The Lord who use immortals as food

Chapter 334 [Predecesses·1] Old Rain in Shu City

"In the Taiji Palace Incident one hundred and seventeen years ago, a soldier was very sure that he slit Prince Zhaowen's throat with his own hands. But in the Four Kings Rebellion ten years later, in full view of the public, it was also Prince Zhaowen who led the Three hundred horses persuaded the city gates of Taiyuan to be opened."

"How can the dead come back to life?"

"So this is the first time that the Cunyi Jing has left traces."

Zhang Siche's hand was very steady, and his needle-like pen trembled a few times at the end, leaving the signature at the end of the letter.

In the first year of Suolin, the last light snowfall of this winter was falling in Shenjing City. Spring was about to begin, and the wind was still like a knife, but it was not as sharp.

The windows in the corridor outside the door were not closed tightly. When the wind and snow passed through the hall, there was a whistle that changed the tone, which could be clearly heard in the quiet house. However, the sounds of nature are often not classified as noisy by the quiet Zhang Siche. In many cases, they are an effective barrier.

He liked and was very calm about multitasking. When he solemnly concluded the small note in his hand, he was combing through the more than ten case files that he had just cross-read without any confusion, and the new clerk was carefully jotting aside.

Zhang Siche lifted off the scarlet ink pad and continued:

"Twenty-nine years ago, the wife of General Wei Zhaojie was convicted of stabbing King Fu to death in the street. However, ten days after she was executed, the general married a woman with the same appearance, claiming to be his wife's sister. .”

"Wei Zhaojie doesn't seem to be a heartless person."

"Their husband and wife had a deep love and depended on each other for life and death. Not to mention that Mrs. Wei was also a well-known true successor of the famous sect at that time, and we had never heard of any sisters... Therefore, we suspect that this is the second time that the "Cunyi Jing" Show up.”

There were two seals, one big and one small. Zhang Changshi carefully dipped the seals in mud to make impressions, and then placed the square piece of paper with a unique texture next to the candlelight to dry the ink.

"Is there any connection between these two things?"

"During the rebellion of the Four Kings, Prince Zhaowen had a confidant named Zhao Yuping. After the rebellion was put down, this man and Prince Zhaowen were executed together, but one of his younger sons was missing. In the next ten years, a man named Zhao Yuping appeared in Taishan Medicine House. There is a line of elders surnamed Zhao, and this lineage later became the disciples of Mrs. Wei."

"This is a bit..."

"Searching? Maybe, but this line is weak but very clear. The station also gave an even more confusing case - did you know that the biological mother of Prince Zhaowen was a princess of the previous dynasty?"

"I have heard it."

"In the twelfth year of Yuan Zhen in the previous dynasty, Concubine Sheng gave birth to a naked cat, and she died as a monster."

"Can the "Cunyi Jing" also make people give birth to cats?"

Zhang Siche turned around and took out a lacquered official document. At this time, at the end of the corridor outside the door, a set of footsteps appeared on the stairs, getting closer and closer, becoming vague and clear.

"This matter is indeed different from the 'resurrection from the dead' ability later shown in the "Cunyi Jing", but it may be closer to the essence of this miraculous power. Because I have always believed that the so-called "resurrection from the dead" is just a fallacy, and it is only for the moment. There are no more cases to support it. Moreover, it was passed from the previous royal family to Prince Zhaowen, and this context is also very clear."

"Well, after Mrs. Wei, who got the "Cunyi Jing" again?"

"Twenty years ago, the whole family of the General's Mansion was destroyed. The clues originally ended here."

"originally?"

"Do you know Linan County?"

"Where?"

"It's a county town thousands of miles away in the Western Shu Mountains. The most famous sect in the area is called Shenxiao Sect, and the leader of Shenxiao is named Zhu Lianwo."

"What does this have to do with the Cunyi Sutra?"

The footsteps went up the corridor, and the soles of the shoes squeezed out some sharp sounds from the thin snow on the pavement. This was obviously noise. Zhang Siche looked up at the door and paused for a moment before continuing: "Just a few days ago, Zhu Lian sent a message to Zuo Xiang's Mansion, saying that she rescued a man from the General's Mansion. The baby girl, who has been raised secretly for twenty years, is the orphan of Wei Zhaojie."

"Did the "Cunyi Sutra" get into her hands?"

"Not sure, but this made Taili uncover a piece of news in Linan five years ago." Zhang Changshi said, "Five years ago, Taili learned that there was a [Mangshan Taoist] living near Linan. . This man is secretive, his actions are secretive, and he is especially good at curing physical disabilities - we mentioned earlier that he is the descendant of Taishan Yaolu, and there may be some connection between the "Cunyi Jing" and the doctor."

"What is the relationship between me and this Taoist doctor?"

