Who among the gangsters wants to fall in love?

Chapter 174: Snowstorm in the City, Just for Two People

Zhao Wumian left the Taiji Hall and came to the city wall where he had just entered the inner gate. Erige and Wuerji in the carriage had already been locked up in the sky prison, leaving only an empty carriage frame and a lonely nun.

The nun sat on the wooden platform outside the carriage frame, her legs dangling in the air, neatly placed together, a Wuhen Knife placed across her knees, and a persimmon cake in her hand, which she had apparently eaten half of. She was looking at the high palace wall, and no one knew what she was thinking.

"Miss Guan, everything went well. I will be wandering around the world soon and become a wanderer... I have little experience in the world, so I hope you can take care of me in the future."

A familiar voice sounded, and Guan Yunshu looked over.

Zhao Wumian flew over, stood beside the frame, raised his head slightly, looked at Guan Yunshu's pretty face, and smiled.

Guan Yunshu looked into Zhao Wumian's eyes, then took a bite of the persimmon, chewing silently, with a slightly complicated look in his eyes.

Did Zhao Wumian really want to be labeled as a regicide and wander around the world? Then what was the suffering he had endured for more than a month?
But the thing has been done. This is Zhao Wumian's choice. Guan Yunshu will not ask any more questions. She bit a persimmon cake and said, "The matter is settled. You and I have no cooperation... If you want me to help you again, you have to pay a price."

"For example?" Zhao Wumian asked with a smile.

"Didn't I give you a string of Buddhist beads? If you need my help again, that thing will be enough." Guan Yunshu ate the persimmon cake in his hand, took out a handkerchief to wipe his little hands and pink lips, and said slowly.

"really?"

"Monks don't lie."

Zhao Wumian took out the Buddhist beads, placed them on his palm, and handed them to Guan Yunshu.

Guan Yunshu was slightly stunned, a little surprised, and then smiled, raised his hand to take the Buddhist beads, and raised his chin slightly, "Carry it with you all the time? If you have any request, tell me, but if you ask me to be your bodyguard for a few years and stay by your side, then I won't allow it."

"Give me a piece of the dried persimmon you ate just now."

Guan Yunshu looked at Zhao Wumian with doubt, then took out a brocade box from his arms, opened it, took out a piece of persimmon cake and gave it to Zhao Wumian.
"I bought this from the Treasure Pavilion when I first came to Beijing... The snacks there are very popular among the ladies in Beijing. The jadeite exquisite cake that your Miss Su likes to eat was bought there."

After that, Guan Yunshu continued to ask: "So what is your request?"

Zhao Wumian stuffed a whole piece of persimmon cake into his mouth and chewed it, "Isn't this the persimmon cake?"

Guan Yunshu was stunned for a moment, and then his peaceful expression suddenly turned cold, his eyes were like the deep springs of the underworld, and his voice was even colder and frightening, "I gave you the Buddhist beads, and you use them like this?"

"No, of course not." Zhao Wumian swallowed the persimmon cake and smiled slightly, "Miss Guan, what are you angry about?"

Guan Yunshu took a deep breath and suppressed the anger in his heart, "What do you mean?"

Zhao Wumian clapped his hands, climbed onto the carriage, and lifted the curtain. "You're so angry because I don't use it well... There's simply no better way to use it than this."

Guan Yunshu looked at Zhao Wumian with cold eyes as he turned over and walked into the carriage. Upon hearing this, her brows slightly frowned, and then she immediately understood Zhao Wumian's intention... She wanted to use this to judge whether he was important in her heart.

She smiled coldly, "You are just being sentimental."

Zhao Wumian lowered the curtain, and a voice came from the carriage, "Really? Miss Guan, are you angry because you think I don't respect you, or do you actually want me to use this Buddhist bead to ask you to do something with me, such as traveling around the world for a while under some pretext?"

Guan Yunshu's breath was held, and he was about to blurt out the former, but then he suddenly remembered... monks do not tell lies.

If it is not in line with your true feelings, then you cannot say anything about it no matter what.

She silently turned her fair and delicate face, leaned against the wooden frame, looked ahead, and subconsciously reached down with her little hand to grab the reins... but she didn't grab it the first time, and she rubbed her little hand back and forth in front of her body before she grabbed the reins.

