"Master is back!"
"master!"
"Husband!"
The family members of the Zhong family rushed forward, crying with joy.
Xia He jumped directly into Zhong Yan's arms, "I thought my husband had abandoned us and didn't care!"
But he speaks out.
Zhong Yan smiled, straightened her up, and patted her face, "Is this the kind of person my husband is in your heart?"
Xia He sniffed, with a playful smile and sly eyes, "No! I'm just worried about my random thoughts. My husband will punish He'er when he's angry!"
He also deliberately paused and emphasized the word 'punishment', causing the other concubines to purse their lips and laugh or cry.
Zhong Yan said, "If your husband really leaves, what will you do?"
Everyone looked at each other.
Xia He laughed and said, "No way!"
Zhong Yan looked around and gave each of his concubines a reassuring look. Then he walked towards Jiang Ping, who was supported by Xiao Huan, held her hand and touched her belly.
"how?"
Jiang Ping smiled softly and said: "My husband has worked hard and everything is fine at home. General Hou and many soldiers have been outside and have never left."
Xia He immediately stepped forward to complain: "Husband! Someone caused trouble in our restaurant and smashed it up. It must be someone from the Xue Mansion who did it!"
"Let's wait until the matter is settled."
After entering the hall, Zhong Yan stayed with his wife, concubines, and children for a while, then let each of them retreat, leaving only Jiang Ping to learn about the details of the current situation at home.
Finally, Song Yunhui's figure appeared in his mind. He looked at his wife in his arms and couldn't help but ask: "What do you think of Ping'er?"
Jiang Ping blinked, "What are you referring to, husband?"
"If I don't care about you."
Jiang Ping was startled.
The two people's eyes intertwined and looked at each other, and they both saw the faces in each other's eyes.
After a while, Jiang Ping had the answer in her heart. At some point, her husband would really abandon the family.
After a moment of silence, she lowered her head and leaned her cheek against Zhong Yan's chest, rubbing her face and whispering softly: "Ping'er understands that Ping'er has no regrets and will be prepared."
After a pause, she raised her face and smiled again: "Ping'er believes that there won't be that time."
She has been thinking about it at home these days. In such a big trouble now, her husband obviously wants to save Sister Sandao.
That being the case, how could you give up so easily?
Zhong Yan sighed inwardly and rubbed her shoulders.
Not long after.
Zhong Yan went to the study and said to Li Shangwen who followed him: "You go home first, so as not to worry your mother and elder brother."
"Yes, uncle!"
Zhong Yan frowned and pondered, going through the things related to Xu Ding'an again in his mind.
If we only look at the situation described by Li Henian, all possible gaps have been filled.
"The problem lies with Xu Ding'an? We sent the news to the sect in advance..."
Zhong Yan shook his head secretly, in this case, the matter would not have been put on hold for so long, and then the world would be overturned.
And if there was an accident during the transmission of the message, it would be too coincidental and unlikely.
Fortunately.
He had no direct contact with Xu Ding'an and the Tianlinggen girl. Now Li Henian went to explore Mangdang Mountain again, and he didn't know whether he was alive or dead.
Even if Song Yunhui traces all the way to Qingyang City, it will be difficult to implicate him.
"I don't know where it is hidden..."
He lent Li Henian a hundred spiritual stones, and coupled with the resources Li Henian left behind, he should be able to hold on for a while.
Fearing that it would be difficult to practice in the city without resources over time, the girl with spiritual roots couldn't bear it that day and ran out on her own.
There are many strange monks in the city, but they are easily noticed.
"And that Wangyou water, is it reliable?"
Zhong Yan whispered and frowned.
At this time, Zhong Xiaozhong walked in, bowed, took out a letter from his arms and handed it over, "Master, I received it the day before yesterday."
"After you left, Xue Shanhu called martial arts masters into the mansion several times, and the major martial arts schools in the city also behaved abnormally...Xue Shanhu also went to the city lord's mansion twice, and Zhang Shun personally escorted him out of the city lord's mansion gate."
After Zhong Yan read the contents of the letter, he spit fire in his palm and burned the paper, "It's normal. I know I should go get reinforcements."
Zhong Xiaozhong: "I took it upon myself to make my own decision. I asked Li Mingqiang for information. It seems that the Water Transport Gang and Wan Tang don't intend to get involved in this matter. They just want to watch the show."
Zhong Yan glanced at him in surprise and said with a smile: "The Water Transport Gang and Wan Tang, in their view, this matter is just a farce. To put it more seriously, the two houses of Zhong and Xue are competing against each other. No matter what the outcome is, they There is no benefit at all. The City Lord’s Mansion cannot share the benefits related to the Martial Alliance with them. It is more likely that I bowed my head on my own initiative, so naturally there is no need to get involved."
Zhong Xiaozhong lowered his head, wondering why the master still sent heavy gifts to the Canal Transport Gang and Wan Tang.
Zhong Yan stood up, spread out the paper, picked up a brush and wrote the four characters "Just for Immortality".
Repeat four times, then set aside.
Then, he took out a blank scroll from his storage bag, spread it out, wrote it again, nodded with satisfaction, and said: "Back up the gift and send it to the City Lord's Mansion later."
