The Ascension of Ghosts

Pingcheng County is located in the southeast of Yizhou, and it only needs a small class of daily travel.

Thirty miles away from Pingcheng County, there is a magnificent mountain range of Liujin Mountain stretching here, which is the natural moat that blocks the inside and outside of the frontier fortress.

The mountains are tall and majestic, and the bare rocks are golden and red like flowing fire.The sun was setting, and it was the time of the devil. The depths of the valley had already blocked all the sunlight. In the darkness, there were many guards, surrounding a gray and white sarcophagus placed in the center of the valley.

There are groups of Taoist priests in yellow shirts, each holding peach charms, gossip mirrors, Sanqing bells, Qiankun circles, and octagonal lanterns. They stand scattered around the sarcophagus.

The Southern Dipper holds birth, the Big Dipper holds death, and the area between the two is the chaos of life and death.

All the Taoist priests chanted scriptures up and down, which made the deep valley near the sunset, revealing an extraordinarily magical and mysterious.

Hou Yan stood beside Yu Ji, and according to the instructions, he held a snow-white skull in both hands, and stood outside the circle formed by the Taoist priests. His face was calm, his eyes were dark and bottomless, but he had long since lost his previous agility and trickery. .

A sound of hoofbeats suddenly approached from far and near, breaking the peace of pious chanting in the valley. All the headless guards drew their swords at the intruders. Lu Sheng rode a gray horse, passing through the mountain road like a Valkyrie, into the valley.

He saw that the headless guards were surrounded by three layers and three layers outside, each holding a weapon, and they were all waiting for him. He also saw Hou Yan holding a dry bone in his hand, anxious in his heart, he steered his horse to pace back and forth outside the encirclement, and shouted: "Hou Yan ! Hou Yan!"

Hou Yan's eyes lit up a little bit, and he followed the reputation, and hurriedly called: "Brother Lu!" Then he sternly reprimanded: "Presumptuous! Please come here quickly."

The headless guards put away their knives, guns, swords and halberds obediently, and parted ways to allow Lu Sheng to pass.

Lu Sheng rode his horse through the headless guards, turned over and jumped down after approaching, pulled Hou Yan to hide behind him, stared at Yu Ji vigilantly, with the scabbard across his chest, "Hou Yan, don't be afraid, I'll take you away right away."

Yu Ji's slender figure stood quietly, delicately and prettyly, shaking her head slowly with a slight smile.

Lu Sheng frowned slightly, and before he could speak, Hou Yan said quietly behind him: "Brother Lu, don't blame the princess, I did it willingly."

Lu Sheng was stunned, turned around and stared at the young man, then glanced at the skull in his hands, and said with emotion, "Could it be..."

Hou Yan took a deep breath, and replied in a deep voice, "It is the head of King Xiang."

Lu Sheng remained silent. In order to protect Hou Yan from the current situation, he and Xie Rong ran back and forth, fighting endlessly with the headless guards, but in the end their efforts were in vain and all wasted, which inevitably made him extremely disappointed and exhausted. pole.

Hou Yanxu saw his expression, and smiled bitterly: "Brother Lu, it's me... who got you involved."

Before Lu Sheng could speak, he continued, "I've made up my mind, please don't stop Brother Lu."

He spoke urgently and quickly, obviously afraid of being dissuaded by others, as if he would be shaken immediately if only Lu Sheng spoke to persuade him, so he just shook his head as hard as he could, and said with a smile: "I, I am timid and incompetent, why not Lending one's body to someone who is capable can be regarded as making the best use of it. In the eyes of others, they will think it is due to me, Hou Si."

Lu Sheng turned to Yu Ji and asked slowly, "What did you do to him?"

Concubine Yu was uncharacteristically, she didn't smile at all, she just closed her eyes and said solemnly: "When King Xiang died, he was dismembered and his body disappeared. Fortunately, this son was found. His blood is descended from Chu people. All of them are excellent, and they can be used as a support for King Xiang."

