People were laughing and chatting in the night, but no one noticed that in a corner by the river that had been briefly illuminated by fireworks, someone calmly withdrew his sword, and then walked away through the wind and snow without looking back.
The man who left with the sword kept going in the direction he came from, and then stopped at the spot where an old man who had died downstairs in Yingfeng once sat with a lantern.
After sitting there for a long time, a man in witch robes hurried over in the wind and snow.
The man stopped in the night and looked at the sword cultivator from the north quietly for a long time.
"Thirty thousand guan is not a small amount."
The man said slowly, then took out a soft bundle from his arms and handed it to the sword cultivator sitting on the snowy steps.
"The people from the Witch Ghost Way will be waiting."
Han Chan opened the baggage with a smile, glanced at it casually, and stuffed it into his arms.
Then he took out an ancient copper coin from his arms and threw it into the man's arms.
It was a mottled ancient copper coin with no special effects. It came from the Second Emperor of Huaian more than a thousand years ago. Perhaps it was because the Ghost Emperor burned himself in the Star-Zhaing Tower. On the back was a building cut off by a square hole. The Tower of Fiery Fire has the words Tranquil Saint Ming on the front.
The Ming Emperor's dynasty was too short-lived, and he was sandwiched between the Ghost Emperor and the Huai Emperor, with no sense of existence.
Therefore, not many of these copper coins were minted, and most of them have been lost and recast over the years. Only a small part is still in the hands of Liuyun Sword Sect as a proof of transaction.
"If I don't finish it, you can take this copper coin and go to Liuyun Sword Sect to continue looking for the next person. Even if you find the head of the sect leader, it's okay."
Hanchan stood up and explained patiently.
"If I finish it, you can return this copper coin to me, or you can keep it yourself and observe and collect it for a while. But at the end of every year, someone from the Sword Sect will come to take it away."
The man looked at Han Chan very strangely and said, "You Liuyun Sword Sect all have such a good temper?"
Han Chan chuckled softly and said, "You also know that 30,000 yuan is a big sum. With the new year and new atmosphere, there will be orders at the beginning of the year. Who would be unhappy?"
"Of course, we do have bad tempers sometimes. For example, sometimes, you meet a person from Liuyun Sword Sect who seems to be very downtrodden. Remember to speak in a nicer tone and don't say anything about witches, ghosts, Taoism, etc. Such an unknown threat - because it looks like he hasn't been in a fight for a long time, that's why he is so depressed. At this time, our temper is worse than that of ordinary Sword Sect people."
The shaman was silent for a while, took the copper coin into his arms, and said softly: "So that's it."
Han Chan held the sword in his arms and walked towards the long streets where the bustle finally began to calm down.
"Furthermore, for a member of the Liuyun Sword Sect, the so-called threat from the Witch Ghost Dao is indeed not that big of a deal."
The man quietly looked at the sword cultivator who was holding the sword and walking away.
"When will we do it?"
"Not sure, I'll check again."
After all, not everyone is as expensive and easy to kill as Yun Zhusheng.
...
It's hard to satisfy both parties.
Especially when it comes to murder.
I don't know if Han Chan really intends to satisfy Yun Zhusheng, or if it's because the Taoist Shenhai who coughed all the way from the Northern Pass has some white plum blossoms in his mind.
Yun Zhusheng is not dead, he is still breathing.
The only trace of vitality left in the divine sea caught his heart.
Although the Taoist is physically stronger than the sword sect, even if he is a Taoist cultivator, he cannot withstand a sword bursting out of his body at such a close range.
This Shanhe Taoist held an umbrella and no longer held the heater. He held on to the river bank guardrail and gasped. There were sword marks on his body, like sword marks, all over his body, like cracks. It looked like Very miserable.
Perhaps in order not to shock the world, the Taoist's umbrella was held very low.
Therefore, pedestrians returning home often pass by the river bank, but no one notices the dots of blood covered in the wind and snow.
I just feel that this person may be a little lost.
Probably no one celebrates the New Year with me.
Yun Zhusheng panted for a long time before finally calming down.
Peace, of course, does not mean survival.
