64. Red Lane
There are a total of twenty-one elegant seats on the second floor of the embroidery building. White gauze curtains hang down from the ceiling like waterfalls, and vases of freshly picked flowers are placed around them, making people feel like they are in a fairyland.
However, the curtains of the other private rooms had been removed by the maids one after another, leaving only the three private rooms of the prince still covered by curtains.
The prince, Bai Li, Chen Ji, Liang Gou'er and Liang Mao'er sat in one private room, while She Dengke, Liu Quxing and other people from the martial arts world sat in the other two private rooms.
Liang Gou'er didn't care. Even though the curtain was not removed, maids brought in wine and food continuously. He thought the wine glasses of Qingyin Ban were too small, so he simply changed them to bowls.
The prince rolled up his sleeves and sat in a daze behind the curtain and in front of the desk. He picked up the pen and racked his brains but couldn't write a single poem.
He slowly looked at Chen Ji, who was still sleeping with a frown on his face. He probably couldn't count on him.
He slowly looked at Liang Gou'er and Liang Mao'er again... Forget it!
Finally, he looked at Baili: "Well, Baili, can you write a poem? I remember you wrote poems before.
Bai Li said in embarrassment: "My writings have been criticized by the gentlemen as being a mess. I can't write anymore, and if I do, I will just end up being a laughing stock.
Liang Gou'er laughed cheerfully and said, "This Qingyin group just loves to be mysterious. They're clearly out to make money, yet they still set up numerous obstacles for you. But scholars just fall for this! If you ask me, White Clothes Lane isn't as bright and open as Red Clothes Lane.
The girl Yan'er from Jinfang has a great alcohol tolerance. She will drink as many drinks as you like. It's really fun.
Liang Mao'er curled her lips: "Brother, you just like her drinking capacity and I don't want to expose you!
At this time, Chen Wenxiao's laughter came from outside the curtain: "Why are there still three curtains not taken down? Do the friends inside think it is more elegant and quiet this way?"
The prince retorted from behind the curtain: "A beautiful sentence is formed by nature, and it is achieved by a master's hand.
The key to writing poetry is not quantity, but quality. If it is not exquisite, what is the point of writing more? I think Liu Xingshou's game is a bit hasty, forcing everyone to write three poems about autumn immediately. It is possible to write, but what good can be written in such a hurry? Do you think the poems you just wrote can be passed down through the ages?
Outside the curtain, it was quiet. Some people were thinking about the prince's words, while others were thinking about the eight words "beautiful sentences come naturally, and are discovered by accident by a master's hand".
Chen Wenzong was silent for a moment: "I can't hear you clearly. Remove the curtain and speak."
Prince: ...
He turned to look at Chen Ji, and could only place his last hope on Chen Ji waking up.
The prince was a little worried:
Is Chen Ji dead?
"Impossible, he's still breathing."
Princess Baili thought for a moment and said, "It must be because after getting injured, you carried him out and tossed him around, he must have been exhausted.
"Wait a little longer and see if he wakes up."
Chen Ji was still asleep, he had been fighting till the sky was dark.
On the top of Qingshan Mountain, Chen Ji and the giant halberd warrior were both panting. They had just fought each other for hundreds of rounds, but neither of them could defeat the other.
Xuanyuan had changed into a black royal robe at some point, with the sleeves embroidered with gold thread with Ziweiyuan in the center, Taiweiyuan and Tianshiyuan on both sides.
The golden armor and the royal flag disappeared.
When Xuanyuan sat cross-legged on the boulder, he was clearly just sitting on the boulder, but he still looked like an emperor sitting on a golden chair.
His expression was majestic and solemn.
Just like the black color of his royal robe, he was calm, rational and unquestionable.
Seeing that the two men didn't make a move, Xuanyuan urged them coldly, "This battle has already lasted for two incense sticks. How long do you want to dawdle? When we get to the real battlefield, the battle formations will be shoulder to shoulder. There's no time to breathe!"
The giant halberd warrior received the order and immediately brandished his bronze halberd and rushed forward.
