After Shu County was split into two places, Chengdu Prefecture and Tongchuan Prefecture were less than a hundred miles apart. The imperial court also arranged errant civil servants and officials to monitor each other and at the same time work diligently and honestly. This move was a real move made by the emperor. high.
Since we were going from south to north, it was definitely inconvenient to sail against the current, and there were no tasks such as suppressing bandits or killing people along the way. Zhao Zhengli and the other three hired a carriage to take the official road north to Chengdu. The journey was quite exciting and they tasted delicious food and wine.
The only shortcoming is that they spend a lot of money. If they are careful and frugal, they can barely make it to the government office, so the three of them can relax.
Driving a carriage is slower than riding a galloping horse, but it is more comfortable. It saves the butt, legs and hips from suffering, so the time is more than doubled. Fortunately, it is not in a hurry. It takes three days to leisurely arrive at Huanglong Ancient Creek, which is more than ten miles away from Chengdu. about.
Huanglong Ancient Stream is built along the river. It has been formed by the backflow of the river for thousands of years. The shrubs and green willows along the river are covered with unique scenery.
There has been a metaphor here since ancient times that "the Yellow Dragon crosses the Qingjiang River, and the real dragon is hidden inside". It means that the ancient Huanglong River is flat, the river is clear and slow-flowing, and the winding water around it resembles the scene of a "dragon turning back".
There is no need for the three of them to ask. The market in Gushu Ancient Street is full of people. Among them, the yellow catfish is the most outstanding. It is caught from the Qingxi River. The Bi family sisters are the most tempting.
As for why he only loves fish, Daochang Zhao also asked him, and the answer he gave him was: "Red meat makes you fat, and white meat keeps you full."
Red meat refers to cuts of bright red meat, such as pigs, sheep, dogs, etc. Eating too much of this type of red meat will ensure you gain weight, so red meat will gain weight.
White meat, on the other hand, will look white when cut open, such as chicken, duck, fish, etc. Chickens and ducks can only be considered half white meat. Fish are the only ones that are truly white. If you eat them with your belly open, you won’t get more than two ounces of meat. For those who love beauty and food, People are the first choice.
The yellow catfish in Huanglong Guxi is not only white meat, but also has no scales or spines. The two of them could not resist the temptation.
The three of them did not hesitate for a moment, and went to one of the most popular restaurants and ordered several kilograms of yellow catfish. There were two ways to eat it. One was to steam it with the local unique black bean sauce, and the other was to cook it with fermented old cabbage. Pots, these two dishes are most popular among diners.
Then I ordered bean sprouts and half a pork knuckle. It wasn’t that I couldn’t finish one knuckle, but because I had limited funds, I could only eat half.
The three of them planned to drive more than ten miles overnight to Chengdu after feasting at Huanglong Ancient Creek. After all, they didn't have much money for accommodation.
After the meal, the three of them drove a carriage to visit the river at night. This was a rare leisurely moment. The Bi family sisters rarely took the initiative to ask Taoist Zhao about his future plans. This question confused the young Taoist Priest, and he had never considered it.
No surprise; after this trip, I went back and continued to practice at the mountain gate. I cooperated with senior fellow apprentice Yuan Daoren inside and outside to break the rules and regulations, drink wine, eat meat, and look at beautiful women.
On the other hand, the Bi family sisters seem to have become unstable. Their sect is gone, and their relatives are gone. They are wandering around the world?
It's not impossible to take over the mountain gate, as long as you act shamelessly in front of the head brother's gate...
Thinking of this, Zhao Daochang stopped.
To be precise, he was interrupted by life and death. He pulled the reins to stop the carriage, and the Bi sisters also opened the curtain to take a look.
Driving the carriage away from the ancient Huanglong River, the dim lanterns glowed like fireflies in the dark night. Through the light, we could faintly see a figure dressed in white at the end of the night, riding a black horse and standing quietly in the center. The robe was dancing in the night wind, holding a folding fan and shaking it gently.
Within a distance of less than a hundred meters, the three of them recognized the person blocking the way. It was none other than Song Maoling, Tianshi Zhao's beloved disciple who had asked at Situ Jianzhuang a month ago.
I also remembered what he said at the end of the question, saying that they would discuss Taoism after Zhao Zhengli had finished dealing with Shu.
Daochang Zhao didn't take it seriously at first, but the current situation makes it obvious that the royal prince took it seriously and kept his word.
