Yangzhou Snitch (1)
Yangzhou Snitch (1)
The three of them walked towards the Ghost Cave. The sky was already slightly bright. On the mountain, there was an obvious cave. Two Miao people stood in front of the entrance, guarding it strictly.
The three of them walked to the entrance of the cave. The two Miao guards raised their scimitars and said,""Who are you?"
Before Li Xiaoyao could make a move, Zhao Ling 'er calmly stepped forward and said,""I'm Zhao Ling 'er, and I'm here to ask for someone from you. Quickly release Sister Meng Ci!”
To Li Xiao Yao's surprise, the two Miao guards didn't put him in a difficult position and said,"Young Lady, please follow me in. Elder has been waiting for you for a long time.”
Zhao Ling 'er stepped into the cave. Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru were about to follow her when the two guards stopped them. One of them said,""Non-Miao people are not allowed to approach!"
"Ridiculous! Get out of my way!" Li Xiaoyao said angrily.”
"Hmph, trespassers will be killed without mercy!"
The blades in the hands of the two Miao people came slashing at them. Li Xiaoyao did not even look at them. He swung his sword left and right, forcing the two back a few steps. Zhao Ling 'er turned around and looked at them with a bitter smile."You can't stop him. Let them come in with me.”
The two guards struggled to get up and didn't dare to argue anymore. They said,""Yes."
"You're asking for it the hard way!" Lin Yueru sneered.”
Under the lead of the guards, Zhao Ling 'er and the others gradually entered the depths of the Yin Ghost Mountain. It turned out that many tunnels had been dug out in this mountain. What was rare was that each tunnel was extremely spacious.
The group arrived at a spacious hall. A large iron cage hung high up on the altar in front of them. Han Mengci was locked in the iron cage, and there was another large iron cage next to it. It was unknown what use it had.
Zhao Ling 'er quickly rushed forward and said,""Sister Meng Ci!"
"Ling 'er, be careful! There's an ambush!" Han Mengci shouted.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a heavy rumbling sound came from behind him. Li Xiaoyao turned around and saw that the two heavy, snow-white stone doors at the entrance to the hall had slowly closed. Li Xiaoyao turned around to push the stone door, but it didn't budge at all.
Everyone was locked in here. What did the Miao people want to do?
"Miss Meng Ci, we'll get you out." Li Xiaoyao walked to the iron cage and said.”
" Don't come over," Han Mengci said." Stay away from me. This iron cage…"
Before she could finish her sentence, another stone door slowly opened. A white-bearded old man in a snow-white robe, escorted by a few Miao guards, stepped into the room with a dignified manner. He walked to Li Xiao Yao and the others, bowed respectfully and said,"Greetings, Princess."
Li Xiao Yao didn't expect them to be so polite and was stunned for a moment.
Zhao Ling 'er was not surprised and said,"Let Sister Meng Ci go!"”
"Please be at ease, Your Highness. As long as Your Highness returns, we won't make things difficult for anyone else."”
Zhao Ling 'er laughed coldly." I know you've captured Sister Meng Ci to force me to come forward. Now that I'm here, are you still not going to let her go?"”
" I deserve to die," the old man said." For the sake of the great matter, I had no choice but to use force. This crime of ten thousand deaths will be dealt with by the princess when we return to Miaojiang."”
Li Xiaoyao couldn't help but say," Give up on this idea. Ling 'er will never go with you!"”
"Your Highness, please!" The old man said.”
Zhao Ling 'er was a little hesitant. Li Xiaoyao was surprised to see her expression.
"Ling 'Er, you don't want to go with them, do you?”
Unexpectedly, Zhao Ling 'er's expression was conflicted as she said,""This…I…"
Li Xiao Yao could not believe it. The old man said,"Your Highness, this old minister has offended you!”
With that, he stomped his foot and the iron cage above Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru fell down! The heavy iron cage instantly fell to the ground, tightening the original mechanism on the floor and forming an iron cage!
