In the early autumn of Qiantang Ancient City, in the alley where the side door of a large house is located, a gust of wind blew by, and the yellow-tipped willow branches swayed gently.
In the center of the blue brick and stone wall, outside the double wooden doors, the richest man in the city, wearing a silk and satin longevity gown, bowed respectfully in front of Ji Ping'an.
If there were outsiders present, I don’t know how many eyeballs would fall, but after all, this scene would not be seen by outsiders.
"Yes." The sixty-year-old man stood up tremblingly, not because of weakness, but because of excitement and fear.
Facing the sword-wielders passed down from generation to generation in the organization, even Han Bachi, who was in charge of the underground world of Shendu, and Song Qinglian, the literary leader in the main city of Yuhang, could only be filled with fear, let alone a low-level hidden official in the ancient county town?
Officer Qian invited Ji Ping'an into the hospital, and all the servants along the way were driven away by him, and everything was quiet.
The quiet and deserted back house is in sharp contrast to the lively and bustling front yard.
It wasn't until the two of them walked into a small hall in the back house and Ji Ping'an Shiran took a seat that he retracted his gaze to the eaves in the distance and said:
"I need you to do something for me."
Mr. Qian bowed and said, "My lord, please give me your instructions."
Ji Ping'an said: "I want to know whether there is a suspicious monk in the city from last night to now."
Officer Qian waited for a while and saw that the sword holder had no other information and looked embarrassed.
"Is there a problem?" Ji Ping'an asked.
Mr. Qian lowered his head and said:
"My subordinates immediately ordered people to do it, but... it may take a little time."
When he said these words, beads of sweat broke out on the old man's forehead under his yarmulke, and his heart beat like a drum, for fear of offending the young man in front of him.
After decades of ups and downs in the business world, the calmness he thought he had developed long ago was completely unable to work at this moment, or he did not dare to work it.
Ji Ping'an stared at the drooping old man for a moment, then suddenly chuckled, and the tense and solemn atmosphere in the air suddenly relaxed:
"There's no rush, I can wait. By the way, you should take care of the birthday banquet first. It's not good to keep people waiting."
As if to confirm his words, the moment he said these words, a servant's voice came from outside the closed door leading to the inner house:
"Sir, the time is coming."
…
…
The autumn wind rustles.
The huge courtyard in front of Qian's house was filled with festive ribbons, and a stage was set up in the pavilions. Yuhang's most famous actors sang, which attracted bursts of cheers.
Sitting on the tables below were prominent figures from all walks of life in Qiantang City.
However, as time went by, the birthday boy's sudden departure and delay in returning finally began to cause some guests to whisper.
"Why hasn't Mr. Qian come back yet? You must have been away for a long time."
"Is it because he is old and tired? But he looked very strong just now."
"I'm afraid something might happen. After all, we are already in our sixties. We are not the legendary immortal master. Seventy is already rare."
There was a lot of discussion, and gradually, the atmosphere began to become tense.
Finally, even the magistrate of Qiantang County, who was sitting on the throne, called his servants and asked:
"But what happened? Now it's time to celebrate my birthday."
The servants of the Qian Mansion hesitated and couldn't come up with an answer. Even Qian Yuan's eldest son, who was holding a wine flask to accompany him, had sweat on his forehead and was ready to go looking for him.
At this moment, Qian Yuanwai stepped out from behind, his face looked slightly unhappy, he cupped his hands and said:
"The county magistrate has been waiting for a long time, and I have kept you all waiting for a long time. Sorry, there is something urgent."
Everyone waved their hands, indicating that it was okay. Qian's son breathed a sigh of relief, put down his wine bottle and waved towards the stage:
"Then play music, then dance."
The Qiantang County Magistrate was curious, but although he was the head of a county, he was only an official appointed and dismissed by the imperial court. In terms of power, he might not be as powerful as this local snake who had been entrenched in Qiantang County for hundreds of years, so he didn't ask any more questions.
But when I sat down outside the old man, I was a little puzzled to find that the hem of the old man's expensive silk gown and the knees were actually stained with two clouds of dust, and I was puzzled.
The birthday banquet went on normally, except that the old birthday boy sitting at the main seat seemed absent-minded. He had a few words with his old wife alone during the ceremony, and the latter found his eldest daughter-in-law again.
When the process ended in a hurry, Qian Yuanwai quietly breathed a sigh of relief and stood up immediately, saying that he was old and overworked as an excuse to leave.
He ordered his younger son and other relatives to accompany the guest, then he rushed to the back house and called his eldest son away alone.
On the way to the back house, Qian's eldest son bowed to follow his father. He was over forty years old, but he did not dare to violate the rules in the slightest.
It wasn't until Mr. Qian opened his mouth to give instructions and inquire about the monks that he showed a puzzled expression:
"Father, what happened?"
