My enemies became my companions

Chapter 393 A Hero (7k chapter extra)

About thirty or forty miles east of Yanque Town is the foothills of Zuijiang Mountain.

When Liu Zheng was a child, he often went there with his father, Old Liu, to either collect firewood or pick herbs. Most of the time, he did the latter because Old Liu was an old doctor in Yanque Town. More than ten years later, he did not follow in his father's footsteps, but went to the capital to become an apprentice and then came back to become a carpenter.

He hadn't been there for a long, long time.

The reason is simple. It's not because of any trauma left there in childhood, such as being bitten by a snake or falling down. It's just that the wood there is not good. It is soft and wet, with a lot of moisture. It is suitable for growing medicinal herbs, but not suitable for carpentry work.

However, Liu Zheng still remembers that when he was young, he could vaguely see a corner of the Huishou Cliff when he looked up in the mountains and forests. It was pointed like a lotus horn and hidden in the clouds.

Liu Zheng had not been to Zuijiangshan for a long time. Only Old Liu, the doctor, would go there once or twice from time to time to get some herbs.

Seeing that Old Liu was still collecting herbs and working as a doctor, Liu Zheng became furious.

Because he called someone this morning.

There were bruises on his forehead. The man who beat him was an attendant of Mr. Zhao. His surname was Yu. He had practiced martial arts and was a soldier. When he went out, he wore a sword on his waist, looking very impressive.

Liu Zheng was beaten up and wanted to fight back, but he endured it and apologized to the man repeatedly.

"I'm telling Mr. Zhao that if you can't collect fifty taels of silver within seven days, I'm going to ask your father to come and pay for General Hei's life!"

After Yu Hucong threw a punch, he smashed the Bodhisattva statue he had carved and walked away.

After the entourage left, Liu Zheng spat and cursed inwardly: "Black General, Black General, an old black dog! Why call him Black General? You hold a higher position than an idle official! You son of a bitch."

Just because the doctor Old Liu killed Mr. Zhao's dog, he was required to pay fifty taels of silver. Not only was he required to pay the silver, he was also lynched and beaten with thirty boards before being released.

Liu Zheng remembered that it was a bloody mess! Old Liu lay in bed for almost a month and took a lot of medicine before he could get up.

He looked at the smashed Bodhisattva statue, tears welled up in his eyes, and said bitterly:
"Let's carve a statue for the temple!"

Some time ago, a statue of Bodhisattva in a temple near Yanque Town suddenly collapsed on its own. No one touched it, and it collapsed right in front of the pilgrims, scaring everyone. It was truly a strange story.

It didn't matter to Liu Zheng whether it was a weird story or not. For carpenters like them, the most profitable orders were from temples, so he was particularly attentive and put a lot of thought into the charm. Unexpectedly, it was ruined in one day by Mr. Zhao's followers.

He was beaten and his wood was smashed. Liu Zheng couldn't get the fatal fifty taels of silver, so he could only go out to drink.

As the bad wine went down his throat, Liu Zheng became more and more drunk, and he became very angry.

Some people were chatting in the tavern.

"Have you heard that Mr. Zhao is going to marry his son in ten days or so?"

"Hey, his son is also a filthy bastard, a bastard, and he even forced a prostitute to death a few months ago."

"Miss Qianqian, what a pity, she fell into prostitution for no reason, and finally found a good man who could redeem her, but she was forced to death by Mr. Zhao."

"Keep your voice down. What if there are people from the Zhao family here?"

.........

This is the reputation of the Zhao family in Yanque Town. They started out by selling private salt. When the news spread that they had grown big, they killed and harmed other private salt dealers they knew and started a legitimate business. Later, they used their connections to buy an idle official position in the court and became very successful.

Listening to those people's nonsense, Liu Zheng started to think of some tricks.

Fifty taels of silver was too much. He only had forty taels after selling all his property. He thought he would be beaten up again. Finally, Mr. Zhao was generous and lent him dozens of taels of silver. He signed a loan note and paid back the money with interest...

Anyway, he has not yet started a family, and there is only Old Liu at home. What if he takes advantage of the fact that someone is preparing for his son's wedding and then takes action? !

Liu Zheng felt a little ruthless.

