Cloud of the Qing Dynasty

The weapon Fu Jinglei usually uses is a horse-cutting knife that is not easy to use in narrow places. Even the handle is more than five feet long. At this time, besides the knife, he is holding a four-foot-long He asked everyone else to retreat to a relatively safe distance, and erected the iron shield in front of him. The other iron guards also carried the same iron shield. A well-trained shield formed around him, with iron walls on the left, right, and top of his head, without gaps, almost completely blocked the entire passage.

The shield array moved forward step by step as a whole. Fu Jinglei, who was leading the way, stepped down hard on the step, and then shot some hidden arrows from around the passage and from the gaps in the bricks on the top, hitting the ground. There was a dense "clinking" sound like raindrops on the iron shield.

After all the hidden weapons were fired, the iron guard withdrew from the shield formation, and Jiang Shi beat around with his iron rod again, moving forward step by step carefully.

Fortunately, Qin Wuqi had considered in advance that there might be traps in this secret passage, otherwise just this one action alone would have caused countless unprepared people to fall here in vain.

While Jiang Shi and Fu Jinglei were carefully looking for traps ahead, the others followed from a safe distance away, chatting with each other to pass the time.

Zhang Chi, a young and unknown little man, found the entrance of this secret passage with his unique carefulness and insight, and all the people present admired him very much. Qin Wuqi also came to his side, and asked with an open-minded attitude: "Brother Zhang Chi, can you see any tricks in this secret path?"

Zhang Chi had no intention of showing off his talents in front of Qin Wuqi at all. He shook his hand and said, "Master Qin, please don't embarrass me. I just happened to find such an entrance by mistake. It's not just going anywhere. A man of God who can see what's going on at a glance."

Qin Wuqi smiled: "Brother Zhang Chi, why should you be so modest? Only you are so careful, you can find out the details that are ignored by everyone else, and maybe you can play a key role in the eradication of the Red Lotus Sect." Its role is also unknown. I wonder if Brother Zhang Chi is willing to join the Martial Arts League as an individual, and join us in fighting against evil cults and monsters?"

Although the reasons for his actions are different, there is no doubt that Zhang Chi also hopes to eradicate the Red Lotus Sect, which is a cancerous existence for the court, the people, and the world. He thought for a moment and clicked The head: "It's rare for the owner of the Qin Dynasty to like a small person like me. Of course, I am obliged to do my best to safeguard the justice of the martial arts."

"Great, this will give the Martial Arts Alliance another big boost." Qin Wuqi smiled heartily, "Then, what do brothers Zhang Chi think about all this right now, why don't you share it with everyone?"

Zhang Chi said shyly, "Actually, my knowledge is limited. I think Zhuangzhu Qin has already thought of everything I can think of."

Qin Wuqi shook his head: "Even if a wise man thinks a lot, it is inevitable that there will be mistakes. Besides, Qin is far less careful than Brother Zhang Chi. Brother Zhang Chi may as well say whatever comes to mind. Only by working together can we do everything in detail, so as not to inadvertently What important clues have been missed."

He acted so sincerely, Zhang Chi was embarrassed to hide his clumsiness any more, and he admired this man's demeanor in his heart. Qin Wuqi, as one of the most powerful forces in the rivers and lakes - the owner of Jinghong Villa, never gave people any respect. The feeling of arrogance, on the contrary, seems so approachable at all times, making people get along like a spring breeze, unknowingly treating him as one of their own.

Zhang Chi also has a feeling that Qin Wuqi is a master at being clumsy, even if he thinks of something, he hides it in his stomach and doesn't show it off, but pushes Zhang Chi, an insignificant person, to the front of the stage to show off, keeping a low profile One's own sharpness, so as not to stimulate the sensitive nerves of other sects.To gather such a group of martial arts comrades who are desperate for face, love comparisons and fights, and no one wants to be inferior to others, and work towards the same goal, there is indeed no more suitable candidate than Qin Wuqi.

People from the surrounding nine sects also looked at Zhang Chi, waiting to hear what he would say. Zhang Chi paused before saying: "What is certain at the moment is that the Red Lotus Sect sneaked into Jinghong through this secret path. Villa, but this secret path was not dug out by the Red Lotus Sect."

