The next morning, everyone followed the mountain path and headed inland. It was early winter, and the cold air was pressing. He met a Jiao Fu and went up to ask. Only then did he know that they had arrived in Jiangnan. According to the path pointed out by the priest, he walked on the main road and headed towards Jiangdu. Along the way, there were more and more people. Chen Jingchou arrived at a small town, found a cloth shop, and made winter clothes for his master and everyone before heading west. After a few days, snowflakes began to fall from the sky, and the weather became colder by the day. Everyone slowly hurried along the road. Chen Fu managed to finish teaching Chen Jingchou the Ghost Valley Taoist technique along the way. After traveling for more than half a month, they finally arrived at Jiangdu (Yangzhou).
Jiangdu Prefecture stood beside the canal and was adjacent to the Yangtze River. It was the wealthiest place in Jiangnan. When everyone entered the city, they saw river ports crisscrossing, stone bridges crisscrossing, the sound of orchestras everywhere, and merchants everywhere. It was really bustling. Chen Jingchou found an inn in the city to let everyone settle down. On the second day, Chen Fu was old and weak, and he had lost all his strength. He caught a cold and fell ill from then on. Moreover, he was overworked to restore the country, and his illness worsened day by day. Chen Jingchou and the other two were anxious. Every day, they went to brew medicine and served their master to drink. After recuperating for another half a month, Chen Fu's illness gradually improved.
At noon, the sky was covered with dense clouds, the north wind blew, and heavy snow began to fall. Chen Jingchou helped his master drink the medicine and waited for him to fall asleep before walking out of the room. Feeling depressed, he braved the wind and snow as he strolled towards the street. There were few pedestrians on the road, and most of the roadside vendors had gone home to avoid the snow. Snow fell on his shoulders, his clothes turning white. Chen Jingchou couldn't help but shiver when the cold air hit him.
As he was walking, he suddenly saw a person standing on the stone bridge in front of him. He was holding a white cloth banner in his hand and was doing divination in the snow. There were a few pedestrians on the bridge, and they hurried past. Chen Jingchou was slightly surprised and slowly walked onto the bridge. That person was only in his twenties. He wore a grey robe and his clothes were thin. His head was full of snow and there was no diviner around him. Chen Jingchou stepped forward to inquire. The young man was shocked and quickly covered his face with his sleeves."Please…Please don't kill me! I'm not a demon!" Chen Jingchou was surprised. He took a few steps back and asked,""Excuse me, brother, what's wrong?”The young man turned his sleeve and revealed half of his face."" Please don't shine your divine mirror on me…" Chen Jingchou said curiously,"" Divine Mirror?..." He suddenly remembered the Kunlun Mirror on his body and hurriedly said,""I'm sorry…I, I didn't know that the Kunlun Ancient Mirror on me would make you so uncomfortable!”The young man paused for a moment and said,"So, you…you're not Yerosh's subordinate?"”"Who is Yerosh?" Chen Jingchou asked.……I've never heard of it!"
The young man's expression relaxed slightly. He let out a sigh of relief and rolled down his sleeves."He's Lord Wang Shichong, the garrison of Jiangdu. He's an Indian monk that we recently found, and he's been subduing demons and devils everywhere. As long as he's caught, he'll be killed regardless of whether he's good or bad…Yerosh also has an ancient mirror. So when I sensed the mirror on your body, I thought you were his subordinate.”As he spoke, he stretched out his sleeve to wipe the cold sweat on his forehead. His face was covered in snowflakes, making him look very funny.
Chen Jingchou thought for a moment and cupped his hands."May I ask your name?" The young man also bowed and said politely,"My surname is Lu, and my name is Zhongkai." "Oh, so it's Big Brother Lu!" Chen Jingchou said.”He immediately said his name. The two exchanged pleasantries for a while before Chen Jingchou said,""I heard from Brother Lu that you can sense ancient divine artifacts. This little brother is currently looking for three ancient items. I wonder if big brother can give this little brother a lesson?”
Lu Zhongkai said happily," Well, you've asked the right person…Alright, I'll do a divination for you!"”Chen Jingchou cupped his hands in thanks. "What is your divination?" Lu Zhongkai asked.”
" I'm looking for the Fuxi Zither, the Kongtong Seal, and the Nuwa Stone," Chen Jingchou said." Brother Lu, please divine their location."”
Lu Zhongkai was surprised when he heard that. He hesitated and said,""These three items should all be Primordial Divine Artifacts. The spiritual energy is far away, so it's difficult for me to divine their exact location…"
"Big Brother Lu, don't worry!" Chen Jingchou said. It's fine as long as you can make a rough prediction." Lu Zhongkai pondered for a while and said,"Alright, I'll try my best!"”He closed his eyes and muttered a few words before tossing out three copper coins. The three copper coins landed on a bluestone slab in front of him that had been swept clean of snow. They spun a few times before falling down. Lu Zhongkai squatted down and frowned. "How is it?" Chen Jingchou hurriedly asked. Lu Zhongkai stood up, counted with his fingers, and said,""This Fuxi Zither is ten thousand kilometers northwest of here, and it is protected by the divine power of the Ten Thousand Buddhas. The hexagram says: If you want to get it, it's harder than climbing to heaven!”When Chen Jingchou heard this, he frowned.
This time, Lu Zhongkai's face was filled with joy as he said,""The Kongtong Seal is located a thousand miles southwest, near Changsha County. The hexagram says: Chance to meet a noble person, take out the bag to get!”Chen Jingchou was delighted and secretly remembered it.