"Brother Xiaoyao! Sister Lin!" Zhao Ling 'er was shocked. She turned to the old man and said,"You…you guys…"
Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru regretted their carelessness. When they saw the iron cage hanging in the air, they thought that they would be captured first before they could be locked in there. They did not expect that the iron cage could also be used as a mechanism to seal them.
"Your Highness," said the old man,"we have no other choice.”
Zhao Ling 'er's face was pale as she said," I…I'll go with you. Let them go."”
"Even if Your Highness requests it now, I can't agree to it."”
"Why?" Zhao Ling 'er asked anxiously. I'll let you go. Isn't that enough?”
The old man said," This young man has repeatedly obstructed us from taking the princess away. Logically speaking…we can't let him live. If we let him go, it's hard to guarantee that there won't be any more accidents in the future." Your Highness, please understand that I have no choice.”
Zhao Ling 'er looked at the old man and said firmly,""If you dare to hurt them, I…I will kill myself immediately. No one can take me away!”
The old man said," Your Highness, you must not. Please do not force me to kill them immediately to end the princess's thoughts!"”
"You don't believe that I'll commit suicide?" Zhao Ling 'er looked at him and said. Do you want to try?"
The old man saw Zhao Ling 'er's limpid eyes, which were cold and imposing, and couldn't help but be discouraged. He said,"This…Sigh! Princess, you…are you going to abandon the king for this common man? The king…he had been looking forward to seeing his daughter for the last time!”
"The last time?" Zhao Ling 'er was shocked.”
"His Majesty is seriously ill and has not much time left," said the old man. The King said…the thing he regretted the most in his life was asking the Witch Empress to send someone to take you away from the Miao Territory…The King had been missing you every day these days, so he had gone through great trouble to see you at this moment of death. I hope that you will return to his side on account of your father-daughter relationship.”
Zhao Ling 'er hesitated and took a step back.""Then…can he help me find my mother?”
The old man was a little uncertain." This…The Witch Empress has been missing for ten years. I'm afraid…I'm afraid she's long gone." Besides…"
"Besides what?" Zhao Ling 'er asked.
Seeing the old man stutter, Zhao Ling 'er became anxious and said,"Say it!"
"Forgive me for being blunt," the old man said. If Your Highness knew the Witch Empress's…identity, you would understand why the King…Hmm, why he treated the Witch Empress like that…"
"I know!" Zhao Ling 'er's pretty face raised as she said.”
"What is it? Princess, how…how did you know?”
Zhao Ling 'er revealed a sorrowful expression and said,""I should say that I already know. I didn't know about it before.”
After saying that, Zhao Ling 'er became firm again. She looked at the old man and said,"What if I'm like Mother? Will you treat me the same way you treated my mother?”
The old man was stunned for a long time before he said,"This…This is naturally different!" You are the King's only flesh and blood, and also the only heir of our Hei Miao tribe who is qualified to inherit the throne. No matter what…what kind of mutation you have, you are still the King's heir, and you all have the King's blood flowing in your veins.”
Li Xiaoyao was extremely suspicious. What did Zhao Ling 'er mean by " I'm the same as my mother "? Wasn't she just a Miao person? What other so-called " mutation "? Why was this "mutation" so great that Zhao Ling 'er had to say it out loud at this time and place?
Li Xiao Yao was extremely intelligent. With his wit, he could connect all the things that had happened around him and perhaps he could figure out a general idea. However, perhaps his concern made him confused. When it came to Zhao Ling 'er, he was not so rational. At this moment, he could only have a belly full of questions and anxiety.
"I'll go with you…" Zhao Ling 'er sighed softly.
"No!" Li Xiaoyao shouted. Ling 'er, they must be lying to you…"
"Princess, it's not that I don't want to let her go, but this matter is too important. I can't let my guard down." If I let this kid go and he comes to stop me, I can't take this risk!”
Zhao Ling 'er looked at Li Xiaoyao and the others before turning back to Elder Shi and said,""As long as you promise not to attack them in the future, I'll go with you. If I don't leave, no one can persuade me!”
"Ling Er…" Li Xiaoyao said.
The old man thought for a while and finally made up his mind. He said,"As long as they don't obstruct me, I'm willing to spare their lives.”
