Zhao Rang's face showed just the right amount of surprise.
The "wealth and honor" that Boss Hu calls "the sky is full of wealth" is obviously not a trivial matter.
And Mrs. Liu asking him to come here was not just as simple as sending a letter.
However, Zhao Rang did not show any abnormality, but followed Boss Hu's words and said:
"Thank you very much, Boss Hu."
Boss Hu waved his hand, indicating to Zhao Rang that you don't have to be polite.
He picked up the tea cup, took a sip of tea, and then said slowly:
"Mrs. Liu's letter comes at just the right time."
Zhao Rang didn't answer, just listened quietly.
"Zhenhai City is going to undergo a big change recently, do you know?"
Boss Hu suddenly asked.
Zhao Rang replied calmly:
"I haven't been in the city for a long time, and I don't know much about the things in the city."
Boss Hu nodded, not surprised by Zhao Rang's answer.
"This major change is related to the future of Zhenhai City and the interests of each of us."
"Mrs. Liu's letter is about this great change. Brother, are you interested in participating?"
Zhao Rang did not answer Boss Hu’s question directly, but asked instead:
"I wonder how Boss Hu wants me to participate?"
Boss Hu smiled and said:
"It's very simple. We just need you to stand by our side at the critical moment."
Boss Hu's words, to put it nicely, are to get him to join the team and to give him wealth, but to put it badly, it means that he is interested in his sharp swordsmanship!
After all, Zhao Rang didn't believe that Boss Hu didn't know about the troubles that had occurred in Zhenhai City these days.
However, Zhao Rang did not show any dissatisfaction, but said:
"Since Boss Hu thinks highly of me, I am naturally willing to serve."
Boss Hu couldn't help but feel a little confused when he saw Zhao Rang agreeing so readily.
He originally thought that it would take some convincing to convince Zhao Rang, but he didn't expect that the other party would agree so readily.
However, doubts were doubts, and Boss Hu did not show it.
He picked up the tea cup, gestured to Zhao Rang and said:
"Come, have tea instead of wine, and wish us a happy cooperation!"
Zhao Rang picked up the tea cup, touched it lightly with Boss Hu, and drank it all in one gulp.
After exiting Boss Hu's residence from the main entrance, night has fallen in the city. It seems to be a peaceful world, but there is a feeling that an arrow is on the string and must be fired.
Zhao Rang returned along the long road, preparing to go to Buzhuang to report to Mrs. Liu.
I also delivered the letter I was asked to deliver, and I also heard Boss Hu say a lot of nonsense. Now it was time for her to fulfill her promise and confess the origin of the bloody suit.
The moment he stepped into Buzhuang, Zhao Rang felt a cold wind coming, like the breath of death, cold and sharp.
The door slammed shut behind him, as if it was some ominous omen, isolating him from the outside world.
At this moment, all the muscles in his body were like fully-stretched bowstrings, ready to respond to any emergencies.
Several rays of cold light flashed like ghosts, cold and deadly in the dim light.
Every cold light was aimed at Zhao Rang's vitals, trying to kill him.
Zhao Rang's figure moved like the wind, turning into a phantom, quickly shuttling through the narrow space.
Every dodge was just right, dodging the cold light one by one.
The movements are light and swift, like a butterfly dancing in the night, elegant and calm.
"Ding! Ding!"
Several crisp sounds were heard, adding a strange color to this sudden disaster.
Zhao Rang looked back and saw that several cold lights had been nailed on the wooden door behind him, like frozen lightning, illuminating the surrounding darkness.
Looking carefully, the cold light turned out to be several short knives glowing with cold light, and the blades were still trembling slightly.
dark place!
There was a sound of clothes fluttering.
Immediately afterwards, several black shadows emerged from all directions. Their movements were swift and silent, like ghosts in the night.
These killers are cold-blooded people who have undergone strict training, and no emotions can influence their actions.
They have only one goal, and that is to take Zhao Rang's life.
Faced with the sudden change, Zhao Rang did not panic, as if everything was under his control.
His figure quickly shuttled through the narrow space again.
