Even in the dog days, such a basin of ice water is enough to make Tang Fan shiver from the cold, and he doesn't want to experience it again in this life.
The premise is that if he still has a little life to experience the second time.
"Master Tang, long time no see, stay safe?" A familiar voice sounded.
Tang Fan opened his eyes, there were still drops of water on his eyelashes, trembling, and with his blinking movements, he wanted to fall.
His hands were still tied, but it was changed from the carriage to the hall. The surroundings were quite elegant. There were several swords and bows and arrows hanging on the wall, which looked more like a rich family's villa somewhere.
Perhaps the only fortunate thing is that at this moment, his eyes are not blindfolded.
He sighed: "It's my fault, I didn't even know each other before. Daochang Li seems to be doing well, but should I call you Daochang Li, Fang Yuanwai, or Izumoko?"
Fang Huixue, or Li Zilong, heard the words and laughed: "Master Tang, we are really destined. We met a few times, but fortunately we didn't miss it this time."
Although it is said that people cannot look at their appearance, in the final analysis, everyone is a mundane person. Who can really not be affected by appearance
Tang Fan didn't know what Li Zilong's true face looked like, but when he met each other several times, whether it was Izumoko or Fang Huixue, either immortal, or refined and gentle, they were all pretending to be characters. It can be said that Li Zilong's disguise has changed not only his face, but what he looks like.
Otherwise, with the eyesight and caution of Tang Fan and Suizhou, they wouldn't be completely unrecognizable.
Tang Fan shook his head, the wet hair was clinging to his scalp, and some loose pieces were sticking to his cheeks, which made him feel very uncomfortable.
"Doesn't it mean bad luck to have a relationship with the Taoist priest? In this way, I still hope that we will never have a good fate."
Taking advantage of the opportunity to speak, he began to observe the surrounding environment.
In addition to Li Zilong and Ji Min, there were several men in black in the hall, all armed with weapons and sharp eyes, guarding every corner of the hall.
Tang Fan knew very well that even if he wasn't tied by a rope, he couldn't leave here.
Li Zilong obviously knew that he couldn't run, so he let Tang Fan look around generously.
"Long time no see, Master Tang is still so funny. It stands to reason that we should meet again after a long absence, so we should have a good reminiscence, but now I don't have much time. Thanks to you, you have destroyed most of the foundation of my hard work for many years. Thinking of coming to Jiangxi, I can live the rest of my life in peace, but I didn't expect you to come here again, Master Tang, you are really haunted!"
The deeper the hatred for Tang Fan in his heart, the softer the tone of speech.
Tang Fan sighed: "Li Daochang, you say that, I'm really wronged! Look at this time, I'm here to investigate the case of imperial examination fraud, and I can't fight you, let alone provoke me. You, but you were kidnapped by you in the end, but you said in turn that I was pestering you. Is there such a reason in this world? If I had known that I would meet Daochang Li here, I would not have come here if I was killed. ."
Li Zilong smiled slightly: "Really? It's fortunate that you are here, otherwise, wouldn't I be able to see Master Tang's demeanor like a god?"
Tang Fan smiled bitterly: "We've known each other for so long and know each other well, Daochang Li, don't make fun of me!"
Li Zilong stroked his beard, put one hand behind his back, and slowly paced a few steps in front of Tang Fan. He just said that he didn't have much time, but now he has the leisure to talk nonsense with Tang Fan. Tang Fan looked at In the eyes, there is a little speculation in the heart.
"Now that Daoist Li has tied me here, what are your plans?"
Li Zilong: "Guess what?"
Tang Fan: "I can't guess, it's not like they brought me here to kill me? A small pawn in a certain district of Tang, why does Daoist Lao bother so much?"
"Master Tang, you are too modest. I heard that you have been promoted to the third rank now? It's really fast, and you will be able to join the pavilion soon. If you are not here today, you might be able to become the most famous in the future. What about the young Saisuke?" Li Zilong joked.
This person has been reduced to such a field as today, and even Fang Huixue's last hidden identity has been revealed. He should have been furious and jumping, but he was still able to chat and laugh with Tang Fan. I have to say that he is indeed somewhat heroic.
