"Who bought my life?" Situ Jin asked.
"No one, Galan wants you to die."
"Is that so? It turns out that my weight is so heavy." Situ Jin's voice was low, "Jia Lan wants my life, is he planning to openly oppose Dongchang?"
"I don't know. Don't ask about anything, there is no prohibition on killing. I am just a knife, and I am only responsible for killing."
"A knife..." Situ Jin let out a faint smile, "Are you, like Xiahou Lin, ascended to the throne of Garuda with the slaying technique?"
"No, I use swordsmanship." Garuda said, "I can kill you with a single move."
"Oh? I fought with Xiahou Pei. It was the most ferocious knife technique I've ever seen. Who is stronger than her?"
Situ Jin adjusted his breathing and slowly approached the assassin who was standing in the distance. The assassin also moved his pace. The two circled around the center of the street, maintaining a distance of ten paces.
The assassin shook his head silently.
"What's your name?"
"Garuru."
"I asked for your real name!"
"Assassin, nameless."
The two of them waved their knives at the same time, and the air suddenly became stagnant, and even the sound of the wind slowed down, dragging a long and sharp whistling through the ears. The wind and snow swirled in the sky, and Situ Jin clearly saw the assassin approaching him. The eyes inside the dark mask's eye sockets were empty and ruthless, as if lying on ice and snow for thousands of years.
What kind of assassin is this? Like an unintentional steel handle, his existence seems to be only for killing people.
Situ Jin's sword was hidden behind his elbow, which was his usual killing technique, so that the enemy could not see the angle of his sword, and could not avoid his fatal blow. They were like two black owls swiftly wrestling in sumo, their flying black sleeves were like black wings. With a loud bang, the blade slipped out of the scabbard. The extremely thin metal cold light flashed at the moment when the two interlaced, like a crack that appeared out of thin air in the air. After a brief moment, they separated and stood back to back in the snow.
silence.
The sound of blood dripping sounded slowly, Situ Jin lowered his head, and there were dark red bloodstains on the snow. He felt a sharp pain in his waist with hindsight, and warm blood splattered out. They flowed from the wound while being rapidly cooled by the outside air, forming a thin blood frost.
It was too fast, and he was terrified. With such a fast speed, even Xiahou Pei was willing to be defeated! The assassin was right, he could kill him in one move because he didn't have time to swing the knife.
Now he's going to die, he's had a long cut in his right waist, and he'll soon die of blood loss.
"Go home." The assassin said suddenly.
Situ Jin raised his head, the assassin turned to look at him, his right hand stretched out, as if it had touched some thread, the air shone with light, and he took the thread into his palm.
"The paper I received says you have a wife and a daughter."
Situ Jin took a deep breath, "They have nothing to do with Dongchang."
"I know," said the assassin. "It's cold today, so your blood will flow more slowly. You need to walk two hundred and seventy-eight steps from here to your house. You walk faster and you can get home before the blood runs out. . But don't go too fast, and your blood will flow faster too."
"You..." Situ Jin smiled miserably, "Is this the mercy of the assassin?"
The assassin's voice was very soft, "I don't really want to kill you, but I can't help it, I'm just a knife. Go home, at least, you can say goodbye to them. I've always regretted not being able to tell me when I left. Brother goodbye. I hope you don't regret it either."
Situ Jin held the Yanling knife with difficulty, and staggered toward the house step by step. The assassin who did not say his name stood behind him and looked at him quietly, the black shadow melted into the wind and snow, slowly losing its traces.
Situ Jin slowly no longer felt the pain in his waist. He didn't know if it was because the weather was too cold or because there was too much blood. He just wished he could hold on a little longer, a little longer. He heard his heavy breathing, pulled like a worn bellows, exhausted with every breath. After walking for an unknown time, he finally saw the wall of his house. He leaned against the wall and rubbed against the door, took a few breaths, pushed open the door, entered the yard, and then moved to the door of the house step by step, blood dripping in the snow , buried again by new snowflakes.
There was a charcoal fire in the house, making a chi chi sound. He heard Mingyue and Sister Yu's breathing, and they were very peaceful. He was relieved that the Garan Assassins did not trouble them. He walked over gently and opened the blue summer cloth bed curtain. Sister Yu slept inside, and Mingyue hugged her and curled up slightly.
He stretched out his hand and touched Sister Yu's face, shook Mingyue again, and called her softly, "Mingyue, Mingyue!"
