But just when Hua Wuji moved, he heard the sound of the piano suddenly rising, and a high-pitched and trembling tone sounded from the strings in Zhao Boling's hand. The sound of the piano contained the sound of sword energy, which was about to break people's eardrums.
At this time, Hua Wuji had already pulled himself up in the air. He was falling straight out of the courtyard with graceful movement and elegant posture but extremely fast.
But the sound of the piano reached his ears faster than his Qinggong, and instantly rushed into his heart, and a thunder sounded in Hua Wuji's heart.
Hua Wuji groaned, his breath suddenly stagnated, and his body froze.
In this moment, an arrow shot through his chest. The arrow was so fast that it made no sound, and it was as if the arrow had already been waiting for Hua Wuji.
The powerful force of this arrow, the accurate prediction, and the decisiveness of the shot all show the high level of cultivation of the person who fired the arrow.
But that person still hasn't appeared. He seems to be part of the darkness, making it impossible for people to see his existence.
Hua Wuji fell straight down from a height of several feet to the ground like a kite with its string cut off. The black-feathered arrow on his chest came out of his chest, revealing a bloody sharp arrow on his back.
The Bianhua mask on Hua Wuji's face had fallen off, and he let his hair down, revealing his half-ghost, half-human face.
But at this moment, this flower thief, who had been hated by countless people in the world, looked extremely peaceful and relaxed, even smiling.
That smile was actually extremely pure.
Hua Wuji picked up the fallen mask with trembling hands and stroked it gently. His expression became extremely gentle, as if he was stroking the face of his beloved.
Gong Ziyu walked up to him, slowly squatted down, and looked at him.
Even Gong Ziyu, who was deeply concerned about the city, couldn't help but feel doubtful when he saw Hua Wuji looking like this.
But he still said: "Do you want to know what I want to tell you?"
"Haha..." Hua Wuji suddenly laughed. He raised his head and said, "It's because this time... I am also the target of your other business..." He breathed violently, and blood kept pouring out of his mouth. Seeing Gong Ziyu's increasingly serious expression, the smile on his lips became even thicker. "So you said this business is done."
"Young Master Hua is indeed very smart." Gong Ziyu felt vaguely weird in his heart and said, "You guessed the answer so quickly, which is beyond my expectation."
Hua Wuji looked at him, shook his head and said, "It's not because I guessed it, but because I've always known it...because this business is what I wanted you to do..."
When Gong Ziyu heard this, his pupils suddenly shrank. He stared at Hua Wuji with a stern gaze and said in a deep voice, "What did you say?"
He couldn't help but feel his heart tremble.
"The business of killing Hua Wuji was passed down to you from Wenfeng Villa..." Hua Wuji's voice gradually weakened, but his tone was still calm, "Some people don't believe that Hua Wuji is really dead, so ...So I spent three hundred thousand taels of silver to buy his life...Am I right?"
Gong Ziyu stopped talking, and his face began to turn a bit livid.
Hua Wuji smiled and continued: "That person is me. Do you know why?"
The corner of Gong Ziyu's mouth trembled.
"Because I didn't die when I was supposed to die, but living is more painful than death." Hua Wuji trembled: "No one can understand how painful it is for me to wake up every day and look at this half-human, half-ghost figure. Disgusted! I am no longer a person. My revenge has been avenged. There is no reason for me to continue living in the world because I don’t have the courage."
"Before I met Li Yuansong and Huo Zhendong, I lived a very carefree life. I like women. In fact, they also like me, but others don't know it. I like to steal other people's things, but I never steal from ordinary people. Although I He is a gangster, but he never kills people randomly. But those two sons of bitches ruined my freedom, ruined my reputation, and even ruined my life!" He suddenly raised the mask with force, with a look in his eyes. Filled with the last touch of clarity before death, "I climbed up from the sea of fire in hell, and I will eventually return to hell... Just like this flower on the other side, it is more beautiful only in hell."
When the words "Sea of Fire" penetrated Gong Ziyu's ears, his heart seemed to be torn apart by someone. At that moment, he could actually feel Hua Wuji's pain.
"Although I have no reason to live, I don't have the courage to kill myself. My enemy is dead, but I am no longer the person I used to be. Everything is meaningless. This is a very sad thing. . That’s why I paid someone to kill myself.” Hua Wuji finally looked at the livid and silent Gong Ziyu, and murmured: “I’m very satisfied... Gong Ziyu’s business methods opened my eyes, and I also Thank you for letting me die in your own hands in the end..."
