Guanqingzhai

Chu Jue threw the bird head wooden sculpture to Hu Yue, Hu Yue picked it up and looked at it, Zuo Yiqi next to him looked at the bird head and said, "It's strange, this ornament didn't show up in the autopsy before, why is it in this person's hands now?" ?”

Hu Yue turned her head and asked, "Master Zuo, does he know the cause of this person's death?"

Zuo Yiqi frowned. He glanced at the corpse and said, "He didn't have any wounds on his body, nor did he have any signs of poisoning. The cause of death was indeed just drowning, but..."

With a flash in Zuo Yiqi's eyes, he said: "You two, do you know that some wealthy families have been dying strangely recently?"

Hu Yue nodded and said, "I heard a little bit."

Zuo Yiqi went on to say: "And as far as I know, both the old man and the girl have been to those residences to give performances."

Hu Yue and Chu Jue glanced at each other, and the corners of Chu Jue's mouth curled up slightly, obviously he knew about this, and he didn't want to keep it from Hu Yue anymore.

Hu Yue glanced at Chu Jue slightly, but didn't say anything, but continued to ask: "Then what does Master Zuo think?"

Zuo Yiqi said: "I am dissatisfied with the two of you. I think the strange deaths of those big families before may have something to do with these two people. And the death of this old man, I think it has something to do with that one-legged girl. So at this moment, only Only girl Qingyin is still in contact."

Hu Yue said: "Do you think it was Miss Qingyin who made a mess?"

Zuo Yiqi said: "Yes, so if there is no accident, I am going to wait and see for a few days. If there is no accident with this woman, then I am going to arrest her, because she is the only one left."

Hu Yue opened the fan, he took a few glances at the dead body, and finally shook his head and said, "Master Zuo is worthy of being the governor of the Dark House, do you want us to rule out this possibility for you, or do you want us to find the real culprit for you?"

Zuo Yiqi smiled slightly, and said, "For me... it's only a matter of time before the real culprit appears."

Hu Yue raised his eyebrows, while Chu Jue remained silent. He had been checking the corpse. At this moment, he got up and said, "Then let's visit Miss Qingyin first."

Zuo Yiqi clasped his hands and said: "Then I will send the two of you out first. If you need to come to the government office to look for me, I will inform the servant. I will not make things difficult for you two."

Hu and Yue left the Yamen and walked side by side.Hu Yue sneered and said: "As expected of Zuo Yiqi, this person is indeed a city man. It's not easy to mess with."

Chu Jue said, "Aren't you ready to accept the move?"

Hu Yue snorted coldly: "Don't say it as if it has nothing to do with you. It's clear that you entrusted me to get into the water. What did you and Zuo Yiqi agree in advance?"

Chu Jue pretended to be innocent and said, "What do you mean by my brother?"

Hu Yue said: "Otherwise you wouldn't drag me in knowing that I would fall into a cold state when I entered the government. It was just to meet Zuo Yiqi. It is conceivable that you must have told him before What? From Zuo Yiqi's words, I can also see that if the real culprit is not found, no matter whether the Qingyin girl is innocent or not, she will become the murderer and end the case. And he obviously wants to see me, it seems right The last time I was curious about the ghost and mother, it wasn't just that I cared about him, I didn't expect him to forget me as a commoner. But the deaths of those wealthy and famous families are actually sporadic, but why do you care? So In the final analysis, it was the feather that made you care. You said that the appearance of a phoenix at this time is not a good omen, but you did not deny that it might be a phoenix, so there is only one possibility. That is, you know what that thing is."

Chu Jue laughed and said: "My brother is also enjoying it, this analysis is clear and logical, but is Miss Qingyin suspected, do you have a secret case?"

Hu Yue shook her head and said, "Although I don't know who the real culprit is, I don't think it should be Miss Qingyin."

Chu Jue raised his eyebrows and asked, "Oh, why did you see that?"

