National mourning.
The death knells of temples all over the capital rang, from morning to night, more than 30,000 times, buzzing and ringing in the ears. The white flags all over the street, and the paper money left by the sacrifices along the way during the funeral were still rolled up in the air, like flying white butterflies, fluttering on people's faces and shoulders, everywhere. During the national mourning period, drinking and eating meat were prohibited, the street vendors were gone, the pig slaughterers also went home and lay down, and people from the military and horse divisions of the five cities patrolled every day.
Rouge Hutong was as desolate as a cemetery. Every family had their doors open, revealing dark shops. The maids and husbands leaned against the door and sighed. They are probably the most saddened people in the capital.
The new emperor is the second highness. It is said that he is a ten-year-old hairy child. The common people are not very interested in who is the emperor. They only look forward to the new emperor's ascension to the throne.
Shen Jue is the most talked about in the community. I heard that the day when people were being hunted around at night, it turned out that King Fu and Weide forced the palace. At the critical moment, Shen Jue summoned the three major battalions in the suburbs of Beijing to enter the palace to rescue the driver. I would like to shoot an arrow to death. Weide also obeyed the law, the empress went mad, and the old emperor was exhausted, and after giving the edict to Shen Jue, Yan drove on the spot.
Some people say that Shen Jue is loyal and courageous, and some people say that he hit the big luck. But in any case, he has now become the seal of the supervisor of ceremonies, and the eunuch of the Dongji Affairs Factory. On the day of the funeral, he rode on a white horse, dressed in plain clothes, with a tall figure and a cold profile. Among the dark mourners, he was the most eye-catching.
Of course, only Xia Houlin thinks so. Anyway, he looked at the long line of civil and military officials, and found Shen Jue at once. Shen Jue was safe and sound, and he was promoted. He calmed down and slipped back to Yunxian Tower with his hands behind his back.
The injuries on his body were almost healed, and the matter of Hengbo had to be put on the agenda. He went to the blacksmith shop to buy a knife, but the money he saved was not enough, so he could only buy the cheapest goose-wing knife. The white and bright blade, the blade gradually widened and narrowed from the blade, and a little condensed light was harvested at the tip of the blade, flat and thin, and the whole was a bright white sliver.
He spent three days at the door of the Shen residence. The red lacquer door was closed all day, and two white lanterns were hung under the eaves in front of the door. At night, it glowed faintly, like a ghost fire. Shen Jue had never come back, and he was expected to be the same. He was sitting in the top seat of the eunuch, so he didn't care about anything in the palace? The emperor had just passed away, and the new emperor had just ascended the throne. He must be watching everything, so how could he have time to rest outside the palace.
He was relieved, and he chose one night to climb in from the outer wall. He sneaked into the Shen residence three times, and he entered from here three times. Not for anything else, just to know the way. The first time he went to the left, the second time he went forward, without touching Shen Jue's study and bedroom, this time he should go to the right.
It was pitch-black all around, and there was not even a lantern. You could see the rockery made of Taihu Lake, and there was a small lake in the middle, and there was the sound of ducks flapping their wings. A dark path passed by, with black tiles and white walls, and a fan-shaped hole was dug out in a section of the road, revealing the shadows of flowers and leaves on the other end. In the night, the white walls are dark gray, the flowers and leaves are dark black, and it is a world shrouded in shadows.
As he touched it all the way, Shen Jue's house was terribly cold, and the houses he walked past were dark, quiet, and unoccupied. After turning around the Moon Gate and into the corridor, there was gradually a voice. The houses in the front were lit up, presumably being occupied by servants. There was a sound of coughing and spitting, and the soles of the shoes were wiped on the ground, wiping away the sputum. There are also women and children chirping and chirping, the children's voices are crisp, and the women's voices are soft, vaguely transmitted, and can't hear clearly.
He squatted in the dark for a while, walking around in the distance. After passing through the hall, I saw several closed doors. The servant's residence has already passed, and this should be the master's residence. He listened to the door for a while, made sure no one was inside, unlocked the lock, and groped in quietly.
