Chapter 199: The Gu Master Who Cultivated the Young Hero
Qi He did what he said and just cooled Lin Zhi's hands without doing anything else.
The luggage was on the person accompanying him, and the two of them rode on one horse, heading towards Qinhe Valley.
The route Lin Zhi chose was to take the water route and then transfer to the official road, and meet Hai Ye halfway.
The scale of the sword-washing competition is not as large as that of the martial arts competition, but it is equally lively. The competition is not about who has better martial arts skills, but about judging swordsmanship.
There are also many rare and precious swords on display, allowing people in the martial arts world to choose a weapon that suits them.
Lin Zhi chartered a medium-sized merchant ship. Of course, this was what he showed to the outside world. In fact, the ship was his, and everyone inside and outside the ship, whether it was the boatman or the cook, were all his people.
He stood on the deck and looked at the beautiful scenery where the water and sky merged into one.
Qi He was practicing martial arts in the house. The closer he got to Qinhe Valley, the less he spoke.
This was a knot that he needed to untie by himself. Lin Zhi did not interfere too much. Qi He would let it go only when those people died.
With the sails flapping, the boat moved down the river at a very fast speed.
It quickly got dark and the lanterns hanging on the boat lit up one by one.
Lin Zhi returned to the room and Qi He had already lit the lamp. Even if he didn't need it, he always kept it ready for Lin Zhi.
It is difficult to store ice on the boat and it is not convenient to transport ice, so there is no ice basin in the room. Qi He opened all the windows to let the river breeze blow in to relieve some of the summer boredom.
After dinner, Lin Zhi took a bath and sat on a chair with wet hair. Qi He wiped his hair gently, and when he was almost done, he reached out and massaged his hair.
People who practice martial arts are always familiar with the positions of the martial arts, and Qi He has a more thorough grasp of it, which makes Lin Zhi feel relieved.
Lin Zhi closed his eyes and dozed off, relaxing his body.
The candle flame in the lampshade swayed gently in the wind, and the nearby figure swayed with it.
Lin Zhi's mind was clear, but he was not thinking about anything.
In the past, Lin Zhi rarely had such moments. He was like a machine that habitually kept running. Even if there was really nothing to do sometimes, he would still absorb some knowledge beyond his interests.
Everything may deviate from the truth except knowledge. However, when there is nothing to pursue but one cannot stop, one will inevitably feel tired and bored.
This emotion is not directed at any particular thing or person, or rather, it is directed at everything and everyone.
Now Lin Zhi has become accustomed to this state of doing nothing but feeling at peace. Because the timeline has been stretched, he has stayed with Qi He for a long time, so long that he has become lazy enough around Qi He.
After all, this is not nine days or nine months, but nine years, almost ten years.
“Time flies by so fast.”
A low sigh escaped from Lin Zhi's lips, and in this gentle night, there was a hint of haziness between reality and fantasy.
Qi He kneaded gently and said, "Being in it, it really makes people unconsciously. Thinking of the first meeting with Master, the scene seems just like yesterday."
Qi He still remembers the room they lived in the Miao village, the hot and humid miasma forest, the insect jars filled with the smell of blood, and the practice years after years.
He also remembered the wooden stakes of varying heights, the scattered peaks, the steep cliffs and loose rocks, the peach blossoms in the courtyard, the gentleman who always created his own moves, and Mrs. Huo who always told him to eat more.
Due to other things, they have not been able to go back to see Mr. and Mrs. Huo who are running out of time. His other two husbands, one has been buried in the earth slope of the Miao village, and the other was buried in the ground not long ago.
Qi He's hand paused, and he felt inexplicably cold, not because of the helpless separation in this world, but because of a worry that made his bones cold.
His voice was a little hoarse as he said, "If anything unexpected happens that day, Master, remember to protect yourself."
Even after hearing this, Qi He was still not at ease, and was completely unaware that the master and disciple's identities had been reversed.
Most teachers in the world devote all their efforts to their disciples and are willing to sacrifice their lives to protect them. How could a teacher who is like a father abandon the younger generation?
Qi He was anxious for a while, then calmed down. No matter what happened, he would always be by his master's side.
Lin Zhi heard the worry in his words, looked up and said with amusement: "Are you worried about me?"
Qi He's fingertips moved slightly due to Lin Zhi's movements, and the black hair sliding down felt like brocade. He smiled and replied, "In my heart, Master's ability is second to none in the world, so I rest assured."
"Master, can I sleep with you tonight? I feel more at ease when you are by my side."