Obviously, there is a clear connection between the old father's sudden departure and the strange order now.
Mr. Qian put his hands behind his back and suddenly stopped. He took a deep look at his eldest son, who although he looked mature but was not mentally strong enough, sighed softly:
"Do you know why I haven't allowed you to enter the study for so many years?"
The eldest son's eyes lit up, he shook his head and said, "I don't know."
His father's study was indeed a forbidden area in the family. When he was a child, he tried to find out what was going on, but his father found out and gave him a severe beating. He still has vivid memories of it.
Mr. Qian’s tone was complicated:
"Because the reason why our family has been able to prosper for hundreds of years and still stand still is because of a secret, and the institutions in the study are the responsibilities of our Qian family for generations. Today, I am already in my sixtieth year, and I am afraid I will not survive. How long will it take, I must explain some things clearly to you."
The eldest son was startled, then subconsciously held his breath and concentrated, his heart beating like a drum, feeling that a shocking secret was about to be revealed:
"It's...what?"
…
The furnishings in the living room are simple.
There are fine porcelain vases and warm jade on the museum shelves, and there are calligraphy and paintings on the walls, but they are restrained and unobtrusive, fully revealing the heritage and temperament of a wealthy family.
Ji Ping'an stood next to the ancient bookshelf, looking at a porcelain vase and thinking about the next step.
Qiantang Yinguan has been operating in the city for many years, and his tentacles must be deeply rooted. It is more efficient to collect the gossip in the city through them.
Of course, he didn't expect a result soon. After all, it was a large county with a population of hundreds of thousands. Where could it be so easy to find?
Especially since you can't cheat with divination deductions.
However, since he is an ancient monk who practices a method similar to "harvesting yin and replenishing yang", there is no reason for him to act recklessly in the Zen monastery, but in this sea-like county, he can tolerate it.
As the saying goes, you know the taste by eating the marrow. Once a person has tasted the taste of meat, it will be extremely difficult to resist it.
As long as the other party reveals his flaws, he can follow suit.
Perhaps, not only can the reborn Buddhist sect be uncovered, but Mrs. Wei and even others can also be implicated.
"Inevitably, the Reborns are also forming alliances with each other."
Ji Ping'an thought about it, sighed softly, and felt a sense of urgency.
Putting down the porcelain bottle, he turned around and looked at the woman who was carefully walking in with tea and fruit plate at the door.
The woman was about thirty years old, with her hair in a bun and a fair neck. She was in her mature years. At this moment, Nana walked in, not daring to speak loudly for fear of scaring the sword holder:
"Guest...please have some tea."
Ji Ping'an said casually: "Let it go."
Then he put down the porcelain bottle in his hand, thought for a while and asked:
"Are you Mr. Qian's concubine?"
The beautiful young woman was startled, waved her hands and said timidly: "That's the father-in-law."
Oh... my daughter-in-law, I thought it was a concubine, as the saying goes:
'Eighteen brides and eighty men, a pear tree weighs down the begonias'... That's right. According to the Zhou Dynasty's concept of dignity and inferiority, a concubine cannot do anything to entertain distinguished guests... Ji Ping'an thought.
The little woman was embarrassed and did not dare to leave.
Her mother-in-law only taught her to entertain, and she was warned not to be disrespectful in the slightest, and to meet any guest's requests unconditionally, otherwise the whole family might be in catastrophe.
She observed cautiously, but no matter how she looked at it, the boy in front of her was much smaller than her, and he didn't look sinister. He was even very good-looking.
What kind of villain could such a handsome young man be?
At this time, the Qian family father and son finally came outside the hall. The little woman breathed a silent sigh of relief, called daddy, and stepped aside with relief.
Immediately she was shocked to see that her old father-in-law, who was an equal even to the county magistrate, was respectful to the young man:
"Sir, the matter has been settled."
The eldest son of Qian next to him didn't say a word and followed his father. He looked at Ji Ping'an curiously from the corner of his eye, filled with doubts in his heart.
Thinking about the bizarre words his father said, he felt a little dazed and could not help but feel suspicious.
In fact, for him, who has lived as a "mortal" for more than 40 years, the dark web, hidden officials, sword-wielding people... who have been hiding for generations waiting for orders to be summoned one day... all these are not real enough.
It's more like a plot in a storybook.
Moreover, the "sword holder" in front of him was too young, but his father was so respectful that he even asked his real wife to bow down to serve tea, and his eldest son, the richest man in Qiantang, had to be so submissive...
After all, I was not convinced.
He even wondered if his father was confused and deceived by someone.
Ji Ping'an glanced at the latter and had a clear understanding of his thoughts.
I thought you'd better not be too stupid, otherwise Han Bachi's rebellious adopted son would be a lesson to others.
