Time flies.
Two months later, noon.
Next to Xiangyang, Mianshui is the same color as water and sky. There are sparkling waves. From a distance, it looks like it is covered with a layer of silver.
On the north bank, sitting on a large clean rock, was a man wearing a raincoat and a bamboo hat, fishing.
This person is none other than Cao Yi.
After the song in the forest that day, Cao Yi declined Cao Cao's invitation to stay and left the Taihang Mountains. Within a month, he visited seven famous mountains in succession, looking for the inheritance of the pre-Qin Qi practitioners mentioned in the mission.
But after searching through mountains and mountains, I couldn't find any clues. It's as if there has never been a group of pre-Qin Qi practitioners in this world.
Thinking that the opportunity would not come, Cao Yi stopped forcing it and went south with a traveling mentality. He did a lot of things on the way, but afterwards he was not as satisfied as he wanted.
He killed robbers and bandits, but later found out that he had been oppressed too much by the vicious and powerful landowners and local officials.
He used talismans to save people, but he was regarded as a remnant of Zhang Jiao by powerful landowners and officials. Ordinary people also helped the officials and shouted to kill him.
…
But it's not without gain.
Many treasures of nature and earth were discovered in the deep mountains and old forests, including Ganoderma lucidum that is hundreds of years old, ginseng that is hundreds of years old, Polygonum multiflorum of unknown age, and elixirs that cannot be named... Sixty or seventy plants were harvested, and many of them were harvested. The elixir collected previously in the Taihang Mountains has been upgraded to a new level.
Seven days ago, Cao Yi came to the deep mountains and wild forests outside Xiangyang City and accidentally entered a deep valley with a large amount of bamboo. He built a bamboo house with bamboo and lived there.
In addition to practicing every day, I make flutes using the flute-making method I learned from others on the way here.
This kind of life is boring, and Cao Yi occasionally comes to the north bank of Mianshui where fish gather to go fishing to relieve his boredom.
Of course, not today. Today, there is another purpose.
There was a sound of soft footsteps.
Cao Yi knew without looking that he was an old fisherman.
I've encountered him several times these days when I've been fishing.
The old fisherman was sixty years old, short in stature, with dark and wrinkled skin. He held a fish basket in his left hand and a fishing rod in his right hand. He took a few glances at Cao Yi's jade-like face under his bamboo hat. The material inside his coir raincoat was of good quality. The man in the robe said with a puzzled face: "I have something that I haven't understood for a long time. Please clarify it for me."
Cao Yi turned his head with a smile on his face: "Old man, may I ask?"
The old fisherman pointed to the fishhook, which was just one foot below the surface of the water, and asked, "Why is Xiaolangjun's fishhook straight?"
Cao Yi did not explain and dropped the fishhook into the water.
After a while, the fishing talisman shook.
“You can’t catch it”
The old fisherman shook his head.
Cao Yi raised his fishing rod, and a fat crucian carp was brought out of the water, splashing in the water.
"This, how is this done!"
The old fisherman's face was full of shock.
Cao Yi looked up and saw that the sun was already at its peak.
I put away the fishing rod, released the fish, emptied the fish in the fish basket, and walked towards the ferry with the empty fish basket in hand.
Since it's not far from the ferry, we arrived not long after walking.
I don’t know if it was because of Cao Cao’s army going south, but there were many people preparing to cross the river.
After waiting for a quarter of an hour, seven ships arrived from the south bank.
"Hey, why are there five more ships on this trip?"
"Didn't you see it? It's a navy ship. It must be here to pick up some noble person?"
…
The crowd murmured.
After a while, seven ships from the south arrived less than fifty feet away from the ferry.
At this moment, there was a faint sound of horse hooves coming from behind.
After waiting for a while, Cao Yi turned around and saw dozens of people riding horses slowly coming this way along the official road.
The first three people.
On the left, he is wearing a crane cloak, a silk scarf on his head, and a feather fan in his hand. He is young, only about twenty-five or six years old.
In the middle, he has a dignified appearance and slightly larger earlobes. He looks to be in his forties.
On the right, sword eyebrows, starry eyes, white horse and silver spear.
"Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, Zhao Yun"
I came here today precisely to wait for these three people.
There are two reasons. One is that Zhuge Liang is the first person he has seen with thin spiritual energy since he came to this world. The person behind Zhuge Liang is most likely a clue to the pre-Qin Qi practitioner.
Another is that the rules for appearing holy in front of people have changed. A sufficient number of people are needed to get the reward.
In less than ten breaths, the three of them arrived not far away and dismounted.
Liu Bei looked at the ships approaching on the river and looked worried: "Cao Cao's army went south and arrived in Xinye soon, but Jing Sheng was seriously ill at this time."
Zhuge Liang frowned slightly and said, "According to what was said in the letter, Liu Jingzhou is afraid that he will not survive. My lord must be careful of Kuai Yue, Cai Mao, Zhang Yun and others during this trip."
Liu Bei shook his head: "Kuai Yidu is a famous scholar in Jingxiang and would not do such a despicable thing."
Zhuge Liang shook his feather fan a few times and said, "Where are Cai Mao and Zhang Yun? My lord has forgotten about the horse jumping in Tanxi River."
Liu Bei fell into silence.
After hearing the conversation between the two, Cao Yi looked at the approaching boat with a strange look on his face.
Soon the first ship came to the ferry. A rope was tied to the wooden stake by the sailor, and then a long plank was lowered from the ship.
"Someone goes first"
"Step aside"
…
A group of people crowded up, like grabbing food in a vegetable market.
Cao Yi didn't move.
Soon, the second boat docked, and another group of people crowded on top.
Just as Cao Yi was about to get on the boat, a gentle voice sounded: "Is there room for a certain boat?"
Cao Yi stopped, turned to look at Liu Bei who was walking over, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you very much."
Liu Bei returned the gift, with a gentle smile on his face that was still handsome despite his age, making people feel close to him.
After a while, the third ship (a ship belonging to the navy) docked.
"Military Advisor, Zilong"
Liu Bei first greeted Zhuge Liang and Zhao Yun.
"There's no reason why I should go first if my lord doesn't come."
Zhuge Liang expressed his opposition.
"The military advisor's words make sense."
Zhao Yun agreed.
Liu Bei had no choice but to get on the boat first.
Zhuge Liang is second.
Zhao Yun is third.
Cao Yi is fourth.
Behind them are some of the soldiers and horses who came with Liu Bei.
Soon, the ship left the ferry ahead of other naval vessels.
Cao Yi, who was standing on the side of the deck, glanced around and found a sailor with evasive eyes and trembling hands.
"Hey, who left this broken chess piece!"
Liu Bei's voice sounded.
Cao Yi heard the sound and looked over.
In a corner of the deck, there is a pear wood table with a chessboard, chess pieces, and chess boxes on it.
"Heizi has no solution."
Liu Bei's voice sounded again.
No solution?
Cao Yi, who was somewhat interested in Go, stepped forward. After looking at it for a while, he said, "It can be solved."
"Oh, how to solve it?"
Liu Bei looked confused.
Cao Yi picked up a black stone and placed it on the chessboard.
"How can you play chess like this? This, um"
Liu Bei was stunned before he finished speaking.
The original dead move not only solved the problem, but also made it possible to win easily.
Cao Yi smiled and said: "This step is called risking death and living later."
"Throw yourself to death and live again"
Liu Bei chewed thoughtfully for a few breaths, picked up a white piece, and dropped it.
Next, the two of them, one for you and one for me, got down.
Gradually, the ship came to the center of the river.