Before Zhao Zhengli could speak, Song Maoling spoke from a few feet away: "First of all, congratulations on your dedicated efforts to combat the sufferings of Shu, and then congratulations on your appointment as the Yellow Master of the Tianshi Mansion."
Still feeling aloof and arrogant, Daozhang Zhao could understand the first half of the sentence, but what was the second half? Why did he work in Tianshi Mansion for no reason? Why is it still the lowest seat?
Song Maoling didn't explain too much. In his opinion, everything would be clear to him when he arrived at the government office. He came here late at night not to announce good news, but to discuss Taoism. After tonight, Zhao Zhengli would be an official and a family member, so he would have to find a suitable reason for the discussion.
Finding excuses was something Song Maoling disdainfully criticized. In his opinion, one should be like a gangster, fighting as hard as he wants, looking for a bunch of excuses to pave the way for a fight. How tiring is that?
This is also the reason why he is tired of the intrigues among civil servants and officials in the temple. He greets people with a smile on the outside but curses them for eighteen generations behind their backs. Why bother? Wouldn't it be simpler and less troublesome to fight to the death?
He didn't give the confused Taoist Zhao time to think, and said bluntly: "Are you ready?"
The cold tone conveyed undeniable pressure.
Seeing how straightforward he was, Taoist Zhao pulled out a Bi family sister's rapier from the carriage. The two sisters knew that the battle was inevitable and stared at the handsome and serious white-faced Taoist priest nervously: "Be careful!"
Zhao Zhengli, who was originally serious, suddenly smiled at the two nervous sisters: "I have taken note of the concern of the two sisters. The three of us have been getting along for a long time. How about actually giving Xiao Dao a pair of red lips as a pre-war encouragement?"
The sisters of the Bi family pinched their pretty eyebrows nervously for a moment, then blushed on their cheeks. When they were thinking about whether to reward the white-faced Taoist priest, Taoist Master Zhao laughed: "This Taoist law has broken the ban and I can't stop for a moment. The two sisters still keep it." Let’s try again another day.”
The two sisters saw the teasing in his eyes and raised their fists to hit him. Unexpectedly, the evil sinner had already left several meters away with laughter. The two sisters were so angry that they stamped their feet. Apart from the aftertaste and anger, the tension was gone. .
In the dark night, the river was gurgling. Song Maoling, who was dressed in white robes, didn't know why he was laughing. He didn't ask. He stepped on his horse in the air and landed on the ground. Then he closed his folding fan and walked forward with a sprint. He was very fast, leaving an afterimage in the night sky.
In an instant, Zhao Zhengli appeared approaching, and then used the closed fan as a sharp weapon to sweep across the door in front of Daochang Zhao. The Daoist priest threw his head back to avoid it, kicked his feet and swept forward, blocking his further movements. He twisted around and elbowed him in the side. Song Maoling blocked with his hands on his wrists. , sweeping his legs to attack his lower body, Daochang Zhao raised his foot to neutralize the attack with the sole of his foot, and then stabbed his waist with the hilt of the sword.
Song Maoling's quick eyesight and quick hands opened the folding fan and rotated it from his waist. The folding fan opened the hilt of the sword like a magic weapon, and then rotated it from Song Maoling's wrist in a fancy way; it slashed towards Zhao Zhengli's jaw and neck. Although it was a feint, Daochang Zhao blocked it with his sword. , but also gave Song Maoling the momentum to gather a punch and hit him directly in the chest. Taoist Zhao blocked it with his palms. Each punch was more than a thousand kilograms of force. The two of them bounced several meters apart, leaving long marks on the ground with the soles of their shoes. Long scratches.
The close combat with bare hands came to an end. Zhao Zhengli did not draw his sword from the beginning to the end, so he did not take advantage of Song Maoling's sharp weapon.
The two looked at each other in the air, and Zhao Zhengli shouted: "Biyu, lend me your sword!"
The sisters from the Bi family in the carriage quickly threw another rapier at the two of them. Daozhang Zhao grabbed it with his true energy and threw it towards Song Maoling. The mere act of holding the object from the air shocked everyone present. Song Maoling caught the rapier for the first time. He looked solemn, then fastened the folding fan to his waist and removed the jade pendant, brocade bag and other obstructions.
His calm eyes showed a hint of excitement: "You are very strong!"
Daochang Zhao smiled: "You haven't tried it yet!"