On the contrary, calm means that only the sword intent that destroys everything is left in the body.
Some are from the disciples of Liuyun Sword Sect, and some are from earlier, and the Mojianya Sword Intent that remains in the body is like a stubborn disease that cannot be eliminated.
But Yun Zhusheng didn't care.
I just quietly lowered the edge of my umbrella and walked slowly along the long river.
Until they passed through a snow-covered alley and stopped at a bridge.
Jing Zhaoyin's people have already left here.
A river with snowy eaves and white walls is particularly peaceful in the night.
Of course Yun Zhusheng didn't tell Han Chan many things.
For example, when he passed by here, he recognized who that person was.
Liu Sanyue's current appearance was naturally difficult to recognize. Even his former friend Zhang Xiaoyu only regarded him as a lost wild dog on the roadside when he passed by.
But it can be seen from something else.
For example, those iron cable mechanisms with Qingtian Dao style.
The view of mountains and rivers comes from Qingtian Dao.
So Yun Zhusheng could tell where those things came from at a glance.
In the distant Huangliang, something like the Qingtian Dao appeared.
The identity of the locked man was not difficult to guess.
Yun Zhusheng stood under the umbrella at the bridge, covering his mouth and coughing, looking at the man sitting in the snow on the bridge for a long time, and then dragged his weak body and walked towards the other end of the bridge step by step.
Maybe it was the sound of those stepping in the snow, maybe it was Yun Zhusheng's suppressed cough.
In short, there are always some sounds reaching the other end of this lonely bridge of wind and snow.
So the ugly man raised his head.
The expression on his face was twisted and ferocious.
But expressions sometimes cannot represent a person's emotions.
There was some blood in Yun Zhusheng's eyes, which came from his own body. Many blood vessels were shattered by the sword, which caused the blood in his body to flow randomly.
But in the bloody wind and snow, the confusion in the eyes of the man who sat on the bridge and raised his head was still clearly visible.
Expressions certainly cannot represent a person's emotions.
It's the look in his eyes.
Yun Zhusheng stopped in front of Liu Sanyue with the sound of his lungs being cut open.
Maybe Liu Siyue.
Yun Zhusheng didn't know.
This Taoist Taoist who had walked all the way from the wind and snow in the north to the wind and snow in the south opened his mouth, maybe to say something, but just when he opened his mouth, a mouthful of blood gushes out from his throat.
There is sword intent in the blood, but there is no Dao charm and no vitality.
The sword intent fell into the snow in front of Liu Sanyue along with the blood, instantly blowing away countless wind and snow.
This chaotic man was sitting on the bridge in the wind and snow, staring blankly at the scene in front of him, a little scared and a little at a loss.
Yun Zhusheng bent over in pain, raised his hand to cover his heart, gasping for breath, then raised his head again, looking at the young man on the edge of the umbrella who might have experienced countless pains.
This young Taoist who was once extremely talented in Qingtian Dao is now just looking despicable. He is sitting in the wind and snow, staring blankly at the sickly looking man in front of him who has come from nowhere and has no idea why. people.
He thought for a long time, looked back at the piles of rocks piled in the snow behind him, then looked back at the Taoist in front of him, and said in a very unfamiliar and difficult voice: "Happy New Year..."
Yun Zhusheng was trembling all over, smiling and looking at this ugly person with moist eyes. No one would have thought of what kind of beauty this person once represented.
He said no more Happy New Year.
He just looked at the person in front of him with great regret, coughed, and said softly: "Junior Brother Liu, I'm sorry."
The people sitting on the snowy bridge didn't understand what it meant.
It's just that the Taoist who was about to die passed through the flying snow that was disturbed by the sword intent in the blood he coughed up, stumbled and abandoned his umbrella, as if running across thousands of miles, and then rushed into the arms of the person he missed. generally.
But such a story is naturally not that touching.
Yun Zhusheng just really didn't have the strength to stabilize his body.
He originally wanted to break the umbrella in his hand, just like inserting the plum branch into his senior brother's heart in Shanyue City, inserting the umbrella bone into the chest of the person in front of him.
