It was already midnight, and all the lights in Peach Blossom Villa had been extinguished.
Outside the village, the lanterns of Shili Peach Blossom were still lit. The orange firelight swayed in the cold wind, and the night in the mountains was quiet and deserted.
Two domestic servants who took turns keeping watch were patrolling outside the courtyard, holding lanterns and wandering around the courtyard from time to time.
The Nangong family is a well-known family in the martial arts world. Naturally, it has many rare treasures, some of which are even priceless.
These treasures not only attract heroes in the world, but also make many robbers and bandits with ulterior motives salivate. There are many precious and rare things in the Nangong family, which is no secret in the world. Therefore, it is inevitable that it will attract the attention of some unscrupulous people in the world.
In the two hundred years since its establishment, the Nangong family has suffered many bandits and thefts. As a result, many precious antiques, calligraphy and paintings, and handed down martial arts secrets have been lost. Some are living among various sects in the world, and the whereabouts of many more are unknown. . Most of them have been changed hands and become other people's collections.
To this end, after learning from past omissions, the Nangong family has the helmsman, together with the four elders, and through unanimous consultation among many core members of the family, formulated strict family discipline and anti-theft measures.
Every day, manpower must be arranged for non-stop patrols day and night. Within the sphere of influence under the jurisdiction of the Nangong family, once suspicious idlers are discovered, they must be reported to the village as soon as possible.
Various measures have been taken and strict precautions have been taken. In recent decades, the Nangong family has never had any thefts again.
At this moment, it is already midnight, and the entire Peach Blossom Villa has fallen into a deep sleep. There was peace and tranquility inside and outside the village, as usual, and nothing unusual appeared.
The stars and the moon sink, and everything is silent.
Suddenly, a figure floated briskly from the window. He was strong and light, like a civet cat. The mysterious black figure swayed by the side window in the backyard, then floated over the eaves without making a single sound.
The black figure looked around very alertly, and when he saw that there was no servant watching the night, he hunched over and ran briskly along the ridge of the house, then quickly turned over and disappeared on the roof.
The two servants on night duty outside the courtyard were celebrating because the owner of the village was hosting a banquet for distinguished guests from afar tonight, and the servants were also celebrating, so that the daily routine anti-theft operations at night had been cancelled.
The two servants on night duty also took advantage of the excitement to indulge. Everyone secretly drank a lot of wine in the backyard. At this moment, they were patrolling outside the courtyard, looking dizzy and absent-minded.
One of them had even dozed off. He already knew that the owner of the farm and the guests who came to visit had drunk a lot of wine tonight. Both the guests and the host were drunk and had already fallen asleep. Even if he had neglected his duties, he would never do it. Someone knows.
Since the Nangong family implemented a strict night watch system, there has been no theft incident for a long time. It is expected that tonight will be like usual, and nothing special will happen.
However, God is not as good as man, but tonight is an exception.
I don’t know whether it was the group of guests who came today that attracted the attention of the thieves, or whether the thieves had already calculated that tonight Peach Blossom Villa would definitely entertain guests to celebrate. VIPs coming from afar would naturally have to drink and have fun. Therefore, those thieves We had already calculated that tonight would be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make a move.
The black figure lightly jumped down from the roof, half hanging on the eaves with golden hooks hanging upside down on its head and feet. Then it looked around alertly. When it found that the situation was safe, it swayed and landed lightly on the ground.
I saw him crouching and jumping briskly towards the densely packed buildings in the Nangong Family Courtyard.
It was already late at night, the stars and the moon had disappeared, and all the lights in the houses in the village had been extinguished. This situation was undoubtedly a God-given opportunity for the thieves.
Tonight, Nangong Nan and Xu Feng were so excited that they were both drunk and already fast asleep.
But Liu Ruyan seemed polite and courteous at the banquet. He just toasted a few glasses of wine to everyone as a courtesy, and then didn't drink more. Instead, he ate some more food, drank a few bowls of stew, and sat aside. Chat with everyone.
