A thousand enlightenments in one night, starting from being a menial apprentice.

Chapter 449 Falling off a horse is a common occurrence

Duan Rong hid sideways in the dark shadow of the stable and looked towards a clean and tidy stable not far away.

The horses in the stable were all brushed brightly, with stirrups and bridles neatly fitted. At this moment, two grooms were leaning against wooden stakes, taking a nap under the dim light of a lantern.

Duan Rong shook his sleeves, and a ball of powder was pushed over by his palm wind.

The two grooms only felt a gust of wind passing by, feeling a little cold, and they shrank their necks. The next moment, their bodies suddenly went limp, and they fell unconscious to the ground.

The moment they fell to the ground, Duan Rong's figure appeared like a ghost and dragged the two of them into the shadow beside them. Then he stood in the shadow and stared at the second horse to the east.

In fact, after a sweep of his spiritual sense, Duan Rong had already seen the horse clearly. Not only was the position correct, the characteristics of the horse were exactly the same as Zhu Peng described. It was Li Shensi's horse for tomorrow's autumn hunting ceremony.

Duan Rong leaped up and stood not far behind the horse. He flipped his hand and took out a piece of black cloth. His figure flashed and passed in front of the horse's head. The black cloth in his hand had already covered the horse's eyes.

He was afraid that his next move might frighten the horse and backfire.

After covering the horse's eyes with the black cloth, Duan Rong stood to the side of the horse, and his spiritual consciousness instantly focused on the stirrup on the side of the horse's belly.

The stirrup was shiny and had embossed patterns on the surface to prevent slipping.

Duan Rong pinched the knuckle of his index finger with his thumb, and at the tip of his index finger, vital energy flickered slightly.

With Duan Rong's mental strength and his level of cultivation, his control over his vital energy has already reached an extremely subtle and delicate level.

At this moment, the vital energy that flashed from his fingertips was barely a wisp, like a thorn of wheat.

Duan Rong used this fine energy to point at the connection between the two sides of the stirrup, making the connection full of holes. It was not visible on the surface, but in fact, there were many tiny holes inside.

After Duan Rong finished doing all this, he suddenly took off the black cloth covering the horse's eyes, and in a flash, he jumped out of the stable.

The moment he jumped out of the stable, he shook his sleeves and a ball of powder was scattered on the two unconscious grooms in the dark corner.

Duan Rong's figure had disappeared in the dark night, and the two grooms crawled out from the shadows. They looked at each other, with a hint of doubt in their eyes.

"Why did you fall asleep?"

"Are you still talking about me? Didn't you fall asleep too?" The two of them crawled out of the shadows almost at the same time.

"Alas! I am so tired from taking care of the horses for the autumn hunting festival these past two days..."

The two of them sighed for a while, counted and checked the horses again, found no problems, and continued to sit down under the lantern and take a nap.

The next day was the day of autumn hunting and offering sacrifices to the heavens.

Among the three days of offering sacrifices to heaven, the ceremony on the first day is the most grand.

Last night, at about midnight, a huge crowd of people went out to Wuji Mountain and arrived around the Temple of Heaven in advance to get a good spot to watch the ceremony.

Especially the poor families, they went there early. Not only could they sell the seats they had stood in, but if they got the prey for the sacrifice, they could also sell it to others.

Civil and military officials gathered at the South City Gate at 3:15 a.m. With a grand ceremonial guard and the sound of trumpets, the black crowd walked along the official road towards Wuji Mountain.

Following the guard of honor, leading all the officials was the palace lord Wang Maochun, as well as one magistrate, four ministers and five other high-ranking officials. They rode on tall horses, dressed neatly.

No wonder Zhu Zhengfu was unwilling to participate in the hunting ceremony. Wearing official uniform and drawing a bow to hunt was really inconvenient.

The guard of honor did not move very fast; the time was carefully calculated. They had to arrive at the foot of Wuji Mountain at an auspicious time, offer sacrifices to the mountain first, and then go into the mountain to hunt, and then offer the prey to the heavens.