"Let him out first. I want to talk to him in private."”
The old man was a little worried. Zhao Ling 'er said,"Don't worry, I'll keep my word and won't slip away.”
"No, this subordinate isn't worried about this.”
Elder Shi waved his hand, and two guards immediately stepped forward. Lin Yueru secretly planned to knock them down after they opened the cage. Unexpectedly, the other party stopped when he was three steps away from the iron cage. A white smoke came out of his hand. Lin Yueru and Li Xiaoyao smelled the white smoke and immediately lost their minds.
Li Xiaoyao felt a strange warmth in his body, as if a stream of warm spring water was slowly flowing into his eight extraordinary meridians, making him feel extremely comfortable.
He didn't know what had happened to him, but he vaguely heard Zhao Ling 'er say in his ear,""Brother Xiaoyao, you called me master before. Now, I can return the favor! I used the Demon Eating Insect to absorb the inner strength of the Red Ghost King for hundreds of years. Elder Shi taught me how to refine a demon into an insect. I've already transferred the Demon Eating Insect that absorbed the inner strength of the Red Ghost King into your body. From now on…you probably won't meet many opponents.”
Zhao Ling 'er paused for a moment and said in a low voice,"But…sigh, you should go home! Miaojiang…I can go alone. You and Sister Lin can go back and get married and have children…"
Zhao Ling 'er's tears fell on Li Xiaoyao's face. Li Xiaoyao tried his best to get up and hug her, saying," I'm not going back. I want to follow you to the ends of the earth." I don't want to marry anyone. I only want you in this world!
However, he could not even move his eyelids.
Zhao Ling 'er cried for a while and held Li Xiaoyao's hand tightly. She rubbed her face and said,""I…sigh! Why would I…sigh, ill-fated, you really are my ill-fated! I…I can't be with you, just like how my mother can't be with my father. This is my fate, but…but I don't hate or complain. Brother Xiaoyao, you…you gave me the best gift. I'm already satisfied. I…I have yours…sigh!”
Zhao Ling 'er's warm tears wet Li Xiaoyao's hand. Li Xiaoyao could feel her gently kissing his palm. After that, Li Xiaoyao didn't know anything else.
When Li Xiaoyao regained consciousness, he felt a chill run down his spine. The first thing he thought about was Zhao Ling 'er's sorrowful words. He felt like he was dreaming, but he wasn't sure. Then he heard someone beside him call out anxiously,"Father, please treat Young Master Li first. He hasn't woken up yet. I don't know what happened to him!”
It was Han Mengci's voice. Following that, another woman anxiously said,""Fairy Doctor, please save Big Brother Li!”
It was Lin Yueru's plea. Li Xiaoyao thought to himself,""I've never heard her beg for help in my life. This is new.”
"You're all awake, why is Young Hero Li still unconscious?" Fairy Doctor Han asked. Is he seriously injured?"
" It must be," Lin Yu 'eru said anxiously." His face is pale and green. Perhaps he's been poisoned." Fairy Doctor Han, please save him. I'll promise you anything…"
The more Li Xiaoyao listened, the more surprised he became. He really suspected that Lin Yueru had not said those words. He did not notice that the Fairy Doctor Han had already grabbed his wrist and checked his pulse. He found that Li Xiaoyao had already woken up, but he was still pretending to be dead.
Fairy Doctor Han smiled bitterly and deliberately said,"Young Hero Li is fine…"
"You call this nothing serious?" Lin Yueru shouted.”
Fairy Doctor Han said," There is a way to wake Young Hero Li up. We can stimulate his Yingxiang, Hejiao, and Futu acupoints. Then, he will wake up. And, we need a woman to do it."”
"This…this method…?" Han Mengci asked in confusion.”
"Really?" Lin Yueru asked. Then…I'll try."
Before Li Xiaoyao could figure out where the three acupoints were, Lin Yueru pinched his nose and shouted,""Keep pretending, keep pretending!"
Li Xiaoyao shouted,"Let…let go…wah!"”
"You're awake, right?" Fairy Doctor Han smiled.”
