Cloud of the Qing Dynasty

"Yeah, I can't tell when you will come back, but they said they still have something to do, and they left you a letter." The innkeeper took out a letter from the counter and handed it to Mu Liuyun.

Mu Liuyun shook open the letter paper and saw that it said: "Respectfully, Master Tianxuan, we happened to be doing business nearby recently. We are saddened to hear this sad news. However, the climate here is hot and humid, and I fear that the corpse will not be kept for a long time. Waiting to escort the body of the same family back to the mountain first, and report to the master to dispose of it. I wish my uncle a smooth trip, find the murderer as soon as possible to avenge the same family, and attach a bank note of one hundred taels for the uncle to spend along the way. —— Junior Yi Yours sincerely."

Mu Liuyun silently put away the letter paper and bank notes, full of helplessness.

Not everyone is careful enough in doing things. Perhaps in the eyes of many disciples, Mu Liuyun is their uncle, a mature elder with a stable personality, and one of the best masters in the sect. It is a matter of course to be alone, but no one I remembered that he had never gone down the mountain alone, and he had no experience in the world.

Zhang Chi also sneaked a few glances at the letter paper, read the general meaning, and even comforted him at this time: "Don't be depressed, there is still me, don't say you are my savior, even if it's just to clear myself of suspicion, I will also do my best to help you track down the murderer."

Mu Liuyun was speechless. Seeing that he was not in a good mood, Zhang Chi said, "Why don't we eat first, we will feel better when we are full."

Mu Liuyun nodded, and Zhang Chi ordered two dishes with the innkeeper, and then asked Mu Liuyun, "Can you eat meat?"

"I'm not a monk. People who practice Taoism don't have so many taboos."

"That's good, let's have a plate of braised pork and kill a chicken."

Mu Liuyun sat down at the table without saying a word, but Zhang Chi seemed to be very interested. He picked up the coarse tea that the inn greeted and poured Mu Liuyun a cup first: "So you are really the junior of the Seventh Master of the Shangqing, I thought Daoist Priest Yichen was joking, but... how do you pronounce that word, Tianfang?"

"Tianxuan." Mu Liuyun said lightly.

Zhang Chi faintly felt that Mu Liuyun's attitude towards him was no longer as cold and rigid as before, so he took advantage of the situation and asked, "It's really strange to say that, most sects can't wait to beat gongs and drums to let the whole world know how many masters they have. It’s so annoying, but I’ve never heard of your name in the Jianghu. I remember that the master of Daoist Tian Xing has passed away for many years, and there was only one Master Xuan in the previous generation. Are you the disciple of Master Xuan? ?”

Mu Liuyun nodded.

"No wonder, it is rumored that Taoist Xuan has been living in seclusion at the back of Huashan Mountain, and doesn't have much contact with people in the sect. You must not be very close to them. Why did you come down the mountain with the same sect this time?"

Mu Liuyun didn't answer, but instead asked Zhang Chi, "What's your plan next?"

Seeing that Mu Liuyun didn't want to continue on this topic, Zhang Chi shut his mouth tactfully. Anyway, there are still opportunities to understand his savior. Zhang Chi rubbed his chin and thought: "First...you have to change your clothes."

"That's natural." Mu Liuyun looked down at his body, and brushed off the dust on his sleeves.When he was in Shangqing Palace, he had to bathe and change clothes every day.

"No, I don't mean this." Zhang Chi said dumbfoundedly, "You also know that the Seven Sons of the Shangqing are well-known in the world, even in remote places in Miaojiang, they have heard of the great reputation of the Shangqing Palace, and your appearance like this will definitely make them feel better." Be alert, you have to feel wronged and dress more ordinary."

Mu Liuyun nodded: "And then?"

"Then we have to buy some dry food that can be stored for a long time."

"Dry food?...Where are you going?" Mu Liuyun was puzzled.

"Wugu Village." Zhang Chi took a sip of thick tea, "Listen to me and tell you slowly, this Miaojiang's Gu poison technique is very powerful, and people are often tricked without anyone noticing, not only can Like poison, it can make people die, it can even control the behavior of the voodoo victim, so that people can't help themselves, and can only obediently obey the orders of the voodoo victim, it is much more terrifying than poison..."

"I know this, but what does this have to do with buying dry food?" Mu Liuyun didn't want to listen to his nonsense, and urged him to get to the point.

"Prevent being bewitched by others. People who don't understand always tell how miraculous Miao Jiang's poisonous poisoning technique is. In fact, as long as you keep in mind one thing, no matter how powerful the Miao people are, they can't do anything about it. That is 'Gu enters from the mouth' When you arrive at Wuguzhai, don’t eat anything other than the dry food you brought. The water must be boiled before drinking, and don’t let the water leave your sight before it cools down, so that others won’t have it. Any chance for us to play Gu."

"Yeah." Mu Liuyun listened humbly, this was knowledge he had never been exposed to before, "Is that all?"

"Then I still have to see if I can repair my gun. It's better to go with bare hands. Although this trip is not for fighting, but people in the rivers and lakes who don't have weapons with them will inevitably be despised."

The culprit who cut off his weapon nodded understandingly, without any expression of guilt or embarrassment.

***

There is a small stall at the entrance of the village that sells naan bread to pedestrians and merchants passing by. This kind of dry food is as hard as a stone. Although it is not very delicious, it is better than ten days.

