"Come on! Let's eat, let's eat!"
In the other hall of Huaqing Palace, the lights are brightly lit, reflecting the fine snow falling in the valley, and the shadows of people cast on the tent door. A huge fish is dangling in front of the lamp shadow.
"Don't look." Hong Jun smiled, "Come and eat."
The carp demon looked at the koi on the lampshade for a while, and then reluctantly came down from the cabinet. Li Jinglong personally poured wine for a group of subordinates, and said with a smile: "Although we have only known each other for two months, it seems that we have known each other for a long time. There is a saying that those who experience life and death together must have an inextricable fate in their previous lives... "
Everyone humbly said that they didn't dare, it was Chang Shi who contributed. Li Jinglong raised his glass after pouring the wine: "May there be no more disasters in Chang'an. God bless me Datang!"
"God bless me Datang."
The four of them toasted with the carp demon and drank it all in one gulp.
Li Jinglong greeted everyone to eat again, and Mo Zhigen smiled and said: "It's only been two months? Why does it feel like a lifetime has passed?"
"The Exorcist Division entered on September 18th." Qiu Yongsi smiled, "I still remember that the grass was overgrown there, and I almost thought I went to the wrong door."
Hong Jun smiled and said, "When Chang Shi broke in that day, his face turned green from fright, do you remember?"
Everyone laughed together again, that day when Li Jinglong first entered the Exorcism Division, Artai played the piano, Mo Zhigen plucked the bowstring, Qiu Yongsi and Hong Jun were knocking cups and bowls, and the carp demon was dancing in a basin... almost scaring Feng Changqing Out of the psychological shadow.
Li Jinglong joked: "To be honest, I was the one who took the liberty that day, and I shouldn't have done anything recklessly."
Mo Zhigen was beaming again, talking about the little fox that was released, he couldn't help teasing Hong Jun, Hong Jun said angrily: "No! I just can't bear the cute little animals..."
Qiu Yongsi said: "Speaking of this, how many paintings are for you, take a look?"
With that said, Qiu Yongsi turned around, fetched a few sheets of paper from the back, shared one with each of them, and said to the carp demon, "You often soak in the water, let Hong Jun store it for you."
Everyone divided the paintings, and saw that Qiu Yongsi's paintings were extremely vivid, and they were their usual impressions. The moment when Li Jinglong first entered the Exorcism Department, the people between the two screens when Liuying Chunxiao listened to the music in Pingkang, the scene of subduing demons in front of the Daming Palace, the golden flowers fell and gathered to face the prince, sitting under the ginkgo tree in the imperial garden Waiting for summons...
And today's galloping horse, chasing the wind from Chang'an to Mount Li.
"I want this one!" The carp demon liked the last one.
"It's not quite the same as landscape painting." Li Jinglong said interestingly.
"Grandpa always thinks that my paintings are too realistic." Qiu Yongsi said, "Most of this kind of paintings are not wanted."
"I like it." Hong Jun couldn't put it down. He rolled the painting into a tube and said, "You can frame it and hang it when you go back."
When everyone was looking at the painting, the room suddenly fell into silence, and Hong Jun seemed to feel a strange atmosphere. Mo Zhigen said: "I also have something here, share it with everyone."
Then Mo Zhigen took out three small bone flutes, distributed them to everyone, and said: "This is a whistle made of the wolf king's finger bones. As long as you blow it in Shiwei's territory, you can call our people and lead the way." Whether it’s good, whether it’s eating, or killing the enemy, I will never refuse.”
The bone flute was very delicately made, and it played melodiously and clearly, and it was tied with a red thread. Compared with beads, Hong Jun couldn't put it down even more.
"I'll give you something too." Hong Jun said, "Either take this bead apart."
Everyone hurriedly told Hong Jun not to do anything, but Hong Jun had already pulled the string away, the jade beads fell to the ground, and Li Jinglong supported his forehead.
Qiu Yongsi said: "This bead can buy half of Luoyang, you... just dismantled it like this?"
Hong Jun said: "It's okay, it's okay, I still have a lot in my house, and the fish tank is full of these, and then I will find some to string..."
Everyone: "..."
There were twelve beads in the string, so Hong Jun divided two of them and gave two to the carp demon. The carp demon said: "I haven't changed into a dragon yet, so I started playing with beads? You keep it for me first." .”
"Either make a necklace for Zhao Zilong, including a string of Buddha bones, and hang it behind his cheeks.
This is not bad, so Hong Jun happily started making accessories for the carp demon. The carp demon drank a few glasses of wine, was overwhelmed, staggered, swayed a few times, fell on his side, and became drunk.
