treacherous world

Zhan Zhaoti led the black cat back to the room, sat on the edge of the bed and stared at it, but Bai Yutang didn't come back with him, saying he would come later.

The cat didn't look like anything special, it was squatting on the bedside table, licking its palms and washing its face.

Zhan Zhao rested his chin and looked at the black cat, stretched out his fingers to stroke its fur lightly, and said to himself, "What do you think is different from ordinary cats? Why do you look so Strange...is it you who are strange, or is it because we see you as strange?"

"Meow~"

At this time, the black cat let out a cry, retracted its paws and turned its head.

At the same time, I heard a cry from outside, "Xiao Hei! Xiao Hei..."

The black cat jumped off the table, shook its ears lightly, ran to the threshold and squatted, and let out a "meow".

"Ah! Blackie!"

At the same time, Cao Xin ran in from outside the courtyard, "You are here."

Zhan Zhao stood up and walked to the door.

Cao Xin looked up and saw Zhan Zhao, and said with some embarrassment, "Master Zhan... I'm here to find Xiao Hei. It seems to like you very much and always follows you."

"Really?" Zhan Zhao smiled, knelt down and hooked Xiao Hei's chin with his fingers.

The black cat rubbed against Zhan Zhao, then turned back and sat on the threshold to continue licking the fur on its chest.

Seeing that Cao Xin seemed to have something on his mind, Zhan Zhao stood by the door staring at Xiao Hei in a daze, so he reached out and patted him on the shoulder, "How is it?"

"Huh?" Cao Xin didn't understand what Zhan Zhao asked him, and looked up at him.

Zhan Zhao smiled slightly, "Mood."

"Oh..." Cao Xin seemed to have just realized it, and shrugged his shoulders loosely, "Master Zhan, you might not believe it... I'm not very, very sad, maybe I'm too tired."

"Oh?" Zhan Zhao wondered, "Why?"

"When my father died, I was already very sad." Cao Xin gave a weak laugh, "When the Hailong gang was on fire, I just thought it was all over. What are you going to do for the rest of your life? It's just these names. Leigh, it's disturbing."

"I didn't expect you to be quite transparent at such a young age." Zhan Zhao was slightly surprised by Cao Xin's maturity, and asked, "You and your father have a good relationship?"

"Okay!" Cao Xin nodded, "Although I'm not his own, he loves me very much."

"You know...you're not his biological child?" Zhan Zhao was taken aback. According to what they knew before...no one told Cao Xin this secret.

"Yeah." Cao Xin nodded, "My father told me...he robbed my mother, he killed my own father, and then my mother threw herself into the river and died."

Zhan Zhao was surprised, "You don't hate him?"

"Should hate it and hate it or not are two different things." Cao Xin sat by the threshold and looked up at the distant sky, the sky was almost bright at this time.

"At the end of the day, I'm still alone." He said with a faint sigh.

Although Zhan Zhao felt that there was something suspicious about Cao Xin, he still patted him on the shoulder, telling him not to think too much.

Cao Xin picked up Xiao Hei, "Master Zhan, are you familiar with Fifth Master Bai?"

Zhan Zhao was stunned, nodded, narrowed his eyes, "Good brother."

"It turns out that there are people other than his four older brothers who know him well..." Cao Xin said with a little surprise, "I used to hear my father mention him often."

"Oh?" Zhan Zhao asked with great interest, "How does your father evaluate him?"

"My father always said, 'People like Bai Yutang, don't mess with them!' He has suffered a lot." Cao Xin smiled, "I only saw him from a distance before, and my first impression of him was— ——It must be a dandy, I know what my father said about him."

"A dude?" Zhan Zhao laughed, "Why? He doesn't usually look frivolous."

"That's true." Cao Xin nodded, "The heads of the empty island are very strange. The uncle is smiling like a good guy all day long; the second master knows how to build ships; the third master is a reckless man with a loud voice; the fourth master is more intelligent. A bit scheming, but not good at kung fu; Fifth Master looks like a gentle man."

Zhan Zhao poked Xiao Hei's belly with his chin, and said with a smile, "Is that the case?"

"Of course not." Cao Xin sighed, "Traveling Island has existed for a long time. When our Sea Dragon Gang was first established, everyone was eyeing the surrounding waters. The River Gang looks very powerful, but my father and the others are alone. So I didn’t dare to provoke…Zeikong Island is a normal business, so my father and the others wanted to eat from the big family at that time.”

"Oh?" Zhan Zhao was surprised, thinking that this is courting death?

"The old Dragon King first sent a letter, saying that we don't have enough materials to build the Sea Dragon Gang, and we want to go to the empty island to cut down some trees, and borrow some boats and some silver."

"Hehe." Zhan Zhao couldn't laugh or cry, "Isn't this blackmail?"

"That's not true!" Cao Xin nodded, "After the letter was sent, the other party replied not long after, with just a few words - everything is there, and you can get it according to your ability."

Zhan Zhao suppressed a smile, "Bai Yutang came back, right?"

