Mu Qingyan nodded quietly and thanked her, then pulled Cai Zhao into the rain curtain.
Chapter 108
After walking less than a hundred steps east from the bamboo hut, the three of them arrived at a two-story building with white walls and black tiles. Compared with the surrounding thatched bamboo huts, this small building was obviously much more exquisite.
Cai Zhao couldn't help but said, "I haven't seen Shi Erxia yet. I wonder if I can pay my respects later."
"No." Shi Tieqiao objected.
Cai Zhao became worried: "Could it be that Shi Erxia was too seriously injured back then? Already, already..."
The little girl's big eyes were full of worry and regret, like mist rising in the bright sky.
Shi Tieqiao was in a trance for a while, thinking that these eyes really looked like Cai Pingshu. It was precisely with such a pair of eyes that always held hope that the bloody world in those days would not be in darkness.
He laughed and said, "Don't worry, he's fine. After he recovered from his injuries seven or eight years ago, I went to sea to find him and befriend him. I wrote a letter two or three years ago, saying that he had children, and he kept begging me to come back and see him. It’s just that I don’t allow it.”
Cai Zhao's eyes lit up: "I know this. Is she a very powerful and beautiful female pirate leader?"
Shi Tieqiao smiled and said, "That's her. My second brother has a bad temper. I knew he wouldn't be able to stay here, so I didn't let him know the way in or out either when I came in or when I left."
Then he sighed, "Your aunt is right, as long as we know that each other is well, it doesn't matter if we are separated from each other."
Entering the small building, a strong and bitter smell of medicinal soup hit my face. The eldest daughter-in-law of the Shi family was busy silently inside.
Cai Zhao looked at the brand new clothes placed aside and knew what Shi Tieqiao meant when he said, "Let your wife get ready" - they were preparing for the funeral of a dying person.
After reaching the second floor, Shi Tieqiao took a few steps forward, carefully helped the person on the bed to sit up, and asked Mu and Cai to sit on the opposite side of the bed.
The sick man's hair is gray, his face is wrinkled with sorrow, and his eyes, which may have been playful in his youth, have been dulled by years of worry.
He looked at Cai Zhao carefully, with a look of joy on his face: "This is Zhao Zhao, she looks like your mother. How is your mother doing lately? Does she go out to play every three days? Did you know that when she married Brother Xiaochun? , I was really shocked..."
Mu Qingyan suddenly raised his head.
Cai Zhao was surprised and laughed. Most of the old friends he met so far saw Cai Pingshu on his face. The person in front of him was the first to mention Ning Xiaofeng. She smiled and said: "My mother is very good, but she doesn't go out to play much. Before, she had to accompany my aunt to recuperate, and later she had to take care of my grandfather's funeral. Grandma kept looking for her, and my little brother... there was a lot of things to do. She's cooking."
The sick man sighed: "Xiao Feng has grown up, and everyone has grown up. I promised to take my parents on a trip to famous places all over the world, but I didn't do it. I promised to marry Xiao Feng's sister on my back, so I didn't. I broke my promise. Oh, what a waste I am!"
He turned to look at Mu and Cai, "Do you know who I am?"
Cai Zhao looked confused.
Mu Qingyan said: "Senior is Guo Zigui, the seventh disciple of Sect Master Yin."
Shi Tieqiao was surprised: "How did you guess it?"
Mu Qingyan said: "I just heard Senior Guo call me 'Brother Xiaochun' and 'Sister Xiaofeng' - among the famous disciples of Beichen at that time, the only ones who were younger than Master Cai Gu and older than Mrs. Ning were , only Senior Guo."
In fact, there was even younger Li Yuanmin who had just entered Taichu Guan at that time, but he was still a little boy at the time and had no chance to participate in any disputes.
Mu Qingyan added, "Back then, Sect Master Yin was afraid of Lady Cai's power, and his disciples rarely interacted with people around her. Only Senior Guo, because of family connections, got to know Mrs. Ning when he was young."
The sick man sighed: "You are right, I am Guo Zigui."
Cai Zhao's mouth opened wide. She looked at the critically ill man in front of her and felt sad.
In Ning Xiaofeng's memories, the missing Guo Zigui should have been a handsome young man with a golden face leaning against a bridge under the setting sun, a cheerful young man who was not doing his job and laughing all day long.