It's a pity that the Taiping world does not need heroes.
Tang Fan shook his head: "I don't dare to think about it. If the Taoist priest has something to do, just go and do it, don't worry about me."
Li Zilong smiled playfully: "Why am I willing to leave Master Tang, for the sake of our friendship, I have to send you to meet the person you want to see!"
Tang Fan pretended to be surprised: "Besides Daochang Li, who else do I want to see?"
Li Zilong: "Suizhou, don't you want to see him?"
Tang Fan smiled and said, "Did he fall into Daochang Li's hands too? It's just right, let him come out, lest he always say I'm useless, now I have to laugh at him!"
Li Zilong: "Don't worry, didn't the surnamed Sui heard the news and went to find the silver mine? Actually, it was fake news that I released. Give it to him, as soon as he gets in..."
Seeing that Tang Fan's calm expression finally changed slightly, he couldn't help laughing, very happy: "Tang Fan, I thought you were going to pretend to be with me until you died, so you're scared too!"
Tang Fan shook his head with a wry smile: "It seems that I have also failed as a human being. Not to mention the betrayal of my friends, even an old acquaintance like Li Daochang wants to make us die!"
Ji Min stood by the side with an expressionless face, as if Tang Fan was not talking about him.
Li Zilong instead comforted him: "Actually, if you hadn't killed my adopted son Li Man and ruined my good deeds too many times, I wouldn't have made it hard for you to get along. Buddhists talk about fate, good and bad fate are all fate, In the end, we still have fate.”
Tang Fan nodded in disbelief: "Daochang Li is right."
Li Zilong said kindly: "Since we have a relationship with each other, and you owe me so many times, even if I want to take revenge now and stab you a few times, you won't mind if you come?"
Tang Fan smiled bitterly: "If I say you mind, will you change your mind?"
Li Zilong kindly said: "No."
Tang Fan: "Then it seems that I can only let Daochang Li handle it."
Li Zilong wanted to say something, but when he saw someone hurried in outside, he clasped his fists and said, "Er Dragon Head, everything is ready!"
He nodded: "You all withdraw one after another, and I will go out in a quarter of an hour."
Tang Fan sighed secretly, Li Zilong was going to run, and he would definitely not take his burden with him. It seemed that he could only live another quarter of an hour at most.
Sure enough, after the other party left in response, Li Zilong smiled at Tang Fan, "It's all my fault that I couldn't help being overjoyed when I met Master Tang, and we talked for so long, I wanted to cut your flesh piece by piece. Come down and cut until you finally die, but it's too late, it seems that I can only stab you a few times, where do you want me to start first?"
Tang Fan didn't forget to joke when he was about to die: "Can you stab me directly in the heart, I'm afraid of the pain, we'll solve it with one stab, so that it won't delay your escape!"
Faced with such a person, Li Zilong didn't know whether to call him bold or heartless.
In fact, Li Zilong didn't just simply hate Tang Fan, but he also had an appreciation for each other.
If the two sides are not at odds, he must do everything possible to recruit Tang Fan. In his mind, Tang Fan is a better talent than Li Man or Ji Min.
But just like Tang Fan knew that Li Zilong could not be recruited by the court, Li Zilong also knew that Tang Fan could not be persuaded by himself.
"No, a knife pierced into my heart, but you are relieved, but I don't relieve my hatred."
Li Zilong shook his head, and said, he did not know where to find a short dagger that shone with cold light, and stabbed directly into Tang Fan's thigh.
"Hmm!" Tang Fan's face was instantly pale, but his screams were not as loud as the previous ones.
This made Li Zilong feel a little boring.
But he had already seen it clearly, under Tang Fan's casual appearance, his bones were harder than anyone else's.
Therefore, even if such a person has weaknesses, his weaknesses will never be fame, fortune, wealth and wealth.
This is also the reason why Li Zilong can't recruit Tang Fan by recruiting others.
The knife pierced deeply, most of it went in, and blood rushed out desperately from the gap between the knife edge and the flesh, and instantly dyed most of Tang Fan's clothes red.