Every dodge seemed to have been precisely calculated, and he resolved the killer's attacks one by one, as easily as a fish swimming in the water.
At the same time, Zhao Rang also waved the knife in his hand like a shadow.
The sword was sharp and dazzling, and every time it was swung, it took away the life of a killer.
"laugh!"
There was a soft sound.
A line of blood has appeared at the throat of one of the killers.
He stared at Zhao Rang in disbelief with wide eyes, and his body slowly fell down, hitting the ground with a dull sound.
Seeing that they could not attack for a long time, the other killers began to become anxious, and their attacks became more fierce and crazy, as if they wanted to pour all their strength into this attack.
However, no matter what, they couldn't break through the knife in Zhao Rang's hand!
"puff!"
Another muffled sound came.
The chest of a killer has been pierced by Zhao Rang's long knife.
Which killer is this to fall?
Zhao Rang can no longer remember clearly.
Finally, the last killer fell under Zhao Rang's knife.
The corpses of several killers were lying scattered throughout the village, and the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.
Zhao Rang stood in the center of the village and looked around, with a hint of exhaustion and relief in his eyes.
Taking a deep breath, Zhao Rang put the long sword into its sheath and walked into the depths of Buzhuang.
He knew that Mrs. Liu must be waiting for him there.
In the deepest part of Buzhuang, Zhao Rang saw Mrs. Liu's figure standing under the lamp from a distance.
"You're back."
Mrs. Liu's voice was calm and calm.
"How did things go?"
"The letter has been delivered to Boss Hu. However, we encountered some trouble in Cloth Village just now."
Mrs. Liu was not surprised:
"Those killers are my people. They are all dead soldiers who have been feeding for more than ten years. I will take care of their families for the next three generations."
Zhao Rang raised his eyebrows:
"The province is the province, the flowers are the flowers, Madam is courageous!"
Mrs. Liu said calmly:
"I just want to test your skills. I also told you that they will not kill you."
Zhao Rang asked:
"Didn't you already try it once? In your small building in Hanshi."
Mrs. Liu turned around and looked directly into Zhao Rang's eyes:
"Last time was the last time, and this time is this time. After all, you have just been injured. I don't know how much ability you have left."
Zhao Rang walked to the bed and carefully wiped the blood on the knife with the curtains hanging around it. Then he looked in the mirror, straightened the messy hair on the temples, and then said:
"Now you see, everything is there. What next?"
"If you have all the skills, I can tell you where my old friend is."
Zhao Rang's heart tightened when he saw that the bloody clothes belonging to Qingqing were still on the table, exactly the same as when he left before.
"Where is Qingqing?"
Mrs. Liu slowly spit out three words:
"The City Lord's Mansion."
"City Lord's Mansion?"
Zhao Rang repeated it in a low voice.
Mrs. Liu nodded and continued:
"Yes, the City Lord's Mansion. Your old friend, she is now in the City Lord's Mansion."
Zhao Rang frowned and felt a strong uneasiness in his heart.
Qingqing is a member of the Investigation Department, and the City Lord's Palace is responsible for the jurisdiction of Zhenhai City. Even some special orders in the city were granted by the imperial court.
As long as Qingqing reveals his identity, the City Lord's Mansion shouldn't do the same...
"Why does the City Lord's Mansion want to embarrass Qingqing? Don't they..."
Zhao Rang spoke halfway, but then he held it back.
"Of course they know that your old friend is from the Investigation Department."
Mrs. Liu sighed softly and said:
"I don't know the specific reason. But I know that the City Lord's Mansion and the Longfan Society have always been in collusion. They work together and secretly control the situation in Zhenhai City. In this way, they will make things difficult for your friends, right? pass?"
Zhao Rang stared at Mrs. Liu and suddenly said:
"I thought Madam's temperament didn't look like that of an ordinary businessman before. Now it seems she certainly doesn't."
Mrs. Liu raised her lips and said:
"Oh? Just because I said a few words about the City Lord's Mansion, the young master can come up with so many things?"
"Everyone in Zhenhai City knows what I just said. It's just that when you first arrive, no one will mention it to you, and they don't dare to discuss it in private."
