Chapter 207 Qing Ming
Even though he had expected it, when Gu Xu heard these words from Luo Sishou, he still felt a little incredible - because it didn't sound like a boss and a subordinate at all. dialogue between.
But the saint's mind is unfathomable, and it is difficult for Gu Xu to figure it out.
He paused and continued: "Master Chief, Shi Xiaohan really wants to stay in the capital as an official, but currently in the establishment of the Exorcism Department headquarters, there is only one 'chief secretary' position that is the same as hers. But I think she has little chance of winning in the promotion assessment, and this kind of clerical job is not suitable for her.
"So I would like to ask if she is in the Exorcism Department headquarters. Are there other opportunities for her to stay in the capital? ”
Gu Xu knew that in front of a saint who mastered the art of divine deduction, stating the truth was undoubtedly the best choice.
At the same time, he also knew that many of the so-called "rules" in the Exorcism Department were not as good as a word from the chief executive.
"It turns out it's just such a small thing!" After Gu Xu finished speaking, Luo Sishou responded with a chuckle, "Gu Xiaoyou, you are really interested in your little girlfriend... stepped into the ring last night Stand up for her and ask me for help today. All the beautiful girls in the capital are looking at you with admiration, trying to attract your attention, but you turn a blind eye to them."
Gu Xu smiled: "Xiaohan helped me a lot before. Now that she is in trouble, I have to find a way to help her."
"This matter is easy to handle," Luo Chuan said cheerfully , "Every year, the Exorcism Department Headquarters sends two young people to Longmen Academy for further study. This year, there is only one candidate left, so I will add Shi Xiaohan.
"She is not bad in talent, but the moves she masters are a little bit single. Going to Longmen Academy to study for a period of time should help her effectively make up for her shortcomings.
"You also want to go there to teach, so we can learn from each other. Take care of it. ”
This matter that caused Shi Xiaohan a deep headache was solved so easily.
Gu Xu was in a daze for a moment, and then sincerely thanked Luo Sishou.
"You're welcome," Luo Chuan smiled and shook his head, "Gu Xiaoyou, you just need to understand that when you have enough power and strength in the future, you can easily get anything you want. ”
Having said this, he paused for a while, and then said earnestly to Gu Xu: "Of course, young people's feelings are beautiful, but they are also easy to be impulsive. I hope you can stay awake at all times in the future and don't get carried away easily. Don't always break the rules because of personal affairs. At critical times, we should put our great cause first."
Gu Xu nodded in agreement.
Same as last time, Luo Chuan got up from the futon and took Gu Xu to the edge of the stairs in person.
As Gu Xu walked down the stairs, he silently recalled Luo Chuan's instructions to him, and his mood became increasingly complicated.
Because he felt that Luo Sishou's tone did not sound like the leader of the exorcism department lecturing his subordinates, but more like an old chaebol housekeeper earnestly persuading his young master.
.........
After leaving the star observatory, Gu Xu returned to the "Qingxiang Pavilion", closed the door, took the elixir, and then closed his eyes to practice.
The situation in Luojing City is indeed confusing and undercurrents are surging.
But Gu Xu didn’t spend too much energy thinking about what he saw and heard on the observatory today.
Prophecy, family status, power and strength, the chief executive's expectations of him... these are either too far away or too complicated for him.
His current level is too low and his time is too short. He is not even qualified to sit on the card table.
The most urgent task is to improve one's own cultivation as soon as possible.
Only when you are strong enough can you stand firm in the turbulent whirlpool.
…………
Luojing City is shaped like a chessboard.
The criss-crossing streets divide the city into several areas, commonly known as "squares".
Among them, Xiu Shanfang is one of the most prosperous areas.
There are a large number of restaurants and wine shops here, as well as tea shops, dance pavilions and singing stages.
At this moment, Duke Zhao Changying of Yan Kingdom did not return to his residence immediately after leaving the exorcism department's yamen, but appeared in Xiuxianfang.
He calmed down his breath and adjusted his appearance slightly. His robes were loose and baggy, and he smelled of alcohol. He didn't look like a saint from the Qi Dynasty at all, but a drunkard wandering the streets.
Soon, he came to the Goulan located in the center of Xiuxianfang.
In the Daqi Dynasty, Goulan was a performance venue for opera, song, dance, acrobatics, etc. It was equivalent to a simple theater. (1)
It is shaped like a square wooden box, surrounded by wooden boards as walls; there is a door on one side for the audience to enter and exit.
At this time, the sun is shining brightly and it is the most noisy time in Goulan.
There are huge crowds of people, rubbing shoulders and backs.
The noisy voices poured into his ears like a wave.
Even the lintel of the door has been hung with a "full" sign.
But there are still many people queuing outside the door, waiting to see the next show.
Yan Guogong Zhao Changying, as a seventh-level monk, has many ways to enter this Goulan. Naturally, he does not need to spend time in long queues like ordinary people.
He picked up the wine bottle on his waist, took a sip of wine, and then disappeared.
The next second, he appeared in the hook bar.
There is a stage and auditorium inside Goulan.
