"The scenery blends with the yin energy, like peaks and clouds sharing the fire. The glow holds the sun up to the sky, and the red color rides the wind into the eaves of the palace." 1
Gu Xu suddenly felt that with this poem It is quite appropriate to describe the scenery at this moment.
Although the Ghost King of Mangshan is powerful, its power is limited after all, with its mere fragment of soul.
Like the morning sun dispelling the night gloom.
The black smoke in the alley quickly dispersed in all directions under the strong light and gradually evaporated.
Hu Yun’s body repair speed suddenly slowed down.
I don’t know if it was Gu Xu’s illusion. He also noticed that there was a hint of painful emotion in Hu Yun’s originally cold and empty eyes.
Such a look had never appeared before, even when Hu Yun was being burned by the fire just now.
After the black smoke in the alley became thinner, Gu Xu gathered all his true energy and prepared to use "Fire" again to completely burn this "ghost waiter" who dared to hurt his fiancée to ashes.
As a person who holds grudges, Gu Xu has long remembered the Mangshan Ghost King and his "ghost attendants" in his little notebook. However, due to his limited cultivation, he was temporarily unable to deal with the "Mangshan Ghost King" himself, so he could only deal with its minions first.
However, at this moment, like lightning piercing the night, a silvery white dazzling light suddenly flashed across the dark sky.
Immediately afterwards, a sharp sword light fell from the sky, instantly dispersing the black smoke in the alley.
Gu Xu couldn't help but look up and saw a huge hole suddenly appeared between the thick clouds, revealing the clean and clear blue sky. The sun shone in through the hole, stinging his eyes.
In the ten thousand feet of light, Gu Xu saw a figure flying with a sword.
That was a woman with a thin figure and a cold temperament.
She wore a black outfit, long boots, and a bamboo hat with a halo of gauze on her head. Although her face was covered by gauze, Gu Xu could feel her sharp sword-like gaze.
Shi Xiaohan blinked his eyes with longing.
Her dream has always been to become a heroine who can slay demons and do justice for heaven. This woman in black, wielding a sword in the air, was undoubtedly her ideal image of herself.
But the most unexpected thing was the reaction of "Ghost Attendant" Hu Yun.
When this woman in black clothes appeared in his field of vision, Hu Yun suddenly covered his head with both hands and fell to the ground, frowning and clenching his teeth, as if he was experiencing extreme pain. .
In the blink of an eye, the woman in black put away her sword and landed steadily beside Gu Xu and Zhao Yan.
Gu Xu took a step forward, raised his hands to the woman in black and said, "Gu Xu, the head of the Exorcism Department, has met Pavilion Master Xu."
The cold and neat woman in front of him is clearly Shu. Xu Man, the master of the Dijian Pavilion, one of the "Five Saints" of the Daqi Dynasty, and Su Xiao's master.
Although Gu Xu has never met her, he has known her through portraits and other people’s descriptions.Knowing her appearance and usual dress, combined with her cultivation, she was able to recognize her at a glance.
Xu Man glanced at him and said calmly, "So you are the young genius Gu Xu who has become famous recently. It is indeed extraordinary to be able to use the Seven Burning Heaven Styles like this. No wonder. Su Xiao always wants to find opportunities to discuss and discuss with you."
While speaking, Xu Man's eyes swept over Shi Xiaohan's body and lay on Gu Xu's back like a koala. , a pair of big apricot-like eyes staring at her curiously.
It seems that Shi Xiaohan's appearance awakened some of Xu Man's memories. There was a gentle sigh from behind the tulle.
As for Zhao Yan, she took a step back and remained silent.
After all, after Yan Guogong Zhao Changying rebelled against the country, her identity as a "traitor's daughter" became very sensitive. Xu Man, on the other hand, was the head of the clan and also had the title of "Taibao" in the court. Officially speaking, the two are undoubtedly on opposite sides.
Of course, everyone present did not know that Emperor Tianxing had issued an imperial edict to "kill the traitor Gu Xu". Otherwise, even if Gu Xu had the courage, he would not dare to take the initiative to say hello to Xu Man.
"Junior Sister Xu, you are here." At this moment, Hu Yun, who fell to the ground and covered his head, suddenly spoke, his voice was painful and hoarse.
Xu Man finally turned to look at him.
No one could see her expression clearly through the white gauze.
She took two steps forward and her attention suddenly fell on the silk flower pinned to Hu Yun's chest. Hu Yun was scarred and ragged, but the silk flower was brightly colored and clean as new, which made it look particularly special. unexpected.