Hu Yue replied with a serious face: "Because she is really a lovely person with a beautiful appearance."

Chu Jue was not surprised by his answer at all. He said, "I do know the true face of that thing, but I can't say it yet. Because I'm not sure yet."

Hu Yue said: "Then let's see tonight. It seems that I can't sleep well again."

At this time, Hu Yue touched his sleeves, and said, "The bird's head is missing?"

Chu Jue said with a dark face: "That's evidence...you actually brought it out secretly?"

Hu Yue said with a blank face: "I don't think anyone cares about this thing, and no one mentions it. I brought it out, but now it's gone."

Chu Jue said: "If Zuo Yiqi asks you for it, what should you do?"

Hu Yue spread her hands and said, "I can't blame me for everything disappearing, but there is indeed something in my heart that I want to know, and only Brother Chu can tell me about it."

Chu Jue raised the corner of his mouth, and he asked, "Do you want to know whether any tombs of famous families have been destroyed recently?"

Hu Yue shook his finger, looked at Chu Jue and said, "What I want to ask is whether any Taoist temples have been stolen recently?"

Chu Jue was taken aback for a moment, then smiled and said, "Yes."

Hu Yue burst out laughing, and he untied the jug in his hand and said, "It's still a while, why don't we go and meet that voiceless girl first, it's better for her to tell us some things."

Chu Jue didn't have much either. He looked at the jug in Hu Yue's hand and said, "It seems that you've almost finished drinking the osmanthus brew I gave you last time."

Hu Yue looked at the jug in his hand, grinning and said, "It seems that Brother Chu is sure that my guess is right. That's why I thought of rewarding me with wine."

Chu Jue laughed loudly, and said, "But the ending, brother, you may not be able to guess it."

Without saying a word, the two had arrived at Qingyin's residence. It was just a simple tile-roofed house, and there were still some people in the room. After Hu Yue entered, they found that it was Hongqiao and her two sisters.They were by the side of the one-legged woman, and there was a food box on the table. It seemed that they had just had lunch.

The atmosphere was not very lively. Several people were sitting on chairs, looking at each other, but not speaking.Qingyin was sitting by the window, her brows were furrowed, and she wiped her tears from time to time.Perhaps it was because after getting along with the woman and talking heart-to-heart, the pain and sorrow that had been endured before finally welled up in her eyes. She wiped her tears silently, while Hongqiao just kept sighing beside her.

Seeing that Hu Yue and Hu Yue came early, Hongqiao got up and said, "You two came so early? Didn't you say you won't come until night?"

Hu Yue smiled and said: "It's getting late, we have to ask Miss Qingyin to write something first, and only after we finish asking can we decide what to do in the evening."

Qingyin also stood up when she heard the sound, trying to salute with difficulty, but Hu Yue stopped her and helped her to sit back in her original position.Hu Yue's first words were: "Miss Qingyin, you and your father were thieves in the past, is there something wrong?"

Qingyin was stunned, she couldn't think of an answer for a moment, she lowered her head and said, "That's right, Daddy and I are thieves."

The two women beside Hongqiao immediately stood up, looked at Qingyin in a low voice, Qingyin raised her head and said, "Why do you two know? You... really know Daddy?"

Hu Yue was still smiling. He poured himself a cup of tea, and then said, "Actually, I don't know your father, but your father does know me. Can you tell me one more thing?"

Qingyin looked at Hu Yue, and she smiled wryly: "Young Master, you can ask whatever you want, there is nothing to hide now."

Hu Yue said: "If there is no accident, can you tell me what was stolen in the end?"

Qingyin frowned and lowered her head, she said, "That time... we actually didn't steal anything."

Hu Yue and Chu Jue glanced at each other, and Chu Jue frowned slightly. All the assumptions in their hearts were overturned by the woman's words.

