In the darkness, the Luoyang Exorcist Division knocked on the door hastily.
"Who? It's the middle of the night." Wen Bin went to open the door with sleepy eyes, held a lamp to shine outside, and saw a fair-skinned young man.
"Exorcist Lu Xu."
Lu Xu pushed the door open and went in, and asked Wenbin, "Is Tigra here?"
In the winter night, Lu Xu kicked the door with his foot and shouted: "A Tai! Get up!"
Trundeau scolded, Artest stepped out quickly, seeing that it was Lu Xu, he was surprised and said, "Are you here?"
"Just arrived, the big wolf is setting up defense at the north city gate." Lu Xu said, "An Lushan's army is heading south, go and have a look!"
People in Luoyang are in panic these days. Hebei has lost twelve cities in a row, and everyone is terrified of Anlu Mountain. As soon as the army arrives, the city will fall immediately. In the past few days, Luoyang has received snowflakes of military reports. City Defense, City Guard, Tokyo Left Behind, Yushi Zhongcheng, and Henan Yin were all beheaded. The imperial envoy Bi Sichen was recruiting soldiers and horses throughout the city, and moved the people into the Heluo Plain. Overnight, the Eastern Capital was crowded with people from other places.
But these have nothing to do with Artest. As exorcists, their targets are only An Lushan and its monsters. The Tang army is defending the city, and the Tang army is attacking the city. Attack, they can't kill mortals, they can always run. Even if the city is broken, it is not difficult for them to get out.
In other words, if Luoyang falls, An Lushan is very likely to enter the city. At that time, it will be an excellent opportunity for them to attack.
But since Lu Xu and Mo Zhigen came, Artest couldn't ignore them. He hurriedly wrapped up his cloak and went to the top of the tower. It was cold and windy, and Mo Zhigen was looking at the distance from the city gate.
"Long Shi said." Artest said, "We can't go to war."
"You can't join the battle as an exorcist." Mo Zhigen reminded, "But it didn't say that you can't fight as a mortal."
"Interesting?" Artest smiled tiredly.
Mo Zhigen sighed and said: "Once there are more people who die, there will be resentment. Resentment is the best food for the devil. If the war continues, it will only make Anlu Mountain stronger and stronger. One will grow and the other will grow. Long history Are you not afraid at all if you are still in the tower?"
Artest said: "Do you think it's best for Luoyang to surrender without killing? But after An Lushan entered the city, he wanted to absorb grievances, so he would naturally create them."
"As long as he enters the city, he can't be left alone." Mo Zhigen replied, "Changshi reminded before entering the pagoda that the seven heavenly towers in Luoyang are the protective circles set up by Duke Di in the past, and they must be activated one by one. It must not be difficult to capture and kill An Lushan here."
"When did you say that?" Artest was a little surprised, and murmured, "Isn't it so predictable... Can you even predict this?"
Mo Zhigen said: "When we left Chang'an, didn't we speculate about the possibility of An Lushan's rebellion? Since he fled back to Youzhou, he shouldn't just sit and wait for death."
"That's what you said..." Artest recalled the discussion a year and a half ago. Lu Xu, Hong Jun and others had fallen asleep that day, and only he, Qiu Yongsi, Mo Zhigen, and Li Jinglong participated in the discussion. It is very likely that this decisive battle will take place in Luoyang, but then there was a temporary change in Zhenlong Pagoda, and Li Jinglong entered the pagoda, and there were no further arrangements after that. Mo Zhigen could only arrange with Lu Xu to go back to Luoyang first after confirming An Lushan's rebellious intention according to the previous plan.
"Inspect seven buildings in Luoyang tomorrow," Mo Zhigen said.
"Chang Shi hasn't come out of the tower yet." Artai said, "Without a heart lamp, we alone may not be able to restrain An Lushan after he enters the city."
Mo Zhigen insisted: "This is the best opportunity."
Artest reminded: "We only have one chance."
The two looked at each other, and Artest, who was usually carefree, was very serious this time.
"Then listen to you?" Mo Zhigen said, "What do you say?"
Artest: "Wait for Chang Shi to come back."
The two were at a stalemate for a while, Lu Xu sat by the city gate, looked into the dark distance, and said, "You may come soon, don't worry about arguing."
Compared with Li Jinglong, Mo Zhigen is a little less prestige in the Exorcism Department, but in fact he himself admits that he cannot give his partners the most reliable plan without Li Jinglong's absence, so he needs to ask Artest's consent , Just like when he proposed to go to An Lushan as an undercover agent when he was in Chang'an.
Now it is Li Jinglong who speaks. Needless to say, everyone agrees, and all aspects are considered, and there is no chance of objection.
