My enemies became my companions

Chapter 397 Two Foolish Apprentices

When Chen Yi was inquiring about the situation in Shantong City, Lu Ying and his group were already halfway there.

This time I rushed to Shantong City because I heard that a secret realm had been revealed there.

After the head of Yinjian Mountain asked for divination, he decided that this secret realm belonged to Lu Ying, who had a heart as strong as a crane.

It is not accurate to say that it was officially designated. The secret realm is originally an ownerless place. Like the Tushan Underground Palace, anyone can go in and explore as long as they have the ability. The so-called "official designation" is nothing more than asking for divination and believing that Lu Ying is most likely to obtain the destiny from it.

In order to allow Lu Yingzhen to have this opportunity, not only were there countless rituals of varying sizes and multiple rounds of fasting performed along the way, but strict regulations were also made for the accompanying personnel.

Zhou Yitong, or Qing Yuan, who was mixed in with a group of fellow disciples, could only be sent to a small county town near Shantong City. After that, someone else would have to take over to ensure Lu Ying's safety.

Ordinary people call such people bodyguards, while people in the mountains call them Dharma protectors.

They were getting closer to Shantong City. They had walked along countless steep roads, stopping and starting many times. Shantong City was getting closer unknowingly. When Lu Ying thought of this, he felt inexplicably uneasy in his heart.

Everyone said that her heart was as kind as a crane, but Lu Ying sometimes thought that she might not live up to the expectations of so many people.

Expecting someone is simple, just expect it.

But bearing the expectations of others is difficult and terrifying.

Perhaps this is the reason why Lu Ying was unwilling to abandon the deserted Cangwu Peak and switch to other mountain sects.

Qing Yuan saw all of this, and along the way, every time she arrived at an inn, she shared a room with Lu Ying.

And somehow, among all the fellow disciples and senior uncles who accompanied him on the journey, the one Lu Ying got along best with was Qing Yuan.

Perhaps it was because her taciturn personality was somewhat similar to her master, or perhaps it was because she always listened silently to Lu Ying's words.

Lu Ying liked this junior sister from another peak very much and even invited her to Cangwu Peak.

"No, I have average talent and have not yet established a foundation."

Monks do not lie. Lu Ying said, "Forget it then. With such talent, I'm afraid my master will dislike you."

"..." Qing Yuan was silent for a moment and then said, "Yes."

A wooden stick propped up the not-so-spacious window frame, and Lu Ying leaned over the railing to look out. The sky of the small county town in front of him was dark, as if covered with a faint mist, unlike the clear sky he had seen at Yinjian Mountain. It is said that the further west you go, the more yellow sand you see in the sky, and now the first signs of it can be seen. The scene brought back memories, and Lu Ying couldn't help feeling uneasy.

At this moment, the wind suddenly blew, and the wooden stick supporting the window frame loosened and fell down.

"oops."

Lu Ying was stunned for a moment, then quickly looked down, and saw a Taoist wearing a straw hat, who was running a fortune-telling stall next to the inn. He was hit by a wooden stick and was scratching his head, looking around for someone.

Lu Ying closed the window, left the room without any delay, went downstairs, and came to the Taoist's stall.

She looked closely and was stunned, because although the Taoist was dressed like a Taoist, he had a pig-face mask on his face that didn't match him very well.

The pig had a smile on his face.

Lu Ying apologized and picked up the stick. At this time, the Taoist asked her if she wanted to have her fortune told.

The hat was very large, covering the Taoist's face. Lu Ying glanced at his fortune-telling stall, which had an eight-diagram mirror, a fortune stick box, and a copy of the "Book of Changes". It looked quite decent.

He happened to be in a state of anxiety and had hit someone, so he should make amends. Lu Ying said, "Then... let me tell your fortune."

The Taoist handed over the lottery tube.

Lu Ying took the visa tube and shook it several times.

Then a wooden skewer fell out and landed in his hand.

Lu Ying picked it up and was stunned for a moment.
“…A very good fortune?”

Lu Ying was so well versed in Taoism that he could tell the meaning of this lot at a glance.

