Outside the small courtyard, Wu Gen tiptoed forward. Before he reached the entrance of the courtyard, he heard a voice coming from inside, "I'll come back in seven days. I just hope you don't make me run away again. Stay here, there's no need to see you off." The sound of footsteps Come towards the courtyard gate.
Wu Gen quickly turned around and ran along the alley for dozens of steps. Then he turned back, calmed his breathing, and pretended to be passing by.
A man came out from the gate of the courtyard. This man had a pale complexion and a tall figure. He was dressed in black and walked toward Wu Gen.
The two of them got closer and closer, looking at each other, but without saying a word, they passed by each other. After walking five or six steps, Wu Gen secretly looked back and peeked. As the man's sleeves swayed, a crow tattoo was faintly revealed on his arm.
As if aware of Wu Gen's eyes, the man's steps hesitated slightly. Wu Gen quickly turned around and left leisurely. There was something inexplicable about this man that made Wu Gen wary.
Away from the yard, Wu Gen just let out a sigh of relief.
At night, Wu Gen came to the small courtyard again and gently knocked on the somewhat shabby wooden door with many holes exposed in the door panel.
Creak, the door was opened, "Who are you looking for?" A seven or eight-year-old girl with shaggy hair opened the door, tilting her head and asking curiously.
"Aoki is here, little sister." Wu Gen smiled and handed over a candied haws.
The girl glanced at the candied haws, but did not take it. She took a few steps back, suddenly turned around and ran away, shouting as she ran, "Brother Qingmu, there is a patter who deceives children."
"Where is the bad guy, Huahua." There was a commotion, and seven or eight young men rushed out of the house, carrying sticks in their hands and arriving at the door, protecting the little girl behind them.
Wu Gen's smile was a little stiff, "I am a friend of Qingmu, and you must be the Thirteen Taibao. This name is so loud that it resounds throughout Dingyuan City. I came here today to pay my respects to the dock." He reached out and took out a hemp paper bag, which contained A handful of candied haws.
"You actually know our names, so you have some insight." A tough-looking young man turned around and shouted: "Brother Aoki, someone is looking for you."
"Here we come." Following the voice, Aoki walked out of the house with an apron around his waist. He was obviously making dinner.
Seeing Wu Gen, he couldn't help but was stunned, then quickly walked closer, waved his hands to let these children disperse, and said in a low voice: "I touched here, I gave you the money, what else do you want to do? I'm warning you, If you want to take advantage of your child, I will fight you tooth and nail even if I can’t fight you.”
Looking at the traces of rice paste on the other party's apron, Wu Gen knew that tonight's meal was not very good. He reached out and took out ten taels of silver and handed it to Qingmu, "Buy some meat for the children. It's time to grow taller."
Seeing the other party's hesitation, he added, "This is for the children, not for you. There is no other intention. These children have all lost their parents. I was also an orphan."
Aoki glanced at the silver and said sternly: "Okay, I'll lend it to you. Tell me, what's the matter? How could a person as ruthless as you come to the door for no reason?"
"It's okay. Do you dare to go out drinking with me?" Wu Gen looked at the other party provocatively. To deal with a person like Aoki, it is better to fight with a general than with a general.
"What are you afraid of? Wait until I finish cooking." Aoki turned around and walked back into the house, and actually started cooking porridge again.
Wu Gen walked into the main room and looked at the furnishings. It was quite simple, with just a large dining table set up.
In the room on the left, there is a large shop with a pile of quilts scattered around, which should be where the children sleep.
The room on the right is much neater, with a pipa hanging on the wall and a plum vase with an unknown flower in it on the table by the window. The flowers are bright and someone obviously changes the water from time to time.
A group of children were eating candied haws and chattering behind Wu Gen. They also saw that the relationship between this person and their brother Qingmu was somewhat subtle. One was wary, and the other was curious.
The older one licked the candied haws in his hand and handed it to the younger one, "My brother has eaten this before and is already tired of it." He was so sensible that it made people feel distressed.
Qingmu wiped his hands, stood up and came out of the house. He glanced at Wu Gen with a complex expression, "Let's go." He turned around and shouted, "Eat and rest early. If I come back late, I will go find Da Zhuang and the others tomorrow."
