I am aging gracefully in the world of famous books

On the fifth day of September, Thunderbolt Hall Green Water Villa.

Pei Xiang was studying the acupuncture points of the human body when he suddenly heard someone knocking on the door.

"Miss Li?"

"Morning, Miss Gu, hey, let me call you Shuangqing, you can call me Xiaoru."

Pei Xiang nodded: "Xiao Ru, why did you come here so early?"

"Shuang Qing, let's go to the lake now. According to Lei Rou, Hall Master Lei will come out of Xuanji Pavilion this morning."

"Didn't Master Lei just invite a few seniors to come over to take care of him? What are we going to do?"

Li Ru blinked mischievously, took Pei Xiang's hand and led her out:

"Hall Master Lei invited those heroes and martial arts seniors to join the guardians, but he didn't say that we would not let us enthusiastic and promising young heroes go to help out. Let's go, Shuangqing, let's go and have a look, the imperial envoy and Ouchi guard said. Maybe they’re all here, let’s get to know the people.”

Pei Xiang followed Li Ru out of the small courtyard, and found that almost all the Emei disciples had come out, all looking very excited.

Going a little further, they met many acquaintances.

She counted the names in her heart, and found that almost all the young guests staying in this villa showed up.

——However, he did not meet Mei Xuean.

When he was approaching the lake, Pei Xiang saw Chu Peipei standing alone in front of the steps near the water pavilion, as if waiting for someone.

When she and Li Ru walked in, Chu Pei'e frowned slightly, and asked impatiently:

"Hey, Li Ru, Gu Shuangqing, did you two see Xiaorou on the way here?"

Li Ru rolled his eyes, and also replied impatiently:

"Isn't Miss Lei always inseparable from you? You didn't even see her, so ask me what Shuangqing and I are doing?"

Pei Xiang shook his head: "We came from the direction of the guest house, and we didn't meet Lei's family along the way."

Chu Peipei nodded, and she thanked Pei Xiang. Although her tone was harsh, she was not rude.

After the two parties separated, Li Ru complained a few words about Chu Peipei's attitude and tone in a low voice, saying that even when she thanked her, she was condescending and condescending.

Pei Xiang looked at Li Ru calmly, and instead of agreeing with her, he smiled and asked about the scenery on Mount Emei.

This female heroine of Emei has always shown a sharp temper. When she heard a new topic, she immediately put aside her previous dissatisfaction and complaints, and began to describe the scenery on Mount Emei vividly.

Pei Xiang listened very carefully, and occasionally asked about the specific appearance of some animals and plants, the clouds, rain and snow in the mountains, and the color changes in the morning and evening.Anyway, everyone knows that she is good at painting, and it is normal to be interested in the beauty of mountains and forests.

After Li Ru said something, he stopped answering Pei Xiang's questions in detail, and instead started talking about the hard work of practicing swords.

She made gestures and gestures, and she still didn't forget to turn her head and express emotion to the brothers and sisters beside her:

"If it weren't for Shuangqing's problems, I wouldn't have realized that I missed so many beautiful details. When I return to the sect, I must fully enjoy the scenery that I had neglected before."

Li Ru smiled sweetly and cheerfully, and Pei Xiang followed her smile and talked about the boring and hard work of practicing swords.

A group of people talked and laughed and came to the lake, and suddenly stopped talking at the same time.

Because everyone discovered that Dugu Yihe from the Emei Sect, Mu Taoist from Wudang, Master Jingci from Shaolin, Shanxi Yan from the "Guanzhong Hero", the head of Yanyun Wudao, Tang Jianqi from the Tang Sect, and Tie from the Tianmen Sword Sect. Mr. Qin has already appeared on the shore.

These well-known figures were either standing or sitting, paying attention to the movement of Xuanji Pavilion in the lake.

The young heroes all refrained from playing and laughing, and greeted the senior heroes one after another.

Shanxi Yan has always been free and unrestrained. Before going out in the morning, he did not forget to bring a jar of old Fen wine with him. He also likes to chat with young people.So, he took a sip of wine, said a few words, and took another sip of wine. After a while, the tense and solemn atmosphere gradually relaxed.