Adapting to the darkness in the room, he could see the situation inside slightly. It was probably Shen Jue's study, with a rosewood and black lacquer flat-top desk in the middle, with a white porcelain bottle on it. Behind it is a sandalwood bookshelf, scrolls and books are meticulously placed, on both sides are four-legged square tables with mud, one is a small incense burner with mud and gold, and the other is a pot of flowers. Shen Jue is a native of Jiangnan. He was crawling and rolling in the capital, but he didn't get a little bit of oil and gas from the people in the north. He was still delicate and elegant in his bones, as light as a landscape literati painting. The ink color is clear and cold, with a fairy air.
He looked up and down a little bit, but he didn't see the shadow of Hengbo. It seems that there is no room in this room. He went out through another door, passed through a narrow corridor, and entered another room. This is probably where the sundries are placed. There are many treasure racks in the open space, and many things are placed on them. Xia Houlin walked over and looked at them one by one. There were crossbows, daggers, hidden arrows... Does Shen Jue still have the habit of collecting weapons? Xia Houlin felt strange, and when he turned around, there was a figure in front of him five steps away, and Xia Houlin froze.
When did this man come in? He didn't even notice it. Xia Houlin's palm was sweating, and he pressed his hand on the hilt of the knife at his waist. No, this person should have been in this room long ago. Xia Houlin secretly blamed himself for being careless and stepped back slowly. The man didn't move, Xia Houlin turned around and ran to the door. There was no movement behind him, and the man didn't catch up.
Xia Houlin felt strange, stood there for a while, and then walked back. The dark figure was still standing by the wall, not moving at all, not even changing his posture. Xia Houlin went over boldly, and with the dim light, the man was revealed little by little, with a wide-sleeved dress, a white porcelain mask, and shiny braids.
It's night time.
Xia Houlin: "..."
He turned around to check the items on the treasure shelf. The light was dark, and he didn't recognize them just now. These weapons were all his handwriting. There is also a shelf for his mechanical notes, knife manuals, and an erotic palace album that he has treasured for many years. There are many boxes and cages stacked against the wall, and there are copper bolts with cloud heads. Xia Houlin opened them one by one, all his clothes inside. The same style of black linen was neatly stacked inside, like tofu cubes. In addition, his jacket, stickers, and even trousers, sweat towels, everything can be found.
This is really a ghost... What's wrong with Shen Jue? Picking up his junk? Xia Houlin drew a sweat towel with his fingers and put it under his nose to smell it. Also fucking washed.
In this way, his dark cave was basically exposed. These things were originally placed in the dark cave. The several crossbow machines and Zhaoye on the shelf were originally in the Liuzhou dark cave. Some of the clothes were from Hangzhou and some from Jinling. Dongchang's ability to track is really not bragging. I don't know what happened to Tang Shiqi, so he shouldn't be caught by Dongchang, right
Xia Houlin thought about it for a while, and started to look for Hengbo.
———
Shen mansion gate.
A white horse plain car slowly stopped, Shen Wenxing put the low stool next to the car, Shen Jue came out from the curtain and stepped on the low stool to get out of the car. It was a cool night, and he was wearing a cloak with a black background and flowing clouds, which made his face even paler.
Shen Wenxing walked in front with the crimson gauze lamp, the blush light illuminated a section of the road, like a thin layer of rouge on the ground. Shen Jue stepped on the rouge all over the floor and walked slowly. There were few people in the house, and it was quiet and silent. His mansion is not like the mansion of the northern people, with high walls and thick tiles, simple and heavy, he still retains the habits and tastes of the southerners. Bridges and flowing water, pavilions and waterside pavilions must be as beautiful and delicate as Jiangnan landscapes.
But after all, I don't come back often. There are many things in the palace, and I'm often too busy to touch the ground. This house doesn't necessarily come back several times throughout the year. The moonlight is melting, the courtyard is empty, like a big water tank, the moonlight is the cold water in the tank, and it makes people cold. Most of the garden is closed, the vegetation is thick, and finally it is a little less lively.
