manynovel Chapter 123 One strike to live, one strike to die, life and death are never decided in two strikes!
Chapter 123 One strike to live, one strike to die, life and death are never decided in two strikes!
Chapter 123 One strike to live, one strike to die; life and death are inseparable from the same strike!
Yin Susu is moving her dowry.
Yin Tianzheng knew that his son-in-law was very popular, with countless women eyeing him covetously. He didn't care about the wedding or anything like that, and sent all the dowry over first.
The Sky Eagle Sect, with its maritime trade and smuggled salt operations, was among the wealthiest of the wealthy. The dowry they prepared for Yin Susu consisted of over two hundred sets, packed into more than one hundred boxes.
A pair of jade lions, a pair of jade phoenixes, twenty ingots of Tang ink (tribute), two hundred reams of Xuan paper, and eight Seven-Star Duan inkstones.
A box of South China Sea black pearls —
Xu Qingya stared, her eyes darting around.
The jade lion and phoenix need no further explanation; they are both valuable old mine jade from Bagan. The writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were all tribute items, especially the Seven Star Duan inkstone. There were only two in the royal palace, and my father-in-law took out eight at once!
South China Sea black pearls are so rare that an ordinary person could keep one as a family heirloom. Yin Tianzheng prepared a whole box of them, not a small box the size of a handbag, but a large box for rolling up bedding and storing clothes. Each pearl was the size of a lychee.
The brocade robes, jade belts, earrings, necklaces, jade pendants, and phoenix hairpins were packed into more than fifty boxes, with Yin Susu's pocket money in the last box.
Golden and white gold and silver.
This is only the dowry that Yin Susu took with her, not counting her personal savings. The shipping business is still under Yin Susu's control, and she can earn a mountain of silver in one trip.
As expected of the Sky Eagle Sect, which is known for its wealth, this made Xu Qingya fully realize just how rich Yin Susu was. Yin Susu could generously say: Although my martial arts skills are a bit worse than my sisters', I am very rich!
You're good at knife skills, she's good at sword skills, and some are good at medicine. I don't have any special skills, but my special skill is that I'm extremely rich. I'm good at "money can move mountains".
In the original storyline, Yin Susu hired the Longmen Escort Agency to escort Yu Daiyan, and she immediately paid two thousand taels of gold in cash, without giving it a second thought.
How much is two thousand taels of gold worth?
The original story is set in a chaotic era, where gold was a life-saving currency, so its price would definitely skyrocket. If we calculate based on later gold prices, two thousand taels would be equivalent to one hundred thousand grams, and one gram of gold would be worth over a thousand yuan. In other words:
Yin Susu casually pulled out a small sum of money to hire bodyguards to escort the goods, without even blinking!
Du Dajin messed up this escort mission and then tried to double-cross it. To be honest, he deserved to die. If his fellow escorts knew about this, they wouldn't sympathize with him; they would want to kick him while he was down.
This is a blow to the reputation of the security escort industry!
Du Dajin has ruined the reputation of the security escort industry!
The money Yin Susu paid was enough to make the head镖师 (chief镖师) of the largest镖局 (escort agency) in the martial arts world personally escort the goods and experience at least two life-and-death duels when encountering danger. She could run away without getting her clothes dirty. How can the镖局 do business?
Yin Susu counted the dowry, which filled a total of 108 boxes. The Sky Eagle Sect decided to hire a joint escort agency to send the dowry to the capital. The joint escort agency was not a single agency, but a total of four agencies.
The chief镖头 (chief镖头) of Changqing镖局 (Changqing Escort Agency), Zhenyuan镖局 (Zhenyuan Escort Agency), Zhenwei镖局 (Zhenwei Escort Agency), and Weiqun镖局 (Weiqun Escort Agency) are all top-notch experts and leaders in the escort agency industry.
This is the first big job the four escort agencies have taken on since forming an alliance, and there can be absolutely no mistakes!
Baili Changqing, the chief镖头 (chief镖头, meaning head镖头, of Changqing镖局), Deng Dinghou, the chief镖头 (chief镖头, meaning head镖头, of Zhenyuan镖局), Ximen Sheng, the chief镖头 (chief镖头, meaning head镖头, of Zhenwei镖局), and Jiang Xin, the chief镖头 (chief镖头, meaning head镖头, of Weiqun镖局), decided to personally escort this shipment to bring good fortune to their respective镖局.