Cao Xin nodded, "I was young back then, and my father kept the note, it is said that Bai Yutang was only 15 years old.

"What happened next?" Zhan Zhao asked, "Have Hailong Gang gone?"

"Well, the old Dragon King sent someone to inquire about it. It is said that the four heads of the Xingkong Island have all gone out to do errands, leaving the youngest fifth to look after the house." Cao Xin smiled, "My father and the others were happy It's broken, to put it bluntly, don't build any Hailong gang, just go and grab him from the empty island.

Zhan Zhao secretly shook his head and asked, "What about after that?"

"It is said that my father and the others brought dozens of brothers and drove four small boats to land on the empty island.

When approaching the ferry, I found a painting boat floating on the sea.A young man in white was leaning on the fence of the painting boat, drinking.

Zhan Zhao narrowed his eyes, Fifteen is already this virtuous, leaning against the fence to drink, pretending to be deep.

Cao Xin looked at the distant sky, "That day, Bai Yutang left one thing for each of the five dragon kings of Hailong Gang."

"Ah?" Zhan Zhao was curious, "What's left?"

"It's all half an ear..." Cao Xin shook his head, "All the Hailong Gang brothers who followed were beaten to the ground. He killed my father and more than 40 of them by himself. And he was only 15 years old at that time , It is said that he held a knife in one hand and did not put down the wine jar in the other."

Zhan Zhao couldn't help the corners of his lips curling up, thinking that Bai Yutang is not bad compared to his 15-year-old single-handedly fighting Heifengling to kill a group of more than 40 bandits and rescue the robbed women and children.

"But that's not what convinced my father and the others." Cao Xin said suddenly.

"Oh?" Zhan Zhao was curious, "Then what is the reason?"

"It is said that after the beating was over, Bai Yutang stood at the bow of the boat and waved to his back. Four big boats came out, two of which were filled with timber, and the other two were grain, silver, and cloth. Hai Long helped start a family." Cao Xin shook his head, "This is what my father told me later, imagine how proud it must have been at that time... It's a pity that I didn't know it at the beginning, and I never saw Bai Yutang fight with others , and always regarded him as an embroidered pillow."

After hearing this, Zhan Zhao raised his eyebrows secretly, okay—that's pretty impressive!that mouse.

Cao Xin shook her head lightly, "After my father died, I often caused troubles in the restaurants that Bai Yutang frequented..."

"Ah?" Zhan Zhao was taken aback, and suddenly asked, "Oh! Do you want him to help you find out how your father died?"

Cao Xin nodded, "He hasn't been in the empty island all this time. I saw him having dinner with you in a restaurant the other day, so I made a fuss on purpose. It's a pity that he ignored me... and I couldn't open my mouth either."

Zhan Zhao shook his head, beating around the bush, what to do, what to say directly.

"I didn't feel at ease until I heard that people in the Sky Island and the River Gang had died like my father. In this way, he would investigate if he didn't." Cao Xin looked at Zhan Zhao again, "Master Zhan is famous. I'm not younger than Fifth Master Bai, and I did a lot of decent things when I was young, right? Compared to that, I really suck."

Zhan Zhao laughed, "Look for a famous teacher to learn kung fu. Thinking about it is thinking after all. It's better to do it. You're still young anyway."

Cao Xin was helpless, "Master Zhan, why don't you comfort me and say that I will be fine in the future..."

"That's not comforting you, that's lying to you." Zhan Zhao said earnestly, "It will only get worse and worse in the future. With such mental preparation, you can get better and better!"

Cao Xin nodded in ecstasy.

At this time, the empty island became lively, and the servants got up and started to get busy.A chattering little girl poked her head into the yard and saw that Zhan Zhao was awake, so she blushed and asked him what he would like to eat in the morning.

Zhan Zhao said that it is fine to eat with everyone, and the little girl happily ran away. Cao Xin stood up, holding Xiao Hei and preparing to leave.

"Cao Xin." Zhan Zhao suddenly stopped him, "You really don't know Aunt Mei?"

Cao Xin shook his head, seeing Zhan Zhao's expression, he smiled knowingly, "Master Zhan, do you think that I deliberately lied to others in order to protect my biological mother?"

Zhan Zhao didn't answer, but instead asked, "Then what about you?"

Cao Xin shook her head, "It's like I wouldn't kill my adoptive father to avenge my own father. Although the uncles and brothers of the Hailong Gang love me and blame me, they are all one family. And my mother...is to give up My people. It is impossible for me to disregard the death of my loved ones and protect a murderer."

Zhan Zhao nodded, indicating that he understood, and Cao Xin led Xiao Hei out of the yard.

After Cao Xin left, Zhan Zhao stood in a daze in the yard, always feeling that there seemed to be something hidden in the conversation just now.Just at this time, I heard the sound of thin footsteps coming from the door.

Zhan Zhao smiled, and dodged to the back of the yard, and after a while, saw a small figure running in...

Zhan Zhao suddenly reached out and hugged him up.

It was Xiaosi who ran into the yard.

