purple yellow

The journey along the way was smoother than expected.After crossing the land of Shu and entering the border of Yunnan, everyone somewhat restrained their playfulness and prepared for any unexpected situation that may arise at any time.It was the ninth day of No.20 when they entered Lincheng, and Zhao Zhen's "red flame sand" attack became more and more serious, so everyone decided to go to Haoshan the next day.

Feng He considered it very carefully, and proposed to Zhao Zhen that night that he ordered the prefect of Canglin to join the local Chai Wang's mansion to form the King of Wei Army, in case he refused to seek medical treatment, he forcibly captured Haoshan and forced the people in Xuecheng to give him relief.Zhan Zhao remained silent, although he didn't like this kind of force, but he acquiesced in thinking about the overall situation.

Unexpectedly, the proposal was rejected by Zhao Zhen.Zhao Zhen said that Haoshan belongs to Dali, if it is attacked by force, it is inconsistent with the reason, and it will undoubtedly affect the diplomatic relations between the two countries.Furthermore, if his whereabouts are known by the government, word of his misdeeds will reach the ears of the temporary regent queen mother in a few days. Zhao Zhen fears that he will be involved in a wide range of people because of his understanding of the queen mother, and those who help him deceive him will be punished The queen mother took it to question the crime.

Feng He heard the words but still did not give in, insisting on his own advice on the grounds of the fate of the country.So several people including Zhan Zhao also knelt down and advised Zhao Zhen.Zhao Zhen was helpless, so he agreed to keep the two of them, and gave them an order to guard the marquis for seven days. If they did not return safely, they should declare an order to the prefect of Canglin and King Chai's mansion to march.

Everything is ready and supplies are complete.On the second day, they set off before dawn, and they entered Dali under the pretext of doing business. They hired a local barbarian at the foot of the mountain to lead the way, and the group headed towards Haoshan.

Haoshan, criss-crossing from north to south, has a total length of [-] miles, connecting the Song Dynasty and Dali from east to west.The terrain is steep, with overlapping peaks and interlaced ravines.The geography of Haoshan is quite strange, surrounded by scorching heat, there are so many peaks in Haoshan, wrapped in layers, so that the main peak group in the center is actually cold all day long, and snow drifts for thousands of years.In the early years, when Dali first established diplomatic relations with the Song Dynasty, both countries were vying to include Haoshan Mountain in their territory. Later, because there was only one place to enter and exit Haoshan Mountain, it was within Dali territory, and the Dali subjects at the foot of the mountain regarded it as a holy mountain. The people of this mountain decided that it would be difficult to give up, so the Song Lord returned it to Dali.The Syracuse School is built on a piece of ice and snow.

The Xuecheng faction is named Xuecheng, because in addition to the internal houses and houses, the exterior is also a towering city wall made of ice bricks.

Xuecheng faction is quite famous in Dali.The originator of the Xuecheng School was the famous Fengxue old man 100 years ago. Thirteen years ago, the Dali Kingdom changed. The emperor fled to Haoshan with his harem family. He was rescued by Qiao Tianyuan, the head of the Xuecheng faction, and took shelter in Xuecheng.When the rebel army heard the news, the whole Xuecheng faction fought against the enemy with all their strength. The stalemate lasted for a whole month, but the rebel army finally retreated because they couldn't stand the cold weather.After the suppression of the rebel party, the lord of the country tried his best to reward the Xuecheng faction and promised to expand the city.All the people are even more proud of worshiping Xuecheng as their master, because the Xuecheng School has a long-standing reputation in Dali and enjoys great honor.

The snow-capped city is majestic and majestic.The back of the city is facing the mountain, and the threat of the terrain is abrupt.The city wall is towering, because it is made of ice and snow, the wall surface is smooth and difficult to climb, and when the sun shines, it is even more crystal-clear and dazzling, making people afraid to look directly at it.Fortunately, it was nearly night when everyone arrived.The sky is gray, and the snow is gradually blowing up in the vast snow field, and the footprints when we came are no longer seen.