"If that's the case, then why are you still dealing with me? You asking someone to kill yourself and killing me are completely different things." Gong Ziyu's face was dark, as if someone was hitting him hard with a hammer in his heart.
Hua Wuji used the remaining strength to lie down on his back. He wanted to wait for death in the most comfortable position.
He lay quietly on the ground, looking up at the dark sky. No matter how dark the day is, it will eventually light up. The bright sky is broad and free.
"Because I have inquired, Gong Ziyu is really not easy to deceive... If you know my ultimate purpose, maybe you will not take over my business at all... So I put some thought into making this person A game is more real. The ending is good...I finally don’t have to be yelled at like a dog, I am free..."
The words suddenly stopped, and the Bianhua mask in Hua Wuji's hand slipped from his hand again. This time, he could no longer pick it up with his own hands.
Hua Wuji died, but he died peacefully, or in other words, he was finally free.
But Gong Ziyu squatted beside his body, speechless for a long time.
Gong Ziyu felt that he was being plotted.
Although he didn't say it, he already had this idea in his mind.
Gong Ziyu, the "strategist", always only plots against others, but he never thought that he would be "calculated" by others this time.
So he looked at the dead Hua Wuji for a long time, feeling a little complicated.
Legend has it that Hua Wuji, the thief of Hua, is not only extremely talented but also very cunning, so he has never been caught for many years. This time, Hua Wuji used his own life to prove that his "scheming" statement was indeed not false.
It's just that the price of this calculation of "exchanging lives for lives" is too high, and not everyone can afford it.
Gong Ziyu stood up and exhaled lightly.
He stood with his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky, feeling quite depressed because he admitted in his heart that Hua Wuji had defeated him in the end.
"Ahem..."
Zhao Boling witnessed the final process from the side and felt very surprised. He coughed twice and sighed softly: "Although it is all about the money, why does it feel like there is something wrong with the money this time?"
He stroked the harp gently, and a faint and sad sound came out. I don’t know if he was playing a lament for those who died tonight or if he was really feeling it.
"When did you start to be so sentimental?" Gong Ziyu frowned and said, "No wonder you were a famous killer back then, but you never made much money."
"A killer?" Zhao Boling stopped the music and said with a face, "I never seem to think that I am a killer."
Gong Ziyu said: "If you are not a killer, then what are you? A hero? A swordsman? Or are you just an old man trying to survive?"
"A hero and a swordsman are almost the initial dreams of every person in the martial arts world. But in the end, they have to face reality. If they don't have enough to eat, how can they become a heroic swordsman?" Zhao Boling laughed at himself, "That's why I'm the kind of person who gets paid to do things. Well, even if I'm a killer, killers should have their own principles, don't you think?"
He glanced sideways at the young man who looked a little pale.
Gong Ziyu said calmly: "It's because of your principles that you are considered a relatively failed killer."
Zhao Boling shook his head and sighed: "The world has gone downhill. It seems that this world is no longer what it used to be. It's cold, hard, and boring."
Hasn’t this world always been like this?
Gong Ziyu did not say this.
Zhao Boling was injured and looked a little tired. He looked at the dead Hua Wuji and frowned: "Is there something wrong with this person? He took such a big turn, and in the end it was himself who was going to be killed. Even if he really didn't want to live, he could just wipe his neck and jump into the river and take poison. To bring so many people to die with him, what is going on in his head?"
Gong Ziyu was silent, and after a long time he slowly said: "Even if you live for decades, you have never experienced what it feels like when a person really has no hope. He is such a proud person, and finally What he can't accept is that he can't face himself, so death is his best choice."
Zhao Boling hugged Qin, thought for a while, and said, "But I think he really meant to bet with you. Although he didn't want to live, he didn't have the courage to end his own life, so he found the famous life planner. Because he must have heard that a planner never misses. In his plan, if Gong Ziyu misses, then he will win the bet and he can continue to live."
"Although Hua Wuji is indeed a very intelligent person, he is also a cowardly person." Gong Ziyu shook his head slightly, his expression fluctuating a bit, and said, "It's a pity that he lost the bet this time."
"Hey, you young people today have too many things to think about, aren't you tired?" Zhao Boling smiled bitterly and shook his head, "If one day you need to make a mistake, will you convince yourself?"
Hearing this, Gong Ziyu did not answer.
He had never thought about this problem.
