He recited the mantra silently and concentrated on his luck.
"Quick!" Infuriating energy instantly poured into his calves, and his muscles suddenly twitched violently. He immediately started running, leaving the Yellow Wind Snakes far behind.
He ran wildly under the starry night, his face stiffened by the biting cold wind, and all he could hear in his ears was the sharp sound of wind. From the touch of his feet, he knew that he was running on a gravel road, or perhaps he was still on the post road.
Suddenly, he wanted to make sure of one thing: Did he crush the snake just now?
When he took off his feet just now, was there anything soft under his feet...
He doesn't remember.
never mind. he thinks.
He ran as fast as he could, until a hotel appeared on the side of the road, and he stopped holding his breath.
He panted heavily and stepped into the inn tiredly.
The innkeeper was already clearing away the tables and chairs. It must be closing time soon.
At this moment, Yun Kong inexplicably wanted to take a comfortable bath and have a safe sleep.
He touched his waist bag, estimated the cost, and asked for a small room.
enough. he thinks.
"I wonder how Daniel is doing?"
※※※
On the morning of the second day, the cloud sky was awakened by the hot sunshine.
The air that was still bitterly cold last night changed its appearance as soon as the sun came out, baking the clouds to the point where they kept sweating.
The wild running last night made his joints feel sore when he woke up early in the morning, and he almost lost the strength to get up.
I didn’t expect that the early spring in Lingnan would be so hot!
He ordered his luggage, including a cloth shoulder bag, a bamboo pole, a straw hat, and a shawl.
Taking advantage of the bright sun, Yun Kong was ready to rush to the next stop, so he went to the counter to check out the room and asked for some water and steamed buns.
"Hey, what is that?" Some guest shouted at the door of the inn.
The waiter also went to watch, causing the shopkeeper to scold him.
Yun Kong was not interested and just wanted to fill his stomach.
More and more people gathered in front of the store, and eventually even the shopkeeper couldn't help but join in the fun.
"So many snakes, it's so good to make wine!"
"No, no, the snake won't get fat until the autumn wind blows! The brew now doesn't taste good."
"What nonsense are you talking about? These are yellow wind snakes!"
Yun Kong was startled, and the warmth of the day disappeared completely in an instant.
Sure enough, after everyone knew it was the Yellow Wind Snake, the original frolic immediately turned silent.
There is a large group of yellow wind snakes on the post road outside the inn. Their conspicuous yellow ribbons face the sky, forming a Yellow River and moving slowly on the gravel road.
They are a group but act like a single being.
They know how to cooperate and divide labor, acting collectively like bees and ants.
Yun Kong hid behind the crowd, peeking at this spectacular procession, hoping in his heart that his scent would be masked by the crowd.
Suddenly an idea came to him: Could it be that Huang Feng Snake really found people based on their smell?
Based on smell alone, it is impossible for them to know who killed their companions.
Master Dengxin Denghuo once said that snakes are creatures that are born to gather grievances. People with a vicious heart, or those who had grievances before death and had vicious thoughts, will be reincarnated as snakes after death.
Could it be that they have special magical powers, magical powers specifically used for revenge?
Thinking of this, Yun Kong shuddered.
The Yellow Wind Snake didn't notice him, and the yellow river swam boldly on the road.
Huang Feng is not alone in the ranks.
There was also a person in the small river where the Yellow Wind Snakes gathered.
It was a big bull whose whole body was black and exuding a strange odor.
The bull's eyes looked toward the sky, but the eyeballs had disappeared, leaving only two strange holes.
His mouth was slightly open, revealing yellow-brown teeth, and his face was weirdly twisted.
Yunkong suddenly felt a large chill coming over him, and his whole figure seemed to be submerged in the river water of the cold night.
He returned to his seat and stared blankly at the buns.
He hesitated, wondering whether he should move or not.
He was still trying to think back, did he step on a yellow wind snake the night before?
What if there is?
What if he gets killed?
He didn't dare to imagine anymore, he just thought about how to escape.
It's very hot outside now and the snake will be moving faster than last night.
At night, although the temperature dropped, there were no snakes visible in the darkness.
Yun Kong hesitated for a long time.
He rummaged through the bag and took out two paper horses, his last pair.
He tied the paper horse to his feet, paid the bill, and walked out of the store.
The yellow wind snake outside the inn is no longer there.