There are ready-made rules and procedures for the timing and etiquette of each step.

Several senior officials were riding on big horses, walking unsteadily.

The Palace Master Wang Maochun looked at Li Shensi and Jiang Zhuoyun and said with a smile, "Master Li, Master Jiang, this is your first time to participate in the Autumn Hunting Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony. Master Jiang, needless to say, the Grand Protector General is the leader of the military commanders, and he will definitely participate in this hunting ceremony. I wonder if Master Li is interested in this hunting art?"

Li Shensi laughed when he heard this and said, "To be honest with you, Lord Wang, my ancestors were hunters. When I go out today, I can even ask my ancestors to help me shoot more good prey!"

Li Shensi's words made everyone laugh.

Chen Shanmeng, the Minister of the Dali Temple, said: "The so-called ritual, music, archery, charioteering, calligraphy, and mathematics. Archery is also one of the six arts, and it is also an elegant thing."

Wang Maochun smiled and said, "Master Chen, you are right. But I am afraid the hunting grounds will be very busy this year. In previous years, Master Chen always won the first place among the civil officials. I think Master Li is here this year, so I am afraid you will give up the throne."

Chen Shanmeng said: "In the hunting ground, there is no sympathy, only the most capable ones will take the place."

Li Shensi said: "Lord Chen is so generous! It should be like this!"

When the mighty honor guard arrived at the foot of Wuji Mountain, the sky was already bright. Sparse black dots were seen dotted among the trees on Wuji Mountain. They were the people who had come early to climb the mountain. Some were on the mountainside, and some were about to reach the top.

The guard of honor arrived at the foot of Wuji Mountain, and with the sound of distant and majestic trumpets, the mountain worship ceremony began.

Offer three animals as sacrifice to worship the mountain god!
All officials knelt and kowtowed to ask for the opening of the mountain!
With the end of the tedious ceremony, nearly an hour had passed before everyone went up the mountain along the winding road.

Wuji Mountain is a cliff surrounded on three sides, so the southern side is the flattest. A large area from the southern halfway up the mountain to the top of the mountain has been enclosed as a hunting ground for offering sacrifices to the heavens.

The guard of honor split into two teams on a platform halfway up the mountain. A few people stayed behind to serve as the guardian of the autumn hunting ceremony, while most of the guard of honor continued to go up to the Temple of Heaven on the top of the mountain to prepare for the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the heaven.

The officials who were participating in the autumn hunting ceremony also stopped here, holding bows and arrows, ready to enter the hunting grounds.

Among the officials, Li Shensi's eyes were as bright as stars. He was really excited about hunting in the Jitian Hunting Ground.

After all, this place is considered the highest level hunting ground in Qingzhou.

The horn sounded, and the thick fence gate of the hunting ground was moved open by the soldiers!

Big drum cheer!

After three horn sounds, horses neighed and the officials and soldiers at the door poured into the hunting ground like a tide!

Chen Shanmeng was familiar with the route and immediately headed for the edge of the dense forest. Sure enough, he saw the shadows of deer appearing and disappearing at the edge of the forest. Chen Shanmeng suddenly jumped on the horse, stepped on the stirrup, and stood up steadily.

His body rose and fell as the horse galloped, but he stood upright, as steady as a mountain.

"call out!"

With the sound of an arrow feather breaking through the air, the arrow flew into the forest, but it was unknown whether it hit the target or not.

Several accompanying soldiers had already rushed into the forest with hunting dogs, and soon came out with a big deer in their arms.

"Shot!"

"My Lord, it's mighty! It's a full grown bull elk!"

Following the cheers of the soldiers, those who had not dispersed yet turned their heads to look here.

Li Shensi praised: "Good archery! Good eyesight!"

Li Shensi had been hunting since he was a child, so he naturally knew the weight of Chen Shanmeng's arrow. Chen Shanmeng did not see it with his eyes, but he relied on the shadow of the deer that appeared and disappeared at that time to judge the trajectory of the elk, so he was able to hit it with one arrow!

