Wherever the west wind passes, fierce horses gallop.
But I saw a tall and strong man galloping on the vast land.
His name is Mu Liyan, and he is a master of the Five Spirit Sect.
Twelve years ago, under the direct orders of the former leader Yi Shixiong, he lurked in the Zhengyi Sect. Starting as an ordinary disciple at the lowest level, he found opportunities to get close to Shen Youran and was responsible for monitoring his every move.
But now, with Shen Youran's death, his mission has finally come to an end.
He rode the thousand-mile horse provided to him by his fellow disciples of the Wuling Sect, and carried a baggage containing Shen Youran's head, and traveled day and night to Zhenling Mountain, the current headquarters of the Wuling Sect.
Since Yi Shixiong's death and the destruction of the main altar eleven years ago, the Wuling Sect's vitality has been severely damaged, and it has been dormant in secret since then.
But the Wuling Sect is different from the Tianqi Gang. They did not rise by relying on personality worship or a leader with particularly powerful martial arts. They relied on doctrine and belief.
Once people have faith, they become easily manipulated.
They can disregard right and wrong, logic, and even life and death, and do things that ordinary people find unbelievable without hesitation.
It doesn't matter if the leader dies or the main altar is destroyed. As long as the teachings remain, new blood will be introduced.
What's more, the Five Spirit Sect was not completely wiped out at that time. There were still many members who happened to be out on missions during the 13th Route Sect's encirclement and suppression campaign and did not die in that battle.
In addition, another son of the leader Yi Shixiong did not die either.
The child was only five years old at the time, and his name was Yi Shiqing.
The reason why he is not in the main altar of Wuling Sect is because Yi Shixiong dare not let him stay around.
Before the child was born, strange phenomena occurred frequently; ever since his mother confirmed that she was pregnant, birds and insects died every day near the house where he lived. Some wild dogs and jackals smelled the smell and came to eat the carcasses of birds, but one day When he got close to the house, he was so frightened that he howled, turned around and ran away.
The night Yi Shiqing was born, there was a strong wind and the sky dog eclipsed the moon.
The wind is like a mournful cry.
The night is like the darkest paint curtain.
It was on such a dark night that he came into this world.
Yi Shiqing's mother died of dystocia that night. In the next half month, the wet nurse who was responsible for feeding him became sick and died again and again, and the doctor couldn't figure out the reason.
Helpless, Yi Shixiong could only turn to local alchemists and ask them to take a look at what happened to the child.
As a result, the alchemists who came to the door were either frightened and fell to the ground when they saw the child's face, or they started to talk nonsense after looking at the child's birth date. No one gave a specific explanation.
Later, Yi Shixiong also became angry, so he grabbed an alchemist and questioned him to the end. The other party had no choice but to tell the truth.
The alchemist said: This child has an extremely evil destiny. He is the reincarnation of an evil star. Anyone who is close to him will be killed by him, and the closer he is, the faster he will die... Only by staying away from him can you save your life. , As for this child’s blood relatives... No matter where they go, they are bound to be doomed.
To put it more bluntly, if you are his friend, then it is best not to be his friend anymore and stay away from him; and if you are his relative, then even if you run to the ends of the world, as long as this child If you don't die one day, you will be killed by him one day.
Yi Shixiong, a tycoon of the first generation, was just a "teacher" himself, so how could he do this? After hearing this, he became furious on the spot and killed all the alchemists.
However... people in those days were a bit superstitious after all.
You could say he didn't believe it. In fact, he was a little doubtful in his heart, but he couldn't express it on the surface.
This child was originally Yi Shixiong's "backup plan". Why is it called plan B? Because his first son Shen Youran was disobedient.
Oh, by the way, Shen Youran at that time was not called Shen Youran, but Yi Shiyou; Shen Youran was the name he changed after he escaped from the Five Spirits Sect, taking on his mother's surname.
Yi Shixiong watched his first son grow up day by day and regarded himself as his enemy. He was also very anxious, so he caught another good-looking woman outside who had also studied for several years, and rectified the situation. The second child comes out.
Yi Shixiong was quite happy to see another boy, but when this happened, he became depressed again.
But if you asked him to strangle his second son to death for a few words from a fortune teller, he wouldn't be able to do it. A tiger's poison cannot eat its seeds.
So, he sent Yi Shiqing to a county town that was more than a hundred miles away from the Wuling Sect's main altar, and sent two different groups of people to take care of him every month, rotating them, making it difficult for him to guard the SCP. Same.
I don’t know if those fortune tellers are really talented, or it’s just a coincidence... After three or four years, Yi Shixiong really died.
From a certain perspective, this coincides with the theory that "distance is directly proportional to the time of death."