But he failed to break the umbrella, and even failed to hold it tightly when passing through the sword-intended wind and snow.
Liu Sanyue sat there blankly, not knowing what this meant.
So a happy new year that was heard everywhere tonight can move a person to commit himself to him?
The chaotic Liu Sanyue was just imitating the words of the world.
But he looked at the Taoist who fell in his arms, hesitated for a long time, gently raised his hand, and patted the Taoist's back as if to comfort him.
Just the next moment.
Liu Sanyue opened her eyes wide.
The Taoist stretched out his hands, hugged his waist, and then rolled to the side with his own weight.
Liu Sanyue hurriedly wanted to reach out and push the Taoist away, but as soon as he touched his arm, countless sharp sword intent burst out. When he retracted his hand because of the pain, his whole body... They were already taken along and rolled down the bridge together.
First there was the sound of the iron cables clanking and sliding against the icy bridge deck under the snow, and then there was a dull sound.
There was the sound of falling water beside the lonely bridge in the cold wind and snow.
.....
The sword light disappeared into the night.
Liu Chunfeng stood under the eaves of Chunfeng Courtyard, quietly watching the traces left by the sword in the night sky.
It's a bloody sword.
It seems that a certain Nanchu wizard who stayed in the holiday capital for a long time died.
Liu Chunfeng quietly looked at the separated wind and snow in the night sky.
There may also be some sword lights in the courtyard.
But he didn't know when it would be, but it should always be before the spring recruitment.
Therefore, today's Xuexuyuan will probably remain peaceful.
Liu Chunfeng felt that he should have some flaws.
But such flaws should not be too obvious, nor should they be too ostentatious.
The thirty-year-old man frowned slightly and stood under the snow eaves, thinking quietly.
There were no sounds in the academy. The more subtle sounds came from the streets of the holiday capital outside the academy. People were exchanging New Year's greetings.
Liu Chunfeng and most of the gentlemen in the courtyard did not have such thoughts, and returned to their small courtyard early.
Because they know it very well.
The New Year is not a happy one.
So even blessings were dispensed with.
...
The stories in the south may be very hurried. In the first hour of the 104th year of the great wind, many stories began to stir in the night.
But coming across Daze, this ancient city standing between the north and the south is just bustling.
Although outside Nanyi City, there is a large swamp where there are many bad rumors, and there are countless human armies stationed outside the city.
However, Nanyi City just emitted all kinds of peaceful and warm rays in the wind and snow, just like the strong wind had lasted for a thousand and two years.
This year's Nanyi City may be missing some people.
Mr. Mei cleaned the house early, cooked meals, prepared new clothes for Li Die in the room for tomorrow, and then went to warm wine.
Mr. Xie came as promised, braved the wind and snow, and some debris from falling fireworks, walked through the alley, and pushed open the courtyard door of Mr. Mei's house.
The three of them went to the table, lit the small stove under the table, closed the door, and started eating the New Year's Eve dinner.
After Mr. Xie returned to Nanyi City, the annual New Year’s Eve dinner was always served at Mr. Mei’s house.
This year is certainly no exception.
It's just that this year, there is one less person in Mr. Mei's family.
But no one mentioned it, even though the fish cooked by Mr. Mei was not very delicious. There was too much salt, the gravy was too thin, and the green onion and ginger leaves were chopped in a mess.
But the three of them still ate with gusto.
Eating fish during the Chinese New Year is naturally for good luck.
Mr. Xie picked up a piece of fish meat and said with a soft smile: "There are fish every year. There are fish every year."
Mr. Mei took a sip from the wine glass, looked at him and smiled: "Then you must have saved a lot of money this year."
After all, if you are short of oil lamps, take them from Mr. Mei, and if you are short of umbrellas, take them from Mr. Mei.
The trivial matters of life all fall on Mr. Mei. Mr. Qingniuyuan, the fifth Mr., is probably able to save a lot of money.
Mr. Xie just smiled and shook his head, and then put the piece of fish meat into the bowl of Li Die who was engrossed in eating.
Li Die raised his head in confusion.
Mr. Xie looked at him and said: "Your father and I are both getting old. It doesn't matter if we have less. But you, Xiao Li Die, you need more."
