The saying that those who lose the support of the people cannot last long is probably the current situation of Shadow.
On July 10th, the sixth year of Shunli in the Western Chu Dynasty, the Chu army marched according to Jiang Ren's plan and defeated the shadow vanguard army. They killed the vanguard general Cao Mang, annihilated 13,000 enemies and captured 32,000 prisoners. On October 3rd, the Chu army used a small number of troops to defeat the shadow right-wing army stationed in the south, beheaded General Li Zhenglin, wiped out 9,000 enemies, and captured 24,000 prisoners. On October 21st, the Chu army pressed forward and annihilated dozens of remaining troops. There are not many big wins, but there are constant small wins.
After being defeated continuously, Shadow finally chose to retreat.
By February of the seventh year of Shunli, the Shadow Army had been driven from the Western Chu territory to the northwest border by the Chu army.
Looking at the overall situation, the Beili army is stationed at the border in the north, the Liangshu army is watching in the west, and the Chu army in the southeast is advancing vigorously.
Suddenly, the shadow army that had swept through half of Western Chu in the past five or six years had fallen into the siege of all the armies, showing its defeat.
However, at this time, compared to the chilling situation in the northwest, the south was much more peaceful.
Quling City in the south is still prosperous at this time because it has not been disturbed by the war.
Our protagonist, Li Yi, sat on a stone beside the official road in the north of the city early in the morning.
He was going north today. As for what he was going to do, he would join the military camp and get a bright future.
Just as he was looking forward to it, a gust of wind blew over him. To avoid it, he turned around and gathered his sleeves, as if to retract himself into his clothes.
After the wind blew, he turned around and looked at Quling City in the south.
At this time, a middle-aged man in his thirties, wearing a brown gown, led a horse and walked over from the city gate.
The man came to him, tied the white horse under the old tree behind him, and sat down next to him.
The man is his senior brother named Zhao Xi. But he didn’t call him Senior Brother, but Uncle Xi because he was older.
Zhao Xi patted his shoulder, handed the wine bottle to him, and said. "Can't bear to part with it?"
Li Yi took the wine bottle and smiled rarely. "I really can't bear to part with it. It's so different from the north. I feel a bit disappointed after this comparison. Come to think of it, Uncle Xi, you don't understand."
"Just thrown into the military camp? What is there to be depressed about? It is said that people die and birds look up to the sky. If you don't die, it will be nothing!"
Li Yi forced a smile, thought for a while, and asked. "Uncle Xi, have you ever been to the north? At least in the past five or six years, have you been?"
Zhao Xi turned to look at him and said. "I've never been there, but I heard from people that it's purgatory on earth. I don't dare to go there. To be honest, I'm afraid of death!"
"It seems that Uncle Xi is also afraid of death?"
"That's natural."
Li Yi took a sip of wine and hung the flask on his body. Zhao Xi said as he was about to stand up. "You kid really doesn't like that girl Jiang in the city! Why don't you go after her?"
"Forget it, I am an ordinary person and not worthy of others."
"Although I don't understand what you are thinking, I have seen many truths in the book. As the saying goes, if God has a way, he will never let lovers separate."
"Uncle Xi, you think too highly of me. That girl and I are not lovers. Whether we are destined to be together in the future is another matter. If you say this, you are not afraid of others misunderstanding!"
Li Yi jumped down from the stone, untied the rope of the white horse behind him, picked up a black cloth bag, threw it behind his back and walked slowly towards the north without looking at Zhao Xi. "It would be fine if I don't die this time."
Zhao Xi, who was behind, did not answer his words, but took off another wine flask from his waist, raised it and took a sip.
Zhao Xi sat on the stone, looked at Li Yi's disappearing figure, smiled bitterly and murmured to himself. "If you come too late, you will regret it!"
The day Li Yi left Quling City was February 3rd in the seventh year of the calendar year.
Li Yi went north along the official road. On the afternoon of the next day, he stopped by the river ditch, put his horse on the grass by the river, took out a few pieces of dry food from his sleeves, and ate a few mouthfuls with the water by the river. .
But at this moment, he suddenly felt a chill on his back, as if someone was watching his back.
As soon as he turned around, several arrows shot out from the grass and hit his face.
He reached for his waist, casually pulled out the sword from his waist, slashed one of them to the ground, and then bent down to dodge the remaining ones.
However, at this time, dozens of black shadows jumped out of the water. With just one glance, he knew that they were coming towards him.
He quickly retreated, and after he regained his footing, he slashed out with a sword, knocking out a swooping black figure with his sword, and flying away a stream of blood.
However, he was not much better and almost fell backwards due to instability in his standing.
The remaining dozens of black people surrounded him, leaving no gaps.
He felt something was not good, but he did not dare to delay.
He swept out his sword and chopped off one of them, directly cutting off his arm. He also took the opportunity to kick out, and stabbed out with the sword.
The next moment, he had pierced the throat of the man in front of him, and cut off the man's entire head with his horizontal sword.
One of the men in black also punched him on the back, almost knocking him down.