Qi He did not hide his dependence, and his words did not contain any inappropriate meanings, just like the requests of a child.
But he is no longer a child, the boy's brows are clear, and he whispers with the breeze and the bright moon, with some affection and such wholehearted dependence, hiding his edge, just like a round and cold jade, making it impossible for people to refuse.
Lin Zhi knew very well that Qi He would never feel uneasy about what was about to happen, but this was exactly where Qi He's superiority came from. Even though he analyzed it this way rationally, he emotionally leaned towards Qi He. He couldn't help but feel that Qi He was still a teenager who lost his father at a young age and had eye diseases. His blood feud was about to be avenged, so it was normal for him to be uneasy. In addition, he had always relied on him, so it was reasonable for him to want to sleep well and peacefully with him.
Look, how horrible it is, emotions have deviated from reason, and the highly skilled swordsman is treated as weak and unable to take care of himself who needs care.
Lin Zhi picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip of the Longjing tea before the rain. The unique bitter aroma of the new leaves spread from the tip of her tongue. It was good tea.
"Can."
Lin Zhi agreed. After all, she was the lover he had raised, so he had to be more lenient with her.
Qi He smiled with eyes curved in the corners, looking very satisfied.
After many years, Qi He was able to sleep on the same couch with his master again, but he had no extra thoughts.
Those restless desires in his heart were obviously insignificant compared to the eagerness to sleep in the arms of his master. His heart was filled with warmth. Qi He smelled the sweet fragrance coming from his master and fell into a dream with a smile on his lips.
When Lin Zhi woke up the next day, Qi He was still sleeping in the same position as when he was a child, hugging him sideways. Although she was taller than him, she still leaned her head on his shoulder and clung to him tightly, appearing obedient and docile, but the hand holding his waist seemed to not let him break free.
As soon as Lin Zhi moved, Qi He woke up, rubbed his shoulder, and called him "Master".
The young man who had just woken up spoke in a low, hoarse voice, and his breath fell beside his ear and went into his ear.
Lin Zhi responded and sat up from the bed. Qi He also stood up, his movements seeming a little hesitant, but this was fleeting and Lin Zhi didn't notice as she had her back to him.
Qi He put on his shoes, turned his head to look towards the window, and blinked slowly.
He seemed to be able to see a little light?
Qi He closed his eyes and opened them again, feeling the difference between light and darkness more carefully, suppressing the excitement and joy in his heart.
He still couldn't see anything, but the grayness in his eyes became brighter and darker. He didn't tell Lin Zhi right away, for fear of making his master and he happy for nothing.
When he can see again, he will tell the master.
After washing up, the master and disciple had breakfast and stood on the deck to watch the river view.
This is a merchant ship. There are many people on board, but none of them show up. Only a few people are guarding important positions to prevent anyone from sneaking in from underwater.
In order to avoid the eyes and ears of the Akabane Clan, Lin Zhi and Hai Ye agreed to meet on the boat, so there was no need to stop halfway.
Dongjiang River is the main tributary in this area. Several rivers converge here along the water. There are many boats along the way. There are small black-sailed boats passing slowly, there are also gorgeous boats with fragrant breezes, and there are some free and easy people who ride on bamboo rafts downstream.
Lin Zhi saw a man and a woman standing on a bamboo raft not far away. They looked familiar, but the distance was too far and he couldn't see clearly.
The woman on the bamboo raft used her martial arts skills to nail the dagger in her hand to the mast of the boat. The silk thread seemed transparent in the sunlight. The woman used the force to fly up, turned over and landed on the deck.
Lin Zhi raised his hand slightly to stop his men from showing up.
"Brother Lin! It's you guys. What a coincidence! We meet again!"
Yan Yixiuan was wearing a black dress and smiled at Lin Zhi and Qi He.
Before Lin Zhi had time to say hello, Yan Yixuan immediately waved to the people on the bamboo raft and shouted, "Qu Ziheng! Come here quickly!"
Qu Ziheng climbed onto the boat without getting wet.
Lin Zhi didn't expect to meet the two of them here. They hadn't seen each other for a few days. Qu Ziheng and Yan Yixiuan told him what they had seen and heard, which made him understand the reason.
A few days ago, the two of them followed the direction of Jiang Yan but got no results. When they heard that Qinhe Valley was holding a sword-washing meeting, they set out from the port. They set out late and the bamboo raft was not as fast as the boat, so they met at this moment.
Yan Yixuan smiled happily: "It shows that we are destined to be together!"
Qi He nodded: "Indeed."
