After that night's visit to the Flower House, the relationship between Ma Liu and Wang Goudan seemed to be back to when they were children. They were very close, going out and going in together.
In this way, time flies by, and the chrysanthemums in Chunfeng Tower bloom for another two years.
In the fifth year of Yong'an, there are nine cold days.
The Pickpocket House was as cold as an ice cellar. The charcoal brazier in the bedroom was not enough to keep warm under the cold wind, and the pickpockets in No. 12 Pickpocket House were chilled to death.
I walked in today and went out lying down tomorrow. My body was frozen solid.
In the case of extreme shortage of people, Lei Peng went around plundering butchers who were hard-working. He was missing from time to time, which slowed down the high-pressure situation of the Piping Department. Sometimes he only killed a demon once every three or four days.
The pickpockets enjoyed their leisure time, sitting in the corridor all day bragging and making bets on how long the newcomer at Steakhouse No. 12 could last.
Wang Goudan lost less and won more, and got a lot of magic pills, enough for him to use for two years.
Ma Liu also participated in gambling occasionally, just for fun.
But his bet came from Wang Goudan...
Anyway, you have so many elixirs, and we are all brothers, so there is no difference between you and me.
Every time he lost, he would pick out Wang Goudan's trouser pockets, causing Gou Brother to complain about poverty all day long, and then kill him at night.
At the end of the gambling, Ma Liu and Ma Liu also started taking spiritual pills, and their internal strength increased extremely rapidly.
The pickpockets are cold, but the hearts of the pickpockets are warm. They laugh and laugh every day and night, which is so lively.
Everyone stays together for a long time, and there is no conflict of interest with each other. Each kills its own monster, and each enjoys its own treatment. As time goes by, some friendship will naturally develop.
Everyone felt very happy just taking the elixir and not working, but Ma Liu was the only one who felt disappointed.
"This winter has been really difficult."
"This year is the best year I've ever had. It's so hard."
"When winter comes, people go out less often, and monsters go out less often. It makes us feel more relaxed."
"Consumption ghost, tell me, what adventure did you have, and you survived for so long without dying?"
Old Liu from No. 9 Steak House was very curious and once claimed that Ma Liu was suffering from lung disease and would not survive for more than a month.
Now that so much time has passed, not only is this guy not dead, he has become more alive.
Although Ma Liu was still coughing as before, the pickpockets before No. 10 were all hidden strongmen. How could we not tell that he was suffering from tuberculosis on the surface but was secretly full of anger?
"It's not an adventure, it's just that I have developed a Taoist practice through the Vajra Kung Fu."
Ma Liu said without changing his expression, and quietly gave Wang Goudan a sideways glance to prevent the guy from being too loud and revealing his secret.
The Pickpocket Department has a clear rule that pickpockets are not allowed to use violence or kill each other. Otherwise, they will all be killed regardless of the reason. However, it is necessary to guard against others. As long as the benefits are big enough, the rules are bullshit.
"You consumptive bastard is dishonest."
Lao Liu Dudu smoked a dry cigarette and made a joke. Instead of asking any more questions, he nudged Wang Goudan beside him with his elbow.
"Kid, do you want me to take your pulse too?"
"Thank you, Mr. Liu."
Wang Goudan cupped his fists to express his thanks, and stretched out his wrist with a smile. His entire arm was skinny and skinny, like the numerous refugees outside the city.
Old Liu gently put his hand on it and concentrated on diagnosing the pulse.
After a moment, a trace of solemnity flashed through his slightly squinted eyes, and the diagnosis became more attentive.
"Kid, have you made arrangements for your funeral?"
Everyone was stunned, except Ma Liu who was not surprised and knew Wang Goudan's physical condition very well.
"Master Liu, you are overthinking this. I, Wang Goudan, am alone. I have no elders, no children, no money, no fame or fortune. When an accident happens one day, I will lie down and die on the spot, wrapped in a straw mat. Once buried in a mass grave, how can there be any funeral arrangements?"