She was worried about the road ahead, but at this moment she drew a very good fortune, and Lu Ying's originally uneasy heart calmed down.

"Hidden in the dark, there will be a bright day. Hidden dragon means hiding, and change means communication... The flying dragon in the sky is beneficial to see great people."

Twisting the lot, Lu Ying began to interpret it himself.

However, the flying dragon in the sky is in great good fortune to see the great man... Who is this great man?

"Hey, congratulations,"

The Taoist then took off the pig-face mask and said,

"It's a good fortune. I am in your destiny."

Lu Ying's eyes widened.

She saw Chen Yi's familiar face smiling at her.

Lu Ying took a step back and said, "Why is it you?!"

Chen Yi shook the lottery tube and said, "Why isn't it me? To be honest, I am your guardian on this trip."

"That, that shouldn't be you..." Lu Ying wanted to say something harsh, but saw Chen Yi take out a letter from his arms.

"Read it yourself. This is a letter your master wrote to me."

Lu Ying took it in her hand and looked at it carefully. She would not make a mistake. It was clearly her master's handwriting, and it indeed stated that Chen Yi would be the protector of this trip.

"But you...why is it you..."

Lu Ying's face suddenly turned red. She looked around and saw that there was no one around. She lowered her voice and shouted angrily:
"You hit me there!"

Chen Yi has always been known in Beijing for his lust. Lu Ying had always kept his distance from such people and even tried to forget about the incident in Liufeng County. But today he learned that Chen Yi would be the protector of this trip. Thinking of this, Lu Ying's face turned even redder and there was some grievance in his voice.

This person must be shameless and volunteered to be his own protector.

Unexpectedly, before Lu Ying could complain, Chen Yi said:
"Do you think I want to protect you? You're just a little girl who doesn't even know if her hair has fully grown."

"I'm all grown up!"

"Okay, okay, it's all grown up," Chen Yi paused and said, "But don't you think about who is prettier, you or the Taihua Goddess Yin Weiying?"

Lu Ying paused for a moment after hearing this, and after a brief recollection, he said, "I think Yin Xiangu is more beautiful."

"That's right."

"But aren't you the son-in-law of Prince Jing's mansion?" Lu Ying paused and said, "Who knows, you might be bullied by others and want to find another good partner."

Chen Yi said helplessly: "Then do you think you are a good couple?"

"I think I do."

Lu Ying thought about it and said.

At this time, Qing Yuan seemed to be walking out of the inn because Lu Ying had not returned for a long time.

Chen Yi faced Qing Yuan, pointed at Lu Ying and said:
"Look, this is the first time I've seen such a self-indulgent woman."

Lu Ying felt angry when he heard this.

She looked at Qing Yuan and said:

"Qing Yuan, what are you doing following me? Go back now."

Qing Yuan pointed at Chen Yidao:

"Did this person kidnap you?"

Lu Ying was afraid that this junior sister would misunderstand, so he could only grit his teeth and quietly admitted:

"He is my guardian on this trip and my master's nephew. Qingyuan, you should go back soon."

Qing Yuan nodded slightly, turned and left.

Lu Ying was about to turn around, but saw Chen Yi staring at Qing Yuan's back.

She remembered that he said he hadn't eaten meat for half a year, and couldn't help but ask warily: "You...what are you looking at?"

Chen Yi smiled faintly and said, "I'm looking at Qing Yuan. She doesn't seem too enthusiastic, but she's surprisingly pleasant."

"You... like her?"

Chen Yi raised his voice intentionally or unintentionally and said, "Love at first sight, of course I like you."

Seeing this, Lu Ying quickly moved sideways to block his view and scolded, “Don’t be so horny!”

"I'm only in love with her." Chen Yi's face was thicker than a city wall. His words were carried by the wind, and Qing Yuan paused. She only paused for a moment, just a short moment, and then she crossed the threshold and walked back to the inn.

She never looked back.

When they returned to the guest room, Zhou Yitang curled her lips slightly and shook her head secretly.
"Two stupid disciples."

Especially you, Chen Yi.