However, if possible, he actually didn't want to meet them, and he didn't even want them to show up at the Sword Washing Conference. This trip was strange and dangerous, and Qi He didn't want people he knew to be involved, especially since Qu Ziheng and Yan Yixiuan were both kind-hearted and pure people.
After greeting, Qu Ziheng seemed to be hesitant to speak, but still looked at Lin Zhi and spoke out.
"Brother Lin, we have heard some bad rumors about you these days, but we believe that you are not that kind of evil people."
Yan Yixuan got angry when she thought of these rumors. She snorted coldly, "Those people have never been with you, but they said such terrible things about you. I was so angry that I had a few arguments with them. They put all kinds of shit on you. They said it with details. When you were with us, where could you go to kill his friends?"
Qu Ziheng held the sword and said, "Brother Lin, Xiaohe, don't worry. We are good friends, so we will not let rumors create rifts between us."
"There are indeed many untrue rumors about us, but some of them are not groundless. As you have heard, I am indeed from Miaojiang and the so-called Holy Son of the Gu Cult, but I believe that I have not killed innocent people indiscriminately. Xiao He has no connection with the Gu Cult, and he has never touched a Gu."
Lin Zhi looked at his two friends and said, these things cannot be hidden, and there is no need to hide them. It is almost coming to an end, and there is no need to cover it up.
Qu Ziheng and Yan Yixiuan opened their lips slightly, obviously not expecting this to be the truth. Their friend was the evil person who was rumored to be doing all kinds of evil.
Seeing that they were a little dazed because they were at a loss, Lin Zhi considerately gave them time to react.
"We believe."
Qu Ziheng and Yan Yixiuan said this almost at the same time, smiled at each other, and then smiled at Lin Zhi and Qi He.
"What others say is not as reliable as what we see with our own eyes. Anyway, our sect's reputation is not that good."
Ms. Yan said cheerfully that she came from the Qingying Sect, which was a sect that was both good and evil. The uncles and aunts in the sect were also on good terms with the people in the Demon Sect. It was a pleasure to make friends with them, as long as they had different paths and the same destination.
"Although I am a disciple of a famous and upright sect, my master has taught me that one should not look at one's social status when making friends. The most important thing is that friends get along well with each other. I have always believed that Brother Lin and Xiao He are not as vicious as the rumors say. But if one day we go our separate ways, there is no need to show mercy when we draw swords against each other."
Qu Ziheng knew that his martial arts skills were not as good as Qi He's, but he also had the pride of a disciple from a famous family. He did not say that he would not show mercy, but only asked them not to show any mercy.
"Why did we get to this point? Bah, bah, bah, this is unlucky!"
Yan Yixiuan patted Qu Ziheng, not wanting the atmosphere to be too tense.
Qi He curved his lips and said, "Brother Qu has always been open and aboveboard. We are relieved to hear him speak so candidly. No matter what the future holds, we just hope we can have a clear conscience."
Qu Ziheng laughed: "That's it, I just want to have a clear conscience!"
The atmosphere became relaxed again. Lin Zhi asked them to sit down in the room and had tea served.
During the conversation, they couldn't help but talk about Jiang Yan.
"We couldn't find him. Although we don't know why he is like this, I think we don't want to see him either. So let it go."
Qu Ziheng sighed, looking somewhat distressed.
Yan Yixuan was also a little worried and said, "He was injured so badly that it would be difficult for him to fully recover, not to mention that he can't practice martial arts. He's hiding from us, and I don't know if we'll have the chance to meet him again in the future."
Qi He, who was the last person to meet Jiang Yan and had one of his fingers broken, did not show any sign of abnormality and just sighed along with them.
He had no intention of telling Qu Ziheng and Yan Yixiuan about the matter. Their identities and personalities meant that they were not suitable for getting involved in this matter. Jiang Yan's identity was special. He was a traitor of the Chiyu Sect and a member of the Western Region Holy Church. If the two of them knew about it, it would be useless except for adding to their troubles, at least for now.
If they were told the truth, not only would they not leave Qinhe Valley, a place of trouble, but they would go deeper into it.
"If we don't meet in life, our lives will be as chaotic as the sun and the moon."
Lin Zhi's voice was calm, which could be considered as consolation.
Yan Yixiuan looked at the beautiful young man sitting on the chair. Compared with when they first met, Lin Zhi had not changed much. Now, she had even more charm that she could not describe, which was very charming.
Yan Yixiuan was so engrossed in watching that Qu Ziheng coughed violently a few times.