Zhang Siche shook his head: "I don't know, maybe it doesn't matter at all. This matter was indeed too unimportant at the time. There was no file left in the station, and there was no in-depth investigation. I only asked a local colleague - named... Bai Feiping - to monitor it for a while. . It was not until ten days ago that Taili began to trace traces of the "Cunyi Jing", and the message from Zhu Lian me continued to the General's Mansion, that I thought of this [Mangshan Taoist], so we went The letter asked Bai Feiping. We didn’t expect anything to gain, and we didn’t predict any danger, so we didn’t use the soul bird when sending the letter, but took the official post.”

He sighed softly: "I think something went wrong here."

"What's the meaning?"

The footsteps on the corridor got closer and closer, then stopped for a moment, and with a soft "click", he thoughtfully closed the window that was leaking snow.

"Bai Feiping is dead." Zhang Siche said.

"died?"

"Dead. We wrote on February 9th, and on February 19th, his spirit bird returned to the stage with a mournful cry."

"... Sometimes surveillance is two-way. I'm afraid that when Bai Feiping was investigating this doctor, the doctor had already targeted him. As soon as our letter of inquiry was sent, it would have alarmed the snake."

"This matter is actually a bit difficult to figure out. If Bai Feiping had grasped any important information, why not report it earlier? If he didn't grasp it, why would that person kill him? Is it just a coincidence?" Zhang Siche shook his head, "Maybe it was us who killed him. He, but no one died in vain on the Immortal Terrace, and there is no reason for a snake that has bitten someone to let it escape. This matter may also involve the "Cunyi Jing". Next, we will mainly deal with this matter, and other tasks first Let it go.”

"good."

"In addition, Bai Feiping made some routine reports to this [Mangshan Taoist] before." Zhang Siche took out an old scroll, unfolded it, spread it under the light and handed it to him.

The clerk looked down.

". His appearance is irregular, and his locations are all over the surrounding counties. He often visits the patient's door in person, takes away the patient, feeds him sleeping medicine, and when the patient wakes up, he has returned home. I once waited for a chance to see him, but he was wearing a cloak. Covering your face, covering your hands and muteing your voice, you will gain nothing in the end.

——Bai Feiping was kept in Lishui for inspection. "

".This doesn't seem to be of any use."

"Whether it's useful or not is up to us." Zhang Siche picked up the dry paper and blew it twice, touched the ink marks, rolled it up and put it into a small tube, then carefully fastened the lid, "No information should be deleted." Change the location and record it."

The clerk nodded, but still sighed softly: "It takes time for the soul bird to fly, and it will take several days and nearly ten days for us to send people there again. After this snake bites people, I'm afraid no evidence will be left."

At this time, the "creeping" sound finally came to the door. The clerk was writing quickly and had raised his head to shout "please come in". It was the neatness of Beiya Prison.

However, the steps didn't even slow down. The door was pushed open directly, and a tall figure walked in wrapped in the cold air of wind and snow.

The black hair, which is neither long nor short, is tied back alone, and the thin snow on it is slowly melting away. On such a winter day, the man only wears a light black shirt, carrying a cold sword in his hand, and a pair of swords embedded under his eyebrows. Long, bright eyes.

Zhang Siche raised his head and said with a smile: "See you after a long time - do you know everything?"

The man nodded: "I'm here to get the case file. I'm sorry for bothering you."

Zhang Siche waved his hand, summoned a strange yellow-eyed bluebird, and carefully fixed the written tube on its sharp claws: "I'd like to trouble you, but I'll take it with me by the way. It's also going to the southwest. Just let him go after Beijing."

The man glanced at the document next to him, which was written quickly with his head lowered. "Do you need [Liu Qing] to send this letter? To whom?"

"Li Hejian."

"Which Li Hejian?"

"You don't recognize it yet... The inspector of the Tunri Society keeps things secret, so don't recognize him for the time being."

"Okay, I'll take care of it."

The words fell silent and there was only the rustle of the clerk's writing. The man stretched out a finger to gently pick up [Liu Qing]'s golden beak.

This ominous bird is obedient and motionless.

After a while, the clerk finally put down his pen, sealed all the materials he had written all afternoon, and stamped a small red seal.

"Zai Ting is new to this position and is not very experienced yet." Zhang Siche apologized slightly, then turned his head and said with a smile, "Leave it to the inspector, the snake catcher is here."

Fu Zaiting stood up quickly and handed it over with both hands.

The man took it casually, nodded slightly, and turned around, his clothes fluttering slightly.

"Yue Muzhou." Zhang Siche hesitated and called.

The man turned around.

"If this time is really related to the "Cunyi Jing", you will probably be promoted to Hejian after the incident is over."

Fu Zaiting, who had just had time to take a sip of water, suddenly choked and his eyes widened in shock.

The man smiled, waved his hand, opened the door and went out.

February twenty-fifth.

Southwest, Lishui.

The rain has almost stopped, but the gray and white sky is still gloomy, supported by countless green peaks that look like giant bamboo shoots.

Since crossing the lower reaches of Lishui River, these peaks have become higher and higher, and as the rain continues, the sky has dropped lower and lower. The sky is filled with green peaks, and the road winds in the cracks at the bottom of the peaks. Surrounded by green bamboos, cold stones, dew grass, cold mist, the cold needle-like rain hitting the body, and the occasional glimpse of the iron-like river.