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

The local official system of Dayu was generally divided into four levels: states, prefectures, counties, and townships. Several counties formed a prefecture, and the capital of the county was the prefecture. The county governments of all the major county towns had to rely on the prefecture and obey the orders of the prefecture.

But Shantong City is an exception.

Shantong City is located on the edge of Xixiang Prefecture, only a thousand miles away from the border of the Western Jin Dynasty. Its Jinmen Mountain Road can lead directly to Hanzhong and then to Western Shu. It was once one of the important trade routes for Shu brocade to be sold to Dayu. Therefore, in the pre-unification dynasty, Shantong City was the first county of Xixiang Prefecture and was a prefectural city. However, after the change of dynasties, the Hanzhong Basin fell into the hands of the Western Jin Dynasty, and Shu brocade could no longer be transported out through the Jinmen Mountain Road, so Shantong City was no longer a prefectural city.

Having said that, the grandeur of Shantong City's prefecture city has been retained, with many prosperous houses, carved railings and painted buildings, wide roads, and towering city walls. Even the county government of Shantong City has retained a certain independence.

The specific independence lies in the fact that the county magistrate and the county lieutenant in Shantong City are the same person.

The county magistrate and the county lieutenant were originally two different positions. The former was the head of a county and was responsible for taxation, litigation, etiquette, morality, and protecting the country and the people. The latter was in charge of public security in the county, including patrols, anti-smuggling, catching thieves, and city defense. Roughly speaking, the former was in charge of civil affairs and the latter was in charge of military affairs.

Now both civil and military positions are in the hands of the same person, which shows that this person not only has extraordinary abilities, but also has the city of Shantong firmly in his hands.

This man is named Jiang Shangli, 33 years old, in the prime of his youth. He was a Jinshi in the early years of Huanglong. Now he is drinking tea from a bowl in the county government office. The tea is brewed tea.

"Have you counted all the people who entered the city today?" Jiang Shangli asked.

"My Lord, I have counted them all, eighty-seven in total.

The person who spoke was Qin Tu, a minor official on duty on the watchtower. He leaned forward attentively as he spoke, his eyebrows raised high.

Jiang Shangli asked again: "Is there anyone worth noting?"

Qin Tu, a petty official, said, "My Lord, there is a man carrying a sword and a knife going in and out of the city these days. He later put on a Taoist robe. He might be a Taoist priest with a big nose."

"People from Taihua Mountain?" Jiang Shangli asked with a frown.

"It doesn't look like he's from Mount Taihua. The shape of his robe is different," Qin Tu recalled, and asked tentatively, "Should I pay attention to him? Otherwise, if he has other plans, it will be bad if he makes mistakes."

Jiang Shangli thought for a moment.

The magistrate of Dayu County is transferred every three years. This year is his last year as magistrate, and this year is always a crucial year.

In this year, there was a vague feeling that a storm was about to come in Shantong City.

There have been rumors of a secret realm emerging these days.

Because of this, some important people came to Shantong City.

These bigwigs did not hold any official positions, but when they showed their badges, Jiang Shangli had no choice but to kneel down.

Magpie Pavilion!
According to his observation, these people in Xi Que Pavilion seemed to be guarding a woman named Dong Gong.

The Magpie Pavilion was using that woman as bait to track down a swordsman from the Western Jin Dynasty who was hiding in Shantong City to recuperate. His nickname was Lone Smoke Sword. It was said that a group of spies from the Western Jin Dynasty were secretly protecting that swordsman and hiding him.

This is the last year as the county magistrate and also the most crucial year. Of course Jiang Shangli has to cooperate with the higher-ups.

Jiang Shangli murmured, "Go and pay attention. The city cannot be in chaos right now. If it is, my family of 37 will lose their lives, and my brothers will also die here."

"Yes."

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

No matter what, Chen Yi and Lu Ying finally embarked on their journey.

The next morning, the two of them left the city and were close to Shantong City by noon.
After the incident of bandits blocking the road a few days ago, Chen Yi was not in a hurry to go to Chongyang Sword Viewing Pond, but wanted to go to Moon Watching Tower.

You have to find out who is trying to arrest you.