Mr. Xie's smile was sincere, so it sounded like a joke or an advice.
Li Die tilted his head, thought for a moment, and said, "Okay."
On New Year's Eve, naturally we won't mention many messy things.
So these two old friends for decades were just drinking wine and eating food, talking about some happy things this year.
But there probably won’t be anything happy this year.
The haze of the war outside Nanyi City actually made the entire Nanyi City silent for a long time, not just when the war broke out.
After they finished eating, they took Li Die out and walked leisurely in the alley, watching the fireworks in the world.
Mr. Xie and Mr. Mei were walking leisurely in the alley. Li Die was probably a little sleepy. Not long after walking, he sat down on the steps under a tree in the alley and looked up at those red-colored flowers. The lanterns hung like fruits under the eaves, and they looked at the fireworks blooming in the distant sky.
Mr. Xie and Mr. Mei didn't go very far, just pacing back and forth on a nearby road.
"Have you decided?"
Mr. Mei asked, looking at Mr. Xie.
Mr. Xie stopped and looked quietly at the warm light above the snow cornices.
"Before coming, I had already packed my luggage in the courtyard."
Mr. Mei was a little silent, but did not sigh. He just stood in the alley, looked at it for a long time, and then smiled and said, "Do you have any luggage?"
Mr. Xie raised his eyebrows and said, "Of course, there are more than ten oil lamps and seven or eight umbrellas."
Mr. Mei laughed.
Those are naturally Mr. Xie's bad gains from Mr. Mei.
"Of course, there is also the salary that has been saved for many years. Although you can't be rich as a teacher in the hospital, you can still save some. You have more than enough every year. After twenty years, you will naturally have a lot more."
Mr. Mei just smiled and said nothing.
After a long time, the two of them looked at the little boy sitting in the snow and looking at the night sky not far away with a tacit understanding.
"Where's Li Die?"
Mr. Mei said softly.
Mr. Xie lowered his head and looked at the messy footprints in the snow.
"It's still up to him."
Mr. Mei finally sighed and said softly: "I'll talk to him tomorrow."
Mr. Xie nodded.
The two continued to walk forward for a while, Mr. Mei stopped, and Mr. Xie continued to walk forward until they walked out of the alley and disappeared into the bustling wind and snow.
Mr. Mei stood there for a long time before walking back again.
Li Die was probably a little sleepy indeed. He was sitting there with his chin in his hands, and his eyelids were actually somewhat inseparable.
Mr. Mei walked over and picked up the sleepy little Li Die. Just like in the past few years, Li Die's head lay tiredly on Mr. Mei's shoulder.
But in fact, it is already very difficult for Mr. Mei to hold Li Die like this.
It's just that this man whose surname is actually Li but prefers to be called Mr. Mei probably always has some good face.
So while holding Li Die in his arms, he pretended to be relaxed and greeted people in the alley who occasionally opened their doors.
When the two of them were almost back at the door of their courtyard.
Li Die was lying on Mr. Mei's shoulder, rubbing his eyes.
"father."
"Um?"
"What were you and Uncle Xie laughing at just now?"
"It's nothing, your Uncle Xie told a joke."
"oh."
Li Die didn't say anything else. After rubbing his eyes, he continued to lie down.
Mr. Mei thought he really fell asleep, so he walked slower in the snowy alley.
Just when he raised his hand and pressed it on the courtyard door, Li Die's voice sounded low in the old man's ears again.
"Dad, I miss my mother."
Mr. Mei stood blankly at the door of the courtyard.
He raised his head slightly and looked at the wind and snow in the world. In the bright night sky with fireworks, there were sparse rays of light falling in Mr. Mei's eyes.
The pleats shine.
The man who had been a concierge in Xuanxuyuan for many years lowered his head, retracted the hand that was pressing on the door, and stroked the back of Li Die's head.
"I miss her too."
Little Li Die hummed lowly, and then lay quietly on Mr. Mei's shoulder.
The sound of the door squeaking was like a song hummed by a child in the snow.
The door closed with a dull sound.
Like the sigh of a middle-aged man.