He made quite a noise, causing Yan Yixuan to look at him, patting him on the back and saying, "What's wrong? Did you choke on your saliva?"
"Do you think I'm as stupid as you?"
"Who are you calling stupid? Are you itching for trouble?"
The two of them started quarreling after a few words, and they were still as energetic as before.
Although Qi He couldn't see, he could guess a little. He held Lin Zhi's hand under the table and put the plan on the agenda.
It was still early before they arrived at Qinhe Valley. After all, Qu Ziheng and Yan Yixiuan were men and women, and they could not stay together all the time. Qi He talked to them one by one.
In front of Yan Yixuan, she said in a joking tone: "After Brother Qu left, a female warrior chased us and asked about his whereabouts. She asked me to ask what kind of woman Brother Qu likes. Sister Yan, have you seen where Brother Qu went so that I can find him."
Yan Yixuan drew her short blade and gnashed her teeth as she said, "How should I know what kind of woman he likes? What does it have to do with me? Even if he likes fairies, it's none of my business!"
It took Yan Yixuan a while to realize that Qi He was not asking her, and she said stiffly, "I don't know where he is. Who is running around like him every day, attracting bees and butterflies?"
Qi He pretended to be confused and was about to say goodbye, but before he could walk out, he was stopped by Yan Yixiuan.
Yan Yixuan's awkward voice came from behind: "Xiao He, if you ask, please let me know. I'm just curious. Besides, as a friend, I can help him look for someone if I know."
Qi He nodded, but when he came to Qu Ziheng, he didn't say that. He just told Qu Ziheng to take good care of Yan Yixiuan.
Qu Ziheng immediately asked nervously: "What's wrong? Did something happen? Is anyone trying to harm her?"
"No, I just heard someone say he wanted to marry her, and I also heard some people with bad intentions saying foul things about her."
Qi He's words were tactful, but Qu Ziheng understood clearly that not only was there someone who was determined to get Yan Yixiuan, but there were also people who had dirty thoughts about her.
Qu Ziheng was so angry that he slammed the table, and the thick wooden table collapsed.
Qu Ziheng was furious: "Whoever is talking nonsense like that, tell me their name, I will teach them a lesson one by one and beat them till they are left with their teeth on the ground!"
Qi He apologized, "I can't see, so I don't know who they are. It's not good to tell Sister Yan directly, and it will pollute her ears, so let Brother Qu be careful."
Although he didn't know the names of those people, Qu Ziheng didn't blame Qi He. Instead, he thanked Qi He repeatedly for his own negligence and for Qi He's reminder.
Afterwards, Yan Yixuan came to find Qi He, but Qi He just shook his head and said that he didn't have the chance to ask. Yan Yixuan left in a depressed mood.
The atmosphere on the boat became extremely weird. The detail was that Qu Ziheng was very close to Yan Yixuan, almost following her closely, while Yan Yixuan stayed far away and told Qu Ziheng to get away.
"Yan Yixuan, you don't know how to appreciate good people!"
"Don't get so close to me. I don't want to be seen as a thorn in the eye."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Whatever you think it means, stay away from me! I hate it!"
Qu Ziheng was trying to compete with Yan Yixiuan, but Yan Yixiuan refused to give in, so he insisted on standing in front of Yan Yixiuan.
Yan Yixiuan used her Qinggong skills to run on the boat, and Qu Ziheng was chasing her from behind. Yan Yixiuan was so angry that she wanted to jump into the river and leave.
"If you have the guts, just jump. If you jump, I will go down and get you."
"Are you sick? You can't swim, so what are you fishing for?"
"Then I'll jump in and let you fish it out."
A series of clanging sounds were heard, probably indicating a fight had begun. The quiet ship became very lively, and the guards hiding in the dark and the people dressed as merchants pricked up their ears to listen to the noise.
Lin Zhi drank tea leisurely and raised an eyebrow and asked, "Your masterpiece?"
Qi He fixed his loose hair and whispered, "I just said a few words about what I saw and heard."
He leaned close, and his lips brushed Lin Zhi's cheek intentionally or unintentionally.
Lin Zhi did not dodge and his expression remained unchanged.
Qi He became bolder and kissed his master lightly on the cheek, then went to look for his master's red lips.
Lin Zhi felt his cautious kiss and smiled.
His lips parted slightly, he calmly placed the teacup on the table and leaned back in his chair.
Qi He went deep into her, lips and teeth entwined with Lin Zhi's. This was a kiss when both he and his master were awake, how could he not be addicted.
The window in the room was half open, and the scenery inside could be seen through the gap.