Lu Sheng asked coldly, "What about after the possession?"

Yu Ji said: "The original soul dissipates, or lives in the same body as King Xiang - the number of each is five or five, it depends on God's will."

Before Lu Sheng could speak, all the Taoist priests occupying the positions of the Big Dipper had already said in unison: "The auspicious time has come!"

Eight of them lifted the lid of the sarcophagus and looked at Hou Yan.

Hou Yan's slender shoulders trembled slightly, and he stepped forward. Lu Sheng grabbed his arm with his backhand and said anxiously: "Hou Yan! Don't be impulsive!"

The young man turned his head, raised his head and smiled at Lu Sheng. He was handsome and beautiful, and his smile became more and more beautiful, "Brother Lu, I went to Pingcheng County to borrow troops."

Lu Sheng was stunned, and an ominous sign suddenly appeared in his heart.

Sure enough, Hou Yan said again: "Pingcheng County is poor, and the people are infected with the epidemic. Even the county guard fell ill, so no troops can be sent."

He opened his eyes wide, and two lines of tears flowed down slowly, "Soldiers are approaching the city, and all living beings are suffering. How can I be alone?"

Lu Sheng was speechless.

With a light struggle, Hou Yan broke away from Lu Sheng's fingers, tears streaming down his face, but he smiled like a calamus flower standing proudly on a water island, and said softly, "Brother Lu, take care."

Lu Sheng watched helplessly as he walked towards the center of the valley step by step, holding the skull, lying down in the sarcophagus, and the lid was slowly closed.

So Chu songs arose everywhere.

With a long sword, Xi is holding Qin Gong, and his heart is not punished.

Sincerity is both brave and martial, and in the end is strong and can't be overthrown.

The body is dead and the spirit is the spirit, and the soul is resolute as the ghost and hero.

Concubine Yu knelt down in front of the sarcophagus, and said softly, "Thank Lu Gongcao for his success."

All the headless guards surrounded the sarcophagus and knelt down together, waiting for the old master with passionate anticipation in the silence.

Lu Sheng never said a word to Yu Ji, and retreated out of the valley with an indifferent expression.

The twilight came very quickly, and it enveloped the surrounding fields in the blink of an eye.

Only a luxurious and extravagant colorful octagonal glazed lamp hung outside the carriage at the foot of the mountain, illuminating the colorful light inappropriately, guiding Lu Sheng in the direction like a dream.

The places where bandits haunt are also unscrupulously ostentatious, and naturally it is Xie Rong's carriage.

Lu Sheng got into the carriage, Xie Rong was reclining on the soft couch, when he saw him coming in, he waved.Lu Sheng leaned over according to his words, with his head resting in his arms. He didn't say a word, and Xie Rong didn't say a word. Only the wheels of the carriage rolled over the gravel in the wilderness, and there was no shaking. The surrounding fields were silent, and the ears The steady heartbeat by the side is especially soothing to the soul.

I don't know how long it took before Lu Sheng said in a low voice: "When I was 13 years old, I went hunting with my mentor in Shanglinyuan and shot a colorful pheasant. I didn't expect that colorful pheasant to be His Royal Highness's favorite pet."

Xie Rong gently caressed the young man's soft hair, and said softly: "It turns out that Baoyang has always loved to cause trouble since he was a child."

Lu Sheng recalled the past, laughed unconsciously, and adjusted his posture in Xie Rong's arms, leaning more comfortably, "His Royal Highness was only six years old at that time, holding the colorful pheasant and crying sadly. I only think that disaster is imminent, who knows His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince stopped Zhi Jinwu, who wanted to drag me to torture, and said: The life of an animal is no better than human life, why not punish him to catch me two alive."

Xie Rong said: "Your Highness the Seventh Prince is intelligent and benevolent, and he has received his mother's true teachings. It is a pity that the sky is not a holiday."

Before His Royal Highness's birth mother entered the palace, she was a talented woman who was well-known in Jiangzuo. She gave birth to this son under the great favor. She is extremely intelligent and simple in the emperor's heart.But when he was less than eight years old, he died of rubella. If it wasn't for this, the throne would probably have to be replaced.