Therefore, he always kept his head clear. Although this place was Xu Feng's old friend, he was new here after all and was unfamiliar with everything here. Therefore, after the banquet was over, everyone went back to their rooms and fell asleep.
He was arranged in a guest room in the east wing. There were many guest rooms in Peach Blossom Villa, and everyone was arranged in a separate room. Therefore, he slept alone in the room tonight.
It was the first time he lived in such a noble and well-known family, and he always felt a little uncomfortable. Maybe it was because he had lived in a simple thatched cottage with his master and his sister since he was a child, and he had become accustomed to that kind of poor and comfortable environment. But such a solemn and majestic place made him feel a little uneasy.
He tossed and turned in bed, living alone in a spacious and clean room. He was about to close his eyes, but they opened them inexplicably. He tried several times in a row, but still could not fall asleep peacefully.
Lying on the bed and looking at the empty room, he thought of his lost relatives, his father and mother, and his sister. Where would they be at this moment? So many years have passed and there has been no news. As for how he was separated from them, he still can't figure it out.
Because of this matter, he had asked his master many times, but every time he asked about his life experience, his master looked melancholy and kept silent.
For this reason, he complained about his master in his heart for a long time, but then he thought that his master's kindness in raising him was no less than the kindness of his own parents, so he gave up the idea of resentment against his master.
Whenever he asked the master about it, the master would always tell him: When the time is right, the master will tell you all the reasons and the truth, but it is not the time yet.
The master would always use such excuses to put him off, and over time, he would stop asking questions.
But once, the master said something very strange to him: You must practice martial arts diligently now. When you become a master of martial arts, the truth about your life experience will be revealed.
Later, he seemed to gradually realize the deeper meaning of this sentence: the master wanted him to learn martial arts well, and when he was able to walk alone in the world after mastering the skills, the master would tell him the truth about his life experience! Before he became a mature person, the master refused to tell the truth.
He was thinking about it, and suddenly he had an ominous premonition: In his memory, he was separated from his family after he was five years old, and he has never seen his parents and relatives again. Why has his life changed in the past twenty years? My parents and sister never showed up even once? Where did they go? Even if I don’t know where to look for them, haven’t they ever come to look for me? Are they dead or alive? If they are still alive in this world, why has no one come to look for them for so many years?
When he thought of these clues that he couldn't figure out, he felt like five thunderbolts struck his head, and he was so anxious that his head was about to explode, but he still couldn't figure it out.
He sat up from the bed and looked out the window. Outside the window, there was silence and darkness. He suddenly felt a strong sense of loneliness coming over him. He felt that he was a child abandoned by his relatives, and an indescribable deep sadness surged into his heart like a tide.
At this moment, he suddenly caught a glimpse of a black shadow flashing past the window, like a terrifying ghost, soundless. He was suddenly startled, thinking that he had been dazzled by what he saw. He shook his head again, and regained his composure. Only then did he regain consciousness, and then he became alert.
He couldn't help but think in his mind: "Did we really meet a ghost just now? How could it be possible? Where in the world do ghosts come from?" Suddenly, he had an idea and then thought: "No, could it be a thief? No, just now I obviously bumped into a black figure and flashed past, as fast as lightning, it must be someone, I have to go out and see clearly!"
He immediately put on his clothes and got out of bed, put on his clothes and boots, and clasped the long sword beside the pillow in his hand. He suddenly dodged, sprinted to the door, and rushed out.
It was dark outside the wing, and the surroundings were silent. He poked his head and looked around alertly, subconsciously clenching the long sword in his hand.
He saw that the black figure just flashed towards the south corner. He didn't think much, and flew towards the south in a flash.
He landed lightly among the densely packed buildings in the atrium, and looked around warily. The surroundings were silent, but he found nothing unusual.
