Strange Records of Xijing

"Ghosts generally refer to the souls that stay in the world after death." Gao Zekai explained to Pei Jingxing, "After people die, the souls will enter the underworld, but there are also souls that cannot find the way to the underworld for various reasons and stay in the world. , or they are greedy for the human world and cannot stay for a long time. These ghosts who stay in the human world can be captured by Taoist monks for super refinement, or they can be captured by ghost messengers and returned to the underworld. However, just now the talisman hit the 'half-faced ghost' Suddenly, thunder came down from the sky as a warning, indicating that this 'half-faced ghost' cannot be refined or superseded at will. And the Liulizi in Su Daoyou's hand just now should also be a treasure for refining the soul."

Su Yan pursed his lips, but did not speak.

Seeing that Su Yan was still wary of him, Gao Zekai was not angry, and continued: "This ghost's original death date has not yet arrived, and now he is wandering around Chunming and Yong'an, there is probably something hidden about him."

Pei Jingxing's left hand was wrapped with a thick bandage, and there was a fancy knot on it - no need to think about it, of course it was the meticulous work of his cousin Pei Huaiyu - he stood up suddenly: "There is something wrong with that Li Laodao."

Everyone present looked at him.

Pei Jingxing held the dragon-headed tiger-tooth spear and said, "Neither of you thought that this 'half-faced ghost' was the soul of someone who shouldn't die, but Li Laodao's shot hit it with one blow, and the 'half-faced ghost' didn't He was subdued without any room to fight back, which shows that he already knew the truth about the 'half-faced ghost'."

Pei Huaiyu raised his own question from the side: "But Mr. Li was invited by Shangguan Shaoqing. If Shangguan Shaoqing didn't invite him, wouldn't there be such a thing?"

Pei Jingxing frowned after hearing this: "According to Shangguan Yun, it was a Hu merchant who introduced Li Laodao to him. Hu merchant? Heh! Most of the Hu merchants in the Western Regions believe in the Fire Worship Sect, and most of them live and do business in the west of Xijing. What kind of contacts can Li Laodao, who is begging for a living in Pingkang Fang, have? Xiang Jiedian, tomorrow you will take someone to the west to inquire about Jude, Fenghe and a few Hu merchants. Ask if anyone has seen Li. The old Taoist has contacts with Hu merchants."

Xiang Shaoxuan hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "Yes."

"I'll go to Pingkangfang again, maybe I can find some clues. As for this ghost," Pei Jingxing cast his eyes on the dull "half-faced ghost", "can she speak?"

"I don't know, I've heard her screaming until now, and I want to take it back to the National Teacher's Mansion to study it." As he spoke, Gao Zekai took out a delicate silver lock from his cuff pocket, and hung it on the "Half-faced Ghost". Around the neck, untie the red rope again, and hand it to Su Yan with a smile.

Su Yan took it sullenly, but Gao Zekai suddenly grabbed Su Yan's wrist. Seeing Su Yan's rare surprised expression, he let go of Su Yan, and knocked on Su Yan's forehead with another hand, laughing loudly. Get up: "Just kidding, such a small person, with a straight face all day long, with a look of deep hatred, is really a waste of your skin."

Seeing Su Yan's bewildered look, Gao Zekai accepted it as soon as he saw it, "Okay, I'll give you back the red rope. As for you, just follow the black-faced evil spirit next to him. He's not bad."

Hearing this, Pei Jingxing was not happy: "Wouldn't it be a hindrance for a person who is about the same age as Huaiyu to follow me?"

With a sad face, Pei Huaiyu covered his chest and said, "Brother, is that what I am in your heart?"

Gao Zekai patted the head of his famous junior brother: "Okay, stop pretending to be pitiful in front of a cold-hearted person like your cousin, be careful that you are the one who is unlucky."

Turning his head, Gao Zekai said seriously to Pei Jingxing: "Old Li succeeded in one blow, either he was really capable, and he figured out in advance that this 'half-faced ghost' had other secrets, or he had some expert advice. No matter which possibility it is, you Our enemies are not ordinary people. Although Fellow Daoist Su is young, he is highly capable, and it will be beneficial and harmless for you to take him with you."