During the third divination, Lu Zhongkai looked at the hexagram and pondered for a long time. Then, he slowly stood up and shook his head."Strange, strange…this is really strange!”"Big Brother, what's so strange?" Chen Jingchou asked hurriedly.”Lu Zhongkai patted his forehead and frowned,""This Nuwa Stone, the hexagram says: Great destruction gains it, great prosperity loses it! His whereabouts were the most unpredictable, and he seemed to be following his brother…It was really difficult to understand!”Chen Jingchou was also puzzled. He could only remember Lu Zhongkai's words, thank him, and give him a silver ingot. Lu Zhongkai said,"I didn't solve the third hexagram. As for the silver taels, I'll only take half."”Chen Jingchou repeatedly gave way before he took it.
Chen Jingchou strolled back to the inn, pondering the divination along the way. Not long after, he returned to the shop and saw Tuoba Yu 'er and Yu Xiaoxue waiting in the shop. Tuoba Yu 'er smiled." Little Xue, look! The snowman is back!"”Stunned, Chen Jingchou looked down and saw that his entire body was covered in snow. His clothes were also wet, and he couldn't help but sneeze. "Brother Chen, be careful not to catch a cold. Hurry up and change your clothes!" Yu Xiaoxue hurriedly said.”Chen Jingchou returned to his room, changed into his wet clothes, and walked downstairs. Seeing Tuoba Yu 'er and Yu Xiaoxue sitting beside a table, she went over and sat down. He poured a bowl of hot tea and took a sip. He asked,"Is Master doing well?"
"I just gave the old master some medicine. He's sleeping soundly now!" Yu Xiaoxue said.”The few of them chatted for a while.
Tuoba Yu 'er looked worried." I have bad news for everyone. Kuaiji Prefecture was destroyed a few days ago. Everyone is dead!"”"Kuaiji County…was destroyed?" Chen Jingchou asked in shock.”
"Yes, I just heard it from a few merchants who passed by. The bandits in Kuaiji County had been causing trouble recently, and the imperial court had sent troops to suppress them. In the end, when Grand Tutor Yuwen's troops left, the entire city was inexplicably destroyed!”
Chen Jingchou was furious. He slammed the table, causing tea to splatter."This Grand Tutor Yuwen is too vicious! He could actually do such a tragic thing!”Tuoba Yu 'er continued," I also heard that a few days ago, Grand Tutor Yuwen's troops had already headed west. It is said that their destination is Changsha County!"”Chen Jingchou recalled Lu Zhongkai's divination and said,""Since that's the case, let's not delay. We should hurry to Changsha Prefecture!”
"But…but Master Chen's body hasn't recovered yet!" Yu Xiaoxue said.”
"How about this?" Chen Jingchou muttered,"I'll discuss this with Master. We'll leave one person here to look after him!"”
" But…" Tuoba Yu 'er said," Even if Grand Tutor Yuwen really arrives in Changsha, it won't be easy for us to snatch the God's Seal from him!"”Chen Jingchou told Tuoba Yu 'er and Yu Xiaoxue about the divination and said,""Big Brother Lu just mentioned that there would be a benefactor helping us…I want to see who the benefactor is and how he will help us find it!”
The three of them walked upstairs and arrived at Chen Fu's room. When Chen Fu heard the voice, he woke up. Chen Jingchou stepped forward to greet him." Master, I've found some clues regarding the Kongtong Seal. It's very likely that the Kongtong Seal is in Changsha County."”When Chen Fu heard this, he was delighted and was about to sit up when Chen Jingchou quickly went forward to support him.
Chen Fu said," Jingchou, the enemy is also trying their best to find the divine artifact of the Nine-Five Array. We have to find the remaining Fuxi Zither and Nuwa Stone faster than them. Since the Kongtong Seal is in Changsha, we can't delay any longer. Let's set off for Changsha immediately!"”
Chen Jingchou hurriedly said,"But…but Master's body…I want Master to rest here for a few more days."”
"The great cause of restoring the country has yet to be accomplished. How can I rest in peace?" Chen Fu said.”
"But…" Chen Jingchou said.
Chen Fu coughed a few times and said,"But what?" Hurry up and pack your luggage. Let's go!”Chen Jingchou knew that he couldn't persuade him, so he had to hire a carriage and put his master in it. Tuoba Yu 'er and Yu Xiaoxue also rode in the same carriage. He mounted his horse and headed southwest in the wind and snow.
After crossing the Yangtze River, the road was bumpy. After more than half a month, they arrived at Yuzhang County (Nanchang). Turning west, they rode fast and arrived at Changsha County a few days later. After entering the city, Chen Jingchou found an inn and settled Chen Fu down. The three of them went to the streets to inquire about the news. It had just snowed, the road was slippery, and there were few pedestrians. Chen Jingchou and the others asked the local residents and learned that there was indeed a large army stationed in the north of the city. They had also just arrived a few days ago. The few of them received the news and were about to walk back to the inn when Yu Xiaoxue suddenly pointed to the other end of the street and said,"Brother Chen! Look!" "What's wrong, Little Xue?" Chen Jingchou asked.”"That person just now…seems to be Princess Dugu!" Yu Xiaoxue said.”"Ah, you're talking about Princess Dugu who gave us the cauldron last time?" Chen Jingchou asked.”Yu Xiaoxue nodded. "Why is she here in Changsha?" Chen Jingchou asked curiously. Let's follow and take a look!"
The few of them rushed forward. Just as they turned the corner, they saw a girl dressed in gorgeous clothes standing in front of a flower stall by the roadside. Two maids were beside her, picking flowers together. Chen Jingchou walked forward and looked at the girl's side profile. It was Dugu Ningke. "Princess Dugu!" she shouted.
