The flowers on Tianxian Peak bloomed and fell, and two years passed in a blink of an eye.
On this day, the gate of "Ansheng Pass" opened. A group of gatekeepers dragged their tired bodies into the pass, and the gate was closed immediately. The leader is still Lao Yang. Every time he comes back, he has to leave new injuries on his body. This time, he was carried back.
After Gouzi entered the customs, he shouted where Sun Zikai was. Not long after, Sun Zikai came to the house with a medical box. Lao Yang was lying on the wooden board with blood cloth scattered on the ground. He had a broken arm and there was no blood on his face. .
Cutting off limbs, stopping bleeding, burning skin... Lao Yang is indeed a man, and he never cried out in pain, while seven-year-old Sun Zikai did it all with nervousness. In the past two years, he has perfectly served as the third "Anshengguan" As a doctor, he has treated all kinds of injuries and illnesses, and the gatekeepers have relied on and trusted his medical skills to the greatest extent.
The woman asked what happened, and Gouzi said: "Three groups of barbarians tricked us. We always thought there were only two groups in the birch forest. Lao Yang and us wanted to surround them, but we didn't expect those two groups. It was a seduction, we were surrounded from behind, Nange, Xirang and Dongzi didn't escape, Lao Yang stood behind us and had his arm chopped off."
The men lowered their heads very low. They were like eggplants beaten by frost. This expedition had dealt a heavy blow to them, but this was normal. The fate of the gatekeepers was actually the same.
Lao Yang, who had just fainted, regained consciousness, and Sun Zikai immediately comforted him: "It's okay, my life is saved."
Lao Yang nodded towards Sun Zikai, and then said to everyone: "This time, it's my fault. I was careless and let them play tricks. Lao Zhang (scarred man), don't go out during this period. If there are more people on the wall, Two people, send three at night to keep an eye on it, don't let them steal it."
Lao Zhang nodded, and then said: "Nanzi and the three of them left their bodies outside..."
Lao Yang closed his eyes, sighed, and then shook his head. Lao Zhang knew what he meant and said: "Their mother-in-law and aunt understand. I just asked them to pack their things, and I will ask Gouzi to take them back later." Went to the city to look for children.”
At this moment, the girl ran in, grabbed Lao Yang's leg, and cried anxiously: "Godfather, where's your arm?"
The girl was already four years old and was adopted as a goddaughter by the childless old Yang, who took Yang Youshi's life. The women carried Youshi out, and the men also walked out one after another.
Sun Zikai has been standing by the wooden board, his eyes are not as calm as before. At this moment, his eyes are like looking at relatives. When Lao Yang saw him, he wanted to reach out and touch his head, but his right arm was broken. Lao Yang said: "It's okay, it's just an arm, it won't delay anything."
Sun Zikai said: "You use the sword with your right hand, and you can't use the bow."
Lao Yang turned his head, looked at the beams, and said: "Then I can use my fists, it's okay."
"Lao Yang, who cut off your arm?" Sun Zikai asked.
Lao Yang shook his head, but Lao Zhang replied: "Barbarians, how do we know their names? The hatred is recorded in the general ledger. They also hate us and want to kill us all."
Sun Zikai said: "Old Yang, the next time I leave seclusion, I will go out too."
"No," Lao Yang firmly refused, "I told you a long time ago, it's not time yet."
"When is the right time?" Sun Zikai took off his clothes. The muscles on his strong body were bulging like fists. This should not be the body of a seven-year-old child, and there were still deep marks on his shoulders. , this is proof that he has been holding a bow and arrows day and night for the past two years. "I told you a long time ago that I can kill people. I have learned all the skills you taught me. Now I just need to practice them."
"You are still a child, your strength is too small, it is not child's play outside."
"I know, just wait..." He ran out, and after a while, he came back with an extra weapon in his hand.
It was a knife that he sharpened himself. Because he was too small to use a machete, he sharpened the blade very finely. The slender knife shone with a cold light, and the blade was like a mirror, which made people feel cold.
Sun Zikai said: "I haven't made the scabbard yet, but it will be fine if it can be used. I can't use a bow that is too heavy, so I will get closer and shoot."
