The night was quiet, and the camp was completely silent. After all, the emperor was by his side, and he was still copying Buddhist scriptures. Naturally, the officials did not dare to make any noise at this time to alert the emperor.
After dinner, Qining practiced martial arts in his tent.
Ever since Xiang Baiying taught him the secret to luck, Qi Ning would adjust his breath whenever he had free time. After each breath adjustment, his limbs would feel extremely relaxed and his whole body would be more energetic. Qi Ning naturally knew that This is of great benefit to the body.
Strangely enough, although Qi Ning clearly felt the presence of the ice energy in his Dantian at the beginning, unless the body was attacked by an external force, the ice energy would spontaneously flow through the meridians. , I usually want to mobilize the ice energy but I can't get it.
That ice energy is like an independent existence in one's own body. It is not controlled by oneself. It only takes the initiative to help when one's own body is in trouble.
But in the past two times, Qining vaguely felt that he was lucky. It seemed that he could extract a trace of the ice energy to flow through the meridians in his body. Although the ice energy could not be completely controlled by himself, But there seemed to be signs of being able to control that true energy.
It's just that if you don't adjust the ice energy, once you adjust it, even if there is just a trace of ice energy flowing in the meridians, the whole body will be extremely cold. It is the height of summer, but the internal power of regulating the breath is like It's like being in the twelfth lunar month of winter, with a chill all over your body.
Qi Ning couldn't help but think in his heart. If the ice energy in his Dantian was completely mobilized by himself and circulated in his meridians, the coldness would be doubled. He might not be able to withstand it, but it would be a trace of his own efforts. The cold air is within the range that I can bear.
He couldn't help but think that maybe the cold energy knew about his body's condition and knew that if he adjusted his true energy too much, it would harm him, so he could only let himself control a little of it. If this was true, it would be a bit unbelievable. .
However, Qi Ning also understood that since he had this ice energy in his body, this energy has not caused any harm to him. On the contrary, at critical moments, this energy will often burst out with powerful power and help him. Overcoming the difficulties, at least for now, this ice energy of unknown origin is a friend rather than an enemy.
This energy came very suddenly, and Qining still can't figure out where it came from.
When the work was completed, everything in the camp was extremely quiet. Qining thought that there would be a sacrificial ceremony tomorrow, which would not be over in a while. He had to recharge his batteries. Just as he was about to take a rest, he suddenly heard A voice came from outside: "Master Hou, the last general Chi Fengdian, I wonder if Master Hou is going to bed?"
Qi Ning was a little surprised, wondering why Chi Fengdian suddenly found him. He straightened his clothes and went out of the tent. He saw Chi Fengdian in armor standing outside the tent. When he saw Qi Ning coming out, Chi Fengdian immediately raised his hand. With a smile on his face he said: "I disturbed Mr. Hou."
Qi Ning asked, "Is there something wrong with Commander Chi?"
"Master Marquis, someone from the Jinyi Hou Mansion came over and said that he had something urgent to report to the Marquis." Chi Fengdian said: "It's just that the Holy Lord is in an important camp area and no one is allowed to enter without authorization. The general was bold enough not to let him in, but He claimed that he must see the Marquis tonight, so the general thought for a moment before coming over to inform the Marquis."
"Oh?" Qining asked, "Where is he?"
Chi Fengdian pointed to the east and said, "It's not far over there."
Qi Ning said: "Commander Chi, please." He went over there, with Chi Fengdian following him. After leaving the camp and walking for a while, he saw a man holding a horse on the road in front of him. While waiting, several elite Yulin soldiers stood guard with spears.
Qi Ning stepped forward and saw that it was Qi Feng. Qi Feng also saw Qi Ning and quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying, "Master Hou!"
"Qi Feng, why are you here?" Qi Ning frowned and said, "Commander Chi said there is an emergency at the Hou Mansion?"
Qi Feng said hurriedly: "Master Hou, the third lady has something urgent to do and wants to see Master Hou. She said that the matter is of great importance. Please make sure that Master Hou rushes back to the house tonight."
Qi Ning said: "Sanniang has something urgent to do with me? Do you know what the emergency is?"
"The Third Madam didn't say anything. She is just waiting in the house now." Qi Feng said: "Master Hou, the Third Madam is very anxious. It seems that the Marquis must go back."
Qi Ning turned to look at Chi Fengdian. Chi Fengdian cupped his hands and said nothing. Qining hesitated for a moment and then asked: "Commander Chi, is it inappropriate for me to return to the capital suddenly at this time?"
"The general doesn't know what to say." Chi Fengdian said respectfully: "It's just that we can't disturb the emperor tonight. No matter whether the prince returns to the capital or not, it's hard to report to the emperor."
Qi Ning thought for a while and then said: "It's only a hundred miles back to Beijing from here. The sacrifice ceremony will start at 10 o'clock tomorrow, and there is still time in between. I will return to Beijing immediately and rush back before tomorrow's sacrifice ceremony."
Chi Fengdian just handed over his hand and didn't say much.
