Xiahou Ninghan's tone was very gentle, but Murong Xue and Shan Tingxian couldn't help but look at each other with embarrassment in their ears. Both of them were experienced veterans and had never encountered any situation before, but at this moment, they were stunned by the question from the girl in front of them.
Murong Xue twisted her body slightly and said a little apologetically: "Please forgive Miss Xiahou. As you expected, we...we are indeed all officials of the imperial court. We went to Bianzhou this time on official business." Well... I hope you can forgive me for not revealing my identity. What Brother Shan said just now is indeed true, but those who attacked us on the way should not be ordinary thieves, but are specifically targeting us. The killer assassin."
Seeing that he was willing to tell part of the truth, Xiahou Ninghan felt a little satisfied, nodded slightly and said: "That's right. Mr. Murong, Mr. Shan, please rest assured. Although my small villa is not famous in the world, Despite my reputation and status, I can still do my best to provide you with a place to stay and shelter. You can recuperate here and make plans after Mr. Li is in better health."
Shan Tingxian was a little worried and said: "Girl, it's not that Shan is overly concerned. I am an upright person and speak outright. Please don't take it offence. Those who want to deal with us are definitely not ordinary kind people. They see us. If you want to escape, you will definitely not give up. It may not take long before you find yourself here, and by then... by then, I'm afraid you will also be implicated, and whether you can protect yourself is a question."
Hearing this, Xiahou Ninghan first smiled slightly, and then she smiled lightly, her beautiful eyes gleaming with evil aura, and said proudly: "Ninghan doesn't understand the grudges and grudges between you and those people, and he can't tell what is right and what is wrong. But. , since the three of them were rescued by me and returned to the village, they are my guests. I can't control what happens outside, but if someone wants to run wild in Xianxia Villa, they must first consider my father's temper."
Murong Xue was slightly stunned and couldn't help but ask: "Oh, by the way, haven't you asked the old sect master's name yet?"
Xiahou Ninghan responded calmly: "Those of you who are high-ranking officials may have never heard of my father. My father's name only has the character plum."
"Mei? Xiahou... Mei?" Murong Xue and Shan Tingxian looked at each other in surprise, and then exclaimed in unison: "Three friends of Suihan, Xiahou Mei?!"
No wonder Murong Xue and Shan Tingxian's reactions were so great.
More than thirty years ago, Suihan's three friends: pines, cypresses, green bamboos, and winter plums, were world-famous and famous figures. At that time, these three people were the most dazzling stars in the Holy Tang Dynasty. They were talented and heroic. Their legendary stories are still widely praised and talked about by people today.
What's even more rare is that the three of them were good friends in times of adversity. They once showed courage to each other and worked together to punish rape and eliminate evil and uphold justice for the court and the people.
Among them, the leader "Songbai" was Nian Jinsong, who was the official worshipper Zuopushe, and later served as the Taifu and led the Holy Religion Covenant. The second-ranked "Qingzhu" is the Taoist leader of the Taoist sect - Taoist Master Qingzhu.
However, "Hanmei", who is as famous as Shangshu Zuopushe and Taoist monks, is just a commoner with no official position.
He is Xia Houmei, Xiahou Ninghan's father.
Xia Houmei was originally from a famous family, and her ancestor was Xia Houjing, one of the twelve heroes of the founding of the Holy Tang Dynasty. Two hundred years ago, the gentry from the Central Plains migrated eastward, and many wealthy families entered the fertile soil of Jiangzuo. However, the bloodline of Xiahou Meizu did not follow the trend and always insisted on developing in the north. Later, after several generations of changes, relying on its profound family heritage, it remained standing and became one of the four powerful families in the north together with the Cui family in Jinzhong, the Liu family in Xiangzhou and the Chen family in Bozhou.
Xia Houmei was talented and talented since she was a child. She had already stood out among the children of her clan before she was even young, and was deeply loved and respected by the family elders.
One of his biggest characteristics is his wide range of interests. I am curious about everything, like everything, and want to dabble in everything. What's even more surprising is that this guy is so smart. He can learn almost anything in one go and become good at it in a short time. This makes the teachers who teach him often feel ashamed of themselves. He has been working for half a lifetime but still cannot compare to what he has done for half a year. He is a true genius.
When he was twenty years old, Mr. Mei was deeply fascinated by the legends of knight-errants and heroes. So, despite the dissuasion and opposition of his family, he gave up the imperial examination to seek fame. He resolutely left his hometown and began to ride alone with swords across the world. .
Xia Houmei traveled all over famous mountains and rivers, visited martial arts masters from various places, learned while traveling, practiced while practicing, and practiced while fighting. In actual combat, he gradually integrated the kung fu of various schools and formed a line of his own. After seven or eight years of hard work, he really made a name for himself.
By chance, he got acquainted with Nian Jinsong and Qingzhu, Taoist priests who were similar in age to him. The three of them were like-minded and became sworn friends. Since then, they have worked together to solve several shocking cases that shocked the government and the public. His reputation became so great that the world called him the "Three Friends of Suihan".