Such a snow city has never been seen before, Zhao Zhen couldn't help looking at the city and sighing: "What a snow city."

Everyone was also amazed, but Zhan Zhao didn't think it was surprising and didn't say a word, he just looked up at Xuecheng, his eyes full of emotion.Zhao Zhen approached and asked: "Why, the Zhan guards have come?"

Zhan Zhao said: "When I was 13 years old, I came here with my teacher. I still remember it vividly."

Seeing the worry hidden in Zhan Zhao's eyes, Zhao Zhen patted him on the shoulder, smiled and comforted him: "Since Lingshi is old with the head of the Xuecheng faction, this trip should go smoothly. You don't have to worry too much."

Returning with a smile, Zhan Zhao nodded and said, "Accept Your Majesty's auspicious words, I hope everything goes well."

After looking outside Xuecheng for a long time, Zhan Zhao was quite surprised to see no guards above the city, so he ordered everyone to take a hundred steps back, and said in a loud voice, "Mr. Buju's door, please see Xuecheng Send Qiao Tianyuan Qiao to head the house."

The voice was long, and there was a faint echo.Zhan Zhao didn't dare to make too much noise, for fear of causing an avalanche, but he just happened to ensure that the sound could be transmitted to Snow City.After a while, two heads appeared on the city wall.

"Which one was talking just now?" A person asked.

Zhan Zhao clasped his fists and saluted: "I am next."

"Who do you say you are and what do you want to do?"

"Just under the sect of 'Mr. Buju', please see Qiao Tianyuan, head of the Xuecheng faction, if you have anything to do."

"Which one is 'Mr. Buju'? I haven't heard of it." The other said: "Is the head of the Xuecheng sect, you and the unknown juniors, who can see you if you just ask for it? Besides, the teacher has something to do today, so it is inconvenient to meet guests. Hurry up Go!" After saying that, he waved his hand impatiently and turned to leave.

Zhan Zhao was about to say something to persuade him to stay, but he heard someone thinking before him: "The 'Mr. Buju' you are talking about is Mr. Nangong from Xiaofengju in Lushan Mountain?"

Zhan Zhao's face was full of joy, he hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "It's my teacher."

The two people in the city were startled when they heard the words, looked at each other, and said in unison: "Could it be that you are that Nan Xia Zhan Zhao?"

"It's indeed Zhan."

The two disciples suddenly panicked, bit each other's ears, and then clasped their fists together and said loudly: "Please wait a moment, Nanxia, ​​we will report to our teacher right away."

Zhan Zhaocai said "Thank you", but the two of them were nowhere to be seen.Bai Yutang approached Zhan Zhao, and said in a voice that only Zhan Zhao could hear: "It seems a little unusual."

Zhan Zhao glanced at him, "Brother Bai found something?"

"Just now I practiced eavesdropping and kept paying attention to those two people. Although most of them couldn't hear them clearly, I heard one sentence very clearly. The one with the long face said: 'It's a coincidence'."

Zhan Zhao stopped talking, because both of them saw the measurement in each other's eyes.

After a while, the two disciples reappeared.The one with the long face looked around at the people around Zhan Zhao, and asked, "Who are the people around Nan Xia?"

Zhan Zhao said, "They are all Zhan's friends."

The man said: "Teacher can't get away today, I don't want to see guests. But Master and the old man also said that if Zhan Daxia wants to meet, he should agree. After all, Mr. Nangong and the teacher are old friends who have been friends for 30 years. However, the master has said beforehand, I want to see you, and I only see you, and others will forgive the Xuecheng faction for being negligent."

Zhan Zhao thought for a while, and said, "That's fine. It's fine for me to see the head of Qiao, brother, please open the city and let us in."

"Nan Xia must have misunderstood the meaning of this negligence. My brother invited these friends of Nan Xia down the mountain." Another said.