The stage is higher than the ground, with railings surrounding the stage entrance - the front is the performance area, and the back is a place for actors to dress up and rest, called a "theater room".
The front and back rooms are separated by screens.
The passage connecting the theater room and the front desk is called the "Ghost Doorway".
——Ghosts, the people they pretend to be are all people from the past.
This moment coincides with the break between two plays, and there is no one on the stage. Zhao Changying looked around, then stepped onto the stage, followed the "ghost doorway" and walked straight towards the theater room.
On the walls of "Ghost Doorway", dozens of old opera masks are hung in various colors.
Zhao Changying took off a red facial mask and put it on his face.
Then he entered the theater room.
A young woman wearing a cyan opera robe is sitting in front of a bronze mirror quietly putting on makeup.
Her face was covered with a thick layer of powder and her hairstyle was extremely complicated, making it difficult to see her true appearance.
Seeing Zhao Changying's arrival, the woman in green immediately stood up and said to him, "Who do you want to find?"
"I want to see 'Wenchang Xingjun'." Zhao Changying replied calmly.
Under the influence of the spell attached to the mask, his voice became hoarse and deep, completely different from its original appearance.
…………
Every city has its shadow side.
Luojing City under the sun looks dazzling at first glance.
But in those narrow and winding alleys, in the dim canals, in the crowded docks, in the casinos that smell of copper, in the restaurants where people drink and drink, singing and dancing day and night The hook bar... is filled with surging undercurrents and countless rivers and lakes struggles.
Hidden in the hooks of this Xiuxianfang is an organization called "Qing Ming".
"Qingming" means sky and fairyland.
Although his name sounds high-end, he is actually engaged in shady activities such as assassination, lending, intelligence, and secretly selling pills.
Members of "Qing Ming" often appear in teahouses, Goulan, brothels and other places.
They are codenamed after stars such as "Grean Wolf" and "Pojun". They will wear special masks or special makeup, making it impossible to identify their true identities.
The "Wenchang Xingjun" mentioned by Zhao Changying just now is their leader.
They claim that as long as they are given enough silver, they can know anything under the sun and kill anyone below the realm of a saint.
Zhao Changying initially scoffed at this.
Because "Qing Ming" can simply offer sky-high prices to refuse transactions that they can't do.
But later, out of curiosity, many children of the Zhao family went to "Qing Ming" to ask some boring questions - such as what color is the bellyband of the court chief of Luojing City, such as Li Yuan of Longmen Academy How many lovers and illegitimate children does the elder have in private? For example, what are the measurements of Princess Zhaoning? For example, how many maids has the second prince had sex with...
For these questions, "Qing Ming" gave answers, and most of them were proved to be correct soon.
This made Zhao Changying feel a chilling feeling in his heart, as if the secrets of the entire capital were clearly exposed in front of "Qing Ming", with nowhere to hide.
The information it holds in Luojing City even exceeds the Zhao family's own intelligence system.
Logically speaking, under the eyes of the emperor and the saints, such an organization that violates laws and disciplines should not exist at all.
But in recent decades, "Qingming" has been firmly rooted in the underground world of Luojing City, and has never been eradicated by the imperial court.
This undoubtedly means that "Qing Ming" either has a strong person in charge or has a profound background - of course, it may also be both.
However, until now, Zhao Changying still does not know who "Wenchang Xingjun" is, nor who is hiding behind "Qingming".
…………
“Sorry, Mr. Wenchang is not here today,” the woman in Tsing Yi responded politely, “If you need anything, you can tell me directly. Or I can also convey your message to him."
"What is your code name?"
"'Ling Xing'." The woman in green replied.
In astrology, "Bell Star" is an evil star. The five elements belong to fire. It is one of the floating stars in the South Dipper and is also known as the "God of Killing".
Those with the "Bell Star" in their fortune palace are often decisive, gloomy, and strong. They are killer-like figures who "do nothing if they don't move, and thunder when they move."
"Okay, then I'll tell you directly," Zhao Changying said, "I want you to kill a few people for me. Can you tell me the price?"
The woman in Tsing Yi chuckled: "Isn't this your first time here? According to our rules, even if you just ask about the price of an assassination, you still need to spend a sum of money."
"I know." Zhao Changying nodded and put several banknotes into the hands of the woman in green.
He knew very well that the assassination price given by "Qing Ming" represented the difficulty of a person's assassination, which often contained a huge amount of information, which was equivalent to a very valuable piece of intelligence.
Many assassination targets may only show the tip of the iceberg in terms of their strength.
But from this price number, we can get a glimpse of their true power hidden under the water.
The reason why Zhao Changying approached "Qing Ming" today was not because he really wanted to kill someone, but simply because he wanted to ask about the price.
"Then who do you want to kill?" The woman in green smiled and then asked.
…………
Notes:
(1) Goulan was originally the main performance venue for Song and Yuan operas in the city, equivalent to a theater. However, because official prostitutes in the Song Dynasty were scattered in the city and often entertained guests in Goulan, after the Ming Dynasty, brothels were also called Goulan.
Thanks to Xiaoyu 1115 for the 1,500 reward, and thanks to layman Ruoxi for the 100 reward!
(End of this chapter)