different paths

Goujian, the king of Yue, asked the workers to worship the god of Kunwu with a white horse and a white cow, and cast it with gold to form the essence of the eight swords.If one hides the sun and points it at the sun, then the light and day will be dark.Gold is Yin, and when Yin is strong, Yang will disappear; two are called cutting off water, and when it is opened, it will not meet; , such as cutting off Yan; five startled salamanders, who use it to go to the sea, and whale salamanders who go deep; Its name is Zhengang, and it cuts gold by cutting jade.

——Wang Jia's "Gathering Relics"

The well-known Longyuan Villa in the rivers and lakes is neither in the rich Jiangnan, nor in the magnificent imperial capital, but is located at the foot of the remote and bitter Kunlun Mountains.In a radius of a hundred miles, except for a town called Boxian, which was used as a trading station, there are only rolling snow mountains that do not melt all year round.

In the season of warm spring and flowers blooming, it is still cold at the foot of the mountain.But this biting coolness can't stop the cavalry team coming and going in Boxian Town. During the Sword Appreciation Conference, many people from all walks of life came from all over the world. experience.Naturally, the big sects from the famous sects were personally received by Longyuan Villa, and they lived in the villas. As for the small sects, they could only find a place to stay in Boxian Town.For a time, Boxian Town, which is sparsely populated on weekdays, was filled to the brim with travelers in different clothes.

Luoshuanglou is the largest restaurant in Boxian Town. At noon, when there are the most customers, the waiter welcomes them, serves dishes and drinks, and is extremely busy.The shopkeeper looked at the endless stream of guests and twirled his beard with a smile. Suddenly, his eyes stopped and fell on a lazy figure sitting in the doorway.

The man had black hair that he didn't care much about, just tied it in a random knot.He had a bamboo stick in his mouth that he didn't know where to find, and his neck turned flexibly, looking left and right for what he was looking for.There is a crescent-shaped scar at the corner of his eyebrows. Although he looks lazy and naughty, people can't help but focus on him.

A very charming boy indeed.

When the shopkeeper came back to his senses, he realized that he had actually stared at this kid for so long.He beckoned a waiter, whispered something to him, the waiter nodded understandingly, and walked towards the door with a smile on his face.

The next day, Luoshuang Building had a new mistress, who was quick-spoken and quick-witted, but she was often a little witty, which made people laugh and cry.

On this day, Luoshuang Building welcomed a group of special guests.It is special because there are all male customers coming and going in the town, and there are very few such glamorous and beautiful female customers appearing, and they appear in groups.Although most of them covered their faces with veils, those pairs of smart eyes and graceful figures made people sure that the appearance under the veils would not disappoint.In this group of female guests, only the leader was not wearing a veil. She had red phoenix eyes, two curved willow-leaf eyebrows, red lips like fire, and pink face like peaches.

The shopkeeper saw this posture, and immediately went up to meet him personally, greeting all the way, and led the group of women upstairs.After their figures disappeared on the stairs, the people in the lobby began to discuss.

"See, tsk tsk, I don't know where this posture came from. I think it's much more dignified than those nuns of the Hengshan sect."

"Your brother is ignorant, the head of the four beauties in Jianghu, Li Yan, the master of the Sword Dance Sect, have you heard of it?"

Someone heard the word Li Yan, and immediately turned pale with shock: "You're talking about that 'Ni Lian Nine Swords' Li Yan?"

"Who else is there besides her? It seems that this year's Sword Appreciation Conference will also have a foot in the Sword Dance Sect."

"What do you mean, brother? The Sword Dance Sect is not a sword casting sect, so how can it compete with Longyuan Villa?"

"You don't know that. Although Jianwumen doesn't make swords, they have famous weapons. I'm afraid that the drunkard's intention in coming to the Sword Appreciation Conference this time is not for drinking, not for sword appreciation, but for artifacts."

While talking, the new Xiaoer has already come out with a delicious meal and put it on the table.Hearing the guest's conversation, he asked curiously: "I've only heard that there are countless magical weapons hidden in Longyuan Villa, but I never knew that there are also unearthed weapons in Jianwumen?"

Upon hearing his words, the well-informed guest laughed: "Since you don't know, I'll tell you so that you can learn a lot."

In fact, Longyuan Villa and Jianwumen have quite a relationship. The previous dynasty was heavy on martial arts, and many Jianghu sects were awarded by the imperial court and became the government's help.Once, the Tian family didn't know who listened to the preaching, and ordered Yue Ouzhi, the former owner of Longyuan Villa, and Mrs. Zheng, the former owner of the Jianwumen, to find the eight swords that Goujian, the king of Yue, was rumored to have forged.The two originally thought that they would return in vain, but by chance, they actually discovered the trace of Yue Wang Bajian.

Suffering from the erosion of time and the baptism of wind and rain, only four of the Eight Swords of the King of Yue are left, but at the same time, there is also an incomplete forging map.Although the four swords and the map were found, no one could tell the authenticity. The Tian family saw the rusty sword body and the yellowed and damaged map, and they were not interested. They were not in the mood to further explore and rewarded them directly. Yue Ouzhi and Mrs. Zheng.Jianwumen got four swords, while Longyuan Villa got the remnant copy of the forging map.

