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It was night, and everyone who needed to rest was basically resting. Niu Youdao observed the defensive arrangements of the group of people. Although the five hundred men and horses were on duty to rest and be on guard, it seemed that there was something unusual within a few miles that would be difficult to detect, so he felt relieved.
In a tent, a gap was opened in the curtain. Lan Ruoting stared at Niu Youdao's actions and observed carefully, smiled slightly, and muttered to himself: "It's a bit interesting..."
After strolling for a while, Niu Youdao returned to his tent, took out the letter, and using the light of the campfire outside, he pulled out his sword and carefully opened the seal with the edge of his sword. He took out the paper inside and turned it over to look at it. It turned out to be A piece of white paper, not even a dot of ink can be seen.
After looking at the light of the bonfire outside repeatedly, he put the paper in front of his nose and sniffed it repeatedly. Finally, he stuck out his tongue and licked the paper, smashing it and tasting the taste. He was also worried that he had used some medicine to hide the handwriting. With this lick, he understood everything. It was a fake letter.
"The host of Nanshan Temple, Xiaonanshan, Guangxi County... It seems that Lao Tu's reminder is not without purpose. He really wants to harm me. He really thinks that I am made of clay..." Niu Youdao frowned to himself, thinking about what if If he was targeted by the Shangqing Sect and started to haunt him, he might be in trouble. After all, he still couldn't figure out the depth of many things.
After thinking over and over again, I had a plan in my mind, folded the white paper again, and put it back in the envelope...
Early the next morning, at dawn, everyone had eaten and prepared to set off.
The tents were set up and collected, the horses were fed and delivered, no cattle were needed and there were pipes, everything was well taken care of, it was obvious that they were a group of well-trained guys.
The group set off again, rumbling and galloping. Niu Youdao noticed the difference from yesterday. No one was watching him in the middle of the group anymore.
After running for some distance, Niu Youdao suddenly galloped to the front, lining up with Shang Chaozong and the other three.
The three of them looked at him, and Niu Youdao casually found a topic, "Prince, with your status, do you only have five hundred people around you?"
Zongdao of the Shang Dynasty: "With my rank and without official position, according to the ancestral system, I am only allowed to have five hundred personal guards."
"Oh! That's it." Niu Youdao nodded. In fact, he was just looking for something to say. After finishing speaking, he stayed in the front row and refused to retreat. It would be uncomfortable to follow behind and eat ashes.
Lan Ruoting suddenly smiled and asked, "I apologize for my limited knowledge. I dare to ask the Master, where is the tomb of the hero of Wuling?"
"Uh..." Niu Youdao immediately realized that it was related to his peach blossom poem, and couldn't help but look at Shang Shuqing. However, she was covering her face and couldn't see her reaction clearly, so it was in vain, so he chuckled and said: "That's just nonsense. .”
This explanation really left Lan Ruoting speechless. Then he asked Niu Youdao about the situation of the Shangqing Sect. Although Niu Youdao had stayed in the Shangqing Sect for several years, he didn't know anything at all. .
In fact, what he told was the truth, but in the eyes of Lan Ruoting and others, this guy didn't tell the truth!
Half the morning passed, passing through the mountains and crossing the wasteland, and the road followed the river again. Looking at the scenery along the way, Niu Youdao's expression gradually showed a look of thinking and reminiscing.
It wasn't until three vigorous old trees appeared side by side at the foot of the mountain on the other side of the river that Niu Youdao confirmed that he was not far from the mountain village he left five years ago.
The river began to wind its way into the mountains. When they were approaching a path leading to the mountains, Niu Youdao suddenly turned around and said, "Your Majesty, can you stop at the intersection ahead?"
The time to speak has arrived, Shang Chaozong raised his hand, and the men and horses reined in their reins one after another and stopped.
Shang Chaozong asked: "Is there something wrong with Master?"
Niu Youdao raised his whip and pointed to the side road, "To be honest with the prince, there is a mountain village here, which is where I was born. I left it when I was young and have never been back. I want to go back and see how it is. It won't take too long. Time, can you please wait a moment, Your Majesty?"
Shang Chaozong looked at Lan Ruoting, wanting to ask for advice.
Lan Ruoting looked around and said with a smile: "In that case, Your Majesty, why don't we go together to see what kind of beautiful place a magician can be."
Shang Chaozong heard the meaning of his words and wanted to take the opportunity to find out the details of Niu Youdao. He nodded and said: "That's fine!"
Niu Youdao knew it well and didn't bother to explain anything. He smiled and replied, "It's just a poor mountain house. I'm afraid that the prince will dislike it."
"Let's go!" Shang Chaozong raised his whip and pointed, and immediately several outposts ran on horseback to explore the way, and the others followed leisurely.
Passing through the dense forest in the mountains, without any instructions, some people on the left and right began to string their bows and crossbows, or grabbed their weapons, and were on high alert around them. Niu Youdao looked back at these people and could feel that these people were not ordinary sergeants and had great practical experience.
"Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh."
Birdsong suddenly came from the mountains. Niu Youdao seemed to have been electrocuted. He suddenly looked in the direction of the birdsong and his eyes widened.
"My lord, this bird's chirping is not authentic."
Someone among the guarding sergeants suddenly called out a warning, and Shang Chaozong and others immediately reined in their horses and placed high alert on the surrounding area.