On the way home, Liu Zheng was drunk and upset, with images flashing through his mind.

When he stepped over the threshold, he was about to shout "Old Liu", but immediately stopped where he was.

It was because a young man who had never been seen before was wandering leisurely in the room with a bowl of porridge in his hand. Looking at his handsome appearance, didn't he look like that pretty boy?

Liu Zheng, who was drunk, said angrily:
"Where did this thing come from? Are you trying to steal my wife?!"

The young man stopped where he was, looked into the house in confusion, and then said, "You don't have a wife either."

Liu Zheng came back to his senses and said in a daze: "Yeah, I don't have a wife for you to steal."

"Correct."

"Then I'll let you steal it after I get married." Liu Zheng scratched his head. He was so drunk that he just remembered the key point. He turned his head and said, "No, who are you and why are you in my house?"

It can't be that he stole it from Old Liu, right? !

Bah, what is he thinking!
At this moment, Old Liu heard the noise and appeared with a cane.
He tightened his old face and said slowly:
"I found this young man in the mountains. Seeing that he didn't look well, I brought him home to entertain him..."

After the explanation, Liu Zheng finally understood the situation.

After Old Liu recovered a little, he went to Zuijiang Mountain to collect herbs. Then he met this young man in tattered clothes. He seemed to have lost his way in the mountains and his face was as pale as death.

Old Liu is a doctor with a kind heart. Although he cannot afford to give expensive herbs to people, he can still bring them back to make a bowl of porridge.

The young man's surname is Chen.

As for his name, the young man was unwilling to say.

Liu Zheng didn't want to ask. He just returned home and didn't want to eat. He just lay down on the bed and touched the wound on his face. He got angrier the more he thought about it.

He clenched his fists and pounded the bed several times!

But I was also worried that if I hit it too hard, the bed would be broken, which would cost me money and time to repair.

I went to bed that night, and woke up in anger again in the middle of the night.

Liu Zheng couldn't breathe out, so he stood up and, relying on the moonlight, strolled out to the courtyard.

There is a chicken coop in the yard, and a group of roosters are clucking in the air!
Liu Zheng scratched his ear, the anger in his heart was still there. The wound on his face was still there, and when he touched it accidentally, he hissed in pain.

The thought came up again.

He clenched his fists, anger flashed in his eyes, he grabbed the giant knife and took out the whetstone.

A crackling sound came out.

He sharpened the knife faster and faster, thinking of using the huge knife to cut off Mr. Zhao's head like cutting wood. The sporadic firelight was still dazzling in the night.

Something was moving in the darkness.

Liu Zheng suddenly saw an intangible black shadow and subconsciously drew his knife and chopped at it.

But the knife stopped in mid-air.

Liu Zheng was stunned for a moment, and when he came to his senses, his wrist had been grabbed by someone.

"What are you sharpening the knife for?" the man asked.

"It's you?" Liu Zheng was startled, thinking he had something to hide. "I'm sharpening a knife to saw wood!"

He thought he could just brush it off, but the next words from the young man surnamed Chen scared him so much that he almost peed his pants.
"Sawing wood or killing people?"

Liu Zheng was stunned, his hands shaking constantly.

"I've heard your story. Killing someone is not that easy."

The young man said slowly:

"Those who have killed people often know that killing someone is easy, but disposing of the body is very difficult, not to mention that the person you want to kill is a famous person in the town. Not to mention whether you can get away, even if you do, others will know that you killed him.

You have had some disputes and grudges with him recently. It would be easy for the government to investigate you, and then you would have to pay with your life.

If they want to execute you, they will report it to the court, but I think you will have died in prison before they execute you. The government will beat you up first and not give you any treatment, leaving you to live with insects and rats in prison. You will die in a few days."

Liu Zheng came back to his senses at this time and said in panic:

"Don't lie, I don't want to kill anyone!"

The man just smiled and let go of his hand.

.....................

The young man stayed at Liu's house for three to five days, drinking two bowls of porridge every day.

Occasionally Liu Zheng would see him walking around to stretch his muscles, and occasionally he would go out, saying that he was going to get some information, but more often than not, the young man stayed alone.

After another four or five days, the young man passed away.

Thinking of the night when he sharpened the knife, Liu Zheng breathed a sigh of relief.