At this time, Chu Peipei walked up to Sima Ziyi and Nan Gongyu and asked if they had seen Lei Rou.

Both shook their heads.

Chu Peipei said strangely: "I made an appointment with her. I will come out to meet earlier today, and then go to the guest house to find and find everyone. But I waited for a long time, and everyone came out, but she did not show up. .”

"Would Leirou be delayed by something? Didn't you always procrastinate before, planning to go out in the morning, and it would be nice to be able to ride a horse and go out at noon. Maybe...Lei Rou found that the skirt didn't look good before going out, or If the jewelry doesn’t suit you, go back and redress yourself.”

"If that's the case, Xiaorou will definitely ask the maid to come and tell me," Chu Peipei glanced at Nangong Yu angrily, her tone was a little lonely, "Besides, she didn't go to see Brother Sima this morning, she doesn't need to dress up specially of."

"If you don't go to Brother Sima, who are you going to go to?" Nangong Yu asked knowingly.

Chu Peipei said in embarrassment under the teasing eyes of her cousin: "No one will look for you."

Pei Xiang stood not far from them, observing the people on the shore, and at the same time paying attention to the conversation of Chu Peipei and the others.

At this time, Lei Ning, the second lady of the Lei family, came gracefully, carrying a rich fragrance of flowers.

Pei Xiang subconsciously took a few more glances at Lei Ning's hairpin and skirt, and found that she was dressed very carefully today.

As soon as Lei Ning arrived, he joined the conversation with Nan Gongyu and others.

"Sister Peipei, my father is about to come out of Xuanji Pavilion, haven't you found my sister yet?"

Chu Peipei has always stood on the same side as Lei Rou, so she didn't look good towards Lei Ning. She snorted coldly and said mockingly:

"You are her younger sister. You don't even know where your own older sister is. Instead, you ask me. How ridiculous! You pretend to be so virtuous and gentle on weekdays, but it's actually the most hypocritical."

Lei Ning's cheeks flushed slightly with anger.

Nangong Yu frowned dissatisfied: "Cousin, you shouldn't blame Lei Ning, she also has good intentions."

Chu Peipei stomped her feet, and was about to refute when she heard a loud rumbling noise from the lake...

Lei Jinying, the hall master of the Thunderbolt Hall, finally came out safely from the Xuanji Pavilion.

On the surface of the blue lake, Lei Jinying's robes fluttered, and he stepped on the water. He laughed loudly, sounding very angry.

"Brother Lei, is everything going well?"

"Naturally, it will go well, hahaha!"

Before Lei Jinying could finish speaking, the person had already stepped on the solid ground.He held a narrow, long and flat golden nanmu box in both hands, and held it up high, signaling to everyone present.

"Lei Zhenzi's production blueprint has been taken out and is intact. Before the imperial envoy arrives, I hope that all martial arts comrades will help and protect us, so that people with ulterior motives will not be able to take advantage of it."

All the people present nodded in agreement, their eyes were piercing and chivalrous.

At this time, an old man with a round face paced out from the corner.He was wearing a white-washed blue cloth robe, with a chubby figure and gray hair. He looked like the most common and kind old man in the village.

However, no one present would underestimate him.

Because from the beginning to the end, many people have not discovered his existence.

"Master Lu, thank you!" Lei Jinying saluted the old man.

This "Master Lu" immediately identified the old man's identity.

In the rivers and lakes, there is no one other than the world-famous mechanism master who can be respectfully called "Master Lu" by the master of Thunderbolt Hall.

Master Lu also held a wooden box in his hand, it was dark brown and looked very inconspicuous.

"Hall Master Lei, I have already made this self-destructable mechanism wooden box according to the contract. Just put Lei Zhenzi's blueprint into the box, and then fasten the cold iron nine-ring lock on it. No one can unlock it except the right key."

"Master Lu took the trouble, Lei is very grateful."

"Hallmaster Lei doesn't need to thank me so much, you pay, I will handle the matter, and the deal is fair."

Master Lu opened the brown wooden box himself: "Master Lei, put the blueprint in now?"

Lei Jinying hesitated for a moment: "Wait a little longer, when the imperial envoy arrives, we will replace the box in front of the envoy and Ouchi's guards."