He turned around and swept away with a kick, kicking the middle man to one side. He jumped up and rushed over.
However, he was still stabbed in the back.
He stabbed the man next to him in the chest. When the hole was pierced, he was stabbed again on his calf.
Seven or eight men in black looked at him with no fear in their eyes.
However, he has jumped to the unmanned official road.
He turned around to face seven or eight men in black, took out the knife stuck in his back, and threw it aside.
When no one was paying attention, he swung the package out, and smoke instantly filled the air. Without hesitation, he threw a few more fire thunders into the smoke.
After several explosions, there were no more seven or eight men in black alive.
He spat out a mouthful of blood and sat down on the ground.
However, the back and calf were still bleeding.
He was very fortunate that these people's cultivation was not high. Otherwise, he himself might have gone to the underworld of the Yin Dynasty.
But just as he tore off the clothes from the man in black and bandaged his calf, there was applause.
He looked up and saw an unknown man in black clothes standing on the treetop, staring at him closely.
Li Yi put down his hand and grasped a stone in the ground. asked. "Who is your Excellency?"
The man in black ignored him and just talked to himself. "Although it is not a formal swordsmanship, this killing technique is pretty good."
Li Yi tried to stand up, but his whole body was weak and he couldn't use any strength at all.
The man in black chuckled. "It's useless. They are all killers in the shadows. They have always insisted on fighting until death. They are very lucky not to die on the spot."
"Is the knife quenched with poison?"
"That's right! There is no winning or losing in the eyes of killers, only life and death. For this, they can do whatever it takes."
Li Yi smiled bitterly and said. "It seems like he died before he left the battlefield."
"Sir is the number one target, so he will naturally die."
"Sir? Who are you talking about?"
The man in black sneered. "Sir, don't pretend, I won't sympathize with you. I just want to be reborn in a good life in the next life, and don't go against the shadow."
After saying that, a knife jumped out of nowhere and landed in his hand.
He rushed over and stabbed Li Yi straight in the chest.
Li Yi sat on the ground and closed his eyes in despair. He knew that in such a situation, he had no chance of surviving.
But the next moment, a "dang" sound sounded in his ears, and the man in black who rushed towards him was knocked over.
A man in his mid-twenties, wearing white clothes with a white bird pattern on his body, was standing in front of him with a knife in both hands.
The man in white said. "Everyone from the shadows is here. It seems that he is very important! But I don't know who he is? Which one of the ten stars is your Excellency?"
The man in black stood up, shrugged, and laughed heartily. "Hahahaha... It's so refreshing. Mr. Jia, who claims to be able to conquer the world with two swords, is indeed extraordinary."
Hearing what the man in black said, Li Yi looked up at the young man in white, hoping that he was indeed Mr. Jia who could travel with two swords.
However, he still only saw the back of the young man in white.
Even so, Li Yi was still very excited.
In more than a year, he has never seen anyone who has made a name for himself in Western Chu during his journey south. If it is really Mr. Jia this time, it will be an exception.
"Jia's cultivation is low and I dare not praise him." The young man in white bowed his hand.
The man in black also bowed to the young man in white and said. "It's a blessing to be able to compete with Mr. Jia. However, there is an order from above and this person has to be eliminated. I hope Mr. Jia will show his noble hand."
"If I don't, what will you do?"
"Master Jia really wants to get involved in Shadow's affairs?" The man in black's face turned gloomy.
"I've always liked to meddle in other people's business. If you feel something is inappropriate, just let me go."
The man in black looked at Li Yi, laughed, and said. "Okay! I will give Mr. Jia a favor today. But sir, please be careful, I will come again."
After the man in black finished speaking, he turned around, jumped up, and disappeared from sight in an instant.
Jia Junsi sheathed her sword, squatted down to check Li Yi's injuries, and asked. "The injuries are serious. My little brother has a grudge against them?"
"Junior, remember, I have no enemies. I can't figure this out either."
Jia Junsi shook his head and sighed. "Shadow's work has always been difficult for people to figure out. You should be careful in the future."
As he spoke, he took out two medicine bottles from his body and handed them to Li Yi. "This bottle is used to clean my wounds when I travel around the world. Taking the other bottle can slow down the spread of toxins. If I hadn't been in an emergency, I would have given my little brother a ride. But little brother, don't worry, North There is a doctor named Huang Kai who I know in Jiangfeng Town. If you hand over this medicine bottle, he will save you if he recognizes it. But remember, this is Jiangfeng Town."
"In that case, thank you senior!"
Jia Junsi stood up, jumped onto the treetop, and said. "I just took a look and found that your swordsmanship is indeed unorthodox. In this world, people who want to kill people are also those who deserve to be killed. I hope my little brother will bear this in mind."
"Follow the teachings of our predecessors."
Jia Junsi did not answer, but jumped up again and disappeared from sight.
Li Yi took a pill, sat under the tree and spent a lot of effort before pouring another bottle of medicine onto the wound and bandaging it.