He sat in the chair and nodded gently:
"Very good. According to your thoughts, where might the other party be hiding?"
Mr. Qian said without hesitation:
"Reporting to my lord, since you said you are a practicing monk and you also fled into Qiantang, you must be most likely to be in contact with the Mendicant Cult."
Mendicant sect?
Ji Ping'an was a little curious, but he didn't expect to hear the name of this Jianghu organization again so soon.
According to Qian Yuanwai's account, the Mendicant Sect was originally a powerful force in Qiantang City. It had previously competed with the Tiandi Society for territory, but the situation has changed recently.
Just when Ji Pingan felt that it might take a long time and a protracted battle to get clues.
Accidents happen suddenly.
I saw a servant rushing in from the front door of the back house. He was in a hurry and shouted from a distance:
"Master, it's bad, the little lady is missing..."
Officer Qian was startled, and the eldest son and wife of Qian who were following him suddenly changed their expressions. He even ignored Ji Ping'an and stepped forward and asked:
"what happened?"
The servant looked sad:
"The young lady had been at the banquet before, but after eating, she said she wanted to go back to rest, but she disappeared for some reason. I searched the entire mansion and found nothing. I only found this at the west entrance."
He held an embroidered shoe in his hands.
boom.
As if five thunders struck, the couple's faces turned pale. The missing "little lady" was their daughter, the apple of their eye, and the eldest granddaughter of Mr. Qian.
At the age of sixteen, he is worthy of adulthood.
She is a typical lady, never leaving without saying goodbye, let alone leaving a shoe and disappearing into thin air.
"Father, I'm afraid there are some bad guys among the birthday guests today." Qian's son said anxiously:
"While the county magistrate is still here, report it to the official immediately."
Mr. Qian was also shocked and couldn't figure out why the changes happened one after another today. However, as the head of the family, although he was worried about his granddaughter, he knew what was more important and what was more serious. His face immediately darkened and he said:
"It's unbecoming to act like this when there are guests!"
"Father, you..."
The eldest son couldn't believe it, and anger rose in his heart. How long had it been? Could it be that the disappearance of his daughter was not more important than the etiquette of entertaining a young man?
"Snapped--"
Officer Qian saw this and slapped the eldest son decisively. His cheeks turned red and swollen to the naked eye, and he took a few steps back.
"ah!"
The little woman next to him exclaimed when she saw this, her eyes were red. She wanted to stop him but didn't dare, so she had to look at Ji Pingan for help.
Then she froze and lost her voice: "The young master is missing!"
What?
Mr. Qian and his son turned around and saw that the hall was empty. Where was the "sword holder"?
The eldest son's knees softened, and he knelt down with a thud, muttering:
"Immortal means..."
At this time, the servant realized belatedly, looked at his empty hands, and said:
"Here, where are the little lady's shoes?"
No one noticed that at this moment, on a rooftop outside the mansion, stars suddenly gathered.
Ji Ping'an's figure appeared, holding a fragrant embroidered shoe in one hand, and an illusory astrolabe appeared in his eyes.
Astrology!
…
Roll roll...
In Qiantang County, a carriage was driving fast on a remote street.
The driver of the car had the reins in one hand and a whip in the other. A string of beads hung on his short and fat body. There was no hair on the top of his head wearing a straw hat, but a string of ring scars.
His expression was fierce and indifferent, and he had an iron bowl at his side.
As the carriage was moving, the curtains shook violently, and a faint "Wooing" sound could be heard from inside the carriage. The monk turned his head and threatened him angrily behind him, and said with a sinister smile:
"If you scream again, uncle, I will execute you on the spot. Hehe, the granddaughter of the richest man, Qian, doesn't even know how to eat meat."
Woo--the carriage suddenly became quiet.
In the car separated by a curtain, an innocent girl who was only sixteen years old, wearing a light-colored satin dress, and still had baby fat on her cheeks was tied up.
There was only a white sock on one foot, huddled in the corner, shivering.
His eyes were filled with tears, and two lines of tears rolled straight down his cheeks, which was extremely pitiful.
She didn't know what happened. She only remembered that she left the noisy garden of the birthday banquet and walked to a quiet place.
Then suddenly a strong wind hit, and everything went dark. When he opened his eyes, he had been kidnapped, and he didn't know where he was being taken.
How has this innocent lady ever experienced such drama?
Countless fearful thoughts appeared in my little mind. I wanted to struggle, but I didn't dare. I could only try to suppress my sobs with desperate eyes.
However, at this moment, Miss Qian, with tears in her eyes, was stunned and could clearly see a little bit of starlight gathering in the carriage, condensing into a figure in a blue shirt.
Ji Ping'an put his fingers to his lips and made a gentle "shh" gesture, with a smile on his face:
"Don't be afraid."
…
I'm stuck, this chapter should be shorter.
(End of chapter)