The new emperor ascended the throne, and the affairs in the palace were almost handled. The remaining little bits and pieces can be handled by the people below. He came back from leisure and planned to get up early tomorrow morning to worship his ancestors. Wei Defu was executed, and he wanted to tell Aunt Lan so that she could rest in peace. Passing by the study, he was about to go to the bedroom when he suddenly stopped. Under the shadow of the corridor, the door of the study was not locked.
Shen Wenxing raised his brows and said, "The people here are so careless, the godfather doesn't come back often, and they don't do everything wholeheartedly!"
Shen Jue raised his hand and motioned for him to shut up. Shen Wenxing fell silent and stood with his neck tucked. Shen Jue walked over, slowly opened the door, and disappeared into the darkness of the room. Shen Wenxing knew that something was wrong, so he hurried to call someone.
———
Xia Houlin squatted on the ground, holding the fire book in his left hand, and rummaging in the cage with his right. There are too many cages and it is difficult to find them. For the first time, he knew that his clothes were so many, and they were all black linen clothes of the same color, which were pressed into darkness in the box. Hengbo still couldn't find it, he scratched his hair irritably, if Shen Jue didn't put Hengbo here, where else could he put it
Suddenly, a dark cloud seemed to float above the head, and a dark shadow covered it, and it became dark all around. Xiahou Rin shuddered, turned his head slowly, and saw Shen Jue lowered his eyes, looking down at him condescendingly. The light from Huozhezi illuminated the lower part of Shen Jue's face, which was golden, like a gilded statue. The other half was hidden in the darkness, and his eyes, nose, and lips were covered with a layer of shadows. He was expressionless, staring straight at Xia Houlin, with a sense of terror.
Xia Houlin quickly blew out the fire, and the room was immediately pitch black. Xia Houlin stood up and ran away, the sharp whistling of the knife cutting through the air came from behind him, Xia Houlin drew the knife, turned around to block, and with a click, the goose-wing knife he bought broke into two pieces and fell to the ground.
Xia Houlin: "..."
The black knife is like a shadow, and it arrives in an instant. Without light, Xiahou Rin could only avoid Shen Jue's knife by hearing and intuition. The darkness gave Xia Houlin an advantage. He was an assassin, and the darkness was his home. Years of walking in the sea of blood and the mountain of knives has trained him to have a keen sense of smell. The air around him is his most sensitive tentacles. No matter which side is cut by the blade, he can respond immediately.
Shen Jue noticed it, so instead of fighting, he retreated. The two were dormant in the dark, Xiahou rolled sideways and hid in the rows of treasure racks. Shen Jue's side suddenly lit up, and a candle lit faintly, illuminating most of the room. He held the fluorescent lamp, his eyes cold and lonely.
Xia Houlin suddenly realized that he was wrong. He didn't know the direction in the dark, and rolled in the wrong place. Now Shen Jue is guarding the door. If he wants to escape, he must defeat Shen Jue.
"Who are you?" Shen Jue asked.
Xia Houlin didn't speak. He covered his face, Shen Jue couldn't recognize him.
"Weide Yudang?" Shen Jue put down the candlelight and walked over, the swaying skirt swaying as he walked, the golden thread glistening dimly.
Xia Houlin picked up a knife on the treasure shelf. It was a Japanese sword in his collection, and it was called Guiku. It is said that it is so sharp that it can even cut off gold and stone. When killing people, it will cry mournfully. Xia Houlin has used it a few times, crying is deceitful, sharpness is real.
"House thief?" Shen Jue asked, pulling out the knife again, the pure black blade slowly unsheathed, restrained and dull, but gloomy and ghostly.
It is static iron.
He also uses static iron. Xia Houlin was slightly startled. Why? Obviously hate him, why use static iron
"Neither?" Shen Jue raised her eyes coldly, "Who the hell are you?"
The sword is like a mountain! Shen Jue held the knife in both hands and slashed wildly. The black knife cut through the bright candlelight in a room, and approached him with a mournful frost-like coldness. Xia Houlin quickly drew his sword, the moment the blade was unsheathed, the blade was like water and the light was like a beast! Xiahou Lin bowed and slashed, blocking Shen Jue's fatal blow, and the two of them were simultaneously shaken back by the force of the collision of the blades.