After walking in such a cold and secluded environment for a long time, you will always feel that the world you are familiar with is another world. At this time, Yue Muzhou drove his horse up the hill and looked at the flag that greeted guests in the distance. He breathed a sigh of relief, as if he was glad that he was still in this lively world.

After leaving Shenjing, he always feels much more relaxed.

Yue Muzhou actually liked this simple errand. He even knew the suspect's identity and name. All he had to do was go see Zhu Lian. If Zhu Lian and I are the culprit, I can arrest him or kill him on the spot, and then return to Beijing to recover. If he is innocent enough, I can also ask him for information about the [Mangshan Taoist Doctor]. It is better than investigating by myself as an outsider with half the effort and half the effort; And if he has absconded, that's not bad, it saves some brainpower.

He really hates the kind of enemies who are like hide-and-seek, hitting here and there, with true and false information everywhere. The case is full of masks, traps, lies, traitors, disguises, false identities... and so on.

Although he has enough patience to peel off the cocoon, it is definitely not a pleasant thing. Therefore, after arresting such a person, he often has his own means to alleviate this unpleasantness.

At this time, he dismounted his horse and slowly moved his waist and legs, which were as stiff as a crack after running for days. While squinting at the inn, he saw a white streamer on the green background.

The small three-story building with two courtyards was covered in fog, and a faint murmur could be heard. The four large characters "Welcome and Send" on the door forehead had long faded in gold, and after being wet, they merged with the color of the wood, making it increasingly difficult to distinguish. And hanging from the eaves is a strip of white cloth, a foot long and two fingers wide, with a very new color.

Yue Muzhou immediately looked at the cloth belt. When Ding Xiaoer lifted the curtain to welcome it, he saw four pillar-like horse legs that were washed black and smooth.

"Guest?" The knight was wrapped in a wet and heavy raincoat, which blocked the already dim light of the sky. Ding Xiaoer couldn't see his face clearly, so he only raised his head and asked carefully, "It's been a hard journey, do you want to stay overnight? Here. Can you heat up some wine, meat and rice, and boil a bucket of hot water?"

Yue Muzhou withdrew his gaze from the eaves - he had indeed seen it right. This was a funeral custom in the Lishui River Basin. The deceased would wear a belt to express their condolences, and the locals would know it at a glance.

"Okay, I'm sorry."

"Where are you from? Do you want the shop to pass on your name to you? We can also let the Shenxiao Sect receive you."

Yue Muzhou looked at Ding Xiaoer steadily, tilted his head, and said with a smile: "My name is Yue Muzhou. Why, are all the people who come to your place looking for Shenxiao Sect?"

"Ah! Since I'm not a guest of Shenxiao Mountain, that's all." Ding Xiaoer scratched his head, his expression almost confused. Yue Muzhou could almost read what he was thinking - "Don't look for Shenxiao Mountain." , What are you doing here, catching worms?"

Yue Muzhou pointed at the belt with a smile: "I would like to ask, have any relatives or friends passed away in your store recently?"

"No, guest, everyone must tie this." Ding Xiaoer had already held the horse's rein, but he hesitated again, "Guest, since you are not attending a funeral, but we are doing some mundane things in the courtyard, if you If you mind, don't go in - but the whole Linan City is actually like this."

Yue Muzhou immediately thought of Bai Feiping, a colleague he had never met before. If he did not "disappear" but died Mingming after having a funeral, some things would need to be reconsidered.

"No problem, whose funeral is this?" Yue Muzhou got off his horse.

"You'll know when you go in and take a look."

Yue Muzhou lifted the curtain and entered.

The scene in the store comes into view.

The lobby of the inn was brightly lit. There was a desk opposite the door, with white flags hanging on both sides. On the table stood a heavy spiritual tablet, and the light of dozens of candles swayed slightly.

There is no coffin or relatives, only a lonely burial place here. The diners were from all walks of life, including farmers, merchants, scholars, craftsmen...most of them were warriors. These people drank and talked as usual, but they all had a long and thin white belt tied on their arms, wrists, and even weapons.

The babbling that had just been vaguely separated outside suddenly became clearer. It turned out that there was a small stage set up in this small hall, with white flags hanging on both sides of the stage. "Little ghost" is the local custom of entrusting them to take care of the dead.

Looking up, I saw a young musician sitting upright and playing a piece of music. A woman in green clothes and sleeves was singing and dancing on the stage. She was really good at singing and singing. When I came to a place where Allegro was flowing, the tune was very familiar: "I heard the sad sound. Heartbroken"

Yue Muzhou passed by this section, his eyes fixed on the spiritual throne behind the stage, and never moved away.

There is a small word written vertically on it.

[The seventh generation leader of Shenxiao, I wish you to take pity on my spirit]

In the silence, the man laughed softly: "Damn you, it turns out it's still hide and seek."