Dugu Ningke turned around and looked surprised, but he quickly smiled.""Ah…so it's Young Master Chen. These two must be Miss Xiaoxue and Miss Tuoba!”
"Thank you, Princess, for returning the divine cauldron to us last time!" Chen Jingchou cupped his hands and bowed.”
"Oh, Young Master Chen, you're too polite!" Dugu Ningke waved his hand.”
"I didn't expect to meet you again in Changsha County!" Chen Jingchou said.”Dugu Ningke was about to answer when Yanhong walked beside her and whispered in her ear. Dugu Ningke nodded." I'm sorry, Young Master Chen. Grand Tutor Yuwen has many ears and eyes in the city. It's not convenient to talk on the street." This evening, please come to the Cold Moon Pavilion by the river and have a good chat!”"Princess, if it's not convenient for you, we won't disturb you!" Chen Jingchou said.”" No, it's fine." Dugu Ningke quickly smiled." Actually, I have something important to tell you. Please come tonight!"”Chen Jingchou and the others thanked him and left.
When it was getting late, Chen Fu's health was not good, so he did not go with them. The three of them had no choice but to help Chen Fu sleep before coming to the Cold Moon Pavilion. He saw a small pavilion facing the river bank. The scenery in front of the pavilion was beautiful and elegant. It had two floors. Yanhong was already waiting downstairs and led everyone upstairs. The building was brightly lit and empty. There was not a single guest. The tables were stacked neatly. The princess must have graced him with her presence and booked the small attic. When he went upstairs, he saw a large white jade screen with various flower patterns painted on it. Everyone turned around the screen. The pavilion was decorated with a golden tent, red carpet, incense burner, and gorgeous furnishings. The sandalwood tables on both sides were already filled with rare delicacies and fine wine. Dugu Ningke was leaning against the carved mahogany couch. When he saw the crowd, he quickly stood up to welcome them. Everyone exchanged pleasantries for a while before Dugu Ningke invited Chen Jingchou and the others to their seats. Yanhong and Xiaoxiao waited on him.
Dugu Ningke sat in the main seat and kept persuading him. Chen Jingchou and the others tasted a bit of each dish and felt that they had never eaten such delicious food before. Dugu Ningke only moved her chopsticks slightly. Chen Jingchou ate for a while more. A few cups of wine entered his throat, and his face was already slightly red. He put down his chopsticks and asked,""Princess, what is the important matter you mentioned today?”
Dugu Ningke took the scarf and gently wiped his fingers.""The last time we parted, we agreed to curb Grand Tutor Yuwen's ambitions together.”"Yes, of course I remember!" Chen Jingchou nodded.”
"Do you know?" Dugu Ningke asked with a worried expression. Grand Tutor Yuwen had personally gone to the East Sea a while ago and obtained the Kongtong Seal!”He thought that Chen Jingchou would be shocked when he heard this. Unexpectedly, Chen Jingchou's expression remained the same as he said,""There is indeed such a thing. To be honest, we were nearby when it happened! Even the princess knows about this?" Dugu Ningke was slightly surprised. He quickly thought of something and said,""Yes, ever since I parted with you last time, I've secretly arranged for people to be scouts in his army!”"Oh, so that's how it is."”Dugu Ningke advised Chen Jingchou to wait for a while before saying,""Recently, the scouts reported that Grand Tutor Yuwen has found the whereabouts of the Nuwa Stone. A few days ago, he personally went to the Ghost Cave in the Southern Mountains to seize the Nuwa Stone!”When Chen Jingchou and the others heard this, they were shocked.
"What? He even found out the whereabouts of the Nuwa Stone?" Tuoba Yu 'er asked.”" Not only did he find the Nuwa Stone, but he also found the Fuxi Zither!" Dugu Ningke continued. Recently, he planned to send troops to the Thousand Buddha Grotto in the Hexi Desert to retrieve it!”Chen Jingchou was even more stunned." This Grand Tutor Yuwen can even find out about the Fuxi Zither in the west of the river?" he asked.”" Yes." Dugu Ningke nodded and said," I remember Young Master Chen once told me that in order to form the Nine Five Arrays, you must have the five divine artifacts of the zither, tripod, mirror, and stone." In the blink of an eye, Grand Tutor Yuwen would have three!”After saying that, she sighed softly.
"This matter is indeed very serious…" Chen Jingchou frowned.
"Princess, don't worry. We have the Shennong Cauldron that you gave us last time and the Kunlun Mirror that we just obtained!" Tuoba Yu 'er said. As long as these two divine artifacts were not taken away by him, he would never be able to list out the array formation!”
"Ah, you actually have the Kunlun mirror…" Dugu Ningke said in surprise."Strange! Shouldn't the Kunlun Mirror be…"He shook his head and said," Forget it!”Chen Jingchou did not understand.
" All in all," Dugu Ningke said," Childe Chen, it's great that you have two Divine Artifacts. I'll leave the task of protecting the Divine Artifacts to you."”
" Princess, don't worry," Chen Jingchou said." Even if I have to risk my life, I won't let Grand Tutor Yuwen take them away!"”Dugu Ningke nodded with a smile.
