Lying on the soft bed, Zhao Rang gently closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, adjusted his breath, and fell asleep soon.
That night, perhaps because of the days of running around and exhaustion, he slept extremely peacefully without any nightmares disturbing him.
It wasn't until the sun had risen high the next day, and warm sunlight poured into the room through the window, that Zhao Rang slowly opened his eyes.
I lazily turned over and was about to get up when a crisp call from the waiter came from the door.
The waiter carefully held a delicate tray, opened the door gently and walked in.
Seeing that Zhao Rang was still a little sleepy, he showed a kind smile on his face and said respectfully:
"Sir, this is the breakfast Mrs. Liu specially ordered to bring you."
Zhao Rang sat up and looked up, only to see an exquisite food box placed on the tray.
A tempting aroma hit your nose, and inside was a steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup.
The golden noodles are soaked in rich chicken soup, which looks very appetizing. There are two golden fried eggs beside it.
The noodles are chewy and elastic, the chicken soup is delicious, and the eggs are cooked just right, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Zhao Rang eats them with relish.
After eating breakfast, Zhao Rang placed the food box and tray outside the door, sat back on the bed again, and began to organize his thoughts. Recalling what happened last night, he felt a little confused and uneasy...
Especially the woman who broke in through the window and pretended to be Qingqing to attack him. Who was she?
Why is she doing this?
I remember that when she broke up with Qingqing yesterday, she told her to stay in the inn and not run around. If something happens, she will take the initiative to come to the inn to find her.
But now, Zhao Rang can't wait any longer...
He wanted to know what happened last night, and wanted to find out who the woman pretending to be Qingqing was!
After making up his mind, Zhao Rang got dressed and walked out of the room.
Weaving through the bustling crowd, he paid attention to every possible clue, but after going around in a big circle, he didn't find any useful information.
Arriving near the Investigation Department's territory facing the street, he hesitated for a moment and chose to leave.
What surprised him was that even in the street market he and Qingqing walked through last night, no one had any impression of such an eye-catching girl...
She was like a gust of wind, blowing past and disappearing forever, leaving no trace.
Zhao Rang's mood became a little gloomy.
He thought he could easily find Qingqing, but he didn't expect it would be so troublesome.
Wandering aimlessly on the streets in Zhenhai City known as "the busiest by the river", Zhao Rang saw several women sneaking out of their homes and flirting with vendors for some cheap accessories, haggling happily.
I stopped for a long time in front of a shipwreck antique store called "Guyunzhai", listening to the waiter introduce the various antique treasures in the store.
I even bought a bag of special snacks called "Amber Candy", but I didn't know where to put them. Finally, it was given to the children playing on the roadside.
Zhao Rang himself didn't know what to do now.
He had no grudges with the Longfan Society, Gong She and other Jianghu forces, but now he was inexplicably involved in this dispute.
Some people say: People often do things they don't like for the people they like.
But Zhao Rang just turned it upside down.
In order to cultivate his own hobbies and interests, he will do things he doesn't like.
Perhaps it is precisely because of this unique character and pursuit that he stands out in this complicated world.
Finally, he stopped in front of a teahouse called "Bi Bo Ting".
This teahouse is surrounded by clear running water, and blooming flowers decorate every corner, making it look particularly elegant.
He walked into the teahouse and chose a seat to sit down.
As a pot of fine Tieguanyin was brewed, Zhao Rang began to quietly savor this rare peaceful time.
Since the last time he suffered a loss while drinking alone, he has always been afraid of wine glasses and wine bottles.
He couldn't help but laugh at himself secretly, thinking that the saying "Once bitten by a snake, you will be afraid of the well rope for ten years" really made sense.
The teahouse is surrounded by bustling crowds and a dazzling array of stalls.
The vendors were shouting loudly, and the stalls in front of them displayed colorful conches and exquisite jewelry made of pearls.
On the edge of the street, a group of haggard-looking Lipas sat quietly, waiting for their employer's mercy.
They did not show any signs of begging, nor did they actively solicit business.
In order to survive, they had to endure all kinds of hardships and humiliations.
The pot of tea gradually ran out, but Zhao Rang still didn't find any useful clues.
He sighed softly and couldn't help feeling a little disappointed...
However, at this moment, he suddenly felt a darkness in front of him and looked up to see a middle-aged man standing in front of him.
This middle-aged man was tall and tall, and his broad back blocked the light outside the window, causing his face to be completely shrouded in shadow.
Zhao Rang couldn't see his face clearly, but he could feel the tired and anxious aura emanating from him.
Immediately he kicked his feet back, and the chair and the chair were pressed tightly against the wall.
This will prevent someone from plotting from behind.
At the same time, while holding the handle of the knife with his right hand, his left hand was also secretly supported under the tea table. If the situation went wrong, overturning the table would at least buy him some time to react.