Yun Kong no longer waited, and with his mind made up, he immediately took a deep breath and ran with his legs flying.
This run lasted for five hours, until it got dark.
This run actually lasted three days.
Yun Kong found a dilapidated wooden house on the roadside and rested hungry for a night before dragging his swollen legs on the road again.
Street markets were often used as execution grounds.
After autumn comes, there are often three or five jailers who will take the prisoners to a crowded place in the market, and order everyone to clear a space for the prisoners to kneel down. After the officials announce the crime to the crowd of onlookers, the executioner will swipe his sword, adding blood to the dust on the ground. .
I don’t know how many heads have fallen in this place, and I don’t know how many of them looked up to the sky with sorrow when they fell to the ground, and how many of them had loess hitting their faces.
The reason why the execution was chosen in autumn is because among the four seasons, "Autumn" represents the decline and death of all things, and people must conform to the heaven and earth. Therefore, the "Autumn Judgment" punishment was established in ancient times. Unless there are special circumstances, it will not be executed. There will be a "cut to death" sentence.
But today's market is a little different.
First of all, autumn is far from here, and summer is sweltering, especially in Koto, where it is as sultry as a steamer.
Then, today's market did not execute the prisoners, but exposed the buttocks of a number of prisoners to the hot sun, which made them red and red, and it looked like they were about to peel off.
It turns out that over the past few years, an order has been issued to capture all the "husbands" in the city and whip their butts in public in the market.
I don’t know how long the “Xiangong” industry has been around, and it has increased significantly in recent years. There are some good-looking men who put on makeup and powder, and they are among the dignitaries. The older and less good-looking ones have no choice but to put red and white on their wrinkled faces and win over the lonely customers in the flower streets and willow alleys. .
The number of "husband-in-law" increased day by day, and the yamen felt that it was no longer possible, so they caught him and spanked him until his skin and flesh were bruised. His tears and tangled hair messed up the makeup on his face, making him look more like a painted face than the big painted face on the stage.
That summer, Yun Kong came to Jiangning Mansion.
When he passed the market, he saw many people watching his husband being whipped. He also went to watch the excitement, but soon lost interest.
Because he has more important things to do.
Several years ago, he once asked Chi Chengzi and learned that Zhang Tieqiao lived in Jiangning Mansion on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and was protected by beggars. Therefore, anyone looking for Zhang Tieqiao must be led by beggars.
However, he didn't have much money left, so he had to quickly find a place where there was a lot of excitement, stand in a conspicuous position, and show off the trick that said "divination and fortune-telling, strange and complicated diseases" in order to earn a few bucks.
He found a corner outside the restaurant, spread a cloth, sat down on it, and waited for the guests.
His white cloth sign with the words "divination and fortune-telling, rare and complicated diseases" written on it was yellow and mottled, and was particularly inconspicuous in the crowded market, but people still came to ask for divination.
While Yun Kong was waiting for the guests to come to the door, he closed his eyes and sat quietly to adjust his breathing. He counted the money he earned today in his mind and couldn't help but sigh secretly.
"Cloud sky."
A dark shadow blocked the light, and Yun Kong hurriedly looked up.
Seeing this, I was really surprised and happy.
The person in front of me is actually Chi Chengzi!
"Chichengzi!" He cried out happily when he met his old friend: "Why are you here?"
He and Chi Chengzi had been separated for many years, and he didn't expect to meet him by chance.
Chi Chengzi was still the same as before, with not a single hair on his skeleton-like face, which would make people run away from him.
The difference was that he was paler than before.
"Chichengzi!" He called again, so excited that he wanted to hold his hand.
Chi Chengzi remained calm and quickly covered Yun Kong's mouth with one hand.
His palm exuded a strong smell of blood, pressing directly into Yun Kong's brain.
His eyes turned to the corners uneasily, as if he was trying to see the impossible behind.
The skirt of his clothes was gently opened.
What appeared in front of Yun Kong's eyes was a blur of flesh and blood.
"...Run away." He said.
Yun Kong quickly stood up, holding the shaky Chi Chengzi with one hand: "Sit down! Sit down! I'll get the gold medicine!"
Pedestrians around them slowed down curiously and looked at them.
"Yunkong..." Chi Chengzi pulled the skirt of Yunkong's clothes with his skeletal hands, and with a "hiss" sound, it tore apart: "My senior brother is here..."
