Even though he had expected it, when Gu Xu heard Luo Sishou's words, he still felt a little incredible - because it didn't sound like a dialogue between a boss and a subordinate at all.
But the saint's mind is unfathomable, and it is difficult for Gu Xu to figure it out clearly.
He paused and continued: "Master Chief, Shi Xiaohan really wants to stay in the capital and serve as an official, but currently there is only one 'chief secretary' position in the Exorcism Department headquarters with her. However, I think she has little chance of winning in the promotion assessment, and this kind of civilian job is not suitable for her.
"So I would like to ask, at the Exorcism Department headquarters. Are there any other opportunities here that would allow her to stay in the capital? ”
Gu Xu knew that in front of a saint who mastered the art of divine deduction, stating the truth was undoubtedly the best choice.
At the same time, he also knew that many people in the Exorcism Department The so-called "rules" are actually not as good as the words of the boss.
"It turns out it's just such a small thing! "After Gu Xu finished speaking, Luo Sishou chuckled and responded, "Gu Xiaoyou, you really care about your little girlfriend... Last night you stepped on the ring to stand up for her, and today you came to ask me for help for her. All the beautiful girls in the capital are looking at you with admiring eyes, trying to attract your attention, but you turn a blind eye to them. "
Gu Xu smiled: "Xiaohan helped me a lot in the past. Now that she is in trouble, I have to find a way to help her. "
"This matter is easy to handle," Luo Chuan said cheerfully, "Every year, the Exorcism Department headquarters sends two young people to Longmen Academy for further study. There is only one candidate left this year, so I will add Shi Xiaohan.
"She is not bad in talent, but the moves she masters are a bit single. Going to Longmen Academy to study for a period of time should help her effectively make up for her shortcomings.
"You should go too We are teaching over there, so we can look after each other. ”
This matter that caused Shi Xiaohan a deep headache was solved so easily.
Gu Xu was in a daze for a moment, and then sincerely thanked Luo Sishou.
"You're welcome," Luo Chuan smiled and shook his head, "Gu Xiaoyou, you just need to understand that when you have enough power and strength in the future, you can easily get anything you want. "
At this point, he paused for a while, and then said to Gu Xu seriously: "Of course, young people's feelings are beautiful, but they are also easily impulsive. I hope you can always stay awake in the future, don't get carried away easily, and don't always break the rules because of personal affairs. At critical moments, we still have to put our great cause first. "
Gu Xu nodded in agreement.
Same as last time, Luo Chuan got up from the futon and took Gu Xu to the edge of the stairs in person.
Gu As Xu walked down the stairs, he silently recalled Luo Chuan's instructions to him, and his mood became increasingly complicated.
Because he felt that Luo Sishou's tone did not sound like the leader of the Exorcism Department speaking to his subordinates. Giving lectures is more like an old butler of a chaebol.He was trying to persuade his young master earnestly.
…………
After leaving the star observatory, Gu Xu returned to the "Qingxiang Pavilion", closed the door, took the elixir, and then closed his eyes to practice.
The situation in Luojing City is indeed complicated and confusing, with undercurrents surging.
But Gu Xu didn’t spend too much energy thinking about what he saw and heard on the observatory today.
Prophecy, family status, power and strength, the chief executive's expectations of him... these are either too far away or too complicated for him.
His current level is too low and his time is too short. He is not even qualified to sit on the card table.
The most urgent task is to improve one's own cultivation as soon as possible.
Only when you are strong enough can you stand firm in the turbulent whirlpool.
…………
Luojing City is shaped like a chessboard.
The criss-crossing streets divide the city into several areas, commonly known as "squares".
Among them, Xiuxianfang is one of the most prosperous areas.
There are a large number of restaurants and wine shops here, as well as tea shops, dance pavilions and singing stages.
At this moment, after Yan Guogong Zhao Changying left the exorcism department, he did not return to his residence immediately, but appeared in Xiuxianfang.
He calmed down and adjusted his appearance slightly. His robes were loose and his body smelled of alcohol. He looked not like a saint from the Qi Dynasty at all, but a drunkard wandering around on the street. .
Soon, he came to the Goulan located in the center of Xiuxianfang.
In the Daqi Dynasty, Goulan was a performance venue for opera, song, dance, acrobatics, etc. It was equivalent to a simple theater. (1)
It is shaped like a square wooden box, surrounded by wooden boards as walls; there is a door on one side for the audience to enter and exit.
The sun was shining brightly at this time, and it was the most noisy time in Goulan.
There are huge crowds of people, rubbing shoulders and backs.
The noisy voices poured into his ears like a wave.
Even the lintel of the hooked door has already been hung with a "full" sign.
But there are still many people queuing outside the door, waiting to watch the next show.
As a seventh-level monk, Duke of Yan Zhao Changying has many ways to enter this Goulan. Naturally, he does not need to spend time in long queues like ordinary people.
He picked up the wine bottle on his waist, took a sip of wine, and then disappeared.
The next second, he appeared in the check bar.
There is a stage and auditorium inside Goulan.
