[Urban Spirituality] Heaven's Way

At this time, Zuo Mu turned his attention to the puppet in Ji Xiang's hands. The puppet's facial features were very standard, and Ji Xiang's appearance was feminine, but this puppet named Huaixiang was handsome and tall, and his stature was even bigger. Tall and tall, Ji Xiang made it extremely finely and mastered every detail very well. Zuo Mu only noticed at this time that the puppet's palm has wide knuckles. I don't know what Ji Xiang used to make it. calluses.

Ji Xiang said that he is a singer, so this Huaixiang should be the puppet master.

"It's been a long time, I can't remember things from too long ago, I don't remember when I was in the troupe..." Ji Xiang combed the hair of the puppet named Huai Xiang in her arms, and said hoarsely.

"Huaixiang is older than me. We used to be beggars on the street. We were kidnapped by a kidnapper and sold into a troupe." Ji Xiang compared, "He's only this tall. So tall...he learned puppet shadow play, and I sang songs. I don't know how long it has been like this. Huaixiang and I offered it up..."

Ji Xiangyue said, Zuo Mu felt something was wrong, Concubine Zheng?So he asked, "Which Concubine Zheng are you talking about?"

Ji Xiang smiled, "Which other Concubine Zheng can there be, there is only one..."

Zuo Mu was taken aback, and asked in surprise, "The one from Wanli Shenzong?" He couldn't help looking at Xiao Shi, and found that Xiao Shi was also surprised. Gongfa, who is still suffering from leukemia at this time, it is impossible for an ordinary person to live for so long.

Xiao Shi frowned and asked directly: "What did you eat?"

Ji Xiang laughed all of a sudden, he was out of breath and coughed up blood, "On July 21st in Wanli, the emperor passed away and the crown prince ascended the throne. On August 23rd, Mr. Li went to the cabinet. He said he wanted to offer salted eggs, but Emperor Guangzong Zhu Changluo asked him to enter the palace to have an audience..."

As Ji Xiang spoke slowly, Zuo Mu became more and more familiar with it. Isn't this just the "Hong Wan case" in history?

Mr. Li mentioned by Ji Xiang is Li Kezhuo, an official of Honglu Temple, an official who offered elixir in history. Because of eating the elixir offered by Li Kezhuo, Guangzong Zhu Changluo, who had just ascended the throne and had been in poor health, was refreshed. On the second day, something happened. Zhu Changluo's condition worsened, and at five o'clock his condition suddenly deteriorated. By the time the imperial physician arrived at the palace, he had already passed away. This case with obvious mystery is called the "Hongwan case". Zuo Mu and Xiao Shi both tend to think that elixir is fake, but right now...

"Could it be that the elixir that Guangzong ate was fake, and the real elixir was taken by you..." Zuo Mu couldn't believe it. How could this be possible? How could it be possible to come into contact with the playthings of those superiors.

There was no basis for his words, Zuo Mu went straight forward, there was blood spit out by Ji Xiang on the ground, Zuo Mu touched a little, and then cast a spell to check, the blood stains clearly showed the other party's birth date, counted with his fingers, it was really Born in the Wanli period.

Ji Xiang is actually an ancient person who lived from Daming to the present!

"Do you believe it... As you said, I was the one who took that elixir..." Ji Xiang's face was not complacent, but sad, "If you know that elixir is real, if you Knowing that Huaixiang will die because of this elixir, I will never take it, I would rather be the one who dies..."

"The elixir presented by Mr. Li is real. Although I don't know where Mr. Li got it, Mr. Li said it swearingly. Concubine Zheng was tempted. Concubine Zheng stole the elixir. One for herself and one for her own son." They all wanted to live forever, but they were afraid that the elixir was fake, so they asked people to test it, and they found Huaixiang, who never believed in immortality, Huaixiang thought that elixir was poisonous, He bid me farewell, and I was also afraid that the elixir was poisonous, so I stole the elixir and took it..."

"You didn't expect that you would still be alive?!" Zuo Mu continued Ji Xiang's words.