He immediately held his breath and said to himself: "It's strange. I just saw a black shadow flashing under the window and coming this way. How come it disappeared in the blink of an eye? Who could it be in the middle of the night? ? Is it true that a thief has sneaked into the village? There are vicious dogs tied at the gates around the village. It stands to reason that even if someone breaks in, it is impossible not to make the slightest sound. How can they avoid those eight dogs? The ears and eyes of a vicious dog? It’s really strange. Could it be that I really met a ghost? Hum, in the bright world, I don’t believe in this evil!”
While he was thinking, suddenly a figure appeared behind him, and a low and refreshing voice sounded: "What are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
Liu Ruyan was suddenly startled, and was shocked by the sudden sound. The shadow stood behind him like a ghost, about a foot away from him. Suddenly, Liu Ruyan's body tightened like a full bowstring, and he felt a chill coming from his vest. In this dark and silent environment, he could almost hear his own increasingly violent heartbeat.
He didn't dare to look back, but just calmed down his nervous mood a little, glanced steadily behind him, and said in a deep voice: "Who are you?"
The black figure smiled coldly and said slowly: "It would be better for you to give your name first?"
Liu Ruyan said alertly: "Why should I tell you?"
The black shadow moved forward slightly, and said faintly: "Because I can kill you at any time now!" He said coldly, as if he had a plan in mind, and did not take Liu Ruyan seriously.
Liu Ruyan had calmed down a lot and said with a smile: "Oh, are you really that sure?"
The black shadow said coldly: "If you don't believe it, how about you give it a try?"
Liu Ruyan was completely relaxed at this moment, because he had concluded that the shadow behind him was not a ghost, but a living person. Moreover, he had heard this person's voice and guessed who this person was!
So, he smiled slightly and said: "What method do you want to try?" He couldn't help but tighten the sword in his hand.
The black shadow said coldly: "As long as you dare to move, I guarantee that your blood will be splashed on the spot! Are you willing to give it a try?"
Liu Ruyan was not angry at all, and joked: "Since you are so sure, I really want to give it a try!" He did not look back, but glanced behind him, squinting at the black figure, but he didn't dare to Relax and appear more alert.
The black shadow made no sound, standing there motionless, like a ghost in the dark night.
Suddenly, he raised his feet and walked forward slowly. When Liu Ruyan saw this, she was suddenly shocked. Just as she was about to take action, the man said again: "Your Excellency, please don't be nervous, let alone move around! To be honest with you, we have actually met before."
Liu Ruyan's heart trembled, and she pretended to be surprised and said, "Oh? Who are you? When did we see you?"
The black figure took a few steps forward, then paused and said in a deep voice: "Yelai Inn under Mingyue Peak!"
Liu Ruyan still didn't look back, thinking to herself: "It is indeed him!" But he smiled and said: "Yelai Inn? How did you know that I have been to Yuelai Inn?"
The black figure sighed softly and said quietly: "That day, there were seven or eight of you in the Yuelai Inn, and I happened to be at the table next to you. So, I can see you clearly."
Liu Ruyan said calmly: "Even if you have seen me, what will you do? What on earth do you want to say?"
The black figure chuckled and said slowly: "I saw that you have a jade tree facing the wind and you have extraordinary aura. I have a good impression of you, so I want to get to know you and make friends! I wonder if you are willing?"
Liu Ruyan smiled and didn't want to beat around the bush anymore, so she said, "Your Excellency has said so much, just because you want to make friends with me?" This was a bit unexpected. He originally thought that the other party was unkind. , bumping into him in the middle of the night, it must be someone else’s plan. Now it seems that is not the case. But he couldn't just let down his guard and believe him easily.
Liu Ruyan squinted behind her, then suddenly slowly turned around, faced the black figure, and smiled lightly: "Do you really want to be friends with me? Why don't you take off the mask?"
It turned out that when he turned around, he saw the mysterious black figure wearing a mask of a beautiful woman. From the sound of his voice, it was clear that he was a man, but he deliberately wore a female mask. What was the reason for this? Is it just to show off and scare others?
