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◎The opposite bank, where all the mountains are green, is right before our eyes.◎
"Don't rush, tell me slowly. What happened in the village? Is Honghua alright?"
The firework tube was originally something she left for Honghua for self-defense; how did it end up in Lu Ping's hands?
Lu Ping was lost in thought, a pained expression on his face: "This matter is strange... In fact, I don't know what exactly happened in Wuling Village. There is a rule in the yamen to patrol once a month. That day, I went to patrol the nearby villages and heard the villagers say that no one from Wuling Village came to the market this time. I suspected that there was an epidemic, so I went to check and met Honghua on the way."
"This child is always alert, so I asked her why no one in the village was going to the market and if anything seemed amiss. But she seemed to have lost her soul and didn't hear me at all, just staring straight at me and kept asking who I was."
Upon hearing this, Du Zhijin couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Ying Jianhua had once praised Honghua for her good memory, and she had met Lu Ping a few times. Logically speaking, Honghua should not forget him.
"I introduced myself, saying I was Lu Ping, a constable from Jinxi City, and even showed her my token. She suddenly stopped, her whole body stiffening like a puppet in a play. Then, she took out the flaming tube and asked me to find someone. But when it came time to say who it was, she suddenly couldn't make a sound, as if she had no memory of what she had just done, and just kept walking straight ahead. I followed her to the entrance of Wuling Village, and looking... looking at the scene inside, I broke out in a cold sweat."
"Miss Mu, have you ever seen a fish kept in a chicken coop? I don't know how to describe it to you. It has two legs, but it also has gills and scales... Is it a fish or a chicken?"
After speaking, Lu Ping seemed to return to that eerie scene, and his voice began to tremble.
Everything seemed perfectly normal: people walked on the road, chickens pecked at their feet. If it weren't for the fact that people walked backwards and chickens breathed with fish gills, it would indeed be no different from any other village.
Noticing that his complexion had become very bad, Du Zhijin reached out a finger and touched his forehead, quickly saying, "Don't think about it, come back."
As soon as he finished speaking, the faint black aura between Lu Ping's brows vanished. His eyes regained their clarity, and a rare hint of panic appeared: "Just now I was..."
She nodded, confirming his guess. Lu Ping's face drained of color, and he murmured repeatedly, "No wonder... I guessed that things might be related to supernatural forces, but I really didn't know who Honghua was looking for, so I could only keep searching as I went. Later, I met a young master named Jiang in Wanze City, and he pointed out that the person I was looking for might be in Liuli City, so I came here. I originally thought he was referring to the Zhenxie Division, but who would have thought that it had long been abandoned and was completely deserted."
She explained, "The late emperor disliked this practice, and the Zhenxie Division was abolished ten years ago. Is the Jiang Gongzi you're referring to Jiang Wei?"
“Exactly.” Lu Ping thought for a moment and added, “He also gave me a talisman, saying that crushing the talisman would activate the fire tube and save my life. I didn’t expect it to come in handy so soon.”
The talisman was most likely given to Jiangwei at Junlao's behest, because this firework tube requires spiritual power to activate, which Lu Ping cannot use.
"I understand." Since Elder Jun was involved, it means that the situation in Wuling Village is extremely critical, and it is very likely that it is the work of demons.
Without even looking at the map, Du Zhijin had already made up his mind.
She said, "I will set off back immediately. But you are so badly injured that you should not move around. I have a friend in Liulijing, so you can recuperate at his residence."
Lu Ping nodded, glancing out of the corner of his eye at the figure outside the window, slightly surprised: "That's... Doctor Ying? He really didn't die in that fire."
Upon hearing his name called, Ying Jianhua hesitated for a long time before finally pushing open the door and entering.
He first glanced at Du Zhijin, then looked at Lu Ping, and said bluntly, "The person who tried to kill you that night was me."
Upon hearing this, Lu Ping's pupils suddenly contracted, and his face showed undisguised astonishment.
Knowing that her continued presence would embarrass him, Du Zhijin got up and left. After she left, Ying Jianhua breathed a sigh of relief, a touch of sweetness rising in her heart, which had been filled with bitterness.
She still cares about him.
————
The so-called friend in the capital was Zhao Zhonggan. Time was of the essence, so Du Zhijin didn't wait for his servants to announce his arrival; he climbed over the wall, found Zhao, and explained his purpose.
Zhao Zhonggan readily agreed: "Don't worry, Senior Sister, the Marquis's mansion has no shortage of medicine and doctors. But, will Young Master Mo also stay?"
"Okay." She nodded. "This journey is dangerous, so I'll go alone. I'll leave the two of them in your care."
"Alright, I'll send someone to fetch the carriage and go with you to pick up the patient."
Now, Zhao Zhonggan has shed his youthful naiveté and possesses the courage to stand on his own. Du Zhijin watched him instruct his servants and vaguely recalled the time he taught Zhao Zhonggan to practice swordsmanship at night.
At that time, Zhao Zhonggan said that he wanted to punish evil and become famous throughout the world, to become a first-class hero in the martial arts world. Even now, he still calls her "Senior Sister" instead of "Miss Mu".
It's hard to say whether the identity of a king or a cultivator suits him better. In the end, whether he's "Zhao Zhonggan" or "Zhao Wujiu," it's the path he chose himself.