"Yes..." Zhong Xiaozhong raised his head, hesitated and asked, "Master, don't you go there yourself?"
"Not yet."
after dinner.
Zhong Yan went to the training room, hung the scroll of 'Only for Immortality' on the wall, then put an 'invisibility charm' on his body, left the house and walked in front of many soldiers.
****
Zhong Yan came back from Fangshi and swaggered into the city, so he was naturally noticed by those who cared.
Xue Mansion.
All the important people of the Xue family gathered together.
The eldest lady Guo Qingxue, the housekeeper Guo Qinglin, the adopted son Xue Hongyi, the concubine Zhang Hongmei, plus two proud disciples.
Except for Guo Qinglin, who was a sick man and had never practiced martial arts, the rest of the martial arts realms had reached the innate realm.
Therefore, a direct descendant of the Xue Mansion alone would be able to kill a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator without any difficulty, even if he was a master like the clouds.
Xue Shanhu waved his hand to send the disciple who reported the news out, frowned and asked, "What do you think?"
Everyone was silent, obviously knowing that the master wanted revenge on his only dead heir, but he didn't agree with it in his heart.
Xue Shanhu snorted coldly, "What Zhong Yan said is right. If there is no explanation for this matter, how can I, Xue Shanhu, hang out in Qingyang City? I will have no shame to sit as the leader of the Martial Alliance again!"
Guo Qingxue is wearing a gorgeous palace dress. Although she is over forty years old, her figure is well-proportioned due to her martial arts practice and her beauty is still there. The wrinkles on her face that appear at the corners of her eyes have a strong meaning.
She stood up and said, "Husband, this is the reason. If Zhong Yan compromises and hands over the person, the matter will be settled. But look at his attitude. He has been to Fangshi for many days and then returned. How can he have any intention of backing down?"
"As for the fact that no helper has come back, it's not like you don't know the monk's methods. We have no way of knowing when we entered the city, and it makes it even more suspicious!"
Xue Shanhu didn't take it seriously, "Those monks are all very cautious. If there is no great benefit, why would they wade into troubled waters? Do they think that I, Xue Shanhu, am a street gangster and a little thief? What kind of powerful helper can the fourth level of Qi Refining invite?" "
Guo Qingxue was angry, suppressed the anger in her heart, and spoke again: "..."
Guo Qinglin coughed, then covered his mouth with a handkerchief and coughed for a while, then said after a while: "The master is right, monks are always afraid of trouble. The guest ministers in the city showed up to give Zhong Yan face last time. They are stationed in Qingyang forever, unless Zhong Yan Promise huge profits, otherwise we won't get involved easily.
Although Zhong Yan is a talisman master, he is still at the first level. He has not been in Qingyang for a long time. The only ones willing to help are Li Mansion and Bai Mansion, who have a good relationship with each other. Bai Siyuan has not returned, so he is probably just avoiding trouble. fear. "
Guo Qingxue: "Who doesn't have a close friend? There must be a reason for Zhong Yan to go to Fangshi. My husband has killed two monks before, so you know the stakes. It won't go smoothly every time, so you can completely eliminate worries!"
Xue Shanhu snorted, "If I can kill two, I can kill the third!"
"Where's the City Lord's Mansion?"
Guo Qingxue asked back, seriously: "Husband, have you ever thought about why Qin Ben stepped forward to defend a fourth-level Qi Refining monk? Why was he willing to wait for Zhong Yan for all these days and delay it again and again?
This is not a matter of Zhong Yan! What we have done over the years has already aroused Qin Ben's dissatisfaction. If he takes the opportunity to attack us, and those old guys from the Martial League interfere with us again, the loss of profits will be small, and the Xue Mansion's status in Qingyang will plummet! "
Xue Shanhu frowned, knowing the importance in his heart, but when he looked at his wife, he thought that after this incident happened, she had never spoken on his side. After all, Xue Peng was not her biological flesh and blood.
He looked at the others and said, "Tell me too."
Xue Hongyi hesitated for a moment, clasped his fists and said: "Father, we need to be cautious about this matter. We are not afraid of a person on the fourth level of Qi Refining, but there are more than one or two people in the Martial Alliance who want to take your position. If they secretly communicate with the city lord's palace, , fearing big changes.”
There was a moment of silence.
Another disciple looked around and said, "My disciple thought that the matter may not have reached that point. If you don't pursue it further, Zhong Yan would be willing to hand over just two concubines."
Guo Qingxue glanced at it and said, "I've paid it long ago. Why wait until now?"
The concubine Zhang Hongmei rolled her eyes and stepped forward: "Sister is right, Zhong Yan's attitude is clear and he doesn't want to lose face. Whether he goes to Fangshi or Qin Ben's attitude is ambiguous, there must be something fishy in it, but... So... I think it’s better to wait until we sit down and talk before making any plans. Before that, let’s prepare for war.”
Guo Qinglin nodded, "What the third lady said is reasonable. If Zhong Yan is tough, it is to refute Qin Ben's face. In comparison, Qin Ben will not go to war just to favor him."
