Chapter 113 Guard.
Youlong City is located to the south of Liangzhou.
It was only a thousand miles away from Chang'an, and it was also the only place for Chang'an to go to Xuzhou.
Sometimes, the weather was much better than the so-called people and the earth. Relying on this kind of terrain, even in the most difficult years of the Great Zhou Empire, such as the Qing Province and the Chongzhou Empire, the scene of starvation had never occurred in Youlong City.
There are many things in this world that are like this.
Many people were destined to be high above others, and many people were destined to pay an unimaginable price in order to catch up to them.
As Meng Liang thought about this, he took a bite and fiercely bit off half of the meat stuffed bun in his hand.
The fragrance of meat was overflowing, much stronger than the steamed buns of Mount Li.
One day, he would let everyone in the Chen Kingdom eat this kind of steamed buns.
Before that, he needed to go to the Linglong Pavilion and cross off the last name on his list.
Meng Liang made up his mind and stuffed the rest of the bun into his mouth. Then, he wiped the oil off his mouth and set off again.
At this moment, two figures, one tall and one short, suddenly walked to his desk.
Sword intent!
Meng Liang's heart trembled. He could sense the threat from his keen followers. He subconsciously extended his hand to grab the sword that he had placed on the table.
Swordsman.
To live for the sword, to die for the sword.
The first lesson he learned on Mount Li was to hold a sword.
It took him half a year to obtain Yan Qianqiu's approval. Since then, his grip on the sword had merged into his blood, becoming his instinct.
However, this time, the sword that he was able to grasp was as heavy as a thousand jin, and he was unable to lift it.
He turned his head and saw that at some unknown time, there was an arm pressed against the blade of the sword.
Meng Liang raised his head and saw clearly the appearance of the owner of the arm. It was a middle-aged man dressed in black. He had sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and a resolute expression. He was a swordsman, a very powerful type.
With a single glance, Meng Liang couldn't help but have this thought in his heart.
Beside the man stood a young girl. She was petite, but she was extremely beautiful. Her purple pupils were even more strange, causing Meng Liang, who had never seen a woman since she went up Mount Li, to subconsciously swallow her saliva.
"Not bad sword." The man's voice rang out at that moment, heavy and steady. It was like the sound of a heavy sword being drawn from its sheath, and the blade of the sword grinding through the sheath.
Then the man and the girl sat down.
Only then did Meng Liang wake up from the girl's beauty. He realized his current situation and frowned vigilantly as he looked at the man who was truly playing with his sword.
"Mount Li?" The man seemed to be unaware of Meng Liang's vigilance. He turned to Meng Liang and asked.
"Yes." Meng Liang nodded. At that time, his body arched up like a bow full of strings.
"How's that little old man Yan Qianqiu lately?" The man asked again, his eyes suddenly narrowed, as if he was laughing.
Meng Liang was stunned, and at that moment, more than half of the momentum that he had gathered had dissipated.
Yan Qianqiu? Little old man?
Meng Liang had never seen anyone in this world who dared to call him Master like this. Even the princes who had been fighting for the throne recently had to respectfully call him Senior when they saw his Master.
What kind of background did this man have?
Meng Liang frowned. He knew no matter who the other party was. But from the casual manner in which he addressed Master and the little old man, it could be seen that this man was far from being a match for him. En, at least not now.
Moreover, the sword intent that he had sensed since the man appeared also explained this point very accurately.
Meng Liang knew very well that the sword intent was deliberately released by the man.
He's telling him you're no match for me.
"My master is still well." After thinking about this, Meng Liang straightened his attitude and respectfully responded to the man.
"Mm. Take me to see him." The man said again, his usual tone carrying an unquestionable determination.
"This" Meng Liang immediately made a difficult decision. It was even harder for him to meet his master. The man who had suddenly appeared wanted to see the Sword Dao Master with a single open mouth.
"It's fine. As long as you take me to Mount Li, he will come out to see me." The man seemed to have noticed Meng Liang's worries and said again.
"Senior, what do you want to see Master about?" Meng Liang's heart skipped a beat when he heard this, and he became vigilant again. Could it be that this man was going to cause trouble for Mount Li?
"Make a deal." The man looked up and down at Meng Liang, as if he was weighing something. Finally, he added. "Big deal."
Meng Liang felt a little uncomfortable when he was seen by a man. He thought that if it was that girl who looked at him like this, he would be very happy.
But this man..
Could it be that it was like a dragon sun?
Thinking of this, Meng Liang was shocked. He stood up and said with a serious expression, "Master is in the Mount Li. He won't leave for a short time. If Senior really has something to do with my master, he can leave now. I still have something important to do, so I'll leave now."
Only then did she stand up, and the girl at the side suddenly gave birth to her slender hand, which was like white jade, and placed it on his shoulder.
