Zheng Xiu knew that Xie Luohe was longing to "return to ordinary people."
But neither Xie Luohe nor Zheng Xiu knew what the so-called secret of "returning to ordinary people" was hidden in Gong Nie's treasure house.
Before his death, the former Imperial Master only said one sentence: "Return to the secret of ordinary people."
But whether this "secret" is a secret book or an item, no one knows.
At the foot of the Hidden Sword Villa, Zheng Xiu met Fan Yao, a poor man who was both a monk and not a monk, and who had wasted forty years in this world in the painting since he was born. He also revealed this secret.
From his words, Zheng Xiu speculated that there was an "exit" in Gong Nie's treasure house.
If the true face of "returning to normalcy" is an "exit", then everything would make sense.
The "cannibal paintings" painted by Gongsun Mo are equivalent to ghosts. Ghost is the interface between the "eternal world" and "eternal darkness". Since it is the interface, there must be a path to connect with the eternal world.
Through the "exit", Zheng Xiu can leave here and return to daily life.
Therefore, to a certain extent, his fundamental purpose is consistent with that of the Sierra.
Now, Zheng Xiu also had a reason to search for Nie Gong's treasure house.
In order to "leave" and "return to ordinary people".
Before heading towards Bashan, Xieluohe used the ancient method of flying pigeons to send letters back to Yunhe Village.
"A flying pigeon travels 1,500 miles in a day. If Brother Ruo moves quickly enough after receiving the letter, he will arrive at Bashan in about twenty days."
These are the original words of Xie Luohe.
The reason why Zheng Xiu notified Xie Yunliu of the location of "Gong Nie's Treasure House" in this way was to rescue the monk.
If "return to normal life" is really hidden in Gong Nie's treasury, the monk must go with him.
Now Zheng Xiu can only choose to believe that after leaving here, through "returning to ordinary people" and through "exit", both Fengbei and the monk will come back and become the same people as before.
Of course, Zheng Xiu had many things to worry about.
For example, Fei Ge didn't know the road, was shot down on the way, died suddenly in the air, Xie Yunliu was illiterate, etc., which ultimately led to Xie Yunliu not being able to reach Bashan as scheduled. But now that the matter has come to this, Zheng Xiu has no way to guarantee that Xie Luohe's information will be transmitted back to Yunhe Village. So to be on the safe side, Xie Luohe paid a high price to hire a messenger in the city on the way, "800 miles urgently", to be sent to the vicinity of Yunhe Village, where the bandits used to deliver messages.
That's all.
Yanzhou has been a place where heroes have emerged since ancient times.
The territory of Yanzhou is surrounded by mountains, forming a basin, and the terrain is dangerous. A long time ago, this place was not called Yanzhou, but "Yanguo". The rough-tempered Yan people even lived a life of living rough and drinking blood for many years, until they were knocked out of the country by elite soldiers and cavalry and returned to the Central Plains.
After riding across the mountains and entering Yanzhou for the first time, a sudden heavy rain drenched the three unprepared people to death.
Although it couldn't be seen on the surface, Zheng Xiu knew that Xie Luohe was really anxious.
She wanted to find Gong Nie's treasure house. In order to "return to ordinary people", she walked in the rain, day and night.
Until the next morning, the rain slowed down, in a ruined temple.
Xiaotao had a high fever. In the Mimi Lake, she called "Miss" for a while, "Master" for a while, "It's so cold" for a while, and after a while she shook and shouted "Good or Bad".
"She is sick and needs to go to the city to find a doctor."
If Zheng Xiu hadn't had a deep connection with the [Prisoner] now and couldn't enter the heart prison, he would have wanted to go in by himself if he had been replaced by [Medical].
In this era, even a small cold can kill someone if not taken seriously.
Xie Luohe silently added wood to the fire.
Hearing this, she was silent for a moment and then smiled: "What's wrong, Feng Bei, you don't want it anymore?"
Zheng Xiu was startled when he heard this, and then an unknown fire surged into his heart, and he said angrily: "She is your personal maid!"
"Yes, maid." Xie Luohe said calmly, "That's all."
"If you hadn't traveled all night in the rain, would she have been soaked like this?"
Since meeting Xie Luohe, this is the first time Zheng Xiu has spoken to Xie Luohe in such a sharp tone.
"Haha," Xie Luohe said with a smile, "What does it have to do with you?"
"What does it have to do with me?" Zheng Xiu laughed angrily.
"For you, this is just a dream. You never believe it. So Xiaotao, for you, is like a person in a dream, dead when he dies." Xie Luohe's eyes turned into crescents: "So, what does it have to do with you? Dry."
A long silence followed.
The rain stopped.
Zheng Xiu carried Xiao Tao from Mimi Huhu behind his back and tied it tightly with a roll of rags. The heat from Xiao Tao's body slipped through the clothes and reached Zheng Xiu's back.
"Then go find Mr. Nie's treasure house yourself."
Zheng Xiu said something and took Xiao Tao away on horseback.
The gloomy sky was covered with dark clouds, which was very similar to Zheng Xiu's mood at the moment.
