Three hundred and sixty lines, roughly divided into nine categories: upper, middle, and lower, which contain people's prejudices and preferences for a certain profession.
Nowadays, under the influence of Chang An, these professions have given birth to doorway thaumaturgy. But this so-called "upper, middle and lower" distinction does not mean the strength, weakness and weirdness of this doorway.
There are many professions that work with the dead, which are feared by people, and most of them are classified as middle or ninth-level.
Among the lower classes, most are shady businesses. The most commendable ones are the so-called: abduction, cheating, stealing, and prostitution.
Liars, known among the people as "thousand-door generals", Zheng Xiu met many of them some time ago and killed many of them.
As for "stealing the door", it sounds high-end, but in fact it is also a sneaky thing.
Prostitutes are "orchids". The four maids around Zheng Xiu, "Zhizhi, Bobo, Pingping, and Lily", were once the four golden flowers in heaven and earth. Because they were performing arts instead of selling themselves, they accidentally stepped into the "Orchid". branch, in the crossroads of [Geisha].
Among the abductions and prostitutions, the last one is the most despicable... abductions.
——Time demon.
"Time demon?"
Zheng Xiu thought about it for a moment and remembered this side business.
To put it nicely, it is called "Shi Yao", and to put it worse, it is called "Kai Po".
The origin of this title is a bit interesting. In ancient times, Guaipao hid her head and tail and did not dare to speak out. Most of the time they "acted", no one noticed. After abducting the children, the children grew up many years ago and said that their "time was stolen". In order to scare the children in the village and stop them from running around blindly, the adults told them that if you don't leave the village at night, you will be abducted by the "time demon" and you will grow old in the blink of an eye.
The origin cannot be ascertained, but gradually the "Kaipao Po" became known as the "Shi Yao" after others followed his advice.
Like Ye Weiyang's Tiger Wolf Wall Water, "Time Demon" is also a rare profession in today's peaceful and prosperous age, and no one is doing it anymore. After all, if you don’t make money, it’s easy to lose your head.
Zheng Xiu never expected that the emperor would casually send a stranger over. Zheng Xiu stared blankly at Yin Qingqing's exposed back. At this time, Feng Bei heard the familiar music and followed it happily. When he came to the hall, he saw Zheng Xiu staring at other people's buttocks and waist without moving.
The hall is full of women, some are playing and singing, and some are taking off their bellybands. This scene is very imaginative. But Feng Bei knew that Zheng Xiu was not a person who indulged in pleasure, so he tiptoed behind Zheng Xiu out of curiosity.
"Jiyou?"
When Feng Bei couldn't help but make a confused sound behind him, Zheng Xiu noticed Feng Bei's presence. He glared fiercely at Zhizhi, who was enjoying himself and watching the excitement, and said, "I'll take care of you later!" Zheng Xiu's eyes revealed this line, and he coughed twice, looking calm. , as wise as the Holy Buddha, said softly: "Put it on."
Yin Qingqing obediently tied the little red string on her bellyband again and turned around. Jing Xuemei took a large cloak and put it on Yin Qingqing, then glared at Zhizhi: "Don't make trouble."
Feng Bei counted them on his fingers and whispered beside Zheng Xiu: "I'm very close to Ding Wei."
What confused and surprised her was not that Yin Qingqing was a strange person.
She has seen a lot of strange people these days.
Monk and Zheng Xiu are like this.
What puzzles her is that Yin Qingqing's "number" is very close to hers in ranking.
"Shi Yao." Zheng Xiu said. Feng Bei had stayed in Ye Weiyang for many years, and he looked suddenly enlightened when he heard this. She had evidently heard of this seldom-trodden path.
At this time, Zheng Xiu finally became interested in Yin Qingqing.
Of course, it's not an interest in the male-female sense, but an interest in the "Time Demon" path itself.
This is a novel "doorway" that has never been seen before. Zheng Xiu is very curious about Yin Qingqing's magical skills.
Considering what she said, she can look like she is in her early twenties at the age of thirty-five. Could it be that Shi Yao really lives up to her name and abducts people's years and years?
Zheng Xiudang even said that he wanted to experience Yin Qingqing's strange magic. At first, Yin Qingqing was stunned when she heard the words. She lowered her head and remained silent. Zheng Xiu also smiled and saw that she didn't speak. In the silence, Yin Qingqing sighed softly. She lowered her eyebrows and pointed at the squeaking guzheng and said: " Please allow me to borrow my sister's zither."
"Call me sister." Zhizhi raised his underdeveloped pectoralis major muscles and said in dissatisfaction: "Everything is about first come, first served. Whoever comes first is the sister."
Zheng Xiu acquiesced.
