In the next few days, since we are not locals, most of Songzi's understanding of the local area came from previous investigations when searching for the center of the formation, as well as his previous understanding from various documents, county annals and even unofficial histories. So Qin Bukong was left at home to look for various ways to deal with "charm", while Songzi and I asked around, trying to find all the information about Qingchuan Pavilion, King Yu's Palace, and Iron Gate Pass.
But in that era, although it could not be said to be a war and chaos, it was indeed not very peaceful. Since the nationwide handover of guns and martial law began, the armed struggles between various factions have become much weaker. However, there are still occasional group fights and stick fights. However, compared with previous years, the situation has improved. a lot of. Although Songzi and I look like ordinary people, because we are members of Xuanmen, we must keep a low profile in everything.
After a few days, we basically mastered all the non-repeated information that we could find, but it still caused us difficulties. Because local people told us that the Iron Gate Pass, which is most likely to contain secrets, was protected by Hubei Province a few years ago and is now a cultural relic. When we went to the local cultural relics management museum to check the information, we found that although the Iron Gate Pass was built during the Three Kingdoms period, it had actually been severely damaged by the Tang Dynasty. By the end of the Ming Dynasty, only an earthen base remained.
This means that the Iron Gate Pass we can see now was actually built in the Qing Dynasty. It is a tall arch. The gate tower used to be the Guandi Temple, but due to political reasons, it has been discontinued for a long time. If what we are looking for comes from the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago, then the only thing we can look for is that section of earth base. Obviously, not to mention that the base cannot withstand the newly built arch and Guandi Temple. Even if it has been designated as a cultural relic, it is obviously not possible for us to just dig up and find things. possible.
When we got here, everyone was very frustrated and there seemed to be no more solutions. On the fourth day, Songzi came back with some desperate news. It was said that in the early Qing Dynasty, there was a huge flood in Wuhan, and many places were submerged, including the Tiemenguan Pass. Location. At that time, there were no new arches and temples, but the whole people invested in building a temporary embankment on both sides of the river. The authorities believed that the Iron Gate Pass would have to be rebuilt anyway. In order to prevent the next flood, they directly The original earthen base was demolished, raised by about six to seven meters at the original location, and then a new building was built.
As a result, the remaining hope of finding him seemed to have been shattered. The only things that have survived for thousands of years have been demolished. Even if there is anything left by the expert who set up the formation, I am afraid that someone has found it. So when Qin Bukong and I heard the news that day, I sat down directly on the bench. In my heart, I began to think that our journey to pass the border would probably end here, but I didn't know if this matter would be caused by We trigger the formation but leave it unbroken, causing some bad backlash to ourselves.
So that whole day, the three of us were very frustrated. Qin Bukong even tore up the sequence of fighting against "Charm" that he had scribbled on the paper. In his words, since he couldn't even find anything. If it comes, naturally there is no need to worry about it. I knew he was venting, so I didn't say anything. After dinner, I walked quietly down the street alone.
That night I wandered around until quite late before going back. After entering the house, I found that Qin Bukong had already gone to bed. Songzi's bed was a simple wooden board placed between two benches, and my bed was located on both sides of the main room. The side where he slept was separated by a wall from the kitchen. But when I got home, I found that he was not in bed, and I felt a little strange because this guy meditates every night and has never stopped since I have known him. But Qin Bukong was already asleep. If I asked him, I would inevitably be disappointed. When I thought of this, I went to bed silently, and after thinking about it for a while, I fell asleep.
For many years, I have maintained the habit of getting up early. Unless I stay up late for many days in a row, or go to bed really late the first night, in most cases I will be the one who habitually wakes up earlier than others. Unlike Songzi, I am used to meditating when I get up in the morning. But when I woke up the next morning, I found that there was still no one on Songzi’s bed. The quilts were neatly folded, and some of his clothes and All personal belongings were still thrown on the bed.
I was shocked. Could it be that this guy ran away again after seeing that he had no chance? After all, this guy has a criminal record. But I soon gave up this doubt, because some of his things were still on the bed. If a person wanted to escape, he would not leave such things behind. Besides, we are not robbers. After getting along these days, there is no distinction between each other's age. Don't say that we can't break through the barrier. Even if there is a way, if Songzi wants to leave, just ask him directly. There is no need to be sneaky.