Wei Qian stepped forward and said angrily: "What do you mean? We have come all the way here, and we have walked all day to climb the mountain. Do you want to send us away with just a few words?"

"That's right." Wei Wan chimed in: "Seeing that the sky is getting dark, how can you keep your doors shut. Do you know who we are?"

"Wei Wan!" Feng He stopped Wei Wan, and clasped his fists at the people in the city, "My two brothers are reckless, and our words are shameless. I hope that my friends will not be as knowledgeable as him. But we are really not good at this black light. Going down the mountain, besides, the guide we hired has already left first. So I don’t know if it’s convenient for a friend to let me stay in the city for a night. If the head of Qiao doesn’t want to meet me, it doesn’t matter if he doesn’t see me. We will go down the mountain tomorrow morning. Never stay too long, disturbing the peace of your sect."

Zhao Zhen stepped forward to speak, but was held back by Zhan Zhao.Zhan Zhao shook his head, with a sly look in his eyes, Zhao Zhen immediately understood: as long as he can enter the city, is he afraid that he won't see Qiao Tianyuan?

"If you don't dislike it, my senior brother can send you down the mountain."

Hearing this, Zhan Zhao exchanged glances with Feng He, clasped his hands together and said to the city: "These friends are accompanying Zhan up the mountain, and they originally wanted to see the demeanor of Qiao's head, so it's a disappointment not to be able to visit now, please excuse me A precious night."

The man with the long face thought about it for a while and said: "I am not unreasonable. Hero Zhan has this request, so he should have agreed. But the two of us are only juniors of the Xuecheng sect. We are soft-spoken and can't be the masters. It's better for Hero Zhan to be the first to be with the teacher. Discuss and make a decision."

After saying a few words with Feng He, Zhan Zhao said, "That's fine too. Then I'll trouble you, brother, to open the city gate for Zhan."

The people in the city made a gesture, and saw the city gate slowly open, and a group of five people walked out to greet them, Zhan Zhao returned the salute one by one, and gave everyone a glance, and was about to enter, but was stopped at the same time.Zhan Zhao was startled, and the two who held him were also startled, perhaps because none of them expected that the other would behave like himself.

After looking at each other for a long time, Bai Yutang said, "Be careful."

Zhao Zhen also said: "Go early and return early."

Zhan Zhao nodded solemnly, and walked into the city together with the visitors.

The scenery in the city is still the same as before.Houses are low-rise structures for wind and snow protection.Ice and snow are everywhere, and only two rows of old pines are planted in the courtyard.Passing the front hall is the school martial arts field, among which four or five sects are shoveling snow, putting the snow into molds to make bricks in order to repair the city wall.Seeing Zhan Zhao passing by, they all stopped to look at him, they pointed and whispered.Zhan Zhao felt that it was unusual, and wanted to strike up a conversation and ask some questions, but the oldest person in the guide suddenly shouted: "Why are you dawdling? Finish shoveling the snow soon. It's dark and I don't want to eat Is it?" After saying that, he turned and saluted Zhan Zhao, "These are new disciples who have just entered the city, and they don't know the rules, making Nan Xia laugh."

Zhan Zhao responded with a few polite words, and followed him again.After a while, it stopped outside a small door.The previous man said: "Please, the teacher is waiting inside."

"Thank you, everyone." After handing over his hands and thanking him, Zhan Zhao pushed the door open and entered.

Although the door is low, there is a hole inside the door.The main room is spacious, not smaller than the front hall that was originally used to receive guests, but there is only one oil lamp placed in the Ruoda place, so the light is dim and it is difficult to distinguish the surrounding objects.However, an old man in a plain robe can still be vaguely seen sitting cross-legged on a Zen seat with precious jewels in the style of the Tang Dynasty, his eyes are closed, and he seems to be meditating.Zhan Zhao knew that there were many people studying Buddhism in Dali, so he didn't dare to disturb them for a while.When I looked around, I saw teacups placed on the tea tables between the tables and chairs on both sides. I touched them with my hands, but they were still warm. I looked around and found a small door on the right side of the room. I knew it immediately. smiled softly.