Yin Qingqing's face was calm, and she did not show any displeasure at Zhizhi's deliberate attempt to make things difficult for her. She stepped back and said, "Sister Zhizhi, please lend me the piano."
Zhizhi generously said yes.
I saw Yin Qingqing reaching out and rubbing her fair arm. This rub actually removed a thin piece of human skin the size of a fingernail. The piece of human skin was spinning in Yin Qingqing's palm like a wriggling insect, suddenly growing in size.
"go."
Yin Qingqing took a step forward. In everyone's surprised eyes, the "human skin" spinning in her palm suddenly turned into a "curtain" filled with gray mist, covering the arm-long zither, and in the blink of an eye it It was wrapped into a package.
The package shrank strangely at a speed visible to the naked eye, and finally shrunk to the size of a fingernail. Yin Qingqing held one in her hands, and the squeaking zither disappeared in Yin Qingqing's palm.
From the time Yin Qingqing rubbed human skin to when Zhengqin disappeared, the whole process took just one breath. Zheng Xiu suspected that if Yin Qingqing hadn't slowed down for the sake of "demonstration", she could have "abducted" Zhengqin faster.
"Can it be used on people?"
Zheng Xiu's breath was stagnant. He knew very well that the reason why Yin Qingqing hesitated was because thaumaturgy could not be easily revealed to others. When she finally decided to show her hand, she accepted her fate and wanted Zheng Xiu to feel at ease with her.
As the saying goes, trust is mutual, so Yin Qingqing first surrendered her trust in Zheng Xiu.
Yin Qingqing nodded: "Yes."
After a while, she played the squeaking zither. The process of "releasing" is exactly the same as the process of "earning". A piece of "human skin package" the size of a fingernail becomes larger instantly, and the human skin spits out the zither like a big mouth.
"Come on, try it on me!"
Zheng Xiu pointed at himself curiously.
Yin Qingqing could no longer maintain a calm expression and was embarrassed.
The four Zhizhi were even more shocked.
Qing Shisan, who was secretly listening to music on the eaves, rolled over and landed on the ground, appearing silently at the entrance of the hall, blowing out smoke rings and saying softly: "Master, you can't put yourself in danger."
Shadows swayed on the wall.
"All things are false, all things are permitted," the fraternity chants in unison.
For a moment, because of Zheng Xiu's words, the entire Zheng family suddenly became a bit more tense than the initial peace.
They were afraid that Zheng Xiu would be abducted by the "Time Demon".
Feng Bei silently took off his gloves and looked at Yin Qingqing: "What did you do to him?"
Yin Qingqing didn't know at this time that if she answered incorrectly, she would face the thunderous strike of Zheng's "nuclear bomb". Her face was a little panicked, and she knelt down quickly: "No slave!"
Zheng Xiu was stunned for a moment by everyone's excessive reaction. He couldn't laugh or cry at the same time but was secretly moved at the same time. It seems that the emperor sent Yin Qingqing here, just like throwing a little she-wolf into a pack of tigers. Zheng Xiu himself thought it was nothing, but the brothers under his command were cautious about it, for fear that the little she-wolf would secretly torment her. Their tiger king.
If you think about it carefully, Mr. Zheng should like this tone. Looking eighteen is actually thirty-five, eighteen every year, eighteen every year, eighteen every night. It's exciting just thinking about it.
Qing Shisan thought the same thing, and while he was vigilant, he couldn't help but sigh: The emperor is really good at judging people.
"It's okay. Just wait and see, she really dares to do something to me. With the few of you here, what kind of trouble can she cause? Besides, I believe she won't be that stupid, and I also believe that the emperor won't be so stupid." Zheng Xiu Smiling, he waved to the others and squeezed Feng Bei's hand.
The small actions of Zheng Xiu and Feng Bei were seen in Yin Qingqing's eyes, and Yin Qingqing was shocked by the situation. She had heard that Feng Bei's hand was like an unsheathed sword, which could cut anyone it touched into flying ash. But why can Mr. Zheng be so close to Feng Bei and regard the terrible "ominous" as nothing?
At Zheng Xiu's request, Yin Qingqing, who was in a confused mood, gritted her teeth, used the Innate Stranger Technique, rubbed a piece of human skin, and patted Zheng Xiu carefully.
The rotating human skin was first enlarged, glowing with gray mist. As the "human skin" approached, Zheng Xiu suddenly felt itchy on his forehead, as if something was about to break out. Snapped! Yin Qingqing's hand patted Zheng Xiu's body, and a piece of human skin the size of a fingernail fell weakly to the side.
Yin Qingqing was stunned.
Feng Bei was stunned.
Qing Shisan choked on the cigarette.
Several brothers fell off the wall.
