Cai Pingchun smiled: "My nephew is right."
Cai Zhao squinted at Chang Ning, with three words in his eyes: You are so fake.
Chapter 34
When they returned to the Qingque Sect, it was already time to turn on the lamp. Chang Ning and Cai Zhao caught up with the last trip of the Wanshui Qianshan Cliff to unwind the iron rope before dark. After that, the gate would be closed and the road would be closed. No one could cross the cliff at night without a warrant.
Cai Zhao hooked his two little hands behind his back and skipped ahead.
Seeing that she was relaxed and happy, Chang Ning asked: "What were you two talking about when you were locked in the room just now?" He also specially invited him to drink tea in the lobby of the inn, but he only drank half a bowl of cold well water.
Cai Zhao turned around with a smile: "Dad said that he will go up the mountain to see Master tomorrow morning."
Chang Ning was suspicious: "You only said that?" He drank half a bowl of cold water.
Cai Zhao raised his head and moved forward: "Dad also said that with the commotion like this, there will probably be another turmoil in the world. He told me to sneak back to Luoying Valley and hide as soon as I saw something was wrong. Amitayus, you are so good."
Chang Ning laughed out loud: "Master Cai Valley is really an honest person. I thought you wanted to imitate your aunt in practicing chivalry and never retreat. Well, that's fine. Fortunately, you are not like your aunt."
"Not all juniors are like their elders." Cai Zhao smiled: "You don't look like Daxia Chang either."
Chang Ning's pupils suddenly narrowed: "What do you mean?"
Cai Zhao turned around and walked backwards: "That's what it means literally."
Chang Ning stopped, his face as sinking as water.
Cai Zhao also stopped and found a large lake next to him. She looked around: "You are quite good at choosing a place. There is no one around here, so it is easy to talk."
"If you have anything to say, Zhao Zhao, just say it." The young man in the wide-sleeved robe stood by the water, like a banished immortal...or a demon pretending to be an immortal.
Cai Zhao's eyes were like water: "Brother Chang Shi, in fact, you are not good at pretending. Ever since you went to Jiuli Mountain, you have deliberately pretended to be evil, driving away all those who care about you, either sincerely or pretendingly. , so that no one will notice anything wrong with you."
Chang Ning: "What's wrong with me?"
"At first, I thought you were ill-tempered because you were sick since childhood." Cai Zhaodao, "But after getting along for a long time, I found that you are not only moody, but also wanton and reckless, never caring about the consequences. You need to look back at the time when you bullied me When your people vent their anger, they will ignore everything and make themselves happy first."
"Chang Daxia has been chivalrous and kind-hearted for decades. Even if he loves his frail and sick son, he will teach him what needs to be taught - the real brother Chang Shi will not act like you. Am I right? ,'Brother Chang Shi'?" Cai Zhao looked at Chang Ning.
Chang Ning raised the corner of his lips slightly: "What you said is good. But you have forgotten that I am no longer the Chang Ning I was before. My family has suffered great changes and my entire family has been massacred. Can't my character change drastically?"
Cai Zhao nodded: "I've thought about it too, but one's character can change drastically, and the experience of facing an enemy cannot be conjured out of thin air."
She added, "That day on the cliffs of thousands of rivers and mountains, you could tell the story of their murders just from the injuries on a dozen corpses, and then you could detect the tactics of the demon sect - these are not things that can be figured out behind closed doors. , I have to see many corpses and go through many fights to develop this skill."
"The son of Chang Daxia has been frail for more than ten years and has only recovered in the past two years. He is busy practicing behind closed doors and has not had time to make up for his previous shortcomings. How can he have so much 'knowledge'? I'm afraid my father can also see your Something is wrong, there is no one who has recovered all his body power but still has sores all over his face."
"And your 'Chang Family Sword Technique' - I don't use a sword because I'm used to using my own sword, but I often don't have it with me, so I have to pick up a sword and use it. I don't mean to hide it. But Brother Chang Shi Why is it that I use my left hand instead of my dominant right hand to swing the sword?"
Chang Ning was silent: "...What does Zhaozhao think is the reason?"
"Because the kung fu on your right hand is too powerful. Once you don't hold it when you use the sword, it will easily arouse people's suspicion." Cai Zhao, "No matter how talented Mr. Chang is, he has only been practicing martial arts for two or three years." Brother Chang Shi 'Wouldn't it be strange if a sword was swung out, like wind, thunder, lightning, and unstoppable force?"
"Coupled with your hot temper that can't stand being bullied, and your arrogant character that doesn't need to worry about the consequences - 'Brother Chang Shi', you lived a very honorable life in the past." The girl smiled.