Maybe it was the laughter that alarmed Qiao Tianyuan. Seeing Qiao Tianyuan open his eyes, Zhan Zhao hurriedly stepped forward to salute, "For disturbing the sect master Qingxiu, please forgive Zhan Zhao for his presumptuous crime." After a few cups of tea, he lowered his head even lower, "If we had known earlier that Master Qiao had a distinguished guest today, Zhan Zhaoshi would come to see him another day."

"It's been a long time since we've been away for so many years. Now that the National People's Congress is here, etiquette has become more and more refined." With a big smile, he got off the seat and joined Zhan Zhao, Qiao Tianyuan said: "This old man and your master are inseparable, and I am no better than others. My nephew came here to ask for a visit. How can we keep you out? Sit down as you please." Please take Zhan Zhao to take a seat, Qiao Tianyuan glanced at the teacups with cold eyes, and said calmly, "There are a few visitors, but it doesn't matter, anyway, what should be said has been said It's over. Nephew, don't worry about it."

After straightening his robes, Qiao Tianyuan returned to the Zen seat and sat down, "Let's talk about your reason for coming. You don't have to go to the Three Treasures Hall for everything. My nephew came to Dali on purpose, not just to see me, an old bone." Or else, could it be that you caught a thief here? I heard from your master that you have become a fourth-rank guard with a sword in the Song Dynasty, and you are assisting the famous Bao Zheng Bao Qingtian. Your future is really limitless."

"Sect Leader Qiao is still as funny as before. To tell you the truth, Zhan Zhao really has something to ask for here."

"what's up?"

"There are two things. One is to ask, and the other is to ask." After a pause, Zhan Zhao squinted at the small door on the right side meaningfully, then looked at Qiao Tianyuan again, with piercing eyes, "It's just that I'm thinking about what I should do. Which one to do first. Should I ask first, or ask first?"

Qiao Tianyuan was slightly taken aback, and then said with a normal expression: "Why bother to coddle Fei Si, my nephew will tell you together, and see if the old man can help."

"It will definitely help, as long as the head is willing to help."

"The old man will do his best."

"There is a word from the head, so forgive my nephew for having the courage to ask first." Standing up, Zhan Zhao knelt down, clasped his fists and said in a loud voice: "I implore the head of Qiao to help me and save my nephew's friends."

Qiao Tianyuan remained silent for a long time, stepped forward to help Zhan Zhao up, and said with a smile, "Is there anything that you, a majestic Nanxia, ​​can't handle, and you need to ask me for help? Your master's martial arts are unfathomable, surpassing this old man." Why don't my nephew ask him?"

"If my little nephew can do what he can, I dare not disturb your old man. However, the family teacher can't do anything about it, it must be the noble sect."

"That's strange."

"Because among my friends is the 'Red Flame Sand' of the Syracuse School, there is no way to solve it without the antidote of the expensive school."

Qiao Tianyuan stood up slowly, smiling coldly, "Old man, I understand. My nephew's other inquiry must also be related to this. It turns out that the old man's guess is somewhat correct. Apart from my nephew coming here Seeking medical treatment is indeed for catching a thief, so I don't know which unworthy villain from my Xuecheng faction is what my nephew is looking for?"

Zhan Zhao hurriedly lowered his head, "My nephew doesn't dare. My nephew's main purpose here is to seek medical treatment, and there is absolutely no intention of accusing the teacher of guilt. Besides, Zhan Zhao has no evidence to prove that this matter was done by the Xuecheng sect."

"Even if it was done by my disciples, it must be a personal grievance in the world."

Hearing this, Zhan Zhao asked, "Then, is Master Qiao admitting that your sect did it?"