"No!" Lao Yang still refused, "Son, you have a chance to get ahead, so don't rush now."
Sun Zikai said calmly: "I didn't go out to get ahead, and I'm not good at killing people, but someone has to do these things. I'm sure I can guard the gate now, and I won't become a burden to you. I'll kill one more person." , one of us will die less."
Lao Yang closed his eyes, and Lao Zhang advised: "Xiao Kai, wait for another two years. You are too young to ride a horse."
"You don't need to give me horses, just have someone to take me."
Lao Zhang said: "Guanli needs you to be a doctor, so you should wait another two years."
After Sun Zikai was silent for a moment, he said: "Lao Yang, Lao Zhang, you can't stop me. If you don't take me out, I will jump off the city wall myself. I will not give my life to others, let alone let others do it for me." I'm going to die, I've made up my mind, and next time, I have to go out." After that, he walked out of the door and threw himself into the training ground again, picked up a hard bow, opened the bow and shot at the target, and the arrows were sure to hit.
In the room, Lao Zhang sighed and said: "Lao Yang, I have told you a long time ago that you should let your child live a happy life in the city. He is too young and is not as tall as a horse's belly when he stands up."
Lao Yang was drowsy and extremely tired, so he said, "Take him for a walk." After that, he fell asleep.
Half a month later, Sun Zikai packed his bags excitedly. They were about to leave the gate. One day ago, a barbarian stuck a knife on the city gate at night. This kind of naked provocation would not be tolerated by the gatekeeper. If no action is taken, the barbarians will become more arrogant.
He put his bow and quiver on his back, put the slender sword on his back, and walked out. Seeing the men sharpening their knives, Sun Zikai felt even more happy.
Gouzi smiled and said: "Xiao Kai, how long has it been since I saw you so happy? Are you so happy when you leave seclusion?"
"Happy" Sun Zikai replied, "Brother Dog, the feeling of being trapped in a cage is too painful. People must yearn for freedom and have freedom to be alive!"
"Hahaha, kid, just wait and stop peeing outside!"
"You can't use a handle when you pee!"
The men may have been infected by the children's emotions, and they became motivated. Liu Zi said: "Boy, you are such a big man, and your arms are as strong as those of the elders. You just don't have the chance to go to those sects. You But it’s a good foundation.”
"My parents were... Unfortunately, they were small people and couldn't get inside. They cultivated Qi, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. They said that everything in the world is made of spiritual energy. But I think it's ridiculous. How can a person become a person made of Qi? What about?"
Liuzi smiled and said, "Then what do you think humans should be made of?"
Sun Zikai thought about it for a while and said: "There is a life, a living thing...I think...if I want to create a perfect person, I must first give him unlimited vitality, and then I must have endless strength. , then add an indestructible body, and a unique mind, and finally, add immeasurable emotions, well, those are the five points.”
Everyone listened to the child's words and found it interesting. He was still a child. Although he had killed as many people as any other man here, his view of the world was still too immature.
Lao Zhang came over and said: "Mount the horse and switch." This time, he led the team.
The man shouted: "Switch!" Then they bumped the knives in their hands together, making a sound, gaining momentum and paving the way for themselves.
Lao Zhang said to Sun Zikai: "Boy, follow me and do whatever I tell you to do. People die very quickly outside, so don't cause any trouble to us."
Sun Zikai agreed, then turned over and jumped onto the bag on the horse. With his head shrinking, he squatted in, looking like a full cargo bag.
Lao Zhang asked: "What are you doing?"
"I won't sit behind you, so as not to delay your actions. I'm here, and I can take the barbarians by surprise."
"Okay." Fourteen gatekeepers and a small gatekeeper sitting in a horse bag ran out of the gate astride their horses and roared.
Sun Zikai buttoned a hole in the bag and was always observing the situation outside. The horse was running very fast, and the gatekeeper was out for a short time. He was running for his life with every breath.
Lao Zhang just wanted to take the people in a quick circle within ten miles outside the pass to ensure that no barbarians were hiding, so that Lao Yang could follow Lao Yang's wishes and not let anything happen to the child. Outside the customs, there is no democracy at all. All actions are based on the orders of the leader. The gatekeepers have already made an agreement. Even if there is a cliff in front of them and the leader says to jump, they must jump immediately. The leader The idea does not need to be explained to the people below. This is also the way of survival passed down from generation to generation by the gatekeepers for many years.