In order to avoid Qu Ziheng who was sneaking over to complain, Yan Yixiuan subconsciously grabbed her sleeves and did not dare to make any sound to alert the people inside.
Yan Yixiuan could only see their backs leaning against each other, an intimacy that far exceeded that between a master and a disciple.
She slowly discovered that it seemed to be more than just cuddling. Qi He leaned so close to her with his head lowered. That posture was clearly... clearly...
Someone suddenly appeared behind her. Yan Yixiuan subconsciously wanted to scream, but her lips were covered and she was taken away.
When they reached the deck, Yan Yixiuan subconsciously pulled Qu Ziheng's sleeve, breathing in and out with a dazed head.
"Qu Ziheng... I... he... they... Lin... Xiaohe..."
Yan Yixiuan could hardly utter a complete sentence. They were master and disciple, it would be terrible if they were discovered by others!
Yan Yixiuan never thought that they had such a relationship. She just thought that Qi He was blind so Lin Zhi doted on him more. In addition, the age difference between the master and the apprentice was not very big, so they seemed closer. However, she didn't expect it to be like this.
She looked at Qu Ziheng's unchanged expression, her eyes widened in surprise, and said, "Why didn't you tell me if you knew this earlier?"
"I didn't know it in advance, I just had a feeling."
Qu Ziheng was not too surprised, but rather somewhat expected it.
He had long felt that Qi He had a great possessiveness towards Lin Zhi. When they first met, Qi He had a subtle dislike for him, especially when he got close to Brother Lin. For this reason, Qu Ziheng even got closer to him to verify that it was not an illusion.
However, he did not think much about it at that time. He just thought that it was the child's attachment to his master. But when they met again, the situation did not change but became worse. Whenever he got closer to Lin Zhi, Qi He would separate them before they touched.
Qu Ziheng had always felt it was weird, but he didn't expect to go to that place. It just now dawned on him, no wonder.
Qu Ziheng whispered, "Let's keep this a secret and don't tell anyone."
"I don't need you to teach me," Yan Yixuan stared at Qu Ziheng, and when she realized that she was almost leaning into Qu Ziheng's arms, she quickly took a big step back and said, "Don't get so close to me! I don't want anyone to misunderstand me!"
Qu Ziheng was slightly annoyed: "Who are you afraid of misunderstanding?"
"Whoever likes you is just misunderstanding. We are just friends. Why do you have to get so close? I don't want others to ask me what kind of girl I like!"
"I don't like any women! I..."
Yan Yixuan was surprised: "You like men too?"
Yan Yixiuan was more than just in disbelief, she wanted to just jump into the river and run away.
"No, no, I don't like men."
Qu Ziheng shook his head like a rattle, even more frightened than Yan Yixiuan.
"Whatever you like, it has nothing to do with me!"
"But who you like has nothing to do with me!"
"How does it have anything to do with you... um..."
Yan Yixiuan covered her lips, subconsciously slapped Qu Ziheng, and ran away using her light skills.
Qu Ziheng didn't know why he became like this. He touched his lips with a silly smile, then pressed his chest with a painful expression. Yan Yixuan's palm was merciless and almost made him vomit blood.
"It's really lively outside."
Lin Zhi licked his slightly swollen lips, his voice hoarse.
They also noticed the breath just now, but because outsiders couldn't see anything, they didn't say much.
"That's always been their nature."
Qi He still felt it was not enough, so he easily picked up the young man and let him sit on him.
Compared to the young man, the boy's figure was more oppressive. After he held the man in his arms, he did not kiss him eagerly, but begged for mercy in a low voice: "Master, kiss me again."
Lin Zhi looked at the young man's face and sighed silently in his heart.
This is not dissatisfaction, but just helpless indulgence of the lover's methods.
How could anyone not give it to him when he is like this?
Among so many lovers with different personalities, Qi He, who was raised by him, is the most gentle and low-key one. If he doesn't speak, his presence will be extremely weak. But he is very scheming and he entangles people's hearts in this way.
He has always been the one calculating other people's hearts, but here, it was Qi He who was calculating his heart, and he could even make people pity his calculations.
No matter how cautious or careful you are, it's all because you want the love he gives you.
Maybe in the early years it was for his own benefit, but now there is nothing else except the heart.
He clearly hadn't said any love words that were too obvious or explicit, and even now he didn't dare to rashly expose it, but he was clearly expressing his love all the time, expecting love.
Lin Zhi put her hands on Qi He's shoulders and kissed his lips.
His eyes and eyebrows were charming, but the blind young man could not see them.