Zhao Rang's heart sank, knowing that Mrs. Liu was not ready to tell the truth. Unexpectedly, she changed the subject and continued:
But you don’t have to worry too much. The people I left in the city lord’s mansion told me that your friend is safe now. His injuries were treated and treated, and he was treated as a guest and given good food and drink. It’s just that you can’t come out at will, and you can’t contact the outside world. "
Zhao Rang frowned, his heart full of doubts and uneasiness.
"A distinguished guest? Then why do you have this bloody suit?!"
Mrs. Liu's explanation made Zhao Rang unable to refute.
If you are forcefully coerced into places you don’t want to go and people you don’t want to see, you will naturally resist.
Whenever you use your hands, death and injury are inevitable.
Just like in the hall of Buzhuang just now, even if Mrs. Liu seriously told the dead soldiers and killers under him not to hurt Zhao Rang's life, this does not mean that Zhao Rang would be merciful and let them live.
————————
At this moment, inside the city lord's palace.
The study of the city lord Di Tian is hidden within a high wall, with only a stone path connecting it to the outside.
The study is actually quite spacious, but the doors and windows are designed to be small and exquisite.
The light in the study was soft, but the few rays of light shone through the two small windows, subtly reflecting on a person sitting at the stone table.
There seemed to be only one person reading quietly in the study.
In the courtyard, there was only the figure sitting alone at the stone table, meditating.
When Qingqing was led around the high wall by a woman dressed as a maid and stepped into the courtyard, a strong fragrance of ink happened to emit from the study.
A freshly painted landscape painting was torn to pieces and thrown to the ground.
This landscape painting is not ugly. Although Qingqing dislikes seeing the city lord, she has to admit that the brushstrokes are full of aura.
But when Di Tian looked at this painting, his expression seemed to be looking at a child's graffiti.
Di Tian has a slender figure and an elegant face, but there is always a hint of melancholy in his eyebrows, as if nothing in the world can touch his heartstrings, and he seems a little tired from the fragrance of ink in the study.
He frowned and said softly:
"If Longfan sends such rubbish again in the future, just burn it directly. Don't hand it over again to stain my eyes."
The person waiting on the side immediately said:
"Yes, sir. They came today. They only said that they wanted to give you a landscape painting. I thought you liked painting, so I boldly accepted it."
Di Tian frowned again and said:
"This is not a landscape, just scrawled ink marks."
Di Tian sighed softly, slowly rolled out a brand new piece of drawing paper, and motioned for the others to exit first.
Not long after, the scent of ink came from the study again,
The aroma this time was indeed a little different from before.
Qingqing couldn't tell what the difference was, but when she smelled the ink fragrance of the painting just now, although she felt it was very fresh, she had no desire to appreciate it.
She doesn't know much about painting.
But this time when she smelled the fragrance of ink, she felt an inexplicable attraction.
This city lord with an elegant face and a touch of melancholy turned out to be a master of painting skills.
"How did you draw it?"
The same scene, the same paper, the same ink, just changing one person, but everything has changed.
Di Tian said calmly:
"Because I know everything I do and think about it in advance."
"When I count from one to sixty in my mind, I start to grind the ink. When I count to one hundred and twenty, I write down the picture I have conceived. Then I draw it here seven times, no more, no less. , I can only draw seven times, then stop and think, and then continue when my mood is reached. At this time, the mountain sitting on the mountain and the water under the mountain have begun to bloom with a fresh aura that belongs only to them, and I can just start to deal with the blank parts."
When he spoke, there was silence inside and outside the study. Everyone was listening attentively, including his enemy, Qing Qing.
Di Tian paused for a moment, then continued:
"The Fishing Boat Sings Late is actually not a majestic painting. But only in such daily sketches can the artist's skills be truly reflected. It requires that the mood, technique, and rhythm must be grasped just right."
There are many paintings in the Changchun Garden and the first floor, but Qingqing never thought that there is so much to pay attention to in painting a painting.
At this time, Di Tian had already put down his paintbrush, and the waiter immediately handed him a steaming white towel to clean his hands. Then the maid who brought Qingqing here immediately brought him a cup of tea.
