September is full of flowers

Chen Zhi didn't know when he came to Shen Man's side, and he praised, "It is said that the Ningxiang Mansion in Dadu City has three outstanding families. In Mr. Ning's generation, he has already produced a noble concubine. If the second Mr. Ning Go to the exam to get fame, and get a half-official position in the Yin Yang Prison, and Ning Xiang's mansion will continue to be brilliant."

Shen Man didn't speak, but responded with a smile.

Chen Zhi didn't know Shen Man's status in Ning's family, but he felt that she must be deeply loved by Ning Xiang, otherwise he would not have taken on this important task and sent her to pick up Ning Xiang's birthday gift.

So he continued to think about her thoughts and complimented, "Second Master Ning is handsome and extremely intelligent. After seeing today's scene, I know that Second Master has a high attainment in Yin-Yang Art, and it is said that he has also worshiped a famous teacher. It's just that the experience is still inexperienced. But that's okay, as long as you take time, you will be able to use it skillfully..."

While speaking, there was a sudden movement on Ning Xu's side.

I saw the water wave in the copper basin slightly surging, a bubble popped up from the bottom, and then some pictures seemed to be alluded to.

Shen Man stood a little far away and couldn't see clearly.

Chen Zhi said in surprise, "Second Master Ning really lives up to his reputation, he must have seen where the monster is." Then he went to Ning Xu's side.

Shen Man looked at his back and thought to himself: Could it be that he can't see what's in the basin?Confused, he hurriedly followed up.

Standing by the copper basin, Shen Man finally saw clearly what was in the copper basin. It was a black and furry mass, which seemed to be similar.

Shen Man frowned.

"Master Ning, what's the matter?" Chen Zhi also took a look into the copper basin, but saw nothing.

Ning Xu shook his head in disappointment and said, "I just saw a dark, blurry mass. I don't know what it is. It should show the location or key objects, but there is nothing."

A trace of surprise flashed in Shen Man's eyes, could it be that what Ning Xu saw was not as clear as her?

Chen Zhi's face also darkened.

Originally, he had high hopes for Ning Xu, but in the end it was all in vain.Looking at the dark night, he wondered if it was Chenzhou City, where the people in this city would have to die?

All three were silent at the same time, and the atmosphere fell into a dead silence.

"Report, sir!" A big man with a big knife on his waist and blood on his face knelt in front of Chen Zhi on one knee. His clothes were torn in many places, and there was a big hole in the middle of the chest armor. , seems to be caught by a sharp object. "Another person was arrested."

"Where was it taken away, can you see who it is?" Chen Zhisu asked.

The big man said, "I saw a red shadow by the river in the city, I don't know who it is..."

Shen Man didn't listen to what the big man was saying at all, but stared at something on the big man's shoulder, which was also dark and soft, and was quietly sticking together with the smelly blood.

This is……

A flash of inspiration flashed in Shen Man's mind, and he immediately understood what it was that he saw in the copper basin!

but--

Shen Man looked at Ning Xu's profile and hesitated, how should he explain to them what he saw?I can't even explain it myself...

Chen Zhidao, "Another innocent person died tonight. As the local magistrate, I can't do anything. It's really... so heartbreaking... If one day, there are righteous people who can capture this monster, I can't do anything. Even if you hand over all your property, or hand over this Usha, or even make an apology with death, you will be willing to do anything. But now, the people in this city are pitiful..."

"Prefect Chen," a rather proud voice came from behind, and I saw Ning Tao walking towards the courtyard with big strides, and said, "I was bored looking through the Xiazhou government records, and found an interesting thing. things."

"Oh?" Chen Zhi was confused.

Ning Xu got up and asked with his hands behind his back, "What did you find?"

Shen Man bit his lower lip, struggling.

Ning Tao raised his right eyebrow and said, "Listen to me, this is actually not the first time such a thing has been discovered in the local area. In fact, ten years ago, there were monsters who harmed people and almost killed all the people in Chenzhou city. The scene, but the situation at that time was slightly different from this time.”

"Ten years ago..." Ning Xu asked hurriedly with a serious face, "What's the difference, tell me quickly."

Ning Tao said, "Ten years ago, that monster also harmed people at night, and I never heard of it during the day. It also sealed the gate of the city with a magic method, and it could only enter but not exit. But the difference is—" Ning Tao looked Introverted, his expression was completely different from his usual bohemian, and seeing that everyone was listening seriously, he didn't pretend to be a joke, and said truthfully, "Now, the monsters kill men, but ten years ago, it was women who died. "

Ning Xu confirmed his thoughts, and his face became more and more ugly.

Shen Man and Chen Zhi didn't know the truth and became more and more confused.

Could it be that this monster has changed its taste in ten years?Where is the difference?

"Since this happened ten years ago, how was it resolved?" Shen Man asked.