Qi He tightened his grip on Lin Zhi's waist. Even though he couldn't see, he was already excited and greedy enough.
The master he respected and admired the most, and the person he most wanted to invade and imprison.
…………
Time passed quietly, and it was time for dinner in a blink of an eye.
It seemed as if there were thorns on Yan Yixiuan's chair. She looked very uneasy. She didn't look at anyone and just ate in silence.
Qu Ziheng sat next to her and kept picking up food for her. Yan Yixiuan left the food on the plate and refused to eat it, but Qu Ziheng was very stubborn. The two of them used chopsticks to fight back and forth. In the end, Yan Yixiuan lost because of her shame. She was too embarrassed to act like this in front of her friends, so she ate her food angrily.
Lin Zhi and Qi He both ate with smiles on their faces and did not speak.
They slept together again that night. Qi He also did nothing. He just pestered Lin Zhi for a kiss before going to bed, and then fell asleep with Lin Zhi in his arms, contentedly.
The next day, Lin Zhi made good arrangements and waited for the guests to arrive.
He did not intend to tell Yan Yixuan and Qu Ziheng Hai Ye's identity. He only said that there was a guest visiting and the other party's identity was not very bright, so he asked them to hide in the house to avoid being misunderstood.
Yan Yixuan and Qu Ziheng were naturally not afraid of being misunderstood, but when they heard Lin Zhi's words and saw that she was thinking about them, they were moved and agreed.
But before they had time to return to their room, they heard the clear sound of silver bells.
The corners of Lin Zhi's lips shrunk slightly, which meant that he was not in a very good mood.
Qi He also frowned unconsciously. This was the waist bell of the Gu Master. To be more precise, it was the sound of the silver ornaments from the Miao village, not a specially made Gu bell.
A purple figure landed on the deck. It was a girl of about sixteen or seventeen years old.
She has an outstanding appearance, with almond-shaped eyes and willow-shaped eyebrows, giving people a lively and playful feeling.
She had a different hairstyle from the women in the Central Plains. She wore a short Miao top that exposed her arms and navel, a knee-length skirt, and her body was adorned with silver ornaments of various sizes, with a short flute on her waist.
It was the first time Yan Yixiuan saw such a revealing outfit and couldn't help but take a few more glances.
The overlapping shades of purple and the embroidery patterns reveal the girl's origin at a glance. She has a black bracelet on her right arm, but a closer look reveals that it is a small black snake coiled around.
Because she knew Brother Lin's identity, she was not too nervous when facing the witch in front of her, and she also guessed her identity in her heart. The same was true for Qu Ziheng. He did not stare at the girl, but just asked Yan Yixiuan, who was looking at the beautiful girl, to come back to his senses.
"I'm here, uncle..." Lin Tang was very excited to finally see his uncle in person instead of a letter after so many years. When he saw a stranger beside his uncle, he stopped talking and said, "Today's weather is really nice."
Everyone present was silent. Lin Tang smiled awkwardly and said, "Isn't that a bit too blunt?"
Qu Ziheng and Yan Yixuan nodded silently, and Lin Zhi spoke up to help her out: "These two are my friends. They all know my identity. You don't have to worry."
Lin Tang breathed a sigh of relief, ran to Lin Zhi, hugged his arm and acted coquettishly: "That's good, that's good, uncle, I missed you so much. I haven't seen you for so long, did you miss me?"
After they left the village that day, Lin Tang could only receive letters and gifts. She left the village to venture into the world in search of her uncle, but she met some people and things. After learning that her uncle was fine, she was no longer in a hurry to look for him, but she was still thinking about him.
Qu Ziheng and Yan Yixiuan had no intention of disturbing them, so they said goodbye to Lin Zhi and the others and went back to their room.
"In the blink of an eye, our Tangtang has grown up so much."
Lin Zhi touched the little girl's head. Her appearance had changed a little, but her temperament had not changed much.
"My uncle is different now, he looks better now, and so is Brother Xiaohe. I can hardly recognize him now."
Lin Tang looked at the young swordsman next to her who was much taller than her, and sighed. Brother Xiaohe used to be almost as tall as her, but in the blink of an eye he grew so tall.
"And I've heard about your fame in the tournament. You're amazing!"
Lin Tang praised Qi He, then looked back as if he had thought of something and said, "Uncle, I came here with my friend this time, but I couldn't wait and ran very fast. He should be here soon."
"He is different from the people of the Central Plains, and he is different from us too."
Lin Tang's tone was cheerful, but the implication of his words made Lin Zhi frown.
