The setting sun is like blood, and the distant mountains are swallowing up the sunset, as if they want to absorb a little more beauty before the night falls, like a greedy and selfish businessman.
Although Chenglong Town is called a town, its area is not small, even larger than most counties. Just because its territory used to be filled with uninhabited mountains and old forests.
The mountains and forests are full of ferocious beasts. Because they are afraid of being targeted by human masters, they only dare to show off their power in a few small villages around them, and do not dare to be too presumptuous.
The previous government did not take care of things very much. After receiving the news of the raging wild beasts, they only sent police officers to investigate and persuade the villagers to move away from that place. But how and where would the old, weak, sick and disabled move out? , the government didn’t mention it at all.
And when He Shengbai came here, the first thing he did when he took office was to lead people to drive out these wild beasts, bringing a long-lost stable life to the people in nearby mountain villages.
It was of course impossible to accomplish this by relying solely on the manpower of the original county government. This was also due to He Shengbai's own energy.
Many generals who led troops to guard the border intentionally or unintentionally approached Chenglong Town, and sent their troops to Chenglong Town under the pretext of stationing and resting in nearby towns. Today, Chenglong Town has become a major military town. . There are soldiers from different armies stationed inside, and there are thousands of them in total.
Logically speaking, this matter does not comply with the rules and regulations. It is impossible and not allowed for a county government to have so many soldiers under its jurisdiction. However, it seems that this matter has not been spread, or it has been suppressed. Both state and county officials and border troops are silent on this matter.
However, although this matter was against the rules, the lives of the people in Chenglong Town have been improved.
After He Shengbai severely punished several generals who allowed their subordinates to bully the people, the relationship between the army and the people gradually became harmonious. With the deterrence of the army, those young people who usually like to do some sneaky things did not dare to Showed up. As for the surrounding bandits and thieves, He Shengbai led the army to eliminate and liquidate them one by one, leaving no one behind.
………………
Chenglong Town is a small mountain village.
An old man was struggling to carry a load of water on a rugged mountain road. His staggering steps made people worry that he would fall to the ground at the next moment.
At this time, a young man in military uniform suddenly ran behind him.
"Uncle! Uncle! Slow down, I'll help you carry water!"
The old man swayed and stopped, and the next moment the young man took the pole on his shoulder.
"Thank you very much, young man!" The old man wiped his sweat and said, "Why do you look a little unfamiliar?"
The young man laughed and said, "I am a soldier who has just been transferred to patrol here. You live in the village at the foot of the mountain. Our team is responsible for protecting you."
The old man said with emotion, "Yes, yes, thank you very much. Thank you also, Mr. Qingtian, Mr. He, for sending such a good young man like you to us!"
The old man and the young man walked in harmony, completely unaware that a pair of eyes as cold as poisonous snakes were staring at them in the dark.
snap
There was a sound of snapping grass and trees. Although the sound did not seem loud, the young soldier immediately turned his head and looked at the source of the sound - the dark depths of the forest.
When the old man saw the young man stopped, he thought he was tired, so he couldn't help but said, "Young man, if you can't pick it anymore, take a break and let me pick it. The road is not very far. It's just downhill to my house." .”
The young man stared at the grass for a while. When he saw no movement, he thought he had heard wrongly or that some snakes, insects, rats and ants were jumping around. Then he smiled and said, "It's okay, uncle, I just saw an insect flying." . This load of water is very light, I can carry it!"
After saying that, the young man started to walk quickly again. And in the darkness of the forest, a pair of big hands firmly controlled a figure with disheveled hair that looked like a madman.
The owner of these big hands was the man in black robe who was chasing the shadow in the forest before, and this human-like ghost figure was the target he was chasing before.
The man's hands slowly emitted golden light, and a strange fragrance escaped. This fragrance seemed to have magical power, making people unable to help but get intoxicated and lose their mind.
However, this crazy figure did not immediately calm down after smelling the fragrance. Instead, he took advantage of the man's relaxation and bit the man's palm. His long hair flowed, revealing a pair of eyes filled with violence and madness.
The golden light that shrouded the man's palm trembled for a moment, then dimmed. A line of blood flowed from the man's palm, and the crazy figure actually began to swallow the man's blood. However, as time went by, the ferocious light in the eyes of the crazy figure gradually disappeared, and gradually became quiet, as if it was about to fall into silence.
However, the man didn't seem to care about the backlash from the crazy figure, nor did he care about the disappearance of his own essence and blood. Instead, he began to use one hand to caress the crazy figure's head with compassion, as if he was stroking his lover.
"I'm sorry, I didn't take good care of you. I shouldn't have done this. But don't worry, no matter what you become, I will be with you. I will never let go of those who have hurt you. , even if I go to hell, I will drag them with me."
The distant mountains swallowed up the last bit of brilliance. In the haze, the man's eyes were so fierce, like a demon...
In the evening, Chenglong Town.
The people who returned late walked into the gate of the town sporadically. The soldiers guarding the gate stopped checking and questioning carefully after a few cursory glances and allowed them to enter.