Chang Ning did not smile, "So, who does Zhao Zhao think I am."
Cai Zhao said easily: "I don't know. My father told me, I can't guess it just by guessing."
Chang Ning looked at the girl quietly, "Why didn't Zhao Zhao report to Sect Master Qi and arrest me for interrogation?"
Cai Zhao sighed, "Although you may be a fake, many of the past secrets you told are true, and the 'Catkin Sword Technique' you used is also true."
"Especially the past events of my aunt's youth. If Daxia Chang had volunteered, I really can't imagine why he would tell them in such detail and without reservation. There are also the Chang family's internal skills and mental methods. With Daxia Chang, If you are really under coercion, it is not difficult to do some tricks when teaching the inner method."
The girl paused and focused her eyes on Chang Ning, "I want Chang Daxia to teach the Chang family's martial arts and tell the past bit by bit over a long period of time - I think you must be Chang Ning." Someone whom the heroes trust very much.”
After a long time, there was silence all around, and 'Chang Ning' let out a long breath, "I underestimated Zhao Zhao."
Cai Zhao said sincerely: "It's because you didn't take more precautions against me."
The young man thought for a moment, "Do you want to know who I am?"
"If you want to say it, just say it. If you don't want to say it, don't say it. You haven't figured out how to say it yet, have you." Cai Zhao stared at the young man, "I just want to know another thing now - Chang Daxia's son is still alive Are you alive?"
The young man spoke very slowly, "He is alive, but you can also treat him as dead."
Cai Zhao's heart trembled, "How to say."
The young man shook his head, "Two or three years ago, he finally recovered. Chang Daxia was relieved and asked his son to practice the mental method. Unexpectedly, Mrs. Chang went crazy after seeing him, worried that her son would follow in the footsteps of his father and brother after learning martial arts. A certain brother was in retreat, and Mrs. Chang suddenly broke in and yelled to stop her son from practicing martial arts, causing Brother Chang to go crazy and have his meridians severed, and he will never be able to practice martial arts again in this life."
"He was in a coma for several days and couldn't remember anything after he woke up. Chang Daxia thought for a long time and said that this might be God's will, so he asked his loyal old servant to take his son away, hide his name, and retreat to the mountains and fields. From then on, he never returned to normal. Shi Ning'er."
The young man raised his head and looked at the moon, "A few months after Brother Chang left, the demon sect came to kill him. Chang Daxia was very happy when he thought about it later. He said that God had mercy on the Chang family and was lucky enough to save Chang Ning's life and be able to have children like ordinary people. Raising children is also a blessing.”
Cai Zhao said sadly: "...Didn't that old servant hear about such a big thing as the Chang family's annihilation?"
"I can't do anything after hearing this," the young man said. "Before leaving, Daxia Chang repeatedly told the old servant not to worry about Jiang Hu and the Chang family again. Even if he dies, he is not allowed to look back. Old Servant As long as he takes good care of his son, he will be worthy of him. The old servant swore a blood oath and agreed."
Cai Zhao sighed deeply: "That's fine. A high position is dangerous. It's not a bad thing to be an ordinary rich man."
The young man waited for a long time but didn't see the girl asking questions, so he couldn't help but said, "Do you really not want to know who I am at all?"
Cai Zhao smiled, with a cute and childish face, "Whatever comes out of your mouth must be true." If you can pretend to be another person, you can also lie.
"If you don't expose me, is it okay?" The young man was still surprised.
Cai Zhao started to move forward, "It's okay or not, that's it. Anyway, the hero trusts you. Master has entrusted you to me. What do I, a new disciple who has only been on the mountain for half a month, know?"
The young man crossed his long legs and stopped in front of the girl, "I thought you wanted to imitate Cai Nvxia."
Miss Cai's face turned gloomy: "My father doesn't want me to be like my aunt... My mother says it nicely, but I know she is actually the same as my father in her heart. My aunt is the person I respect and love the most in the world, but... I’m afraid I can’t be like her anymore.”
She raised her head and said, "Tomorrow I will move to Chunling Xiaozhu, 'Brother Chang Shi'... I will call you Brother Chang Shi, so you can take care of yourself in the future." After saying this, she walked forward without looking back.
Chang Ning looked at the girl's leaving figure and didn't move a step for a long time. Logically speaking, he should be relieved, but at the moment he felt unspeakably depressed.
…
Probably because he felt emboldened by seeing his father, Cai Zhao fell asleep quickly that night.
Then she dreamed.
The aunt in the dream was very young, just like what my mother described, with a rosy face and radiant face, a pair of lively eyes that were always smiling, and fearless. She whispered in her little niece's ear, "Xiao Zhaozhao, don't be afraid of the dark. The monsters will always be beaten away, and the sky will always be bright..."