Su Yan thought that he hadn't been cleared of the crime of committing the night, and now the decision rests with Pei Jingxing.As the saying goes, people have to bow their heads under the eaves. He recalled the appearance of those fox girls and mussel spirits in the mountains when they begged for mercy. He smiled at Pei Jingxing and blinked: "I won't make trouble for you."

Pei Jingxing almost couldn't even get out the dragon's head and tiger's tooth spear, so he took a step back and said, "Okay."

At this time, there is still about one stick of incense before the sound of the door-opening drum in Xijing. Gao Zekai must bring the "half-faced ghost" back to the National Teacher's Mansion before sunrise. He asked for a horse, and the "half-faced ghost" who was restrained by the silver lock automatically followed behind him.

Of course, there is also Pei Huaiyu, who is going to follow life and death.

After seeing off Gao Zekai and others, Pei Jingxing sized up Su Yan who seemed to be well-behaved for a while, then cleared his throat: "Come with me."

Taking Su Yan to an unoccupied corner, Pei Jingxing said, "I'll treat the incident of the 'half-faced ghost' as nothing happened when the 'half-faced ghost' incident is resolved. During this period, if you interfere with my work again, That is to prevent the Jinwu Guard from investigating the case, and when the time comes, the two crimes will be punished together and dealt with strictly. Do you hear me clearly?"

Su Yan had no choice but to nod his head: "I heard clearly."

Although this was only the second time seeing Su Yan, Pei Jingxing felt inexplicably that although the person in front of him was the same age as Pei Huaiyu, he would definitely not be someone like Pei Huaiyu who should have gained thirty catties a long time ago.

"Can you ride a horse?"

"meeting."

"Let's go, there's no time to rest, go to Pingkangfang immediately."

On the way the two rushed to Pingkangfang, Su Yan felt as if he saw a miraculous scene.

With the sound of four hundred door-opening drums, the peaceful Xijing looked like a giant waking up from sleep, stepping on the ground and making a loud noise that shook the sky.

The doors of all the squares on the side of the road were opened, and all kinds of people came out from inside.Some were petty officials rushing to the government office to order Mao, still holding pancakes and steamed buns that were too late to eat; some were rushing to the morning market to buy meat and vegetables. There was laughter; some were rushing to work in the shop, and they didn't know that the hats on their heads were crooked, and they were busy stuffing the extra clothes into them.

These people are not like the ghosts that Su Yan met in the mountains. Although they don't have a long lifespan and have to experience the pain of birth, old age, sickness and death, they live full of vigor, as if they have endless energy in their bodies, wishing to be ahead of the time. .

It was ordinary, but it made Su Yan envious.

To Su Yan's surprise, Pingkang Fang was different from other Fangs. It was quiet here, with only one or two voices occasionally heard.

"Get off the horse." Pei Jingxing said concisely, temporarily placed the horse beside Wuhou's shop in Pingkangfang, and led Su Yan into Pingkangfang.

There are many Fengyue Pavilions in Pingkangfang. Some wealthy gentry don't care about getting drunk here, and some ordinary people spend all the money they have worked so hard to save for most of their lives.It's just that these people either stayed here last night and didn't have time to get up; or they didn't come until the evening.

When Pei Jingxing and the others came, it happened to be the time when these brothels and Chu houses were at their worst.

They first went to see Mrs. Liu, who was still owed by Li Laodao for two meals of food and drinks. The still charming Mrs. Liu saw Pei Jingxing, who was wearing the armor of the Jinwu Guard, and her smiling face suddenly changed, and she complained: "Pei Street envoy, why are you here again?"

The guests in Pingkang Fang are not only wealthy gentry, but also many powerful people. Extra flattery is required.If there are too many Jinwu guards coming to the office, it will always affect my business, so the old bustard Liu naturally doesn't want to greet her with a smile.

Pei Jingxing didn't care about it, and asked her straight to the point: "The last time you saw Li Laodao, did he behave differently than usual?"

"No, no, I don't want to meet this man. He owed me two meals for food and drinks. He said he wanted to get rich a while ago, but now he's gone." The old bustard Liu said impatiently, shaking his fan, "One has no money. The stinky Taoist priest lived in Pingkangfang all day long by cheating people, how can I remember so clearly."