"I am from Jiangdong, and sister Xiaofeng's maternal grandfather's family is also in Jiangdong. It is only an alley away from my house." Guo Zigui was slightly lost in thought, "When we were young, whenever we met, it would be restless and everyone would have a headache... "
Shi Tieqiao suddenly snorted coldly, "You should have joined Peiqiong Villa in the first place. If old Yin Dai hadn't interfered with it, how could you have ended up like this!"
Guo Zigui said in a low voice: "My mother didn't want me to be too far away from home, so my father had already agreed with Mr. Zhou that I would live in Peiqiong Villa from now on. Who would have known...who would have known that when I was ten years old, my master Suddenly he came to Jiangdong and proposed to accept me as a closed disciple."
Shi Tieqiao had a look of disdain on his face, "Although the Jiangdong Guo family is not very famous in the martial arts world, it is one of the richest in the world. It has countless shops, workshops and mines under its name. Old Yin Dai is greedy for money and silk, and wants to use his claws to Reach into the south of the Yangtze River!"
"Brother Shi, don't say that." Guo Zigui said weakly.
Cai Zhao had never heard of this incident. He thought it was probably a sad thing for Ning Xiaofeng, so he never mentioned it.
Mu Qingyan had seen this paragraph while searching through the past in detail, and he knew what happened back then very clearly.
"Old Yin Dai is good at what he does." He sarcastically said unceremoniously, "He held a big banquet and praised Senior Guo's parents for their help to the Qingque Sect over the years in front of Jiangdong elders and Wulin Su. He expressed his gratitude to Zhu, and finally proposed to accept Senior Guo as a close disciple to make a good relationship."
Shi Tieqiao's face was angry: "There are even more people who are making noises and adding fuel to the flames, which makes it difficult for the Guo family to evade, as if not agreeing is just trying to repay the favor. Mr. Zhou, the owner of the village, is not easy to talk to, otherwise he will be tricked by Yin. Mr. Dai’s face.”
"Old Sect Leader Yin is actually so domineering!" Cai Zhao was very surprised.
When she grew up, the Qingque Sect had become peaceful and gentle under the leadership of Qi Yunke for many years. It was hard to imagine how strong the Qingque Sect was back then.
Mu Qingyan chuckled: "So you can imagine how angry Mr. Yin Dai must have been after your aunt emerged and became the world's best in martial arts."
"I'm not just angry, I'm shocked and hateful, but there's nothing I can do about it." Shi Tieqiao smiled in relief.
Everyone was talking and laughing, and Guo Zigui's face turned a little red, and his eyes became brighter.
Cai Zhao quickly said: "After my senior disappeared, everyone said that he had been killed. Now that I know that my senior is still alive, I don't know how many people are happy."
Guo Zigui shook his head: "I'm not missing, I'm running for my life. If I don't run away, Master will clean up the house immediately."
Cai Zhao was shocked again, guessing in his mind that he had violated some sect rule and made it so serious.
Guo Zigui didn't want to talk anymore and said instead: "Zhao Zhao, tell me about the sect. I know the eighth junior brother... Well, actually your master is a few years older than me. The eighth junior brother is now the sect leader, and the other senior brothers Where are they?"
"Except for the bad cook, everything in the sect is good." Cai Zhao saw that he was at the end of his game, so he picked up some nice words and said, "You also know my master's temperament. He is not only lenient in disciplining himself, but also lenient in disciplining others. Today's disciples of the Qingque Sect love to gather together to chat and watch the fun, and they can sweep out a big basket of melon seed peels every day. Thanks to Master Li Wenxun's presence, the sect's rules are not broken relaxation."
Guo Zigui was fascinated, "Oh, that's really different. When I entered the Qingque Sect, the master disciplined us very harshly..." He changed the topic and said with a sad tone, "So the six senior brothers in front of me It’s all gone, right?”
Cai Zhao thought of Qiu Renjie who committed suicide tragically, and after a while he said: "...Master Uncle Lei is still here, chatting about the quality of the elixir in the medicine house every day."
Guo Zigui laughed: "Sixth Senior Brother likes to be pretty the most. Once he's dressed up, he likes to go to crowded places. How can he stay in the medicine house every day? Is he injured and doesn't want to see people?"