The stage is elevated above the ground, and is surrounded by railings - the front part is the performance area, and the back part is where the actors dress up and rest, which is called the "theater room".
The front and back rooms are separated by screens.
The passage connecting the theater room and the front desk is called the "Ghost Doorway".
——Ghosts, the people they pretend to be are all people from the past.
This moment coincides with the break between the two scenes, and the danceThere was no one on the stage.
Zhao Changying looked around, then stepped onto the stage and walked straight towards the theater room along the "Ghost Path".
On the walls of "Ghost Doorway", dozens of old opera masks are hung in various colors.
Zhao Changying took off a red facial mask and put it on his face.
Then he walked into the theater room.
A young woman wearing a blue opera robe is sitting in front of a bronze mirror quietly putting on makeup.
Her face was covered with a thick layer of powder and her hairstyle was extremely complicated, making it difficult to see her true appearance.
Seeing Zhao Changying's arrival, the woman in green immediately stood up and said to him: "Excuse me, who do you want to find?"
"I want to see 'Wenchang Xingjun' ." Zhao Changying replied calmly.
Under the influence of the magic attached to the mask, his voice became hoarse and deep, completely different from its original appearance.
…………
Every city has its shadow side.
Luojing City under the sun looks dazzling at first glance.
But in those narrow and winding alleys, in the dim canals, in the crowded docks, in the casinos that smell of copper, in the restaurants where people drink and drink together, day and night. The singing and dancing scene... is filled with surging undercurrents and countless struggles in the world.
Hidden in the hooks of this Xiuxianfang is an organization called "Qing Ming".
"Qingming" means sky and fairyland.
Although his name sounds high-end, he is actually engaged in shady activities such as assassination, lending, intelligence, and secretly selling pills.
Members of "Qing Ming" often appear in teahouses, Goulan, brothels and other places.
They are codenamed after stars such as "Grean Wolf" and "Pojun". They will wear special masks or special makeup, making it impossible to identify their true identities.
The "Wenchang Xingjun" mentioned by Zhao Changying just now is their leader.
They claim that as long as they are given enough silver, they can know anything under the sun and kill anyone below the realm of a saint.
Zhao Changying scoffed at this at first.
Because "Qing Ming" can completely refuse transactions that they cannot do by offering sky-high prices.
But later, out of curiosity, many children of the Zhao family went to "Qing Ming" to ask some boring questions - such as what color was the bellyband of the oiran of the Jiaofang Department in Luojing City, and Li Qingming of Longmen Academy. How many lovers and illegitimate children does the dean have in private? For example, what are the measurements of Princess Zhaoning? How many maids has the second prince had sex with?
For these questions, "Qing Ming" has given answers answers, and most of them were soon proven to be correct.
This gave Zhao Changying a chilling feeling in his heart, as if the secrets of the entire capital were clearly exposed to the "Qing Dynasty".There is nowhere to hide in front of "Ming".
The information it has in Luojing City even exceeds the Zhao family's own intelligence system.
Logically speaking, between the emperor and the saint There should be no such illegal organization under people's eyes.
But in recent decades, "Qingming" has been firmly rooted in the underground world of Luojing City and has never been exposed. The imperial court took action to eradicate it.
This undoubtedly means that "Qing Ming" either has a strong person or a strong background - of course, it may be both.
However, until now, Zhao Changying still doesn’t know who “Wenchang Xingjun” is, nor who is hiding behind “Qingming”.
…………
“Sorry, ‘Wenchang’. "Your Excellency is not here today," the woman in Tsing Yi responded politely, "If you need anything, you can tell me directly." Or I can pass your message on to him. "
"What's your code name? "
"'Bell Star'. "The woman in green clothes replied.
In astrology, "Bell Star" is an evil star. The five elements belong to fire. It is one of the floating stars in the South Dou and is also known as the "God of Killing".
Those with "Bell Star" in their fortune palace are often decisive, gloomy, and strong, and are killer-like figures who "do nothing if they don't move, and thunderous if they move."
"Okay, then I'll just follow. You said it," Zhao Changying said, "I want you to kill a few people for me. Can you tell me the price? "
The woman in Tsing Yi chuckled: "Isn't this your first time here? According to our rules, even if you just ask about the price of an assassination, you still need to spend a sum of money. "
"I know. "Zhao Changying nodded, and at the same time put a few silver notes into the hands of the woman in Qingyi.
He knew very well that the assassination price given by "Qingming" represented the difficulty of a person's assassination, which was often It contains a huge amount of information, which is equivalent to a very valuable piece of intelligence.
Many assassination targets may only show the tip of the iceberg in terms of their strength.
But from this. The price figures reveal their true power hidden under the water.
The reason why Zhao Changying came to "Qing Ming" today was not because he really wanted to kill someone, but just to ask questions. Price.
"Who do you want to kill? "The woman in green smiled and then asked.
…………
Notes:
(1) Goulan was first used in Song and Yuan operas in the city The main performance venue was equivalent to a theater. However, since official prostitutes in the Song Dynasty were scattered in the city, they often entertained guests in Goulan. After the Ming Dynasty, the brothel was also called Goulan.