Zhang Chi packed a thick stack in a bag, and motioned for Mu Liuyun to give the money, and Mu Liuyun took out a silver coin and handed it to the stall owner.

The old man who was the owner of the stall stared dumbfounded at this handsome Taoist priest with aloof aloofness, who seemed to be out of this world: "Guest officer...you...are you kidding me?"

"Isn't that enough?" Mu Liuyun reached into the purse again.

"...My God." Zhang Chi asked the sky speechlessly, and took over the heavy money bag. This is the silver taels that the dead Yi Chenzi originally carried. There are dozens of taels of broken silver and some scattered copper coins. , Zhang Chi took out, counted out a dozen copper coins and gave them to the stall owner.

Mu Liuyun looked at Zhang Chi silently, and Zhang Chi returned the money bag to him without a word: "Have you never spent any money? Buying a few cakes for ten taels of silver, how can you find someone to start a small business?"

"...I haven't spent it before." Mu Liuyun said without expression.

Zhang Chi rested his forehead with a headache and sighed: "Okay, who hasn't had the first time, I'll help you manage the money during this time, I can't let my savior be blackmailed by profiteers."

Mu Liuyun was noncommittal, but silently threw the purse to Zhang Chi again, determined to do nothing but fight as before.

Zhang Chi also vaguely understood that Mu Liuyun gave him a full ten taels of silver back then, not because he was too generous, but because he had no idea about money at all.

But no matter what, the kindness of saving lives is the kindness of saving lives, and Zhang Chi has no intention of repaying the kindness, but trying his best to plan how to get news from the xenophobic Miao people.

***

Soon he had an idea, asked Mu Liuyun for the 100 taels of silver, and went back to the inn to exchange all the silver with the boss.

"Why do you want to change it to taels of silver?" Mu Liuyun asked puzzled, wouldn't it be cumbersome to carry more than ten catties of silver on him?

"Most people in Miaojiang don't recognize banknotes, they only want cash." Zhang Chi played with a shiny silver ingot and smiled sinisterly.

"What are you going to buy from them?"

"It's not for buying, this money is for greedy them." Zhang Chi smiled and said, "You will know when the time comes."

Mu Liuyun looked at him inexplicably, but was dragged by Zhang Chi to the tailor shop. This kind of place where people come and go usually sells ready-made clothes. Mu Liuyun is quite tall, with broad shoulders and thin waist, wearing the most ordinary clothes. The short and stunned coarse cloth was worn by him to give the effect of a jade tree facing the wind, which made Zhang Chi envious.

Then they went to the only blacksmith shop in the village. The blacksmith took Zhang Chi's severed iron gun and shook his head loudly, "No, this gun barrel can't be repaired. Even if I connect it for you, if it is too strong, it will still It will be disconnected from the interface. Either you remove the gun head, go to the village to find a carpenter, and let him make you a willow gun barrel."

"I'm not used to wooden spears, so get me a knife," Zhang Chi said.

The blacksmith took out the knives in the shop for him to choose, and Mu Liuyun asked suspiciously, "Don't you use a gun?"

In his opinion, it was completely incomprehensible to change the weapons that were in his hand, but Zhang Chi said indifferently: "Actually, I know a little bit of knives, guns, swords, halberds, axes, hooks and forks... It's just that guns make it easier."

Mu Liuyun shook his head: "You are so distracted and multitasking, I'm afraid it's hard to improve your martial arts."

Zhang Chi smiled: "Not everyone is so lucky. They have been taught by a master since childhood."

Mu Liuyun fell silent, remembering that Zhang Chi lived in a ruined temple more than ten years ago, and had no money for medical treatment when he was sick.

Zhang Chi chose a knife that was in his hand, and suddenly remembered to say to Mu Liuyun: "By the way, take out your sword and sharpen it too, you chopped off my gun, there should be a gap in the sword, okay The sword must be well maintained."

Mu Liuyun handed the sword to the blacksmith according to his words, and the blacksmith drew the sword out of its sheath, only to hear the sound of gold and iron like a dragon's chant, the sword's body was cold and radiant, and the word "Zhishui" was engraved near the hilt.

"It's really a good sword." The blacksmith sighed in admiration, put his finger on the edge and stroked it carefully, and found a curling edge that was almost invisible. He looked at Zhang Chi's broken spear again, shook his head and said , "It's a pity, even if it is a sword that sells iron like mud, it can't really be used to cut iron."

Mu Liuyun looked at the blacksmith in bewilderment, he really couldn't understand the mentality of these mundane people, if it wasn't his sword, why would he love it?

The blacksmith fondled the sword body fondly and said, "How can such a fine sword be tossed with the coarse whetstone used to sharpen kitchen knives? I'll get the best whetstone."

The blacksmith began to concentrate on polishing Mu Liuyun's sword. Zhang Chi was idle anyway, and unlike Mu Liuyun who couldn't stand being bored, he went to get the bow hanging on the wall and tried it out.

"Little brother, have you ever stayed in the army?" The blacksmith asked casually, seeing how he drew his bow.

"Well, yes." Zhang Chi drew his hard bow to full capacity at once, and he can use an iron spear as a weapon, so his arm strength is naturally not small.

"Where is the army?" asked the blacksmith.

"Northwest Army."

"Northwest Army?" The blacksmith's ears pricked up, "You are from the Iron Wolf Army, right? Have you ever seen the famous Iron Wolf Cavalry?"