Xu Qingya: Hearing these names, I knew something bad was going to happen! Should I escort them myself?
Of course not!
Four of the top ten chief镖师 (chief镖师) in the镖局 (镖局 is a type of security escort agency) have come at once. What's there to worry about?
Xu Qingya inquired privately and learned that Tang Zhuquan had been idle recently and had asked him to help escort goods in exchange for ten jars of imperial wine. This was Yin Susu's dowry, not ordinary property, and absolutely could not be lost.
Upon hearing that there were ten jars of fine wine, how could Tang Zhuquan resist his craving? He immediately decided to help escort the goods.
Xu Qingya then went to Suzhou with peace of mind.
What are you going to Suzhou for?
Of course, it's to wish Hua Ruling a happy birthday.
In a few days it will be Hua Ruling's sixtieth birthday. Hua Baifeng has invited him once, and Hua Manlou has invited him once. The Iron Shoe Bandit's death omen is shining brightly. If Xu Qingya doesn't go and take him down, he will be unworthy of the name Yama.
Birthday celebrations are always a case of the more the merrier; the more people come, the more lively it is. The Hua family are real estate developers, and they have no shortage of money, so they can afford to host a ten-day feast.
Such an auspicious occasion as a sixtieth birthday celebration naturally warrants a grand celebration, with countless people coming and going.
Xu Qingya didn't want to disturb other people's interests, nor did she want to do welcoming and seeing off guests, so she temporarily lived with Hua Manlou in Peach Blossom Fortress, which was twenty miles away from the Hua family's ancestral home.
There was no other meaning; the main purpose was to use Hua Manlou's zither music to dispel the demonic and violent thoughts in my heart.
Demons run rampant across the land, and the number of monsters that can be killed is endless. The more tragic things one witnesses, the more likely one is to draw one's sword in anger. Over time, the excessive killing will inevitably damage one's spirit.
Especially the "Demon Blade" technique, a decisive sword technique.
Too extreme, too ruthless, too perfect.
Extreme perfection is extreme imperfection.
Xu Qingya can resolve his demonic nature on his own or with the help of his friends. Relatively speaking, relying on himself is enlightenment, while relying on his friends is human nature. After all, humans are social animals, and no one can live in isolation.
Loneliness is also a negative emotion!
Loneliness can destroy all reason!
Hua Manlou could sense Xu Qingya's distress. He didn't say much, but every morning when Xu Qingya was doing his morning exercise in the rising sun, he would play a Qingxin Pushan Mantra for her to dispel the gloom in her heart.
early morning.
Xu Qingya is practicing Tai Chi in the garden.
It wasn't stolen from the Wudang School, but rather it's an introductory martial art from the Tai Chi School, with effects similar to aerobics.
Calling this thing "the rising sun," "the fledgling eagle taking flight," or "the seven-colored sunlight" is perfectly fine. It cannot be used to cultivate true qi, but it is excellent for strengthening the body, improving health, and prolonging life!
Hua Manlou was playing the zither in the nearby pavilion.
The piece being played is called "Qingxin Pushan Mantra," a work by Zen Master Pu'an, also known as "Pu'an Mantra." It consists of countless staggered single notes, as well as hand seals and mantras resembling lyrics, used to calm the mind, dispel evil spirits, and ward off malevolent influences.
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This piece is extremely gentle, like a person sighing softly, or like morning dew gently moistening flower petals, or a gentle breeze brushing willow tips, evoking the enchanting beauty of a spring night on a river.
Sometimes the wind was gentle and the clouds were light, sometimes it was tender and elegant. The melody was peaceful and moderate. Even the sparrows couldn't bear to disturb it. The whole manor was quiet. Doubao quietly lay at the foot of Huamanlou, and Tangdun dozed off in the tree.
Cheng Lingsu, Yang Yan, Hua Baifeng, Yin Susu, Qin Nanqin, and Beitang Xin'er all arrived in Suzhou. Even Liu Qingci, who was under house arrest, escaped from the palace under the alias Xue Qianxun, preparing to feast at the birthday banquet.
