Xu Xiurong turned around and left.
Ji Ping'an reluctantly took out his money bag and bought two bags of preserved eggs under the envious eyes of the shop owner. They paired them with exclusive dipping sauce and stuffed them into the hands of the female prisoner Hou.
As for being mistaken for a couple...one is an old monster who has lived for many years and is used to the wind and rain, and the other is also a high-ranking prisoner. After a brief embarrassment, he didn't take it to heart.
In the night market.
The two of them each held a bag of preserved eggs, dipping them with wooden skewers to eat, and talked about business.
"I called you here alone, mainly to talk about the grand prize. Are you sure you want to participate?"
Xu Xiurong took a bite of the hot preserved egg, swallowed it whole, pinched the other half with her green and jade fingers, and asked in a low voice.
Ji Ping'an didn't even look at her and said:
"Didn't I tell you this a long time ago? The Grand Prize of the City of Gods is a rare opportunity."
Xu Xiurong said "yes" and agreed.
She didn't know Ji Ping'an's true purpose, but from a spiritual perspective, it was beneficial to participate.
In addition to the many rewards, the most important thing is the opportunity for the younger generations of the major factions to compete with each other and the reputation they gain.
It sounds a bit hypocritical, but if you look at it over time, the future achievements of those who have participated in the Grand Award and those who have not participated are very different.
Xu Xiurong said:
"With your cultivation and mind, you can indeed give it a try, and the biggest advantage is that no one understands your fighting style, and the others have more or less information to refer to..."
She analyzed a wave of advantages. She wanted to talk about the disadvantages, but after thinking about it for a long time, she could only say one sentence:
"I just have less experience."
Only then did I realize that Ji Pingan really seemed to have a good chance of winning.
This is true whether it is his familiarity with the tactics of the major factions or the mentality and methods he has shown in repeatedly killing his enemies.
But just two or three months ago, when I first learned that he was going to participate, I was still not optimistic about it.
When did the transition occur?
Yes, it was he who showed his differences again and again and gradually changed many people's views.
Especially after tonight, this name will leave Qintian Prison for the first time.
"Indeed." Ji Pingan nodded in agreement. He indeed had no experience in participating in the Shendu Grand Prize.
After all, it was too low-level, and the most he could do was show up in his original capacity.
Xu Xiurong said:
"You have an idea. You don't need to tell me more. The schedule for tonight's Grand Prize has almost been finalized and will be officially announced in the next two days. You should prepare yourself."
Ji Pingan nodded, thinking that he really needed to increase the amount of training for the "Tianbang Team".
Get them ready and don't hold them back.
Xu Xiurong bit the half preserved egg on the bamboo stick in his mouth and licked the sauce at the corner of his mouth.
Looking up at the night sky, I suddenly felt strong anticipation for the grand prize in a few days.
Well, when those people learned that Ji Ping'an was also going to participate, they would probably be surprised.
…
In the Qianqing Palace.
Emperor Yuan Qing was sitting in the room, behind him was a "book rack" with various antiques, bright yellow curtains hanging, and in front of him was a teapot with orange charcoal fire licking the bottom of the cup.
When he drank all the tea in the cup again, the impatience in his heart reached its peak.
At this time, there were finally rapid and messy footsteps coming from far and near outside.
"Your Majesty, Duke Lu Guo and others want to see you!"
Eunuch Deng hurriedly appeared at the door, holding a whisk in his hand.
Emperor Yuan Qing, who had thick black hair and was in his prime, was shocked and said:
"Bring it in."
Not long after, a group of courtiers representing the imperial court arrived to attend today's deer roaring banquet. Every one of them was a big shot standing outside, stamping their feet and shaking their heads.
But at this moment, they were all trembling like quails.
Without it, there would be no near misses tonight, but if something happens, it just happens.
Someone had to take the blame for letting the monster killer sneak into the hospital. On the way here, everyone was thinking about how to shirk the responsibility.
"What's going on? But there was an accident at the Luming Banquet? What happened? Tell us in detail."