In the same way, this child's half-brother, Shen Youran... because he ran away from the Five Spirits Sect a few years after the child was born, he has been separated from him by far and wide, and he lived for more than ten years. Year.
Of course, no one can tell for sure.
In short, today, Yi Shiqing, who is only sixteen years old, is already the leader of the Five Spirit Sect.
Whether he is the reincarnation of the evil star cannot be verified, but it is certain that he is a martial arts prodigy.
How strange? Probably at the same level as Lin Yuancheng.
Moreover, Yi Shiqing had grown up practicing various excellent martial arts from the Five Spirit Sect since he was a child. He had never touched those miscellaneous junk martial arts, which was different from Lin Yuancheng who had never met a famous teacher.
In terms of mental city, Yi Shiqing is also far ahead of her peers.
He has never had any "confidence". Whoever he trusts or loves will die. Therefore, outside of official business, none of his subordinates dare to establish a personal relationship with him, and they don't even dare to flatter any of them. , for fear of being killed after getting a good impression.
People who grow up in this kind of social environment naturally have a very strong ability to think independently and can be objective and fair in most things without being influenced by others.
If there are any drawbacks...it is that his character seems cold-blooded to others. He has almost no sympathy and empathy, and he doesn't know what family, friendship, and love are.
He can easily say or make many words or decisions that ordinary people think are very cruel.
Therefore, when Mu Liyan brought his brother Shen Youran's head to him that day, he just glanced at it normally, and then sent someone to take it and burn it, and then put it in cans. Here, by placing a tablet in the ancestral hall, he can also give an explanation to his ancestors.
Do you expect him to lament over this brother he has never met before? That is impossible.
As for Mu Liyan, he gave him a heavy reward, so heavy that people around him couldn't understand it; Yi Shiqing actually directly promoted Mu Liyan to be the deputy flag leader of the White Tiger Banner, and gave him a hundred taels of gold. With one blow of the sword, he also ordered the elders in the sect to start teaching Mu Liyan superior sword skills and internal skills from that day on.
Some people who have followed him in the church for many years and have worked in mid-level positions for a long time have never received such treatment, so many people are puzzled by this.
But everyone was confused, and no one questioned whether the leader's decision contained a private message.
Because everyone also understands that even if the former leader Yi Shixiong would have some subjective likes and dislikes when doing things, the current Yi Shiqing will not.
Objectively speaking, Yi Shiqing's treatment does make sense - if the undercover agent doesn't even get this reward when he returns, who would be an undercover agent?
There is nothing wrong with having faith, but talking about faith in an environment where you are surrounded by believers is completely different from talking about faith outside.
Craftsmanship is inherently an extremely stressful job, wandering alone, deceiving everyone around you every day, not even daring to sleep and talking in your sleep, and never knowing when your work will end...
Over the years, the Wuling Sect has sent out so many agents, and there will inevitably be those who are exposed, those who surrender, those who betray the enemy... who can be like Mu Liyan, who has been playing the role of an "old martial artist" for more than ten years, and finally retired with success. Only a handful came back.
If all organizations were like in the movie, killing undercover agents after they finish their mission, or just giving them a very ordinary treatment, it would be really chilling for those who see it.
Only such a generous reward can truly calm people's hearts. As for whether those who have been serving in the church all year round will be dissatisfied... It doesn't matter. They are right under your nose, how can they turn the world upside down?
"Master, I have something to report." After handing over the work and accepting the reward, Mu Liyan naturally wanted to mention Tang Fu.
"Say." Yi Shiqing sat there, holding his chin with one hand, completely without the airs of the leader of a religion; after all, he was still a sixteen-year-old child, and no matter how smart and wealthy he was, he would not be as arrogant as a middle-aged man. Calm.
"Master Tang Banner asked me to bring you a message, saying that he still has some things to deal with, and I'm afraid he will have to stay out for a few more days. Please don't worry, Master Tang." Mu Liyan relayed Tang Fu's original words almost verbatim. out.
"Ha..." Yi Shiqing chuckled when he heard the words. He immediately guessed what Tang Fu was going to do, so he quickly responded, "I know, please step back and have a rest."
"Yes, thank you, Master!" Mu Liyan said and left.
After Mu Liyan went out, an old man who had been standing next to Yi Shiqing and watched quietly said: "Leader, Gu Qiying's Gu refining skills are no small feat. If you really fall into the right path, In my hands, I'm afraid..."
"You mean...we will send another person to assist Flag Master Tang in the investigation?" Yi Shiqing continued.
"This is exactly what I mean." The old man said respectfully, "Please ask the leader to make a decision."
"Hmm..." Yi Shiqing thought for a while, "What you said... makes sense." He suddenly smiled, "Lao Tang looks shabby and his words are not pleasant. Let him check... I do have some problems. worried."