Xia Houlin turned around, changed his moves, held the knife in his backhand and strode forward. The lines that the arc knife walked through were meandering and flowing, with a kind of bloody beauty. The blade approached quickly, but Shen Jue avoided it. He leaned on his back, the blade slid an inch above the tip of his nose. The two met and then separated, in just one breath.
The moment they parted, Xia Houlin's face turned cold, and Shen Jue's hand went around the Japanese sword and grabbed his veil. But it doesn't matter, he changed his face, prepared with both hands, and was not afraid of being exposed.
"Japanese swordsmanship," Shen Jue asked, throwing off his veil, "Are you a Japanese pirate?"
He said a word in Japanese, but Xia Houlin didn't understand a word.
"It's not a Japanese pirate," Shen Jue looked at him thoughtfully and sneered, "It's Shang Erlang."
Xia Houlin was shocked. You can guess it!
"You guessed it right." Shen Jue looked at his expression and said firmly.
"Director, do your best," Xia Houlin laughed along, "Return Hengbo to the villain."
"Return?" Shen Jue smiled grimly, "Hengbo is mine, how can I return it? Shang Erlang, our family gave you a chance to live, since you don't want it, that's all!"
Xia Houlin turned his head and ran away, with Shen Jue chasing after him. There was a sharp whistling behind him, Xia Houlin lowered his head, and a jet-black short arrow flew over his head and plunged into the door in front of him. When Xia Houlin rushed into the study, Shen Jue caught up with him, and the soldiers met again. In the narrow room, the blade flipped wildly. The moonlight outside the window shone on Xia Houlin's sword, and the reflected light shook the room. Bookshelves, tables and chairs were inevitably affected, and sawdust flew. The stance of the two swords was like a gust of wind and rain, dense and dense, the ping-ping-ping-ping-ping-pong-pong of the blades collided like a pipa, and big and small beads fell on the jade plate.
The moment the blades collided and the rays of light splashed, Shen Jue suddenly laughed. It was a bloody smile with a murderous intent, and Xia Houlin's heart froze for a moment.
"I've figured out your knife." Shen Jue said in a low voice.
In an instant, the sword situation changed dramatically!
Jing Tie turned into a ghost, and the shadows of the black knife overlapped in a trance. Under the cover of darkness, Xiahou Lin could hardly see where Jing Tie was. Without the light of a knife or the sound of tearing through the air, Jing Tie hid on the side of Shen Jue's sleeve, followed Shen Jue's rushing footsteps, and swept towards Xia Houlin's arm at the moment when the two met.
The blood flowed down, down the wrist bone and into the fingers. Shen Jue is very strong, incredibly strong. Xia Houlin couldn't believe that Shen Jue's swordsmanship was clearly taught by him, but what he was facing now was not the kalan sword at all. But it is very familiar, seems to have seen it somewhere.
"Stop fighting, Shen Jue," Xia Houlin said, "I don't want to fight you."
"Really?" Shen Jue smiled slowly, the corners of her lips curved with a bloody smell, "But our family didn't plan to let you leave alive."
Do you have to live and die? Even if he escapes into the market and is no longer a chaotic party in the rivers and lakes, is it inevitable that they will confront each other? "I don't want to kill you, Shen Jue." Xiahou Lian said softly, with deep sadness hidden in his hoarse voice, "I just want the waves."
Xia Houlin adjusted his breathing, bowed his body and retracted the knife, holding the fierce knife light in his left hand to his chest. His whole person has changed, he is as deep as water, the light of the knife is pressed against his palm, and the sharp edge is clumsy.
The third breath was completed, Xia Houlin stepped forward, and the black sleeves were unfolded, as if a flying falcon plunged into the deep darkness. And the sharp blade in his palm immediately took shape, and the light of the knife splashed from the black sleeve, like a beast spitting out its fangs.
Japanese Swordsmanship · Tiger Sudden.
