The morning light broke through the clouds in the east, pushing the edge of darkness to illuminate the towering city. The tightly closed city gates finally opened slowly in the past two days, and the city, which had been quiet all night, was filled with noise.
Many people found that the soldiers and yamen runners who had been on martial law in various places on the long street had quietly withdrawn. In the dim light of the sky, Chang'an was no different from the past. Peddlers could be seen everywhere, selling things in the streets; shop assistants and vendors were shouting hard; women with some weird minds opened the windows in the early morning and cursed at the street; children who got up early rubbed their sleepy eyes, pinched a few coins, and bought two bowls of oil-splashed noodles...
Outside the thick city walls, separated by a wall, on the plains on all sides, the troops stationed outside the city were already doing the finishing work, cleaning up the blood and corpses, interrogating the prisoners, writing down the names and hometowns of the dead, and writing in the merit book. This was the only way to send comfort to the families of the innocent dead soldiers.
The chirping of cicadas gradually became louder, and the bloody smell grew hotter with the sunlight, and could be smelled for miles around. Flies and insects fluttered around in the air, climbing over the broken pieces of flesh on the ground, before being driven away by the soldiers who came over and covered them up with dirt.
"Oh, what a sin... I was a soldier and had a good meal, but now I have suffered such a disaster."
"Who said it wasn't?"
As they were talking, a group of men carrying swords were seen hurrying over on the road in the distance. The man leading them had a light green beard, a handsome face, and was dressed in a green robe. On his waist were two black and white swords, which were quite conspicuous. The soldiers on martial law nearby rode over on horseback with spears in their hands. They thought they were from the underworld and waved their hands to let them go.
"There has been a war a few miles away. If you want to go to Chang'an, you'd better take a detour."
"Thank you for the reminder, sir!"
The leading man was Li Sui'an, now the head of a sect, married, and about to have a child. His temperament had become more restrained and mature. He politely thanked the soldiers who blocked his way, and led the disciples who followed him to go somewhere else. Someone behind him looked back at the patrolling soldiers, slapped the magic sword at his waist, turned around and complained: "Master, are the soldiers in Chang'an so arrogant?"
"It's my duty to deal with military matters."
In front, Li Sui'an looked at the trees on both sides of the path, turned back and said with a smile: "People like us who practice Taoism should be broad-minded. Laughter, anger and scolding are nothing but clouds and smoke."
"Master is right. It all depends on the situation. The battle here has already ended. We ran such a long way but didn't catch up. I'm a little disappointed."
"It's good that we didn't make it in time, because it means the movement won't spread too far. However, when we get to Chang'an, I'll take you around this prosperous city!"
"Master, I often hear people say that the Brothel is a sect just like our Canglanjiang Sword Sect. Can you take us to see it for ourselves?!"
"You want a beating!"
Li Sui'an laughed and scolded them. Although he said it lightly, he was still worried about Chang'an in his heart. Going north all the way, passing by the Han River, he saw the rebels' defeated troops, with their corpses floating on the water, densely packed. The boats crossing the river were broken in half and sank in the water, with only a corner exposed.
This time it was such a big event, with all the stars in the world descending to earth, rebelling against the king, and deifying. He didn't know how his master was doing, whether he was injured. He even brought out the secret life-saving medicine of Canglan Sword Sect.
"Master should be fine now given his current level of cultivation," he thought.
Looking up, I saw the spots of light cast by the intertwined branches overhead. I walked out of the forest path, turned to the village where smoke was curling up from chimneys, and followed the country road to Chang'an.
Know~~
Know~~
The sound of cicadas clung to the tree trunks and branches as they swayed slightly. In the southeast of the prosperous city, reeds swayed slightly. The morning light shone over the sparkling lake, passing the quiet Wanshou Temple. The window of the towering attic creaked open.
Lu Liangsheng basked in the sunlight, raised his head slightly and took a deep breath. At the same time, the Toad Taoist jumped onto the desk, light dust flew, and the master and disciple raised their arms together and stretched.
They turned around, stretched out their hands to take the handkerchief handed to them by Hong Lian, wiped their faces with it, handed it back, yawned one after another, and left separately.
Taoist Toad jumped back onto the edge of the bed, picked up the robe and crown he had taken off last night, blew away the dust, and put them in the small closet.
On the other side, Lu Liangsheng put on his usual clothes, tied his scarf, and looked back at the edge of the bed, "Master, when did you come back yesterday? Those terracotta warriors..."
"They were all sent back to the Imperial Mausoleum by the master. I also had a midnight snack at my mother's place." Half of his body was buried in the closet. He turned his back to his apprentice and took out a frog flipper and waved his hand. After tidying up, he stepped out and walked to the small bed. He shook out the mattress and lay down to cover himself. "You can do your own thing. The master came back late last night. Take a nap. Call me when it's time for dinner."
"Well, Master, take a rest. I will go to the palace to see His Majesty first."
Lu Liangsheng brought the fruit plate and cakes on the round table to the desk so that his master could eat them when he woke up hungry. Hong Lian pulled his robe for him and glanced at the sleeping Toad Taoist with his belly heaving against the quilt. She seemed to remember something funny and gently stretched the slightly wrinkled cloth. She whispered, "Actually, Toad Taoist went out for supper last night. He came back after the young master came back. He was just a little weak and it took him a long time to climb the stairs. It was only when I heard the noise that I sent Toad Taoist to the bed."
"Humph, I heard it! I told you not to say anything and stop gossiping."
Over there, Taoist Toad suddenly opened one eye and looked over. Then, he snorted and closed it again. He pulled down the quilt and turned sideways to go inside.
Hong Lian stuck out her tongue, giggled, and floated into the painting. Lu Liangsheng laughed along with her, waved at her, and told her to look after the temple. He then walked out of the room and went to the hall downstairs. As soon as he stepped firmly on the ground, he heard loud snoring. He turned his head and saw Zhu Ganglie lying on the big round table, sleeping with his legs spread out with saliva hanging from the corner of his mouth. He slurped, turned over, and the table fell to the ground with a bang.
He still didn't wake up. He just scratched his black hairy butt in his half-open pants and muttered a few words of "moon" in his sleep. Not far away, against the screen, Zuo Zhengyang and Yan Chixia were leaning against each other, with their weapons and wooden boxes thrown on the ground. They were sleeping soundly and did not notice the footsteps in the hall. They must have been very tired after a day and night of fighting.
Lu Liangsheng stood in the hall, looking at them with a smile on his face. He felt indescribable gratitude to have these friends who were willing to risk their lives for him.
He reached out to touch a table and chair, and the Cangmu method of the Five Elements Taoism was performed. In an instant, the round table and chairs stretched out green branches, changed their shape, and spread out to become three wooden beds. Lu Liangsheng stretched out his hand and lifted up the two people and the monster over there, and gently put down the "wooden bed" so that they could sleep more soundly.
Estimating the time, it was time to go to the palace. After all, there were things to deal with later. He opened the door and walked outside. Under the bright morning sun, there was a stone placed in the square in front. A figure less than four feet tall, wearing armor and holding a stick, was sitting on it. When he saw Lu Liangsheng coming out, he slowly raised his hairy face.
"Great Sage?"
Lu Liangsheng subconsciously reached for his sleeve pocket, but the other party interrupted him and stood up with the golden hoop stick: "No need to touch it, it's just hair."
But then, he added, "Let's go for a walk together. I have something to tell you."
I know~~I know~~
In the early summer morning, the cicadas chirp annoyingly.