Everyone continued to eat for a while. Dugu Ningke said,""Actually…the reason I invited everyone here today is not to tell you the bad news!”"Then what does the princess mean?" Chen Jingchou asked curiously.”Dugu Ningke took a sip of the wine, and her cheeks were slightly red. She looked happy and said," Grand Tutor Yuwen is currently in Lingnan, but the Kongtong Seal that he seized from Donghai is in the military camp in the northern suburbs of Changsha. Only his two subordinates, Hu Lu 'an and Shangguan Zhenyuan, are left to guard it…"
Hearing this, Chen Jingchou seemed to understand and said,"" Then what does the princess mean?..." Dugu Ningke smiled." Invincible in the world. Grand Tutor Yuwen. It's the most unwise thing to fight him head-on!" However…he made a huge mistake. When he went on a long journey, he didn't bring such an important divine artifact with him. Instead, he only handed it to his subordinates for safekeeping…"
" I understand now," Tuoba Yu 'er said." Princess, you want us to take this rare opportunity to snatch the Deity's Seal back from the military camp?"”
" Impressive…" Dugu Ningke laughed." You're indeed a smart Lady Tuoba!"”
Chen Jingchou hesitated." Princess, this is a good plan, but…Grand Tutor Yuwen's camp has many soldiers, and we don't know where the Divine Seal is. It won't be easy to get it back!"”Dugu Ningke said," Childe Chen, you don't have to worry. I have Grand Tutor Yuwen's military token. The holder can enter and leave the camp at any time. You can go to the camp tomorrow afternoon. I'll think of a way to receive you from inside!"”Chen Jingchou thought for a moment and nodded."Alright, then we'll follow the princess's plan!”That night, everyone discussed the matter of seizing the seal and went their separate ways.
Early the next morning, Chen Jingchou and the others set off for the north. It was almost noon when they arrived at Grand Tutor Yuwen's camp in the suburbs. The few of them hid in the forest. Chen Jingchou climbed up the tree and looked into the camp. He saw banners covering the sun, white tents stretching into the sky, and more than ten thousand soldiers. Sentinels patrolled back and forth. It was really impervious to water. On the flag, the two words Yuwen were written. No one knew why Grand Tutor Yuwen had mobilized so many troops to Changsha with great fanfare. Looking at the red sun in the west, Chen Jingchou and the others circled to the back of the camp and took a few steps forward.
"Who are you?" the guard shouted. Move, move!" Chen Jingchou stepped forward and took out Grand Tutor Yuwen's token. When the soldier saw this, he was shocked. He quickly changed his expression and said respectfully,"Milords, this subordinate has offended you! Please come in, please come in!" Chen Jingchou and the others entered the camp and strode towards the main tent. There were several layers of wooden fences in the camp, and each layer was guarded by soldiers. The protection was very tight. Chen Jingchou thought. If not for the token in his hand, even the wind would not be able to pass through this camp.
At this moment, in the tent of the commander of the central army. Shangguan Zhenyuan and Hu Lvan were discussing in the tent. At the tent, a young girl led a maid in. Shangguan Zhenyuan was slightly surprised when he saw Dugu Ningke. He quickly put down his work and went to pay his respects to Hu Lvan.
"Generals, you've worked hard!" Dugu Ningke said. No need to be polite."
Shangguan Zhenyuan stood up straight and said," I didn't know that the princess had come to the camp. I didn't welcome you. Please forgive me!"”
"What are you talking about, Old General?" Dugu Ningke laughed. The two generals had worked hard for the past few days and were loyal to the country. They were truly worthy of admiration!”
"Princess, you're too kind. What can I do for you?" Shangguan Zhenyuan asked. Please instruct me, Princess." Dugu Ningke looked around and said,""Actually, there's nothing else. I've specially brought good wine to reward the two generals!”Shangguan Zhenyuan was stunned." It's an honor to serve the Emperor." Princess, I appreciate your kindness, but this wine…I thank you!”" General, you don't have to be so polite," Dugu Ningke advised." This is a good wine that I specially brought from my hometown. Please have a taste, General!"”"Your Highness, it's not that I don't want to receive the reward!" Shangguan Zhenyuan said. I do have important official business to attend to, so it's not convenient for me to drink! I hope the Commandery Lord will forgive me!" He refused in every way.
Dugu Ningke couldn't help but feel anxious, but his face remained calm."General Shangguan is really responsible. How about this, if anyone asks, just say that this princess gave it to you. I think no one will dare to blame you.”Who knew that no matter how Shangguan Zhenyuan tried to persuade him, he would not drink it. Dugu Ningke advised him again and again. Shangguan Zhenyuan was impatient. He bowed and said,"Princess, the military camp is an important place, not a place to play! If anything were to happen to the princess, this general would not be able to bear it. I'd better send someone to send the princess back first!”He turned around and shouted," Men!" The two soldiers outside the door agreed and walked into the tent. It seemed like they were going to chase the guests out.
Dugu Ningke's heart was burning with anxiety. He turned his eyes and came up with a plan. When the two soldiers walked to his side, he suddenly let out a cry, covered his face with his hands, and burst into tears. This time, Shangguan Zhenyuan and Hulü An immediately panicked. "You, you're too much!" Dugu Ningke cried. "I only brought wine for you out of kindness, but you…" She took out her handkerchief and kept sobbing.
Hu Lü An quickly ordered the soldiers to retreat and went forward to persuade," Princess..." Dugu Ningke turned her head away and cried even louder. Hu Lu An had no choice but to pull Shangguan Zhenyuan to the side and said," General Shangguan... the princess is the Emperor's most beloved person. Even Lord Yuwen has to give in to her. If you go against her today, I'm afraid it will be very inconvenient in the future..."