Master Lu nodded and didn't say much.

There was no sound on the shore, and everyone present was very curious. They looked at the wooden box in Master Lu's hand, but no one doubted what Master Lu said before.

As a world-renowned mechanism master and successor of Luban Patriarch, Master Lu has proved his mechanism skills with many of his works.All the words he said and the functions he described, no matter how miraculous, were all fulfilled one by one.

"It can only be opened with the only key?"

"Yes, other methods will destroy this wooden box, and destroy the drawings inside."

"The key is in..."

Master Lu chuckled, but didn't answer, and the person who asked the question shut up embarrassingly.

The atmosphere was tense and awkward, and a gray pigeon broke into everyone's sight.

Lei Jinying's eyes flashed, and he motioned for the housekeeper to remove the summons note from the carrier pigeon's leg.

"Hall Master..." The housekeeper quickly scanned the contents of the note, his face changed slightly.

After reading the contents of the note, Lei Jinying's expression also sank.

After a while, he explained to everyone: "Just now, the special envoy of the imperial court was delayed on the road. They can't arrive at my martyrdom on time this morning, and they will be about half a day late."

Taoist Mu's face was serious: "The matter of escorting the blueprints of firearms is so important, so that there will be no mistakes. Now, the imperial court has suddenly delayed the schedule for half a day. Is there a specific reason?"

Lei Jinying said: "There is no specific details in the note, it only says that he was attacked and ambushed."

Attacked, ambushed?

Those six words made everyone realize that the calm in Lushui Villa is just an illusion, and in fact, there have been various forces secretly competing for a long time.

Nothing major happened before, probably because the blueprints were still hidden in the Xuanji Pavilion, so the thieves did not dare to act rashly.Now that the blueprint has left Xuanji Pavilion, lost all layers of protection, and has not been handed over to the Ouchi guards in time, it seems that the conspiracy is about to rise.

Shanxi Yan immediately looked at Lei Jinying and Master Lu, and said seriously:

"In my opinion, it's better to put the blueprint into Master Lu's mechanism box as soon as possible. As long as the key is protected, the blueprint will not be missed by thieves. Even if it is stolen, it's no big deal, and it can't be opened anyway. .”

Dugu Yihe nodded slightly, he fully agreed with the opinion of this Guanzhong hero, but he thought more carefully, so he didn't speak.

The Thunderbolt Hall’s contribution to the production of the firearm Lei Zhenzi, on the one hand, is loyal to the emperor and patriotism, and on the other hand, it may not be without the purpose of showing the Thunderbolt Hall’s prestige to fellow martial artists.

Otherwise, they don't need to act with such fanfare, they just need to invite a few top-notch experts to support the formation in a low-key manner.Why let a group of young and energetic young heroes participate and watch the whole process.

In the final analysis, isn't it just to let these young people who often walk around the rivers and lakes see the magnificence of the Thunderbolt Hall, so that they can do their best to promote the reputation of the Thunderbolt Hall?Or, Lei Jinying's move is to pave the way for the new generation of disciples of Thunder Mart Hall.

Dugu Yihe's thoughts are not far from Lei Jinying's previous plan.

At this moment, the head of the Lei family, who had been cautious and shrewd for most of his life, quickly made a choice, and he decided to do his best to keep the drawings safe.

——As for managing fame and expanding momentum... There will be opportunities in the future.

So, in front of everyone, Lei Jinying put the confidential drawings he took out from the Xuanji Pavilion into Master Lu's mechanism box, and then very solemnly closed the cold iron nine-ring lock on one side of the box.

With just a "click", the brown mechanism box closed, and it became completely seamless again.

Lei Jinying sighed lightly, hugged the mechanism box tightly, and then gave a very formal salute to Taoist Mu and the others.

"From now on, I will stay in the Hall of Renyi and guard this wooden box personally, and I ask you to protect me to prevent people from overtly stealing it."

Master Jingci chanted a Buddha, and walked to Lei Jinying's left first, followed by Taoist Mu, protecting Lei Jinying's right rear.