Emperor Yuan Qing's eyes were sharp as he scanned the crowd, keenly aware that something was wrong.
"My lord, it's up to you." A group of ministers looked at each other.
Finally, the Minister of Rites, who was wearing a crimson official robe, looked at the old man beside him.
After all, it was me who endured it all... Duke Lu Guo had no expression on his face. He faced the emperor's sharp gaze, took a deep breath, and began to explain in detail:
"Your Majesty..."
He did not mention the assassination directly. After all, this incident involved many causes and consequences, and it was not the only one that was the highlight.
Therefore, "linear narrative" was chosen.
From the moment Master Zhang recognized Ji Pingan, the two were tricked into leaving by the killer.
Then everyone who was discussing saw the sword light and hurried away, and Qi Hongmian and Xin Yaoguang arrived one after another... to the final, climax stage.
Ji Ping'an talked eloquently and narrated what happened, but just when everyone thought that the matter was over, Gao Mingjing took off the former's vest.
Duke Lu Guo's mouth was dry when he said it. He didn't think anything of it at the time. When he told people about it, he suddenly realized:
This night was really full of ups and downs, full of twists and turns.
When the whole story was heard in the ears of Emperor Yuan Qing, Eunuch Deng and others, there was even more surprise and surprise.
"You mean, the demon tribe was so bold that they actually wanted to instigate Qi Hongmian to become an enemy of the imperial court? But they were defeated by Na Ji Ping'an? And behind all this, was the secret arrangement between him and Xin Yaoguang? When Mo Lin performed martial arts, it was also two people Cooperate?"
Emperor Yuan Qing asked in confusion.
The Minister of Rites said: "What the Duke said is not false. We all witnessed the whole process. However, the details of the case remain to be investigated. Now it is just an inference."
The other officials nodded, indicating that this was indeed the case.
Emperor Yuan Qing fell silent, as if he was digesting this information. After a long time, he took a long breath, thought for a while, and said:
"What do you, dear friends, think of this matter?"
The Minister of Rites handed over his hand:
"I have committed a crime of negligence, and I beg your Majesty to convict you!"
A group of officials behind him echoed in unison. They are all veteran officials.
Emperor Yuan Qing became agitated when he saw this, and said coldly:
"The demon clan has repeatedly made trouble, just when the big reward is held, and they want to destroy it. The third law department and the governor of the government office immediately entered the palace. If no explanation can be found this time, they will not take this official skin. Got it!"
"Here!"
The princes responded and exited the room.
They all could not help but breathe a sigh of relief, slightly surprised that the emperor did not express his anger at them.
But what the heck... let Sanfasi have a headache next, Lu Guogong and other old fritters thought gloatingly.
…
…
That night, those who stayed behind from all the major sects also learned about everything that happened at the Luming Banquet through their fellow sects.
I couldn't help but regret that I couldn't attend and missed such a great show.
The next morning, the whole thing began to spread to the wider population.
White Pagoda Temple.
"Abbott, Abbot!"
A young monk pushed open the door of the courtyard covered with morning dew, and his bald head shimmered in the morning sun.
Master Xueting was practicing a set of health-preserving boxing techniques in the courtyard. His movements were slow but smooth. When he heard the words, he asked without changing his movements:
"Why panic?"
The monk took a deep breath and said excitedly:
"What you sent me to inquire about last night has come to fruition."
"Oh?" Xue Ting slowly stopped moving, his gray eyebrows raised, his expression compassionate and peaceful:
"It looks like what happened last night was quite exciting."
"Wonderful, so wonderful." The young monk was a little incoherent, and immediately recounted the information he had found out vividly.
There was no interruption during this period. When he finished speaking in one breath, he noticed a look of surprise on the face of the old monk in front of him.
"Ji Ping'an..."
Master Xueting chewed on this name and couldn't help but think of the scene in the noodle shop when the other party left him a verse.
That young man was actually a disciple of Qin Tianjian, recommended by the Imperial Master... No wonder he appeared in the noodle shop, presumably it was the Imperial Master who mentioned him.
"By the way, there's one more thing."