The fourth son obviously startled Zhan Zhao, but then he started giggling, followed by Xiao Liang, Stone and Scissors.

"Wake up so early?" Zhan Zhao asked the fourth son with a smile, "You're still wearing new clothes."

"Yeah!" Little Si nodded, "I'm going back to Xiaoyao Island to pick up grandma today."

"Oh?" Zhan Zhao wondered, "What are you doing to pick up the Empress Dowager?"

"Jiujiu said that he was afraid that someone would set fire on Xiaoyao Island, so he took grandma here, and we will live together in Songjiang Mansion!" The fourth son said with a smile, "The boat is coming soon."

"Oh..." Zhan Zhao was stunned for a moment, then nodded, "I see."

While speaking, Jiang Ping came in from outside the door, "Brother Zhanxian, have you seen Yutang?"

Zhan Zhao was taken aback, then shook his head, "He hasn't come back, could he be in his room?"

Jiang Ping shook his head again and again, "I've looked for it, but I didn't see anyone."

Zhan Zhao was taken aback for a moment, thought for a while, put the fourth son into Jiang Ping's hands, and walked out quickly.

He went round and round and came to the ferry, and sure enough, he saw a small painting boat floating not far in front of the ferry.He jumped onto the boat, and saw Bai Yutang was leaning against the railing holding the wine jar.

Zhan Zhao swayed over with the sword in his hands behind his back, "Mmm... Sure enough."

Bai Yutang turned his head to look at him, his face was still calm and calm, as if he didn't care much about anything.

Zhan Zhao shook his head secretly, reached out and snatched his wine jar, took a sip, and said angrily, "Okay! You stole second brother's Li Huabai and hid here to eat alone!"

Bai Yutang couldn't laugh or cry, "Cat, this is obviously a flower carving."

Zhan Zhao took another two sips, put down the wine jar, "I just heard about your heroic deeds."

Bai Yutang looked back at him slightly puzzled, "Huh?"

"Let me ask you." Zhan Zhao leaned against him and asked, "What were you doing when you were 15 years old?"

Bai Yutang froze for a moment, thinking about it, "Learning Kung Fu?"

"In addition to learning kung fu."

"...do nothing." Bai Yutang replied indifferently.

"Have you singled out the five Dragon Kings and a bunch of youngsters from the Sea Dragon Gang?" Zhan Zhao asked him, "I don't even remember this?"

Bai Yutang thought about it for a while, then smiled, "So what?"

Zhan Zhao reached out and pinched Bai Yutang's cheek suddenly.

"Hiss..." Bai Yutang hurriedly dodged, his body almost fell into the sea when he swayed, he quickly grabbed onto the railing, making Zhan Zhao laugh out loud.

Bai Yutang helplessly turned over and sat on the railing, feeling amused in his heart, Zhan Zhao was probably the only one who would "handle" him so casually in this life.

"How are you?" Bai Yu asked, "How was your chat with Cao Xin?"

"I'm just listening to what's on his mind." Zhan Zhao rested his chin, watching a magnificent big boat carrying people from Xiaoyao Island drive over in the distance, and stopped at the ferry of Xingkong Island.

The fourth son and Xiao Liang joyfully rushed onto the boat with the rock scissors, and made out with the imperial concubine who came out.

"In this way... is Xiaoyao Island empty?" Bai Yutang looked at the full boat and asked Zhan Zhao.

Zhan Zhao nodded, "Well, it should."

Bai Yutang frowned and remained silent.

"What's wrong?" Zhan Zhao was curious.

"Zhao Pu is worried about his mother, I understand." Bai Yutang seemed a little puzzled, "But... it doesn't mean that no housekeeper will be left behind, right?"

Zhan Zhao was stunned when he heard this, "Do you think... what is Zhao Pu's plan?"

Bai Yutang nodded slightly.

At this time, Zhao Pu and Gongsun came out, and after paying their respects to the old concubine, they gave a few words to the shadow guards who were in charge of guarding, and then waved to the boat... The big boat drove away.

Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang looked at each other, puzzled... Has the fourth son been sent away too?At this time, Gongsun, Zhao Pu and a group of shadow guards boarded another big boat on Xiaoyao Island, sailing towards them like their painting boat.

"Where are you going?" Zhan Zhao looked at the people on the boat in puzzlement.

Gongsun lay on the fence and waved to the two, "Xiaoyao Island, do you want to go?"

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang were puzzled, but they got on the big boat anyway...

"Why did you suddenly think of going to Xiaoyao Island?" Zhan Zhao asked Gongsun curiously.

"I found some problems." Zhao Pu turned around and said.

Both Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang frowned slightly, looking at Zhao Pu and waiting for him to speak.

Zhao Pu looked at Gongsun, and Gongsun said to them in a low voice, "Yesterday, Feiying and the others were on watch at Xiaoyao Island, and they said they found a sneaky, martial arts ghost-masked man."

After Gongsun's words came out, Zhan Zhao and Bai Yutang frowned—ghost-masked man? !