She pulled the reins slightly, and the carriage changed direction and headed out of the palace.

Guan Yunshu's whole body was tense, he held the reins tightly, looked straight ahead, and said nothing.

Zhao Wumian stayed in the carriage, also silent and not saying a word.

Heavy snow fell.

Zhao Wumian has now assassinated the king. Although most of the important officials in the court know the whole story, the common people do not know... At this moment, he can no longer show up in public casually, nor can he enter and leave the palace as if no one is there.

That's why he got into the car and was taken out of the palace by Guan Yunshu.

But he didn't mention this kind of "serious business", and Guan Yunshu didn't mention it either... Even if the two of them said another word now, I'm afraid someone would be able to hear something wrong in their tone.

The palace masters and guards near the carriage looked at each other with their eyes fixed on the nose and their noses focused on the heart. They also said nothing, pretending not to see Zhao Wumian... It was obvious that Shen Yiwen had given them orders.

Zhuwu Lake, except for the misty white fog on the lake surface, was no different from before. No one could tell that seven martial arts masters had fought a bloody battle here.

True Man Gui Yuan escaped, and Eunuch Lin was murdered by Zhao Wumian... This matter has come to an end temporarily.

Master Dongxuan sat cross-legged in the bamboo forest by the lake, gently holding a bamboo leaf in his hand, with brows lowered and a serious expression. It seems that he was pondering the so-called Buddhist realm of 'one leaf, one bodhi, one flower, one world'.

The leader of the Sword Sect, also the contemporary sword champion Chu Ruzhou, was also sitting cross-legged on the shore, with a deep red sword slung over his shoulder. He was looking at the boundless lake, holding a wine jug and taking a sip of wine from time to time.

There were only these two martial arts masters left here, but they seemed exceptionally silent.

It’s not that there is any grudge between the two of them, it’s purely a matter of personality.

It was not until Zhao Wumian and Guan Yunshu came walking on the snow that the two of them heard the noise and saw something was happening.

"Is everything going well?" Master Dongxuan smiled.

Zhao Wumian nodded, "Everything is settled, just waiting for Chaoyan to enter the capital... Where are the other three people?"

"Xu Ran and Chief Constable Su have already left to escort the princess to the capital. As for Chen Qiyuan..." Dong Xuan paused for a moment, recalling a few things before saying:
"He left a message. This time we are going to Beijing to encircle and suppress Eunuch Lin. Xu Ran has already repaid his life-saving grace. You and Xiao Yuanmu seem to have a somewhat unclear relationship. If you meet in the future, he wants to kill Xiao Yuanmu, and you want to protect her... Then there is no need to talk about the past relationship. Just go all out."

Guan Yunshu's jade fingers gently picked up the snow on the bamboo leaves, lowered her eyes to look at the leaves, and did not look at Zhao Wumian, and replied: "The world is just like this."

Zhao Wumian nodded slightly. It was impossible for Chen Qiyuan and Xiao Yuanmu not to avenge their father's murder.

And if Xiao Yuanmu was really his master, then Zhao Wumian would naturally not sit idly by and watch Xiao Yuanmu being killed.

But these are all things of the future. Right now, the transition of the throne has not yet been completely resolved.

"Have you achieved the unity of man and nature?" At this moment, Chu Ruzhou, who was sitting cross-legged, glanced sideways and looked Zhao Wumian up and down. His voice was flat, but slightly surprised.

"Now that I have accumulated enough knowledge and have realized my true self, I will just let nature take its course and break through the barrier." Zhao Wumian looked at Chu Ruzhou.

This person is Mu Lier’s senior brother. According to seniority, Zhao Wumian should call him Uncle Master… but it is better to call him Sect Master.

At first glance, this person is a handsome middle-aged man with a swordsman-like air.

But when the leader of the Sword Sect fought with Lady Canghua at the Weishui River, although Lady Canghua was defeated in the end, at that time, Lady Canghua had just entered the martial arts world. People in the martial arts world speculated that she was less than 30 years old, while Chu Ruzhou had been a master with many years of fame. However, it seemed that Lady Canghua was only slightly inferior to Chu Ruzhou in the fight. That was also the battle that made Lady Canghua famous.

Now that Queen Canghua is forming an alliance with him, I wonder if Chu Ruzhou can put aside his hostility towards Queen Canghua for his sake.