The Hua family naturally had guest rooms, but since they were in someone else's home, they couldn't afford to be annoying. Yang Yan and the others didn't stay at the Hua family's house, but instead stayed at the manors of the Tianying Sect and Linglong Pavilion respectively. After having breakfast, they would go sightseeing with Xu Qingya to enjoy the beautiful scenery of Suzhou.
There is a saying: "Above is heaven, below are Suzhou and Hangzhou."
While in Hangzhou, I was too busy solving cases to have time to sightsee. Now that I'm in Suzhou, I'll definitely have plenty of time to enjoy myself.
There are still a few days until the birthday banquet. I don't want to see all the sights, but I should at least visit the most famous attractions. Otherwise, I'll feel like I've wasted the trip.
Now that we're here, how can we just go back like this?
"Zheng~~"
A slight discordant note appeared in the melody; the elegant scene of "Spring River Flower Moon Night" was suddenly disrupted by murderous intent. It was a faint, seemingly indifferent murderous intent, but in reality, it had been brewing in his heart for many years, deep and dark, from which he could not extricate himself.
Xu Qingya stopped his morning exercise. The air was filled with the chirping of birds, the sound of footsteps in the distance, and Lu Xiaofeng's humorous, frivolous, and cynical tone.
"Even the sparrows wouldn't dare disturb you, it must be Hua Manlou. Xu Qingya, what are you doing here?"
Lu Xiaofeng came out from behind the pavilion.
Hua Manlou chuckled and said, "Coming uninvited and eavesdropping from behind, it must be Lu Xiaofeng. Brother Xu has encountered too many unpleasant things lately, and his heart is somewhat depressed. He asked me to use my zither music to exorcise the demons for him, so that he would not fall into the demonic path."
Lu Xiaofeng stroked his mustache: "All the leaders of demonic sects throughout history combined don't possess the same level of demonic nature as Xu Qingya. Others at most cultivate demonic practices, but this guy is a demon from the inside out!"
Xu Qingya sneered: "Lu Xiaofeng, what do you mean by 'demonic from the inside out'? Have you even read it?"
Lu Xiaofeng spat, "I have no hobby of peeping at men taking baths, and I can see your demonic nature clearly even with my eyes closed."
Xu Qingya's expression shifted slightly: "You can see the demonic nature in me at a glance, which means you're a demon too. I'm at most a sword demon, but you're a lust demon!"
Lu Xiaofeng was not about to admit defeat so easily, so he made up a reason on the spot: "What kind of sword demon are you? How can sword demon describe your demonic nature? You are the demon of all demons. If you hold a sword, that sword will become a demon sword."
Xu Qingya nodded: "That's right! This sword technique is indeed called the Demonic Blade. It will always draw blood. Do you want to give it a try?"
I'm really curious to know if Lu Xiaofeng's Spirit Rhinoceros Finger can block Po Jun's blade!
"The Breaking Army Blade?"
Lu Xiaofeng thought to himself, "What a terrible name!"
You're the guy who claims to be able to compose a poem in seven steps, aren't you?
"Seven Killings, Broken Army, Greedy Wolf. I have only comprehended Broken Army so far. There are still two moves I haven't mastered. If I want to comprehend the other two moves, I may need to kill two more villains, such as a certain four-eyebrowed frivolous little phoenix!"
If someone were to pitifully beg me to turn Lu Xiaofeng into a boiled chicken, claiming that he had abandoned her after seducing her, and ask me to chop him up with one stroke, perhaps I could comprehend the Greedy Wolf Star! And then, perhaps, the Seven Killings Star!
Xu Qingya looked at Lu Xiaofeng with a smile.
The two knives behind him trembled incessantly.
In order to disguise his identity, Xu Qingya left the Magpie Blade at home and took the Ancient Ding Blade with him when he went out, which made the Magpie Blade a little "jealous" and required the Blade Zen to nurture it.
Xu Qingya simply carried two knives with him.
The term "second-rate" sounds somewhat derogatory, but if you replace it with "One strike to live, one strike to die! Life and death are never a matter of two strikes," it sounds much more impressive!
Besides, carrying two knives is much better than carrying nine swords every day.
Lu Xiaofeng made an exaggerated expression: "Were you threatening me just now? I'm going to report you to the Six Doors! I'm going to the yamen to sue you! Hua Manlou will be my witness! Xu Qingya threatened me with a knife, exile him to Lingnan!"
