Southern Xinjiang was supposed to be a hot and humid place, but now there was only heat left, and a breath of the scorching wind made people feel itchy in the nose and dry in the throat.
Large areas of the original rainforest have died, rivers have dried up, and rice fields have naturally failed to harvest due to drought.
The waterwheel that used to creak and squeak every day in the village has stopped making noise at this time and lies aside, unattended.
Large numbers of people were worried about their livelihoods, and they fled and were in turmoil because of hunger.
Zhennan General He Baoyi sat in the hall with his head dejected. He was the first officer of Southern Xinjiang and had been in charge of Southern Xinjiang for many years. This was the first time he encountered such a situation.
All the officials in the hall also had sad faces, or cowered to one side with their heads lowered, for fear of being called by He Baoyi's name.
"Is there nothing we can do?"
He Baoyi looked at Master.
The master is his confidant. Over the years, everything from white to black, good and evil, has passed through his hands. He is cunning but reliable.
Unfolding the white paper fan, the master said worriedly: "General, I have asked some local elders. In southern Xinjiang, only people have always drowned, and no one has ever died of thirst.
Some people are bedridden because of excessive humidity. Southern Xinjiang has been humid for hundreds or thousands of years. Even during the three-year drought in the Central Plains, the clothes here could not be dried even after hanging them for two days.
It is abnormal to have droughts one after another. ”
"Why don't I know?"
After so many days, Lin Baoyi has even recovered from the old injuries he suffered in the past. Even if it was not a rainy day, if he did not drink two bowls of hot tea, he would inevitably have a dull pain.
But now, let alone the cloudy sky, there is only one big sun hanging in the sky, which makes the sky bright red.
"We have to find a way. It's okay if the locals are hungry like this. If the White Lotus Sect comes..."
As soon as Lin Baoyi said these words, the officials present could not help but shudder.
I heard that some time ago, the White Lotus Sect had just destroyed the Dragon Veins in Liaodong. This was a secret that could not be made public.
If they come to southern Xinjiang again at this time, coupled with the restless Miao people in the area, internal and external troubles, it will really make them feel heartbroken just thinking about it.
Realizing that he had made a mistake, Lin Baoyi changed the topic.
"Master, what do you think of this drought?"
The master lowered his head and said: "In my opinion, this is neither a natural disaster nor a man-made disaster."
"Nonsense!"
Lin Baoyi glared at him, "Who has such power to change the color of the world? Just say what it is."
"Yes..." Master hesitated to speak.
"It's a monster!"
Someone yelled from underneath, shouting out the answer that Master wanted to say, and then quickly shut up.
"Monster!?"
Lin Baoyi stood up angrily, "The world is clear and clear, the universe is clear, where can the evildoer come from, is it possible..."
His words became quieter and quieter, and finally he stopped weakly.
The current situation can really only be caused by monsters, and there is no other reason.
He glanced at the master sideways and said, "Is there anything you can do?"
The master bowed and said: "My subordinates have taken matters into their own hands and invited several of my senior brothers from Longhu Mountain."
Longhu Mountain?
At this time, Lin Baoyi remembered that his master was a Taoist priest who had become a monk on the way. That is to say, he was a Taoist priest halfway, but suddenly thought of going down the mountain to save the world, so he became his aide.
Although he didn't believe much in ghosts and gods, Lin Baoyi felt at this moment that they had indeed touched the edge of ghosts and gods, and had some kind of connection with those mysterious existences.
The officials present didn't seem to have any objections, and there was even some joy on their faces.
So he got off the donkey along the slope and said, "Since we invited them, let's ask them to try it. What are you going to do?"
The master said calmly: "Please rain."
……
Three days later, a high platform was erected in front of the Dragon King Temple.
Three Taoist priests wearing red, yellow and purple robes stood on the high platform with serious expressions.
On the table in front of them were incense burners, glutinous rice, arrows, talismans, bells, copper coins, and various magical instruments.
The master, Lin Baoyi and other senior officials stood in a teahouse not far away, watching the three Taoist priests through the curtain.
"Is it reliable?"
Lin Baoyi asked Master.
"They are trustworthy people."
The master can vouch for it, “Whether it’s magic or other aspects, they have everything they need to control it.”
"I mean, does it work?"
After hearing this, the master looked up at the sky. The sun was still very bright at this time, and even he himself was not sure whether praying for rain would work.
The master didn't answer, so Lin Baoyi already had an idea.
Pushing down his disappointment, he just drank tea with an expressionless expression.
In any case, he has done something, and there is nothing to criticize anymore. As for how things will develop in the future, who knows?
Just as he was breaking the jar, a young man and woman walked over side by side under the teahouse.