In the past few days, he has sharpened the broadsword to a very sharp point.

Even if he touched it himself, his skin would be broken.

The night before Mr. Zhao married his son, Liu Zheng packed up the household belongings.

He touched the giant knife and couldn't sleep all night. He sat on the bed all night with bloodshot eyes.

The young man's words lingered in my ears like a spell.

Liu Zheng looked back at the yard. Old Liu had been a quack doctor for more than 30 years before he saved enough money to buy this yard. He grew up here and later went to Beijing to learn skills and become a carpenter.

The old mother was always cheerful, but she died early. The coffin she slept in was very small. On the day she was buried, Old Liu didn't say a word. It was not until Liu Zheng got up at night that he saw Old Liu with his head down wiping his tears.

This is his home. He is only thirty years old and has plenty of time. He can marry a good wife when he saves enough money in the future. But if he kills someone today, he will lose everything.

If you kill someone...

Then I won't be able to survive...

Old Liu can't survive...

Liu Zheng was uneasy the whole night. He didn't know what to do until he saw the long wedding procession and held a huge knife wrapped in cloth in his hand.

Should I vent my anger for the moment and go on the run from now on, or should I hold back my anger for the moment and sell my belongings to others...

The wedding procession was very long and bustling. It was Mr. Zhao's son getting married, and a large group of servants lined up holding large red lanterns.

Liu Zheng was uneasy. When he saw Master Zhao dressed in red and riding a horse, he glanced at him as if he was sweeping away a cricket.

"Xiao Liuzi, have you collected all the money?"

Young Master Zhao looked refreshed and asked with a smile.

Liu Zheng was stunned for a moment, then grasped the huge knife wrapped in cloth.

Young Master Zhao seemed to be used to seeing people being humble and stunned, and he laughed:

"You are blessed. Today is my happy day. I will ask my father to exempt you from ten taels. You just need to pay forty taels."

Forty taels?
Liu Zheng was stunned for a moment, and then he sold all the valuables in his house to make up the money.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind. Thinking that after killing someone, he would lose his home and become a vagrant like a bandit... Liu Zheng knelt on the ground and burst into tears.

"Thank you, Master Zhao, for your kindness! Thank you, Master Zhao, for sparing us!"

Liu Zheng knocked his head down, and the huge knife that he had been sharpening for more than ten days fell to the ground.

Young Master Zhao tugged at the reins and laughed heartily, as if he was watching a joke, or as if he was in high spirits having done a favor. He rode his horse off to get married, heading towards the streets filled with red lanterns.

But I saw a thin white line approaching silently.

As soon as Master Zhao noticed the thin line, he quickly pulled the reins.

Just beside my ear, I heard a servant exclaim:
"Master Zhao, Master Zhao! Someone killed the master!"

Someone killed the master?

Who?
Who dares to kill my father? !
Young Master Zhao was just shocked, and the next moment, the thin line came closer.

The sword light swirled up and down, and his head flew high up, then fell down with blood, like a chicken head chopped off with a knife.

The screams of those who witnessed the death rang out instantly, and the streets were in chaos for a moment. The servants screamed and retreated in fear, and then rushed towards the body of Master Zhao.

Liu Zheng, who was still kneeling and kowtowing, stopped. He raised his head in astonishment.

He saw a pile of big red lanterns falling to the ground due to the strong wind.

.....................

That night, Liu Zheng returned home in a daze and told everyone what had happened that day.

The old father leaned against the door, frowning for who knows how long, but he felt much more relaxed that day.

Liu Zheng was absent-minded for a long time. When he saw that there was someone missing at home, he finally came to his senses and said:
"It's him?!"

Old Liu muttered, "It was him. He came back once."

"What did he ask for, silver? How much did you give him, Dad?"

Liu Zheng was surprised and asked:
"Twenty taels?"

Old Liu shook his head.

"Twelve?"

Still shaking his head.

"Five taels, it's impossible that five taels..."

Still shaking his head.

Liu Zheng was incredulous: "He...he didn't want anything?"

"Yes..."

Old Liu tried hard to recall.
"Before leaving, the young man asked for a bowl of porridge."

Old Liu still remembers the scene when he left.