"The old man didn't say that." Unpleasantly slapped down the note forcefully, Qiao Tianyuan was taken aback, suddenly realizing that he had lost his composure.After settling his mind, he stretched his robes and sat down again, and said calmly: "The old man means that the world is a matter of the world. If the nephew comes to intercede for your friend as a Nan Xia, the old man will try to resolve the grievances. If the virtuous nephew insists on being a guard with a knife, then there is no need for it. Those of us in the rivers and lakes never accept the government's tricks."

"However, this friend of mine is not a member of the Jianghu, let alone have any grievances and grievances with the disciples of your sect."

"Oh? Not from the Jianghu?" Qiao Tianyuan raised his eyebrows and emphasized his tone, "If he is not from the Jianghu, could he be your friend in the officialdom?" Haha laughed, and said again: "Could it be that Chi Yansha 'Is the person a high-ranking official in the court or a relative of a prince? If this is the case, the old man can understand why the nephew would kneel down and beg the old man for this person."

"Zhan Zhao knelt down, because Sect Leader Qiao deserved it, and because my friend was worthy of my kneeling. It had nothing to do with his status or status. Although Zhan Zhao didn't dare to pretend to be lofty, he didn't dare to forget his teacher's training. Don't lose the few pride you have, and humiliate the family."

Zhan Zhaoyi's words are strict, his sentences are dignified and restrained, his eyes are handed over, and his eyes are straight and fearless, without any hesitation or flicker.In contrast, Qiao Tianyuan felt that he was looking at the heart of a gentleman with the heart of a villain, and his face was dull, and he coughed a few times in embarrassment: "If the teacher can hear what my nephew said, I must be able to hear it." I feel reassured."

"As far as I know, 'Chi Yansha' is not owned by everyone in the Xuecheng Sect, and it is absolutely impossible for ordinary low-level disciples to have it. The ancestor of the Xuecheng Sect, Feng Xue, has excellent martial arts. He didn't bother to use poison. Flame sand' is all for enlightening the world. 'Red flame sand' occurs every seven days, and the situation is more serious each time. Those who practice well should resolve it. Therefore, the 'Red Flame Sand' can only be obtained by the head of the Xuecheng faction. And the person who can obtain and use the 'Red Flame Sand' must be a person with both virtue and conduct. Because 'Red Flame Sand' has another name, called 'Ren Du'."

"You know very well."

"Since this is the case, my nephew doesn't dare to lie anymore. The head of Qiao is an expert in the world, and he can distinguish right from wrong, so it should be seen. My friend brought this disaster to save my nephew, otherwise I will be hit by Chi Yan. There is no doubt that Zhan Zhao is responsible for Sha'. Zhan Zhao has a clear conscience, but the person who poisoned me with this poison must have a reason. Let me let my nephew make wild guesses. I think there are two reasons. One , 'Chiyansha' was stolen by someone, and it was a coincidence that my nephew met him, which shows that what is good is rewarded with good, and the friend who saved me should not die. So, the head will try his best to save him, right? "

Qiao Tianyuan stroked his beard and smiled, except for the look of admiration on his face, he couldn't see anything else at all. "What about the second one?"

Seeing that Qiao Tianyuan didn't respond, Zhan Zhao said again: "Secondly, don't call it a coincidence, it's just that someone really wants to use 'Chiyansha' to deal with my nephew. But what is it for? If this person doesn't know me and It doesn't matter if the Xuecheng School is old, if you know..." He stopped, bowed and bowed, "I hope Master Qiao forgives my nephew for being rude. I thought that if the person who used poison was not a member of the Xuecheng School, he was related to him. He has a close relationship with the head of the sect. And he used 'Red Flame Sand' for only one purpose, to lead me to Dali, to Haoshan, and to the Xuecheng sect."