Ji Xiang nodded, "Yeah, I didn't expect that I was ready to die... Concubine Zheng and those imperial physicians thought that Huaixiang didn't die after taking the medicine, so they thought the pill was real, but they were afraid Huaixiang leaked their secrets, and then wanted to kill Huaixiang. I took the pill, but in order to protect me, Huaixiang never told the truth... I am a coward, and I was so happy at that moment Yes, I was really afraid that I would die...but I never thought that Huaixiang would die...Originally we could have escaped, the emperor died, and the palace was in chaos, but Huaixiang said, is there any king in the world? , where can we escape, Huaixiang lied to me, Huaixiang said he was going out to find food, we have already escaped from the palace, but Huaixiang deliberately exposed his identity in order to prevent those people from chasing us... He died Yes, you know, he is dead! There are holes all over his body that the guards stabbed with guns, a lot of blood, a lot of holes... I can't plug it no matter what, I can't plug it no matter what..."

"When I found him, he was in a ruined temple. How could a person who loves cleanliness like Huaixiang die in such a place... Huaixiang told me that he has always liked me, even though we are both Man, but he really likes me, he originally thought, if we escaped, we lived in a deep mountain forest, he married me... nothing, nothing... I killed Huaixiang, I am no different from those people, they are all murderers who killed Huaixiang..."

Ji Xiang was a little crazy, he just hugged the puppet, the blood from his mouth dripped on the puppet, Ji Xiang kept wiping the puppet, but as more and more blood flowed from his mouth, the blood couldn't be wiped clean at all.

"I originally wanted to look for an opportunity to sneak into the palace and kill Concubine Zheng and the others. I didn't expect Concubine Zheng to die before I sneaked into the palace. I don't know why she died. Maybe the heavens have eyes. She took the elixir and it didn't work, Concubine Zheng died, those imperial physicians and guards were also dealt with by Concubine Zheng, I had no way of revenge, and then I kept searching, looking for their reincarnation...but I don't know their reincarnation who is it……"

Xiao Shi picked up his pocket and said, "I'm curious. When I first met you, you were just an ordinary person. What method did you use to kill those people? Where did your mana come from?"

I thought Ji Xiang could answer Xiao Shi's question but didn't want to, Ji Xiang shook her head, "I don't know, when I want to kill people, I can kill them, I don't know..."

Xiao Shi and Zuo Mu looked at each other strangely. Could it be that there are some masters in J City that they don't know about?

Seeing that he couldn’t ask why, Zuo Mu frowned, “Then anyone who looks as imaginable as those people, you think they are the reincarnation of Concubine Zheng, and you have to kill them!?”

Zuo Mu's words were already a bit harsh. There are so many wonders in the world. It is completely possible for people who have nothing to do with them to look alike. Ji Xiang determined that the other party was the enemy he was looking for based on her own eyes. Such a blind killing , regards life as trivial, how is it different from Concubine Zheng and the others! ?

"Aren't you afraid of killing the wrong person?!" Zuo Mu asked coldly.

Ji Xiang smiled, her eyes were already crazy, "Why are you not afraid, but if you kill a lot, you won't be afraid..."

Xiao Shi also worked hard when he heard Ji Xiang's words. Even though he was a beast, such a reckless killing still made him feel unbelievable, "Your reason is a bit absurd!"

Ji Xiang smiled sadly: "I only have one life, and even if I go to the [-]th floor of hell, I will just pay them back... If I don't come back in this life, I will continue to pay them back in the next life..."

After Ji Xiang spat out a mouthful of blood, he raised his head and looked at Zuo Mu, "I have seen you many times, you are a god, you passed me when I was a beggar and gave me a bun ... At that time I was still a child... After Huaixiang died, I didn't eat or drink. You were kind enough to give me another bowl of noodles. Yes, it was a bowl of braised noodles. It was so delicious. When I ate it that day Almost cried, as delicious as ever...thank you..."

As Ji Xiang said, hugging the puppet, she knelt unsteadily in front of Zuo Mu, her snow-white hair and bright red blood pierced Zuo Mu's eyes.

Zuo Mu couldn't bear to watch it.