The city lord's style is indeed extraordinary.
I don’t know how many people in the world can afford the paintings painted by such people.
Qingqing had almost forgotten the unpleasantness between herself and Di Tian.
At this moment, she only regarded him as a master of painting, and she was already attracted by this extraordinary painter.
Di Tian is not scary at all when he is painting.
The painter can only hold a pen in his hand, and the pen can only draw.
It doesn't matter if Di Tian is a cook.
The knife in the cook's hand is for cutting vegetables, not for killing people.
Qingqing stood there, quietly watching Di Tian sipping tea, and couldn't help but feel a little curious.
She had never seen Di Tian like this before, quiet and calm, as if the whole world was under his control.
This was completely different from the arrogant, domineering and arrogant city lord she knew before.
"You seem to be very interested in my paintings?"
Di Tian suddenly spoke, breaking the silence.
Qingqing was stunned for a moment, then nodded:
"Indeed, I have never seen such a painting before."
Di Tian smiled slightly, put down the tea cup and said:
"In fact, painting is the same as being a human being. You need to know what you are doing. Only when you know what you are doing can you draw good paintings and be a good person."
Qingqing frowned slightly and looked at Di Tian with some confusion.
She didn't understand why Di Tian suddenly said such words.
Di Tian seemed to see Qingqing's doubts, sighed softly and said:
"I know you have a lot of questions about me now. In fact, I have a lot of questions myself. But one thing I can tell you is that I am not the kind of person you think."
"Then how should I imagine it?"
Qingqing asked rhetorically.
Di Tian was silent for a moment, and then said slowly:
"Something happened that made me no longer even recognize myself. It was only recently that I began to slowly find myself again."
Qingqing didn't speak, just listened quietly.
She didn't know whether what Di Tian said was true or not, but she could feel the changes in Di Tian.
This change made her more curious about Di Tian.
"Do you want to know the reason why I found myself recently?"
Di Tian suddenly asked.
Qingqing nodded:
"If you want to say it."
Di Tian was silent for a moment again, and then said slowly:
"It's because of one person."
"who?"
Qingqing asked.
Di Tian did not answer Qingqing's question directly, but asked instead:
"Do you know why I left you in the City Lord's Mansion?"
Qingqing shook her head
"have no idea."
"Because I want to get to know someone through you."
Di Tian said slowly.
"Someone who means a lot to me."
Qingqing's heart moved, and she vaguely guessed who the person Di Tian was talking about was.
"That person is with your friend now."
Di Tian said slowly.
"Through you, I can get to know your friend and see her again. As for your friend, of course you know who I am referring to, right?"
Qingqing looked at Di Tian with wide eyes, her heart filled with shock and confusion.
Di Tian seemed to see Qingqing's doubts, smiled softly and said:
"You don't need to be so surprised. There is no disagreement between me and Zhao Rang. But the entanglement between me and that person is too deep... She once saved my life, and she also once put me in a situation that is beyond redemption."
The more Qingqing listened, the more confused she became...
But Di Tian didn't explain anything further.
He turned around and walked to the window, looked out at the dark night, and said in a low tone:
"Zhenhai City is going to undergo a big change in the next few days. I hope you and your friends can be on my side."
Qingqing knew that she couldn't agree, let alone help Di Tian in any way.
Although she was very curious about Di Tian, she was more aware of the hostile relationship between herself and him.
After helping him, Zhao Rang bore the brunt.
He and Zhao Rang are friends and partners who have experienced life and death together. For friends, there is no room for thinking, only loyalty. The best partner is to advance and retreat together, and there is no need to discuss.
Di Tian seemed to see Qingqing's thoughts. This time he did not force:
"You don't have to answer me now. You can go back and think about it. If you figure it out, please tell me. If you don't want to, please tell me."
Qingqing nodded:
"Okay, I'll tell you."
Di Tian smiled slightly:
"Thank you!"
After saying this, he turned around and walked back to his desk to continue painting. It was as if everything just now was just a casual chat while he was painting.