After doing these two things, he carefully looked at the person in front of him.
Although he couldn't see his face clearly, Zhao Rang could feel that the middle-aged man's eyes were locked on his face.
Suddenly, the middle-aged man raised his shoulders and stretched out his right hand!
Just when he was about to approach him, the middle-aged man dropped his elbow and picked up the tea cup in front of him, which contained a cup of hot tea that he had just filled.
The middle-aged man picked up the tea cup and drank it all in one gulp, sighing with relief in his throat.
Looking at him again, the fatigue on his face seems to have been ironed by this cup of tea, and it is not as strong as before.
"If you are thirsty, I can buy you a pot of tea, but you'd better not stand in front of me."
Zhao Rang said.
The middle-aged man was not angry at Zhao Rang's words. Instead, he stepped away from him obediently, but then sat next to him very consciously.
A set of movements flowed smoothly, and the two of them seemed like old friends who had known each other for many years.
"Get a new teacup, man!"
After giving the instructions, the middle-aged man turned to Zhao Rang and bowed his hands and said:
"I'm Lan Shizi from Baihe Mountain."
Zhao Rang felt something in his heart when he heard this. He knew that this person should be sent by his uncle, so he was not surprised and just nodded lightly.
"I thought people in the Taoist sect were very polite."
Lan Shizi laughed roughly a few times, took the new teacup handed over by the waiter, placed it in front of Zhao Rang and said:
"If you are so knowledgeable and sensible, why do you want to become a monk? Even in this secular world, there are not so many rules to abide by."
There was a deep sense of helplessness and compromise in his words.
"When I say polite, I also include rules."
Lan Shizi did not answer, but looked around Zhao Rang, as if he was looking for something.
Zhao Rang did not hide anything and said directly:
"I left the baggage at the inn."
Seeing that Zhao Rang was speaking directly, Lan Shizi stopped talking in circles and said straight to the point:
"Uncle Master sensed the fluctuations in sword energy last night and thought you had also encountered misfortune."
"Fortunately, it has been solved. Thanks to the gift from my great uncle!"
Zhao Rang briefly told what happened last night. Of course, he concealed the part about Qing Qing very cleverly.
Lan Shizi frowned after hearing this, feeling very surprised and angry about what happened last night:
"It must be the Bow Snake!" He gritted his teeth and said, "A group of bandits from the Longfan Society have always liked to use their power to bully others, so they have no such brains!"
Zhao Rang was secretly shocked when he saw that Lan Shizi actually knew about the existence of Bow Snake. Unexpectedly, even a sect like Baiheshan has heard of it.
It seems that these forces that have been passed down for a long time have their own channels and are well-informed, and no one has an idle person.
After pondering for a moment, Zhao Rang asked again:
"Does Master Lan know why they came to me?"
He wanted to find out how he got involved in this dispute.
Lan Shizi shook his head and said:
"I don't know about this, but since my uncle has handed over the land deed to you, you can move in here. At least something like this won't happen again."
Zhao Rang smiled and did not answer, similarly ensuring that he had heard three people say this to him three times.
The first time was when Madam Liu said that she would definitely protect him in the inn.
The second time was when Boss Hu threatened that as long as the money was in place, there was nothing he couldn't do in Zhenhai City.
The third time was the Taoist Master Lan Shizi in front of me.
"Thank you, Taoist Master Lan, for your kindness. But I have some important things to deal with. I will definitely come and disturb you after I finish them!"
Lan Shizi glanced at Zhao Rang and said nothing more. He understood what Zhao Rang meant and the other party did not want to be involved in Baihe Mountain because of his own affairs.
Although doing so might be a bit risky, he still respected Zhao Rang's choice.
"In that case, I won't force you."
Lan Shizi stood up and said while putting down the tea cup in his hand to indicate that he was leaving.
"But I still want to remind you to be careful!"
Lan Shizi patted Zhao Rang on the shoulder, and then strode out of the teahouse.
Zhao Rang didn't stay in the teahouse too long.
After a pot of tea, he had thoroughly digested his breakfast, but the snacks in the teahouse were not enough, so he had to continue wandering around Zhenhai City, looking for a restaurant that he could meet.
After talking to Lan Shizi, Zhao Rang felt a lot more relaxed as if the clouds were clearing.
He walked leisurely, his eyes wandering around, full of curiosity about everything around him.
Unintentionally, he caught a glimpse of a seemingly frail scholar, holding a heavy scroll in his hand, standing quietly in an alley chatting with Lan Shizi.
But the scholar's eyes flickered, making Zhao Rang doubtful.
Just as he was about to step forward to find out what was going on, he suddenly saw the scholar's eyes turned cold and he smashed the scroll in his hand against Lan Shizi's Tianling Cap.