The two of them walked out of the courtyard without saying a word. They found a dilapidated wine shop and wiped the dust on the table. Wu Gen asked for a pot of wine and a plate of fennel beans.
After taking a sip of the wine, Wu Gen frowned. The wine was too sour and of poor quality.
Aoki took a big sip, and after a long while, he looked intoxicated. It took him a long time to breathe out.
"My name is Wu Gen, and I work in the captain's house." Wu Gen went straight to the point. If he wanted to let go of the other party's wariness, it would be better to be calm.
Aoki was stunned, and said with a wry smile, "You are looking for me, a rotten person who robs people on the street. You are not here to arrest me, are you?"
"I was born a bandit, and I have never known where my parents are since I was a child." Wu Gen looked calm.
Aoki raised his eyebrows, glanced at Wu Gen, and took another greedy sip of wine, "Tell me, if you have anything you want me to do." When such a man comes to find him, he either pries for information or asks him to do some dirty work. .
Wu Gen sighed, "It's really nothing. I just saw that it was difficult for you to raise these children alone, and I thought about my own life experience, so I wanted to help."
"I bought these brothers and sisters from Mr. Li's family. Some of them are disabled. They are all children of common people outside the city. Some were abducted here, and some were sold by their families. They are begging in the city. Make a living.
Some of them were too young to ask for money, so they were often beaten with poles by Master Li's men. I couldn't stand it anymore, so I paid some money to redeem them. After going back and forth, there were thirteen younger brothers and sisters. Because I was homeless, I took my last name, from Qingyi to Qingshisan. "Qingmu looked out the window and said quietly.
Wu Gen's eyes moved slightly. The man opposite him, who looked a bit ruthless, had actually done a good deed.
As the saying goes, every time dogs are slaughtered in a righteous manner, demons and ghosts will appear in the temple. It is really not easy for this man who fights for food on the streets to be able to take in so many unrelated brothers and sisters.
Although Aoki has small flaws, compared with those sanctimonious high-ranking people, he has a big "human" character.
Wu Gen raised his wine glass and said, "Brother Qingmu, I'm not as good as you. Come on, do it first as a token of respect." He raised his head and drank the wine in one gulp. This person should be respected. If you want to respect him, drink it first.
"By the way, who is Master Li?" Wu Gen asked as he watched Qingmu drink.
Qingmu said angrily, "Master Li is a beggar in the north of the city, and all beggars, big and small, are under his control. This man is a middle-aged man, ruthless, and has gathered a group of people under his command. He has done many bad things. The beggars who have died in his hands over the years have not been known to him." How many. He has many contacts with the government, and no one dares to touch him in the north of the city. Small gangsters like us have to be bullied by him on weekdays. "
"Oh, where does he live?" Wu Gen raised his head and asked.
"What are you going to do?" Qingmu asked in surprise, turning around and looking around, "This man has many men. Even if you are from the Captain's Mansion, it may not be easy to touch him."
"Don't worry about it, I'm just asking." Wu Gen played with the wine glass, noncommittal.
After hesitating for a while, Qingmu still told Wu Gen the address of Mr. Li's family.
The two of them talked more and more enthusiastically, and even drank several bottles in a row. It is estimated that Qingmu is reluctant to drink on weekdays. After drinking the yellow soup, his face turns red and his speech becomes difficult to speak.
During this period, Wu Gen vaguely inquired about the alliance leader, but the other party intentionally or unintentionally avoided it and said nothing.
The two chatted for a long time and just reluctant to leave, it seemed like they felt like old friends at first sight. Sure enough, wine is the matchmaker for men, and tea is the doctor of flowers.
At night, Wu Gen walked carefully on the street and walked toward the east of the city alone, looking around for the mansion of Mr. Li.
Mr. Li was born and raised in the local area. His parents died of illness when he was young. He spent time hanging out on the streets when he was young. With some bravery and ruthlessness, he managed to make a name for himself and gradually became a famous man in the north of the city. An underground boss.
Mr. Li is the head of a beggar clan. He manages hundreds of beggars. He gradually opens casinos, pawn shops, brothels, etc., and has a hand in everything that makes money.