Lu Sheng sighed, and sighed again: "Hou Yan is very similar to His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince."

Xie Rong remained calm and said, "Both of them are spoiled and spoiled, with amazing talents."

Lu Sheng said, "You are young, you shouldn't have to suffer so much."

Xie Rong smiled and said: "The emperor is incompetent, and he is powerless to defend the country. Naturally, the common people are dragged down. A 13-year-old boy who is so tired has to worry about the country."

Lu Sheng didn't care to listen to him talking about the court, closed his eyes and sighed: "Ah Rong, I'm very tired."

Xie Rong gently untied the crown of his hair, let his long, thick black and smooth hair hang over his shoulders, and combed it slowly with his fingers along his long hair, sliding from his shoulders to his waist, whispering: "You This fool, born less than a hundred years old, wants to always worry about a thousand years old."

Lu Sheng noticed that his fingers moved, and the burning heat spread from the touch, making half of his back numb, and his earlobe couldn't help burning red, so he grabbed his wrist with his backhand and said, "Ah Rong..."

Xie Rong smiled silently, leaned over and pressed him into the soft couch, unbuttoned his belt lightly, and touched the bare skin of his buttocks with his palms calmly, and continued: "The days are short and the nights are long, why not swim with a candle? "

Lu Sheng choked up and gasped more intensely, but he couldn't resist Xie Rong's temptations in every possible way. Coupled with his preoccupation, he had the idea of ​​escaping and simply let him go.

On the first day of October, there was heavy rain in the Western Region Basin.

Heliantuo's team was attacked by a strong enemy, and the team was wounded by ten to seven or eight, so they had to temporarily suspend the mission and escort Yu Jiulu Yangui to flee in panic with the few remaining cronies.

The headless guards were unable to march during the day, and there were many constraints, so they had to be dispatched and deployed, and slowly pursued.

After this battle, the people in the frontier finally got rid of the pain of Di Yi raging and massacring the village, and temporarily restored peace.

It's just that when the Headless Guard was triumphant and triumphant, he met a seriously injured Zhenxi Army soldier who called himself Yang Xiong, and the Headless Guard took him back to the outskirts of Yizhou and sent him to Lu Sheng's camp.

On the fourth day of October, the sergeant called Yang Xiong woke up, and he and Lu Sheng were as happy as reuniting with relatives.Yang Xiong told Lu Sheng the real identity of the little beggar, and the two discussed it, and Lu Sheng returned to Beijing because he was ordered by the military to resign from his military post and return to Beijing without any power.Yang Xiong then packed up and returned to the Protectorate of the Western Regions, and also wanted to inform General Zhao of the news.

As if the rain was coming, everyone felt the gloomy pressure of the approaching war.

As for the headless guards, since Hou Yan and Yu Ji returned from the Liujin Mountain Valley, he has been loyal to the young man. After defeating the Rouran bandits, he is now going to the Western Regions. For one thing, the number of five hundred headless guards is slightly less. In addition to leading the troops, Hou Yan must try to recruit a large team; secondly, the army has a special status and can only fight at night, so they simply go to the front line and attack them from afar. taste.

——But at this point, I'm afraid I can't call him Hou Yan anymore.

At dusk on the sixth day of October, Lu Sheng saw Yang Xiong off.

After all, Yang Xiong is young and has a strong physique. Although he was abused in every possible way when he was imprisoned, he has recovered very quickly now.

Lu Sheng told him, Bailixiao and others to take care of each other, make contributions and return home as soon as possible.

Yang Xiong agreed one by one, hesitated for a moment, and finally stopped mentioning the matter of Yu Jiulu Yangui.Just because Lu Sheng is going back to Beijing now, and Prince Rouran is thousands of miles away, presumably it will be difficult to meet again in this life, so why bother to mention it in vain and increase troubles.