Immediately afterwards, a woman selling flowers at the alley pulled out a gleaming dagger from the flower basket and stabbed Lan Shizi's waist.
At the same time, a one-eyed artist who had traveled far away had colorful ribbons flying in the basket in his hand, but there was a hidden murderous intention. The ribbon was as fine as silk, and the steel wire as sharp as a blade went straight to Lan Shizi's neck!
Zhao Rang was shocked and rushed forward, but he was still a step too late...
At the critical moment, Lan Shizi dodged like the wind, quickly took out a Baiheshan-specific cigarette bomb and slammed it on the ground.
In the smoke, his figure became blurry.
But I saw three more strong men jumping down from the roof on the side.
They cooperated tacitly and surrounded Lan Shizi tightly.
One of the strong men shouted loudly and punched Lan Shizi hard on the left shoulder.
Lan Shizi seemed to have been hit hard by a giant hammer, and he fell to the ground, paralyzed.
The situation changed rapidly, and the two old men who were drinking tea and playing with the birds in the alley suddenly stood up.
The two of them used their majestic finger power to shoot the small tea cup at Lan Shizi's vital spot.
Xiaozhan drew arcs in the air, heading straight for him with the fierce wind.
Only then did Zhao Rang rush to the alley and stand with his back to the flower seller.
He held the knife in his back, gathered all his strength, and slammed the handle down!
The woman screamed in pain, and the sound of broken bones could be clearly heard.
The purpose of Zhao Rang's attack was not to kill, but to rescue.
He stared at the two old men with burning eyes.
I saw the two men's movements were astonishing, flying across the street like hawks, heading straight towards Lan Shizi.
Lan Shizi had already spotted the tree-covered mound in front of him, which was his only hope of escape.
The terrain in the woods is similar to that of Baihe Mountain. He has absolute confidence. He can go around in the woods and never lose to anyone present!
Zhao Rang also saw Lan Shizi's intention, and immediately slashed with his sword, fought and retreated, and tried to get closer to the woods.
However, neither of them noticed a man who had been standing in the forest with his hands behind his hands as if admiring the scenery.
The man suddenly waved a palm, and the wind in his palm was like a knife, extremely sharp.
Zhao Rang's already prepared sword was caught off guard by the intrusion of this energy... and his body skills also became staggering.
And the flower girl whose bones were broken by him with the handle of the knife struggled to get up, with a malicious light shining in her eyes.
She used her last strength to throw the dagger in her hand at Zhao Rang. The dagger flashed a cold light in the air and went straight to Zhao Rang's heart.
Zhao Rang dwarfed, trying to avoid the fatal blow, but the cold blade still cut his arm, and blood instantly seeped out and stained his sleeves red.
There was no time to take care of his own injuries, because the three strong men and the two old men followed him closely.
Lan Shizi had already forced himself up.
The injury to his left shoulder made his movements sluggish.
He took a deep breath and pulled out a soft sword from his waist. The sword trembled slightly, and the sword light spilled out like a sword. It combined with Zhao Rang's sword light and gradually forced the five people back.
The man in the bamboo forest has not moved since he took out the palm.
It was as if it was just a temporary move and this battle was not taken seriously.
Both Zhao Rang and Lan Shizi knew that this man was the biggest threat.
He is like a dormant tiger. Be ready to give the enemy a fatal blow at any time!
Sure enough, just when Zhao Rang and Lan Shizi were about to break out of the encirclement, the man took action again.
The figure floated in the blink of an eye, and in an instant he was behind Zhao Rang. He shot out a strong wind and hit the back of the two of them!
Zhao Rang felt a chill on his back, and a sense of death penetrated his heart. He had no choice but to turn around suddenly and swing his sword to meet the man's palm.
"when!"
With the sound of gold and iron, Zhao Rang felt his arm go numb and the knife in his hand almost flew out of his hand.
The man was also slightly startled, obviously not expecting Zhao Rang to be able to receive his palm.
Lan Shizi seized this moment of silence and stabbed the man in the chest with his sword.
The man sneered without dodging, and actually took Lan Shizi's sword forcefully.
"Ding!"
The tip of the sword pierced the man's chest, but it seemed to hit an iron plate. Lan Shizi felt a strong force coming from the sword body, making his arm numb.
Zhao Rang and Lan Shizi looked at each other and saw the fear and determination in each other's eyes.
The man suddenly looked up to the sky and laughed:
"Okay! Okay! Okay! It's not a waste of time for me to come out!"
Before his laughter ended, the man's palm struck Zhao Rang again.
Zhao Rang swung his sword to block, but felt that the opponent's palm was as heavy as a mountain and made him unable to breathe...
Seeing this, Lan Shizi suddenly dropped the soft sword in his hand, made a seal with both hands on his chest, and muttered something.