From the corner of her eye, Old Bustard Liu caught a glimpse of Su Yan, who was showing a half-sized figure behind Pei Jingxing, and moved two steps to the side. After seeing Su Yan's appearance clearly, she immediately smiled, "Hey, this little brother is so handsome! What do you call my brother, is it the first time you come to Pingkangfang, and you want to visit the market? Oh, then you really came to the right place! Don’t be afraid, if there is anything, just talk to me.”

As soon as Su Yantou came back to the brothel Chu Pavilion, he was already irritated by the smell of makeup and powder mixed with alcohol, and now he couldn't help it, and sneezed loudly.

Seeing Su Yan's aggrieved appearance, Pei Jingxing couldn't help pulling him behind him, and said, "He is not your guest. Mrs. Liu, since you know that Mr. Li has no money, why do you let him owe you money for food and drinks?" ?”

The person who mentioned it, the old bustard Liu just couldn't get angry, and shouted: "It's not the first time he took out a phoenix hairpin embedded with emeralds as a drink, I really thought he was rich, how could I think it was A flash in the pan."

Pei Jingxing keenly grasped the order of the old bustard Liu's words, and asked, "When did he first say that he wanted to be prosperous?"

Seeing Pei Jingxing's serious face, Old Bustard Liu didn't dare to be negligent, so she quickly restrained her expression, thought about it carefully for a while, and then replied: "It was about a month ago, when he came here to beg for drinks and was bombarded." When he went out, he yelled that he had already climbed the ranks of the nobles, so it would be better if we didn't flatter him now, it would be too late in the future. Pooh! I don't know how much he weighs, but he can still make a fortune , sows can climb trees!"

When distinguished guests come to the door on weekdays, when Old Bustard Liu is on the sidelines, people who don't know think she is some kind of noble wife, and seeing how she is now swearing at Li Laodao, it is really a different person.

More than half a month, about a month ago, put together the words of Feng and Liu, the two old bustards, then the time when Li Laodao hitched up with the so-called "noble man" and waited for his prosperity, at least 20 days ago.

It was nine days before Shangguan Yun introduced Li Laodao to General Shen Congjian of the Jinwu Guard. Li Laodao spent more than a day on the arrangement, and finally subdued the "half-faced ghost" seven days ago.

If Shangguan Yun is what Li Laodao called a "noble man", then there was at least eleven days' gap between when Shangguan Yun found Li Laodao and when Shangguan Yun introduced Li Laodao to Shen Congjian.

What did Li Laodao and Shangguan Yun do during these eleven days?

Pei Jingxing knew that it would be wrong for him to speculate without any evidence here, and the most urgent thing was to find Li Laodao as soon as possible.

"Did Li Laodao say who that noble man is?" Pei Jingxing stared at Old Bustard Liu and asked, "Have you seen any Hu merchants who have contacts with Li Laodao? Has anyone approached Li Laodao in the past two or three months?"

Old Bustard Liu shook his head again and again: "Although we also have Hu merchants here, most of them believe in Zoroastrianism. How can they listen to a poor old Taoist priest? One or two people took the initiative to chat with Li Laodao, but I can't say what they look like. Hey, Pei Jieshi, you said that I am paying attention to what a poor Taoist priest is doing!"

Seeing a potentially crucial clue flashing past in front of him, Pei Jingxing only felt that a pot of cold water was being poured on his head.

He was planning to change to another Fengyue Pavilion and inquire about the situation, but Su Yan, who had been silent all this time, suddenly asked, "Is the phoenix hairpin that Li Laodao gave you still there?"

"The phoenix hairpin, I'm worried that Mr. Li stole it, and sold it early in the morning." The old bustress Liu's attitude towards Su Yan was very pleasant, "Little brother, what kind of phoenix hairpin do you want? Go to my sister's room. Just pick it."

"I told you that he is not a guest." Pei Jingxing raised the dragon's head and tiger's tooth spear in his hand, and unceremoniously knocked a crack on the floor.

Old Bustard Liu yelled: "Mr. Pei, what are you doing with my floor!"

"Slippery." Pei Jingxing threw down two words without apology, and turned his head to reprimand Su Yan forcefully, "I told you to follow me, and I didn't let you talk."

"But I can find Li Laodao." Su Yan looked at Pei Jingxing and said firmly, "As long as there is one of his things, you can see people when you are alive, and you can see corpses when you are dead. If Li Laodao is really dead, I can still summon your soul."