Chen Ji did not avoid the gaze. He stared closely at the blade that was coming at him. He leaned back slightly. The blade passed by his nose but did not hurt him at all.
This flash is understated, as if breathing with the world, natural and effortless.
Sixteen fires have been ignited in Chen Ji's body, and his strength has long surpassed that of ordinary people. Even when wrestling with Jing Dynasty spies, he has the upper hand.
But he suddenly gained strength, and he was not even familiar with his own body, nor did he have any skills to weaken it.
The skill of exerting force is like a lever. Without this lever, only 80% of the 100% strength can be used. With this lever, 120% of the 100% strength can be exerted.
Now, Chen Ji already knows what his body looks like and where his strength lies!
However, the giant halberd warrior was not a weakling. When he saw that he had missed the target, he immediately twisted his waist and used the strength of his waist and hips to change the direction of the halberd blade.
It was clearly sweeping the enemy from left to right, but suddenly it went in the opposite direction!
The halberd blade passed through Chen Ji's chest, leaving a scar and forcing back Chen Ji's sneak attack.
However, after being injured, Chen Ji did not lower his head to look at the wound, but continued to stare at the giant halberd warrior, as if the wound did not hurt, and slightly bent over like a cheetah.
Although injured, he showed no signs of being at a disadvantage.
Xuanyuan once said that Chen Ji had lost his fighting instinct, but he suddenly realized that he was wrong.
only
In just one day, he witnessed with his own eyes the other party's escape from the mountains in a panic, and now he was fighting on equal terms with the giant halberd warrior.
The steps, techniques and even the power-generating skills are becoming more and more rough, yet more and more authentic.
The random punches and kicks may seem hasty and clumsy, but they are full of violence and direct tyranny.
"It's only been six hours."
Xuanyuan sighed softly.
The fighting instinct in the opponent's body, like an immortal sword that had not seen the light of day for thousands of years, was being wiped away bit by bit.
But even though Xuanyuan thought so, he jokingly said, "It's been six hours, and we still can't win? This giant halberd warrior is just a soldier in our army."
Chen Ji panted while looking at the giant halberd warrior and said with a smile:
He's not very good at talking, so don't mind it. You're very strong, so it's normal that I can't defeat you."
Xuanyuan raised his eyebrows.
Chen Ji looked exhausted. After six hours of fierce fighting, the giant halberd warrior could stand here energetically again and again, but he couldn't.
Every minute and every second at this moment was a torment for him.
How many times did you die in one day?
Forty times or sixty times
I can’t remember.
At a certain moment, Chen Ji thought that he might as well give up and not learn this sword technique.
However, when he thought about what he had learned and what he had gained in confidence, he was filled with new fighting spirit.
The next moment, the giant halberd warrior swung again. Chen Ji moved, but the wound on his chest was affected, causing his movements to stagnate. He couldn't turn his body to the side in time, and a piece of flesh was cut off from his entire left arm!
This blow was like a watershed. From then on, Chen Ji could only dodge in embarrassment and no longer had the opportunity to take the initiative to attack. Xuanyuan sneered at Chen Ji: "I think there is no hope for you. Why don't you just let me return to the world and leave a last word?"
Whoever you want to kill, I will help you kill him.
"I'll do it myself,"
Chen Ji panted while dodging the giant halberd warrior's attack.
"Oh, are you nostalgic for that world?
"I still have a cat. What if I lose it?"
Xuanyuan is puzzled: cat
I also made some new friends.”
Xuanyuan laughed out loud: "Do you need friends too? You said a long time ago that you don't need friends anymore!
"Were we friends?
"Yes, but it hasn't been that long."
"Then let's get to know each other again."
When the bronze halberd chopped down again
Chen Ji suddenly leaned forward and rushed towards the giant halberd warrior, his eyes like hooks fixed on the opponent's halberd blade.
The crescent blade of the bronze halberd came crashing down on his head. The giant halberd warrior had already prepared for all sorts of changes in case Chen Ji dodged, but this time Chen Ji didn't dodge!