In the awkward silence, Zheng Xiu leaned over and picked up the small piece of human skin. The human skin gradually turned into fine powder in his hands, and when he blew it, it completely dissipated. He glanced at Yin Qingqing, who was at a loss and panicked, and then said to Qing Shisan: "You accompany Qingqing and return to the palace to report to the emperor. By the way, I will meet the brothers who know the secret department. In the future, they may be the brothers and sisters. .”
Qing Shisan smoked silently, pondering the deep meaning of the master's words. He soon figured it out and accepted the order with a smile.
"Wait a minute."
Before going out, Zheng Xiu remembered something and said to Yin Qingqing in a serious tone: "Since the emperor has handed you over to me, from now on you will belong to my Zheng family."
Yin Qingqing lowered her head: "I understand."
"From now on, you will go wherever I tell you to go."
"yes."
"When I come, you must not refuse."
Yin Qingqing was stunned, she misunderstood, her eyes were filled with sorrow, and she gritted her teeth and agreed: "I understand."
The moment Yin Qingqing agreed.
A line of small characters appeared in front of Zheng Xiu's eyes.
[You discovered the inn. You can reach "Inn·Shiyao·Jiyou·Yin Qingqing". 】
[Inn: Yin Qingqing, I agree to your entry. 】
[You have permission to enter the inn. 】
[You can enter the inn and stay at any time. 】
Zheng Xiu, who was inexplicably happy about the new [Inn], did not notice Yin Qingqing's dull expression as if he was resigned to his fate. Yin Qingqing followed Qing Shisan out in a daze.
Zheng Xiu took the opportunity to calm down, closed his eyes, and looked at Xinyi Station before talking.
The scenery in Xinlao remained the same, Zheng Xiu went straight to the game table without stopping. The middle seat on the gaming table seemed a bit crowded.
After all, [Inn Fengbei] is also in the same location.
Next to the [Yizhan Fengbei] mini-doll, there is a big-headed girl with closed eyes, wearing a red bellyband and a sad face. Zheng Xiu was stunned, why did he wear a bellyband in this station?
【Inn】Yin Qingqing
【Friendly】Master and servant
[Pathway] Time Demon (Jiyou)
[luck] turning bad luck into good luck
[Physique] Winding paths lead to seclusion
"A winding path leads to a secluded place...?"
Are you talking about... the inn?
Zheng Xiu poked open [Inn Fengbei] again and took a look. Only when he poked it in did he see that [Inn Fengbei] introduced that there had been many changes after the cannibal painting incident.
【Inn】Fengbei
【affiliation】admiration
【Door】Executioner (Ding Wei)
【Luck】Tiansha Lonely Star
【Physique】The palace is glorious
Zheng Xiu was stunned.
When I poked the monk again, he also changed.
【Inn】Huahua
[Friendship] The acquaintance of life and death
【Door Path】Ascetic Monk (Renchen)
【Luck】Lucky stars shine brightly
[Physique] Boundless as far as the eye can see
Before, the monk's [Inn] was "Unnamed". After the cannibal painting, he found himself again and became "Huahua".
[Yizhan Huahua]'s physique has skyrocketed to "endless as far as the eye can see".
"The winding paths lead to secluded places, the palaces are brilliant, and the view is endless."
This seems to be a literal distinction between "big and small".
To put it simply, Fengbei has swelled, Monk has become wider, and Yin Qingqing... is still small?
Zheng Xiu felt that he should understand it this way.
It's not difficult to understand.
After a thought, Zheng Xiu looked strange and opened his eyes again. In the description of Yin Qingqing's [Inn], the word "master and servant" in the "Friendly" column made Zheng Xiu believe that Yin Qingqing recognized the status of "master and servant" from the bottom of her heart. Feng Bei didn't know that Zheng Xiu was secretly studying her scale again, still looking at the back of Yin Qingqing as she left.
After leaving the hall, while waiting for Yin Qingqing to change clothes, Qing Shisan squatted on the wall. A whistle came from another part of Zheng's house. It was Ji Hongou. When Qing Shisan heard this, he pricked up his ears.
Ji Hongou's whistle was first curious about why Qing Shisan took a girl out. After Qing Shisan came back to explain, Ji Hongou asked for leave, saying that the person at home was unwell. Thinking of Ji Hongou's current situation, Qing Shisan felt inexplicably anxious. He casually replied and fell into silence.
"Take a step to speak."
After Qing Shisan and Yin Qingqing left, Feng Bei took Zheng Xiu back to the room.
Others were already accustomed to the two people's movements, so they started to snicker and feel sad in silence. It was a kind of sadness called "the master was taken away".
"Is your 'prisoner' a natural way to defeat 'foreigners'?"