While he was thinking, Chu Ruzhou said calmly with a straight face: "I heard from your master that you have lost your memory? If so, you should find it back as soon as possible, otherwise there is no hope of becoming the martial arts champion."

Zhao Wumian was slightly stunned, "Why?"

“If you want to build the bridge between heaven and earth, you need to open your spiritual resonance and become one with heaven and earth. The specific operations are different for each school. For example, my Sword Sect specializes in weapons. When you reach this level, you should ask the sword in your heart. As for their Xiao Xitian, it is naturally a combination of Buddhism and martial arts.” Chu Ruzhou flicked the sword lightly, and the sword came out three inches, shining with a cold light.

Master Dongxuan glanced at Chu Ruzhou, then nodded slightly, "Not bad, it sounds mysterious, the so-called asking the sword in the heart, the so-called Buddhist teachings throughout the body, in the final analysis, it depends on you, your Tao, your martial arts path... When you understand your own spirit, capacity, momentum and other elusive things, you can be said to have found your own Tao, and you can also be said to have the ability to communicate with the bridge between heaven and earth."

Zhao Wumian frowned, "Practicing martial arts alone is not enough to build a bridge between heaven and earth?"

Chu Ruzhou shook his head. "Techniques can still be cultivated and improved. Strength, bones, and internal energy can be refined through internal and external skills, and natural materials and treasures can be tempered day after day. However, this can only make you a stronger person who is in harmony with nature, but it cannot make you build a bridge between heaven and earth."

Zhao Wumian understood and said, "Without my past memories, I would not be able to understand my life experiences, my character, and the principles in my heart... If I don't even understand who I am, how can I resonate with the heaven and earth and draw the energy of the heaven and earth into my body?"

Chu Ruzhou showed some approval in his eyes and drew his sword until the lake was covered with mist and rain. "A light boat, sitting on a sword while the water and sky merge into one, that is my way... What about you? Zhao Wumian, what about you?"

What about Zhao Wumian? He had never really thought about this question.

Since he woke up, he was involved in Luo Shuzhi's trap, and his mind was full of thoughts on how to break the trap. Martial arts were just tools Zhao Wumian used to break the trap, and they were external objects. Although he practiced martial arts diligently, he only improved his "skills".

He only has skills but no Tao... But to know the Tao, Zhao Wumian needs to control his own heart. To do this, he needs to carefully analyze his past life in order to gain some insights.

This is what Chu Ruzhou meant.

This is a bit like seeking immortality... I think the saying that if you gather all nine bells, you can ascend to heaven is not empty talk.

Looking at Zhao Wumian in deep thought, Chu Ruzhou's cold and extraordinary face showed a hint of smile, sheathed his sword and stood up, "Whether you want to serve as an official in the court or go deep into the martial arts world in the future... It's none of my business, but since you have accepted the sword sect here, you are my sword sect disciple. I have been waiting here to answer your questions. Now that the matter is over, it's time to go."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chu Ruzhou flew backwards, lightly touching the surface of the lake with his feet, leaving a few ripples, and then disappeared in the drifting snow and misty rain.

Come in a hurry, go in a hurry.

Dong Xuan withdrew his gaze from Chu Ruzhou's back, and turned to look at Guan Yunshu beside Zhao Wumian, and asked: "Now that this matter is settled, it's time to leave the capital and continue to travel around the world, north and south of the Yangtze River, and the four borders of Dali. Now you have only set foot in Jin and the capital..."

Zhao Wumian came back to his senses from thinking about martial arts, "So urgent?"

Guan Yunshu glanced at Zhao Wumian from the side, a hint of smile appearing in the depths of his eyes.

Is it your turn to be anxious this time?
Her mood suddenly became cheerful, but her face remained expressionless, maintaining her usual calm demeanor. Her fingertips gently touched the rough bamboo leaves and she whispered:

"I have reached the barrier between heaven and man, but I have been unable to break through. My master once said that only after experiencing all the worldly things can one gain enlightenment... It was because my 'skills' could not improve at all that I left the mountains to travel. Now, only over a month has passed, so I cannot stop."

"Did my worldly life fail to enlighten you?" Zhao Wumian said this in a very narcissistic way.