But Chen Ji sped up again, actually passing the point where the crescent blade was about to strike, and came to where he was. With both hands, he grasped the slender pole as if holding up a mountain, and abruptly stopped the bronze spear in its tracks!
The giant halberd warrior tried to pull back the bronze halberd, but he was shocked to see Chen Ji leaning down and pulling it down, shaking his hands vigorously!
"let go!
An inexplicable surge of power was transmitted to the bronze warrior's body, shocking the giant halberd warrior so much that he involuntarily let go of his grip. That strange grabbing move... was clearly one the giant halberd warrior had used before, yet Chen Ji had learned it!
“Eh!”
Xuanyuan's eyes lit up. This skill of seizing weapons, which had been honed through thousands of trials and tribulations, was his unique skill in battle, and he had learned it in just one day.
Chen Ji swung the bronze halberd like a full moon, forcing the halberd warriors to retreat again and again, and the water could not get in.
In a flash, one chased and the other retreated. The giant halberd warrior had nowhere to retreat at the edge of the green mountain and could only stand still. The bronze halberd in Chen Ji's hand did not chop him down, but stopped at his neck.
How about it"
Chen Ji panted and asked: "Can you teach me now?
The long-lost joy of victory filled his heart.
In the hot breath, Chen Ji seemed to have climbed over an insurmountable mountain again, like climbing all the way to the top and seeing the sunrise breaking through the sea of clouds, which was as quiet yet high-pitched as it was.
Xuanyuan sat on the boulder and said slowly: "Are you satisfied with this? Now your strength in our army is only enough to be a soldier.
"Um"
Chen Ji was puzzled.
Xuanyuan waved at the battle formation frozen in time, and a swordsman with a long sword on his waist stepped out of the formation, walked to the top of the green hill, and knelt on one knee facing Xuanyuan: "King, what do you want to summon me for?"
Xuanyuan pointed at Chen Ji and said, "This kid is already familiar with the attacks of the giant halberd warriors. Now it's your turn.
Chen Ji's eyes widened. He looked at the battle formation below the mountain, which was equipped with all kinds of weapons. His expression suddenly changed: "I can't fight anymore today. My friends are waiting for me to drink. See you tomorrow!"
After saying that, he actually took the initiative to jump and fell under the green mountain.
Xuanyuan stared at the empty cliff edge and said in a daze, "I really need to get to know you again."
On the second floor of the embroidery building, the curtains of the three elegant seats have not been removed yet.
"Autumn, the word Autumn can be written." Liang Gou'er's face was already red from drinking, but the prince was still sitting there.
He scratched his head at the desk: What kind of poem is this?
But someone beside him whispered: "Wait until September 8th in autumn, when my flower blooms, all other flowers will die.
The prince turned his head and saw that Chen Ji had slowly opened his eyes, which were bloodshot, like a tiger hunting for prey.
Baili muttered: What kind of dream did I have? It was so murderous.
The prince was overjoyed and said in a low voice, "You've finally woken up. Come on, Baili, write down what you just said. There are still eight sentences left!"
Chen Ji looked at the handful of golden melon seeds in his hand... This couldn't wake him up!
As he put the nine golden melon seeds into his sleeve, he said carefully: "Eight sentences, right, Princess Baili? I speak, you write.
Bai Li's eyes lit up: "Okay, I'll write it.
However, just as the two were talking and writing, Chen Wenxiao heard from outside the curtains: "Have the three friends in the elegant seats not written any poems related to the word Autumn? If you delay writing, won't it delay everyone's communication with Liu Xingshou?"
The prince smiled and replied, "I'm already writing it, I'm already writing it.
Chen Wenxiao: “If I could write it, why would I have to wait until now?
Lin Chaojing laughed: "I heard who the friend behind the curtain is, it turns out to be the prince.
Let me put it this way, brother. These are just nine poems related to autumn. You and I have been classmates with the prince for three years, so let's help him together. I will write four and you will write five.
After that, just assume that it was written by the prince and others and take down the curtain.