Cai Zhao had no choice but to lie, "It's just a few scars on his face. I don't think it's anything. He looks more heroic, but he refuses to come out to see anyone."
Guo Zigui shook his head: "If it were just a few scars, Sixth Senior Brother would have healed himself long ago. There must be other injuries."
He was well aware of Lei Xiuming's medical skills and temperament, and vaguely guessed that he might have suffered irreparable damage to his limbs and facial features. "But it's good to be alive. He can prepare medicines and make elixirs, and he can also nag people. It means that at least he can move freely... Alas, That’s good.”
Cai Zhao was silent.
Guo Zigui suddenly felt pain on his face, his pale face turned purple, and his skinny body twitched into a ball. Shi Tieqiao used his hands like the wind to massage several of his large acupoints skillfully.
Guo Zigui's pupils were dilated and he was mumbling nonsense - "Dad, dad, why don't you come see me! Take me home quickly, I don't want to be here, I don't want to practice, I don't want to practice, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts so much! Mother, mother Don't cry, I'm fine, I have everything in the sect, the senior brothers take good care of me, I haven't endured hardship, I really haven't endured hardship..."
The child's fear gradually turned into an adult's comfort, and Cai Zhao felt sad when he heard this.
Guo Zigui gasped for air and began to talk more and more nonsense, as if his parents were right in front of him, and he was just a wanderer returning home to report good news but not bad news. He continued intermittently——
"The eldest brother and the second brother have the best tempers. They often take me secretly... to satisfy my cravings in the town. They are afraid that I will cry at night and... light a lamp at night. The fourth and fourth brothers are unkind, but they have never bullied me. The third brother is the future of my master. Although my son-in-law loves to teach others, he is willing to give me guidance as long as I am obedient and respectful... Senior Brother Six and I are the best friends. Mom, next time you encounter that shiny satin, remember to leave some for Senior Brother Six. , don’t forget..."
Shi Tieqiao kneaded the acupuncture points on his body for a while, and finally pressed hard on Bai Hui above his head. A steady stream of strong internal energy was poured in, and Guo Zigui suddenly woke up halfway.
Cai Zhao was horrified - he knew that Shi Tieqiao was drinking poison to quench his thirst, overdrawing his energy in order to cheer up the patient in a short time.
Guo Zigui opened his eyes wide and stared straight at Cai Zhao, with an abnormal flush on his face, "Zhao, Zhao Zhao, please bring something out for me, okay, okay!"
Cai Zhao said hello repeatedly.
Guo Zigui pointed to a familiar long sword hanging beside the bed - Cai Zhao had also seen a scabbard and hilt of a similar style on Lei Xiuming's wall, "This is the sword my master gave me when I entered the profession. Please." You, help me return it!"
Cai Zhao was slightly surprised - Guo Zigui had always spoken softly since they met, but these last five words were very decisive and firm.
Guo Zigui said word by word: "I have fallen from the sect's prestige and am not worthy to be the master's disciple. Please help me return the sword and treat it as if I have left the sect and am no longer a sect disciple from now on!"
Cai Zhao seemed to understand and nodded in agreement.
Guo Zigui pointed to a small box on the table opposite, "That one is for your mother, the Guo family in Jiangdong..."
He looked pained, "The Guo family is gone. This is the only thing I have. It can be regarded as a dowry to supplement your mother's dowry. She has been with me since she was a child, chasing cats and dogs, and getting into trouble everywhere."
Cai Zhao held back tears and nodded heavily.
After giving these two instructions, Guo Zigui became visibly sluggish, as if all his inner energy had been drained away.
He said angrily: "There is one last thing... please take my ashes to Jiangdong and scatter them... at the tombs of my parents."
Cai Zhao was shocked: "Why did Senior Guo say this? No matter how serious the internal injury is, as long as he takes good care of himself, he will always get better."
Guo Zigui smiled weakly: "I have been living on my last breath for several years. Life is worse than death. Zhaozhao doesn't need to persuade me." He turned his head and begged with eyes full: "Brother Shi, my wish is over, tell me to leave... tell me to leave. Bar!"
Shi Tieqiao's eyes showed grief, he cut off the transmission of internal energy, and slowly removed his palm from his Baihui point.