This is a natural reasoning for people like Zhang Chi and Qin Wuqi who are well-informed and quick-witted, but not everyone is so smart, a person from the Snow Mountain School asked: "How do you know they didn't dig it? "

"Look at these lampstands." Zhang Chi reached out and touched the iron lampstands on the wall, letting everyone see the rust on his fingers. There are such lampstands every ten feet in the passage, but the lamp oil has long Dry, he clapped his hands and said: "These lampstands have been decayed to such an extent that they must have a history of at least 70 to [-] years, but the Red Lotus Sect has only been established for more than [-] years. And the project of this secret path It is so big that it is impossible to completely hide it from the eyes and ears of Jinghong Villa, and it will be carried out quietly in the dark, coupled with the entrance that is cleverly hidden in the well, I think the most likely conclusion is that this secret passage is a secret passage. The escape passage was built at the beginning of the construction of Jinghong Villa. Many palaces or manors have such a design. With this secret passage, even if the villa is completely surrounded, the important people in the villa can escape from the secret passage quietly. The trap here must have been originally set up to stop the pursuers."

Qin Wuqi nodded: "I think so too, but I don't understand, if it was really built by Uncle or Grandpa, why Uncle never told me, but let it be used by the evildoers of the Red Lotus Sect, almost causing serious damage s consequence."

Master Huiming, who was the oldest present at the scene, said: "The poor monk once heard that Mr. Ye Lao, the first owner of Jinghong Villa, died in an assassination. It is unknown if the secret is told to future generations.”

"It's very possible, so this secret passage has been abandoned like this." Zhang Chi pointed to a pile of broken bricks that had fallen from the wall and said, "Look, this secret passage has obviously been left unattended for a long time, otherwise It wouldn't be so dilapidated. Until recently, the Red Lotus Sect somehow discovered this secret passage, and after a simple dredging, it took advantage of it. The sound that Qingwan heard at night that looked like a mouse, I guess it is the sound made by the people of the Red Lotus Sect when they are active in the secret passage."

A member of Tiejianmen said: "It's no wonder that the young leader of the Red Lotus Sect suddenly appeared at the martial arts competition. I thought it was a spy of the Red Lotus Sect in Jinghong Villa."

Master Miaoyin of the Emei School said: "But this still doesn't make sense. The well mouth is so small, and this passage is also very narrow. How could the sedan chair that Wei Fantian was riding on that day be carried through this secret passage?"

Zhang Chi said: "This is not surprising. As long as it is disassembled into parts and shipped there, and then assembled in a corner of the back mountain where there is no one, it can create such a shocking appearance effect."

***

While they were walking and talking, Jiang Shi and Xu Changge, who were still exploring the way ahead, had already explored far away. During this period, they found several traps, and they removed those that could be removed, and those that could not be removed. Obvious marks, let the people behind pay attention not to be tricked.

In the beginning, all sides of the passage were paved with masonry, and the soft soil was exposed where the masonry collapsed. It was easy to hide hidden weapons in the gaps between the dark masonry. Later, the passage and steps became completely different. Although the chisel was not so regular and beautiful, it made the work of detecting traps very simple and fast.

Some people began to pass Zhang Chi and the others and went forward first. When Mu Liuyun also walked past him, Zhang Chi followed without hesitation: "Liuyun, are you tired? I didn't see you talking."

Mu Liuyun shook his head and said without emotion: "I'm just thinking about something."

"Oh, what are you thinking?" Zhang Chi didn't want to be the focus of the crowd all the time, so he followed him shamelessly with a smile.

Mu Liuyun turned his head and looked at the way he came and went: "We have come down so deep, we should be at the bottom of the lake now."

"Isn't it? At first I thought that this secret passage only led to the outside of the villa. Now it seems that this secret passage may have passed through the bottom of Dongting Lake, and the exit must be at least somewhere by the lake. Yes. Although the pontoon bridge leading from the lakeside wharf to Jinghong Mountain Villa does not seem very long, but to dig such a length under the deep lake, the amount of work and courage is really..." Zhang Chi said Before they finished speaking, Jiang Shi and Fu Jinglei, who were exploring the way ahead, stopped, and they had reached the end of the passage.