Xue Shanhu asked: "How are you preparing?"
Xue Hongyi said: "Back to my adoptive father, everything has been arranged at the martial arts school and the eyeliners have been deployed. There is nothing abnormal at the Zhong Mansion, the City Lord's Mansion, and the various guest ministers' mansions."
"I'm tired. Let's go back and rest first."
Guo Qingxue bowed slightly, turned around and walked away, calling, "Hongyi!"
Xue Hongyi looked at Xue Shanhu.
Xue Shanhu waved his hand, "Let's do this for now!"
Then he called one of the disciples to come forward and whispered.
Guo Qinglin's eyelids twitched, he looked at the two people leaving, and secretly cursed in his heart, 'Bitch man and woman'!
At this juncture, I'm still thinking about those sordid affairs.
He really wanted to spit a mouthful of diseased blood on his sister's face!
****
City Lord's Mansion.
Qin Ben couldn't help but frown after listening to Zhang Shun's report.
Zhong Yan actually came back alone. He also ate, drank, whored, gambled and bought supplies in the market, looking like he was about to run away.
As for the many guests in the city, there was no movement during this period, and they had an attitude that it didn't matter to them.
Zhang Shundao: "No matter what kind of medicine he sells in his gourd, now that he has returned to the city, the matter is not over. The city lord needs to make a decision as soon as possible. If he does not solve the Xue Mansion, it will be inconvenient for us to take action. If he delays it any longer, Xue Shanhu's face will be lost." It's better, it's not time to break up!"
At this time, a sergeant walked in quickly and said, "To inform the city lord, Liu Dutong needs to see you for something important!"
Qin Ben waved his hand, "Let's discuss the matter tomorrow."
"promise!"
"Wait!"
Zhang Shun shouted to stop, looked at Qin Ben and said: "It's so late, maybe there is something urgent, it doesn't hurt to meet him."
Not long after.
Two generals in armor entered the hall and saluted in unison.
"City Lord, I returned to the city today and saw Zhong Yan in Maple Grove. I was intercepted and killed by a group of bandits..."
After hearing the detailed story, Qin Ben narrowed his eyes and said, "Are you sure you are a foundation-building monk?!"
"The man didn't use any magic weapon. He just stood high in the sky. He must be in the Foundation Establishment realm. Afterwards, we went up to check the corpse. Dozens of people were all killed in one move. We thought he was the one responsible."
Qin Ben waved his hand to retreat the two of them, pondered for a long time, and exhaled: "Foundation Establishment Monk, with Zhong Yan's connections, he must be from the Fire Cloud Sect. I'm afraid he made a bad move and shouldn't let him be the retinue mage. .”
Zhang Shun was also puzzled, thought for a while and said: "According to the previous investigation, he had only refined the third level of Qi before going down the mountain. He was risking his life in the outer sect to earn resources. It doesn't seem like he has a foundation-building backer. If this foundation-building monk is indeed If you came here to help him, you must have a lot of connections. To be on the safe side, we will deal with him afterwards. It is difficult for us to use such a person."
"Let me think about it, sir, go back and rest first."
"Then, where is Xue Shanhu?"
Qin Ben said decisively: "The army will act according to the plan! Send a letter to Xue Mansion and Zhong Mansion tomorrow morning, and hold a banquet in three days!"
Zhang Shun nodded and left.
Qin Ben walked back and forth in the palace for a while, went to the study, took out a talisman, muttered something in his mouth, and activated the message with a spell.
After a stick with many fragrances.
The white-haired old man, Uncle Li, appeared in the study without a trace, "Second Young Master, are you calling me for something urgent?"
"Uncle Li, can you see that there are foundation-building monks entering the city?"
"No, two strange monks came into the city the day before yesterday, one male and one female. The male is at the ninth level of peak Qi training, and the female is at the seventh level of Qi training."
Qin Ben was confused and repeated what Liu Dutong had reported before.
Uncle Li said clearly: "The spell is called 'Ten Thousand Swords Beacon Fire'. The person who performed it must be an important figure in the inner sect of Huoyun Sect. He is probably from the Law Enforcement Hall. It has nothing to do with Zhong Yan, and he is probably someone who did it conveniently." Of."
Qin Ben couldn't help but breathed a sigh of relief, and then immediately asked: "Law Enforcement Hall? Why are you here near Qingyang? Are you here for the matters of the mage?"
Uncle Li pondered for a moment and said: "Now that the capital has issued the decree, the interception and killing matter is over. Young master only needs to remember that in the next few years, Qingyang City's retinue Master will not let anyone hold anything against him."
"Right!"
Qin Ben smiled.
…
at the same time.
Zhong Yan left the Yang Mansion, put an invisibility charm on his body, and walked in the alleyway at night.
Turn left and right.
Finally, we stopped in front of the door of a small courtyard. There were no characters on the lintel.
Compared with other residences in Nanfeng, this place seems deserted and deserted, with no caretaker and no decorations.
"I am breaking into the widow's house at night..."
Zhong Yan, whose whole body was filled with illusions, smiled in his heart and reached out to knock on the door knocker.
…