However, it is inevitable that people would be suspicious of him as a monk wearing Taoist robes and visiting brothels.

So before entering the city, Chen Yi took off his Taoist robe, put on normal clothes, and put his swords into the ground.

"Where are you going when you get to town?"

Seeing him finding a place to change his clothes, Lu Ying couldn't help but ask.

"Brothel." Chen Yi said with a smile.

Lu Ying frowned. How could his master, such a serious person, have such a nephew?

Most young girls dislike clients who go in and out of brothels.

"Why, why?" Lu Ying kept asking.

"Didn't you say I was in heat before?" Chen Yi said calmly, "I am in love now."

His voice suddenly stopped moving, as if it changed from cheerful and relaxed to serious. Lu Ying felt inexplicably uncomfortable.

She glanced at Chen Yi, not knowing what he was thinking, but saw that his brows seemed to be slightly furrowed.

Lu Ying was still young and in love, so he immediately became alert and said, "Why are you so horny...what are you suffering from? Don't go to brothels casually."

Chen Yi said: "I said I haven't eaten meat for half a year. Now if I can't go to the brothel, I have to keep it to myself. I feel uncomfortable and my illness is getting worse. I just want a woman to accompany me."

Lu Ying was stunned for a moment, bit his lip, looked back at the city gate in the distance, and then looked down. Now there was no village in front and no shop behind. Isn't it the time for a man and a woman to be alone?

She had some cold sweat on her forehead and said, "You don't want me, do you?"

Chen Yi looked at the skinny body and said, "I'm not terminally ill yet."

Lu Ying was stunned and his cheeks puffed up.

Her round cheeks popped up like white buns, only slightly smaller than her chest.

Chen Yi thought for a moment and explained, "I'm not going there to have sex, I'm going there to investigate something."

Lu Ying considered for a moment and said, "Let's go together?"

As Jianjia's first disciple, these words seemed to imply that he was supervising his nephew on behalf of his master.

Chen Yi did not refuse and nodded in agreement.

The two of them immediately entered the city.

Compared to yesterday's dim and dark sky, today's sky is clear and sunny, which is people's favorite time of the day.

Lu Ying, who had been filled with gloom before, frowned.

But when she turned around and saw Chen Yi, she glanced away again.

Chen Yi said: "Am I some kind of evil spirit that could cause the fairy lady to change her mood so drastically?"

Lu Ying replied: "If you weren't here, I might be in a better mood."

"Then it looks like you're going to be in a bad mood all the way."

Chen Yi said casually, and then asked:

"Where is that secret place?"

"The Chongyang Temple Sword Pond." Lu Ying paused and said, "It is a Taoist temple of the Quanzhen Sect."

"Chongyang Temple? Oh, the Divine Power King Chongyang, one of the Five Supreme Beings."

"What are the five unique skills? What is the middle supernatural power? Chongyang Zhenren has an immortal status. He is Chongyang Quanzhen Kaihua Zhenjun." Seeing that there was no respect in his tone and he had been wearing Taoist robes for days, Lu Ying scolded him, "Fake cow nose, it is because of charlatans like you that the reputation of Taoists has been ruined and is worse than that of monks."

Chen Yi pointed at himself and said, "Am I a fake bull nose?"

Lu Ying asked back: "Isn't it?"

"You are wrong. This is called following the way of nature." Chen Yi paused and said, "Naturally, as I please. If I want to call him supernatural, I will call him supernatural. If I want to disrespect him, I will not respect him. Don't say that you say I am a fake. Even if thousands of people say I am a fake, I will just follow nature."

When Lu Ying heard this, he didn't feel anything strange at first, but after thinking about it for a while, he felt that it seemed...somewhat charming.

Isn't it true that we should follow our heart and obey nature?
Thinking back to the very good fortune she drew yesterday and the clear sky right now, it would have been fine if she hadn't thought about it. But now that she thought about it, Lu Ying actually had a feeling that there were clues and foreshadowings going on for thousands of miles. Will her trip be smooth sailing?
This Chen Yi seems to be...something special...

First update. It will take me some time to sort out my next thoughts. I will give you another update in a few days!

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(End of this chapter)