Feng Bei's eyes were blazing, and she rarely showed this expression in front of Zheng Xiu: "This can explain why you can touch my ominous side, and why Yin Qingqing's alien technique is ineffective on you."
Zheng Xiu shook his head: "It's not completely ineffective." He touched the knot on his forehead and said thoughtfully: "My trick just moved."
"Did you do it on purpose?" Feng Bei looked worried and warned: "You should be more careful next time and don't accidentally expose your true methods. Once Zhu knows that you have restrained the stranger, Zhu may do anything to him. You do it."
"I really didn't expect it at first, but it turned out to be this reason."
Prisoner, prisoner of strange things, prisoner of strangers, prisoner of self. Zheng Xiu assured Feng Bei softly: "In the worst case, I will be known as a 'painter' in front of others. Who would have thought that one person can possess so many magical arts?"
"Don't forget the monk." Since that incident, Feng Bei also followed Zheng Xiu's example and affectionately called the monk "monk".
"Yes," Zheng Xiu was slightly startled when he heard this, and said with a smile: "Monk is the same. He can develop a variety of miraculous arts with one person's power, which is quite miraculous."
The two sat beside the bed and chatted quietly.
Feng Bei: "Why are you so interested in foreigners?"
Zheng Xiu raised his index finger and said mysteriously, "What do you think?"
Feng Bei thought for a moment, looked at the face in front of him that needed a beating, and soon figured it out: "Could it be that you want to... 'collect' as many aliens as possible before 'Zhu'?"
Feng Bei hesitated for a while before using the word "collect".
Yes, she felt like Zheng Xiu was "collecting" strangers now.
"You come with me."
Zheng Xiu led Feng Bei to the study.
After closing the door tightly, Feng Bei glanced at the covered "statue" from time to time. The more he glanced at it, the softer his eyes became.
Zheng Xiu ignored Feng Bei, who was looking at the unfinished statue alone. He cleared the table and spread out a piece of white paper. He first wrote the word "Prisoner" on it and marked "Jia Zi" next to "Prisoner".
He also drew many blank lines under the prisoner, a total of forty-eight lines.
Zheng Xiu recalled the illusion that appeared in front of his eyes on the first day he became a [prisoner]. That huge eyeball like a scorching sun, with forty-nine rays of light escaping after the eyeball exploded.
Everything happens for a reason.
"You have been in Ye Weiyang for many years, and you must have learned a lot about it. Please try to fill it in."
Feng Bei obediently took the pen from Zheng Xiu's hand and hung there for a moment, but was unable to start.
"The order is not important. You can fill it in backwards and sort it by the heavenly stems and earthly branches."
Feng Bei thought for a while and then tried to fill it in. Fill in the "doorways" one after another on the white paper according to my impression.
[Shen Tiao Witch], [Orchid], [Stealing Door], [Thousand Doors General], [Time Demon]...
Zheng Xiu added from time to time based on his experiences over the years: "The executioner is Ding Wei, the creditor is Yiji, the ascetic is Renchen, the demon of time is Jiyou... By the way, the painter is Wuzi."
"There are also corpse stitchers, skilled hands, footworkers, official servants, actors, officials, spiritual people, chess players, literati..."
After Feng Bei filled in a few, Zheng Xiu was inspired. With a strange light in his eyes, he snatched Feng Bei's pen and filled in the blanks casually, muttering to himself as he filled in:
"Have you noticed that the birth of the door is not so much in accordance with the regular 'order', but more in accordance with people's 'perception'. The top, middle and bottom nine streams clearly correspond to the common people's cognition and their impression of this profession. .”
As Zheng Xiu started writing, the white paper gradually became fuller, but it also left a lot of blank spaces.
"There are countless side roads hidden in every doorway."
"Menjing, rather than being born with Chang An's approach, I think he is more like the manifestation of a human's 'wishes'."
"Chang An made this 'wish' come true."
"Just like a child, when he was a child, he dreamed of flying high in the sky. It was this kind of pure 'wishes'."
"I have always been curious about which path the 'crowkeeper' belongs to."
"Then I had an idea and thought, is there a possibility that raising crows is not a path that 'humans' can take?"
Zheng Xiu stopped writing, pointed at the large blank space between the [Prisoner] and the Painter, and circled it.
"There is a vast void here. Is it possible that there is a path that no one can dream of or walk on?"
"Like...something else?"
Feng Bei's thoughts are limited to this era, and he cannot come up with such bizarre ideas like Zheng Xiu. But under Zheng Xiu's explanation, she quickly figured out the key points.
"You mean..."
Feng Bei suddenly remembered something and grabbed Zheng Xiu's arm in shock.
The two looked at each other, and after a moment of silence, they understood each other and thought of the same thing.
They said one word in unison:
"cat!"