"Go and rest for a while." Artest said, "You are very tired." He smiled at Lu Xu and said, "You didn't take good care of him."
"He can take care of himself." Lu Xu said boringly, "I don't need to take care of him."
Mo Zhigen glanced at Artest meaningfully, Artest put Mo Zhigen on the shoulder, and said, "It's been a long time, dude, let's have a drink first, why are you frowning all the time? Let's go." So he said Mo Zhigen went down to the tower.
In the dead of night, the gentle night covered the Grand Canal, and the whistling wind passed through the giant boat. Li Jinglong got up, closed the door, covered Hong Jun with a quilt, and turned to turn off the lights.
"What time is it?" Hong Jun woke up and got up to find water to drink.
"Not long after, it will be dawn in two hours." Li Jinglong replied, "Sleep a little longer."
Hong Jun was in a daze. After drinking the water, he became a little more awake. Li Jinglong covered the oil lamp, and the room was dark.
Hong Jun suddenly said: "Are you in a bad mood?"
Li Jinglong: "..."
Li Jinglong came over in the dark, kissed Hong Jun on the side of his face, and said with a smile, "I can't hide anything from you."
"The power of the heart lamp has weakened." Hong Jun could feel that the seal imposed by Li Jinglong was faintly dimming in his heart veins.
Li Jinglong sighed and said, "It's my fault, I have to adjust myself."
Hong Jun smiled, Li Jinglong took off his coat, lay on the bed with his chest bare, and said to himself: "I've been unlucky recently, no, I've been unlucky intermittently all this time, bad luck."
Li Jinglong's well-designed bureaus are always at the last moment because of luck, so there are some variables. For example, he handed Chang'an to Li Guinian, and took the exorcists all the way to the south of the Yangtze River. He was sure that the prison would follow. , attacked them on the road, and snatched Ye Ming's ashes back.
Unexpectedly, Xie Prison followed far behind and never made a move. When he arrived at Defuyun Villa, Li Jinglong thought that he would not show up at this time, and he would not be afraid if he showed up. He set a trap and waited for it to fall into the net. . However, who would have expected that Qiu Yongsi would leave without saying goodbye temporarily, and run to the magic circle with Hong Jun, only to be attacked by the prison
I thought that Xie Prison had entered the Zhenlong Pagoda and just chased it in, but in the end, it was thrown out of nowhere, and it ran out again, trapping itself in the tower instead.
Li Jinglong is really convinced, this is not counting, and in his life, he has often regarded himself as the successor of Fudo Ming, and he is proud of recovering the Exorcist, inheriting Di Renjie's last wish, and protecting the Tang Dynasty.
But who would have expected that Fudo Ming's magic weapon would not recognize his self-proclaimed heir at all
Hong Jun always tried to comfort him in different ways. If he doesn't admit it now, it doesn't mean he won't admit it in the future. Don't be depressed. What's more, even if you really don't recognize it, it's nothing.
Li Jinglong sometimes had a glimmer of hope, and sometimes felt that the future was hopeless, worrying about gains and losses, and his mood was extremely entangled for a while. But he couldn't complain, and he didn't dare to complain. He supported the entire Exorcist Division, and he couldn't let anyone know that his confidence was shaken on this road.
The only thing he hopes now is that Yuan Kun once promised him that in the northeast front, Anlu Mountain will be handed over to the Yaozu led by Chongming and Qingxiong to solve the problem, and there will be no more problems. But Anlu Mountain has already sent troops southward, but Yaojin Palace has not been seen for a long time.
Hong Jun still doesn't know anything, and always lives in optimism. This is also the habit that Li Jinglong has been working hard to create, "With me, you don't have to be afraid of anything." But now, Li Jinglong finally discovered that he has to face What is right is not only demons, demons, and the dark forces full of hostility in the world. Instead, after losing the belief that the power of Fudo Myoko had been supporting him to move forward, his confidence was strongly shaken.
The magic weapon's reluctance to admit him means that the road ahead is very dangerous. Unless he finds a real successor immediately, Li Jinglong will only have a heart lamp in case Hongjun is in danger, and there are too many variables.
Sometimes, the future is not necessarily in his hands as he believes.
Is there anything else that is not doing well? These days, Li Jinglong often asks himself this question, especially after coming out of Zhenlong Pagoda, is he too arrogant, too underestimated the enemy, thinks things too simply, or is God deliberately trying to make this joke with him
After thinking about it, he had to attribute all this to luck.
But no matter what, Hong Jun felt his wavering and uneasiness. After all, the power of the heart lamp directly affects the seal deep in his heart.
"Trust me." Li Jinglong just said.
"I have always believed in you." Hong Jun said with a smile, "When have you ever lied to me?"