Although Zhao Rang didn't know what Lan Shizi was doing, he suppressed the numbness in his arm and attacked the man with his knife, trying to buy him some time.
The man couldn't help but be a little surprised when he saw Lan Shizi abandoning his weapons and using Taoism instead.
Lan Shizi suddenly pushed forward with both hands, and a majestic energy shot out from his palms and went straight to the man's face!
The man didn't expect Lan Shizi to have such a method. He was slightly startled and retreated to avoid the light.
However, this retreat opened a gap. Zhao Rang seized the opportunity to duck past and stood side by side with Lan Shizi.
At this time, Lan Shizi's face was as pale as paper. The blow just now had exhausted all the Dao Qi accumulated in his body. Now his strong body was crumbling like an empty shell...
Upon seeing this, Zhao Rang hurriedly supported him, fearing that he would fall to the ground.
The man did not take advantage of the situation, but stood there, looking at the two people with interest, as if he was admiring their struggle in the desperate situation.
"You are very good, you can force me to use three points of strength."
Zhao Rang and Lan Shizi also knew that the person in front of them was a master, not an opponent...
Suddenly a clear flute sound suddenly sounded in the sky.
When the man heard the sound of the flute, his expression suddenly changed, and his figure turned into a wisp of smoke and disappeared instantly.
The sound of the flute was melodious, as if coming from the sky. Zhao Rang and Lan Shizi looked at each other, not knowing who was playing the flute and why the man was so afraid.
But at this time, they couldn't care so much. Lan Shizi had exhausted all his strength and was at the end of his strength. He urgently needed to find a place to adjust his breathing and recover.
Although Zhao Rang still has some strength left, he also knows that he is no match for that man...
In the depths of the woods, a young man in green clothes sat quietly on a huge rock.
Her face is as beautiful as the bright moon, and her temperament is otherworldly, like an immortal.
He held a green jade flute in his hand. As he lightly opened his lips, the melodious sound of the flute flowed out like spring water and filled the entire forest.
When Zhao Rang saw this young man for the first time, he suddenly felt a turmoil in his heart.
He never expected that the flute sound, which was like the sound of nature, was produced by such a young boy!
After the young man caught a glimpse of Zhao Rang and Lan Shizi, he stopped playing, a gentle smile appeared on his lips, and he nodded gently to them, as if to welcome the two guests who had come from afar.
"It's great to be able to escape safely."
The boy's voice was as clear as a mountain spring striking a rock.
Every word seems to be able to wash away the dust in people's hearts.
The moment Lan Shizi saw the young man, he broke away from Zhao Rang's support and bowed respectfully to the young man:
"Thank you, senior, for saving your life! My junior, Baiheshan Lanshizi, would also like to express my gratitude to you on behalf of my great uncle!"
The young man waved his hand, with a smile on his face like a spring breeze:
"You don't need to say thank you. I just happened to meet you. There is no need to thank me for him. I have just returned from the distant sea and am about to find him for a drink."
Speaking of this, the young man paused for a moment. His eyes swept over Zhao Rang and Lan Shizi, with a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes:
"But having said that, it is indeed extraordinary that you can persist for such a long time in the hands of such a powerful enemy without retreating!"
Zhao Rang was full of curiosity and awe about this young man's identity. He held up his hands and asked:
"Dare you ask me your senior's surname? Junior Zhao Jia Zhao Rang, I might as well make a special trip to say thank you in the future!"
The young man stood up, put his hands behind his back, looked up at the sky, and said softly:
"What happens once makes you familiar. If we are destined to meet again, we will meet again. Then you invite me to drink and I will tell you my name."
As soon as he finished speaking, the young man took a step forward, leaving only a hazy place.
"Who is this senior?"
Zhao Rang couldn't help but ask Lan Shizi.
Lan Shizi shook his head, showing admiration:
"I don't know the true identity of this senior, but judging from his otherworldly demeanor and unfathomable cultivation, and his close friendship with his master and uncle, he must be a peerless master in the Taoist sect."
Zhao Rang nodded, no longer worrying about the boy's identity:
"How is your injury, Master Lan?"
"It's okay. I've already taken the healing elixir specially made by Baihe Mountain. I only need to find a quiet place to exercise my power and adjust my breath for a few hours to fully recover."
As he spoke, he took out an exquisite small porcelain bottle from his arms, poured out a pill that exuded a faint medicinal fragrance, handed it to Zhao Rang and said:
"Although this elixir cannot bring the dead back to life, it is quite miraculous. Please take it."
Zhao Rang took the elixir and swallowed it without hesitation. Suddenly a warm current rose from his Dantian and quickly flowed through his limbs and bones.
The pain at the wound gradually dissipated under the soothing warmth of this current.