He clenched his teeth tightly, closed his eyes, and transparent drops of water fell from his forehead, and he couldn't tell whether it was water or sweat.
At this time, Li Zilong only needs to turn the handle of the knife in his hand a little to chew the muscles inside.
But he didn't do it, not because his hatred for Tang Fan had diminished slightly, but because there was not enough time.
So he pulled out the knife again, considering whether to kill Tang Fan directly with the next knife, so as not to have more dreams at night.
Blood spurted out of the wound, Tang Fan's whole body was slumped on the chair, and he didn't have the strength to play tricks.
At this time, Ji Min said: "Er Dragon Head, everyone is waiting outside, you go first and let your subordinates deal with him."
Li Zilong raised his eyebrows: "Don't you want to let him go?"
Ji Min said: "Tang Runqing is the most scheming person. He has been stalling for time and talking to you. His subordinates suspect that he has another move. Erlongtou might as well take a step forward, and his subordinates are willing to do it for you."
Li Zilong sneered: "It's not too long now, even when I was in Weining Haizi, I could..."
Before the words were finished, there were two long chirping sounds of hawks and falcons coming from outside.
Tang Fan lifted his eyelids. He was a little impressed by the sound. When he was in Haizi, Weining, Li Zilong finally escaped by relying on two giant eagles. In addition to being fierce, the two eagles must also be used for investigation. .
As expected, Li Zilong's expression changed, and he couldn't care about Tang Fan anymore, so he went straight to the door.
It happened that someone ran in from outside: "Er Longtou, those imperial court eagle dogs who came out of nowhere, have already come in all the way!"
Li Zilong was shocked and angry, unbelievable: "How could they know that we are here!"
No one could answer his question, and he didn't intend for anyone to answer it.
"You go out and stop them, you must not let them step into this place!" Li Zilong said to the man in black in the hall.
"Yes!"
Ji Min became anxious: "Er Longtou, what should we do now?"
Li Zilong sneered: "What's the panic! There are so many people out there, even if they find it, they won't be able to call in so quickly. You go to the back door first. With Tang Fan in hand, they won't dare to do it!"
"But..." Ji Min seemed to want to say something else, but Li Zilong was disgusted with a look of bewilderment.
If it weren't for the fact that the White Lotus Sect had suffered too much damage and no one could be used, he wouldn't have kept someone like Ji Min by his side. You must know that at the beginning, he just regarded the other party as a chess piece that was idle in Luling County. , Who would have thought that even the dispensable pawns would be forced to be activated in the end
But on the other hand, he also found it strange.
Since playing Jinyiwei was divided into two groups, one group was transferred by Tang Fan to monitor Fang Zhai, and the other group went into the mountains with Suizhou, and Li Zilong got the news. He was careful everywhere in Luling County, and he would never repeat the same mistakes again. The reason why he talked nonsense with Tang Fan for a long time was because he was sure that he was hiding here enough secretly that no one would find out, but why are there still court eagles coming to kill him now
But in a hurry, he didn't have time to think about it, he turned around and strode towards Tang Fan, wanting to take him as a hostage.
At this moment, he is lucky that he didn't rush to kill people. Now he can still use it. With this person standing in front of him, it is expected that no matter how crazy those Jinyiwei are, they will definitely not dare to openly shoot arrows at a third-rank senior officer. of.
However, the moment he was about to catch Tang Fan, he suddenly became alert and avoided the knife coming from behind.
Li Zilong kicked over the dagger in Ji Min's hand, and the wind swept the palm of his hand. The opponent immediately fell back, knocked over the chair directly, and finally landed on the ground, spitting out a mouthful of blood.
"Sure enough, it's an unfamiliar white-eyed wolf!"
Li Zilong hated people like Ji Min even more than Tang Fan, so he had to go over and make up for it.
Unexpectedly, Tang Fan, who was behind him, broke free from the restraint of the rope at this time, directly picked up the knife that was just kicked over by Li Zilong from the ground, and stabbed him.
He didn't intend to hit him with a single strike, just to give Ji Min time to escape.