This person has committed a heinous crime. No matter what the reason is, he should be punished by heaven for killing so many people. But for some reason, this time, Zuo Mu couldn't bear it.

No one understands better than him what it is like to grow slowly. It is too lonely to live alone with hatred.

"Left shopkeeper, I beg you for one thing, the last thing..." Ji Xiang raised her head and said pleadingly.

Zuo Mu wanted to refuse very much, but for some reason, what he said became, "Say it."

"Be a witness for me..." Ji Xiang showed a happy smile.

What testimony?Zuo Mu was taken aback.

But Ji Xiang stood up unsteadily and walked towards a large wooden box in Huaixiang Pavilion. From the box, Ji Xiang took out two red Hanfu, which were worn by the groom when they got married. Men's clothing.

Ji Xiang slowly put on a red robe, and then put a red robe on a puppet as tall as a person.

Ji Xiang's expression was very pious. He manipulated the puppet, and the two of them knelt on the ground together.

Zuo Mu was extremely shocked and sad, and he didn't know why

"Worship heaven and earth."

"We don't have Gao Tang, shopkeeper Zuo, I'm sorry to trouble you this time." Ji Xiang manipulated the puppet and knelt in front of Zuo Mu, which was considered to have paid homage to Gao Tang.

"Happy husband and wife..."

"Licheng..."

Following Ji Xiang's last words, he sat on the ground hugging the puppet, and another mouthful of blood spattered on the puppet's face. This time, Ji Xiang no longer had the strength to wipe the blood off the puppet's face. With the last effort, he manipulated the puppet, let the puppet stretch out its arms, hugged him tightly, and they hugged together.

This time, they are together forever.

"Let's go." Xiao Shi patted Zuo Mu who was stunned and said, "Anyway, Ji Xiang is a mortal. He killed so many people, and he deserves to die."

Zuo Mu hesitated: "Then his corpse, and these puppets..."

Xiao Shi took Zuo Mu's hand, "It's the people's police, don't disrupt the law and order of the world."

Zuo Mu nodded, he was in a very complicated mood now, Zuo Mu turned his head to take a last look at Ji Xiang and the puppet hugging tightly, and disappeared into the lotus alley with Xiao Shi.

Ji Xiang died, but many mysteries have not been solved. For example, where did his mana come from? For example, among these puppets, there are some puppets that Zuo Mu has never seen before. Zuo Mu and the others are not sure whether they are still alive. , If you want to see people when you live, and if you want to see corpses when you die, then where should they go to find these people?

It was just one night, everything changed, Zuo Mu felt very heavy, he thought that this morning, someone would definitely find Ji Xiang's body, and then call the police, so that the police will close the case, hoping that the police can find those who disappeared sooner.

Ji Xiang committed a heinous crime, killing so many people, he deserved to die badly, but for some reason, Zuo Mu always felt panicked.

Originally, it shouldn't be like this.

Huai Xiang left the chance of living to Ji Xiang, do you really want Ji Xiang to take revenge?

Ji Xiang is living in such pain

, Killing someone, do you really feel comfortable in your heart?None of this is known.

People always have to pay the price for what they do, and being hurt is not an excuse to hurt others.

It is the most stupid behavior to punish oneself with other people's mistakes. A person like Ji Xiang can't see through it even after living for hundreds of years.

Zuo Mu was a little regretful, but more fortunate. Fortunately, he was not alone in the long journey of life.

The matter didn't end there. In the early morning of the second day, when Zuo Mu came to Hehua Lane, he found strangely that everyone was doing what they were supposed to do as usual. Everyone's face was so natural, full of fragrance The pavilion is still Huaixiang Pavilion, but the owner has changed, and has become a shrewd woman in her 30s. The woman is familiar with the shopkeepers around and greets the shopkeepers around. When she sees Zuo Mu, she also shows a very friendly and familiar smile. Where are you stunned, what kind of performance is this?

By coincidence, Zuo Mu took an old newspaper from the newsstand a few days ago, and the warning news on the social page reminding "citizens pay attention to safety, close doors and windows, and don't go out at night" turned into "a certain leader came to a certain place "Inspection" news, everything changed.