Shen Jue stepped aside, the Japanese sword stabbed into the darkness with the blade of the static iron, and the orange-yellow sparks were fleeting. The first stab is gone! Xia Houlin quickly withdrew the knife, and in the blink of an eye, the second stab had been fired! Shen Jue was obviously surprised for a moment, Jing Tie failed to hold the second stab, the tip of the Japanese sword pierced into his left chest, Shen Jue groaned, but Xia Houlin didn't go any further, but pulled the knife back, the blade Picking up, the back of the knife hit Shen Jue's right hand, throwing Jing Tie away.
You can't fight without the weapons!
"Do not fight… "
Just as Xiahou Rong was about to speak, Shen Jue pulled out the hand crossbow under the cloak, the machine exploded, and three crossbow arrows were fired at the same time. Xia Houlin missed the opportunity to dodge, the crossbow arrow pierced his arm, his arm hurt, the Japanese sword fell to the ground, the next moment, Shen Jue's fist hit the cheek, Xia Houlin slammed into the bookshelf, and then fell to the ground, books and scrolls Crackling on the head.
His grandma's!
Xiahou's teeth were knocked out, he propped himself up, and spit out a mouthful of blood. Blood dripped on the booklet under his face, and he looked at it subconsciously. It was an official document, with an ink pen on it, densely packed in small letters, and the pages were yellow. It looked a little old. Under the moonlight, he saw his own blood-stained handwriting:
Xiao Zhong, the head of the Hangzhou Fudong Factory, violated the order, wanted to kill Xiahou Lin, and arranged for Jiaozhi, but he was not allowed to return for life.
Xiahou Rin and his people should not be injured at all, and if they violate the rules, they will be punished with the same punishment.
What does it mean? Xia Houlin was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that he was unharmed... Shen Jue wanted to find him, not to kill him! With trembling lips, he stood up with the document. He remembered that Shen Jue's swordsmanship was exactly the same as that of the assassin who rescued him from Liuzhou. He was like a ghost, unpredictable and unpredictable. He had only seen such a bizarre swordsmanship in his life. No wonder his clothes and weapons are all here, no wonder Shen Jue still uses static iron.
Shen Jue, a guy with a watery brain, why is his mouth so hard!
Xia Houlin opened his mouth to call Young Master, and just as he was about to say the word "Shao", the tip of his tongue began to tingle, and his whole body began to go limp.
"Forgot to tell you, the arrow is covered with anesthesia." Shen Jue said.
He struggled to stabilize his body and wanted to open his mouth. The solitary frost-like man stood in the moonlight and looked at him indifferently, without a trace of expression, his eyes were as cold as snow. Fanzi's footsteps sounded, and torches lit up the courtyard. Half of Shen Jue's face was reddened by the firelight, and the cold and white profile was a little warmer, but her eyes were still cold, and could be cold to the core.
He walked out without looking back, the black figure getting further and further away. The numbness finally spread to his limbs and bones, and Xiahou fell to his knees, his body thumping heavily on the ground. He also stretched out his hand hard, his fingers reaching towards Shen Jue stiffly.
"few… "
He was happy and sad. It turned out that Shen Jue was still thinking about him, he didn't treat him as an enemy, they were still friends, always been.
This brain-dead guy has been looking for him for ten years and has never given up. He felt that he was like a lonely ghost returning home to dream of dreams. It was too dark at night, he lost his way, wandered, and he finally found his way after walking for miles. He was so stupid, and it wasn't that he didn't know Shen Jue's temperament. He was duplicitous and awkward, and he actually believed Shen Jue's nonsense.
All the old memories flooded back like a tide. Climb walls together, read books together, practice swords together... Idiot, he scolds himself, stand up quickly and tell him that you are Xiahou Lin!
But he couldn't stand up, he was going to die, in the hands of Shen Jue, his best friend.
Vision was getting blurry and darkness fell over his head.
Too late, too late...
Shen Jue walked away step by step, the flowing cloud cloak blended into the night. Xia Houlin loosened his fingers, and was finally engulfed by the darkness.