The young man was dressed in black, carrying a sword and a knife. He waved his hand and walked through the alleys...

.........

After more than 20 years,

The Liu family courtyard is still there, but old Liu has long been buried in a thin coffin. Once buried, insects have eaten their way out of the empty grave. Liu Zheng finally saved enough money to marry a good wife and had three big fat babies.

While sharpening the broadsword and teaching the child the craft, the old carpenter would often recall the past. Since then, he had never seen that man again, let alone his name.

The only thing he knew was,

A bowl of porridge,
A hero.

..............................

..............................

"The girl from the Bai family is not dead?"

In a study room in the Western Jin Dynasty, top-grade frankincense and myrrh were burning, refreshing the heart. Amid the smoke, a middle-aged man named Cao was sitting.

Not far from this man stood a scholar named Zhang Xia, with the courtesy name Changxiao. He was an aide to the Cao family. He had taken the imperial examinations three times but failed each time, so he came to the Cao family.

Zhang Xia cupped his hands and said, "Master Cao, we made many arrangements along the way, and we also took into account their changing of the route several times, but every time the people we sent out returned empty-handed. The man named Qiao died, and Yang Zuye, nicknamed the West Wind Swordsman, also died."

Cao Wenduo looked unhappy, but he finally sighed and said, "If I can't defeat the Bai family, then there is no hope for me to recover."

Cao Wenduo was originally the assistant minister of the Minister of Personnel of the Jin Dynasty. His status was second only to the Minister and he was promoted to the position by the Chen family of the Western Jin Dynasty, but was dismissed due to political struggles in the court.

Zhang Xia heard these discouraging words and immediately said, "The Bai family will not be defeated. Their current status is due to the good relationship between the Wanyan family and the Chen family. Now the Wanyan family is weak and the Bai family has already shown signs of decline. As long as we succeed in recovering the Bai family's assets for the Chen family, then Mr. Cao will definitely be able to recover."

The Bai family is almost rooted in the border area, and everyone knows that they got their start by border trade. Throughout history, collusion between officials and businessmen has always been difficult to distinguish. The reason why the Bai family can gain a firm foothold in the border is inseparable from the support of the Chen family of the Western Jin Dynasty. However, now that the Bai family has the best of both worlds, they gradually want to rely on both ends and become independent. Naturally, this makes many people in the Chen family of the Western Jin Dynasty unhappy. Therefore, the Cao family, which is also at the border, plans to defeat the Bai family and take back the property for the Chen family, so as to restore Cao Wenduo.

Cao Wenduo lowered his eyes and thought for a while, then asked:
"What's the name of the person who saved Miss Bai?"

"It is said that his name is Min Ning."

"Where did it come from?"

Zhang Xia shook his head and said, "I haven't checked it out yet. He is not from our Great Jin."

Cao Wenduo pondered for a moment and said, "The Bai family is doing a great job managing the border, and they have quite a few people in Dongyu. I think this Min Ning is a capable general they invited, otherwise he wouldn't have saved the girl from the Bai family. Let's issue a killing order and kill him. It will also help the Bai family."

Along the way, the Cao family spent countless efforts to kill the girl from the Bai family.

However, Bai Shangxi still returned to the Bai family, and all his efforts were in vain.

It is now impossible to assassinate Bai Shangxi again, and other members of the Bai family will be on guard because of this, making it even more difficult to take action. Moreover, the many hidden lines that have been buried in the Bai family for many years are no longer easy to protect.

Cao Wenduo's order to execute the enemy may have been intended to intimidate the Bai family and to save face for the Cao family. Zhang Xia, who had worked as his aide for many years, understood this better, and it was also intended to balance the anger in his heart.

"I will go and find Lord Lifeng to issue the killing order." Zhang Xia said.

"Lifeng Pavilion?" Cao Wenduo stroked his beard and said, "Good! The first pavilion of assassins."

Lifeng Pavilion is located at the border between Jin and Yu countries. It is a well-known assassin organization in the world. Its reputation is not limited to the two countries, there are also legends about it in the territory of Beidi.

The masters of Lifeng Pavilion in all generations were called Fengzhu. Now it has been passed to the thirteenth generation Fengzhu. This Fengzhu’s surname is Gu, and he is the king of assassins. As for his name, since the most important thing for a killer is to conceal his name, no one has known it so far.