Guan Yunshu also wanted to scold him for being narcissistic, but when she thought about it carefully, she realized that he was narcissistic... Every time she looked at Zhao Wumian's back as he 'sent someone off in the wind and snow', her heart would always be slightly disturbed, as if the barrier had loosened a little, but that hurdle was something she couldn't get over.

She didn't know whether it was because of Zhao Wumian or something else... lacking someone to compare herself with, so she wanted to go out on her own.

The more people you meet and the more things you experience, the more you will be able to solve your doubts, right?

However, seeing Zhao Wumian's slightly reluctant expression, Guan Yunshu still revealed a faint smile, "When the princess ascends the throne, this matter will be settled."

This means that she will stay in Beijing for a few more days.

Master Dongxuan smiled slightly, stood up, brushed off the snow on his robe, and walked past the two men with his hands behind his back, "Then uncle will go back to the temple first...Since you are not here, I will handle all matters in the temple...I can't stay for too long."

His figure seemed to merge with the world, disappearing in the bamboo forest, leaving only his voice echoing faintly in the forest. With just this move, Zhao Wumian knew the gap between him and these martial arts masters... The saying that one's body is in harmony with the world is true.

Suddenly, Zhao Wumian and Guan Yunshu were the only ones left in the bamboo forest, and an unspeakable silence began to linger around them.

Guan Yunshu didn’t know what was wrong with him… He used to be so open and calm, but why was he always hesitant and shy around Zhao Wumian?
Something is wrong, it's really wrong. This month, I have been with him all the time because of the national affairs, so this is the case? It's strange, I really have to leave him and go out into the world alone, only then can I know how far the world is and how confused my heart is.

At this moment, Zhao Wumian took out a small book from his arms without leaving a trace, coughed lightly, and said, "Miss Guan, this is a novel I found in the Imperial Study Room of Taiji Hall. Do you want to read it?"

Guan Yunshu blinked and subconsciously looked around... All the martial arts champions had left, and the bamboo forest was quiet and empty.

No, just read a book, why be on guard against others? It's not something embarrassing to read.

She stroked her slightly wrinkled monk robe, calmly retracted her gaze, and glanced at the book in Zhao Wumian's hand, "The book that the emperor reads... let me see it."

Zhao Wumian smiled, looked around, and then found a small pavilion in the bamboo forest with a good view.

There was snow on the stone table and benches in the pavilion. Zhao Wumian used the Wuhen scabbard to sweep the snow off and wiped it with his sleeves... With his strength, he could just use his internal energy to sweep away the snow with a wave of his sleeves, but it still happened.

Looking at Zhao Wumian's back, Guan Yunshu felt inexplicably light-hearted, and felt that the quiet bamboo forest in front of him had added a lot of color.

The two of them sat down in the pavilion, opened the book on the stone table, and put their heads together to read.

In fact, Guan Yunshu doesn’t like reading these idle books and doesn’t want to read them at the moment.

Ever since she watched "The Legend of Bamboo" with Zhao Wumian last time, she has understood... this thing is just for entertainment and is of little use to spiritual practice and Buddhism.

But Guan Yunshu always felt that Zhao Wumian had done so much, but in the end, he had to be deposed as a regicide who was not tolerated by the world... Even if this was all a show for the whole world to see, she felt that Zhao Wumian must be sad in his heart.

Even though Zhao Wumian has a carefree personality and doesn't care... Guan Yunshu cares for him.

I am so considerate, caring and kind... She thought silently without focusing her eyes on the book.

Snowflakes were flying, and the young man and the nun were sitting in the pavilion, oblivious to the people around them. Occasionally, when the young man saw some plot points, he would tell a joke, which made the nun laugh.

Five days have passed since Zhao Wumian assassinated the king.

For just five days, the air was still filled with the smell of gunpowder from the firecrackers that were lit after the New Year.

Snow was flying all over the sky. Pedestrians on the street were standing on both sides of the road, holding oil-paper umbrellas, looking towards the city gate with solemn, relaxed or curious eyes.

On the fourth day after the end of the year, the fourth day of the first lunar month, Prince Luo Shuzhi of Dali was assassinated in public by the rebel Zhao Wumian of Taixuan Palace during his coronation ceremony. Although it was claimed that Zhao Wumian was captured alive with a substitute, the real Luo Shuzhi died in the palace... The prince was assassinated when he ascended the throne, so he could not even be called an emperor, and there was no so-called "posthumous title".