The atmosphere suddenly became more silent. Seeing that they stopped talking, and the following content was not suitable for other people to be present, she looked at the two sisters around her, then changed the topic, and dragged them away.Before leaving, she patted Qingyin's shoulder lightly, Qingyin nodded slightly, and said thank you to Hongqiao.

At this moment, Hu Yue knocked on the table with one hand and supported his chin with the other.He looked at Chu Jue and said, "Brother Chu's matter seems to be different from what we thought. They didn't bring anything out."

Chu Jue looked out of the window and said, "It seems that we have to wait for the night. He will not miss this opportunity after returning to his soul the first night."

Seeing that what they said was mysterious, Qingyin didn't know how to intervene, so she could only sit silently, the three of them hardly talked anymore, except for Hu Yue's occasional small talk, the three of them sat in the corners , thinking about their own concerns.

Time passed by so fast, as if the sun was very early that day.Hu Yue lit the oil lamp in the room, and the voice of the watchman came from outside the room, it was already You hour.

Hu Yue said, "Are you hungry, girl? Shall I ask my friend to go out and buy something?"

Qingyin shook her head, she looked at the teacup in her hand and said, "I'm not hungry, for some reason I feel like something is going to happen."

Chu Jue glanced sideways at Hu Yue, and Hu Yue pointed out the door.Chu Jue understood and said: "I'll go buy some food first, it won't be too late. You two wait for me first."

Chu Jue got up and left the room, only Hu Yue and Qingyin were left in the room, Qingyin looked at Hu Yue, Hu Yue smiled at her, the two still did not speak.

At this time, Qingyin said: "Perhaps the young master looks down on people like us, the generation of chicken crowing and dog robbers..."

Hu Yue laughed, and said, "I don't think much of it. There are almost nothing in this world that I can think highly of."

Qingyin smiled wryly and said: "But I am an orphan, born with a disability, and was adopted by my father. Although I do this to make a living, if I think about it carefully, if my father hadn't brought me back, I would have been abandoned by my biological parents and died a long time ago. Bar."

Hu Yue looked up at Qingyin, her thin profile was shimmering under the weak candlelight, she still looked at her hands, and continued: "But I still don't want to die... It's strange to say that life is obviously not satisfactory , this kind of life is obviously so bitter, but I just don’t want to die.”

Hu Yue turned his head, and he said: "Then live on, if you don't want to die, then live on. Either die or live, live or die, there are only two options."

Qingyin raised her head, her face was full of tears at this time, she nodded and said yes slightly.

Hu Yue said: "By the way, let's talk about the girl's stick."

Qingyin looked at the stick in her hand, and she said: "This is my leg. When I was sensible, I relied on it to support my walking. I followed my father to walk the rivers and lakes. Although it was hard, I couldn't even walk without it."

Hu Yue's eyes lit up, and he said, "That means you always carry this stick? No matter where you go?"

Qingyin nodded, Hu Yue stood up suddenly, he said: "I seem to know the reason for this, hey, Chu Jue is not here at this time!"

While Hu Yue was pacing back and forth in the room, there was a knock on the door, and Hu Yue asked, "But Brother Chu is back?"

Chu Jue's response came from outside the door, Hu Yue opened the door, and Chu Jue was standing at the door, holding a food box in his hand.But the moment Hu Yue opened the door, suddenly a bird rushed in from the door and landed on the walking stick that was suddenly voiceless.

Hu Yue looked at the bird and said, "This is the bird that appeared on the mid-autumn night."

Qingyin touched the bird's wings, and she said, "Are you here to see me?"

The bird seemed to be spiritual, as if it understood Qingyin's words, it tilted its head and shook its wings, but did not fly away.

Chu Jue said: "It has been guarding the door all the time, and the time has not yet come. When the time comes, it will definitely come."

Qingyin looked up and asked, "What is it?"

Chu Jue said, "That thing you didn't steal."