The two men frowned, stepped forward at the same time, and drew their swords to face each other. The cold light shone in all directions, like sharp claws tearing apart hell in the night sky. They could only hear the "clang" sound of weapons colliding, and the "buzzing" sound of swords. , the two of them moved around and exchanged positions, fighting for nearly a hundred rounds. Every move and sword move was extremely pure. They fought only with skills and sword moves, without injecting a trace of true energy.
From the physical body to the moves to the true energy, compare them one by one, this way; you should also respect your opponent when you correct yourself.
The only regret was that the lighting was dim and the Bi sisters could not learn sword moves.
After dozens of moves, the two of them gradually poured in their true energy, and their swords flew wildly; the aftermath was scattered in all directions, superimposing one after another from a few meters to tens of meters. The Bi family sisters said that they were very satisfied. This was the first time for them. Watching the grandmaster's competition calmly, from the inside to the outside; from top to bottom, it is so cool and elegant.
I still lamented that the night was too dark and I couldn't understand the sword moves from it. Fortunately, I could feel a lot of awe-inspiring Taoism by holding my breath.
When the battle reached its peak, Song Maoling used his true energy to gather all the spirits. There were cranes, leopards, eagles, and even sacred beasts like roaring dragons and roaring tigers. They were all killed by Zhao Zhengli with one sword. From the first few sword qi to several Ten, hundreds. In the end, when the dragon and tiger were transformed, it almost reached nearly a thousand sword qi. They were superimposed one after another. It was like a divine weapon coming to the world. It was dazzling and slashed at various transformed creatures. After the dazzling true energy collided, they both dissipated in the night sky. The aftermath The true energy spread for several miles, making the horses restless and restless, and their hooves stamped the ground back and forth.
What Song Maoling used was the "Dragon, Elephant and Ten Thousand Spirits" of Longhu Mountain, while Daozhang Zhao still used the "Qingcheng Fearless Pill Method to Defend Nothingness and Create Voidness, and Transform Ten Thousands Together!"
Now Daochang Zhao can finally reach the point where he can transform into one thousand.
Both sides are fighting to the death in Taoism. This is not a life-and-death battle, and naturally it has not reached the point of risking life and death. However, the two can also be judged to be on par. As for the final trump card, neither side knows.
Song Maoling and Zhao Zhengli gave in at the same time, and each gave up. Song Maoling picked up the sachet and the jade tablet, and returned the rapier to the Bi sisters who were watching the battle through the air. The same method of holding things through the air was no longer used by the Bi sisters at this moment. Surprised, or perhaps overly surprised.
Song Maoling summoned the dark horse in the distance to stand up, and once again returned to his aloof and cold tone and said to Zhao Zhengli: "See you next time in the capital!"
Then without waiting for a response, he turned his horse's head and galloped away; disappearing into the night.
Daochang Zhao packed up and returned to the carriage. The two sisters looked at him with serious expressions, and their teeth were grinding together. He grinned and took the reins indifferently, asking: "Do you two understand what he said? ?”
Birou finally relented and quickly forgot the sinner's previous mistakes: "He said he'd see you next time in the capital?"
Dao Zhao sighed with regret and said: "I am going to Beijing to serve as an official, so I guess I have to say goodbye to my two sisters!"
Birou hurriedly asked: "Can't we go to the capital with you?"
Daochang Zhao looked like he was thinking deeply: "It's okay to take the two sisters to the capital and find a good family to entrust them to, so as to save themselves from wandering around."
The two sisters were anxious after hearing this, and Biyu spoke sharply: "The Taoist priest really thinks that my two sisters are motivated by fame and fortune? Or do you think that the two sisters are using the Taoist priest as a springboard to find a good home? The past two months have been wasted. , the Taoist priest insists that my two sisters are a burden. Please say, we owe nothing to each other, and we will immediately return the two lives that the Taoist priest saved!"
After speaking, he even drew his sword resolutely. Taoist priest Zhao quickly stopped: "Forget it! It seems that the two sisters are determined to stay with this Taoist life forever." Then the conversation changed drastically: "I heard that high-ranking officials have three wives and four concubines. In this case, why not Let me and my two sisters become Taoist couples tonight, and secure their seats in the main palace to avoid being intercepted later!"
This 360-degree rotation really prevented the Bi sisters from reacting. They were ashamed and angry and used their pink fists to attack him.
In fact, the first half of the sentence is Daochang Zhao's inner voice, and the second half is a joke to clean up the mess of the first half.