The crown prince was assassinated, and the emperor's eldest grandson was too young to take charge of the overall situation. After discussion among the court ministers, the throne was passed to the late emperor's eldest daughter, Luo Chaoyan.

This news has already been known to everyone in the capital.

The people stood on both sides of the street, waiting for the arrival of the new ruler of Dali.

Outside the capital city, there were five thousand soldiers stationed... the vanguard of the Chu navy.

It is actually impossible for the 100,000 Chu navy to arrive in the capital in just a few days. However, the throne has been vacant for too long and can no longer be delayed... Therefore, these 5,000 vanguards are only to escort one person to the capital as soon as possible to settle the situation and completely end the dispute over the throne.

Tap tap tap————

The crisp and dense sound of horse hooves came from outside the city gate.

A woman in goose yellow military uniform rode into the capital on horseback. Behind her and on both sides were Su Huaixi, the chief detective of the Detective Department, and Xu Ran, the governor of Chu. Further behind them were a group of Chu navy soldiers wearing armor and with resolute faces, looking majestic and iron-blooded.

The woman held the reins tightly with one hand, her eyebrows were as green as distant mountains without any makeup, her lips were as red as cinnabar without any makeup, and her beautiful eyes were full of breathtaking charm with every glance and blink. She rode in the front row, and behind her were the two martial arts champions of Dali and their elite soldiers. There was no doubt that this woman looked more heroic and brave, and was as brave as men.

The people on the street couldn't help but hold their breath. Is this the princess in the rumors, the future emperor of Dali? So beautiful.

Luo Chaoyan led her troops into the capital to let the people of the capital know of her existence and that she would be the future ruler of the Dali Kingdom... In fact, she wanted to enter the capital in a low-key manner.

Because at this moment, in front of so many people, she couldn't even find the person she wanted to find.

Luo Chaoyan maintained the demeanor of a royal family, but her eyes involuntarily glanced behind her.

Behind her, or even beside her, there should have been a wanderer, who could have entered the capital with her, been known by the people of the capital, and been looked at, admired, and revered by them.

But at this moment, she only has herself, oh... and the thousand-mile horse that Zhao Wumian had snatched from Taiyuan.

At that time, three horses were snatched, one for Guan Yunshu, one for Zhao Wumian, and the last one was under Luo Chaoyan's crotch.

This is a little mare that has been raised by Luo Chaoyan in Pingyang. It is fat and plump, but looks very handsome and extraordinary.

Luo Chaoyan raised her hand and gently stroked the mane of the horse under her, with a complicated look in her eyes.

Xu Ran has already told Luo Chaoyan all about Zhao Wumian's plan.

She knew that Zhao Wumian could only assassinate the king and then flee far away to ensure the legitimacy of her throne and the stability of her country without resorting to war. Otherwise, once the crime of murdering her own brother was pinned on her, who knows how much turmoil it would bring to the world.

At that time, even Luo Chaoyan's father did not dare to kill the immoral emperor who assassinated his uncle... at least not in name.

Luo Chaoyan pursed her pink lips and remained silent.

Is it really worth it to return to Beijing and become emperor thanks to Zhao Wumian’s sacrifice?
Everyone would think it was worth it. After all, it was just a show for the world to see, and they were not really going to hunt down Zhao Wumian... But the crime of assassinating the king and killing the emperor would still follow Zhao Wumian for the rest of his life.

So Luo Chaoyan felt it was not worth it.

Deep down in her heart, she didn't even want to return to Beijing.

Just then, she noticed a figure on the street.

A wanderer wearing a green shirt with bamboo patterns and a fox fur coat on his back stood in the crowd, not attracting any attention.

He had a sword slung across his waist, a long spear wrapped in black cloth on his back, and a conical hat on his head. He held an oil-paper umbrella in one hand and the other hand casually rested on the scabbard of the sword at his waist. Heavy snow fell on the umbrella and piled up. Occasionally, the martial artist would move his wrist slightly, and the accumulated snow would slide down the ribs of the umbrella and hang down into scattered snow mist.

The Jianghu guest raised his head slightly, with his hat tilted slightly, and Luo Chaoyan looked at him across the city covered with snow.