After waking up here, Tang Fan found that he had a broken piece of porcelain in his hand at some point, but before, his hands were tied behind his back, and there were guards behind him. He didn't dare to reveal his flaws easily until everyone ran out. He cut the rope with a piece of porcelain.
From the moment Ji Min made a move on Li Zilong, Tang Fan understood that the piece of porcelain in his hand must have been stuffed by Ji Min.
There is no need to say a lot of words at this moment, just like Ji Min would choose to betray Li Zilong, of course he couldn't watch Ji Min die.
But Tang Fan is obviously still overestimating himself. With Li Zilong's skills, he is more than enough to go to Suizhou or Wang Zhi. How can he take Tang Fan and the two of them in his eyes? It was just because Tang Fan was still useful. He just didn't kill him.
Seeing that the other party actually bumped into him at this time, he sneered, and fell into his arms. He didn't put the dagger in the other party's hand in his eyes at all, and grabbed Tang Fan's shoulder directly, dragging Tang Fan away.
Unexpectedly, a figure flashed from the side at this time, and rushed towards Li Zilong, hugging him tightly.
"Go!" Jimin roared.
Although he doesn't know martial arts, he can't even beat Li Zilong's one and a half moves, but when he uses all his strength to hug the opponent, he can't even beat Li Zilong's punches and kicks.
Tang Fan was full of tears and gritted his teeth, but he didn't stop for a moment, turned around and ran out of the door.
He couldn't let Ji Min's recklessness turn into a complete joke.
Seeing Tang Fan's figure disappear by the door, Li Zilong couldn't help being furious. He slapped him several times in a row, Ji Min kept spitting out blood, but he still refused to let go. In the flesh, but he himself has no feeling.
After a while, Li Zilong finally tore him apart, and he didn't care about finding Tang Fan as a hostage, so he ran straight to the back door.
Who would have guessed that just after taking two steps, the sound of breaking through the air came from the back of his head, he flashed to the side, and an arrow swept past his ears, almost half sunk into the wall in front of him.
He jumped up in the air behind him, and the one who held the embroidered spring knife and slashed at him was Suizhou who should have died in the mine!
No retreat, no escape, Li Zilong gritted his teeth and had to take out his soft sword to fight.
There are masters, swords and swords, and the battle is fierce.
But Tang Fan went and returned, not to watch the battle, but to Ji Min who was still lying there.
The opponent was hit by Li Zilong several times in a row, and Ji Min's internal organs were severely damaged. Tang Fan didn't even dare to take him outside the hall, so he could only move the opponent to the nearest corner to avoid the fight, and carefully supported him Raised his neck and patted his cheek.
"Ziming, Ziming..."
After Tang Fan shouted many times, Ji Min's body trembled slightly, and his eyelids barely opened.
The other party seemed to want to say something, but the voice was so low that Tang Fan had to bend down to listen.
The wound on his leg was just scribbled with the outer clothes, the blood was still flowing out, and the whole leg could hardly move, but at this moment Tang Fan had no time to take care of it, he even forgot After the pain on his body, he could only hug Ji Min tightly.
"Runqing..." He heard Ji Min say.
"I'm here! I'm here!" Tang Fan put his ear to the other's lips, just to hear every word of the other's.
"My hometown... mother..." Ji Min couldn't even utter a complete sentence, and could only express it in fragments.
But how could Tang Fan not understand? He took over the other party's unfinished words: "I know, don't worry, I will take care of her old man."
Ji Min's breath was weak: "Also, don't, tell the court... tell me, take refuge... "
Tang Fan grabbed his hand tightly, as if worried that if he let go, the other party would completely dissipate.
His eyes were red, and he had to clench his teeth tightly to swallow the choked voice that was about to come out: "You didn't join the White Lotus Sect. You were caught by the White Lotus Sect demons along with me, and in order to capture the thief's head Li Zilong, you Unfortunate death is a great hero, and deserves to be comforted by the court, not only that, I will also ask you to give you a posthumous title!"
Ji Min heard the words, his face showed a slight relief, and his eyes also glowed, his body actually recovered a little strength, and even his speech became much smoother.