Mingyue opened her eyes dimly, turned sideways, and saw Situ Jin in front of her, she seemed a little surprised. Her face was pale, and in the dim light and shadow, Situ Jin could vaguely see the tears on her face. She must miss him very much and wants him home.
"I'm sorry to be back so late." Situ Jin touched her face, his hands were too cold, Mingyue shivered, but he still held his hand tightly.
"It's not too late, just come back." Mingyue put his hand in her arms, "Just come back."
"I bought you a hairpin, do you like it or not." Situ Jin took out the mahogany box from his arms and handed it to Mingyue.
Mingyue complained: "Old husband and wife, what are you doing with this money? You don't have much salary. Well, go change your clothes and go to bed early. You have to answer tomorrow morning, hurry up and sleep for a few hours."
"I want to hug." Situ Jin's voice was hoarse.
He looked at her reluctantly. Her skin was actually a little yellow. Years of housework made her look a little haggard, and her eyes were swollen from crying before going to bed. But he still thought she was beautiful, and no one could compare to her. His eyes traced the outline of Mingyue's face, not letting go of every inch, as if it was going to be imprinted on the bottom of his heart forever, and he would not forget it even after giving birth.
Mingyue glanced at him angrily, sighed, and finally leaned against him and hugged him gently. Such a big man, sometimes he still looks like a child. He just came back from outside, his arms are very cold, Mingyue hugs him tightly, I hope he will come back to Wen soon.
"I'm sorry yesterday, I shouldn't have quarreled with you." Situ Jin said softly.
Mingyue buried her head in his arms, and said in a muffled voice: "It's not your fault, it's my fault. Besides, you didn't quarrel with me, I bullied you every time."
"Mingyue, I like you very much, I have always liked you." Situ Jin smelled the fragrance on her body with nostalgia. She had a unique smell on her body, like the fragrance of some flowers, which smelled very comfortable.
"Okay, I know." Mingyue laughed. "What's the matter with you today? The iron tree is blooming? Say, did you do something wrong to me and ask me for mercy?"
Situ Jin shook his head, "I won't go to the top, so I'll stay at home with you, okay?"
"Okay, I wanted to say it earlier, Dongchang is so tired, it's not worth it if you go out early and come back late every day. In fact, we have saved some money over the years, and we can do business by ourselves. We can open a medical clinic, I will be a doctor, and you will be my buddy. If you don’t stay in the East Factory, why don’t we go to Jinling? I heard that it is beautiful there. In spring, there are begonias in Xifu, red lotuses in summer, and many maple leaves in autumn. You I'll mention it to the overseer in a few days, and if he doesn't agree, I'll go and talk to him."
"Okay, I'll listen to you."
Situ Jin suddenly felt tired, his eyelids became heavy and he couldn't lift it up. He leaned back against the bedpost and slowly closed his eyes.
The moonlight shines in through the window screen, and the window lattice divides it into blocks of light and shadow. The dead branches outside the window cast sparse shadows on them, like a scroll drawn by ink brushes. Situ Jin stopped moving, Mingyue wanted to help him undress and go to bed. The hand touched his hand inadvertently, and it was cold, like a piece of ice. She thought it was strange that after being in the house for so long, why didn't she warm up
She held up Situ Jin's hand and wanted to take a few breaths, but found that it was covered with dried blood. There was a bang in my head, and the whole body seemed to be frozen in an instant. Mingyue raised her head slowly, and the moonlight shone on Situ Jin's pale face due to blood loss, covering him with a thin layer of luster, looking like a jade carving.
She realized something with hindsight, and tears welled up from her eyes.
"Ajin!"
——
The assassin walked into a narrow alley. His usual clothes were hidden in the dustpan stacked in front of other people's houses. He looked around, found his clothes, put the knife aside, took off his black arrow coat, and put on A grey cotton jacket that has been washed white.
A man came out of the darkness, took his knife, and pushed the blade out of its scabbard lightly, and the word "instant" was reflected in the moonlight.
"I'm bored, you shouldn't let him go."
Chian ignored him, turned around and left.
"Don't think that if you are Garuda, you can violate the rules of Garan. If you kill someone and take your head, you should take his head." The man said grimly, "As your 'sheath', I will tell everything. Yama's."
"what ever."
"Han, what I hate the most is your arrogant appearance. Don't forget, you are just like us, we are all people who depend on the fruit of bliss to survive. No, you are lower than us, you don't even have yours." Every moment must be turned over. An assassin without a knife is like a piece of fish being slaughtered by others." The man's voice sounded far behind him, getting further and further away, "Remember, when there is a business, go to the Mentougou crude drug store to pick up yours. Knife, I'm there now as a buddy."