Just when she was about to speak, black energy rose from Hu Yun's body again, and the painful struggle in his eyes disappeared without a trace, becoming cold and sinister again.
Gu Xu could probably guess that this was the will of Mangshan Ghost King and Hu Yun himself, fighting for control of this body.
It’s just that he didn’t expect that after Hu Yun had been a “Ghost Attendant” for so long, his own will still existed and had not been completely wiped out by the Ghost King of Mangshan.
Furthermore, the relationship between Hu Yun and the master of the Jiange Pavilion must have been extraordinary. After all, when Xu Man appeared, Hu Yun's self-awareness became extra active and tenacious, and he even faintly resisted. He lost the control of Mangshan Ghost King on him.
“Get out.”
Xu Man glanced at the black smoke and said in a cold tone.
She did not draw her sword.
But there was a flash of silver sword light, cutting the black smoke into pieces.
Hu Yun raised his head and looked at her blankly, his eyes no longer empty and cold.
Xu Man squatted down slowly in front of him, reached out to grab the silk flower on his chest, and said softly, "Brother Hu, you have been wearing this on your body all these years."
"Yes," Hu Yun laughed dryly like a fool, "I haven't taken it off since you pinned it on my clothes that year."
Xu Man remained silent and did not speak immediately.
Over the years, Hu Yun was expelled from the sect and wandered around the world. Then he somehow became the "Ghost Attendant" of the Ghost King of Mang Mountain. He then moved to Luojing City and worked as an undercover agent for many years. He really experienced Too much suffering. He had a broken arm, and his clothes were in tatters and smelled fishy, but this silk flower was still brand new.
Xu Man clearly remembered that this silk flower was made by her own hands using ordinary silk cloth when she was a girl, and it did not have any special magic attached to it.
The fact that it has been preserved intact to this day without any dust on it can only be because Hu Yun has been caring for it subconsciously.
"When you came to Luojing City and became a teacher at Longmen Academy, I was quite happy for you," Xu Man sighed again and continued, "I thought you had fulfilled your wish. Breaking away from the laws of Jiange, he went his own way, became famous in the Daqi Dynasty, and gained the respect of the world. Well, as you said back then, he slapped the master in the face.
"I didn't expect that. There were so many things that happened in the middle that I didn't know about.
“Well, if there hadn’t been that ideological battle between you and Master, if you were willing to bow to Master temporarily, if I had asked for a favor for you, if if you could always stay Jiange, stay with me, that would be great."
"Yes, that would be great." Hu Yun smiled stupidly, looked at her, and repeated her words.
Then he lowered his head, looked at his bruised body, and sighed softly, "It's a pity, I can't turn back time, and I'm about to die. This thing of spirit, it really doesn't pay to kill people." ."
Hu Yun is not a saint or a strong person after all.
Gu Xu’s magic "Sui" caused fatal damage to his internal organs.
Just now it was the power from the Mang Mountain Ghost King that maintained his vitality and combat effectiveness.
Now that he has cut off the connection with the Ghost King of Mangshan and got rid of the control of the Ghost King of Mangshan, naturally, he has no ability to stop the passage of his life.
It’s just that he didn’t expect that he would be able to see Junior Sister Xu again on his deathbed.
This made him feel happy, regretful, and a little inferior.
"Follow me back to Jiange," Xu Man said, "There are still many treasures in the sect. I don't believe I can't save you."
Hu Yun smiled He looked at her and shook his head slightly.
"No need," he said, "A ghost and monster accomplice like me is committing a heinous crime. If you live in this world, you will be sorry for the people who died in Luojing City. Your talents and treasures should be Leave them to those who need them more.
“Actually, Junior Sister Xu, for me now, it would be the happiest thing if I could die sober and happily. It is better than living in confusion and being a puppet at the mercy of ghosts. ”
Xu Man did not refute again.
She lowered her head and silently stood up for her with her slender hands holding the sword.He arranged the dirty and tattered clothes and the bright silk flower.
"By the way, Junior Sister Xu," Hu Yun said suddenly, "Can I see your face again?"
Xu Man nodded, and then slowly opened the The gauze on the bamboo hat.
Under the gauze is a delicate and pure face.
Qiong nose, thin lips.
The eyebrows are thin, the eyes are quiet, and the facial features are picturesque.
Although she is not stunningly beautiful, coupled with her cool and neat temperament, she has a unique charm.