The young monk said:
"Officials from the Third Division and the government office were called into the palace late last night. Early in the morning, the number of police officers patrolling the streets doubled. They also said that among them there was a servant who was replaced by a killer. He was the one who salvaged people from the river two days ago. The disfigured corpse was found, but the corpse of the other servant who was replaced by the demon clan has not been found yet, so it may have been eaten."
"Amitabha."
Master Xueting clasped his hands together, with a compassionate look on his face, and recited the Rebirth Mantra facing the rising sun.
…
Hidden Sword Restaurant.
As a gathering place for Jianghu people, the restaurant has become increasingly lively in the past two days.
In the early morning, a brother and sister dressed as Jianghu people walked out of the inn and walked towards the restaurant with the accompanying old servant.
On the road, a short girl wrapped in a dark red sarong looked worried:
"Brother, Juxian Village is very powerful. The owner of the village is said to have broken through the fifth realm very early. We may be able to think of other ways."
The young man next to her was dressed as a young hero, with a scar on his forehead. He looked resolute. He glanced at the little sister and said comfortingly:
"Don't worry, I'm not a stupid and reckless person. At the moment, I'm just trying to find out more information about the other party."
The short girl breathed a silent sigh of relief, but she still couldn't hide her worry.
At this time, the old servant next to him suddenly said:
"It's so lively here today, I wonder what happened."
The two brothers and sister looked at the restaurant ahead, and there were indeed a lot of people.
When I got closer, I heard a group of people from all over the world gathered in the lobby, discussing enthusiastically and looking excited.
The three of them were confused for a while, and only heard words such as "Deer Ming Banquet", "Monster Clan", and "Ji Ping'an".
The first two are still known, but the latter one is completely unfamiliar.
"Brother, may I ask what you are talking about?" The young man found a kind-faced man and asked.
The latter glanced at the three of them and said:
"You still don't know, did you see that sword energy last night? Well, unfortunately it might not be visible outside, but it's not important. Let me tell you, the true identity of Mr. He has been exposed..."
The short girl pricked up her ears in surprise. She still can't forget the scene she saw that day when Mo Lin performed martial arts and Bai Di's music played.
After listening to everyone's gossip about last night's deer roaring banquet, the three of them couldn't hide their shock.
I just feel like listening to a book from heaven, after all... let alone the master of the Taoist sect and the master of the beast-controlling sect, who are the top powerhouses who see the beginning but not the end of the dragon.
Even the level of elders in various sects and the realm of sitting in the well are already unattainable to them, and they are real big shots.
As for Ji Ping'an, he must be a genius... the two brothers and sisters thought with envy.
At this time, suddenly there were officials beating gongs and drums outside the inn and posting imperial notices.
Immediately a group of warriors flocked to watch.
In the blink of an eye, the nearby bulletin board was blocked.
The three of them reluctantly squeezed through and looked up to read carefully. Next to them, an illiterate martial artist scratched his head and scratched his head and said anxiously:
"What's written on it?"
The short girl glanced at him and explained:
"It's an announcement that the Grand Prize in the City of Gods is about to be held."
…
Xiaoxiang Pavilion.
Compared to the bustling streets and alleys, these fireworks venues are always extremely quiet in the early morning.
All the girls had fallen asleep, and the whole building was extremely quiet.
In a room on the second floor, beside a brown round table, the courtesan Xiang Ning got up early, her black hair like a waterfall spread freely.
She was only wearing a light gauze dress, and her convex white figure was looming underneath.
Her round buttocks were placed on a small stool, and her feet were stepping on the knitted carpet.
There is a dark green hairpin on the table.
She pressed a piece of paper with her smooth left hand, and held a brush in her right hand, writing a letter.
"To the Lord and Mother of the Country:
"Lu Mingyan failed to assassinate Zhao Yuanyang. Next, my subordinates summarized the intelligence as follows.
"However, there is a strange thing that needs to be mentioned. At the same time and place, Qintian Supervisor Chen Ji Ping'an was also assassinated by unknown forces, and the blame was placed on our clan..."
(End of chapter)