Li Xiao Yao quickly stood up and smiled bitterly."I'm awake. Fairy Doctor Han's miraculous hands are rare in the world.”
"Stop pretending to be dead!" Lin Yueru said angrily. Humph!"
Thinking of how anxious she was when he was unconscious, Li Xiaoyao felt a little embarrassed and did not fight with her. He could only smile bitterly.
"The demonic corpses of the Black Water and White River have been eradicated. Young Master Li, Miss Lin, you are really the benefactors of both places." Oh right…where's Lady Zhao?"
Li Xiaoyao's heart sank when he heard this. Lin Yueru said,""She…she left with the Miao people to save us.”
"What is it? Those Miao people…why would Lady Zhao travel with them?”
" But those Miao people call her Princess and are very respectful to her," Lin Yu 'eru said." I think…maybe it's not what we were worried about."”
The Fairy Doctor Han thought about it in astonishment and said with another meaning,"Sigh! There are many things that Lady Zhao doesn't want to involve others in, and she has already taken responsibility for them…Young Hero Li, do you want to go find Lady Zhao again?”
"I won't let her leave me!" Li Xiaoyao said firmly.”
Fairy Doctor Han revealed a relieved smile and said,"Haha…then I'm relieved. I believe that you and Miss Zhao are still fated!”
"Thank you, Senior. We'll take our leave then."”
" Wait a minute," Fairy Doctor Han said." Young Hero Li, I checked your pulse just now and found that... your internal energy has suddenly increased to an unbelievable level. What's going on?"”
When Li Xiaoyao heard this, he didn't feel any joy. It seemed that what he heard when he was unconscious was true. Zhao Ling 'er wanted him to be with Lin Yueru? Why?
Seeing that Li Xiaoyao was silent, Fairy Doctor Han didn't ask any more questions. She could only say,"Young hero, it's not convenient for you to reveal it, so I won't force you. Please take care of yourself on the way.”
"Mmm, we'll meet again!" Lin Yueru said.”
Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru left White River Village and headed southwest. Along the way, Li Xiaoyao kept thinking about what Zhao Ling 'er had said when he was unconscious. What did she mean?
He didn't notice that Lin Yueru had been following him. After a long time, Li Xiaoyao finally remembered."Why did Lin Yueru follow me?”
Li Xiaoyao turned around and said to Lin Yueru,"" Sister Yueru, go home!"
"Why?" Lin Yueru asked.
"I left my hometown to escort Ling 'er to Miao Jiang," Li Xiaoyao said. " Now, Ling 'er has been taken away by the Miao people. Although…she is willing, I can't just leave her like this. I still have to make a trip to Miaojiang to see Ling' er's mother.”
"Why would she want to see her mother?" Lin Yueru asked in annoyance.”
"I've already promised my aunt that I'll propose marriage to her."”
" You…You said that in front of me?" Lin Yueru said angrily." What about me?" What am I?"
Li Xiaoyao was stunned. After a while, he sighed,""Joust For A Spouse is a misunderstanding. This matter…I have already said it many times. Sister Yue Ru, you don't have to travel with me anymore. Go home!”
"No!" Lin Yueru bit her lip and said.”
"But…"
"You can't control me if I don't go home!" Lin Yueru said. Do you think I'm following you? Don't be so smug. I love to leave home and walk around. It has nothing to do with you! From now on, the two of us are just on the way. I can walk as long as I want. It's none of your business!”
Li Xiao Yao was forced to smile bitterly at her temper and could only say,""You…Sigh, I think you should go back.”
Lin Yueru took a few quick steps forward and said,""It's my business when I want to go back! Why do you care about other passengers? What a joke! Humph!"
Looking at her back view, Li Xiaoyao had mixed feelings.
He thought about how Lin Yueru had snuck home to get Zhao Ling 'er's medicine and brought along an extra bag. Had she already decided to travel with him, leave home, and go on a path that she did not know about?
Along the way, she was always at the forefront of the fierce battle and never allowed him to take half a step back. The two of them worked together to resist the enemy and kill the enemy. Her courage had long made Li Xiaoyao admire her from the bottom of his heart. Although he loved to bicker with her, he knew that Lin Yu 'eru was not the pampered daughter he had imagined. She was a fiery and evil person, which was why she would risk her life to get ahead of the enemy.