Sun Zikai, who was hiding in the horse bag, heard Liuzi brother outside saying: "Old Zhang, look there is smoke over there, it is in the direction of the birch forest."
The horses stopped, Lao Zhang looked at the smoke over there, and after thinking about it in his mind, he said: "Divide into three teams, I will lead the people in front, Gouzi, Liuzi, the same thing!"
Gouzi and Liuzi each led three people and ran towards both sides, while Lao Zhang led the remaining five people and ran towards the birch forest. Everyone drew their knives, and Sun Zikai also put his hand on it. On the handle of the knife at his waist, he felt that the hole in the bag was too small, so he stuck his head out and observed the surrounding environment.
Suddenly, he turned up and grabbed Lao Zhang's shoulder. Lao Zhang was startled and immediately stopped his horse. Everyone stopped. Lao Zhang turned around and said sternly: "Don't delay things."
"Old Zhang, we might be ambushed if we go." Sun Zikai said.
The man on the side shouted: "Xiao Kai, shut up and follow the command in all actions."
Lao Zhang unexpectedly explained to him, saying: "The terrain of the birch forest is flat, without any shelter on both sides, and the farthest mountains are beyond the range of bows and arrows. Even if there is an ambush, we can escape immediately." , and we stopped where we could see the birch forest and did not get close. There were Liuzi and Gouzi behind us to ensure the safety of the flanks and rear wings. Last time, we were eager to kill the enemy and rushed forward with all our strength. This time we will not It’s the same again.”
Sun Zikai said: "Old Zhang, I don't think so. I know that you have walked this road many times and are familiar with each other, but you must not be familiar with the barbarians, otherwise you would not be surrounded by the third group of barbarians in the birch forest. This is what I thought, assuming that the trap on the other side has already been prepared. No matter what kind of trap it is, we will suffer a loss if we go there. If they have the guts to stick a knife in our door, they have the ability to do it. Things will happen that you can't even imagine, and once we follow the plan they made, we will lose the initiative to fight, and the next step will only be to take advantage of them. "
"Then what do you think?" Lao Zhang asked patiently. Before setting off, Lao Yang specifically told him that the leader should still not care about the thoughts of the people below, but he must listen to the child's thoughts. In the future, he may Become the new leader of the Gatekeepers, and from this point on, you can start training him.
"Jump out of the opponent's trap," Sun Zikai said, "Don't go to the birch forest, go there." He pointed to the bush three hundred feet away.
The men said, "That's nothing. It can't hide anyone."
Sun Zikai said: "Go over there and light the forest on fire. They will light their cigarettes and we will light them too. Let's see who can't stand it first. We'll see what they want to do."
"What if no barbarians show up?" the men hesitated.
Sun Zikai became anxious and said: "No matter what you do, I'll do whatever I say. Anyway, it's just a piece of forest. Assuming that they have prepared a trap, the smoke is for us to see. If we don't take action, they will take action." Came over with the net."
Lao Zhang waved his hand and said, "Do as he wants."
No one refuted Lao Zhang's words. With an order, everyone rushed towards the bush. After a while, the forest burst into flames, and thick black smoke rose into the sky. The gatekeepers all retreated to a high place, observing the movement outside the forest from a distance.
After waiting for half a stick of incense, nothing happened. Lao Zhang said: "It's a good idea you have, Xiao Kai, but outside the customs, although intrigues abound, most of the time they are about beating the opponent." Caught off guard, time is of the essence, this is the first thing you have to learn as a gatekeeper."
Seeing that everyone was about to leave, Sun Zikai also knew that he must have made a mistake in judgment, but he still asked Lao Zhang: "Lao Zhang, let's run to the gate of 'Anshengguan' from our current position and run as hard as we can, how long will it take."
Lao Zhang looked at "Ansheng Pass" suspiciously and replied: "It doesn't take a hundred breaths."
"If the barbarians come from all directions, can we escape into the pass?"
"Be sure, but it's impossible for barbarians to come from all directions. There are not that many barbarians within fifty miles outside 'Ansheng Pass'."