He didn't want Yan Yixiuan and Qu Ziheng to get involved in this mess, and naturally didn't want Lin Tang to get involved in the mess. He even felt that his innocent little girl was being used without knowing it.
It was also his oversight. The people he sent were only to prevent Lin Tang from getting into trouble, but he did not ask them to report to him in detail. One has to make his own way in the world of martial arts, and Lin Zhi did not intend to detain them, but he did not expect that trouble would come to Lin Tang.
"He's a very good man. He saved me once and taught me a lot. He said he wanted to come and talk to you, uncle, so I had to follow him. But I didn't tell him about you and Xiao He. You told me not to tell anyone, and I didn't tell anyone. I don't know how he knew, but he said he had no ill will towards you and wanted to cooperate with you."
Lin Tang said as he pulled Lin Zhi's sleeve and looked at his expression, fearing that he would be unhappy.
Whenever she moved, the bells on her body rang along with her, sounding pleasant and melodious. She still looked as cute and naive as she did when she was a child.
Qi He suddenly asked: "What if we have something against him?"
Hai Ye wants to use medicine to cultivate the power of the Holy Church, which is greatly disadvantageous to the Central Plains martial arts world. They will certainly not sit idly by. Taoist Yunxu also means this, but he does not want to see the Central Plains martial arts world cause a bloody storm because of a prescription, letting the tragedy of the Qi family happen again.
However, it is human nature to seek profit. Such a treasure will definitely not be hidden once someone knows about it. Although they are now planning to cooperate with Hai Ye, they are bound to have friction over the prescription. This is not just a matter between a few people, but a major event in the martial arts world.
Lin Tang was stunned and looked at his uncle. Seeing that he agreed, he suddenly became anxious like an ant on a hot pan. He wanted to say something but didn't know how to say it. Seeing that the person he was talking about came, he stopped talking.
The man was dressed like a man from the Central Plains, wearing a bamboo hat that concealed his appearance.
When he lifted his hat, Lin Zhi understood why Lin Tang said something different.
Hai Ye's eyebrows and eyes are not the traditional Western contours, but he has a pair of emerald green eyes, like fine jade.
"Brother Lin, Young Master Lin, hearing about your reputation is worse than seeing it in person. I have admired you for a long time."
Haiye speaks Central Plains Mandarin very well, and his way of greeting is very much in the Central Plains style.
He knew clearly about Qi He's situation, but he didn't point it out.
After saying hello, he smiled at Lin Tang and said, "You run so fast, I can't even catch up with your shadow."
Lin Tang thought about what Qi He had just said and didn't know what to do for a moment. He didn't laugh and joke with Hai Ye like he usually did, but just smiled foolishly.
Hai Ye narrowed his eyes, looked at the master and disciple who had the same smile but were both exceptionally cold, and explained with a smile.
"In order to avoid misunderstanding, I did not mention it in detail in the letter. I knew Ah Tang before I got to know you guys. I hope you don't misunderstand me."
Hai Ye's words were sincere. Lin Tang hesitated for a while and said, "Uncle, he really didn't ask me about you."
Lin Zhi lightly passed over this and didn't want to discuss whether to believe it or not in front of Lin Tang.
Even if Hai Ye knew Lin Tang before he knew them, Hai Ye did not stay in his Western Regions and went to the Central Plains to meet the Holy Maiden of the Gu Cult. Considering the incident fifty years ago when the Holy Cult and the Gu Cult colluded with the Central Plains Demon Cult to invade the Central Plains martial arts world, it is difficult to prove his motives.
In order to express his sincerity in cooperation, Hai Ye did not bring any subordinates with him.
Lin Zhi knew that what he said was true, but did not express any sincerity to him. She just asked him to stay in the house for a while.
Lin Tang knew that the three of them had something to discuss, so he didn't follow them in. Instead, he stood not far from the door in a daze, sorting out his thoughts.
She hated things that were too complicated. She sighed at the sea in the distance, not knowing what to do. She looked down at the little snake on her arm, touched its smooth scales, and whispered, "Do you know what's going on?"
She sighed again: "I miss you but I don't know what's going on. It's such a headache."
Inside the house, Lin Zhi, Qi He and Hai Ye discussed this cooperation in detail.
They all knew that the Akabane Sect would definitely take action this time after making such a big move. Hai Ye would provide them with some lists and help deal with the Akabane Sect. The reward he wanted was the Ice Jade Lotus.
Lin Zhi agreed, and the three of them discussed some details, and this cooperation was finalized.