Hearing the urging of the vanguard, Yang Xiong clasped his fists, bid farewell to Lu Sheng, and rode his horse to the west.

Lu Sheng looked at his back in a hurry, walking with many headless guards, and couldn't help laughing again. Things are unpredictable. Back then, he fought endlessly with Yu Ji and the headless guards, but after only a few days, they became allies.

Just as he was thinking, a young man in black armor walked towards him. Although he was young, his expression and demeanor were exceptionally calm and dignified, revealing full dignity and arrogance. Lu Sheng vaguely recalled that King Xiang was an aristocrat of Chu , is another wunderkind, and now he seems to be in high spirits as if he had returned to his youth.Compared with Hou Yan...it really is much more dazzling.

Lu Sheng cupped his fists at him and muttered for a while, but he didn't know how to speak, but the young man smiled calmly: "Lu Gongcao, don't send it off."

Lu Sheng said: "...Yes."

The young man looked him up and down again, nodded and said, "Don't worry, Lu Gongcao, since I promised that kid a peaceful and prosperous life, there is absolutely no reason for me to sit back and watch foreign humiliation invade the country."

Lu Sheng said again: "King Xiang has a heart."

He knew that the number of five to five was Yu Ji's nonsense, but he still had extravagant hopes. Now that he saw this person's behavior and expression, and could not find the slightest trace of familiarity, he just gave up. The young man named Hou Yan, and him We met by chance, bid farewell in a hurry, and never saw each other again.

The young man smiled again, his subordinates brought the horse, he got on the horse, took his leave, and walked away.

Lu Sheng stood there for a while longer, only feeling waned, and just wanted to go back to the tent and talk to Xie Rong nicely.

However, just outside the camp, I heard the loud laughter of an old man, the man said: "Good, good, good! He is indeed a good apprentice as a teacher, and he can also do business with Yuji! He can make things happen every day." , you can remember the head work!"

He was puzzled in his heart, but he saw the curtain move, revealing Ruodie's stiff face, Qi Qi Ai Ai said: "Holding, Mr. Baoyang is back..."

Lu Sheng had no choice but to walk into the tent, and saw a Taoist in a maroon robe sitting face to face with Xie Rong. No words.

That person is called a teacher, Lu Sheng naturally guessed his identity, hurriedly stepped forward to salute, and said: "Lu Sheng has met Ge Zhenren."

Ge Zhenren laughed and said: "This is Lu Baoyang? Sure enough, a young hero can get the help of the headless guard, and thanks to Lu Gongcao's mediation, the king of Pengcheng will also accept his love in the future."

Lu Sheng replied troubledly: "The real person praises... Lu has been running around for several days, but he returned without success, I... I am ashamed of myself."

Ge Zhenren laughed and said, "Lu Gongcao is extremely modest, if you weren't there, how could the Headless Guard—"

As soon as he spoke, Xie Rong interrupted coldly: "Master has other important matters, why don't we talk about them another day."

Ge Zhenren was quick to see the opportunity, rolled his eyes, and nodded in response: "Naturally, naturally, farewell, farewell."

He actually stopped talking immediately, got up and left the tent.

It was rare for Lu Sheng to see Xie Rong's demeanor, and he became more and more suspicious, so he asked, "Ah Rong, what deal?"

Xie Rong said: "It's just a deal with the headless guard to resist foreign humiliation."

Lu Sheng was furious, and said with a sneer, "Do you really think I'm a fool? If you don't tell me, I'll ask Master Ge."

Xie Rong's handsome face was as frozen as ice, Lu Sheng saw that he was silent, turned around and was about to leave the tent to chase after Ge Zhenren, when Xie Rong sighed behind him and said, "Baoyang, don't ask any more questions."

Lu Sheng stretched out his hand to lift the curtain hanging in the air, and his heart was shaken for a moment, just because the tone of the noble young man who was always proud and arrogant now had a hint of begging, which made him even more terrified, and he felt that he was in front of him. The road is extremely dangerous, and if you take a wrong step, you will be lost forever.