The situation is changing, decades have passed in a blink of an eye, the world has changed hands, and the matter of Yue Wang Bajian is naturally rarely mentioned again.It was not until the eve of the Sword Appreciation Conference that Longyuan Villa announced to the public that according to a forging manual left by the old owner, Longyuan Villa had cast the rumored King Yue Sword, and it was only waiting for the Sword Appreciation Conference to be shared with all the martial artists.As soon as the news came out, it attracted a lot of attention.Some people say that this is just a gimmick thrown by Longyuan Mountain Villa, just to attract more people to come to the Sword Appreciation Conference to create momentum for themselves.Some people also say that Longyuan Mountain Villa has been silent for many years, just to wait for this famous sword to come to the world. Once this sword is released, not only will there be an additional name on the artifact spectrum, but it will also attract more people who will fight for this famous sword. people.

The bloody storm is just around the corner.

The guests in Luoshuang Building, after hearing this allusion, all had their own thoughts and kept silent.It's just that there are also people who are dumbfounded and asked in puzzlement: "Although Jianwumen and Longyuan Villa are old, but Longyuan Villa has cast treasures, and they just come to celebrate. How could they get involved?"

"You don't understand this." The storyteller said "you are too naive", "The same person who discovered the Eight Swords of the King of Yue, Jianwumen will naturally not allow the Longyuan Villa to dominate, even if Longyuan The villa really forged the King Yue Sword, and with this famous weapon, it became famous, and the Sword Dance Sect will definitely come to take a share of it."

"However, even if Jianwumen wants to interfere, why should they fight Yue Wangjian?"

"Don't forget, among the eight swords of King Yue, four are owned by Jianwumen."

"Those four handles don't even look down on the old emperor of the previous dynasty."

"Who knows." Someone said leisurely, "Who doesn't want to keep the legendary artifacts in their pockets. The few that were presented to the court may have been tampered with."

The new mistress had heard enough stories in the lobby, hummed a little song in a good mood, and walked back to the back kitchen with a rag.As soon as he stepped into the back kitchen with his front foot, he was stopped by his back foot——

"Wu Qi, the shopkeeper told you to go."

"Got it!" He replied loudly and walked out of the back kitchen.

This newly recruited junior is none other than Jia Wujue.It was not by accident that he appeared in Boxian Town, but naturally he came for the Sword Appreciation Conference.The sword appreciation conference this time is not as simple as just admiring the sword. Longyuan Villa intends to expand its momentum. day.These three things alone are enough to temporarily shift the attention of the entire martial arts world to Longyuan Villa. It seems that the owner of Lu Villa has made up his mind to let Longyuan Villa use the sword appreciating meeting to establish its prestige. fame.

However, since he can hit the attention of this sword appreciation conference, others will naturally hit him too.Although Longyuan Villa didn't publicize it, Jia Wujue already knew that they had received the Star Picking Letter.

The Star Picking Note, again, is not a Star Picking Note issued by Star Picking Valley.

Ever since Jia Wujue left the valley, the Star Picking Notes issued by false names have appeared one after another, but the exact purpose is unknown.This time, although Jia Wujue knew that Longyuan Villa had received the Star Picking Letter, he didn't know what the other party wanted to take away.Judging from Longyuan Villa's secretive attitude towards this matter, it is even more difficult for him to solve the mystery this time.

Plus... this time, he is a real person.

Jia Wujue sighed softly, tried his best to suppress the turbulent loss in his heart, and walked towards the chubby figure of the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper came to him, and it turned out that he was asking him to help at the Luoshuang Inn.The Luoshuang Inn is just behind the Luoshuang Building. The backyards of the two houses are connected, and they belong to the same rich family.Luoshuang Building had no guests after dinner time at night, and Luoshuang Inn became busier at night because of the recent surge in passenger flow, and it was really short of manpower, so it had to borrow from its neighbors.

After night fell, Boxian Town was much quieter than during the day.

The stars are twinkling, the moonlight is cool, and the cold spring is getting more and more chilly.

"Ah Choo—" Jia Wujue stood in front of the lobby of Luoshuang Inn, and the night wind swept away, and he sneezed suddenly.

"Wu Qi." The innkeeper waved at him, gesturing for him to come over.

He quickly walked a few steps: "Boss, I have something to tell you."

The boss looked him up and down: "I heard from Shopkeeper Jin that you are the smartest under him."

"Don't dare to act, dare not act." Jia Wuju laughed.

The owner of the inn waved his hand: "The shopkeeper Jin is always very accurate in seeing people. Since he said so, I can rest assured." After saying that, he moved closer to Jia Wuchao, and said in a low voice: "There is a guest in the No. [-] room. He is not in good health, and his companions specifically asked him to go to his room to take care of him every night, you see..."

Before he finished speaking, he was interrupted by Jia Wujue: "Boss, although I don't have a lot of money, but, I still don't sell myself."

The innkeeper saw that he was about to smile, and knew that he was making fun of what he said just now, so he said angrily: "You are the smartest, you can make a book of stories with a few words, right?"

Jia Wuhai chuckled, but didn't speak.

"It's just taking care of his daily life, where are you going?" The innkeeper said very honestly, "This guest is suffering from illnesses, especially in the cold night, if you can help him relieve a little bit, that would be great gone."

"Release, how to relieve?" Jia Wujue looked at the boss in confusion.

The boss gave him a meaningful look: "It depends on your ability." After finishing speaking, he pointed to a pile of black charcoal on the ground, "The guest is afraid of the cold, and there is already a charcoal fire in the house. Take this bag up, if necessary, you can burn more."

"Oh." Jia Wujue answered honestly, and under the gaze of the boss, he bent down to pick up the charcoal fire and went upstairs.

Climbing up the stairs, before knocking on the door, a series of violent coughing sounds came from the door.

With a sound of "dong", the bag of charcoal in Jia Wubai's hand fell down.

He froze in place, motionless, as if he had been locked in place.