The little girl burst into tears and shouted, "Auntie, don't leave, I'm scared."
wake up.
Cai Zhao sat up in a cold sweat. Outside was a nightmare-like dark night.
She was in a daze - why should she be afraid?
My father has come back. My mother and younger brother have taken refuge in Ning's house for the time being. The whole family is safe.
No matter how stupid the outside world is, as long as the Luoying Valley is closed, nothing will be any of their family's business.
She lay back down angrily, trying to sleep even if she couldn't. She was no longer a child, and it was too embarrassing to be scared to sleep by a nightmare.
More than half an hour passed in a daze, the dark sky began to lighten, and there was a sudden noise outside the house. Cai Zhao vaguely heard Fu Rong's exclamation, Jade's calm scolding, and the sound of chaotic footsteps.
Then there was the sound of Chang Ning pushing the door open. He asked in an incredible tone, "What are you talking about? What do you mean by missing?"
Then, she was called up and told that Cai Pingchun was missing.
…
The long crowd filed through the dark abyss, and the iron ropes swayed, driving the torches held high by the crowd.
The incident was so serious that even Qi Yunke, whose lingering poison was still lingering, was carried down the mountain in a recliner by his servants.
The fire was glowing in the darkness, and everyone's face was extraordinarily unreal. Zeng Mansion's busyness, Dai Fengchi's gloating, Song Yuzhi's anxiety, and Fan Xingjia's surprise all seemed to appear on the stage.
Cai Zhao could not see anyone clearly, and no one could tell the difference. Only Chang Ning was supporting her behind her. His arms were warm and strong, and his muscles were strong, making her feel like her feet were stepping on the ground.
When they arrived in front of the Yuelai Inn, they were surrounded by Qingque Sect disciples holding torches. The outer circle was also surrounded by many unfamiliar faces that Cai Zhao had seen during the day.
Then, a trembling old farmer was pushed forward.
This old farmer is responsible for delivering raw food to Yuelai Inn. Although the inn's business is deserted, the shopkeeper and the waiters also need to eat, so he delivers live fish, steaks and vegetables every day before dawn.
Unexpectedly, no one answered after knocking on the door for a long time. However, there were a few lights leaking from the cracks in the door, and it was obviously someone. He had been delivering goods to this inn for many years. Although the shopkeeper said he didn't know how to do business, he never gave credit, so the friendship between the buyer and seller became deeper and deeper.
The old farmer knew that the back door of the inn was never locked, so he took a detour to the back door with a pole, passed through the kitchen and entered the lobby. When he saw the bloody corpses on the ground, he was almost frightened to death, so he quickly reported it to the sect steward.
The door of the inn was opened, the counter was overturned, pens, inks, paper, inkstones, account books, and copper keys were scattered on the floor. Even the bamboo signs hanging on the wall fell off. The body of the innkeeper was lying face down in the room. The brazier beside him for heating had been extinguished.
Everyone was anxious to find Cai Pingchun, so they rushed to the second floor and saw five more corpses along the way.
In Tianzi Room 1 on the second floor, the tables, chairs, beds and tents are neat and clean, and the teapots and teacups are arranged in a plum blossom shape, as if no one has lived there.
Cai Zhao hurriedly looked at the bed. The quilt was folded neatly, without any traces.
The room was empty and deserted. It was unimaginable that this was the place where Cai's father and daughter had a laugh and chat not long ago. There were no signs of a fight. It had obviously been cleaned up deliberately.
Everyone looked at each other, and a strange atmosphere filled the room.
"Where has my father gone?" Cai Zhao said to himself numbly.
Zeng Dalou comforted him: "Don't worry, let's take a look."
Qi Yunke was supported by someone and stood aside, coughing lightly.
Pushing the door out of Room 1, Tianzi, there is the body of the first clerk at the door, lying on his side in a curled shape.
At the top of the stairs was the second man, whose body was lying on the railing.
In the middle of the stairs was a third guy, lying face down on the steps.
There were two crouched corpses lined up in the lobby. The man on the left was fat and holding a kitchen knife in his hand, trying to chop down the enemy. He was obviously the cook.
"How many people are there in this inn?" Zeng Daorou asked.
The disciple replied: "One shopkeeper, one cook, and four waiters...all are here."
"How many people are staying in the hotel?"
This time Cai Zhao answered, "Tonight, only my father is staying in the hotel."
——There was another panicked silence.
"You go and see the bodies of a few people first." Qi Yunke was weak and was helped to sit down and rest.
