Wanli Snow Ridge even has the word "snow" in its name. It is obvious that snow is a common sight. For five or six months of the year, you can see frost and snow that remain white for a long time.
Zhongtu is divided into four seasons throughout the year, but this snow mountain seems to have only two seasons.
Once the rivers have thawed and the frost and snow have left no trace, it means that the warm air from the East China Sea has spread across the mountains and covered the snowy ridges in the north, and summer is about to begin.
Especially in Changle Mountain, the summer scenery lasts longer and comes earlier than elsewhere.
Those large-leaved trees, which even in the coldest weather are only covered with snow but not carved out, are full of vitality under the bright sun and warm wind recently. dark cyan.
Those trees with jagged branches are waving thousands of new leaves in the wind, and some branches have already hung clusters of light-colored flowers like wind chimes.
Elegant wild flowers also grow on the grassland.
Even in the gaps between the stone steps going up the mountain, one or two touches of green grass can be seen.
The black leather boots stepped on the stone steps, and the trouser legs touched a thin-stemmed white flower next to it, bending the flowers and leaves.
As long as you relax a little, the white flower will bounce back straight, but the owner of the leather boots stood there motionless and looked back.
This is a man with an iron hairpin on his head, big eyes, a red nose, and a scruffy beard. He wears a blue robe with a sloping collar, carries a long sword on his back, and hangs two wine gourds on his waist.
“Shopkeeper A Luo, it’s been a long time!”
He raised his hands to the group of people walking down the fork at the foot of the mountain with a smile on his face, “I always drink and get into trouble, and I’m worried that he will come again today. It’s too late. When I saw shopkeeper A Luo, I felt This big stone finally landed, it seems that I got lucky today.”
The leader of the group was a beautiful woman in a dark green dress with high hair on her temples, followed by several followers. An old woman and a stocky man with alert eyes.
"Taoist Master Jiujiu, if you encounter such a big event, you can still drink wine and fall asleep calmly, completely forgetting the time. Ah Luo is really impressed."
Mrs. Mei smiled slightly and said, "It's been a long time, but I don't dare to take it seriously. Seven days ago, the Taoist priest moved a carriage of wine to my store. Such a big customer always makes us who are small businesses still fresh in our memories."< br>
“Ha!”
Nine Wine Taoist Priest touched it He picked up the wine gourd at his waist and shook his head slightly, "The wine in the shop is good, and the wine from Changle Shanfang is even more famous. I just don't know if I am in the mood for wine tasting today."
A Shopkeeper Luo also walked up the stone steps, looked up, and whispered: "These years , Lord Lieutenant has great skills and can really fight against the Situ family. Our life will be much easier. If we go back to the time when one family is the only one, no matter whether we sell medicine, wine or manpower, we can't even hope to earn the price we have now. "
A flash of light flashed between Jiujiu Taoist priest's brows. Worried: "Brother Yun Tao, unlike the previous county lieutenants, although his methods are higher and he fights harder, if he loses this time, those of us who waved the flag with him will have to consider... It’s not about whether you can make money, but when you choose to escape.”
"Hmm."
Shop A Luo thought, "According to Changle Shanfang, there is good news to be announced this time. Let's go up the mountain to have a look first."
Jiujiu The Taoist priest also looked at the top of the mountain, nodded, and finally continued to step forward. The little flower that had been bent by him straightened up and swayed in the wind.
After everyone went up the mountain, a disciple from Changle Mountain House came to invite them to sit down.
Today's banquet is held next to a spring. The terrain is open and the sun is bright. Tables and cushions are placed in all directions.
Sitting here, looking to the north, you can directly overlook Luming Lake, and the outline of Xueling County City further away is also looming.
The Taoist priest and the shopkeeper sat nearby. Not long after, more than a dozen groups of people came up the mountain one after another.
Although there are not too many people, they can already represent the movements of nearly half of the forces in Xueling County.
In this vast plain and the land of counties, a single ladder master would not be very competitive if he wanted to open a martial arts gym or establish a sect.
On the contrary, you will be stuck in an embarrassing situation that is easy to arouse the jealousy of others and is easier to be manipulated and demonstrated. You will encounter more worries about right and wrong than people in the Qihai realm.
If you don't want to go to other counties to start your own business, then you have no choice but to join a big force or form a gang to fight for your place.
Those people present today, even those like Taoist Jiujiu who seem to be attending the banquet alone, behind him, a true form master, also represent two other true form masters and several ladder masters. opinions.
Seeing that everyone had almost arrived, several Changle Shanfang disciples who were waiting next to the spring took out tea cans and brewed fragrant tea.
The tip of Shopkeeper A Luo's delicate nose twitched slightly, and she glanced to the side in surprise: "They are all using sober bone tea?!"
Jiujiu Taoist Priest was a little anxious, ready to The hand touching the wine gourd also relaxed.