If a man with such a personality were to appear, Li Xiao Yao would definitely treat him as his confidant and become his brother. If they were husband and wife, they would definitely respect her as a guest and accompany her through the martial arts world for life.
Although Lin Yueru didn't say it, it was impossible for Li Xiaoyao not to be touched by her devotion to him.
However, Li Xiaoyao and Ling 'er had sworn an oath of alliance. He knew that Ling' er needed his protection more than Yue Ru, so he couldn't live without him. He also knew that he could not give up Ling 'er and choose Yueru. At this moment, his heart was filled with regret and conflict.
The two of them did not speak for a long time. After walking for a long time, they saw a public stone table and chair resting area beside the official road. A woman in Miao attire sat in it, her eyes sizing up the passersby.
Upon seeing the Miao people, Li Xiao Yao couldn't help but feel nervous. He secretly thought that he had to be careful.
Lin Yueru walked in front. When she saw this beautiful Miao woman, her heart skipped a beat. She stood by the side of the road and waited for Li Xiaoyao.
Li Xiaoyao stepped forward and exchanged a look with Lin Yueru. Unexpectedly, the Miao woman had already walked forward and asked with a smile,""Little brother, may I ask, how do we get to Yangzhou City?”
Li Xiaoyao heard her gentle and charming voice, and her accent was not quite like the Miao people he had seen before. His wariness dropped a little, and he said,"Uh, I'm really sorry. We were just about to ask this question.”
"Oh, I'm sorry," the Miao woman said with a smile.”
"Big sister, are you from the Miao clan?" Li Xiaoyao asked.”
"Yeah, does it look fresh?"”
"I rarely saw the Miao people in the past."”
He kept a layer of what he had seen recently to avoid unnecessary trouble.
Even though the beautiful Miao woman didn't smile, there was a hint of sweetness in her eyes."Is this your wife? Han girls are really beautiful! If I were a man, I would fall in love with everyone I see. I don't know who to choose.”
Li Xiaoyao was embarrassed." No, it's not like that. She's my sister…"
The beautiful Miao woman smiled at Lin Yu 'eru and said,""Are you his sister?"
Lin Yueru turned her face away and didn't answer. Her expression was very ugly. The beautiful Miao woman laughed so hard that her waist trembled."Ayo, do you Han girls get angry when you're called a girl? Miss, we Miao people, if we meet a heartless person, reward him with a gu. If he doesn't listen, the gu will act up and make this heartless person sick and have nightmares, or even go crazy. We must make him obedient!”
"Hmph, I'll kill whoever dares to betray me!" Lin Yueru said.”
"Miss, you're not that heartless," the beautiful Miao woman said with a smile. I said that you should learn the voodoo of the Miao people, hehe…"
The more Li Xiaoyao listened, the more he felt something was wrong. He hurriedly said,"Big sister, my sister and I still have to hurry on, so we won't delay you.”
As he spoke, he was about to pull Lin Yueru forward. Lin Yueru waved her hand and said,""I'm not going with you. Stop pulling!”
"Stop fooling around. I know you're unhappy. If you have something to say, say it slowly…" Li Xiaoyao said.
"It's none of your business whether I'm happy or not!" Lin Yueru said.”
Li Xiao Yao suddenly turned his head and saw that the Miao woman had disappeared. "How did she…disappear in the blink of an eye?" Lin Yueru asked curiously.”
As Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru were talking, he disappeared in an instant. His speed and movement technique were like that of a ghost.
Li Xiaoyao felt that something was wrong and said,""This Miao girl…could she be in cahoots with the people from the Ghost Cave?”
Lin Yueru's expression changed. It was possible. So, she blocked the road to test if Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru would continue to track Zhao Ling 'er?
"If we don't find Sister Ling 'er first, it's useless to guess blindly."”