"Come on, have another drink." When Li Jinglong was about to pour the wine, Mo Zhigen snatched it and said, "I'll come, I'll come."
"Chang Shi, this cup is for you," Artest said.
Hong Jun followed them to toast Li Jinglong, and Li Jinglong said again: "Your injury is just right, don't drink too much. I'll drink this cup for you."
Li Jinglong drank two cups in a row and said, "Eat it. You can do whatever you want."
Everyone took food one after another, Li Jinglong ate a mouthful of food, and the atmosphere suddenly fell silent again.
"What's wrong?" Lian Hongjun also felt it.
"It's nothing." Qiu Yongsi looked at Hong Jun with a smile and said, "Hong Jun, you are a good boy."
Li Jinglong sighed for a long time, put down his chopsticks, and said, "Just speak up if you have anything to say, and listen."
Qiu Yongsi, Mo Zhigen and Artest looked at each other, and Hong Jun asked after a while, "What's wrong with you?"
Mo Rigen sighed, and said, "Chang Shi, Hong Jun, to be honest, I have to go."
"Why?!" Hong Jun's voice was full of surprise and disappointment that could not be concealed.
Li Jinglong didn't answer, just looked at Mo Zhigen quietly, then glanced at Qiu Yongsi.
Qiu Yongsi said: "I have to go too, Chang Shi, Hong Jun."
Artest smiled sadly and said: "You Han people often say that there is always a banquet in the world, and I have to go back too, Chang Shi and Hong Jun."
Hongjun: "..."
Li Jinglong remained silent.
"You...you..." Hong Jun thought he heard it wrong, and said, "Why? After finally getting rid of the demon king, wouldn't it be good to stay in Chang'an? Chang'an is so good... there are food and things to play..."
"Hongjun." The carp demon shouted.
Mo Zhigen sighed and said, "To be honest, Chang Shi, before I came, I had a mission on my shoulders."
"Looking for the White Deer?" Li Jinglong asked.
Hong Jun was very surprised, how did Li Jinglong know? The carp demon looked at Hong Jun's expression, and said, "You are stupid, what did Mo Rigen ask on the observatory?"
Only then did Hong Jun think of it, and said, "But there is no trace of the white deer you mentioned in Chang'an, why don't I ask Qingxiong and Chongming?"
"No." Mo Zhigen replied, "White Deer is the god of dreams that guards the long night. She is not a demon. She has been missing in the grassland clan since one hundred and twenty years ago. I inherited the power of the wolf. I must I found her. I came to Chang'an because I suspected that the Demon King imprisoned her. Now it seems that she is not in the Central Plains. So I have to continue to search."
"What if you can't find it?" Li Jinglong asked.
"The power of the white deer is like your heart lamp." Mo Zhigen said, "She runs into everyone's dreams and drives away their nightmares. Once she disappears, the power of nightmares cannot be eliminated. The hostility between heaven and earth It's going to get heavier."
Li Jinglong let out a long breath, Hong Jun frowned and said, "Where can I find this?"
Mo Zhigen said: "After leaving Chang'an, I will go all the way south first, and then go to the middle of Sichuan to have a look. Chang Shi, everything in the world has animism, the hostility of heaven and earth, demons, ghosts, gods and beasts, all have mutual relations in the dark. The relationship between one thing restrains another, one ebbs and flows, one pulls one hair and moves the whole body... "
Li Jinglong raised his hand, indicating that he understood, and there was no need to say any more. The room fell silent again.
"My mission is to find the black dragon 'Xie Prison' that escaped from under the Zhenlong Pagoda." Qiu Yongsi said to everyone, "Two hundred years ago, it devoured many Jiao clans, and once its strength grew, it escaped from the bottom of the tower. And launched a war with the Feng Clan."
Hong Jun's heart trembled, thinking of Chongming's words, he couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"Later, the Feng Clan lost." Qiu Yongsi said, "withdrew from the human world, and Xie Prison was hidden in the Central Plains. Before I came here, I thought it had become the Demon King of Chang'an, but now it seems that it has not."
"This is also my worry." Li Jinglong replied, "So, you plan to continue to search for the whereabouts of Xie Prison. What will happen after you find it?"
Qiu Yongsi said: "Take it away and seal it back in the Zhenlong Pagoda."
"Where is Zhenlong Pagoda?" Hong Jun asked.
The carp demon said: "If I accidentally become a dragon, won't I be caught too?"
"In a place that none of you can enter." Qiu Yongsi said, "It was built by the ancient immortal Guang Chengzi. Although it is called 'Zhenlong', it is actually a vicious and bloodthirsty dragon that is being suppressed. The Qiu family He is the guardian of Zhenlong Pagoda through the ages."