Some people protected Shang Chaozong and the others, while others began to sandwich Niu Youdao in the middle. Bows and crossbows were already faintly pointed at him, glaring at him. It seemed that Niu Youdao was someone who deliberately lured them into a trap or something. , always take issue if something goes wrong.
"Shhhhhhhhhh"
There was a faint sound of birdsong in the distance.
Niu Youdao's expression immediately became excited, his eyes explored the surroundings, and he also pursed his lips and imitated three bird calls: "Shhhhhhhhhhhhh".
The surroundings fell into silence, and after waiting for a while, two more bird calls of "Hush...sh" came.
Niu Youdao's eyes suddenly shone, ignoring the threats posed by him at any time, and shouted angrily: "Get out of the way!"
Lan Ruoting was silent for a moment and waved his hand, signaling for the men and horses to move aside.
Niu Youdao immediately rushed out on horseback. After running not far away, he stopped again and said, "Shh..." He pressed his lips together again and let out a long bird call.
Then he reined in his horse and turned around in a circle, constantly observing his surroundings.
Not long after, a figure appeared in the forest. A burly young man rushed to the mountainside and stopped under a big tree. He stared at Niu Youdao with wide eyes, not caring about the crossbow aimed at him.
Niu Youdao also looked at each other in surprise and uncertainty. The two of them looked at each other endlessly. Shang Chaozong and others behind them looked strange.
The burly young man was obviously very excited. His lips trembled for a long time, and finally he said in a trembling voice: "Tao...Master Tao, is that you?"
This long-lost word "Master Dao" really makes Niu Youdao's blood boil!
Niu Youdao clenched his fist hard, retracted his elbow, pointed at him suddenly, and said decisively with great excitement: "Monkey!"
The word 'monkey' also made the burly young man completely lose control of his emotions. He rushed down regardless of the thorns and jumped onto the mountain road.
Niu Youdao turned over and jumped off the horse. The two of them opened their arms and hugged each other tightly, slapping each other on the back. It was more affectionate than a pair of lovers in love.
Lan Ruoting and others almost got goosebumps when they saw it, but they finally understood. Niu Youdao can be seen from the first meeting that he is a calm and calm person, quite free and easy. Now he is so rude, it can be seen that he has encountered a friendship. An extraordinary old friend.
However, the guards around them did not dare to relax their vigilance and were highly alert to the surroundings. It would be strange if you still don't understand that the so-called bird chirping is someone sending a signal. And one thing is very certain, Niu Youdao is also very familiar with this kind of bird call signal.
It is difficult for outsiders to understand the loneliness of two people hugging each other in this world. It is a loneliness deep in the soul, and outsiders cannot understand the friendship between the two.
After both of them calmed down, they pushed each other away and looked at each other, their eyes filled with too much emotion.
Seeing the monkey's majestic body, and the head that was half a head taller than his own, and thinking about the monkey's former nickname of 'monkey' due to his thin body, Niu Youdao suddenly burst into laughter.
The monkey's loss of control just now has disappeared, and it seems to have returned to its former expressionless and indifferent look, which is cool!
There are some things in the soul that cannot be changed.
"Master Dao, why are you laughing?" Monkey asked.
Niu Youdao shook his head and said, "Don't you think there's something wrong with your current figure?"
The monkey was stunned for a moment, realizing something, and the corners of his mouth slightly curled up, indicating that he also found it funny.
With a suppressed smile, Niu Youdao asked strangely: "Why are you here? I seem to have seen you escaping into the corridor."
The monkey said calmly: "If you don't enter the tunnel, you might still have a chance to survive."
Niu Youdao was stunned: "How do you say this?"
Monkey: "The entire corridor collapsed, and I had no place to hide."
"..." Niu Youdao was speechless. He thought the other party was running fast, but he didn't expect the end to be even worse. He sighed, nuzzled his lips towards the end of the mountain road, and asked, "You also came out of that Xiaomiao Village?"
The monkey nodded and asked, "Are you a cow?"
Niu Youdao was happy, "How do you know?"
Monkey: "When I woke up, I found that I had been hit by an arrow. I found out that the village had been robbed by bandits not long ago. When I was recovering from my injuries, I heard that there was a man named Niu Youdao in the village who became a little weird and looked for him like a fool. The people in the village asked questions and said that they seemed to remember nothing just like me, and no one in the village knew when they left the village. I realized at that time that it must be you, Master Dao, but my body was very injured at the time. It’s not appropriate to look for you, and I don’t know where to look for you.”
Shang Chaozong and others looked here, a little far away and couldn't hear what the two were talking about.
Niu Youdao nodded silently, raised his hand and patted his shoulder, "I always thought you got away at that time, but I didn't expect you to come too, otherwise I would not leave Xiaomiao Village alone."
Monkey only has one word, "Understand!"
This one word was enough. Niu Youdao didn't explain much. He looked at the surrounding mountains and forests with his hands behind his hands. He sighed with emotion and said a little thankfully: "Fortunately, I passed by here this time and thought of coming over to take a look." Those villagers, please be kind to me, otherwise I don’t know when I can see you again. By the way, with your ability, how can this mountain village keep you? You haven’t thought about going to the outside world? Whose girl is this? Is your stomach in trouble?",.