Zhao Boling did not ask further questions. He stretched his old waist, looked at Yu Cheng, who had also been dead for a long time, and said: "The Red Mansion is not easy to deal with. It is said that their rule is that they will never stop until they complete the employer's commission. You can Be careful." He took out a piece of silver feather and handed it to Gong Ziyu, and said with a wry smile: "Finally it's done again. My old arms and legs can't withstand such torment in a short time. If there is any trouble again, you But you have to find someone else.”
Gong Ziyu smiled lightly.
Zhao Boling patted his sore waist and suddenly shouted to the yard: "I said, do you want to go have a drink with me?"
Naturally, he didn't say this to Gong Ziyu.
He saw a black figure slowly walking out from the darkness of the courtyard wall far in front of Zhao Boling.
Although this man was moving, there was an aura of absolute tranquility about him, so quiet that it seemed as if he would disappear as soon as he stopped in the shadows.
This man was not tall, but he was full of extremely keen power. He was covered in a black robe, with half of the dark bow string exposed on his back shoulder, and eleven long black-feathered arrows in his quiver.
The man in black stepped out of the shadows, and a resolute face under a black hood was reflected in the light.
It was a young man who was not very old. His appearance was originally very ordinary, but because of a scar on his right cheek, his appearance immediately became extraordinary and even particularly impressive.
Especially the look in his eyes was like that of a tiger and leopard in a predatory state, full of primitive and wild acumen.
Zhao Boling looked up at the three-story turret that was at least a hundred steps away. In the night, he could only see the vague outline of the roof, and then said: "The wind is so cold, and you are standing so high. Is it cold?" "
He looked at the ordinary-looking but conspicuous young man who was carrying a bow and arrow.
The young man in black robe ignored him and walked straight to the body of the girl whose head was pierced by a feather arrow. He bent down and pulled out the black feather arrow. Then he came to Hua Wuji's body and pulled out the arrow with the same expression.
Zhao Boling looked at his skillful action of pulling out the arrow and couldn't help but frown.
The young man put the arrows into his quiver, walked up to Gong Ziyu, handed out a feather, and said: "There are five arrows left. I hope next time you will let me shoot all five arrows in one go." His words. It's simple and direct, and the sound is crisp and bright.
Gong Ziyu took the silver feather, raised the corner of his mouth, and said, "Then you'd better hope that I can get a business that requires you to shoot five arrows in a row."
The young man didn't answer.
"Shoot five arrows in a row?" Zhao Boling was surprised. He looked at the young man with the bow on his back and said, "Apart from those old monsters, who else in the world is worthy of your divine bow Meng Li shooting five arrows in a row?" arrow?"
The young man with an arched back was named Meng Li.
Meng Li still didn't answer Zhao Boling's words.
Gong Ziyu twisted two feathers in his hand and said casually: "The Thirteen Arrows of the God are indeed powerful enough to frighten gods and ghosts. So even if I want you to complete the rest of the business in the contract at once, I'm afraid I won't be able to accept it for a while. To such a big deal."
Zhao Boling suddenly said to Meng Li with a curious look on his face: "Xiao Meng, are you short of money?"
Meng Li said coldly: "I'm not short of money now."
"Then if I want you to shoot five arrows in a row, how much money will it cost?" Zhao Boling asked, holding Qin in his arms. He really didn't look like an old man who was half a century old.
Although some people are young, they have an old mind; while some people, even though they are much older, never change their youthful attitude.
And Zhao Boling obviously belongs to the latter. Because he has always been a relatively optimistic and cheerful person.
Meng Li still looked indifferent. He looked at Gong Ziyu and said, "The agreement in my contract with him is that one arrow will cost ten thousand taels of silver."
"Ten thousand taels for one arrow?" Zhao Boling rolled his eyes a few times, "If you add the two arrows just now, wouldn't you owe him seventy thousand taels of silver?"
"Yes." Meng Li said simply.
Zhao Boling curled up the corner of his mouth and sighed: "To be fair, your 10,000 taels of arrows are quite cheap. But when doing business with Gong Ziyu, he will never let himself suffer a loss. Xiao Meng, Do you know how much money that boy selling bean curd made this time?"
"That's none of my business." Meng Li said, "He is him and I am me."
"You can stay in one place quietly for half a month and get hundreds of thousands of taels of silver without doing anything yourself. Why don't you do such an easy business with us?" Zhao Boling said with a wry smile and looked at Gong Ziyu.
Gong Ziyu said calmly: "Every business I do, I always look for the right person, not necessarily the most powerful person." He looked at the two of them, "For example, if you want to kill people like Li Yuansong and Huo Zhendong, you The two are obviously not suitable."