This man is quite smart and knows that he will not live long if he lives alone. He has many contacts with middle-class and noble people and spends money very generously.
Over the years, the ambitions of the Li family have grown bigger and bigger. There have been a lot of rogue bandits outside the city, plundering business and travel, acquiring land, and the family business has grown stronger.
Aoki said a jingle, watch the official every day, watch Li at night, and give Li Da his life. It can be said that in the underground world of Dingyuan City, Master Li is second to none.
Mr. Li's family has many properties in Baicheng Mansion and has dozens of residences. It's just that he recently acquired a new concubine, and he was so obsessed with Li Da that he bought a house in the east of the city specifically for this purpose.
Wu Gen stood in front of Mr. Li's mansion and quietly looked at the surroundings. The two guards at the door were already hiding in the concierge having a drink, and everything was silent.
Gently crossing the courtyard wall, avoiding the patrolling servants, Wu Gen tiptoed towards the main room. Mr. Li was quite wary. A man who had wandered around the world actually had so many minions. Such a guarding force is comparable to the captain's mansion.
Gathering his breath, he waited quietly for a moment in front of the main room. It is said that people who are successful in martial arts can foresee signs of danger. Wu Gen did not know the strength of Master Li, so he did not dare to act without permission. He was already prepared to escape in time if the opponent awakened.
After waiting for a long time, there was no movement in the room. Wu Gen gently poked a hole in the window paper. Under the moonlight, he could see two people lying in the room, one snoring loudly and the other softly. Wu Gen took out reed pipes of different thicknesses from the backpack behind him and connected them.
It was supposed to be done by going in and killing him with a knife, but Wu Gen had other ideas.
There are some things that Mr. Li did, which are actually a bit too much. Not to mention the anger of both humans and gods, at least a hundred deaths will be hard to redeem. Countless people had died under his hands over the years, especially when he saw the young beggar on the street, Wu Gen was not prepared to let him die so cheaply. And if he was killed directly, it would inevitably be troublesome for the government to conduct an investigation.
After meeting Xianjiang that day, he was manipulated by him like a child, which made Wu Gen interested in spiritual methods.
Practicing the Art of Du Luan these days actually allowed Wu Gen to figure out some tricks, which were confusing to people. It's just that my skills are still shallow and I can't trick people directly, so I can only use some small tricks.
If he is not good at it, he will use drugs to make it happen. Wu Gen wanted to use this method today.
The reed pipe slowly stretched out in front of the two people on the bed. When it was blown gently, a white mist spurted out and covered their faces.
After waiting for a while, the snoring in the room gradually subsided. Wu Gen gently opened the door and walked to the bed.
Mr. Li is a strong man with a beard and a long scar on his forehead. Next to him is his new woman.
He shook his hand, but the person on the bed showed no reaction.
Wu Gen leaned over, pinched his five fingers together to form a claw shape, and mentioned it a few times in front of Master Li. Whispered: "When the soul comes, the soul rises."
Master Li opened his eyes, stood up numbly, and looked straight at Wu Gen. The pupils in Wu Gen's eyes shrank slightly, and there was a whirlpool slowly rotating. If he looked at it for a long time, he seemed to be immersed in it and unable to extricate himself.
According to the Jue of Duhuan, this technique is called Confused Soul.
Wu Gen spoke softly, and every time he said a word, Master Li would repeat it again. After burning the incense, Wu Gen put Master Li on the bed and left quietly.
For several days in a row, Wu Gen would go to the residence of Mr. Li to have a meal every night.
Seven days later, an explosive news came out in Dingyuan City, and Master Li went crazy.
In the past few days, Mr. Li looked haggard. He was holding a rag doll in his hand. He would sneak into the crowd whenever he saw someone, muttering: "I am guilty."
Gradually, his brothers no longer care about him and let him mix with a group of beggars.
Mr. Li is very harsh on these beggars. You can imagine how miserable his fate will be. Within a few days, no part of his body was intact.
There are rumors in the city that Mr. Li usually does too many evil things, and he is possessed by evil spirits and suffers retribution.
One morning, people found Mr. Li dead in a pond in the north of the city. When he was fished out, he was still holding the rag doll with its head missing in his hand.