Bashan is located at the junction of the two states, and entering Yanzhou is just a shortcut. On the boundary of Yanzhou and to the north of Bashan Mountain, there is a key place called "Li City". This place is located at the junction of the two states and is a central city for trade and economy between the two states.
The weather in Licheng follows Yanzhou, and it is always rainy.
One day later, when Zheng Xiu arrived in Licheng, it was drizzling.
The people who entered the city were all wearing raincoats. Beside the city gate and on the notice board, nearly a hundred people surrounded them in three circles inside and three outside.
Riding on his horse, Zheng Xiu looked down from a high position and saw from a distance that the notice board was covered with notices. The words "Recruitment Order" were prominently written on the notice board.
The city gate was guarded by troops, but Zheng Xiu looked like a poor scholar now, with a seriously ill woman on his back. After a brief interrogation, the city guards did not stop him and let Zheng Xiu enter the city.
It was almost noon. Zheng Xiu had been riding a horse all night. His eye sockets were sunken and he was quite tired. But he still endured his fatigue and used the little money he had left to rent a room in an inn. After settling Xiao Tao, he spent a lot of money and three taels of silver to hire the best doctor to come and treat Xiao Tao.
Looking at the few broken pieces of silver left in his luggage, Zheng Xiu suddenly missed his rich life in the past and laughed at himself, never having imagined that he would also be troubled by money.
"Mrs. Gongsun accidentally caught the cold. Fortunately you came in time, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous."
After taking Xiaotao's pulse, the doctor gave her the usual threats, prescribed several decoctions, and explained the recipe in detail.
Zheng Xiu pushed open the paper window and borrowed a stove and a clay pot from the inn. After a while, an unpleasant herbal smell wafted out of the house.
After giving medicine to Xiao Tao, Xiao Tao muttered a few words and fell asleep again.
At this point, Zheng Xiu couldn't bear it anymore. He lay on the bedside, his eyelids drooped, and fell asleep unconsciously.
In the midst of Mi Mi Lake, Zheng Xiu felt someone touching his nose.
When she opened her eyes, she saw Xiao Tao blinking her bright eyes, blushing like a thief, covering her hands with the quilt and secretly touching the tip of Zheng Xiu's nose with her fingers. When she saw Zheng Xiu open his eyes, his fingers flicked open like an electric shock, she quickly closed her eyes and pretended that she wasn't awake yet.
"Sir, Xiao Tao seems to have heard that someone, someone, someone was saying 'Mrs. Gongsun'."
The atmosphere between the two was awkward. After a few moments of silence, Xiao Tao opened her mouth and asked this strange question with a blushing face.
"You must have heard wrong."
Zheng Xiu said firmly.
"Is it."
Xiaotao shrank into the quilt and answered sickly.
Zheng Xiu put his hand to Xiaotao's forehead and touched it.
The fever is gone.
"I'll go out and buy you some food."
Zheng Xiu went out, weighed the broken silver in his arms, and sighed softly. It was estimated that this little money would be enough to pay for tomorrow's room fee. After going out, Zheng Xiu thought of a way to make money, found a busy location, and set up a street stall.
Selling paintings.
There were people coming and going in the market, and there was serious involution. At first, no one showed interest in Zheng Xiu's small stall. In desperation, he put up a sign - "Painting skills passed down from Gongsun personally."
After putting up the sign, a young young master came forward to inquire with hesitation: "Gongsun? Which Gongsun?"
"That Gongsun."
Zheng Xiu smiled.
"Another liar."
The young master sneered and walked away.
"again?"
Zheng Xiu was a little puzzled when he heard this.
An hour later, Zheng Xiu finally made his first deal.
There is a young man in the city, and his father will celebrate his eightieth birthday in a month. He complained loudly to Zheng Xiu, saying that his father was not good at anything and preferred calligraphy and painting. He had two elder brothers and one younger brother. His father also had three concubines and ten thousand acres of farmland waiting to be inherited. He cryptically said that if Zheng Xiuzhen could draw calligraphy and paintings that would please his father, he would be heavily rewarded.
He also said that he was not interested in his father's concubine, but mainly in the ten thousand acres of farmland.
"There's no need for a heavy reward. A tael of silver will do no harm to a child or an old man."
"Draw everything?"
"Don't draw faces."
"Okay, sir, please start writing."
Not all second-generation rich people are arrogant and domineering.
This man is very polite.
Of course, it's also possible that he's not rich enough.
Zheng Xiu thought, what painting is worth one tael of silver? After thinking for a moment, Zheng Xiu drew a landscape picture. Facing the sea, a white-haired old man was riding on clouds at his feet, heading towards Dongxian.
Inscription: Longevity in Nanshan Mountain, Emergence and Immortality.
Signed: Gongsun Mo.
Zheng Xiu has been painting Xie Luohe's "back" for nearly half a year. Unknowingly, his painting skills have improved to the point that even he himself does not recognize it. As soon as the painting was completed, the rich man immediately dropped a bag of money, rolled up the painting and left happily.