Immediately afterwards, Dugu Yihe, Mr. Tieqin and others also surrounded Lei Jinying and escorted him all the way to the Hall of Renyi in Lushui Villa.

"Lord Lei, we will stop here, you can go to the hall to rest alone."

"Master Jingci, Lei believes in you."

Master Shaolin shook his head: "Lord Lei, we will not enter the Hall of Renyi, and only protect you and the drawings in the outer courtyard. This arrangement is the most appropriate."

Tang Jianqi from the Tang Sect waved his fan and said with a smile: "That's how it should be. It's a breezy autumn, and I prefer to bask in the sun in the yard. It's too boring to be in the house, and I don't know when the imperial troops will arrive. I don't want to be here. Sit in the living room."

Dugu Yihe and the others also chose not to enter the Hall of Renyi. After all, the melon fields and plums are under the sun, and the suspicion is difficult to distinguish.

In case the blueprint is stolen in the Hall of Renyi, the person closest to the blueprint will definitely be suspected.It's better for everyone to stay in the outer court, supervise each other and cooperate with each other, so as to prevent the thieves from approaching the Hall of Renyi, and also prove each other's innocence.

Lei Jinying also understood the concerns of Master Jingci and others, so he didn't try to persuade him any further, and walked into the Hall of Renyi with the mechanism box alone.

Pei Xiang and the others did not return to their residence either.

The mountains and rains are about to come, and the wind is all over the building, and the people in the rivers and lakes pay attention to their righteousness and thin clouds. At this critical moment, how can they be lazy and retreat, or stand by indifferently?Everyone found a space for themselves one after another, and silently assumed the responsibility of peripheral protection.

Not only that, but some people planned to escort the drawings all the way into the capital. Even if those big inner guards were not easy to get along with, they would not leave in anger.

As the sun rose higher and higher, Pei Xiang was a little thirsty. At this moment, a quiet scent of tea wafted to her nose.

Following the scent of tea, Pei Xiang saw the second lady, Lei Ning, coming from the inner courtyard with a group of disciples from Thunder Martial Hall. Each of them carried a big food box and a big teapot in their hands.

"Everyone, the herbal tea and snacks are ready. I ordered someone to put them on the stone table. If anyone needs them, you can take them yourself."

After Lei Ning finished speaking, he bowed to Mu Taoist and the others, and said nothing more, but walked to the door of Renyi Hall with a food box in person.

"Father, can I go in? Grandma asked me to bring you breakfast and tea. You have worked hard all night, and then you have to concentrate on guarding the mechanism box and eat more."

Lei Jinying was indeed hungry, and the food and tea were brought by his daughter herself, so she raised her voice, "Come in."

Lei Ning entered in response.

Outside the Hall of Renyi, the elders of Tangmen and Master Jingci nodded to everyone after inspecting the tea and food. Everyone knew that there was no problem with these things, so they showed relaxed expressions and took them one after another.

While eating happily, a maid came running over stumbling.

"It's not good, it's not good, hall master, the eldest lady was killed!"

Miss?

Pei Xiang thought of Lei Rou who had never appeared, and his heart sank.

A disciple of the Lei family stepped forward to stop the tear-stained maid:

"You are the green bamboo next to the eldest lady? What do you think is wrong with the eldest lady?"

"You asked me to meet the Hall Master! Eldest Miss, Eldest Miss, she was killed, just over there in the flower garden..."

"What did you say!" A violent shout sounded from the Hall of Renyi, and Lei Jinying rushed to Cui Zhu, the servant girl, with a pale face, "What did you say? Who died?"

"Hall Master, Hall Master, something happened to Miss!" Seeing Lei Jinying, Cui Zhu burst into tears and said out of breath, "Hall Master, it's over there in the flower garden, Miss... Mother Zhao and the others are all over there, the young lady has been murdered, hall master, the young lady has been murdered!"

As soon as Lei Jinying pushed away the weeping maid, she wanted to rush to the flower garden.

However, when his figure approached the gate of the outer courtyard, he suddenly froze.

The courtyard was so quiet that everyone was staring at this poor man who had just heard the bad news.

At this time, he should use his lightness kung fu and rush to the flower garden, he should see if what the servant girl Cui Zhu said is true, he should go see his eldest daughter.