Meng Liang's face turned pale as he fell back onto the table and stool.
This girl looked like she was only fifteen or sixteen years old, but she was actually able to completely suppress the sword intent in his body.
Meng Liang thought about the seemingly ordinary battle just now, but in fact, it was also a very ordinary battle. His heart was filled with shock and fear.
The girl's hand rested on his shoulder. He subconsciously circulated the sword intent around his body in an attempt to break free from the girl's restraints. However, the sword intent that he was proud of only slightly touched the girl's hands and dissipated like a tide. This could not be considered a clash, it could only be considered a defeat.
"What's the hurry?" The man did not seem to be surprised by this. He turned his head to look at Meng Liang and asked kindly.
"Linglong Pavilion, find someone to fight." Meng Liangduan, whose shoulders were still aching, did not dare to play any tricks in front of this man anymore. He hurriedly replied one by one.
"Is it important?" The man asked again.
Meng Liang tilted his head and thought about it seriously. In the end, he nodded heavily and said, "Very important."
"The time is good, then I'll accompany you. Then you can take me to see Yan Qianqiu."
"Eh" Meng Liang was immediately stupefied.
In the end, he couldn't understand why a monster that was commensurate with his master had to pester him to go along with him when he was just eating two buns on the street. The most hateful thing was that he didn't seem to be able to defeat him at all.
"Senior, it's a long way from here to Linglong Pavilion. It's 1,800 miles. Look, you're always a big shot, and your business is busy .." Meng Liang halfway through his words, he stopped. At that time, the girl beside the man suddenly gave him a gaze. Her killing intent was cold and ice-cold. Meng Liang tactfully withdrew his voice and changed the topic. The smile on his face was like a spring breeze blowing willows and peach blossoms blooming.
"However, this 1,800 li is a prosperous place in the Central Plains. The scenery is very good. Senior is busy with his affairs, but he has to pay attention to the combination of work and rest. If Senior doesn't dislike it, I can be Senior one by one."
The man looked at the eloquent Mount Li disciple in front of him, his eyes narrowed and the corners of his mouth slightly raised.
He couldn't help but think of another person.
He was also so smooth, but there was a sword hidden in his heart.
1,800 miles?
If you came, it would only be a day or two, right?
He thought to himself.
..
Liangzhou, Big Yellow City.
The citizens of the city were terrified these days.
The Beijiang King of the Sword Dragon Pass did not know what he was thinking, but he hid in the Pass and refused to fight.
Ignoring the case of the Mu Clan plotting against him, even though Mu Ji was disabled, he still needed his attendants to push the wooden wheelchair.
However, his attainments in the use of troops were generally acknowledged to be terrifying by Great Zhou.
The ferocious battle and the divine use of troops had left an impression on the Great Zhou Imperial Court and the people in charge of the Mu Clan army for the past ten years.
No matter what kind of strong enemy he faced, Mu Ji had always adhered to the principle of taking the initiative to attack. In the past ten years, he had defeated countless valiant soldiers of the Great Xia Dynasty. But now, he was unusual, facing Cui Ting's several shouts, he could not leave the room.
There were rumors that his old illness would not last long. As soon as Mu Ji fell, the two hundred thousand Mu Clan soldiers would be left without a leader, and the Sword Dragon Pass would be in imminent danger. After that, the first to bear the brunt was Big Yellow City, which stood at the entrance of Chang'an and the Sword Dragon Pass.
Of course, the only person who could comfort the people in the city and those noble officials in the Imperial Court was Lin Shou and Old General Lin, who had been crowned the number one general under the heavens.
The old general was a legend.
Although Zhu Xian could be considered to have covered the sky with one hand in the Great Zhou Imperial Court, he didn't dare to do anything to the two of them.
The first was the Headmaster of the Tian Ce Mansion who had been missing for a long time, and the second was Lin Shou, an 80-year-old veteran of the battlefield.
The former was afraid of the 30,000 Heavenly Policy Army and the 3,000 white-robed officials, while the latter was afraid of the world's leisurely mouth.
Yes.
Lin Shou's reputation amongst the people was truly too good. Even if the people of Great Xia or Chen Kingdom in the neighboring countries mentioned Lin Shou's name, they would still be praised by everyone.
How could Zhu Xian dare to move such a person?
In the past few days, Big Yellow City's General's Mansion had deployed its personnel frequently, and the lieutenants under Lin Shou were extremely busy. Several of them had not slept for several days and nights.
Lin Shou's cultivation wasn't too high. Even though he was eighty years old, he was still at the Mortal Expansion Realm. There was still a gap between him and the Great Expansion Realm. At his age, he had no hope of reaching the Great Expansion Realm for the rest of his life. His stratagem was also surprising, far inferior to Mu Jingshen, who was using his troops like a god.