Xia Houmei, who had become famous, did not feel complacent because of this. After seeing all the ugliness in the world, he gradually lost the yearning for the heroic life when he was a boy. Therefore, when he was nearly forty and at the height of his power, he chose to retire to Linquan.
However, not long after retiring, Xia Houmei, who "could not sit still for a moment and liked to mess around", suddenly became interested in the Taoist art of ascending to immortality. From doubt at the beginning, he gradually turned to in-depth consideration and research, and finally became convinced.
So, in this secluded manor of the Xiahou family, Xiahou Mei founded the "Flying Immortal Sect" and recruited a group of young people who loved fun and had excellent foundation to accompany him all day long in practicing the method of ascension.
This is where the name of the sect master comes from.
More than a year ago, the old sect leader Xia Houmei had just celebrated his fiftieth birthday. Unexpectedly, the sad news that Grand Master Nian Jinsong passed away from illness suddenly came to the imperial capital. He felt very sad at the loss of his best friend, and all his usual spiritual practice principles of "being free and easy and taking things lightly" were forgotten by him. Xia Houmei packed her bags silently and told her disciples that from now on, her daughter Xiahou Ninghan would inherit her great cause of becoming an immortal, and he would go to the imperial capital to say goodbye to his elder brother Nian Jinsong, and then go to Zhongnan Mountain to find Taoist Master Qingzhu. Take him with you to travel around the world, looking for immortals and visiting saints.
Xiahou Ninghan knew that her father was depressed because of the death of his uncle Nian, so he wanted to go out to relax, so he didn't stop him and readily took over the responsibility of "Feixian Sect".
Nearly two years have passed, and there is no news from Xia Houmei, and we don't know when he will come back. Maybe it will take another two years, maybe tomorrow.
Because of her relationship with Nian Jinsong, Murong Xue knew a lot about Suihan's three friends. When Taifu Nian was still alive, he would often tell Murong Xue some anecdotes about the three of them.
Therefore, in Murong Xue's view, Xia Houmei is like an uncle of his. Although he has never met, he has a natural sense of intimacy. Today, by some strange combination of circumstances, he unexpectedly met Xia Houmei's daughter here. He couldn't help but sigh with emotion, and said with a cupped hand: "Miss Xia Hou, to be honest, if we look into it carefully, we really have a close relationship. I'm... ...can be regarded as Taifu Nian’s disciple.”
Because Shan Tingxian was present, Murong Xue did not reveal his true relationship with Nian Jinsong, but said that he and Taifu Nian were master and apprentice.
When Xiahou Ninghan heard what he said, her eyes suddenly shone brightly, and she asked in disbelief: "You...you are not from the Murong family in Xishu, are you? Is your father Murong Qianqiu the senior?"
Murong Xue was slightly stunned and asked: "How do you know?"
Xiahou Ninghan pursed her lips and smiled: "I mean, I just heard your name, and I felt it was familiar, but I couldn't remember it for a while. Murong Xue, of course Uncle Nian wrote a letter to tell my father about you. My father Tell me again."
Murong Xue suddenly realized, and at the same time, she knew in her heart that Nian Jinsong would probably not hide his true origin from his closest friends, so Xiahou and his daughter should already know it. Murong Xue smiled happily: "So, the Grand Tutor really mentioned it to the old Sect Leader Xiahou, and I feel ashamed. I didn't know this was Senior Xiahou's manor before. It's really rude."
Because of the connection between Suihan's three friends, Xiahou Ninghan and Murong Xue immediately lost a lot of the sense of strangeness and wariness between them.
Xiahou Ninghan asked about Murong Xue's current situation and whether she was still serving in the Forbidden Army's Tiger and Leopard Cavalry. Murong Xue told the truth, saying that she had resigned from the military shortly after the death of Taifu Nian and was transferred to the East Palace official office.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he finished speaking, Xiahou Ninghan said in surprise: "Ah? So, that Young Master Li is..."
Murong Xue and Shan Tingxian thought at the same time: It's over, it's over. They originally planned to keep the identity of the prince a secret, but in front of this clever and clever Xiahou Sect Master, they couldn't say anything at all. As soon as you start talking, she can guess the ending, and her guess is very accurate. Do you think it's irritating or not?
Murong Xue looked at Shan Tingxian helplessly, her eyes full of apology. On the contrary, Shan Tingxian looked more free and easy, and nodded slightly towards Murong Xue, meaning that he could just say it. Fortunately, the other party was not a bad person with unknown origins.
Xiahou Ninghan looked at their expressions and ordered Siyun beside him: "Go and fetch the red sandalwood incense from my room and put some in it."
Siyun said softly, "I obey", then stood up and left the pavilion.
Watching Siyun walk away, Xiahou Ninghan asked in a deep voice: "What happened? Why were assassins robbed and killed under the dignified East Palace?"
Anyway, having already told the other party the most important part, Murong Xue simply let go completely. From the time they left for Bianzhou to participate in the river sacrifice ceremony, until they were suddenly ambushed and attacked halfway, she told Xiahou Ninghan everything. .