Guo Zigui suddenly felt like a sheepskin raft that had been deflated. He collapsed limply and lifelessly. He could not even hear his murmurings, "Mom and Dad, the unfilial son is here. It was I who killed you..."
After a weak cry, Guo Zigui lost his breath.
Cai Zhao couldn't bear it anymore and burst into tears.
Mu Qingyan sighed softly, stood up and helped Shi Tieqiao use his internal energy to repeatedly stimulate Guo Zigui's dantian and veins.
After confirming that he was indeed dead, Shi Tieqiao called his eldest daughter-in-law to arrange the funeral arrangements step by step.
People in the martial arts world do not pay attention to red tape. When Cai Pingshu passed away, he was only buried for three days. This was just to accommodate those who came to attend the funeral. Otherwise, according to Cai Pingshu's own wishes, death is like a lamp going out, and he should be buried early and reincarnated early, and don't make so many mistakes.
Under the leadership of the eldest daughter-in-law of the Shi family, a group of servants cleaned Guo Zigui's body in an orderly manner, combed his hair, changed clothes, restrained his face, stuffed enough rice into his mouth, and finally placed it flat on an iron stretcher piled with fragrant flowers and fruits, and sent it to the brick kiln. Medium cremation.
Watching the green smoke slowly rising above the brick kiln, Shi Tieqiao couldn't help but burst into tears, choked with sobs and unable to speak, "This poor child, he is not even forty this year. He has never been married or had children, and has never even had a romantic relationship!"
Cai Zhao was also uncomfortable, but in order to distract him, he forced himself to find a topic: "Senior Shi, what kind of sect rule did Master Guo break, so that Old Sect Master Yin had to take his life."
Shi Tieqiao said angrily, "What a violation of the rules! It's just that after being captured by the Demon Cult, he couldn't bear the torture and surrendered. Just now your friend also visited Brother Zigui. Ask him why Brother Zigui is sick." It won’t be cured for more than ten years!”
Mu Qingyan admired the word 'xianghao' very much, and immediately replied calmly, "Senior Guo's meridians were cut one by one with heavy hand skills, and his Dantian seemed to have been damaged by repeated use of Zhenqi. Unbearable."
Shi Tieqiao was heartbroken: "Zi Gui has been timid and afraid of pain since he was a child, so he is not ready to charge into battle. But for the sake of face, Mr. Yin Dai said that 'all the disciples of the Seven Stars will come out to avenge Taichu Temple', so he sent Zi Gui out!"
Mu Qingyan frowned: "What is 'Revenge for Taichu Temple'?"
Cai Zhao also wondered: "Where was Master Guo captured alive?"
Shi Tieqiao put away his tears, sat down on the stone pier, and said angrily: "Taichu Guan did not know his own capabilities, and jumped out to provoke the demon sect. First, the leader's junior brother Cang Longzi died tragically, and then he killed his direct disciple Wu Yuanying on Dinglu Mountain, and then The head of the clan, Cang Huanzi, also died together with Elder Yaoguang of the Demon Sect. Not long after, even the remaining Cang Qiongzi was plotted by Elder Yaoguang’s subordinates and had his legs broken.”
"I know this!" Cai Zhao quickly raised his little hand, "My mother said this, it's not that Taichu Guan is overestimating his own capabilities - didn't my aunt break Chen Shu's Five Poison Palms before? One of the people she rescued was There are many disciples of Taichu Guan. Yin Dai himself felt that he was losing face, so he turned around and provoked Taichu Guan..."
Shi Tieqiao was speechless: "Young girl Xiaofeng, you don't say what you should say, and you talk nonsense that you shouldn't say! In fact, it's not all instigated by Yin Dai. Your aunt defeated Taichu Guan in the six-sect competition and was disgraced. I’m angry.”
Mu Qingyan curled his lips disdainfully: "What happened next? Yin Dai led the crowd to take revenge?"
"Yes!" Shi Tieqiao said angrily, "Trouble happened one after another in Taichu Temple. Old man Yin Dai couldn't lose his face anymore, so he ordered all the elites of the six sects to come out and use the Netherworld Huangdao to vent their anger!"
"It's not good to raise an army out of anger," Cai Zhao said.
