When we arrived at the main hall, the host was already waiting for us. He was an older middle-aged man, about forty years old, wearing woolen clothes, with a bit of elegance as a scholar.
Qi Xuansu glanced at it a few times with his "yin and yang eyes" without leaving any trace. The master's yang energy was weak, but the three yang lamps were still bright and showed no signs of flickering.
As for Qi Xuansu, his three sun lanterns should be like furnace fire, but cannot be called lamps. No matter how you look back, it will not be extinguished. Ordinary ghosts who dare to step forward rashly are like moths to the flame.
If a warrior has reached the extreme, his vitality is as strong as that of ancient wild beasts. Ordinary people can't see anything, but in the eyes of ghosts, it is like the sun. You don't even have to do anything, just stand there, everything will be illuminated, and the ghosts will shine. To be reduced to ashes.
Someone brought a brazier and hot tea, and a servant helped Qi Xuansu take off his cloak.
Without the cloak, the large and small weapons on Qi Xuansu's waist could no longer be hidden. Not to mention the shoulder bag and various odds and ends, the firecrackers, daggers, and double knives were all clearly visible, which was particularly scary.
Qi Xuansu smiled apologetically: "When traveling alone, I have to carry a weapon with me. They are all handy and never leave my body."
"I understand, I understand." The local host nodded with a calm tone.
The previous dynasty emphasized civility over military affairs, and used civil servants to suppress military generals. This dynasty emphasizes both civil and military affairs. Military generals can become generals or prime ministers. In addition, the men in black have always been soldiers from good families, and they are no longer the Qiu Ba or thieves who served in the army in the past. , so the status of warriors is not low.
Qi Xuansu took off the two knives from his waist, put them aside, and then sat down on the chair.
The two exchanged pleasantries.
Qi Xuansu also used his pseudonym Wei Wugui, but he was no longer Wei Wugui, a Jianghu man, but Wei Wugui, a man in black. He served under Loulan General Qin Wubing and was considered Qin Wubing's personal soldier. As the saying goes, the seventh-rank officials of the prime minister and concierge do not even pay attention to some minor officials. The eunuchs around the emperor, the soldiers around the general, and the maids around the wife are all typical low-ranking and powerful people who do not dare to be disrespectful.
Because of this, the owner of this place did not despise Qi Xuansu because he had no official title or good grades.
According to the conversation between the two, Qi Xuansu learned that the Xiang family was indeed a scholarly family for generations. The deceased Mr. Xiang once served as the head of the transfer department and died of illness in his post. The current head of the family, who is also the owner of this place, is named Xiang Rulin. He has the reputation of being a civil servant, but he failed to pass the Jinshi examination. Because he has little family resources, he does not work as an academic or county magistrate, nor does he work for powerful people. Be a teacher and spend your days leisurely.
After the two were polite for a while, Xiang Rulin hosted a banquet in honor of Qi Xuansu.
Although it is not a big city, there are not many rare things, but it is very sincere. The various kinds of meat that the warriors like are provided in large quantities, and there is also hot wine. In this snowy weather, it is indeed a first-class enjoyment.
Qi Xuansu did not refuse, and the two exchanged glasses on the table in a lively atmosphere.
After half-drinking, Xiang Rulin asked Qi Xuansu about Qi Xuansu's errand in a rather cryptic way because of his drunkenness. After all, the men in black all moved in large groups, and there were very few men in black alone.
Qi Xuansu's ability to open his mouth was second to none to Qi Niang. Even Zhang Yuelu could fool him, let alone Xiang Rulin. He pretended to be drunk and talked about Qin Wubing's family background half truthfully. He also said that this time he went to meet the old prince on the order of the young prince. He also brought a gift prepared by the young prince for his father. He did not want to show off with a large group of people to avoid making noise.
Xiang Rulin asked a lot more questions, Qi Xuansu deliberately said half of it, and the clouds covered the fog, leaving Xiang Rulin to figure out the rest. He was surprised and satisfied.
However, Xiang Rulin also knew that it was not easy to ask questions about this kind of thing, so he never asked what kind of gifts Qi Xuansu brought. He would only talk about the local customs or what he had seen in the past.
After the banquet was over, Xiang Rulin had someone help Qi Xuansu, who seemed to be half drunk, to the guest room. Two more servants helped Qi Xuansu with his cloak and swords. One of the servants, perhaps out of curiosity, secretly drew his sword. Although there was no real energy injected into it, the blade had been hidden in the scabbard for a long time, and a rush of hot air hit his face, making the servant startled and almost dropped the knife on the ground.
Qi Xuansu, who was walking in front, turned around and said, "This is a knife for killing people, not a knife for killing pigs and cattle."
Although his voice is light, he is extremely majestic.
"Yes, yes." The servant was frightened and quickly sheathed the knife and held it tightly in his arms.
Arriving at the guest room, Qi Xuansu asked someone to put the cloak and swords on the table while he sat on the bed.
Someone also brought him hot water to wash his feet.
Qi Xuansu couldn't help but think of the conversation he had with Sun Yongfeng and Lingquanzi. A few thousand Taiping money could make him a rich man. This life was indeed much better than traveling around the world.
The servants excused themselves and said, "If you need anything else, Master Jun, please let me know."
"Thank you." Qi Xuansu nodded, then took off his boots and immersed his feet in the hot water.
Although after becoming an innate person, not only will they not be harmed by human diseases, but they will also be free from dirt and leakage. Under normal circumstances, they will not sweat, lose hair, lose dandruff, etc., and their whole body will not be dusty, such as The lotus grows out of the mud without getting stained, so it saves you the need for frequent changes of clothes and bathing, but it is still a good pleasure to scald your feet with hot water in the cold weather.
But the weather is too cold and the hot water cools quickly.
Qi Xuansu lifted his wet feet and placed them on the edge of the footbath, sighing secretly.
My two feet are firmly on the foot basin, and everything is fine. But if you step on two boats, it won't be stable and you will fall off.
Of these two ships, one is Daomen and the other is Qingpinghui.
Everyone knows one thing, Taoism is a better choice, but this time I faked my death and left, and I don’t know what year or month it will be before I want to return to Taoism.
Qi Xuansu sighed: "I originally set my heart on the bright moon, but the bright moon shines on the ditch."
At this moment, out of the corner of his eye, Qi Xuansu suddenly seemed to have some marks on the wall.
Qi Xuansu was no longer drunk, and when he exerted force with his feet, the water in the basin rippled out.
Then he dried his feet, put on his boots, went to the wall, and looked carefully.
Although the traces are very faint, they are still vaguely visible, and the color is a little different compared to the surroundings.
"This is..." Qi Xuansu discovered that this wall was added later and was not the original wall.
This was nothing, but Qi Xuansu thought of his bad feeling before, hesitated for a moment, and pressed his fingers on the wall with a little force.
The wall began to fall down, revealing the green bricks underneath.
Qi Xuansu's face suddenly became solemn.
There are actually many talismans painted on the green bricks. Although Qi Xuansu is not an alchemist and does not know how to use talismans, identifying talismans is a basic course in the Wanxiang Dao Palace, and Qi Xuansu can still identify them.
Although these talismans are incomplete, the outlines and veins can still be vaguely seen, and they seem to be used to ward off ghosts. That's all. These talismans are not physical talismans drawn on talisman paper, but are temporarily painted on the wall with blood. They are a means for the alchemists to face the enemy. Being able to force an alchemist to draw talismans with blood full of yang energy shows that the situation at that time had reached a very critical point.
Qi Xuansu took a breath of cold air.
Could it be that he really stepped into the den of tigers and wolves?