No wonder Chen Shanmeng has always been the number one civil servant in previous years. He is really amazing!
You know, they were not allowed to use internal energy when hunting in the hunting grounds, so the speed of the arrow feathers was not fast. Moreover, this kind of arrowhead with a wooden shaft and iron head could not withstand the infusion of true energy.

Chen Shanmeng heard Li Shensi's praise and replied with a fist: "Luck! Luck! I saw a deer just after I came in."

When Li Shensi saw that Chen Shanmeng had taken the initiative, he immediately became eager to win and rode his horse into the woods. A pair of soldiers behind him followed him into the woods.

After all, Li Shensi has been hunting since he was a child. In the forest, he seems to have a sense of smell. He can determine the general direction of the prey by looking at the feces environment.

In just over an hour, they had shot four or five big ones, which was a good harvest.

A soldier holding a yellow dog said with a smile, "Sir, with our gains, it is probably more than enough to beat Sir Chen Shanmeng. It seems that the first place in the civil service this year must belong to you, sir!"

Li Shensi sat on his horse and said with a smile: "Boy! Open your eyes! I am the ancestor of hunting! Since I am here, I am the number one in the hunting ground! What number one civil servant? I don't care!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Your Excellency is mighty!"

As the hunting team walked away, a figure suddenly jumped down from the tree canopy next to a blood-stained arrow. He looked at the hunting team that appeared and disappeared in the forest, his eyes flashing.

This person was Duan Rong, who had arrived last night and slept on the treetop.

Duan Rong's figure flashed, and he was already moving through the treetops in the forest. At the same time, his spiritual sense was completely released, covering all the surroundings...

Another hour passed in the blink of an eye, and judging from the position of the sun, it was almost the hour of Wei. At 3:30 pm, the ceremony of offering sacrifices to the heavens at the Temple of Heaven began.

All in all, there is only one hour left for the autumn hunting ceremony.

Li Shensi has already captured more than ten big prey and countless small prey, but he feels that it is not enough.

At this moment, Li Shensi suddenly stared at a pile of fresh feces on the ground not far away, and his eyes lit up. "It's a rhino, there is a rhino nearby!"

"Quick!" Li Shensi shouted. "Get rid of the yellow dog."

After letting the yellow dog sniff the feces, the soldier was about to disperse when suddenly a gray shadow jumped past not far away in the forest.

Li Shensi's heart was filled with excitement. "Over there! Stay there!"

He then rode forward, and the soldiers also began to surround him on horseback.

Soon, the rhinoceros was driven by the soldiers and rushed towards Li Shensi.

Li Shensi saw the rhinoceros rushing out of the dense forest and rushing towards him diagonally. He smiled contemptuously and suddenly stood up on the horse. He bent his bow like a full moon and the arrowhead moved with the running rhinoceros.

He was very sure that he could hit the rhino's neck with one arrow, and then shoot it in the belly with the next arrow! This rhino would not be able to run far before it would lie down!

Just as Li Shensi was about to shoot with the arrow in his hand, what he heard was not the "swoosh" sound of the arrow feather breaking through the air, but a slight "pop" and a crisp breaking sound.

His right foot was suddenly empty, his body suddenly tilted, and the arrowhead was shot out almost at the same time!

But this arrow will definitely not be able to hit the rhino!

At this moment, Duan Rong, who was hiding in the distance, was stunned. He was waiting for this opportunity. Suddenly, he moved as fast as a ghost. At a suitable position, he activated his mind and shot a half-master soul thorn towards Li Shensi.

Duan Rong did not refine this Soul Spear into a finished product, because he did not want to shoot Li Shensi's soul into pieces and kill him on the spot at this moment.

Here, he could not destroy the body. Once a strong man who had practiced the Taizang Sutra checked Li Shensi's soul, he would know that he was hit by the soul thorn and died with his soul shattered!

