Zhao Changying asked the woman in green for a pen and paper and wrote down a few names.
His handwriting was like flying and dancing swords, revealing a fierce murderous aura.
"Interesting." The woman in green took the note he wrote, glanced at it, and commented softly.
Then she also picked up the pen and wrote a number next to each name.
Zhao Changying lowered his head and took a closer look.
The number next to "Gaolang" is "one hundred and twenty";
The number next to "Xiao Wanjun" is "two hundred and fifty";
The number next to "Jingru Monk" is "Three Hundred and Sixty";
The number next to "Chu Fengge" is "680";
The number next to "Shangguan Jin" is "820";
The number next to "Xiao Shangyuan" is "1,600";
These numbers do not represent silver or gold, but an expensive elixir called "Xuanhuang Dan".
It has precious materials and complex workmanship. It can regulate true energy, replenish qi and blood, consolidate the soul, and to a large extent solve the negative effects caused by the erosion of yin energy and the separation of the soul from the body. It is what monks in the fifth and sixth realms use during their cultivation. Items needed.
Daqi dignitaries often used "Xuanhuang Dan" as currency instead of gold and silver in some large transactions.
"In my impression, Shangguan Jin's talent and cultivation are not as good as Chu Fengge's. Why is the price of assassinating her higher?" Zhao Changying asked with a slight frown.
"Because to kill her, we need to pay more than killing Chu Fengge," the woman in Tsing Yi replied calmly, "If you want to know more information about her, you will have to pay extra."
"No need." Zhao Changying smiled.
He came here today not to investigate Shangguan Jin.
To be precise, most of the names he wrote were his cover-up to conceal his true purpose.
Soon, his eyes fell on the last name.
"Why is there no price next to this name?" He asked, "Is there something worthy of fear in him that prevents you from attacking him?"
This name is exactly "Gu Xu".
Duke Yan Zhao Changying had to admit that ever since Gu Xu successfully sent the message for help to Luo Jing City in front of Kong Xuan Sanren, he had developed a strong curiosity about this young man.
At that time, he sent his subordinates to investigate Gu Xu's background and found that he was born as a commoner, his parents were both mortals, and he had no connection with any major clans or sects.
But today, the attitude shown by Luo Chuan, the head of the exorcism department, on the observatory made Zhao Changying even more shocked.
Although Gu Xu's talent is indeed rare in a century.
But Luo Chuan didn't treat other geniuses as kindly as he does today.
This made Zhao Changying couldn't help but wonder if there was something unknown hidden behind Gu Xu's seemingly ordinary life experience.
That's why he chose to find "Qing Ming".
"No, it's not," the woman in Tsing Yi shook her head, "It's because someone paid a big price for us to protect Gu Xu. During this period, we will not carry out any actions that may harm him."
"How long will your agreement last?"
"Twelve years and two months left."
"So long! That's indeed a big price," Zhao Changying paused, then stuffed a banknote into the woman's hand, "Can you tell me who paid for it?"
The woman in Tsing Yi resolutely handed the banknote back to Zhao Changying: "Sorry, Your Excellency, according to the rules set by 'Wenchang Xingjun', we need to keep the identity information of each guest confidential. I can't answer this question. Tell you."
"It's okay." Zhao Changying smiled easily and didn't ask any more questions.
After a while, he left the theater, took off his red mask, and hung it back on the wall of "Ghost Gate".
At this time, the opera performance has begun.
The musicians played the piano and played music on one side of the stage, and the actors in heavy makeup sang on the stage. The sound turned back and forth, like a flying snake circling through the mountains of Sichuan.
The audience in the audience were all focused and did not dare to lose sight.
Zhao Changying took off the wine bottle from his waist, poured a large gulp of wine into his mouth, and then disappeared.
…………
Two days later, according to the previous agreement, Gu Xu received the reward from the Lantern Festival Tournament.
Among them were one hundred "Duer Dan" and a silver note worth one hundred taels - equivalent to his salary for more than eight months in the future.
Since he is now a sixth-grade official and will soon be awarded a title, it is naturally impossible for him to live in the Exorcist Department's Yamen forever.
Therefore, taking advantage of his free time today, Gu Xu took a carriage to Luojing City to choose a house for himself.
Shangguan Jin followed Luo Sishou's instructions and followed him to provide him with reference opinions.
As for Shi Xiaohan - as soon as she heard that Gu Xu was going to the city, she put down the books in her hands and ran over, shouting that she wanted to try Luojing's spicy soup, noodles and mutton skewers.
The carriage drove slowly through the streets of Luojing. Because it rained last night, the air was moist and chilly.
On the way, Shangguan Jin introduced to Gu Xu that Luojing City is shaped like a chessboard, divided by streets and alleys into many square areas called "squares" - one-third of the "squares" are distributed north of Luohe River. Most of them are owned by poor people, and the rest are located south of Luohe River. Most of them are mansions of dignitaries, and many of them are carefully built as gardens.
Gu Xu looked at the crowds of people coming and going outside the car window, and felt deeply in his heart that the national carnival on Lantern Festival night was all an illusion.
Most of the time, Luojing City is actually a city with strict hierarchy and orderly hierarchy. People in the south and north of the city all live in their own circles and are bound by their own rules.
Since the Exorcist Department's headquarters is located in the northwest suburbs of Luojing City, if you want to go to the south, you must pass through the northern city.
"I used to serve tea and entertain guests here when I was a child," Shangguan Jin recalled softly with a complicated look in his eyes as the carriage passed by a simple inn. "Once I accidentally knocked over the teapot and spilled some water. I was beaten with a broom by the shopkeeper. Then I hid next to the small willow tree across the street and cried for almost the whole afternoon. I was also laughed at by many passers-by.
“I didn’t expect that sick little sapling back then would actually grow so big now.”
Gu Xu did not respond immediately.
He followed Shangguan Jin's gaze and saw a tall willow tree standing on the roadside, its bare branches swaying in the wind.
At the same time, Shi Xiaohan suddenly slapped his thigh and said in a sister-like tone filled with indignation: "Sister Shangguan, these people are really too much! How dare they treat you like this!"
"Why don't you dare," Shangguan Jin laughed at himself, "At that time, I had no cultivation, no parents, and I wasn't pretty either. Because I was dark and fat, my peers called me 'Black Bear'. When they bullied me When I was, I couldn't do anything but cry.
"Fortunately, Mr. Sishou rescued me from the sea of suffering."
"Master Sishou? Did he discover your cultivation talent using Tianji Technique?" Shi Xiaohan asked.
"To be precise, he saw my destiny," Shangguan Jin responded. "When he saw me for the first time, he thought that I would achieve a great career in the future, so he took me to the Exorcism Department and asked me to I started as an ordinary clerk, practiced little by little, and gradually got promoted.
“It’s just that, until now, he still hasn’t told me what the so-called ‘big cause’ is.
"Maybe in my lifetime, I can kill all the ghosts in the world and give the people a peaceful world."
"Sister Shangguan, this is also my ideal!" After hearing her words, Shi Xiaohan stood up from his seat with excitement, held Shangguan Jin's hand and said, "From now on, we are the same people!"
With a "bang", her head hit the roof of the car, causing her to frown and groan in pain.
"Sister Xiaohan, are you okay?" Shangguan Jin asked with concern, reaching out to rub her head.
"Don't touch my head!" Shi Xiaohan immediately dodged away and sat in the farthest seat from Shangguan Jin in the carriage. His eyes were as alert as a little wild cat in the dark, "You touched someone who is not tall enough!"