I bought a cage of hot meat buns and a bowl of fragrant Yandi delicacy "fatty corn soup". When Zheng Xiu hurried back to the inn with two large bags of oilcloth bags, a familiar figure wearing a bamboo hat, Lower the brim of your hat and stand quietly.
Zheng Xiu pouted, stepped forward, and took off the opponent's bamboo hat.
A black ponytail was tied high.
Zheng Xiu was stunned.
"Xiao Tao is feeling better?"
Xie Luohe asked with a smile.
When Zheng Xiu saw Xie Luohe in Licheng, he didn't know whether he was angry or funny for a moment. He put his hat back and suppressed his familiar ponytail.
"I want you to take care of it?"
Zheng Xiu ignored Xie Luohe and went upstairs to eat and drink with Xiao Tao, make medicine, and change out of his soaked clothes.
Ding.
An arrow was nailed to the window sill.
Zheng Xiu glanced at it and ignored it.
The second one came in again, made a weird half-circle, and was nailed to the head of the bed.
Xiao Tao, who was sleeping soundly, fluttered her eyelashes.
Zheng Xiu leaned out of the window and gestured to Xie Luohe, who was still standing at the entrance of the inn with a long bow on his back: "What are you doing?"
Xie Luohe raised his fingers towards Zheng Xiu.
After going down, Xie Luohe said to Zheng Xiu: "My brother will arrive in Licheng in about three days."
Hearing this, Zheng Xiu frowned: "What do you mean?"
"Looking for Mr. Nie's treasure house."
Xie Luohe spoke concisely and comprehensively.
"You only have eyes for Mr. Nie's treasure house?"
"Yes." Xie Luohe nodded calmly: "I said that when I find Gong Nie's treasure house, I will return her to you."
Zheng Xiu remained silent and turned back to the inn.
Xie Luohe looked at Zheng Xiu's back from behind, pulled his hair behind his ears, and said softly: "So, are you Zheng Xiu...or Gongsun Mo?"
Seeing Zheng Xiu being silent, Xie Luohe sighed softly: "I won."
Zheng Xiu turned around and walked to Xie Luohe expressionlessly: "What should I do about Xiao Tao?"
"Don't worry, I've already paid for someone to protect you secretly. Just come back before dark."
Hearing this, Zheng Xiu noticed that around the inn, there were many people with a temperament that was incompatible with the surroundings. From time to time, they glanced at the window of the room where Xiao Tao was located.
"Xiao Tao is an ordinary person. No one will do anything bad to her. You are worrying too much."
Xie Luohe flicked his finger on Zheng Xiu's forehead.
"So you followed me all the way?"
Only then did Zheng Xiu notice that Xie Luohe was still wearing the same clothes. They had been dry, wet, and dry again. They had never been changed. His boots were stained with mud and dust.
"Otherwise?" Xie Luohe rolled his eyes: "Do you really think I am such a heartless person? Let me take a look and see if you will take advantage of people's danger and behave like animals."
Their horses were kept in stables by the city gate.
Xie Luohe actually fed the horses. When the two young mares saw Zheng Xiu and Xie Luohe walking side by side, they neighed and panted, and were particularly excited.
When he got on his horse and left the city, Xie Luohe said while walking: "While you were taking care of Xiao Tao, I have already asked the 'mountain walkers' near Bashan Mountain. There are indeed several caves in Bashan Mountain that are bottomless. Once you mistakenly Entering, the interior is as winding and changeable as a labyrinth, with no way out for ten times in and out. There may really be a path to Duke Nie's treasure house hidden inside."
The so-called "mountain walker" is a rare side sect. He relies on his agility to climb mountains and ridges all year round, digging for unowned treasures in the mountains to make a living. Most of them are precious medicinal materials or rare animals that grow in the mountains.
You know, the more inaccessible the mountains, the more steep they become. If there is no plank road up the mountain, hikers can only rely on their hands and feet to climb between the rocks. If they are not careful, they will fall off the cliff, which is extremely dangerous.
Xie Luohe is worthy of being Xie Luohe. He actually found out all this information while he was taking care of Xiao Tao.
Zheng Xiu counted on his fingers and found that Licheng was not far or near from Bashan Mountain, nearly twenty miles away. But there are no villages near Bashan Mountain, and Licheng is the closest town to Bashan Mountain. It is reasonable to place Xiaotao in Licheng.
After all, Xiao Tao is an ordinary person. Zheng Xiu doesn't know what will happen in Nie Gong's treasury, so it is reasonable to temporarily place Xiao Tao in Li City. Thinking of this, Zheng Xiu did not refute Xie Luohe's arrangement and followed Xie Luohe to Bashan.
The entire journey was speechless.
Two hours later.
Zheng Xiu and Xie Luohe arrived at the foot of Bashan Mountain.
Bashan Mountain is not high, standing like three fingers in the thick fog, with the top of the mountain looming.
The mountains of Bashan are steep and densely covered with thorns.
The Xieluo River found a path, and most of the thorn bushes were chopped off with a hatchet. This was obviously the path traveled by mountain walkers.