Li Xiaoyao nodded. The two of them asked everyone they met along the way and quickly found the right way. Ever since Li Xiaoyao woke up, he felt much lighter, so he and Lin Yueru were able to travel at an exceptionally fast pace.
Yangzhou was one of the largest cities. The outline of the city could be seen from afar. Before entering the city, there was an endless stream of merchants and merchants outside the wall. There were also many trading centers outside the city, showing a prosperous scene.
There were many patrols and officers guarding the gates. Li Xiaoyao didn't think much of it at first. He thought that it was because there was a lot of money in Yangzhou City, so the security at the pass was more strict.
As soon as Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru entered the city gate, a group of people gathered in front of a large wall on the street opposite them and discussed endlessly.
Li Xiaoyao and Lin Yueru curiously went up to take a look. It was just a notice that said,""Under the orders of the Governor of Yangzhou, the city has been in a state of chaos recently. In order to investigate the suspect, the merchants are only allowed to enter the city according to the law.”
Li Xiaoyao was slightly surprised and said,"Only allowed to enter and not allowed to leave? How can this be?"
"This is ridiculous!" Lin Yueru was also surprised.”
One of the city men beside him said," There's nothing we can do about it. Yangzhou has been too restless recently. There are thieves and exterminated families everywhere. Why did the two of you choose this time to come?"
Lin Yueru said," Public security is not good. It's your officials who should arrest talents and forbid everyone from leaving the city. Isn't this treating Yangzhou City as a big prison and locking everyone up?"”
The city man smiled and left without making any comment.
"If we really want to leave, those soldiers won't be able to stop us. Ignore this notice."”
"Yeah, I'm hungry," Lin Yueru said."Let's find a place to eat something."”
Li Xiaoyao had no objections. The two of them looked for a place to stay on the street. Along the way, there were rows of shops on both sides of the street. Sharpeners, wine and meat shops, weapon shops, pawn shops, northern and southern goods, inns, all kinds of shops were bustling with people. Li Xiaoyao passed by a few small inns, but Lin Yueru ignored him. Li Xiaoyao thought that she still wanted to have fun, so he patiently accompanied her.
After walking a few streets, he saw another notice on the wall. It read: "There is a group of female cat burglars who are lawless, stealing everywhere and committing many crimes. This decree is hereby issued, and anyone who has secret information and is verified will be rewarded with 200 taels of silver.”
"Look, even women in Yangzhou City are committing crimes!" Li Xiaoyao said.”
" This is really special," Lin Yueru said." I thought female thieves only existed in Tang legends!"”
"I wonder if you are more capable or these female thieves are more capable?" Li Xiaoyao laughed.”
"If there's a chance, we can have a competition!" Lin Yueru said with a smile.”
The two of them continued to stroll around casually. Li Xiaoyao's sharp eyes saw the third big notice. It was stuck on the side wall of the medicine shop. It was very eye-catching, but it was already a little torn."The Yangzhou County Magistrate has issued an order to strictly enforce a curfew. Unauthorized personnel are prohibited from traveling at night. Violators will be detained for three days and fined thirty taels of silver. Those who do not report the situation and conceal the situation of the enemy shall be fined 300 taels of silver. Spitting and urinating were fined twenty taels of silver. Those who obstruct the official's official duties shall be fined 100 taels of silver. Gamblers were fined 300 taels of silver. If a dog injures someone, it will be fined ten taels of silver."
Li Xiaoyao was even more surprised." Sister Yueru, look. The Yangzhou County Magistrate has put up all these notices. I wonder what's the point?"”
The more Lin Yueru looked at him, the more displeased she became. It was because he could not manage anything well that he had to declare his power like this! I don't think they'll catch the Snitch!”
Li Xiaoyao said," I don't know if he can catch them, but it's really annoying to see him posting notices everywhere."”
"Anyway, we'll leave after we've rested enough. There's no need to stay in this city." That inn looks pretty good. Let's go!”
Li Xiaoyao looked in the direction she was pointing at and realized that Lin Yueru's so-called " find a place to eat " was referring to the largest restaurant and inn in Yangzhou. It stood in the most lively area in the center of the city. The people who came in and out were all rich people dressed in brocade.
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