"That's good, let's rest here for half a day."
"Ah?" Gouzi said, "Xiao Kai, it will be dark in half a day, and we still have a mission!"
"The mission can be done tomorrow. The Ansheng Pass cannot be broken in one day. We are very safe, and we are very safe here. I don't think that the fire lit in the bushes has given me the answer that it is safe outside. So I am willing to wait for another half day to observe and observe, until there is no danger at all..."
Lao Zhang interrupted him and said: "Shut up, boy, how can you waste time living outside? Are you waiting for the barbarians to get closer and closer outside? As a gatekeeper, how can you be so cowardly? If you wait every time If we act when we are completely safe, the barbarians will have stepped on our heads and entered the prison to kill us."
Sun Zikai calmly said: "Old Zhang, I'm not cowardly. I have weighed our current situation. If we can be more stable, why should I let myself and the people below bear even the slightest possibility of death? I am not afraid of death. , when it really comes down to it, just die, but now we don’t have to go there, we have a choice. Although I am very happy to be able to come out, I am very opposed to the knife being inserted into us yesterday. Today As for the decision to go out to attack, if it were me, I would wait two more days. If they don't come to attack again, I will go out to attack. If they come to attack again on another day, then I will definitely not go out again, because the other side He is anxious, he desperately wants us to come out, barbarians, they have only one purpose for letting us come out, which is to let us die! I don’t want to die, Lao Zhang, I want you all to live."
Lao Zhang was stunned for a long time after hearing this. The men only listened to the orders of him as the leader. He never hesitated outside. But what the kid said was right. It was not necessary to check whether there was anything within ten miles today. Barbarians are not allowed. They had already checked half a month ago. There are no resources or large shelters ten miles outside the pass. If the barbarians come in large numbers, they cannot hide. There are only a few here and there, so there is really no need. He was so anxious to kill that the other side dared to put a knife in Ansheng Pass. They might be planning some plan that he couldn't think of. Since the kid said it was possible, they had nothing to lose by waiting here. , might as well just go with the child's wishes, the child is special in the hearts of the gatekeepers, this is the inheritance, and it is also the hope of those who may be killed by the sword tomorrow.
"Okay, let's take a rest here, but I have agreed that if we stay here until evening, I will take you out for a tour. After that, you will stay in the pass honestly and do whatever I ask you to do. Just do whatever you want.”
"Okay." Sun Zikai agreed. He knew that his judgment must be wrong, but he did not feel disappointed. He was a person who was willing to think through any situation, so this result actually excluded him. An imagined dead end, this is something to be happy about.
It was the first time the men were so relaxed outside the pass. They dismounted their horses and sat on the ground, overlooking the fire in the bushes. The wind blew the smoke far away. There was a lot of grass in the bushes, and the fire might burn until night. Soon, the men We were also talking and laughing. Liu Zi smiled and said that he would go back and tell Lao Yang to see if he would get angry. Without him as the leader, these guys actually sat on a hill not far outside the pass with their hands spread out. afternoon.
Only Sun Zikai and Lao Zhang kept observing the bushes and the surrounding activities. After two hours, Lao Zhang wanted to lead the team back to the border. Sun Zikai suddenly grabbed him and shouted: "Wake them all up quickly. Condition!"
Lao Zhang was startled and immediately whistled. Everyone stopped and recovered instantly. He was the first to draw the knife. His nerves were tense, as if he was about to cut the knife down at any time. Lao Zhang asked everyone to get on the horse, then lifted Sun Zikai onto the horse and asked, "Boy, what did you find?"
"There's someone in the copse!"
When everyone heard this, they just exclaimed that it was ridiculous. Gouzi said: "The person who can't hide people in that place is only as big as a palm."
Sun Zikai pointed at the bushes and said, "Can you see through what's in those woods?" The bushes have dense branches and leaves. Although they are small, everyone can't really see what is hidden underneath. Moreover, the fire was just lit at the edge, and there was nothing there. Go deeper.
Lao Zhang said seriously: "You really saw someone inside."
"Yes, I'm sure," Sun Zikai said, "It's a child, and he probably couldn't stand the smoke."