Shangguan Zhenyuan was helpless. He muttered," How annoying. I wonder why Lord Yuwen brought her to the camp?"”"Princess, please calm down!" It's your subordinate's fault!" Hu Lü An also stepped forward to comfort Dugu Ningke.""Princess, don't cry, don't cry! I'll taste the wine you've painstakingly brought!”As he spoke, he picked up the wine pot and took a few big gulps. He praised,"Good wine! Good wine!" Dugu Ningke glanced over and couldn't help but laugh in his heart. "General Shangguan, do you want to come over and have a drink?"”Forced by the situation, Shangguan Zhenyuan could only lift the wine pot. Although he was unwilling, he still took a sip. As soon as he put down the wine pot, an officer suddenly ran into the tent in a panic and reported,"Generals! Not good! Enemies are attacking!"
Chen Jingchou and the others found their way to the main tent. Although they had the token in hand, they were still seen through by the officer. They could only take out their weapons and openly charge over.
Dugu Ningke was delighted to hear the report and immediately stopped crying. "What?" Hu Lü An was shocked. How many people came?" The soldier reported the number of people who had come, their ages, and other information. "The enemy this time might be the same as the enemy at the top of Mount Tai last time. They're here for the Ten Thousand Spirit Blood!" Shangguan Zhenyuan speculated.”"Hmph, since that's the case, then I'll personally fight!" Hu Lu An said. I want to see how capable they are. I must capture them and interrogate them thoroughly!”Shangguan Zhenyuan turned his head and said,"Princess, it's dangerous here. Please leave first!"”Two soldiers escorted Dugu Ningke. Dugu Ningke pretended to be frightened and hurried out from behind the tent. Hu Lü An put on his armor and took out a gold-plated round hammer."General Shangguan, the Kongtong Seal that Lord Yuwen entrusted me with will be handed over to you to guard! Don't make any mistakes!" Shangguan Zhenyuan nodded in agreement.
Chen Jingchou and the others attacked the front of the main tent and saw that there was already a hexagonal formation in front of the tent, exactly the same as the one they had seen on Mount Tai. Just as he was about to rush into the main tent, a thunderous voice suddenly came from inside the tent."How dare you! How dare you behave atrociously in the camp of the government army!" Chen Jingchou and the others hurriedly retreated a few steps. The tent parted to the left and right, and a man in blue-gray armor walked out. He had a strange appearance. His cheekbones protruded forward, and his eyes were deeply sunken. All that was left was a black shadow. It was like a ghost, and it was extremely terrifying. Chen Jingchou and the others couldn't help but feel their hair stand on end.
Tuoba Yu 'er raised her sword and shouted,""Who are you?" Hu Lu An waved his right hand and threw the large round hammer on his shoulder onto the ground. There was a dull thud, and a one-foot-deep pit appeared on the ground. He shouted,"I am Hu Lü An, one of the two tiger generals under Lord Yuwen! I didn't go to find you, but you came to my door. Don't even think about leaving alive this time!”He lifted his giant hammer and swept it over.
Chen Jingchou and the others didn't dare to underestimate the enemy, each of them using their special skills to fight with him. Chen Jingchou used Flower Seeker in the Waves to lean forward. His sword danced in a circle as he flew towards Hu Lü An. Tuoba Yu 'er and Yu Xiaoxue followed suit. Although the round hammer was heavy, it was able to turn freely in Hu Lü An's hands. He easily deflected the attacks of the three people. Chen Jingchou attacked dozens of times, but he was still unable to get within a foot of Hulu An. Tuoba Yu 'er and Yu Xiaoxue attacked from both sides, surrounding Hu Lü An in the center. That Hu Lu An was confident, he didn't break out of the encirclement and instead guarded the door, laughing coldly and leisurely. Chen Jingchou secretly increased his strength and used the Flying Black Snow Technique. The blade of his sword turned into several rays of white light. Compared to the past, the coldness was even more intense as he stabbed dozens of times at Hulv An. Hu Lu An Quan was enveloped in sword qi. He raised his giant hammer and swung it at the sword. Suddenly, the hammer and sword clashed, and he felt a cold aura surge from the hammer.
Hu Lu An Xin was slightly shocked,"Little traitor, you still have some skills!"”His right hand tightened, and the heat from his palm went straight to the hammer handle. Chen Jingchou felt the cold air on his sword dissipate and disappear. He hurriedly withdrew his sword and leaped back. He used the Maniac Wood Violent Mist and leaped into the air. The long sword swept down from above, sending dust and sand flying everywhere. Hu Lu An raised the giant hammer high above his head, and with a wave of his hand, the hammer turned into a circle of golden light. With a few clangs and sparks flying, the two instantly exchanged dozens of moves. Chen Jingchou could not attack, and Hu Lu An was also restrained. He could not slow down and could only defend with all his might. In that split second, Tuoba Yu 'er flew up and used Starfire in the Sky. The scimitar in her hand slashed at Hulü An's waist several times. Hu Lvan was surprised and wanted to dodge sideways, but Xiao Xue had already attacked.
Hu Lü An saw that the situation was critical and suddenly raised his giant hammer. With a loud shout, ten thousand bolts of lightning flashed on the hammer. Chen Jingchou and the others felt dizzy. Just as he was hesitating, Hu Lü An flew up, bent down and swung his hammer, knocking the three of them to the ground in one move.
Chen Jingchou came back to his senses and saw Tuoba Yu 'er and Yu Xiaoxue lying on the ground, struggling to sit up. They were surrounded by soldiers holding spears, surrounding the three of them. Hu Lu An carried the giant hammer on his shoulder and stood ten feet away. He had a contemptuous expression as he said,"Humph, little rat, with such strength, you dare to rob the Great Sui army camp!”