Zhang Xia was about to leave, but he seemed to remember something and said:

"By the way, there is a person in Dongyu who seems to be a descendant of the Chen family. It is said that the Queen Mother of Dongyu wants to punish him for treason."

"Who?"

"Chen Yi."

...........................

...........................

As the sun was setting, unknown wild flowers grew on the muddy mountain road. Chen Yi waved his hand and threw a stone, and the wild flowers broke apart. He stretched out his hand and sucked them up, and they flew into his hand.

Maybe it's because he might meet Min Ning on the way west, or maybe it's because the continuous pursuits have made Chen Yi take death lightly, now Chen Yi is more free and easy than before.

Picking a flower, Chen Yi sniffed it gently as the storybook said.

So cool...

Except for bugs flying into my nose.

Fortunately, Chen Yi was quick-witted and grabbed the bug with one hand, threw it away casually, and rubbed the tip of his nose.

It seems that you can't pick flowers casually.

Chen Yi exhaled a few times into the sky, turned his head to look in the direction of the capital, and kept walking.

Like a bird out of a cage.

Now, if I count carefully, it has been five or six months since the Lantern Festival.

In the past few months, Chen Yi has been recuperating in the mountains within a radius of ten miles. Now, half a year has passed, and he has almost recovered. Then he came out and met Old Liu.

Chen Yi recalled his ragged appearance at that time and smiled.

He still remembered that when he had just escaped from the pursuit of the three masters, he had been looking for the woman in the dense forest.

It’s a pity that it was not found.

Otherwise, Chen Yi would most likely keep her by his side, let her accompany him all the way, train her slowly, serve her tea and water, and let her take care of all the hard work she had put in along the way.

The queen of this country lives a life worse than that of a concubine.

However, no matter how beautiful the idea was, it was ultimately just empty talk. He had inquired and found that everything in the capital was the same as before.

Now that he has escaped from trouble today, it is impossible for Chen Yi to return to Beijing so soon. He can only head west.

To the west are Min Ning, Tushan Underground Palace, Taihua Mountain, Yinjian Mountain, and many people and things he cares about.

"Judging from the distance, we should reach Yinjian Mountain first."

Chen Yi took a deep breath.

Before I knew it, I hadn't seen them for half a year.

He missed them, he really did.

As thoughts flashed through his mind, Chen Yi quickened his pace, curled his lips into a smile, and walked towards the distance, striding forward.

Several days passed quickly.

Chen Yi's pace had been as fast as possible. In just a few days, he had walked hundreds of miles, nearly a thousand miles.

He did not ride a horse along the way, but only used light skills. Including the rest time, his pace was as fast as it could be.

The reason why Chen Yi did not ride a horse was simple. First, there were few thousand-mile horses, and it was extremely difficult for an ordinary pack horse to travel a hundred miles a day. Second, horses had to take official roads and post roads, and horses might not be able to walk on roads that people could walk on. Third, he wanted to hone his martial arts skills along the way.

When we reached the town, we found an inn to rest for a while without staying for too long, and continued our journey early the next morning.

He also gradually moved away from the prosperity of the capital. The further west he went, the more he saw what the wilderness was like. It was no big deal to have no crowing of a rooster for a hundred miles. Snakes, insects, rats, birds, tigers, wolves and other wild animals were everywhere.

Traveling the world seems glamorous in books, but regardless of the blood and gore that goes along the way, at least there is a world of martial arts where there are people.

Moreover, it was inconvenient to wash along the way, clothes were difficult to change, and the food had no taste other than dry food.

No matter it is chivalrous or bloody, when it comes to really going through it, people are more likely to be bored.

Chen Yi couldn't help but mutter, "I wonder what Min Yuechi thinks? Is she doing well?"

I'm just afraid of seeing her.

I wonder how many days she hasn't washed her hair...

………………

"Haqiu!"

Thousands of miles away, a knight in red, carrying a sword and a knife on his back, sneezed in the wind and sand.

Min Ning rubbed his nose, not understanding why he sneezed.

Walking to a rock wall to rest, she wiped the dust off her face and suddenly asked:
"Am I sick?"