Zuo Mu felt a little strange, but he was an "old fritter" after all, even though he was surprised, he didn't show it, but Cheng Zi yelled "Mu Ge Mu Ge, everyone doesn't remember Ji Xiang Brother", it seemed that except for the four of them, no one One person remembers Ji Xiang again.

The weirdest thing is that Miss Xiaoxia, the homeroom teacher of Chengzi who was missing, showed up at school as if nothing had happened, and told everyone that she got married a while ago for her honeymoon, and even threw wedding candies to many students in the class.

Everything was so weird, and the old policeman, who was so dead, appeared in Hehua Lane with a smile, and went to eat at Huixianlou, a famous restaurant in Hehua Lane.

And the puppet that was supposed to be in the police station was placed intact in Zuo's house, in Zuo Mu's study.

Zuo Mu is not a fool, after thinking about it, he understood that someone erased everyone's memory.

Who is so capable to bring everything back to the original point?

Zuo Mu went to Huaixiang Pavilion with snacks and dumplings and oranges. The shrewd female boss of Huaixiang Pavilion saw the four of them, and the expression on her face was a little unnatural. Although she adjusted immediately, Zuo Mu still caught it.

Zuo Mu looked at the shrewd female boss with a smile, Zuo Mu had a pretty smile, and the female boss blushed suddenly.

"Where's your boss?" Zuo Mu asked with a smile.

"What boss?" The female boss still wanted to argue.

Zuo Mu swung his sleeves, closed the door of Huaixiang Pavilion, and then slowly walked into the female boss, "Believe it or not, if you play me sloppy again, I will let His Highness Taotie eat you."

嘠?

The female boss was dumbfounded, not only the female boss was dumbfounded, but also the snack orange dumplings, what happened!

Zuo Mu gave him a wink, and Xiao Shi immediately agreed, pretending to be ferocious. He showed his sharp fangs and opened his mouth, as if he was going to suck something.

In fact, Xiao Shi's movements looked very similar to yawning, but the female boss turned pale with fright.

"Zuo Shangxian, Your Highness Taotie, let the little one go, the little one didn't do it on purpose!" The female boss knelt on the ground at once, all the disguise was removed, and the female boss turned into an extremely glamorous woman in red, with rough waves on her chest , can't help but make people's heart beat faster and their faces turn red.

Seeing this person's appearance, the corner of Zuo Mu's mouth twitched, "Why is it you?"

Knowing that Zuo Mu recognized her, the glamorous woman stood up familiarly, and said awkwardly, "Go back to Shangxian, it's the little one..."

Zuo Mu pointed at the beautiful woman and turned to Jiaozi Chengzi, "Come here, this is the famous girl Meng in the underworld. You guys know each other." Dumpling Chengzi is now a "civil servant" reported by the underworld. They will be colleagues, and it would be better to get to know each other earlier.

A well-known man named Meng in the underworld, Jiaozi and Chengzi looked at each other in dismay. Could this be the legendary Po Meng?

Well, there is a big difference between legends and real people.

Cheng Zi has a sweet mouth, "Sister, you are so pretty."

Dumplings followed, "It's so beautiful, sister."

The corner of Zuo Mu's mouth twitched, I cook for you every day, why didn't I see you flattering me!

After exchanging pleasantries, they got to the point, Zuo Mu asked bluntly, "What's going on?"

Granny Meng frowned, seeming to be in a dilemma. She organized her words and explained: "Oh, it's a long story. Shangxian, Ji Xiang didn't actually kill anyone. Ji Xiang's killing was always an illusion. Those dead people were also dug from other places by our boss, and we tried a trick to cover up the eyes, Shangxian must have discovered it, that place is very ghostly, but in fact our boss did all these things."

No matter how calm Zuo Mu was, he would still be dumbfounded. Who is Meng Po's boss? It's obvious that Zuo Mu felt a little helpless towards that guy, "He, is he sick?"

Granny Meng complained in her heart, transvestite, chatter, like to watch theater, meddle in other's business, isn't he sick?