The woman is so beautiful and lovely, like a fairy descended from the earth, that people feel that even if she is so intimate with a man in public and violates etiquette, it will not cause anyone to frown.
On the contrary, the man accompanying her was disgusting.
A man, no matter how tall, mighty, handsome and unrestrained he is, will not be annoying to others, because what others look like is determined by God and given by his parents, and others have no reason to criticize him.
But when that man has the best woman in the world by his side, the more handsome and unrestrained he is, the more annoying he becomes, and his teeth itch with hatred.
They would rather be accompanied by a bald, short, fat old man beside the beautiful woman. In this case, they would only feel that she is not as rich as her, rather than losing to her in terms of charm.
Several officers and soldiers almost wanted to eat Yin Xiusheng alive with their eyes, so when he approached, they unceremoniously stretched out their hands to stop him and Ma Xiaoyu.
"Stop, this place is already reserved."
"But I heard that only the second floor was occupied."
Yin Xiu asked the shopkeeper standing at the counter with her eyes.
The shopkeeper nodded, then reacted, shook his head violently, and buried his face behind the table.
The officers and soldiers found it funny and asked Yin Xiu something else.
"Hey, don't you know who is up there? Fortunately, you were lucky enough to stop here, otherwise you would have been in bad luck."
"No," Yin Xiu smiled, "You two are the lucky ones."
He was referring to the two officers and soldiers who held out a hand to stop them.
"Are we lucky?" The officers and soldiers thought it was funny.
"This is not a funny thing, but it is closely related to the two of you. It is very important." Yin Xiu reminded.
"If you keep talking nonsense, you will really be in trouble."
The officers and soldiers were already angry and jealous because he brought a beautiful woman with him. At this time, Yin Xiu's words were more like some kind of sarcasm, making him even more angry.
However Yin Xiu is serious.
"I mean, you just met two people with good tempers.
I read in a martial arts novel that the protagonist also wanted to enter a restaurant, but two doormen each held out a hand to stop them and told the protagonist that you were disheveled and that you should go back and put on a suit and tie before coming over. Bar.
And guess what?
The protagonist stretched out his hand and disabled the hands of the two guards. ”
As he spoke, Yin Xiu put his hands on the two people's outstretched arms.
The two officers and soldiers broke into a cold sweat and quickly withdrew their hands.
Yin Xiu smiled and said, "Don't worry, I'm not a psychopath or a natural-born murderer. I can't do such a thing." The officer and soldier frowned, but the eyes he looked at Yin Xiu were full of fear, so he waved his hand and said : "If you dare to disturb your lords, I will kill you!"
"Thank you."
Yin Xiu took Ma Xiaoyu's hand and walked in with her.
"Waiter, wine, food and tea, please hurry up, I'm so hungry."
"There's still food." Ma Xiaoyu added.
The shopkeeper and the waiter were stunned for a moment. After realizing that the officers and soldiers really had no intention of stopping these two people, they cheerfully began to greet them.
After all, the arrival of those masters and so on, even though they are said to be adding to the glory, makes the teahouse somewhat shine.
But in reality, this kind of thing happens once or twice.
Just like the emperor rewards you with royal meals, you have to bring the whole family to thank you once or twice. If you reward them every day, it will only make people feel tired of eating, and it will be meaningless.
These gentlemen said they were booking the teahouse, but when did they actually pay for it?
Every time they come, no one else dares to come in, causing his business to go to waste for a long time.
At this time, a customer finally came, and the shopkeeper was naturally attentive.
He personally poured local scented tea for the two of them while chatting with them.
Of course, he only dared to look at Yin Xiu and didn't even dare to look at Ma Xiaoyu, for fear that he would offend the fairy.
"You two don't seem to be locals?"
"The shopkeeper has a good eye."
Yin Xiu peeled off a peanut and handed it to Ma Xiaoyu's hand.
"We are indeed not locals, but tourists."
"Honeymoon trip?"
The shopkeeper suddenly said such a very trendy statement, but then felt it was inappropriate and quickly changed his words: "Now is really not a good time to travel. Look..."
He pointed to the high platform outside, "There hasn't been a drop of rain in three months. It's better here, but further south, I'm afraid you have to walk up the mountain road to fetch water from the ravines.
< br>
If the rain doesn't stop, my teahouse will be in ruins. I won't be able to drink water, so why drink tea? ”
Yin Xiu smiled and said, "I think the three people on the high platform seem to be very capable. Maybe they can ask for rain?"
"From Longhu Mountain."
The shopkeeper Nunu Nunu chin said, "If the masters from Longhu Mountain can't do it, then others will have to stop eating when they come."
"That's right, that's right. Praying for rain is really their specialty. I heard that their ancestor..."