Therefore, he did not intend to kill Li Shensi here! This was just a prelude, just like the foreshadowing of the story.

Everything that is believed to be true must have a cause and effect.

If you want to guide the direction of public opinion in the public opinion field, cause and effect are very important.

Only with a complete story chain will people believe it.

Therefore, this prelude is necessary and indispensable.

The half-finished Soul Thorn pierced through Li Shensi's forehead like an invisible object at the moment when the arrowhead was shot!

The thorn of the soul is silent and invisible to the naked eye!

Li Shensi saw his body tilted and the arrow missed the target. He immediately became angry and secretly cursed the Privy Council for making such low-quality stirrups. This delayed his winning the first place in the hunting ground!
After all, Li Shensi was a warrior at the fourth level of the True Qi Realm. He was just about to steady his body, put the arrow on and shoot again!
At this moment, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his head, as if someone had thrown a red-hot iron nail into his brain.

Li Shensi screamed, fell off his horse and fainted.

Li Shensi's screams alarmed the soldiers, and they immediately gathered around. They saw Li Shensi lying on the ground, his face as pale as paper and his breathing weakly.

The deputy among the soldiers was shocked when he saw Li Shensi's appearance!

If Li Shensi had an accident here, or even died, all of them who were accompanying him would be held responsible!
"Hurry! Go find Lord Chen, Lord Ge and Lord Jiang! Tell them that Lord Li Shensi is out!" the deputy shouted anxiously.

When the soldiers heard this, they immediately understood and mounted their horses and rushed in all directions.

Among the Lord of the Palace and the Four Ministers, Lord of the Palace Wang Maochun and Guanglu Dafu Zhu Zhengfu did not participate in the autumn hunting ceremony and had already gone to the Temple of Heaven.

Also in the hunting ground were the Minister of the Dali Temple Chen Shanmeng, the Counselor Ge Hengtai, and the Protector-General Jiang Zhuoyun who had just taken office this year.

However, it didn't take long before several horses came galloping over. When they saw the hunting team here, three figures suddenly flew up from their horses and landed not far from Li Shensi.

At this time, Li Shensi had already woken up, but his face was very pale, and his lips and hands were trembling...

Chen Shanmeng grabbed Li Shensi's hand, looked at him and asked, "Master Li, what's wrong with you?"

Li Shensi's lips trembled and he was unable to speak for a moment.

Ge Hengtai's eyes narrowed as he stared at the deputy who was supporting Li Shensi, and asked, "Tell me! What happened?"

"Just now, when Lord Li was shooting a rhinoceros, the stirrup suddenly broke! Lord Li...he fell off his horse..."

"Falling off the horse?!" Chen Shanmeng and Ge Hengtai were both shocked when they heard this.

After all, Li Shensi was a warrior at the fourth level of the True Qi Realm. Even if the stirrup broke, he wouldn't fall off the horse. And even if he did fall off the horse, he shouldn't be in such a half-dead state!
After all, Chen Shanmeng came from a criminal background and was very concerned about the details of solving cases. He immediately walked over and checked the broken end of the stirrup.

Chen Shanmeng's eyes jumped. He saw that there were many small holes on the broken end of the stirrup, which was obviously very abnormal!

Chen Shanmeng took off the stirrup and held it in his hand. Then he turned to look at Li Shensi and asked, "Sir Li, the Heavenly Sacrifice Ceremony will begin in an hour. Can you still hold on? If not, I will send someone to take you back to the city to recuperate!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shensi waved his hands and stammered, "I...can...just...rest..."

Chen Shanmeng knew what Li Shensi meant. After all, he had only been in office for two months and it was such an important ceremony. What's more, his etiquette was choreographed in the ceremony program. How could he be absent?
"Well, Master Li, you can rest here for a while. We will go to the Temple of Heaven together in an hour."

Li Shensi heard this and nodded.

Chen Shanmeng once again looked deeply at the stirrup in his hand.

(End of this chapter)