In the silence, Qiu Yongsi sighed.
"I thought it came to Chang'an and turned into a demon king, but I didn't expect that the demon king in charge of this place is a nine-tailed fox...so..." Qiu Yongsi smiled wryly, "The whereabouts of the prison is like finding a needle in a haystack. It's been a long time since we parted from everyone."
Li Jinglong pondered for a moment, then said to Artest: "What about you?"
Artest replied: "When His Majesty summoned me that night in the fall of golden flowers, he promised me to borrow Kurtai County along the Wusun Ancient Road to recruit soldiers and horses, and issued me a handbook... Do you see?"
Mo Zhigen only learned about it, and frowned: "The Kurtai area is too dangerous! The Huns are frequent, how do you gain a foothold?"
"I still have guards." Artai said to the crowd, "What's more, I'm also a descendant of the Holy King of Persia, hehe..." He shook his fan and replied: "How could ordinary Huns be ours?" opponent?"
Li Jinglong nodded and said, "Why didn't you mention it when you came back that night?"
Artest replied: "Chang Shi, I don't want to cause you and everyone any more trouble. These days, I really appreciate everyone's care."
Said that Bi Atai stepped back half a step, behaved himself, and bowed to everyone. Hong Jun hurriedly stepped forward to help, and everyone was overwhelmed for a while.
"Leaving is the best way." Qiu Yongsi said, "The demon king in Chang'an has been eliminated. If I wait too long, I'm afraid that the emperor and court officials will be jealous. The exorcist can accept the demon, or..."
"There's no need to continue." Li Jinglong interrupted.
Mo Zhigen observed Li Jinglong's expression, and knew that the emperor was afraid of this.
"Will you guys come back?" Li Jinglong asked.
"After finding the White Deer, I will take her back to the grassland." Mo Rigen replied, "If we pass through Chang'an, I would like to ask Chang Shi to preside over our marriage."
Li Jinglong laughed, but there was a trace of bitterness in that smile.
Qiu Yongsi said: "After taking away the black flood dragon, maybe I still have to stay by the West Lake. After all, it is the only entrance to the Zhenlong Pagoda, but it is okay to visit Chang'an occasionally. You are welcome to come and visit us at any time."
Artest said: "I don't know if the desire to regain my homeland will be realized in this life, but if one day I can't get along, maybe I can only come to my brothers."
Li Jinglong said happily: "I hope you don't come again."
Everyone laughed, smiled and laughed, each other's eyes were red, Li Jinglong sighed, turned his head to avoid their sight, and said to Hongjun: "What about you?"
Hong Jun was still in shock, and he didn't recover for a long time. When he was asked, he subconsciously said: "I...I..."
Before Hongjun left Yaojin Palace, he actually didn’t want to leave. Chongming and Qingxiong asked him to do three things. If it was done or not, the Demon King of Chang'an was wiped out, and the truth of his life experience was roughly known, but the person who killed his father and enemy was not found.
"I...should be staying for a while, right?" Hong Jun stared at Li Jinglong in a daze, and suddenly felt that this farewell was too cruel for Li Jinglong. Although gathering and dispersing are like flowing clouds, fate is fleeting, but Li Jinglong seems to have never had many friends. Once the Exorcism Division is dispersed, there will be no more demons in Chang'an. What can Li Jinglong do? Had to stay in the room all day, waiting for their return.
Upon hearing this, Mo Rigen laughed and said, "Hong Jun, then you have to take good care of Chang Shi."
Artest said: "Either Changshi will be handed over to you. You are also a prince after all. When you want to go home someday, you can take him with you."
Qiu Yongsi immediately said: "That's what I said! It's a deal!"
Li Jinglong: "..."
Hong Jun was afraid that Li Jinglong would be too sad, so he said, "Okay! It's a deal!"
Li Jinglong said: "I haven't nodded yet! One or two of you, just leave like this! Do you have a conscience?!"
"You still have Hongjun." Qiu Yongsi smiled.
"That's right, you still have Hongjun." Artest and Mo Zhigen agreed, and toasted to Li Jinglong again, Li Jinglong took it without saying a word, and drank it.
"It's okay to go." Li Jinglong said, "If one day Chang'an falls into a demon again, how will I find you?"
Mo Zhigen said: "The power of dreams is everywhere, but whenever Chang'an is full of evil spirits, I will definitely come back."
Artest said: "You give the letter to the caravan going to the Western Regions, and let them take it to Kurtai. If necessary, you will be smashed to pieces, and you will not hesitate."