As soon as Chiyan returned to Yunxian Tower, he heard the laughter of men and women from all over the garden, smooth and sweet. He left without squinting, walked to the backyard, scooped water from the auspicious jar to wash his hands, he had just killed someone and was stained with blood, and he had to wash it off quickly. After washing his hands, he went back to the woodshed. There was no lamp or charcoal fire in the house. There were people in the dark and cool shade.
It was the suicide note that Xiahou Pei left to Xiaolin. When he came back from Shuobei, he found it in the bamboo building of Xiaolin's house. Xiahou Pei's handwriting is very poor and looks very laborious. It took him three days to fully understand what Xiahou Pei meant. Xiahou Pei asked Xiao Rong to find a man named "Little Young Master". She said that she gave him a chance to live there, and she also bought a house with three entrances and three exits in Beijing for him to marry his daughter-in-law.
Chi Yan visited several neighborhoods in the past few days, and inquired about every house with three entrances and three exits. But there is a young master in every house. He followed all the young masters and found no clues about Xiaolin.
Maybe "Little Master" is just a code name, just like "Garduro". Chiyan sat in the dark with his knees in his arms, and his eyes became empty.
"Xiahou! You're going to die! Are you being lazy again!" The bustard's voice sounded from the door.
Chi Yan woke up, hurriedly hid the suicide note, and went out to wash clothes.
The bustard babbled behind him: "Oh, I saw that you were honest before I did the work for you! I didn't expect to see the sky being lazy, this clothes have been saved for three days, why haven't you finished washing it! The one in front of you, Also called Xiahou, people wash three pots a day, and you, you wash one pot for three days! No wonder people can fly up the branches and become a phoenix, so you can only hang around here." Then he cut a look at him, "I tell you, Don't want to go to bed if you don't wash up today! I'm exhausted, and after dealing with those dead men, I have to deal with you!"
Chi Yan silently poured water into the large basin, which was big enough to hold an adult man, and filled with the clothes of the girls in the building, piled up like a mountain. Yesterday, the thugs who guarded the door said that they were too tired to wash their clothes. They asked him to help and threw their clothes in. There are too many clothes. He has to find his younger brother during the day, kill at night, and bring bath water to Ah Chu in the morning, so he really has no time.
But he didn't say anything, just rubbing his head on the washboard. The bustard tapped his forehead with a handkerchief, "If it wasn't for your honesty, I wouldn't let you down!"
After she finished speaking, she left, leaving Chiyan alone to rub her clothes in the snow. He was tired of washing one by one. It was dark at night, the moonlight was not bright enough, and he couldn't see the stains in some places clearly. After washing for a long time, the clothes in the basin were still piled up like a hill. I don't know how the little servant in front can wash three pots a day, probably because he is stupid. He frowned and continued to rub.
"Xiahou! Your sister is here to find you!" Ah Chu's voice came from behind her, and she turned her head in disgust and doubt.
Ah Chu led a little girl across the hanging flower door and walked towards him. The girl was smiling at him with a big tiger kite with hanging eyes and white forehead in her hand.
Bailiyuan shouted, "Brother!"
"Xiahou, didn't you say that you came to Beijing to look for a younger brother, why did you become a younger sister again?"
"My brother is stupid and always makes mistakes." Bailiyuan walked over to Chiyan and showed him the kite, "Brother, a bad guy broke the kite you made for me. I'm not smart or not. I found a dog hole and came out to play with you, you can help me mend it."
Chichi didn't answer, just looked down at the crack on the tiger's head.
Ah Chu squatted down in front of Bailiyuan. The little girl was beautiful, with a clean face and big and dark pupils. The more she looked at her, the more she liked her. She felt like she was very much like her childhood, so she took it out of her arms. She took out a packet of pine nuts and put it in her palm, and said with a smile, "I'll give you some candy."
"Thank you pretty sister." Bailiyuan looked down at the purse full of candies. The purse had been in the woman's arms for a long time, and there was a tangy fragrance. Bailiyuan wrinkled her nose, feeling a little disgusted in her heart, thinking about it. to throw away.
"Oh, how does this little mouth grow, it's so sweet!" Ah Chu smiled happily, "Sister just likes others to praise me for being beautiful! Come on, sweeten it up!"
Bai Liyuan was obviously stunned for a moment.