The bird seemed to understand Chu Jue's words, and let out a sharp cry.Three people and one bird sat at the table again, Qingyin hurriedly took a few mouthfuls of food, and couldn't eat anymore.Time seemed to pass quickly, and it was as dark as ink. Hu Yue found some more candles from the box, and after lighting them, the house became bright.

However, such a bright room is a bit weird, it is too bright.Qingyin looked around, Hu Yue grabbed Qingyin's hand and said: "The next thing, girl, you must remember. If someone knocks on the door next, you ask who it is. If he doesn't speak, then you don't open the door." .You don’t open the door until it opens the door. No matter who you see after opening the door, you must run there immediately, don’t hesitate.”

Chu Jue moved his lips, as if he was about to speak, but he didn't say anything. Hu Yue took out the Qingluan feather from his bosom, put the feather on Qingyin's cane, and then said, "You can use this cane!" Don't let it go, no matter what happens, you can't let it go, if someone grabs it from you, you have to keep it even if you try your best. Do you understand?"

Qingyin also nodded, and then Hu Yue exhaled, he looked back at Chu Jue and said, "The next thing is for the two of us."

Chu Jue smiled slightly, and said, "The time has come."

Sure enough, the wind started to blow outside at this time, and a sound similar to birdsong could be heard in the wind.The sound came from the roof, and the birds in the house were also very restless, flapping their wings constantly.

At this time, the roof of the house did not know what was going on, and a lot of feathers began to fall, and then, the door was knocked again. Qingyin was surprised when she heard the knock on the door, and she said: "This voice! This voice is Daddy's!" .”

Hu Yue turned to look at Qingyin and said, "Are you sure?"

Qingyin nodded and said: "Yes, because we are in the secret door business, so we have our own rules when knocking on the door. After so many years, I have been familiar with it. It can't be wrong, this must be Daddy...he came to find him me."

The knock on the door continued, and the three men stared at the door.Hu Yue finally reminded Qingyin: "You must not forget what I told you before, and you must not let go of the stick in your hand no matter what. Otherwise, you will die."

Qingyin clenched the stick in her hand, she stretched out her left hand tremblingly, and slowly opened the door latch.

Chu Jue and Hu Yue stood on her left and right sides respectively, they both looked at the door, Qingyin suddenly looked back at them and said, "The door, the door can't be opened!"

Chu Jue and Hu Yue hurried forward, and when the three of them stood in a straight line, suddenly the door latch opened automatically.At the door stood a monster that looked like a bird and looked like a man.

This monster has the head of a bird, but the legs are human.

Seeing this monster, Qingyin screamed in fright, but the monster moved surprisingly fast, it reached out and grabbed the stick in Qingyin's hand.After all, Qingyin also had some kung fu in her body, so she turned sideways immediately.The monster was about to fly away, but he didn't expect many weird vines to emerge from his body. Chu Jue was still sharp-eyed, and he immediately pulled out branches from the willow tree beside him.Hitting those vines, the vines shrank back as if being induced, but the monster didn't seem to leave.He kicked his legs and flew straight into the air.Moved towards Qingyin's shop, Qingyin used to resist with a stick.

This was completely expected by the monster, and he grabbed the stick firmly.

Hu Yue yelled badly: "He still retains some memories of the old man, Miss Qingyin, don't let go."

The monster's hands were like steel claws firmly grasping the staff, and without the support of the staff, Qingyin couldn't even stand firm.She was almost dragged to the ground by the monster, but even so she still clung to it desperately and wouldn't let go.

Hu Yue shouted at Chu Jue: "Chu Jue! Help quickly! She won't last long."

Chu Jue picked a few more willow leaves from the willow tree. These willow leaves seemed to be filled with iron in his hands. He threw them towards the face of the strange man, and directly inserted them into the face of the strange bird.

The strange bird croaked like a pheasant.The strange bird kept retreating, and Qingyin was dragged along the ground.She shouted: "Daddy, it's me, I'm Yin'er! It's me!"