He put away his sword, stood up and jumped onto the horse's back. He knocked the horse's back with the hilt of his sword, and the horse galloped away.
After several hours of jolting, I finally couldn't hold on anymore and fainted on the horse.
When he woke up, he found himself lying on a wooden board covered with straw. There are some shackles around, like some ruined temple.
A boy who looked fourteen or fifteen years old in shabby clothes was looking at him, as if he had discovered a new world.
Li Yi looked at him. He was holding a bowl of dark stuff in his hand, but his face seemed very happy, smiling like a monkey.
Li Yi was a little stunned. He wanted to punch him, but his body was weak and he couldn't lift his arm at all.
"Boss, he's awake." The young man looked at Li Yi, but he didn't know who he was talking to.
Someone came up from behind.
Li Yi turned around and looked.
The person who came was also looking at him and said. "Looking at your clothes, are you from the south?"
"Who are you?" he asked curiously.
The visitor smiled and said. "New gang, Zhang Chuxin."
Li Yi thought for a while, but he didn't expect what kind of gang this new gang was and who Zhang Chuxin was.
Zhang Chuxin didn't care, shrugged and said. "You don't have to think too much. The new gang has just started and is unknown now. But in the future, it will definitely become famous all over the world."
Li Yi didn't answer, but Zhang Chuxin shook his head, took the medicine bowl handed over by the young man, and said. "I woke up too early, offended."
Then he punched Li Yi violently and knocked him unconscious.
When Li Yi woke up again, it was already night.
It seemed to be raining lightly outside, and it sounded rustling.
He looked around and saw that he was still lying on the straw-covered board.
He looked up and saw that there was only one oil lamp that was still on in the ruined temple, but unlike the drizzle outside, it seemed like there was thunder in the temple.
The ground was covered with straw, and more than twenty people were crowded together, sleeping like dead pigs. As for why it sounded like thunder, it was because the immortal Saibi was snoring.
The only difference is that the young man said he was Zhang Chuxin when he opened his mouth.
Zhang Chuxin sat quietly meditating on the straw mat, and the surroundings seemed to reflect the light of the true Buddha's coming into the world.
He and himself have a relatively spacious place, and there is no need to crowd with the group of teenagers.
Li Yi looked at Zhang Chuxin and was a little surprised for a moment.
He had no idea that this young man was actually a monk.
Judging from the fluctuations of spiritual energy, his cultivation seems to be quite low.
Li Yi moved, and the other party quickly noticed it. It wasn't intense either, just slowly he opened his eyes.
Li Yi was a little embarrassed. After all, in this world, disturbing other people's cultivation would mean paying money and apologizing, or killing someone to pay off the debt.
"Don't worry, I, Zhang Chuxin, am not like others. I will kill people to vent my anger."
"Are you a monk?"
"A few years ago, I picked up a jade pendant outside Rongdao County. It will glow at night. When you slowly absorb it, you will feel refreshed. Over time, I slowly learned it."
"I see."
Zhang Chuxin smiled and said. "The same to you?"
"Two years ago, I studied it with a friend in Yaocheng. I only learned a little bit about it and didn't study it in depth. But with my appearance, I don't think I can understand it."
"I didn't expect you to have been to Xichu Dongfang. I, Zhang Chuxin, haven't been there yet! However, I will go there in the future."
Zhang Chuxin said this, stood up, and as soon as he walked to the door, he stopped and asked him. "How about going out for a walk?"
Li Yi said nothing, but stood up and followed Zhang Chuxin.
Zhang Chuxin gave him a piece of steamed bun and said. "You haven't eaten all day, have you? You need to cushion your stomach first."
Li Yi didn't mind either. He bit into it, but it was so hard that it was hard to swallow.
Zhang Chuxin said when he saw him like this. "The south is so good, why go north? Looking at the wounds on your back, it seems that the person who stabbed you didn't want you to live. To be honest, if you hadn't met me, you would have died a long time ago."
Li Yi cupped his hands. "Thank you."
"Hey! Our new gang doesn't care about this."
"Have you ever heard of the Taiping Ruins?"
Zhang Chuxin seemed to see all his thoughts and smiled slightly. "When you talk about the Taiping ruins, you inevitably mention the Taiping Sword. Are you also heading towards that sword?"
"I always have to go to the northwest, just on my way."
"It seems that I am bound to gain a lot from the Taiping Sword!"
The two of them stood outside the ruined temple, looking at the light rain falling outside, and they couldn't help but feel a bit unspeakably cold.
Li Yi had his hands behind his back and was wearing a blue-black robe. If you don't take into account the gap behind him that was cut with a knife, he completely interpreted what Zhang Chuxin said about coming from the south.
Zhang Chuxin was not as well dressed as him, and he even looked like a beggar.
The light gray clothes were patched several times, and there was still some unwashed dirt.
Zhang Chuxin looked Li Yi up and down and said. "Come with me!"
Li Yi looked at Zhang Chuxin, who turned around. It was obvious that his mind was a little confused, but he still followed.