Huhuhu————

A cold wind blew past, raising a few wisps of snow mist on the ground.

Just like that night in Qinfengzhai.

The beggar praised him, "Master Mingzhao, please protect me back to the capital."

In order to protect himself, the refugee quickly refused.

But now, the "beggar" has returned to Beijing, but she doesn't want to go back.

And what about the refugee who only wanted to protect himself? He took the initiative to take the blame for assassinating the king.

Luo Chaoyan felt a sudden pain in the corner of her eyes.

The Jianghu guest stood in the crowd, looking at Luo Chaoyan, as if he realized that if he continued to stay here, Luo Chaoyan would definitely cry in front of the people of the whole city.

Luo Chaoyan didn't cry when she was being hunted, and she didn't cry when her own brother plotted against her. But now she's crying when she sees this gangster on the street?
The Jianghu guest had not expected this, so he turned and left.

The emperor cannot cry in front of the people... otherwise it would be so embarrassing? Luo Chaoyan is a girl and has a thin skin.

The Emperor is entering the capital. The people on the street are all eager to get closer and closer. They are all trying to squeeze into the crowd... Only this wanderer is walking out alone.

It was so much like when she was on Phoenix Mountain in Pingyang, watching Zhao Wumian and his horse leaving in the wind and snow against the flow of people.

At that time, in order to track down Dong Yan, Zhao Wumian decided to step into the dangerous place of the capital, but he was seriously injured. If it were not for Shen Xiangge and Su Qingqi's rescue, he would have lost his life there.

What about now?
Like this again? Or like this?
Luo Chaoyan wanted to look at the back of the Jianghu guest, but the horse was moving forward, and her little face quickly changed from looking forward to looking diagonally behind.

Xu Ran whispered behind him, "Pay attention to your bearing. From today on, you are the Emperor of Dali."

The Emperor of Dali?

Hearing this, Luo Chaoyan suddenly reined in his horse and stopped on the street. The two martial arts masters and a group of soldiers behind him also reined in their horses, looking a little surprised.

Luo Chaoyan was silent for a moment, and then suddenly said to Xu Ran: "My father once told me that an emperor should trust people he employs, and not employ people he doubts. But it is always right to keep a backup plan when facing anyone, that is, you should be on guard against anyone you face."

Xu Ran was slightly stunned, not understanding why his niece suddenly brought up this.

He nodded, "As an emperor, this is what you should do. You can't just sit on that throne if you want to."

Luo Chaoyan also nodded, "I understand, but when I first fled from Taiyuan, I secretly thought in my heart that if I lived my whole life without even one person to tell the truth to, it would be too tragic and I wouldn't be living like a human being."

Xu Ran frowned, "What do you mean by that?"

Luo Chaoyan was silent for a moment. When she saw that the Jianghu man had left the crowd and disappeared into the streets and alleys and the vast snow curtain, she retracted her gaze and looked forward, saying: "My father is my father, and I am me... He has his way to be an emperor, and I have my way to be the Son of Heaven."

Chief Constable Su also frowned, somewhat unable to guess what Luo Chaoyan meant.

Then he heard Luo Chaoyan continue: "Father's throne was not legitimate, so he worked very hard. Although the country occasionally encountered disasters, it was able to recuperate, resume production, and be full of vitality, just like a prosperous era. From this, it can be seen that the so-called 'illegal throne' and the so-called 'unethical' are just excuses for ambitious people. If they really want to rebel, they will also find other excuses."

"That's true, but..."

Luo Chaoyan interrupted Xu Ran coldly and said, "As the Son of Heaven, it is the proper thing for the country to be peaceful and prosperous, but the most important thing is to do it, rather than to be obsessed with a question like 'whether you have no virtue' or 'whether you are in the right position'..."

Xu Ran immediately understood Luo Chaoyan's intention and was slightly surprised. "That being said, it's impossible that this won't have any impact on Jiangshan!"

"That's right." Luo Chaoyan smiled suddenly, "But I haven't ascended the throne yet."

As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Chaoyan took a deep breath and then said loudly to those around him:
"My brother Luo Shuzhi was cruel and unjust in order to protect the throne. He let the enemy invade the border and harmed the soldiers! Zhao Wumian, under my order, will execute him in the Taiji Palace to clear the source! He will kill his own relatives for the greater good!"

(End of this chapter)