"There are very few children outside the customs! Are you seeing an adult? Or a rabbit?" Gouzi said.
Sun Zikai replied: "I'm not wrong. I'm sure that if there are children, there may be women, old people, old and weak women and children, which means they are a barbarian tribe or ethnic group. There are many people on the opposite side. There should be an ambush in the birch forest, but They hide their children and women here. It is impossible not to protect them, and someone needs to inform the barbarians in the birch forest about our exit." He was startled and asked hurriedly: "Where can I observe that forest at all times? And the 'Anshengguan' situation?"
Liuzi grinned, shrugged his shoulders, and said, "Here."
Sun Zikai's expression changed, he pulled out the knife and shouted: "Look for it quickly, there are barbarians ambushing here! Hurry!"
No one took action. The men all looked at Lao Zhang. Lao Zhang and Sun Zikai looked at each other. After a moment, he immediately ordered, "Look for it!"
All the men dismounted and immediately rushed around, slashing with knives and wanting to dig three feet into the ground. The result was unexpected. In just ten breaths, everyone found a lying figure under the grass five feet away. Barbarian, Gouzi picked the man's hamstring and hand tendon with a knife, fell in front of Lao Zhang, and shouted: "It's amazing! The little grandson was right! There is really someone!"
Lao Zhang grabbed the barbarian and asked, "Tell me, how many people are there?"
There was fear in the barbarian's eyes, especially when he looked at Sun Zikai, but he was very stubborn and said nothing.
Sun Zikai walked up to the barbarian and said calmly: "Old Zhang, let everyone rush to the bush and kill half of the people inside, and then come back and listen to his speech."
The barbarian was obviously panicked. When he was about to speak, he was immediately stopped by Sun Zikai. Sun Zikai said: "It's too late. After half of the people are killed, what you say will determine the life and death of the next half."
The way the barbarian looked at Sun Zikai now was like looking at the King of Hell.
The six men were about to mount their horses, but the barbarian shouted: "No, no, no! They are all family members and innocent."
"Fuck you!" A man yelled, "Our children are guilty. I'll go down and kill them all!" After that, he got on his horse.
The barbarian immediately shouted: "I will say, I will say anything!"
Lao Zhang said coldly: "How many people."
"Two...two hundred people."
The gatekeeper was shocked, and Lao Zhang took a breath and asked, "Where are there so many people?"
The barbarian stopped talking again, and Lao Zhang gave Liu Zi a look. Liu Zi and the three of them immediately rushed to the bushes on horseback. After a while, wailing sounds rang out in the bushes. The barbarian shouted: "I said! I said!"
Lao Zhang didn't speak, but stroked Sun Zikai's head lovingly and said, "My child said that when half of the people are dead, it will be your turn to decide whether to live or die for the remaining half."
After half a cup of tea, four people rushed back with blood-drinking knives. The barbarians cursed: "Beasts, you can actually do it!"
Sun Zikai looked back at the bushes, feeling very uneasy. He was trying to scare the guy, but he didn't expect Lao Zhang to do it directly. But there was no guilt on the face of the man guarding the gate. Lao Zhang even said indifferently: "Half a year Before, the six sons and their whole family were all beheaded by the barbarians who crawled into the pass. Two years ago, Dongzi's half-year-old son died because of the poison you poisoned. Four years ago, my thirteen-year-old son died. Disciple, your heart was dug out by you, the Guo Zi family seven years ago...Fourteen years ago, Lao Zhang's daughter and wife were stolen out of the pass by you, abused and killed, twenty years ago, 'Ansheng Pass' The barbarians broke through and all the old, weak, women and children behind the pass were hacked to death. The barbarians broke into the tea city and killed half of the people. The blood heads of children could fill a room. You robbed things, killed people and ran away. , the people who survived in the tea city did not survive the winter and starved to death."
Sun Zikai listened to these words with trembling heart. Like all gatekeepers, he gritted his teeth and looked into the barbarian's eyes with blood and murderous intent. He put the knife on the barbarian's neck. , a pair of eyes as cold as frost, and a tone as calm as the voice of death, said coldly: "The next half of the people will be divided into two parts. Okay, now you can decide which group of them will live."