Ning Tao looked at her, his brown pupils dilated slightly, and replied in a low and dark voice that did not belong to him, "The matter was not resolved at all, but disappeared naturally."

"Disappear naturally?"

Ning Tao nodded, and said solemnly, "Chenzhou City originally had a population of more than [-], with about [-] women. In that disaster, more than [-] women died, so in the end, there were only a hundred people left in the city..."

"What happened to the hundred people?" Ning Xu asked.

Ning Tao said, "According to the records of the prefectural chronicles, the women of a hundred people were either crazy or stupid, even if they were normal, they all migrated out of the city later. Basically, they have already left, and it is impossible to know the specific whereabouts."

After hearing this, Ning Xu lifted his hem and strode towards the magistrate's library, saying, "All follow me."

A quarter of an hour later.

The library was in disarray.

With a dark complexion, Ning Xu said, "Do you have any information about the surviving woman?"

"No." Shen Man rubbed his eyes and said with a dizzy look.

"I don't have any here either." Ning Tao replied, looking energetic.

"The lower officials have never seen it." Chen Zhi regretted.

Ning Xu stood up straight, seeing their perplexed faces, he knew it was not the time to hide the truth, and it was better to inform them as soon as possible, so he said, "You all know the categories of Yin and Yang Dao, which are divided into astronomy and meteorology. , Dan, Suan, Jiaozheng, Medicine and other six schools, of which astronomy and calculation are the most profound."

Shen Man and the others stared at him, beckoning him to continue.

Ning Xu was silent for a moment, and finally said, "My dynasty adheres to Yin-Yang Dao, but do you know that in the early days of the dynasty, there was another way that kept pace with Yin-Yang Dao..."

After all, Chen Zhi has been in the officialdom for many years, so he knows a lot. He widened his eyes and said in shock, "What the second young master said, could it be..."

Ning Xu narrowed his eyes and said in a low voice, "That's right, I'm talking about 'Five Elements Gate'."

"But what does the Five Elements Gate have to do with what happened in Chenzhou?"

"The Five Elements Gate is a technique that goes hand in hand with the Dao of Yin and Yang. The reason why our dynasty prospers with the Dao of Yin and Yang and does not hear about the Five Elements Gate is because the current imperial court is a world won by fighting. Enemy——the magic that Zhou Yang, the emperor of the Zhou Dynasty, was best at. After Zhou Yang's defeat, the first emperor feared that there would be a remnant of evil, so he presumed the way of yin and yang at the same time, and wiped out all the disciples of the Five Elements who practiced the Five Elements. Therefore, in Dafeng In the dynasty, the Five Elements Gate was strictly prohibited, and it can be said to have disappeared."

"Second brother, you have said so much about the Five Elements Gate, is it related to the monster that harmed people that happened today?" Shen Man interjected.

"That's right," Ning Xu said sternly, "As far as I know, there is a thaumaturgy called 'Duoshe' in the Five Elements Gate, which can exchange the lives of others for one's own, and it happens to happen every ten years."

"So, the reason why this monster appears once every ten years is because it is picking someone who can change lives with it?"

"That's right, but the person who changed his life was not a monster, but a human being, a person who practiced the Five Elements Gate."

"If you want to change your life, what are the conditions? Why was it a woman who died in the last ten years, but a man this time?" Chen Zhi continued to ask.

"The person who needs to change his life must match his fate. There is no such person in ten thousand. If you are lucky, you will be the winner. If you are unlucky, you may not be able to wait ten years. The last time the person was killed or injured is a woman, which shows that this person should now It's a woman. And right now, she's specifically killing men, which should mean that the next person with the same fate as her who can change her life will be a man..."

"Why did she stick to Chenzhou and not go elsewhere?" Shen Man asked.

Ning Xu shook his head, "I don't know about it. Maybe, she is restricted and can only seize the house in Chenzhou. Or maybe, her ability can only control Chenzhou, and she will be powerless in other places."

"Maybe she knows that the person she is looking for is in Chenzhou."

Ning Tao's last words made everyone around feel a chill in their hearts, giving birth to a strange feeling.It seemed that in the darkness, there was a pair of eyes staring at them, trying to take their lives all the time.

Shen Man felt cold all over, and felt that it was necessary to ask Chen Zhi before the matter was clarified.So after everyone went back to their rooms, they went to find Chen Zhi alone.

"Master Chen, do you know where there are black-feathered chickens in the city?"

Chen Zhi looked puzzled, "It is said that Heiyu's chicken blood can prevent monsters, and the chickens in the city have been sold out long ago, and there is nowhere to find them. The girl asked, what is the use of this?"

Shen Man said truthfully, "I lost one of them during the day, and that person wants me to pay for it."

Chen Zhi thought for a while and said, "Your official can think of something, how many do you want?" He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

Shen Man stretched out his hand, staring at him anxiously, "Ten."

"Pfft—" Chen Zhi spat out a mouthful of tea.