"You guys are quite open-minded."
Old Liu took a long puff of dry cigarette, took out a piece of paper from his arms and said:
"This prescription has the effect of strengthening the body and strengthening the body. You are not a bad person. We have worked together for so long. Old Liu and I are not a ruthless person. You can take the medicine according to the prescription and drink it once every three days. It will have its own effects."
"this……"
Wang Goudan was stunned.
Old Liu is a powerful doctor who is said to be able to revive human flesh and bones. There are countless people among the people who want to find him to cure terminal illnesses, so the prescriptions he gives must be extraordinary.
At that moment, he took the prescription with a respectful expression and said:
"Thank you, senior."
"senior?"
Old Liu laughed and cursed:
"You are a mother-in-law with breasts. Now you have become a senior? Why don't you continue to call me Lao Liu?"
"Hey, Master Liu."
Wang Goudan bent his legs and bowed, put the prescription in his arms with a playful smile and said:
"I can't take your things for free, and I have to give you something in return. I often go out for walks these days. I heard that the Liang family, the elders of the three dynasties, are looking for you all over the world, Mr. Liu, which makes all the gangs in the world want to dig deep. I kidnapped you and sent you to the Liang Mansion to seek credit, and I don’t know who revealed the news that you were working as a pickpocket in the Pickpocketing Department, so I’m afraid the Liang family will come looking for you soon.”
In recent days, as Wang Goudan's skills have grown, he has begun to contact the old members of the Beggar Clan.
At that time, many old people were loyal to his father, but they dared not speak out under the power of the usurping elder. Now they secretly communicate with Gou Ge, so any troubles in the capital will naturally be hidden from Wang Goudan.
"Liang family?"
Old Liu's face became serious.
Jiyao Yamen is independent from the world, but it is also controlled by the imperial power and serves the Xiao royal family.
The royal family's children are the first to select the elixirs refined by the subordinate departments and the magic weapons forged, and the talents they don't want will be distributed by Ji Yamen.
The Liang family is married to the royal family, and their families are all over the world. Their descendants are spread all over the country and outside the court. There are also people who work in Jiyao Yamen, which is enough to influence the Papi Division.
"Master Liu, you have to make plans early."
After Wang Goudan reminded him, he asked:
"By the way, why did you think of coming to the Skin Shop in the first place?"
"I……"
"I'm not here, I really let you go!"
Lei Peng's angry voice was deafening. He pushed open the door of the Piping Department. The sunlight outside the door shone on his golden armor. He was like a god coming down from the earth. He shouted at the top of his lungs:
"Everyone of you doesn't practice hard and talks nonsense all day long. Tomorrow a powerful demon will appear and you will be possessed by bad luck. I will chop you into pieces with my own hands and feed them to the wild dogs outside the city."
Everyone dispersed in a hurry and went back to their rooms.
Carloads of monster corpses were pushed in by black-armored warriors. They were missing arms and legs, and their heads were exploded. They were extremely tragic, as if they had experienced a big fire fight.
"I wiped out a demon cave before finding you a job. If anyone is not slaughtered carefully this time and wastes materials, don't blame me for being rude."
Lei Peng pushed the cart and sent away the demons one by one. The twelve stone doors were also closed one by one, allowing the skin-picking department to return to peace.
Ma Liu frowned as he looked at the humanoid creature in front of him. Its skin was covered with granular scales like a lizard, and its color changed with the candlelight.
"magic?"
When a man and a demon fall in love, the child born is neither a human nor a demon, but a demon.
An upright humanoid hybrid species with the wisdom of a human and the talents of a demon.
This little chameleon demon looks immature and is only five or six years old. It has not yet grown up. If it reaches adulthood, it will definitely be a powerful person in the Taoist realm.
Ma Liu lit three sticks of incense as usual.
Taking advantage of the gap, he turned around and sharpened his knife.
Not long after, the candlelight in the stone room suddenly started to flicker, flickering on and off...