Even though there was a lot of complaints in her stomach, Meng Po still defended her chief and said: "Shangxian misunderstood, it's not that our heads are idle, it's really entrusted by others."

Zuo Mu raised his eyebrows: "Who has so much face?" It's a lot of face to be able to get the leader of the underworld.

No wonder I didn't notice it, if that person did it, everything would be clear, that person is also a genius in practice, much better than myself, a hacker.

Hearing Zuo Mu's question, Meng Po smiled: "Then Ji Xiang is just an ordinary person, how can he have such a big face, the main reason is that someone is willing to stay in the [-]th floor of hell voluntarily for him to pay Ji Xiang every day. Xiang's killing, every time Ji Xiang kills a person, that person will pay Ji Xiang's debts in the underworld, and Shangxian must have found out, although Ji Xiang killed many people, but there is no unjust debt between Yintang, it's not because he doesn't have it, It's someone who pays his debts in the underworld."

Speaking of which, Granny Meng herself sighed a little, "In nearly 400 years, a ghost fairy has been cultivated. Shangxian, let alone our leader, even those of us who are used to seeing life and death are moved. Now Ji Xiang can He is dead, if he doesn't die, we will feel sorry for him to death, where do you think we can find such a determined person."

After Granny Meng finished speaking, Zuo Mu was stunned, "Is that person you're talking about Huaixiang?"

Meng Po smiled, "Isn't it?"

At this time, Xiao Shi interjected, "What about Ji Xiang? Are Ji Xiang and Huai Xiang reincarnated now?"

Granny Meng shook her head, "It's not that easy, he killed so many people, even if Huaixiang is willing to pay off his debts, he can't escape the guilt that originally belonged to him, it will take more than 100 years, it's only right and proper for him to pay for his life now. Falling on the Naihe Bridge and being flogged, but what is the flogging, 100 years of flogging is far less than 300 years of being under the frying pan every day."

Everyone stopped talking. For 300 years, Zuo Mu couldn't imagine the days of being in the frying pan every day, nor could he imagine the snacks, nor could he imagine the dumpling Chengzi. Copying books on the fourth floor of the underworld, Cheng Zi still finds it hard. Going up the mountain of knives and down the pan of oil is a joke, but someone has done it for another person for 300 years.

After understanding the cause and effect of the incident, Zuo Mu and others left, and they did not go to the underworld to visit Ji Xiang, because it was unnecessary, and he should pay the price for what he did wrong. Yes, the same sentence, being hurt is not a reason to hurt others.

Repaying debts and killing people is a matter of course, and it cannot be exonerated because of status or past.

Back at Zuo's house, Zuo Mu's mood was still very complicated. Although he had never met, Huaixiang's actions deeply shocked Zuo Mu.

"What are you thinking about?" Xiao Shi asked, grabbing Zuo Mu's shoulder.

Zuo Mu turned his head somewhat complicatedly, "If one day I do something wrong, will you also 'go up and down the mountain' for me?"

Xiaoshi burst out laughing, and then said very seriously: "No."

Zuo Mu was suddenly a little annoyed, this guy is real or fake!

But Jian Xiaoshi said solemnly: "I will accept the punishment with you. If you escape, I will find a way to find you and accept the punishment with you."

Zuo Mu's mood suddenly improved. From Zuo Mu's point of view, this was much smarter than Huai Xiang's foolish suffering by himself, "It's not too bad. For you, I won't do anything wrong. To thank me, I let you Don't suffer, start tomorrow, and you can clean the dishes at home!"

Xiao Shi stared, and pushed Zuo Mu away, Zuo Mu didn't check, and was directly thrown on the bed by Xiao Shi, but Xiao Shi said with a sneer: "If you want to be beautiful, I will never clean the dishes in this hall, never!" Absolutely not!

Zuo Mu raised his eyebrows. He stood up from the bed, raised his chin, and looked at Xiaoshi: "You really don't want to brush?"

"Don't brush!"

"Then cook tomorrow's meal yourself!"

"...Shangxian, I was wrong, go around the little one!!"

The stars are shining tonight, and tomorrow will be another sunny day!