Although he was addicted to alcohol, he was the leader of the Xueling Tea Gang. He worked with tea gang masters to develop the secret "Awakening Bone Tea", which became famous far and wide.
Used with white salt, it can break intoxication, break illusions, hurt ghosts, and scare away aquatic monsters. Use it with white sugar, it can cure agitation, sleeplessness, and liver vein damage. Make tea directly. It can also nourish the three yin meridians of the hands.
But the amount of Xinggutcha kept by the tea gang every year is far less than the quantity they sell.
Like Changle Shanfang, where a whole pot of top-grade tea tips is served to each person and table, the tea gang may not be able to make it themselves.
The aroma of tea spreads throughout the venue.
Many people who had turned their eyes and talked quietly before gradually let go of their emotions and relaxed their brows in this aroma.
When the fragrant tea was served, these people raised their glasses and tasted it, making various small sighs.
Jiujiu Taoist drank three cups in a row and praised: "As expected of a Changle Shanfang person. Even if I make the tea myself, the amount of tea and water, the tea set, and the material of the teapot are not the same. So appropriate.”
"If it weren't for the excellent quality of Xinggut Tea, no matter how particular the people in my mountain house are, it would be just pretentiousness, nothing more."
Dongfang Xin's voice came, laughing. Then, he walked out from between the bellflower trees.
"However, I still ask all my friends to save some face for my Changle Mountain House. Don't spend all your time drinking tea. Later, you will have to taste our Changle Mountain House's new dishes."
Jiujiu Taoist priest quickly said a few polite words.
But more people’s eyes were already on the group of people walking behind Dongfang Xin.
Among those people, there was an old woman with gray hair, wearing a yellow robe, her back slightly arched, and holding a mahogany crutch that was taller than her.
This person is the master of Huangta Temple, a Tieying Sanren in the Xuantai realm.
On the other side are "Situ Yuntao" and Ma Lianbo with black robes and flame patterns.
There is another person with a knotted hair on his head, wearing a hibiscus crown, his hair is parted in the middle on his forehead, his facial features are regular, he looks like he is in his prime, his elegance has a hint of solemnity, and he is wearing apricot white clothes The robe is decorated with jingle bells around the waist, making it look graceful and not stained by the turbid atmosphere.
Dongfang Xin noticed the attention of everyone and introduced him to everyone with a smile.
Situ Yuntao, Tie Yingsanren and others, of course, did not need to introduce themselves. They each held their hands, and after everyone returned the favor, they sat down next to the spring and left.
The real introduction was the strange man.
"Brother Haiwu Binghai was also a member of our Snow Mountains back then. Later, due to an incident, he was persecuted by the enemy and fled to the shores of the East China Sea."
Dongfang Xinyu said with emotion, "Fortunately, he With natural talent and extraordinary luck, he honed his superb martial arts in the nine counties of the East China Sea, and also mastered the secret arts and formations. He completed it a few years ago. "Xuantai."
"This time I returned to Xueling. Firstly, I wanted to take revenge on my big enemy. Secondly, I wanted to see the mountains and rivers of my ancestral home. I wanted to make friends with the people in my hometown. It just happened to me. There is a banquet here, so I invite him to come and get close to all of you."
Hai Wubing stepped forward to greet everyone.
As he took this step, everyone felt their breathing slow down, and their hearts seemed to be pressed down by a huge wave.
But before it touched their minds and caused them to fight back, it suddenly dispersed and turned into a breeze blowing on their faces, which made them feel refreshed.
This is not a demonstration, but merely a confirmation of the realm and temperament of a master of Xuantai.
All the guests who came to Changle Mountain House today were moved and hurriedly returned the gift. Their thoughts were ups and downs, and they were a bit surprised.
There has been an undercurrent in Xueling recently, and Situ Yuntao closed the door to thank guests again.
Those who participated in Situ Yuntao's camp were inevitably uneasy. Unexpectedly, when they gathered at Changle Mountain House today, they not only saw Situ Yuntao, who had been a guest for a long time, but also discovered that there was an extra person on their side. A powerful person with a mysterious fetus.
Although the big enemy mentioned in the introduction was not stated clearly, everyone can guess it.
After a person can cultivate to the realm of Xuantai, it will take several years before he considers coming back for revenge, and he has to join Situ Yuntao's camp first. Who else can this big enemy be apart from the Situ family? ?
Some senior people have remembered that when the last county captain was here, there was a Hai family in each faction under his command.
When the former county captain surrendered and was transferred to another place, the Situ family always wanted to clearly express their victory. The Hai family was among the group of unlucky people who were used to show off their achievements.
For example, Jiujiu Taoist, thinking of the small family that he had no impression of, and then looking at the powerful Xuantai in front of him, he was surprised, but also a little bit sad.