Chen Wenzong hesitated: "This doesn't seem right.
Lin Chaojing smiled and said, "Then I will write nine poems.
He rolled up his sleeves, called the maid from the embroidery building to fetch the brush, ink, paper and inkstone, and with a single stroke of his brush, he finished a poem.
Everyone gathered around and saw that the other party had completed nine poems in one go, as if they were effortless.
Lin Chaojing handed the poem to the maid and said, "Send it to Liu Xingshou for a review. If it's acceptable, I'll remove the curtain on the prince's side.
"There's no need to show it to Liu Xingshou. Even a crude girl like me can see the beauty of these poems. My maid smiled and said: Go and take down the curtain right away.
In fact, the curtains of the three elegant seats were not taken down yet, and Xiulou was a little anxious.
However, the prince heard Chen Ji's exquisite words and saw Bai Li's fast writing, and he immediately became anxious: "Wait, we can write it ourselves, don't pick it up!
But it was too late to say this.
But then layer after layer of curtains were taken off, revealing three private seats in front of everyone.
Liang Gou'er was drinking heavily and was already half drunk, while Liang Mao'er was eating dishes one by one as if he was at a buffet.
Looking at She Dengke, Liu Quxing and other people in the underworld, they were not much better off. The table was already a mess. With a chuckle, Chen Wenxiao laughed out loud: "How come they are all eating and drinking?"
Lin Chaojing sat upright behind the desk, his face solemn. "It's a rare sight for Liu Xingshou to come to Luocheng from Qinhuai River tonight. If she saw the behavior of the scholars in Luocheng, she would be so disappointed. Prince, tonight is a gathering of scholars, why bring these vulgar martial artists to join in the fun?"
The prince looked at Lin Chaojing and said, "I also came here after writing a poem. Why can you come but my friend can't?
Lin Chaojing shook his head: It’s not that I can’t come, but it’s not appropriate to come.
It would be nice for these friends to eat at the roadside noodle stalls and stroll around Hongyi Lane, which is also in line with their status. Isn't it a waste of food to come here?
The prince asked in a deep voice: "Who should go to Hongyi Lane?
"Naturally, he's a vulgar womanizer.
The prince asked in a deep voice: "Then what kind of person is suitable to come to Baiyi Lane?
Of course, it’s people like you and me who are knowledgeable and have status.
The prince slowly stood up. Everyone thought he was angry and about to fight Lin Chaojing, but he suddenly turned around and bowed to Yu Dengke and the others, saying apologetically, "I'm sorry. Today, due to my recklessness, I brought you all to see such ignorant and arrogant people. I apologize to you all.
If Baiyi Lane is full of these literati and scholars, then we might as well not come here again! It doesn't matter if I'm humiliated alone, but it's my fault for causing humiliation to my friends. Let's go!
Liang Gou'er was puzzled: "Sir, where are we going?
The prince stood up straight and laughed out loud: "Let's go to Hongyi Lane to drink wine!
After saying that, he actually turned his sleeves and led the way downstairs.
Liang Gou'er and Liang Mao'er lifted up the old bamboo chairs and followed. A large group of people advanced and retreated together, not at all depressed, as festive as if they were attending a wedding.
Bai Li sat behind the desk, holding a pen, staring blankly at the group of people leaving.
She opened her mouth but hesitated to speak: She had just finished writing the poem that Chen Ji had recited.
The prince called out from the stairs: "Bai Li, go!
Bai Li originally intended to take the poem away, but after thinking for a moment, he put the rolled-up poem down and chased downstairs: "Here I come!
The second floor of the embroidery building became quiet again. Chen Wenzong glared at Chen Wenxiao fiercely, then stood up and walked to the prince's desk, picked up the poem he had just written and started reading.
Just seeing this made me stunned
"Withered vines, old trees, crows in the dark; small bridges, flowing water, houses; ancient roads, west wind, thin horses; the setting sun; a heartbroken person at the end of the world.
There is not a single word about autumn in the poem, but when I read it I feel the bleak autumn wind and the loneliness under the bridge.
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