Qi Ning knew that Chi Fengdian would not risk offending him to prevent him from leaving. After all, Chi Fengdian's main responsibility was to guard the safety of the emperor and his ministers. If the majestic Marquis of the Empire wanted to leave, it was not something he could stop, nor could he. Nonsense, he asked Qi Feng to wait for a while, then he went over and rode his own horse and turned back. Then he said to Chi Fengdian: "If anyone asks, please tell me that there is something urgent in the house. I will leave as soon as possible and return as soon as possible, so that the sacrifice will not be delayed." Ceremony.”
"Wait a moment, Lord Marquis. The general will immediately allocate manpower to escort Lord Marquis back to the capital." Chi Fengdian said respectfully.
Qi Ning shook his head and said, "No need." Before Chi Fengdian could say anything more, he shook the horse's reins, and the horse galloped straight towards the capital like an arrow from the string.
Qi Feng had already got on his horse and followed closely.
Chi Fengdian listened to the sound of horse hoofbeats and watched Qi Ning's figure disappearing into the darkness, his eyes slightly narrowed.
Qi Ning let his horse gallop and galloped together for more than ten miles. Then he slowed down and Qi Feng followed. Qi Ning glanced at Qi Feng and said, "What on earth is going on? But the Beggar Clan's Did you ask me to find you?"
After meeting Qi Feng, he already guessed that what Qi Feng said was just an excuse. At this time, it must not be that Gu Qinghan was in a hurry and wanted to find him.
"Master Hou, the people from the Beggars Gang's Ghost Golden Sheep Branch found me." Qi Feng said seriously: "They originally wanted to find the Master directly, but they knew that the Master came to the imperial mausoleum with him, so they could not see him , that’s why I rushed all night to look for the Marquis. The white helmsman asked to bring a message to the Marquis, saying that the one called Gray Crow had appeared, and told me to report to the Marquis.”
Qi Ning's heart trembled, and he urged his horse to go without asking any more questions.
The horse was galloping, naturally not as slow as during the day. It was still more than ten miles away from the city gate. Qining thought that Ma Lan from the Zhenguo Company had set up a tent on the roadside to heal his injuries during the day. He paid attention to it, but he didn't get to the city gate until he reached it. , but could not see the temporary tents set up during the day. Sima Lan had already stopped on the roadside. It was already late at night, and the city gate was closed. Qining reined in his horse, saw the guard at the top of the city, and shouted loudly: "I'm Jin Yihou Qining, please open the door quickly."
Someone on the top of the city looked down. After a while, the city gate opened a small door. Several people came out. The first person looked at Qining for a few times. When he saw Qining in court uniform, he said with some suspicion: "You ...Are you a Marquis of Jinyi?"
"If you don't believe it, go and ask Xue Lingfeng to come over." Qining knew that the soldiers guarding the city were from the Tiger God Camp, so he said solemnly: "I have important things to do, so I can't delay."
Several people did not dare to stop him and let Qi Ning enter the city. Qi Feng said to Qi Ning: "Master Hou, Captain Bai said that Master Hou knows where to meet him."
The emperor left Beijing and the capital was under curfew, so entering the city at this time was completely silent. Occasionally, officers and soldiers from the Tiger God Battalion patrolled through the streets and alleys. Qining encountered a few groups of soldiers from the Tiger God Battalion to block him along the way, but after revealing his identity , the Tiger God Battalion soldiers withdrew immediately.
He and Bai Shenghao had an agreed-upon place, so he went to the place directly, got off his horse, threw the reins to Qi Feng, went over and knocked on the door, and the door creaked open. Bai Shenghao was behind the door. When he saw Qi Ning coming, he didn't say much. , stepped aside to let Qi Ning enter the house. After Qi Ning entered the house, he immediately closed the door, but Qi Feng was locked out.
Bai Shenghao led Qi Ning back. When they arrived at the back hall, Qi Ning saw several beggars holding wooden sticks guarding the door of a room. Seeing Bai Shenghao coming, the beggars immediately separated. Bai Shenghao stepped forward and gently opened the door. , motioning for Qining to come in. Qining entered the room and saw an old wooden table in the middle of the room. An oil lamp was placed on the wooden table. On the wall in the corner of the room, two lamps were hung. Three oil lamps are enough to illuminate the room very brightly.
Under the oil lamp in the corner of the room, there was a bed. At this time, an old beggar was standing beside the bed. Qining saw the familiar figure from behind. He approached and immediately recognized it was Zhong Ya. Zhong Ya turned around to look. He glanced at Qining, didn't say anything, just nodded, but he was holding a silver needle in his hand, and beside it was a copper basin filled with water, but the water had changed color.
At this time, it was already clear that there was a person lying on the bed, wearing only a pair of shorts, and his body was covered with silver needles. Qining came slightly closer, took a look, and recognized the person lying on the bed. It's a gray crow.
Gray Crow's skin was slightly darkened, and his face was very dark. There were many scars on his chest and shoulders, and the flesh was torn. However, medicine had been applied to stop the bleeding.
The air was filled with the smell of blood and medicinal herbs.
When Qi Ning saw Gray Crow's appearance, he knew that this man must have gone through a brutal fight before. Seeing how he looked like this, he didn't know if he could still survive.
At this time, Zhong Ya took out the needle from Gray Crow and washed the removed silver needle in the copper basin. Then he pricked the Gray Crow with needles continuously. Seeing Zhong Ya's solemn expression, Qining knew that Gray Crow's situation was really serious. Unfortunately, his life is almost hanging by a thread.