So I didn't take this matter to heart. After washing my face, I planned to go into the room to wake Qin Bukong up, but I found that the bed board had been pulled open and Qin Bukong had already gotten into the tunnel. I smiled bitterly in my heart. It seemed that among the three of us, the one who couldn't let go of this matter the most was still this old man. So I also got into the tunnel and walked toward the center of the array. Firstly, I planned to see what Qin Bukong was doing down there. Secondly, if he was still frustrated or unwilling to come down and look for another way, I would also like to Advise him.
After walking to the center of the formation, the white powder left on the ground when he killed the "Zhao" was still there, but the color was still much darker and darker. As expected, Qin Bukong squatted on the ground facing the stone pillar, raising his head. He looked at the pillar silently, apparently thinking about whether there was any other way. And he obviously knew that I was coming, so he didn't turn around, he just asked me, what are you doing down here? Go back and rest by yourself, you can't help except causing trouble here.
I got angry when I heard this. This damn old man really didn’t speak nicely. He said early in the morning that I was causing trouble. Besides, even if I’m not good at my studies, I’m not that bad. I’ve caused trouble for you, this damn old man. ah? After a night of adjustment, I finally felt somewhat recovered, but now I can no longer feel better. After hitting a nail, I didn't want to be troubled down there, so I listened to his words and turned around and returned to the ground.
And that whole day, Qin Bukong never came back. Even lunch was specially delivered to him by me. Of course, I left immediately after delivering it and ignored him. I was actually afraid that if I stayed down there for too long, , hope will appear in my heart, and I will be disappointed once again. I am not cheap, why should I abuse myself so much.
In a daze, the day passed quickly, and I realized that except cooking a bowl of noodles, I had done nothing during the day. Qin Bukong came back during dinner. I saw that he was all gray and dusty. He must have been locked underground for a whole day. I probably didn't know what he was doing, so I simply didn't ask. I told him that you would cook something for yourself, while I would go out for a walk and eat something outside. I stayed at home every day, eating rice with vegetable and tofu soup or plain noodles. It was time for me to reward my appetite.
So I had a delicious meal in the canteen of the supply and marketing cooperative outside, and walked home slowly while burping. On the way, I watched a few old men playing chess on the street. I went home earlier this day than the previous day, so Qin Bukong was still awake when I got home. But when I opened the door, Qin Bukong suddenly asked, where are the Songzi people?
I was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at his bed and found that it had not been changed at all. So I answered Qin Bukong and said, I was not with him. Didn't he come back when I went out just now? Qin Bukong shook his head and said, I thought you two were together. You are similar in age and can talk easily. I said he didn't go home to sleep last night, didn't you know? Qin Bukong was stunned for a moment, and then he said, I don't know. I haven't left the back room since last night. I didn't go out when I woke up in the morning and went straight to the tunnel. I didn't even know that he didn't go out last night. return.
After Qin Bukong said this, I stopped talking, and the room suddenly became quiet. Maybe there is something that when you are just weird in your heart, and another equally weird person discusses it with you, it becomes weird. Songzi didn't come home for two consecutive days. Now we are not worried that he left without saying goodbye, but that he encountered some danger outside.
Qin Bukong asked me, please tell me when was the last time you had contact with him? I said it was during dinner last night. Because there was nothing gained, the clues that were deduced before were now found to be unfeasible. Everyone was quite depressed. He was still at home before I went out after dinner, but after I came back from wandering around for a while, he Just gone. Qin Bukong also said that he saw Songzi at home after I went out last night, but because some of the things he said were not conducive to each other, they didn't like to talk to each other. Qin Bukong went back to his room early, probably after I left. After an hour. And I remember that I stayed outside for almost two hours in total. That is to say, during the one-hour gap between Qin Bukong returning to his room and before I went home, Songzi left on his own.
When I thought of this, I was a little anxious. So I suddenly opened the pillow on Songzi's bed. Originally, he was accustomed to putting the Feng Shui books and compasses he studied on daily basis under the pillow, because they were not items that needed to be carried with him.
But now there is nothing under the pillow, except for a brand new ID card.