"To be honest with you, I was still a young man when I left Xueling. After so many years, I really don't miss Xueling much, at least not as much as my hatred."
Hai Wubing spoke. Very straightforward, "But seeing so many like-minded people here today, I have a little more appreciation for my hometown. Respect."
"No matter how arrogant and domineering the Situ family is, there are always proud and unyielding people in our Snow Mountains who dare to stand up to them."
"I owe you a toast. We should pay more respect to this county captain, Brother Yun Tao! "The people from Changle Shanfang saw the opportunity and presented them with fine wine.
Su Hanshan had been observing Hai Wubing. No matter it was the result of the intelligence investigation or the meeting in the forest until now, he couldn't see anything out of the ordinary.
He picked up the wine glass and accepted the toast from the other party. After drinking it, he temporarily turned his mind away from the other party, looked around, poured another glass himself, and said: "Those of us and Situ There is no need to repeat the grievances and grievances of the aristocratic family.”
“In short, if he wants to dominate us, he will suppress us. able "Confrontation."
"In these years, I think that the county government and everyone have done a pretty good job, but recently everything has been red, the government has changed, and the Situ family is ready to make a move, but I just can't sit still. Come out and let you take charge I'm sorry, I should punish myself with a drink."
Su Hanshan drank the glass of wine, turned the empty glass outward, and said with a smile, "I will take this opportunity of Brother Dongfang to make it clear to everyone. ”
"The matter of the blessing ceremony seems to be that the Situ family will forcibly encircle a large area next to my county prince's mansion without any discussion."
"But in the whole world, there is no royal land, and the blessing ceremony I am praying for His Majesty. As an official for the imperial court, there is certainly no reason to stop him."
"This does not mean that I dare not continue to fight against Si..."
Before Su Hanshan finished speaking, he was suddenly heard from down the mountain. A burst of laughter interrupted.
The faces of the people on the mountain changed slightly, and many people recognized that it was Situ Langzhao's voice.
The laughter was still several miles away, but in a moment, it had reached the foot of the mountain, and in the blink of an eye, it had reached the top of the mountain.
Situ Langzhao was wearing a purple robe embroidered with star patterns, a golden crown and a black beard. He looked majestic and majestic, stepping on the lawn at the edge of the field.
Wu Renyong suddenly appeared beside him.
The two of them were obviously at the edge of the banquet venue, but as soon as they appeared, they became the focus of everyone's attention, as if that edge had become the unquestionable center.
And these heads of forces who participated in the banquet and discussed the overall situation could only be reduced to unimportant marginal people.
"I just vaguely heard that Brother Yuntao, it turns out that he agrees with this blessing ceremony?"
Situ Langzhao put his hand on his chest, "It's a coincidence that so many people from Xueling County are here today. As a prominent figure, I believe that what Brother Yun Tao said on this occasion will not be false.”
“Hey, this is really a relief for Brother Wei. These days, Brother Yun Tao has been saying it all. right Not making any statements about the blessing ceremony made Brother Wei feel very uneasy. He thought Brother Yun Tao was being disloyal to His Majesty in some way."
Su Hanshan laughed and said calmly: "Your Majesty. Just kidding, my loyalty to Your Majesty has proven itself, and I fully agree with the idea of holding a blessing ceremony at Luming Lake."
"Seriously?"
Situ Langzhao said hesitantly, "But the title deed of Luming Lake Swamp belongs to the county commander's office. The county commander's office is responsible for capturing all the spirits in it, and also has the right to dispose and sell them. It is a huge income."
"If we hold this blessing ceremony at Luming Lake, the medicinal materials and spirits in it will definitely be greatly affected. Doesn't Brother Yuntao really feel distressed?"
Su Hanshan's smile did not change: "Master County Sheriff So suspicious, Mo Do we have to draw up a contract and sign it together in public?”
“That’s not necessary. Even though we are officials, we are still martial arts practitioners. "Santai doesn't have the character of a warrior."
Situ Langzhao stretched out a hand and said with a smile, "How about we follow the rules of martial arts and let everyone witness it. How about we high-five?"
As soon as these words came out, everyone understood clearly.
The news that Situ Yuntao was injured for no apparent reason has spread.
Situ Langzhao came here today, obviously to test Situ Yuntao's injury, and he might even have the intention of aggravating the opponent's injury.
"Lord Sheriff!"
Dongfang Xin took a step forward, with a respectful tone, cupped his hands, bowed slightly, and said with a smile, "How can our small place in Changle Mountain stand up to the Sheriff? Lieutenant, the two big men are here to high-five.”
"Besides, not all people who practice martial arts are aggressive. It's okay to be literate when dealing with things. Otherwise, if the little old man has been used to being a cook over the years, doesn't he deserve to be regarded as a martial artist?"
< br>Tie Yingsanren snorted coldly and stood up.