Chen Jingchou only felt the blood in his chest churn, and he felt like vomiting. He endured the pain and said,""Damn it…if you want to kill me, then kill me. Why are you talking so much nonsense?”
Hu Lu An sneered and raised his right hand. A few soldiers came forward and lifted Chen Jingchou and the others up before sending them to kneel in a small tent. Hu Lü An sat down on the main seat in the north, raised his head, and shouted,"Speak! Who sent you here? Why did he have to go against Lord Yuwen?”
Tuoba Yu 'er spat and said,"Hmph…You still dare to ask us why?" Why don't you ask yourself what you were doing in the Devil King's Bastion?”
Hu Lü An was stunned, not understanding what was going on,"Devil King Fortress? Where was it? What does it have to do with me?"
Tuoba Yu 'er sneered and said," Hmph, since you went there back then, why don't you dare to admit it now?" Didn't you, Grand Tutor Yuwen, and an old general named Han Teng go to the Demon King Stronghold to snatch the Shennong Cauldron?”
"What a joke…Lord Yuwen, when did General Han Teng and I go to the Demon King Stronghold?" Hu Lü An asked.”"Cut the crap…If you don't tell me the truth, I won't be polite with you!"”He ordered the attendants to bring the instruments of torture. The two soldiers obeyed the order and left. Not long after, they brought back a few thick iron cudgels that were seven feet long. The cudgels were full of barbs and were extremely sharp.
"I'll ask you one last time, will you confess or not?"”
Chen Jingchou raised his head and said," If you want to kill me or cut me up, it's up to you. Don't even think about making us say a word about you, you dog thief who helped the tiger!"”
Hu Lu An was furious. He slammed the table and stood up. Just as he was about to order the torture, he suddenly felt dizzy. The sky was spinning and his body was weak. He could not stand steadily. He quickly placed his hand on the table and said,"What, what's going on?”"Bastard, I understand now…It's the wine…The wine just now was poisoned!"”Chen Jingchou gave Tuoba Yu 'er and Yu Xiaoxue a look. The three of them leaped up and knocked down the soldiers behind them in a few moves. Hu Lu An barely managed to hold on. Just as he was about to take out his giant hammer to meet the enemy, his eyes suddenly rolled back and he fell to the ground. When Chen Jingchou went over to take a look, Hu Lu 'an was already foaming at the mouth and unconscious. At this moment, the camp was in chaos, the soldiers were rushing into the tent like a tide. Chen Jingchou and the others did not dare to delay any longer. They left Hu Lü An behind, took back their weapons, cut down a few guards in front of the tent, and rushed into the main tent.
Shangguan Zhenyuan stood alone in the tent. The medicine in his body had also started to take effect. He felt his head heavy and his limbs weak. Seeing Chen Jingchou and the others rush in, he barely managed to hold on. He raised his saber and shouted,""Which bandit dares to attack my camp?”
Tuoba Yu 'er raised her sword and sneered,""Actually, it's nothing much. I just came to ask you for the Kongtong Seal!”Shangguan Zhenyuan was furious. His eyes were like fire as he swung his saber over. Chen Jingchou stepped forward to fight. He used the Goat Tendon Bone Eroding Technique and circled around Shangguan Zhenyuan a few times. His sword light danced and stabbed into the circle. Shangguan Zhenyuan stood up with rapt attention, but his hands and feet were slow and his footwork was not good. In less than ten rounds, danger had already appeared one after another. After fighting for a while, Chen Jingchou's sword came slashing at him. He couldn't dodge in time, and a gaping wound appeared on his left arm, causing blood to gush out. Shangguan Zhenyuan was secretly shocked. He thought, Although my death today is not worth regretting, if this divine seal is snatched away, how can I let down Lord Yuwen's great trust!”He immediately guarded the door and slowly retreated to the corner of the tent. Using all his strength, he forced Chen Jingchou and the others back a few steps. His left hand hurriedly pulled on the weapon rack. Suddenly, there was a loud bang, and dust flew everywhere. A hole appeared under Shangguan Zhenyuan's feet, and his body fell straight down.
Chen Jingchou waited for the dust to disperse before leaping to the side of the cave. He bent down to take a look and saw that the cave was pitch black."Damn it! Let's chase after them!" He tore down a piece of tent and wrapped it around the half spear. He poured oil on it and lit it up as a torch. Seeing that the soldiers had already broken into the tent, the three of them jumped into the cave.
The wind whistled beside his ears and not long after, he felt his feet go numb and he was already at the bottom of the cave. Chen Jingchou raised his torch and identified the route. The three of them chased after him. Unexpectedly, the secret passage was full of twists and turns, and there were many traps at the corners. Tuoba Yu 'er was a little faster and accidentally stepped on the mechanism. Thousands of arrows shot out from the stone walls on both sides. If Chen Jingchou hadn't saved her in time, she would have been shot through the chest and abdomen. The three of them were secretly shocked. They carefully walked forward. After chasing for more than two hours, they did not even see Shangguan Zhenyuan's shadow.