The strange bird seemed to be called by a voiceless voice, he was slightly taken aback, but then fell into madness again.Seeing that Qingyin was about to lose her grip on the stick.

But the strange bird threw down the stick at this time, and he threw it out like an electric shock, and then Hu Yue shouted: "This is the time!" Behind the strange bird.A hand was inserted directly into the strange bird's body, and then the disappeared bird's head was dug out from its body.

As soon as she got the bird head, Hu Yue immediately threw it to Chu Jue, who caught it in the air.Then he bit his middle finger and wrote ghost characters on the bird's head.Throwing it towards the southern sky, at this moment the bird that had been hovering in the room made a low cry, and flew into the air with the bird's head in its mouth.

Under the moonlight, the bird changed its appearance. Its inconspicuous feathers stretched out suddenly. Its golden-red feathers spread its wings and flew away. In an instant, it transformed into a huge Suzaku Chifeng, drawing an arc in mid-air. It felt like it was burning all over, and flew into the distance.

Hu Yue exhaled, and the strange bird gradually changed, and he returned to the old corpse.

Qingyin crawled over, holding the old man's body and crying loudly.Hu Yue said: "It seems that I guessed correctly."

At this time, there were already some yamen servants standing outside the door, and the one in front was Zuo Yiqi who had been laughing all the time. He said, "It seems that this matter has been settled." After he finished speaking, he nodded slightly towards Chu Jue. He raised his hand to indicate that there is no need to be too polite.

Hu Yue glanced at the people outside the door, he said: "This is the case at this time, these two people originally wanted to steal the statue of Suzaku enshrined in the temple, but Suzaku's figure could not move, but they accidentally disturbed the statue of Suzaku, In the 28 constellations, the head of the Suzaku is the golden sheep of the ghost. So it played the role of attracting the soul, so there is also the theory that the Suzaku attracts the soul. They entered those houses to perform, and the old man absorbed the star soul of the ghost. As a result, he became a ghost golden goat and attracted some souls, but in the end, because the souls repel each other, he died in the end."

Chu Jue said: "The stick in Miss Qingyin's hand is made of sycamore wood, so under such a chance, it really aroused Suzaku's reaction, and the bird that appeared before was the illusion of Suzaku."

Qingyin knelt down on the ground, he hugged the old man's corpse and wept endlessly, Hu Yue stepped forward and said: "I finally understand why the old man asked you to come to me, because it was you who was possessed by the star soul in the first place." , That's why you have such a strong inhuman aura, but in the end the old man chose to bear it by himself. And the figure that appeared in my house that night was the old man, and he hoped that I could intervene in this matter in the end."

Qingyin was unable to answer, she hugged the body of the old man who was not her biological father, and kept crying.And Hu Yue walked outside with a blank expression, passed by Zuo Yiqi and glanced at him, Zuo Yiqi turned slightly sideways, as if paying tribute or letting go.

Hu Yue didn't look back, and didn't ask any questions, he looked up at the bright moon in the sky, as if something was shaking in his heart, was it because of the obsession that the woman was struggling in this world but didn't want to die?

The people behind had already caught up and handed Hu Yue a flagon. He said, "You don't blame me?"

Hu Yue said: "What are you to blame? Lying or hiding?"

Chu Jue said: "It is true that the old man came to me, and then he used his own destiny to introduce the star soul into his body, but I also told him that he will become an immortal monster after that. to rest in peace."

Hu Yue took a sip of the wine, wiped his mouth and said, "But I did what I had to do, so before you go back tomorrow, fill up the wine for me. How dare you trick me into doing such a thankless thing. "

Chu Jue was slightly taken aback, he looked at Hu Yue's back and said, "Is this what you mean by inviting me?"

Hu Yue walked forward alone, pouring wine into his mouth continuously. The wine was fragrant and spicy, but he was already used to the years of drinking.