Zhan Zhao suddenly stopped talking.His eyes stared straight at Qiao Tianyuan, extremely sharp, like a sharp knife, able to see through the person he was looking at at any time.Eyes, expressions, breathing, even the moment of muscle tension.Because he has realized that even a small flaw at this moment can determine fate—not only his, but also the fate of many people.

"Is this possible? What's the point of doing this? My nephew is stupid, and I couldn't figure out the reason. But..." Zhan Zhao deliberately slowed down his tone and rhythm, speaking slowly, and said when he spoke again What Qiao Tianyuan said was completely incomprehensible, "This Mount Hao deserves to be regarded as a sacred mountain by the subjects of Dali, and the Xuecheng sect can become the leader of the sect in Dali, Zhan Zhao now understands."

Qiao Tianyuan wondered in his heart: What kind of medicine is sold in Zhan Zhao's gourd?

Guessing that his appetite was enough, Zhan Zhaocai said relaxedly: "My nephew felt refreshed as soon as he entered Xuecheng, and when he entered here, he felt a surge of spiritual energy rushing towards his face, which instantly made me feel enlightened and puzzled." Pause."

"What aura?" Qiao Tianyuan could hear some clues.

"Isn't it just a breath of spiritual energy blowing from there?"

Following the direction of Zhan Zhao's finger, Qiao Tianyuan faced the small door on the right, his complexion changed drastically, he stared at Zhan Zhao suddenly, and sneered, "The old man has been meditating here for more than ten years without any spiritual energy, nephew As soon as my son came, I got something, it seems that my nephew is indeed blessed, so gratifying, gratifying."

Zhan Zhao shook his head, his smile turned from bitterness: "My nephew didn't feel happy. As the saying goes, 'When misfortune depends on happiness, if good luck comes, misfortune rests'. There is never a certainty that both blessing and misfortune will come. No, little My nephew already feels that the evil spirit is coming, and it seems that a catastrophe is approaching."

"Oh?" Qiao Tianyuan looked disapproving, "Maybe my nephew is exhausted from traveling all the way, and he just thinks about nonsense. With the old man here, who in this snow city would dare to touch you?"

"Extremely." Shu Huai smiled, as if the sorrow on his face before had been swept away, "No one would dare to touch me with Master Qiao around. So..." Zhan Zhao paused, his smile was gone, and his expression was one. Su Mu, "That's the only way to use 'Red Flame Sand', isn't it?"

Qiao Tianyuan was completely stunned, unable to speak a word.

"If it wasn't for Sect Leader Qiao's instruction, how could the unique secret medicine flow into the hands of outsiders? The Xuecheng faction has always been extremely strict, and will never make such a mistake without knowing it. The Sect Leader feels pity for Zhan Zhao Zhan Zhaoming is very grateful to Wu Nei, but at the same time, it just proves one point. Head Qiao was an accomplice in the assassination from the very beginning, isn't he?!"

The preemptive questioning leaves no room for breathing.Zhan Zhao took a step forward, but Qiao Tianyuan involuntarily took a step back.He knew that he had lost to this younger generation invisible in terms of momentum.On the other hand, he may have lost a complete defeat.

Suddenly there was a sound from the small door on the right, Zhan Zhao raised the hilt of his sword to point at the source of the sound, and shouted loudly: "Han Mengfei, if you haven't come out yet, do you want Zhan to invite you?!"

The door opened with a "creak", and it was hard to see clearly under the dim light, only a blurry figure could be seen.

"Since you want me to come out." The man said: "Okay, I will come out."

After finishing speaking, he slowly paced out, and he slowly walked into the light, and walked into Zhan Zhao's line of sight.And as the outline became clearer, Zhan Zhao's expression also changed, from calm and confident at the beginning to terrified, from being prepared to be at a loss.She was so surprised that she even changed her speech: "How...how could it be...how could it be...."

In an instant, the man had come to Zhan Zhao, shoulder to shoulder, face to face.

The man said: "I've already come out, how about you?"