The few of them quickened their pace and turned a corner. Suddenly, they saw a trace of light ahead. Chen Jingchou and the others rushed forward and vaguely saw the exit of the secret passage. A young girl was standing beside the cave entrance, and a person was lying on the ground beside her, motionless. Chen Jingchou walked over to take a look and exclaimed,""Princess! Why is it you?" "You're finally here, Childe Chen!" Dugu Ningke laughed.”Tuoba Yu 'er looked at the person on the ground and said,""Princess, what's going on…Isn't that the general from earlier?”" Yes, yes…" Dugu Ningke said." I was hiding in the tunnel just now. I was about to leave the cave when I found that he was seriously injured. He fell to the ground and died. I don't know why he died here."”Chen Jingchou leaned over to examine Shangguan Zhenyuan. Other than a sword sore on his arm, there were no other wounds. However, all the bones in his body were shattered, and he lay limply on the ground like mud. His death was very strange. Chen Jingchou was astonished. For a moment, he could not understand who had such divine power to kill like this. He took the Kongtong Seal from Shangguan Zhenyuan and retreated a few steps.
" Young Master Chen," Dugu Ningke said with a smile," I'll leave this Divine Seal to you in the future!"”
"Thank you, Princess. If it weren't for your secret help, we wouldn't even be able to leave this camp, let alone get the Deity Seal!" Chen Jingchou said.”
"Young Master Chen, you're welcome!" Dugu Ningke waved his hand.”"Right, Childe Chen…Where are you going next?"”"Since Grand Tutor Yuwen has gone to the Southern Mountains to look for the Nuwa Stone, I think we should go look for the Fuxi Zither first," said Chen Jingchou.”
" The Fuxi Zither is in the Grotto of Dunhuang on the west side of the river," Dugu Ningke said." You must pass through the capital city if you want to go north. Do you want to go back to the capital city with me?"”"Ah, to Beijing?" Yu Xiaoxue asked.……”"We can discuss it together!" Dugu Ningke said with a smile. How could he beat Grand Tutor Yuwen to the Fuxi Zither?”
"Princess, your suggestion is very good…but my master is recuperating in Changsha City. I'm afraid it's very inconvenient!" Chen Jingchou hesitated.”
" I see…" Dugu Ningke said." What does it matter?" Childe Chen, why don't you bring your old master to the capital as well? Wouldn't it be better to rest in my residence?”
"Princess, thank you…but…" Chen Jingchou said.
"Young Master Chen, why are you being so polite with me?" Dugu Ningke asked with a smile.”
"Thank you, Princess!" Chen Jingchou said. Master hasn't been in good health recently. It might not be convenient for him to travel now. I want to wait for Master's health to recover before taking the road north. I can't travel with the princess anymore."
"That's good…" Dugu Ningke nodded and took out a token."I'll also give you this Wu Pass Token. This way, you can freely pass through Wu Pass on your way to the capital.”
"Thank you so much, Princess!" Chen Jingchou took it and said.”
" You're welcome," Dugu Ningke said." Then we'll part ways here for now. When you arrive in the capital, come directly to the Dugu Manor to find me. See you then!"”After bidding farewell to everyone, he left the secret passage first.
Chen Jingchou and the others also walked out of the secret passage, only to see that the exit was covered by green grass, making it extremely difficult to discover from the outside. Outside, they were halfway up the mountain, and they could faintly hear the noise of the military camp. Turning around the hill and looking down, not far from the military camp, the camp was still in chaos. The army horses were black like ants, running back and forth, searching for assassins. The three of them hurriedly descended the mountain and returned to Changsha City. He entered the guest shop and entered Chen Fu's room. Chen Fu was standing in front of the window sill and asked,"Jingchou, where have you been today?”
Chen Jingchou's face lit up with joy as he said,""Master, we went to the camp of the government army north of Changsha City and even seized the Kongtong Seal!”"Kongtong Seal?" Chen Fu was shocked. The Kongtong Seal of the Nine-Five Array?" "That's right, Master!" Chen Jingchou said.”He took out the Kongtong Seal and told him everything that had happened.
Chen Fu was also delighted. He stroked his white beard and said slowly,"I see…I didn't expect that there would be such a righteous woman among the people of Sui. It's really rare!”
"Master…" Chen Jingchou hesitated for a moment.
"What is it?" Chen Fu asked.
"I-I want to return this Kongtong Seal to the Di Tribe Queen first. May I?" Chen Jingchou said.”
"Return it to the Queen…What Queen?" Chen Fu asked.”
" Old Master," Tuoba Yu 'er said," because of my mistake, the Di people suffered a great calamity…Ah Chou and I promised their queen that once we found the divine seal, we would immediately return it so that they could recover their former appearance.”
Chen Fu's face sank, and he said,"Hmph, you're not allowed!" This old man doesn't agree!" "Master, b-but that Divine Seal was originally theirs…" Chen Jingchou said.
" If I say I can't, then I can't…" Chen Fu said." My Great Chen Empire's great cause of restoring the country is a hundred times more important than the agreement between you and that demon!"”
"Master…but disciple…" Chen Jingchou said."Jingchou, this old man orders you to immediately hand over the divine seal to this old man and let this old man take care of it personally! Don't mention this matter again!" Chen Jingchou saw that his master was angry and did not dare to say anything more. However, he did not know whether he should hand over the Divine Seal or not. He felt conflicted and glanced at Tuoba Yu 'er. Tuoba Yu 'er lowered her eyebrows." Ah Chou, give the Deity's Seal to your master. We can talk about the Queen later!"”Chen Jingchou hesitated for a moment before handing the Deity Seal to Chen Fu. Chen Fu put away the divine seal, and his expression eased slightly. He was delighted.
A few days later, Chen Jingchou informed Chen Fu that Dugu Ningke had invited everyone to the capital. Chen Fu said," This old man's illness is almost healed, so there's no need to worry. Since that's the case-alright, let's set off early tomorrow morning!"”They both went to bed early that night.