However, Lei Jinying, who always moves like the wind, did not move, as if he was fixed at the gate of the courtyard, and he was only one step away from stepping over the low threshold.

After a while, Lei Jinying's hoarse voice sounded in the courtyard: "Master Jingci, Nephew Sima, please both of you go and check the situation... If, if it is true, please ask someone to bring Rou'er here, I, I Look at her here..."

Master Jingci read a few scriptures in a low voice, and left with Sima Ziyi.

Taoist Mu persuaded: "Brother Lei, go out and have a look, we are here."

Lei Jinying shook his head with difficulty.

He clenched his fists, turned around abruptly, and walked towards the door of Renyi Hall step by step.With every step, a square of bluestone bricks is crushed.

"Comrades, please protect the Hall of Renyi with all your heart...don't just ignore the box just because of Lei's family affairs, that is a major matter for the court!"

"Hall Master Lei, don't worry, I won't fall for the thief's despicable tricks."

Lei Jinying forced the corners of his mouth to curl up. He probably wanted to smile, but he couldn't make such a simple expression today. He raised his head and walked all the way to the door of Renyi Hall.

Lei Ning stumbled out of the house, his tone trembling:

"Father, just now, just now, was Cuizhu talking nonsense?"

Lei Jinying looked at the terrified and worried second daughter, and closed her eyes fiercely.

Lei Ning took a deep breath, and suddenly smiled: "Is my sister joking? She, she didn't come this morning, she must be trying to scare us... Yes, she must be trying to scare us. My sister has been bullying since she was a child." Me, always scare me, this time too..."

After talking about it, Lei Ning almost muttered to himself, she turned around and walked slowly back into the house:

"I don't believe it, I won't be cheated again... It must be fake, Lei Rou is the most annoying, she must be hiding in the corner watching me, yes, that's it, I can't panic, I Don't let her watch jokes!"

Lei Ning is completely unwilling to admit the bad news brought by Cuizhu, and Lei Jinying is also unwilling to believe it.However, Master Jingci and Sima Ziyi who returned to Renyi Hall broke the happiness of Lei's father and daughter.

"Lord Lei, please mourn!"

"Uncle Lei, Lei Rou...she was indeed killed in the flower garden..."

Lei Jinying, who has experienced many storms in his life, has a stiff expression.

Sadness and anger made his eyes flush, and his voice almost came out of his throat.

"She, how was she killed? Who is the murderer?"

Master Jingci sighed: "Benefactor Lei, benefactor Lei Rou should have been killed by a sword piercing his chest, and she was outside."

Lei Jinying had tears in his eyes: "Let, let Rou'er come in, I, a father, will see her."

Leirou's body was carried in by the disciples of Thunder Martial Hall. Her body was covered with a piece of white silk, and the silk was stained with blood.

Lei Jinying moved to the corpse step by step, his shoulders trembled slightly, and his back was slightly bent.He hesitated for a while, and finally raised his hand to uncover the white silk, with firm but slow movements.

"Rou'er—"

This mournful call was like the desolate and low-pitched cry of an old goose, heartbroken.

After a while, Lei Jinying staggered to his feet.

"Master, Nephew Sima, are there any clues left by the murderer at the scene?"

"Amitabha, Master Lei, Lao Na and Shaoxia Sima didn't find any more clues. However, there is a flower pattern drawn with blood by the hand of Master Lei Rou."

Lei Jinying's voice was cold: "What kind of flowers? But they were left by Rou'er before his death?"

"This... the old monk is not sure. However, there are indeed dried blood and mud on the fingers of the female benefactor Lei Rou, which matches the pattern on the ground."

Sima Ziyi took a step forward and handed Lei Jinying a blank piece of paper: "Uncle, this is the shape of that flower, I copied it."

Lei Jinying and the people nearby all looked at the white paper, only to see a blood-stained five-petaled flower pattern outlined on it.

"This is?"

"This is plum blossom!" Lei Ning came out of the house, looking at the pattern on the rice paper with tears in his eyes.

"Second Miss, are you sure?"

"I'm sure, when my sister draws plum blossoms, she will put a little bit on each petal. This is her habit for many years."