Xu Qingya pulled out a token: "I am the fifth of the Four Great Constables of the Six Doors. In other words, if you file a complaint with the Six Doors, I will be the official in charge of the trial. Have you ever heard the saying, 'Who here is accusing me?'"
"What the hell is the fifth of the Four Great Constables?"
"This position is indeed somewhat unusual. After all, I am a marquis and need to be promoted. I am no longer one of the Four Great Constables; I should be the Deputy Constable God. If the Constable God retires, I will be the Constable God of the Six Doors!"
"Are official appointments and removals so arbitrary?"
"You need to understand, the achievements I've made in the three months since my debut surpass the hard work of the Six Doors over three years!"
"The constables must hate you! You used to be able to live a peaceful life, but now you have to work overtime. Be careful walking at night, lest you get ambushed!"
Lu Xiaofeng truly lives up to his name; he can always grasp the key points and launch a targeted attack.
Xu Qingya, true to his name, surpassed even Murong of Gusu in his ability to use the enemy's own methods against them: "You're the one who should be careful about ambushing someone at night. I think you'll be ambushed and locked in a big mansion full of beauties within three days!"
Lu Xiaofeng looked terrified; he already had a premonition of what Xu Qingya was about to say.
"————Those women are all your lovers, there are several tigresses. Have you ever heard of a famous dish from the Cao Wei period?"
"A single dish of Lu Xiaofeng's cooking led to Yang Xiu being executed by Cao Mengde!"
What dish is "A Set of Lu Xiaofeng"?
Lu Xiaofeng didn't know who Yang Xiu was, but when it came to matters of life and death, it certainly wasn't something to be taken lightly.
Hua Manlou explained, "This is a word puzzle. When you put them together, you get 'one person, one mouth.' Your many lovers each have one mouth; perhaps you need Hua Tuo!"
Lu Xiaofeng raised an eyebrow: "Hua Manlou, I thought you were an honest man, but you're quite shrewd!"
Hua Manlou smiled helplessly: "Isn't it possible that this honest man isn't a fool?"
Lu Xiaofeng smiled and said, "Hua Manlou, since you're not a fool, you should understand that when you encounter trouble, you should tell your friends instead of bearing it alone. With a smart guy like me and a killer like Xu Qingya by your side, even if the leader of the Demonic Sect causes you trouble, you can fight back!"
Xu Qingya and Lu Xiaofeng's bickering is not only a display of two close friends who refuse to give in to each other, but also a way of seeing through Hua Manlou's melancholy and making him laugh through their crosstalk.
Xu Qingya added, "Lu Xiaofeng, you really overestimate me! If Yu Luosha comes, you cover our retreat, and I'll go to the deep mountains and forests to cultivate in seclusion for ten years. After Yu Luosha passes away, I'll go and avenge you!"
"How can one seek revenge if they die?"
"Dancing on his grave."
'
""
Lu Xiaofeng uttered a string of gibberish, and because he was cursing so fast, the words were completely inaudible.
Hua Manlou sighed softly, "Lu Xiaofeng, my eyes weren't blinded by illness, but by someone stabbing me with a sword. The attacker's move was extremely precise, destroying all the meridians in my eyes, making them irreparable, but not fatally damaged, leaving me forever trapped in darkness!"
Lu Xiaofeng angrily exclaimed, "What a vicious person!"
Xu Qingya sneered disdainfully: "Hua Manlou can live openly in the sunlight, with loving family and caring friends. That murderer—he lived his entire life in the shadows, afraid to reveal his identity, afraid to expose his tracks, forever mired in darkness!"
Lu Xiaofeng nodded: "That's right! As soon as he dares to reveal his identity, he will be hunted down immediately, forced to live in hiding, constantly fearing being hunted down. That kind of life is true darkness; it's better to just die!"
Hua Manlou sighed, "He's dead! My father personally chopped off his head and burned his body. More than a dozen renowned figures in the martial arts world witnessed the battle, and everyone thought he was dead. But I always feel that he's still alive, lurking right beside me!"
"Who is he?"
Lu Xiaofeng frowned slightly, his face showing anger.
Hua Manlou shouted, "The Iron-Shoeed Thief!"
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