"I'm sorry, I do envy you, but I also envy you and like you..."
"In the beginning, when I was down, only you, only you treated me as always..."
"If you don't dislike us, in the next life we will be friends again..."
His pupils gradually dilated, and in the end he was unable to complete the sentence, only his mouth was slightly opened, and his eyes remained half-open.
There seems to be regret.
"Zi Ming!" Tang Fan was in grief, and the tears he had endured for a long time finally fell.
He was stabbed in the leg by Li Zilong with a knife before, and he didn't even snort, but at this moment he couldn't help crying.
The Li Zilong fled in a hurry, but Suizhou wanted him to die. The two fought against each other in terms of fighting spirit. With the large number of Jinyi guards outside the door, they gradually controlled the situation. Pang Qi and others came in to help, Li Zi The dragon was surrounded by circles, and in a state of dismay, he was slashed in the back by Sui Zhou, and then shot by the fire gun that Pang Qi had already prepared next to him, and his chest blossomed directly.
He opened his eyes wide and stared at Sui Zhou, but his body involuntarily fell from the wall.
Dead restless.
No matter how Li Zilong turns the clouds and turns the rain, he is full of tricks and can be ever-changing.
Tang Fan didn't pay attention to the situation over there, he was still immersed in the grief of his friend's death until his shoulder was pressed by a hand.
"How did you escape, and how did you find this place?" He knew who it was, so he didn't look up.
Suizhou's voice was also full of exhaustion: "We had already entered the mountain at that time, but I found something was wrong, so I exited in time. As soon as I got out of the mountain, there was an explosion inside, and half of the mountain collapsed. Everyone was injured a little bit, but Fortunately, we left early and no one died."
He said it lightly, but Tang Fan couldn't hear the thrillingness contained in it, but if the Suizhou police felt it was a little late, or a little less courageous, he reckoned that he really had to go to Huangquan to see each other.
Tang Fan said hoarsely, "Fortunately, you're all right."
Sui Zhou's hand on his shoulder tightened, and he continued: "Because of the explosion, I was worried that the other party would move the tiger away from the mountain, so I hurried back, and when I returned to Ji'an, I realized that Ji'an Mansion was already in chaos. , Xi Ming died in the back hall of the county court, and you and Ji Min both disappeared, I found this on his stone table at that time."
He reached out and spread his palm.
Tang Fan took a look: "Water chestnut?"
Suizhou nodded: "It's a pile of unfinished water chestnuts. After I asked, I found out that this kind of water chestnut is only produced in a place near Luling County because of its very fresh and sweet taste. It is regarded as a local soil ritual. , I followed the trail to find it, this should also be the clue he prepared to leave to me early in the morning."
Tang Fan closed his eyes, flicked his hand on Ji Min's face, and closed his eyes.
Pang Qi was instructing his subordinates to take care of the aftermath. Although Li Zilong was dead, there were still many unresolved matters, such as the group of White Lotus cultists who were still waiting at the back door to pick up Li Zilong.
This villa is located on the outskirts of Luling County. It is a little-known villa under the name of Fang Huixue. It was specially used by him to do some shameful activities related to the White Lotus Sect, and he didn't know how many secrets were buried. Go and dig one by one.
In addition, there are also the silver mines that were hollowed out by Li Zilong, where did the money go, how should the matter between the Xu family and the Fang family be settled, and the big man who was far away in the palace and secretly colluded with Li Zilong, who is it? He Fangsheng, this pile of things still needs to be solved by Tang Fan and Suizhou.
But at this moment, Tang Fan only thought about it, and could only sigh: "I miss the capital a little bit now!"
I miss my sister, miss A-Dong, miss my cute little nephew, miss the hustle and bustle of the capital, and miss the dazzling array of food in the streets and alleys of the city.
Suizhou said: "You can go back soon."
The summer afternoon sun was very bright, almost dazzling, illuminating the entire yard outside without shadows.
fortunately.
Fortunately, this person is still there.
Tang Fan thought to himself.
[Volume 11: The Case of the True and False Prince in Kyoto]