However, what they didn't know was that a black shadow passed over their heads silently and entered Chenglong Town.
There is a private school in Chenglong Town. There was originally only an old scholar in it, teaching literacy to several children from slightly wealthy families in the town.
However, after He Shengbai arrived, he not only renovated and expanded the private school, but also announced that children in the town would come to study for free, with the tuition fees coming from the government treasury. He also hired several more teachers, who not only taught the Four Books and Five Classics, Talented students will also be selected to learn basic martial arts.
It was time for the school to end, and some parents were already waiting at the door of the school.
A group of children came out lively, some reluctant to say goodbye to each other, and some went straight to the arms of their parents.
"Sister Xiaolian, my martial arts have improved a lot today! When will I be as powerful as you?"
"Well...it might take a long time, but as long as you keep working hard, it should be done soon!"
"Sister Xiaolian, how did you practice that whip kick today! Why are you so powerful!"
"Hahaha, you can do this as long as you practice every day!"
"Sister Xiaolian, I still don't understand the trick you taught me today. Can you teach me again tomorrow?"
"Okay, but you have to come early tomorrow!"
…
A large group of children walked out surrounded by a very kind-looking woman, their faces filled with envy and admiration. Even the parents who came to pick up their children looked at the little girl with envy and love.
Just because this little girl is the person next to He Shengbai, she is He Shengbai's daughter, and she is also the martial arts master of the private school.
Yin Xiaolian enjoys the feeling of being in the spotlight and being loved and admired by everyone. Because this will temporarily make her forget some things that are buried deep in her heart and she doesn't want to think about them.
She really wanted to sit in a carriage, fall asleep in a warm and gentle embrace, say goodbye to Chang'an City completely, and get rid of the gloom of Chang'an City that always made people breathless, and completely throw away those bad memories. .
But those things that are deeply ingrained in the mind are not so easy to throw away, even though Yin Xiaolian has tried very hard to forget them. Because once those things accidentally pop out of her mind, all the good things she has now will disappear.
She knew that everything she had now was given by the man who always gave her a gentle smile, and all she gave to that man were endless lies and deception.
Someone taught her to tell a lie many years ago. That person told her that as long as she helped him get something out, she would be free and she could live with a new identity as long as she wanted.
This condition was an irresistible temptation for an orphan living a painful and difficult life, so she agreed without hesitation, because no one yearned for freedom and happiness more than she did.
But later she learned that the target of this transaction was a devil.
The devil didn't tell her what price she had to pay when he made the deal.
She didn't know at the time that the good life she had bought with a lie would be burdened with guilt and fear forever.
"Master He is here!"
"Look, it's Master He!"
"Master He came to pick up his daughter again!"
"Master He's family is really a loving father and a filial daughter. Why don't I have such a good daughter?"
The crowd started talking. Yin Xiaolian saw He Shengbai walking slowly in the distance at a glance.
"Dad!" A smile instantly appeared on Yin Xiaolian's face, and she ran towards He Shengbai happily.
He Shengbai also opened his arms lovingly and hugged his daughter.
Yin Xiaolian held He Shengbai's arm and walked on the way home.
"Dad, did you meet any important guests today?" Yin Xiaolian asked.
He Shengbai smiled and said, "You can see this too."
"You came here a little later than before. Usually you come early to wait for me. Also, you have a faint smell of alcohol. This is the precious jar of Baihua Brew that you have hidden in the study. , usually you are never willing to take it out to drink." Yin Xiaolian said.
"Haha, you have discovered this. You really know your father very well!" He Shengbai said with a smile, "Yes, today, an old friend of mine came to see me. It's just that he finally realized his conscience and came to visit me. It turned out that this guy came to me to get some elixirs to save his new disciple, and he wanted to run away after taking the things. Unfortunately, I even brought someone from the next county with me. That Lei Zhengming came over and wanted him to see how my prospective apprentice was doing. I even brewed the jar of flowers and wanted everyone to have a taste."
Yin Xiaolian couldn't help laughing when she saw He Shengbai getting more and more angry as he thought about it, "I didn't expect that there are people who I can't do anything about!"
"There's nothing I can do about it. This guy wants to leave, and I can't stop him. I, my would-be apprentice, have a conscience and accompany me to finish the drink. He is an honest person, but it's a pity that he is just a little drunk, and he is still in my house. I'm lying on the bed, I guess I won't wake up until tomorrow." He Shengbai shook his head and said, "But, speaking of those of us who came out of Chang'an City, we actually didn't come out."
Yin Xiaolian looked at He Shengbai in confusion.
"Did you know? In fact, what actually holds prisoners is never a real prison, not a place or a group of people, but some psychological things. At first, we thought that after escaping from Chang'an City, we would no longer be prisoners there. Until After seeing him today, I felt relieved because he finally came out."
Yin Xiaolian nodded thoughtfully.
She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to ask something else, but after seeing his expression staring into the distance, she still didn't ask.
"He walked out, what about you?"