Meng Li was noncommittal, while Zhao Boling shrugged.
In fact, Zhao Boling knew very well that Gong Ziyu was right. Compared to the boy selling bean curds, Meng Li was too calm, which actually showed his restraint; Zhao Boling was casual and unruly by nature, and was most prone to uncontrollable changes. Lu Xiaofei, on the other hand, is closer to ordinary people. He is a person who will not easily make people suspicious, because he does not have sharp characteristics and the unique temperament of a master of martial arts. Therefore, a killer who does not attract attention will have a greater chance of completing his mission. This is what Gong Ziyu means by "suitable".
Gong Ziyu glanced at Meng Li and said, "If you weren't the closest to this place, I probably wouldn't have transferred you two. Especially the Thirteen Arrows of the God of God, if you use them once, you will lose one. If it is not a particularly important target, I will Don’t want to let the arrow go out easily. Just like this time, it’s obviously a bit of a loss.”
Meng Li snorted but said nothing.
Zhao Boling patted him on the shoulder, shook his head and said, "If you make a deal with Gong Ziyu, don't expect to get any advantage from him. Just accept it as bad luck if we end up with him."
Gong Ziyu smiled and said to the two of them: "But I don't think I am a harsh person. I just carefully evaluate the reasonable value of everyone." He looked at Zhao Boling and said: "You can go At the nearest Huitong Bank, there is this dividend that I have prepaid to you in advance. Old Zhao, you can drink in peace for a few days."
He obviously knew that although Zhao Boling's injuries were not serious, he still needed time to recover.
"Let's go, let's go. We don't have anything to do here." Zhao Boling began to rub his sore waist again and said to Meng Li, "I've known you for some time, and we haven't had a drink together yet. By the way, we Just go to the Juxian Tower, didn't you just come out from there? The wine there should taste good, right?"
Meng Li snorted and said, "When I have time to drink, I would rather clean my bow and arrows."
"You are too old-fashioned. You are so young. There is really no need for this." Zhao Boling continued tirelessly: "How about going to that haggis soup stall. I saw him drinking several bowls there. The taste should be It’s not bad either.”
He thought to himself as he pulled Meng Li out. Although the latter's tone was not very enthusiastic, his steps started to move.
"Xiao Meng, let me ask you something." Zhao Boling seemed unable to shut his mouth, "Why do you owe that stingy guy so much money?"
"..."
As the two of them drifted away, they heard Meng Li's extremely impatient voice: "If you die one day, it must be because you talk too much."
The two walked through the courtyard gate and left this hidden old house.
Gong Ziyu watched the two people leave, and then turned his attention to Hua Wuji again. He looked at Hua Wuji's mutilated face, and suddenly felt a little desolate in his heart.
"Since Hua Wuji died three months ago, let him die three months ago forever. Maybe this is what you want." Gong Ziyu said to himself, "There are some secrets that should be followed What disappears disappears together.”
Not long after, the eccentric house, which looked old on the outside but exquisite and luxurious on the inside, was suddenly destroyed by a raging fire.
Not far outside the house, a person's figure was reflected in the flickering firelight. The figure flickered in the firelight and was stretched very long.
A black carriage drove slowly out of the darkness. The driver jumped out of the car and walked to the man's side.
That groom was the same groom that Hua Wuji sent to pick up Gong Ziyu. But at this moment, he bowed and said to the man: "Sir, what are your next orders?"
"Find Lu Xiaofei." The man turned his back to the groom and said in an indifferent tone: "Report his whereabouts to me. In addition, inform Tachibana Sakurako and ask her to wait for me."
"yes!"
The groom replied in a low voice, turned around and drove away.
Gong Ziyu, who was trying his best to suppress the unknown emotions surging in his heart, suddenly whispered something.
"The way of wielding a sword, a Taoist wizard, Qingcheng Chongzhen Ye Suzhen?" He suddenly sneered twice, "This world seems to be starting to become interesting."
Gong Ziyu's laughter was stiff and cold, but the tone of his voice when he said this sentence was completely different from his previous accent. It was a hoarse, low, and cold tone, as if there was another person in his body. Because the look in his eyes at this moment had nothing to do with Gong Ziyu.
The blazing flames not far away boiled and shrank in his eyes, and then burned into his heart. And in the flames deep in his heart, there was a vague, thin, miserable and lonely child. He slowly raised his face full of pain, despair and fear. And a faint desire to kill that could not be suppressed was ready to move in the eyes of the child surrounded by the sea of fire in his heart...