“You are so young,” Hu Yun sighed. “After all these years, you have not changed at all. You are still like a young girl. You are worthy of being a genius swordsman who was promoted to a saint at the age of thirty-six.
“And I am only one year older than you, but I am already a bad old man with white hair and white beard. ”
Once a practitioner is promoted to a saint, he can maintain his physical condition for a long time and will not age again until his lifespan is exhausted.
Therefore, although Xu Man has passed his sixtieth birthday, Years old, but her cheeks are still fair and smooth, without a single wrinkle.
“You are exaggerating for a young girl,” Xu Man forced out a self-deprecating smile, “At least she is a mature lady. "
"No, no," Hu Yun said with a chuckle, "In my eyes, Junior Sister Xu, you will always be the 28-year-old girl who pinned the silk flowers on for me. "
"You're talking nonsense again," the gauze on Xu Man's bamboo hat hung down again, blocking her beautiful face, "No wonder your name is Hu Yun."
Hu Yun continued to giggle.
While smiling, Xu Man knew that his life was slowly passing away. Just when he was about to close his eyes, he suddenly remembered something important.
He forced his weak body to take out a crumpled book from his robe, and stuffed it into Xu's hand.
"Junior sister, take it to that little girl for me," he said with exhaustion, "This is the new path I took after leaving the sect. It’s just that I can’t go on. That little girl still has some talent in swordsmanship. In the academy, I failed to fulfill the responsibility of a teacher and teach her the real swordsmanship. If she is willing, maybe she will be better in the future. Can try to follow this road"
His words stopped abruptly.
He has been a walking zombie for many years and finally turned into a real corpse today.< /p>
Xu Man stretched out his hand and closed his eyes for him, then stood up and looked for the "little girl" in Hu Yun's words.
Seeing the destroyed formation in the alley, he saw it. Seeing the shackles on Shi Xiaohan's hands, the looming bird seal pattern on the back of her neck, and the "Kunwu knife" thrown casually on the ground, Xu Man could roughly guess what just happened.
Her eyes first glanced at Zhao Yan, staying for a moment on her fire phoenix wings and the spear in her hand, and then fell on Shi Xiaohan.
"You are practicing."Is it for the knife?" She walked up to Shi Xiaohan and asked her.
Shi Xiaohan said "hmm" and nodded.
"Hu Yun, are you in the academy?" "Teacher?" Xu Man asked again.
Shi Xiaohan pondered for a moment, pursed her lips, and nodded again.
At this time, her energy had recovered slightly.
She clearly remembered that Hu Yun asked her to practice various basic knife skills day after day, making her panting from exhaustion and her appetite increased sharply, but he refused to teach her anything more advanced; she also clearly remembered, While Hu Yun comforted her for failing to withdraw from the "Luoshui Conference", he tricked her into the formation and wanted to turn her into a "ghost servant"
"Hu Yun should do it. "I have done a lot of things that I feel sorry for you about," Xu Man continued, "Although it was not his original intention, as his junior sister, I still want to apologize to you on his behalf. ”
Speaking of this, she bowed deeply to Shi Xiaohan.
Seeing a saint and a strong man giving such a gift to her, Shi Xiaohan was startled and almost ignored him. Xu fell on his back.
"Pavilion Master Xu, you don't have to"
"Many years ago, when Hu Yun was still young," Xu Man interrupted with a smile. After hearing her words, "He once had some different views on the concept of cultivation from the former master of Jiange, our master. At that time, he made a lot of noise and made Master very angry. Later, the master couldn't bear him anymore, so he broke his sword and expelled him from the sect. < /p>
“Well, if he hadn’t met the Ghost King of Mangshan, he might have had the opportunity to prove himself and become a strong saint.
"It's a pity that fate played a joke on him.
"I haven't read this booklet yet. But if nothing else, it records the set of sword skills he created and what he has learned throughout his life.
"Now he leaves it to you.
"In this way, you can be regarded as his only descendant and my nephew.
"If you read something you don't understand, you can write and send it to Jiange. Hu Yun's sword technique was derived from Jiange's Pingtian Sword Technique. Maybe I can help you answer some questions.
"If you are willing, you can come to Jiange to practice in the future. The high mountains and ridges of Shu are much quieter than the streets and streets of Luojing. ”
Notes
1 Excerpted from Bai Shouchang Festival Poem in Tang Qi: Red Clouds Represent Summer;,,