But it was obvious from his voice that he must be a young man, and he was about the same age as himself.
The black shadow walked straight up to Liu Ruyan, seemingly not worried that he would suddenly take action against him. Perhaps, he had already seen that Liu Ruyan would never take action against him.
Sure enough, Liu Ruyan looked at him steadily, still motionless, but her eyes were always highly alert.
At this time, it was already the middle of the night, and the surroundings were still deathly silent.
The black figure finally took off his mask, revealing a thin and angular horse face in the darkness, and suddenly smiled at him.
Isn't this the young man in black Li Ruoxuan who suddenly appeared in Peach Blossom Villa?
Although Liu Ruyan had guessed that this person was Li Ruoxuan, the moment he took off his mask, he still couldn't help but be stunned: Why did he appear here in the middle of the night? And why are you wearing a female mask? What exactly does he want to do? …
Liu Ruyan's eyes lit up and she said thoughtfully, "Is it you?"
Li Ruoxuan smiled lightly and said, "You didn't expect it to be me?" He stared at Liu Ruyan.
Liu Ruyan laughed and said, "Actually, I recognized your voice from the moment you started speaking."
Li Ruoxuan smiled again and said quietly: "Oh, then why don't you directly identify me?"
Liu Ruyan was noncommittal and said slowly: "Because I want to see what you want to do when you come out in the middle of the night!"
Li Ruoxuan muttered: "Aren't you worried that I would attack behind you just now?"
Liu Ruyan smiled and said, "I know you won't take action easily."
Li Ruoxuan looked around and said with a smile, "Why?"
Liu Ruyan said: "Because I have already seen that you are not a restless person. Besides, you must also want to know what I am doing here in the middle of the night!"
Li Ruoxuan paced in place and asked, "Then what are you doing here?"
Liu Ruyan's eyes suddenly flashed, and he looked solemnly at the criss-crossed houses to the south, and said in deep thought: "I was lying in bed tonight unable to sleep, and suddenly I saw a figure flashing past the window. I thought it was There were thieves, so they chased them out.”
Li Ruoxuan was startled when he heard this, nodded, frowned and said, "Oh, can you clearly see what kind of person he is?"
Liu Ruyan shook her head and said slowly: "No, when I chased him out, the figure had disappeared. I could see that the figure was so good at lightness that he disappeared in the blink of an eye."
He smiled faintly and looked at Li Ruoxuan steadily: "What about you? Why are you here again!"
Li Ruoxuan sighed softly and smiled bitterly: "I couldn't sleep like you, so I went out for a walk, and unexpectedly I ran into you."
His face suddenly tightened, and he frowned and said, "Since we have found a suspicious person, let's go and notify the owner of Nangong Village!" He did not call him uncle, but changed his name to the owner of the village.
Liu Ruyan smiled bitterly and said: "We have been delayed here for so long. Even if there are thieves, they must have escaped."
Li Ruoxuan said anxiously: "Then we can't just watch him walk away, right?"
Liu Ruyan walked around for a few steps and muttered: "If I guess correctly, even if he is a thief, he will never be from outside the village!"
Li Ruoxuan asked in confusion: "Oh, how do you say this?"
Liu Ruyan muttered: "There are many hidden weapons hidden around the courtyard walls of Peach Blossom Villa, as well as various cleverly set traps on the ground. It is extremely difficult for people who are not familiar with this place to discover them. In addition, there are eight evil traps outside the courtyard. With dog protection, even if the snitch outside has extraordinary abilities, it will be difficult for him to sneak in."
Li Ruoxuan was even more confused and said quietly: "You are also new here, how do you know that there are various traps outside the courtyard?" He stared at Liu Ruyan, looking extremely alert.
Liu Ruyan smiled lightly and said, "Don't you see it?"
Li Ruoxuan said noncommittally: "Yes, of course I have noticed it."
At this moment, a miserable scream was heard suddenly outside the hall.