Hai Wubing didn't say anything, just stared at Situ Langzhao, and occasionally glanced at Wu Renyong.
The atmosphere on the entire mountaintop became extremely dull. I don’t know when the long wind that seemed to be blowing from the distant plains stopped.
The vibrant green grass is now as stiff as dried and faded paint.
Situ Langzhao didn't look at the others at all, only stared at Su Hanshan, pretending to sigh.
“It’s just a simple proposal, why is Brother Yuntao so procrastinating?”
“The county governor doesn’t know that the title deed of Luming Lake is no longer with the county captain. And on me.”
A voice suddenly came from high in the sky.
In the misty white clouds, a lotus platform composed of black crystal swords flew towards me.
The man with a thin face and gray hair landed on the top of the mountain with his feet on the lotus platform.
The moment it touched the ground, the lotus platform dispersed on its own, like a black mist.
Everyone on the mountain recognized the person who was none other than the chief instructor of the Five Route Guerrilla Troops in Xueling County, Ji Buyi.
Dongfang Xin and Tieying Sanren are both local masters in Xueling. Although they are allies, they are not close friends of life and death. Even if Situ Yuntao believes in these two people, he may not believe in those around them. people.
So the most critical parts of this plan cannot be disclosed to these two people.
As for Ji Buyi, his friendship with Situ Yuntao was much deeper.
This man was originally the head of a swordsmanship sect on the coast of the East China Sea. He failed to break through to the Xuantai realm and was seriously injured. When his enemies heard the news, they took the opportunity to come for revenge and almost killed his entire family. Only a few people were left, fleeing.
Situ Yuntao had just entered the Xuan Dynasty at that time. He traveled in the East China Sea and rescued a few people. Later, he wanted to return to Xueling to serve as a county captain. Ji Buyi also swore to follow him. Six years ago, he tried to break through again and successfully set foot in the Xueling Mountains. Enter the mysterious realm.
In these years, although Ji Buyi did not establish a sect again, among the soldiers and horses of the five guerrilla generals, all those who were qualified in swordsmanship treated him seriously as a teacher.
There are thousands of disciples and disciples, which can make up for Ji Buyi's regrets back then.
After the Rebellion of King Liang, the spirits in the nine counties of the East China Sea and deep in the Fulong Mountains have abundant blood and have become strong and multiplied, causing great disasters. Not long ago, some of them migrated with the refugees to the Fulong Mountains and fled to other counties. .
As for Xueling, Yu Ji Buyi personally led five groups of guerrilla generals to set up defenses throughout the Fulong Mountains, search mountains and water, and kill monsters.
When Situ Yuntao changed the plan before, he made a prompt decision and made a plan by himself. However, he specially managed to inform Ji Buyi, who was still deep in the Fulong Mountains, of the key points.
“I have made countless contributions to Xueling over the years, and I have been rewarded with gold and silver without taking any cents. Brother Yuntao said that if I do things like this, it will inevitably make it difficult for others who want to make contributions and receive rewards, so I use a deer. The title deed to Minghu Lake is worth all the rewards for my merits."
Ji Buyi looked tired, and even if he came in a hurry, there was no sign of urgency.
He also spoke slowly, and even on such occasions, he never raised his eyes to look at anyone.
His temperament makes people feel his sincerity and listen to everything he says.
Situ Langzhao rolled his eyes and said with a smile: "Oh? It turns out that the wise brother Yuntao had already made a plan. Since even the land deed has been transferred to someone else, he is in peace."
This is saying overtly and covertly that Situ Yuntao has long wanted to retreat.
Everyone could hear Situ Langzhao's provocation. Their expressions did not change on the surface, but in their hearts they could not help but wonder how serious Situ Yuntao's injury was.
Since he could think of a way out in this kind of matter, would he have thought of a further way out?
"It's really just a small matter, why are everyone so nervous?"
Su Hanshan's eyes flashed, and he put his palm on Ji Buyi's shoulder, asking him to step away.
Ji Buyi and Ma Lianbo had thoughts racing in their minds, knowing that if they gave in again, it would be too weak and would be very detrimental to the future situation.
But for a junior who had recently entered his true form to use this body to fight against Situ Langzhao, the two of them really had little confidence.
'Well, since Yuntao dares to trust him, even if it is because he did not expect the changes in the plan, he should at least have some quality and can take a gamble. ’
Ji Buyi made a decision in his heart and stepped aside.
Su Hanshan stepped forward calmly, flicked his arm, and flicked down his sleeves.
Between heaven and earth, the strong wind remains, and on the mountain peaks, the grass is fresh.
Seeing this, Situ Langzhao's expression was mixed with a hint of excitement, the stars in his eyes were flowing violently, the surrounding environment suddenly changed, and he refined his energy to make a move.
(End of this chapter)