At this point, he suddenly raised his voice: "Here, bring Deputy Flag Master Li."
Their Five Spirit Sect has the so-called "Five Spirit Flags", which correspond to the Five Spirits, the Five Elements, and the Five Directions.
The Qinglong flag belongs to the Jiayi wood in the east and hangs a green flag; the White Tiger flag belongs to the Gengxin gold in the west and hangs a white flag; the Zhuque flag belongs to Bingding fire in the south and hangs a red flag; the Xuanwu flag belongs to Renkuishui in the north and hangs a blue flag; and finally The Qilin flag belongs to the central Wuji soil and hangs a yellow flag.
These five flags are commanded by the "Five Flag Masters". Each flag leader can be accompanied by two to three deputy flag masters. These people are also among the few qualified to learn the magical skills of protecting religions, besides the leader.
Please note that it is not that each flag leader or deputy flag leader can only learn one magic skill, but as long as you become the deputy flag leader, you can learn five magical skills: Qinglong Jin, White Tiger Palm, Suzaku Feather, Xuanwu Armor, Qilin Finger... You can all learn.
It's just that each flag has its own expertise. If you become the deputy flag leader at the White Tiger Flag, and after studying for a period of time, you find that the most suitable one for you is Suzaku Feather, then the leader may transfer you to it. Go to the Zhuque Flag and let the flag over there teach you.
At the moment, Li Qiyu, the deputy flag-bearer Li summoned by Yi Shiqing, is the deputy flag-bearer of the Xuanwu Banner. He is the most outstanding in horizontal training kung fu of a strong bridge and a strong horse.
Of course, this is not actually the point of Yi Shiqing calling her here. The point is... besides being good at martial arts, she is also a beauty.
In this world, people are judged by their appearance; beautiful people have an easier time doing things, while ugly people have a harder time - this is common sense and fact regardless of whether they are politically correct or not.
If Tang Fu needs to beat someone up or spend some money to ask about something, Li Qiyu might be able to ask with a wink. If Tang Fu might not be able to get in even if he disguises himself, Li Qiyu might just walk in. .
For that kind of latent investigation, sending a beautiful woman will get twice the result with half the effort.
Not long after, Li Qiyu arrived after receiving the order.
Although she was beautiful, her walking posture was not ladylike at all. She was aggressive and aggressive, as if she was planning to punch someone with every step she took.
"Master, I have something to do." Li Qiyu raised her head, raised her fists and cupped her hands, and asked loudly, not seeming to take the leader seriously at all.
But in fact, it wasn't that she didn't respect the leader, it was just that she had always been like this, and Yi Shiqing and the old man... were both used to her attitude.
On weekdays, if Li Qiyu sat there motionless and said nothing, she would be a beautiful woman, with bright eyes, white teeth, natural appearance, as beautiful as a flower, and charming. In addition, women at that time also wore thick clothes, except for some Except for special jobs, women from good families generally don't show much of their arms. Even if Li Qiyu is covered in tendons and abdominal muscles under her clothes, others can't see them. They only know that she has a good-looking face.
However, whenever she spoke or acted, she looked like a military commander from the late Eastern Han Dynasty, which was in huge contrast to her face.
Of course, that is her most natural and comfortable state, and she is not stupid; she can act, she can pretend...
I have never eaten pork but I have always seen pigs running away. Li Qiyu still knows how to pretend to be a lady, but she only pretends to be when necessary, such as when she goes out on a mission. Normally she is too lazy to act.
"Deputy Flag Master Li, there is something that requires you to go out." Yi Shiqing had already figured out the plan before she came, so he replied directly, "Please listen to me carefully..."
…………
Dusk, inside Luoyang City.
Two days have passed since the fire.
The burning smell in the air still hasn't dissipated.
The Gate of Justice...or rather the ruins of the Tianqi Gang's headquarters still have the residual warmth left by the fire.
Even the beggar didn't want to get even half a step closer to the ruins, because the inside was so burned that it was impossible to see anything valuable left.
Hiss...hiss...
No one noticed that something in the ruins near the south gate was making a very subtle noise, like the spitting of worm threads.
At this time, if someone peels back the layers of bricks and looks inside, they will find... that there is a charred corpse hidden under the shadow where the sunlight cannot reach.
The charred skin of this "corpse" was exuding a strange grease at the moment, and there were many bulging little bags squirming back and forth under his skin, as if some creature was busy inside.
As time went by, strands of solid threads that looked like condensed oil began to appear on the surface of the corpse. Slowly, these threads became more and more numerous and accumulated thicker, wrapping the entire corpse. Turned into something like a cocoon...