Although there is no way out in the future, at least at the moment, Li Jinglong finally calmed down as he held Hongjun in his arms. Hong Jun's naked young shoulders and skin were pressed against Li Jinglong's thick chest, and both felt each other's scorching body temperature.
At this moment, they were unusually silent, they didn't want to do anything, they just wanted to be quiet, just cuddling together like this. He gave him the strength and the courage to face the future, even if the future is full of fog.
The sound of the water in the canal rang loudly. In the darkness, they hugged each other and fell asleep, and Hong Jun fell into a dream again. The sky and the earth are so eerily quiet, only the sound of water coming from the river—it should arrive in Luoyang at dawn.
On the dark river, the big boat was moving slower and slower, and the flow of the river seemed to be changing imperceptibly.
Suddenly there was a loud noise!
A dark monster appeared in the water, roaring and rushing out, bringing up huge waves, and drawing an arc in the air.
Li Jinglong opened his eyes instantly.
Immediately, the ceiling of the room was broken, the outer wall was squeezed and cracked, and the monstrous river water rushed in! The bed tilted rapidly, Hong Jun was poured with cold water, and shouted in a panic: "What's wrong?!"
It was mid-winter, the river was extremely cold, and the bedding was pressed against him. As soon as Hong Jun turned over, Li Jinglong shouted: "Hong Jun! I'm here!"
The whole ship was hit by the monster, broke instantly, and sank into the water within a few short breaths. Apart from Li Jinglong and Hong Jun, there were still a large number of businessmen who went north along the way, especially those who lived in Guanzhong, Yuzhou and other places, and were anxious to go back. To visit his wife and children. Shouts erupted instantly on the canal, and hundreds of people sank with the big ship, or jumped off the ship to escape.
There was another roar, and Li Jinglong put one arm around Hong Jun's waist, and jumped out from the shockingly split hull. Hong Jun stretched out the five-color divine light to block the wooden beams and deck debris that fell from the top of his head. The monster rushed straight towards the two of them, and opened its bloody mouth in an instant—
Li Jinglong saw it clearly in an instant, the monster had two wings, a ferocious snake head, and its fangs merged, biting them down.
Just as Hong Jun shook off the Mo Dao, he sank into the water and was poured with cold water. He couldn't tell the difference between south, east and north. He only heard Li Jinglong yelled and swung the Wisdom Sword. The light on the Wisdom Sword flashed, and the river seemed to explode big flash.
"Snake!" Hong Jun just came up and shouted.
I saw that monster named Hua Snake was only a little smaller than the jiao, and it stirred up huge waves on the river, with black air billowing around it, driven by the heart lamp, it flew away a little, then flapped its wings, and swept the upstream The river stirred up a wall of waves nearly three feet high, rushing towards the place where the two were.
The huge wave rushed by, and Li Jinglong was knocked out immediately. He was in the air, and quickly grabbed the broken deck under his feet, flung it towards Hongjun like a meteor, and shouted: "Catch it!"
Hong Jun threw himself on the board, shivering from the cold. Li Jinglong turned over again, jumped onto the ship that was about to sink completely, and swung the sword of wisdom.
But the snake dived hard into the water and disappeared. After a few breaths, it jumped up from Li Jinglong's feet.
Li Jinglong pulled the longbow with the power of the heart lamp, and was about to shoot an arrow, but was completely interrupted at this moment, fell into the water again, and then swept away with the tail of a snake, even though the two of them had monstrous abilities in the river, they were not like this at all The opponent of the water monster.
The surface of the canal was very quiet, and the snake disappeared into the water again.
Hong Jun was thumping, and grabbed him with one hand, Ashina Qiong shouted: "It's me!"
Hong Jun choked a few sips of water, a huge wave came, and he was separated from Ashina Qiong again.
Li Jinglong roared: "Hongjun!"
With a sound of "crash", the snake rushed out, engulfed Li Jinglong, and looked down at him. As soon as he heard Li Jinglong calling "Hong Jun", he threw him back into the water again.
Hong Jun floated up and down on the canal, looking for the light of the heart lamp that Li Jinglong sacrificed, but his body tightened, and he was entangled by the snake and flew straight up. When Hong Jun was drawing the knife, he was thrown to the shore, and the whole person fell into the water. in the bushes.
Hong Jun was drenched all over, holding a long knife, staring vigilantly into the darkness.
A pair of glowing eyes stared at him in the night, Hong Jun said: "Who are you?"
"A fish asked me to save you, don't kill you." The snake demon said, "You can't swim."
Hongjun: "..."
As soon as the words fell, the Snake Demon turned around, flew forward, and threw himself into the canal again.