Ah Chu didn't wait for her to react, she had already slapped her face, and said with a smile: "It's really fragrant!" Ah Chu patted her skirt and stood up, "Okay, my sister is going back to bed, you go to bed earlier too. Remember not to Running around here is very dangerous. If you run around, if your mother sees you, you will be caught."
Bailiyuan looked at her with a complicated expression, and said "oh", wondering if she took it to heart.
"I was actually kissed." Bailiyuan muttered, raised her head to look at Chihan, and said, "What are you doing?"
"washing clothes."
Bailiyuan lowered her head, and the huge basin contained all kinds of clothes, such as coats, horse-faced skirts, men's undershirts, socks, women's apron, main waist, and many sweat towels that could not tell whether the owner was a man or a woman. .
Bai Liyuan's face became dark and unclear, "You haven't washed my clothes, right?"
"No."
Bailiyuan was relieved, "That's good."
As Ah Chu walked away, the noise from the Yunxian Tower gradually subsided, probably because the guests were tired and went back to the room with Youling and the waiter in their arms. There were only Chiyan and Bailiyuan left in the quiet courtyard. There were many dead trees in the courtyard, and the dead branches cast heavy shadows on the ground.
The wind chimes suddenly rang, and countless figures grew out of the shadows amid the shrill sound, as if evil spirits crawled out of hell with the wind and snow and descended into the world. The assassins walked into the moonlight and bowed reverently to Bailiyuan. They are the eight parts of Garan, the strongest among the assassins, and the most vicious ghosts under Yama.
"Lord Yama, Garuda didn't follow the rules of Jialan and cut off Situ Jin's head." Gandharva said.
Bai Liyuan turned her head to look at him, Chi Yan was still concentrating on washing clothes, ignoring anyone.
Bailiyuan walked over and touched his face, "Chiyan, you're not good."
Chi Yan raised his eyes and looked at her quietly.
"But I won't punish you. Because you are the same as me, we are the same people, and only you can accompany me." Bailiyuan smiled charmingly, "Do you know why I followed you at Bauhinia Pass that day? "
Tired of being silent.
"Because of the eyes, seeing your eyes, I knew we were the same people." Bailiyuan stroked his indifferent eyebrows, he, like her, had large, black pupils, which were completely empty, as if covered with The bleak snow in Shuobei. Bailiyuan whispered: "We have no connection with this world, we are all monsters that the world can't tolerate! Monsters want to be with monsters, and they are tired."
"I have it," Chiyan said. "Xiao Lian is my connection. He is my brother, and we are connected by blood."
"Bloodline? You actually believe that kind of thing. Chian, you named yourself Xiahou, do you agree that the woman who abandoned you is your mother?"
Chi Yan shook his head, "Xiahou's surname is Xiaolin."
Bai Liyuan sneered, "Do you like him so much? Give up, I will find him and kill him. That way you are completely mine."
Chiyan lowered his head silently, stopped talking, bent down and continued to wash clothes.
Duan Jiu walked out from under the eaves and said: "Lord Yan Luo, the fruit of bliss has been distributed. Now the North and South Underworld, the three major Cao Gangs, and the Twenty-Four Gangs are all under orders. It's just that last night, Dongchang seized a batch of I will send someone over and find a way to destroy the bliss fruit that is going to be sold in the capital."
"Very good," Bailiyuan smiled grimly, "it's ridiculous, a eunuch actually wants to help the society. This Shen Jue is obsessed, the building is about to collapse, how can he be saved by his insignificance? My ancestors in the past. Shrinking back and only daring to be a mouse in the gutter, what a bunch of cowards. Now, I want this world to be divided and the world to collapse! Only when the light retreats, the shadow can reign!"
Duan Jiu bowed his head and said, "I'm willing to die for you!"
Bailiyuan looked around the small courtyard, the big red pillars on the corridor were hung with red silk, the painted gilt lamps gave off a soft light, the distant wing was lit with immortal light, and the scarlet fence was covered with snow. A quiet.
"This place is good. Let them all take the fruit of bliss. The bustards, prostitutes, including the doorman, don't let any of them fall."
"Yes."
The assassins bowed their heads and retreated, Bailiyuan looked at them indifferently, grabbed something in her hand, and looked down, it was the pine nut candy that the woman gave her. The purse was a very gaudy gold-red color, embroidered with a mess of butterflies wearing flowers, probably embroidered by the woman herself, a really bad female worker, extremely ugly.
Bai Liyuan frowned and watched for a while, then suddenly said, "Forget that prostitute named Ah Chu, hide it from her, don't let her know."
"Yes, Lord Yama."