Qiu Yongsi replied: "Chang Shi, if you send the letter through the post station to Wanliu Villa in West Lake, Hangzhou, my family will naturally notify me."
Li Jinglong looked down at the wine glass and sighed: "From the day I met everyone, I knew that you would leave sooner or later, but I just didn't expect it to be so soon. Blame me, blame me..."
"What's your fault?" Mo Zhigen smiled, "If it wasn't for Chang Shi, how could everyone work together..."
"It's my fault that I didn't cherish the time spent with everyone." Li Jinglong raised his eyes, looked at the rest of the people, and said slowly, "I only hope that there is a chance to see you again in this life."
As soon as these words came out, Qiu Yongsi, Mo Zhigen, and Artest all had tears in their eyes, and Hong Jun almost cried.
"I don't have anything to give you." Li Jinglong lowered his head, kept rubbing the center of his brows with his slender fingers, and whispered, "You all take the horses away at that time. I don't want to stay in the Exorcism Department." I will let other people ride them." After speaking, he smiled again.
Everyone was silent and nodded their heads.
"Shall I play a song for everyone?" Artest hurriedly said, turned to pick up the Barbat, and plucked the strings a few times without waiting for everyone to reply.
"The morning rain in Weicheng is light and the dust is light, the guest house is green and the willows are green..."
"Advise you to have a glass of wine and leave Yangguan in the west. There is no one..."
Hongjun often listens to this song "Three Folds of Yangguan", but every time he listened to it before, he only listened to the sound of the song until tonight, and then he could hear a little melancholy and a little bit of reluctance in it.
Artai's piano sound flowed through the long night, and after singing "Three Diets of Yangguan", Mo Zhigen said, "Don't be so mournful!"
"Okay, okay." Artest said, "Change to another song!"
"Chilechuan, under the Yin Mountain, the sky is gray, the wild is vast, the wind is blowing and the grass is low, and you can see cattle and sheep..."
That night, everyone drank freely, sang "Three Folds of Yangguan", "Spring River Flower Night Moon", and sang "If you don't see it, the water of the Yellow River comes up from the sky and rushes to the sea without returning. ..." followed by "Winds of long winds send autumn geese away, for which you can indulge in high-rise buildings, Penglai articles to build security bones, small houses in the middle with green hair, draw a knife to cut off water, water flows more, raise a glass to relieve sorrow and sorrow..."
At the fourth watch, everyone was so drunk that they were lying down, leaning against each other, lying in front of the desk, or in the corner of the wall. The carp monster was lying on its side on the desk, with its tail fluttering from time to time.
After a long time, Mo Zhigen opened his eyes first and rubbed his temples. He opened his drunken red eyes, stood up quietly, and let out a sigh of relief.
"Brothers, there will be a time later." Mo Zhigen whispered.
He got up slowly, knelt in front of the door on one knee, put his left hand on his right chest, bowed and saluted, then turned and left. Not long after, Qiu Yongsi and Artest also woke up.
"Let's go now?" Qiu Yongsi asked with his mouth.
Artest nodded. When parting, he felt the most sad. He might as well have left without making a sound.
At the fourth watch, at the foot of Lishan Mountain, Artest, Mo Rigen and Qiu Yongsi were stationed in front of the horse official road.
Artest: "I'm heading west."
"I'm going to the northeast." Mo Zhigen said.
"I'm going south." Qiu Yongsi said, "Brothers, then, let's say goodbye here. The sky is high and the road is far away. There will be a period later."
Mo Zhigen said: "The mountains are vast and the sea is vast, and we will meet again one day."
Artest laughed and said, "Hi baa Houbi! I will miss you!"
"Actually, I've been wanting to ask for a long time." Qiu Yongsi said, "Hey baahoubi, what do you mean?"
Artest said: "This is the greeting of a Persian friend reunion, 'Ah! See you again, dear friend'."
Mo Zhigen smiled and said: "You said the same thing when we first met. We were strangers at that time, and we were not close friends."
Artest looked at the deep night sky. On the plain, the Big Dipper was shining in the sky.
"I've known it since then." Artest replied leisurely, "Everyone will become close friends one day. It's due to fate, it seems that they meet by chance, but in fact they are all destined, so what's the matter? Drive!"
Artai rode his horse away and plunged into the vast night. Qiu Yongsi also said "Drive", turned the horse's head, and boarded the official road going south.
Mo Zhigen turned his head to look at Lishan, then looked sideways at a leather saddle behind him, and said in a low voice: "Chang Shi, Hong Jun, take care... drive!"
The three riders turned around and disappeared in the deepest part of the plain.