Twelve and Shi Er, Zhao Zhonggan and Zhao Wujiu... In this life, we cannot choose our birth, and many things after we grow up are beyond our control. But perhaps there will always be one or two moments when we suddenly realize and decide what kind of person we want to be.
He went up the mountain at the age of five, entered the Taoist path at the age of seven, and was born at the age of fifteen.
She inherited her master's "Dao" and, under the name "Zhijin," wielded two swords to slay many demons. Later, she tasted the sweetness of love, experiencing what it meant to be deeply attached and unforgettable, gradually becoming like a human being.
But longing clashed with the sword. Amo had done something wrong, yet she couldn't help but handle it gently.
It's like wading through a wide river, with green mountains on the opposite bank right in front of you, when suddenly a thick fog rolls in and you lose your way.
Zhijin, Zhijin.
Do I really know where the ferry crossing is?
She suddenly realized that this demon had actually arrived at the perfect time. Because when facing this kind of demon, she only needed to draw her sword and swing it to immediately return to her familiar surroundings.
There is no need to doubt yourself.
————
The Hou family's carriage slowly drove into Yongfu Lane, attracting many passersby to stop and watch.
Upon seeing this, Ying Jianhua knew that Du Zhijin had not changed his mind and was determined to keep him.
However, he did not plead any further, and obediently got into the carriage and went to the Marquis of Jianchang's residence with Lu Ping.
Seeing him like this, Du Zhijin couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.
The situation in Wuling Village was unknown, and she really didn't want him to suffer with her. Before setting off, she specifically sought out Zhao Zhonggan and gave him some instructions to prevent any unexpected events from happening.
If she does not return by the appointed time, then hurry to Zhufeng Hall in Wanze City to find Master Baopu.
Zhao Zhonggan was greatly surprised after hearing this: "It's that dangerous? Senior Sister, should I send some men...?" "It's just a possibility. Maybe I'll be back in a few days. There's no need to make a big fuss." Du Zhijin wanted to ease the atmosphere and joked, "Besides, if even I get caught, wouldn't sending those servants and guards to protect me be a pointless death?"
He choked, then hung his head dejectedly: "I'm so useless, I can't help my senior sister..."
She shook her head, patted his shoulder, and comforted him, "You've already helped me a lot, don't underestimate yourself. Okay, I'm leaving now, I'm entrusting Amo and Luping to you."
"Yes! Take care, Senior Sister! Have a safe journey and good luck in your martial arts!"
After walking a few steps, she couldn't help but look back, and sure enough, she saw Ying Jianhua not far away.
The sun was so strong; I wonder how long he had been standing there.
She waved at him and mouthed a smile.
Wait for me to come back.
Having said that, he left directly, leaving only the scorching, merciless sunlight shining brightly on people.
Yingjian, oblivious to the blazing sun overhead, stood there until her silhouette completely disappeared from view.
His lips twitched, and he responded silently.
I'm afraid I won't be able to wait for you to come back.
Lu Ping had just recovered from a serious illness and was too weak to even get out of bed, so he was unable to go and see him off.
He watched as Ying Jianhua mechanically prepared and decocted the medicine, then changed his dressing. The rest of the time he remained silent, staring out the window, motionless, like a statue.
It's like watching a living person slowly die.
Upon learning that Ying Jianhua was the murderer, he wasn't actually that surprised. He had suspected him as early as when Prince Chengduan died suddenly. He disapproved of "violence begets violence," but upon closer examination, this seemed to be Ying Jianhua's only path to revenge. Ordinary people are powerless against those in power; they can only risk their lives, and the result of a common man's rage is often nothing more than a stone sinking into the sea.
He found it tragic. He, Lu Ping, was an official of the Great Liang Dynasty, receiving a salary and supposed to serve the people. But even though he knew the laws of the Great Liang Dynasty by heart and understood that "the prince is subject to the same laws as the commoner" was written on the first page, when faced with the tyranny of Prince Cheng Duan, all he could do was "aid and abet the evildoer" and "turn a blind eye."
The consequence of his choice to turn a blind eye was that Ying Jianhua's revenge, which he had been plotting for years, was realized.
Lu Ping even felt that after dying once, his heart had become more open. He could as well wipe away the sin of "turning a blind eye" and from now on, he would no longer owe Ying Jianhua or anyone else anything.
So, one time when he was taking his medicine, he called out to Ying Jianhua, "Dr. Ying."
The figure in the painting stiffened.
It had been so long since anyone had called him that... so long that he almost thought "Doctor Ying" was his past life.
"What's up?"
He hadn't spoken a word all day since Du Zhijin left. Now, when he did speak, his voice was hoarse and tired.
Lu Ping sighed softly, then hesitated before speaking, "My health is much better now, and besides, there are many imperial physicians in the Marquis's residence; they can take care of me. Perhaps you, Doctor Ying, should go with Miss Mu; she might need it more..."
"Really?" Ying Jianhua suddenly stood up.
In fact, he had planned to escape long ago. Once Lu Ping was in better condition, he would borrow a fast horse to Wanze City. Elder Jun was a weapon cultivator and might have a treasure that could shrink distances, so he could catch up with him then.
Now that Lu Ping had spoken, he didn't need to wait any longer. He immediately set off, mounted his horse, and left without packing anything. He took the jade hairpin and various medicines and charged through the city gate at dawn.
"drive!"
As the sun broke through the clouds at dawn, the jade pendant at her waist shone brightly in the sunlight.
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