She was asking the rain.

As a remnant soul that came from nowhere, Zhuo Yu lived in her body and naturally knew her situation.

Zhuo Yu said briefly: "No."

Min Ning nodded, but then asked doubtfully:

"Then why did I sneeze?"

Zhuo Yu said: "I don't know."

Min Ning felt that Zhu Yu's remnant soul was worthy of being a remnant soul. He didn't say much and didn't even try to find someone to chat with to relieve his boredom. It seemed that he was a heartless person when he was alive.

Min Ning was often the only one feeling lost. She looked out from afar and couldn't help but mutter to herself:

"Is he thinking about me?"

Zhuo Yu immediately said, "I'm not thinking about you."

Min Ning was stunned and asked, "Don't you know?"

Zhuo Yu: “…”

After a long silence, she said, "That's just what I think."

"Why do you think so?" Min Ning asked curiously.

"I heard that if a man likes a woman, he will give her a flower." Zhuo Yu's tone seemed to rise slightly: "He gave it to someone else, not to you."

Min Ning had told Yu a lot about Chen Yi. She was a straightforward person and didn't think much about it at the moment. She just frowned slightly in distress.

Zhuo Yu sneered: "Do you understand?"

"understood."

"so?"

Min Ning smiled and said:

"Then when I see him again, I will give him a flower."

Zhou Yitang froze for a moment and his expression changed slightly.

Was she accidentally helping the most talented disciple to pursue a traitor?

If Min Ning really gave in, wouldn't the traitor be hung upside down and taken to Shushan?
Min Ning faced the wind and sand, scratched his hair, and chuckled:
"Zhuoyu, thank you, I sent him flowers, he never expected it.

His master would never have thought of this trick, and he became my apprentice after a long time. "

It seems like this is not enough to express gratitude.

Min Ning added: "Zhuoyu, thank you. He and I will give you one in the future."

Rain: "."

Thousands of miles away, on Cangwu Peak, Zhou Yitong narrowed his eyes, as if thinking.

In the desert of Western Jin Dynasty, Min Ning held up the knife in his hand and waited for the wind and sand to die down.

Before leaving, she even picked out the lice from the ends of her hair.

………………

The return date is not yet due, but the night rain in Bashan rises in the autumn pond.

The layers of the misty mountains were not clear. Chen Yi put on a straw hat and a raincoat and climbed from one mountain to another.

The mountain breeze was blowing, and weeds were growing on the roadside, covering the stone tablet. Chen Yi stepped on the grass and uncovered it.

The three words "Liufeng County" are engraved on it.

When Chen Yi saw these three words, his heart skipped a beat.

When you arrive at Liufeng County, you will be close to Yinjian Mountain, which is not far away, only about three or four hundred miles away.

Now that they are getting closer and closer to Yinjian Mountain, Chen Yi can't help but feel nervous and a bit homesick.

Is the little fox waiting for him with paper flowers?
Is Master leaning against the gate of Cangwu Peak again?

With his mind in turmoil, Chen Yi took out the map and looked at it, comparing it again and again, fearing that he had taken the wrong road.

I happened to see an old man on the side of the road, standing on the small slope next to the tombstone.

Chen Yi walked over, took out the map and asked:

"Old man, can we just keep going forward in Liufeng County?"

The old man was a little slow to react and looked confused.

When Chen Yi asked again, he turned his old face away and murmured:

"Liufeng County... it's over there! My son Li Heng bought a house and spent all my savings. Oh, right, it's over there."

As he spoke, the old man pointed in a direction. Chen Yi looked from afar and it seemed that he would reach the destination after climbing over a few slopes.

"Thank you, old man."

As he spoke, Chen Yi formed a spell with one hand and recited softly:
"In times of disaster, mercy comes to you, the nectar of the universe comes to you, and you can call upon the ten directions to save all living beings."

As soon as the words fell, the old man opened his eyes wide and murmured:

"It turns out that I am already dead..."

As the mountain breeze blew past, the old man's figure disappeared in the wind, and no one knew where his soul had drifted to.

And where he was standing was not a slope of earth, but just a small grave mound.

After converting the dead souls, Chen Yi turned around and strode towards Liufeng County.

(End of this chapter)