Before Yin Xiu finished speaking, the sky suddenly changed color and became covered with dark clouds.
The earth, which had been roasted for a long time, finally received a hint of coolness.
The common people who were kneeling on the ground and praying with concentration were dumbfounded, and the gentlemen in the teahouse also rushed to the edge of the fence to look at the sky.
Boom!
The thunder fell, turning everyone's faces pale.
Then a huge scream struck everyone's ears, and the three Taoist priests fell down from the high platform, their whole bodies scorched black.
It turned out that the thunder actually hit the high platform where they were.
The three Taoist priests fell to the ground and screamed repeatedly.
The dark clouds that had gathered together dispersed again, and the scorching sun reappeared in the sky.
"Is someone making trouble?" Yin Xiu asked Ma Xiaoyu in a low voice.
"No."
Ma Xiaoyu shook her head. She had been paying attention to the conditions of the three Taoist priests since just now.
The three of them are all proficient in magic and have ritualistic prayers. I am afraid they have received long-term training on Longhu Mountain and will not make any mistakes.
So this is neither someone causing trouble, nor their casting method is wrong, but "God forbids".
Probably this place has been affected and changed by some kind of big weather, so if they forcefully pray for rain, they will only suffer such consequences.
"Maybe it's a change in the dragon's veins."
Ma Xiaoyu whispered: "Maybe the ground here has been disturbed, which caused the drought for days and the weird scene just now.
Even if I went up to pray for rain, I would probably suffer the same consequences. ”
"Then I must not ask you to go up."
Ma Xiaoyu glared at him and said angrily: "Is now the time to say such things?"
The three Taoist priests finally got up from the ground and walked away in despair without saying hello.
Upstairs, Lin Baoyi walked down the steps with a group of officials with a face full of disappointment.
Before he even walked down the stairs, he saw Yin Xiu and Ma Xiaoyu sitting together eating.
He couldn't help but look at Ma Xiaoyu twice.
An official next to him immediately rubbed his hands, bent down and said with a smile: "Sir, if you like that girl, I will ask a few of my men to invite her over to chat with you, hehehe..."
Another official also replied: "I think that boy is just ordinary. I have never seen him locally. I guess he is just a prodigal who comes from nowhere. It is easy to handle him."
"I think you are short of a concubine, my lord. Why don't you let me come down here..."
The officials showed their true nature and were flattering, and one of them, a tall and rough man, immediately went to find Yin Xiu and the others.
At this time, Lin Baoyi suddenly reached out and stopped them, "Everyone, I have heard a saying that you should never actively provoke danger."
"Huh? Danger?"
"Yes, just don't cause trouble for yourself."
Lin Baoyi wiped the sweat from his face, worried about being implicated by his colleagues.
"Sir, why do you say this?" Master asked.
"In recent years, I have read some local martial arts novels. In total, there are three bookcases in a room."
Lin Baoyi thought of those martial arts novels, and beads of sweat formed on his nose again, so he hurriedly explained.
"In those martial arts novels, there are plots that are so bad that they are disgusting.
Even if the young knight takes his best friend, when they walk on the street together, they will inevitably encounter some dandy, or crazy bees and butterflies.
Those people were like fools, completely unable to see the capability and strength of the knight-errant couple. They didn't know that the knight-errant could crush them to death with just a move of his fingers.
As usual, they went up to use words to provoke, belittle the couple, and speak rudely to women and say some obscene words.
Usually as soon as they do this, within three paragraphs, the gang is dead.
Then there will often be survivors among them, usually the most dandy, lecherous, and richest one, who will run back to some villa or mansion to ask for help and bring in reinforcements.
At this time, the survivor became arrogant again, thinking that he was sure of victory, but within half a page, all his reinforcements would be killed by the knights again.
Then there are usually survivors among the rescuers, and they go to drag out the old monsters in the family. The ancestor avenges the younger generation and leads the whole family to the knight. Then the whole family dies and the whole family is reunited. ”
The officials listened in silence, not knowing what to say for a moment.
Seeing their silence, Lin Baoyi finally couldn't help but get angry: "Even those bastards on the street who read martial arts novels understand the truth, but you local mayors still don't understand that the books have been read into the stomachs of dogs?"
"Then, sir, what do you think we should do?" The master's back was soaked in cold sweat.
"Of course, just pretend you didn't see anything and just leave. This is the safest thing." Lin Baoyi replied.
Everyone was convinced and hurriedly followed Lin Baoyi outside the teahouse, walking very lightly and no longer as majestic as before.
At this moment, Yin Xiu suddenly raised his head and said with a smile: "Master Lin, won't you stay and have a cup of tea with me?" (End of Chapter)