Feng at night.

The man seemed not expecting someone to watch the night, his eyes froze slightly, but he still kept calm and raised his hands lightly, the remaining three immediately rushed forward at the same time, fighting with Ning Yu.

Hands were moved outside, and with the sound of clanging and fighting, the people in the room immediately woke up.Li Xuan grabbed the long sword and hurriedly put on a robe before going out.But Lan Jing held his arm tightly, and called out in a low voice: "Ling Feng."

"Yes." Ling Feng, who was guarding by the side with his sword in hand, glanced at Li Xuan, nodded slightly, then jumped out of the window, raised his hand and swept straight to the assassin's door.

Li Xuan knew what Ling Feng meant, he was Lan Jing's personal bodyguard, and he was not allowed to leave his side unless it was absolutely necessary.If he was not dead and Lan Jing was injured, even if it was only a fur injury, it would be dereliction of duty as a shadow guard.

Now, he is willing to hand over his master to him to leave alone, which can be regarded as a kind of trust in entrusting his life.

Lan Jing pulled Li Xuan to the window, and looked out through the broken window edge.Just when the night was falling, the moon half-covered in the clouds cast a few touches of clear light from time to time, and the cold sharp blades quietly reflected bursts of dim light.

At this moment, the wooden door of the wing room was suddenly kicked open, and a thin figure rushed out with a chopping knife in his hand, followed by a panicked and hasty shout: "Qiu Yang!! "

As soon as Qiu Yang changed his previous timidity, he raised his hatchet and slashed at a big man, but unfortunately the difference in strength was huge, the man lifted his foot and kicked his knife away, and then punched him to the ground.

Qiu Yang fell to the ground, feeling a fishy sweetness in his mouth, and soon a warm liquid trickled down from the corner of his mouth.He suddenly dropped his weapon, and was a little scared in an instant. Seeing the black figure of the man getting closer and closer, he shuffled back.

With the hand raised, the knife fell, and the man slashed at him with a grinning grin.

Qiu Yang screamed and closed his eyes tightly, turned his head and raised his hand reflexively to block it.But the expected sharp blade did not arrive, replaced by a painful murmur...

And the... solid body that threw him heavily to the ground...