Hai Ye's appearance is too eye-catching, so he will not travel with Lin Zhi and the others this time, and plans to stay in the dark.
Lin Zhi naturally would not let Lin Tang leave with Hai Ye, and asked her to stay before Lin Tang spoke.
Lin Tang always listened to his uncle and nodded without much hesitation.
When saying goodbye, Lin Tang heard Hai Ye ask her: "Shouldn't you be happy to see your uncle? Why do you seem so worried?"
Lin Tang's heart skipped a beat, and he said with a gloomy face, "My uncle wants me to go back, but it's so much fun outside, I don't want to go back."
"Maybe he's worried about your safety. What a pity. He originally wanted to invite you to my house."
There was regret in Haiye's green eyes. Lin Tang sighed, and his distress became more obvious.
Qi He took in their words and relayed them to Lin Zhi.
Lin Zhi nodded: "Not stupid at all."
He was worried that the young girl, who was just beginning to fall in love, would be so absorbed in love that she wouldn't listen to anyone else. Fortunately, Lin Tang was able to keep things clear.
The ship will stop at the port the next morning, and it will take less than half a day on horseback to reach Qinhe Valley. The Sword Washing Meeting will also be officially held the day after tomorrow.
This kind of event is usually announced half a month in advance to avoid some people missing out. Qin Hegu's schedule was very tight this time, but the reason they used it as a small try was understandable.
Lin Tang originally wanted to ask Qi He about the matter, but since they wouldn't tell him, he simply gave up asking.
When getting off the boat and riding a horse, the absent-minded Lin Tang realized that she was an outlier in the crowd.
It wasn't just her publicity. Her uncle and Qi He rode together, and the young hero Qu and the lady Yan went together. She was the only one riding alone.
Yan Yixiuan didn't want to do it at first, but Qu Ziheng insisted on protecting her closely, so Yan Yixiuan agreed reluctantly.
After entering Qinhe Valley, there were more people from the martial arts world around, because this sword washing meeting invited people from all walks of life, including the Chiyu Sect and the Wenyuan Sect, so it was a mixed crowd.
But even so, Lin Tang still stood out among them.
The Miao Jiang witch's discussion did not stop. Lin Zhi and Qi He were also famous figures in the martial arts world. Seeing them with Lin Tang further confirmed their identity as Gu Masters. Seeing them being so open about it, the voices making fun of the first place in the martial arts competition being a member of the Demon Sect became louder and louder.
But no matter what they said, no one dared to come over to them and cause trouble. If decent people want to kill someone, they have to have a legitimate reason, but the people in the demon cult don't care about that. They don't want to die.
When we arrived at the inn, there were not many rooms left. Only three upper rooms were empty. The ordinary rooms were all booked, and the only rooms left were the large bunk beds.
"Then I'll have one room, uncle, you and Brother Xiaohe will have one room, and Brother Qu and Sister Yan will have one room."
Lin Tang spoke up, feeling that the allocation was very reasonable.
"Wait, why am I sleeping in the same room with him? I'll sleep in the same room with you."
After Yan Yixiuan finished speaking, she felt a little regretful.
Although she didn't think Lin Tang would harm her, she was still a little afraid of the Gu Master. She was afraid that her bed would be crawling with bugs after she fell asleep. The thought of that scene made her scalp tingle.
"Aren't you a couple?"
Lin Tang was a little confused and looked at Lin Zhi with confusion in his eyes.
Yan Yixuan was embarrassed and annoyed: "Who has that kind of relationship with him!"
Qu Ziheng smiled so hard that his mouth almost twisted. He said, "Sure, we can sleep in the same room. I'll sleep on the floor and watch over you as you sleep."
"I don't need you to guard me. Don't underestimate my martial arts."
"I don't look down on you, but I need to protect you to feel at ease."
Qu Ziheng still remembered Qi He's words and was afraid that someone would target Yan Yixiuan and bully her.
Qu Ziheng said it so bluntly that Yan Yixiuan said "It's up to you" and walked upstairs embarrassedly. Qu Ziheng followed her.
“They have such a good relationship.”
Lin Tang said with some envy that although the two quarreled a lot, their relationship as a pair of bickering lovers was also enviable.
"By the way, uncle, before I leave, my mother asked me to ask you, if you decide, you must bring her back to the village for her to see. After so many years, I still don't have an aunt?"
Lin Tang was very confused. This shouldn't be the case. In her heart, her uncle was a very likable person.
Then she became even more confused. She was clearly talking to her uncle, so why did Brother Xiaohe smile at her so gently, making her feel creepy all over.
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