Early the next morning, Chen Jingchou hired a mule cart and everyone headed north. A few days later, they arrived at the bank of the river. The river was wide and vast, rolling eastward without end. Chen Jingchou paid the fare and sent the coachman back. The group changed their route and took a boat through Jiangxia County (Wu Han) to the north of the Han River. Arriving at Xiangyang, he landed and headed northwest again. In a few days, he reached Wuguan. Chen Jingchou took out his token. The guard did not ask any further and let them pass.
This Guanzhong area restrained the Central Plains and was easy to defend but difficult to attack. It had always been a place that militarists fought for. When Chen Jingchou and the others entered the pass, they saw thousands of miles of fertile land and crisscrossed fields. Although it was midwinter, smoke curled up everywhere, creating a peaceful scene. After walking for more than ten days, they arrived at Chang 'an. Ever since the Zhou, Qin, and Han Dynasties, Chang 'an had been the capital of all emperors. People said that it was the first capital of China since ancient times.”As expected, it lived up to its reputation! Everyone walked on the wide streets and saw that the city was bustling with people. The buildings were magnificent, and the sound of orchestras could be heard everywhere. There were pools of wine and forests of meat. It was a luxurious atmosphere.
"The outside world is already in chaos, but the people of the capital are still enjoying themselves all day long, as if there is nothing to worry about…" Tuoba Yu 'er said."It is probably because of this that the people of the Imperial Court do not know the pain of the people of the world!”Chen Jingchou nodded slightly.
After asking for the location of King Dugu's Mansion, they passed through Liren City (West City) and headed northwest. After crossing more than ten streets, they finally arrived at the entrance of King Dugu's Mansion after more than an hour. Chen Jingchou stepped forward and reported his name, then let the guard go in to report.
Not long after, the soldier turned around and came out, saying that the princess had invited him urgently. He bowed and led everyone in, and then passed through a few red painted doors. A maid came up to greet him, but it was bright red. Yanhong stepped forward and bowed to everyone. She smiled and said,"Childe Chen, why are you only here today? The princess has been waiting for the four of you for a long time.”He led the way. Chen Jingchou and the others followed behind him. They walked into a long corridor and passed through a moonlit door in the time it took to brew a cup of tea. It turned out to be a garden. The scenery in the garden was quiet, with pavilions, waterside pavilions, and mountain rocks. Chen Jingchou and the others followed Yanhong along the stone path and walked inside. They could smell the faint fragrance of plum blossoms. There were several plum blossoms beside him, their branches slanted and standing tall. After a few more steps, the elegant sound of a zither came from the small pavilion in front of them. The tune was clear, bright, and melodious. It was like flowing clouds and flowing water, and the sky was clear after the rain, making people feel relaxed and happy. Yanhong led everyone to the small pavilion behind the garden and went in to report.
A moment later, Yanhong invited everyone into the pavilion. Chen Jingchou and the others walked in and saw that the furnishings in the room were quite elegant. The floor was covered with a red carpet with golden flowers on it. Incense was burning on both sides, and the room was filled with a strange fragrance. Carved beams and painted buildings were extremely rich and noble. "Childe Chen, you're finally here!" Xiao Xiao came up and bowed.”He asked everyone to sit down and wait. Not long after, the zither music stopped, and Dugu Ningke came out of the room with a smile on his face."Ah, Young Master Chen, Old Master! I'm so glad you're finally here!" Chen Jingchou and the others hurriedly stood up to thank him.
Dugu Ningke asked everyone to sit down, and he also sat in the main seat in the north. Xiaoxiao served him tea.
Yu Xiaoxue said,"Sister Dugu, your capital is really lively and bustling!"”"Miss Snowy, do you like the capital?" Dugu Ningke asked with a smile.”
"I like it very much. This is my first time in Beijing. So are Brother Chen and Sister Yu 'Er."”
After exchanging greetings, Dugu Ningke turned around and said,""Teacher Chen's father came all the way from Changsha.”"This old man's health has been good recently. Thank you for your concern, Lady Dugu!" Chen Fu said.”
Chen Jingchou stood up." Princess, Master followed us all the way to the capital. He's actually very tired…I want to go to Liren City to find an inn so that Master can rest."”Upon hearing this, Dugu Ningke put down the teacup in his hand and reprimanded,""Young Master Chen, what are you saying? But do you think that I, a young princess, only know how to live like a prince and not know how to treat guests?”
"No…Princess, please don't misunderstand. That's not what I meant!" Chen Jingchou hurriedly said.”
"That's good…" Dugu Ningke smiled and turned around."Yanhong, Xiaoxiao!" The two maids answered. " Go and prepare a few good guest rooms," Dugu Ningke ordered." These friends will be staying here for a long time!"”Yanhong and Xiaoxiao agreed.
"Princess Ning Ke, this isn't very convenient, is it?" Chen Jingchou asked.
Dugu Ningke took a sip of tea and smiled.""It's okay, it's okay…Father went to Jiangnan with His Majesty. Anyway, there won't be any guests coming to visit recently. Don't worry!"
"This…This is too much of a bother to you!" Chen Fu said. This old man is truly sorry."
"What are you talking about, Old Master Chen?" Dugu Ningke hurriedly smiled. If you don't mind my shabby house, it would be my greatest honor.”Chen Jingchou and the others felt that it was difficult to refuse the kindness and could only agree.
Dugu Ningke suddenly remembered something and said,""Right, Childe Chen…I've already sent someone to Dunhuang to investigate the Fuxi Zither. There should be good news in the next few days.”Chen Jingchou thanked him. Dugu Ningke had arranged a feast to entertain everyone. That night, Chen Jingchou and the others stayed in King Dugu's residence.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]