However, only the word "guard", as the real person's name implied, could be said to be dense and not ventilated, difficult to enter the drop of water. No hero in the world dared to say that they could destroy his Big Yellow City.
He was cautious. He had only just smelled that Mu Ji was unusual. Without waiting for the court's order, he began to set up the garrison of Big Yellow City.
One report after another about the battle ahead, whether it was about Cui Ting or Mu Ji, was sent into the manor by the scouts. The white-haired old general wore a thin blanket and coughed as he carefully read the reports. Sometimes he frowned and sometimes he closed his eyes to ponder.
Lin Yuguo , who was serving at the side, looked at his white-haired grandfather with a low heart.
It wasn't that he hadn't tried to persuade his grandfather, but the old general's temper was very pouted. In the words of his father, who had died on the battlefield, the old man pouted, and the old emperor didn't dare to persuade him.
The sky darkened.
The food delivered from the kitchen has been heated twice.
Lin Yuguo looked at Lin Shou worriedly.
The old general's health was not very good.
He is too old after all.
His body was deteriorating, and his appetite was far from what it had been back then.
Especially after the case of Mu Wang plotting against him, Lin Shou, who was part of the old Mu King's tribe, used to wash his face with tears.
Lin Yu Guo was unwilling to admit it, but he had to admit that Lin Shou might not be able to live long.
The last pillar of the Great Zhou Empire was like a withered tree, seemingly towering, but in reality, it was on the verge of collapse.
But today, Lin Shou seemed to have an appetite. He had already prepared a sumptuous dinner for the kitchen. Originally, Lin Yu Guo thought his grandfather's health had improved, but he was overjoyed and even specifically instructed the kitchen to make the food more delicious.
But who would have thought that the meal would get hotter and hotter. It was already past the hour of eating, but the old general was still obsessed with the letter in front of him and did not have the slightest intention of eating.
'"Grandpa" Lin Yuguo thought about it and decided to remind Lin Shou. However, just as he said that, he met Lin Shou's round eyes.
Although the fierce tiger was old, its might still existed.
Lin Yu Guo was shocked, only then did he know that he had said the wrong thing.
Lin Shou governed the army strictly. Even at home, anyone who was in the line of duty could be called a military officer.
Lin Yu Guo did not dare to make the old general unhappy. He quickly changed his tone and said, "The general dinner has already warmed up the kitchen twice. Should we eat earlier?"
"Huh?" Hearing this, Lin Shou was stunned. He raised his eyes to look outside the room and discovered that the sky had already darkened.
"What hour has it been?" He asked, but as soon as he spoke, his body stopped, followed by a violent cough.
Seeing this, Lin Yuguo hurriedly went forward and carefully patted Lin Shou's back, trying to relieve his pain.
"It's already past Youshi. It's time for the Reform Movement."
Lin Shou coughed for a long time before he finally regained his composure. He shook his head and helplessly said, "Old, useless."
Hearing this, Lin Yu Guo looked at the old man in front of him and thought about how he had once crossed Guan Shan and was unable to open it. His heart was a little sour, and he rarely took Lin Shou's words.
Lin Shou had watched Lin Yuguo grow up from a young age, watching him go from being hungry to having a son, to being mature and steady.
How could his grandson's thoughts be concealed from him?
He sighed again and asked, "Did the letter to the Exquisite Pavilion arrive yesterday?"
"Yes." Lin Yuguo regained his senses and nodded. "It was yesterday. Eight hundred miles is not far. The best messenger was sent. It should have arrived yesterday."
"That's good." The old general nodded, "Then let someone bring the food."
Hearing this, Lin Yu Guo was delighted and hurriedly instructed his attendants to bring the dishes.
Before Lin Yu Guo could say anything, Lin Shou's voice sounded again.
"All of you, retreat. I'll be on my own later."
The surrounding waiters naturally didn't dare to disobey. They all retreated at that time, but Lin Yuguo hesitated. He felt that Lin Shou was a little abnormal today.
"What? Do you think I'm so old that I can't even cook for myself?" The old general raised his eyebrows and asked.
How could Lin Yu Guo dare to refute his grandfather? No matter how uneasy his heart was, he still followed the crowd and slowly retreated.
The wrinkled Lin Shou frowned as he looked at his grandson.
"Imperial Nation.."
The moment Lin Yu Guo stepped out of the room, he suddenly opened his mouth.
"General?" Hearing this, Lin Yuguo turned his head and looked at the old man on the platform with some doubts.
"Don't worry, Grandpa won't die."
The old man's lion-like voice rang out, striking Lin Yu Guo's eardrums.
He was stunned, but at that moment, the old man picked up a chicken leg on the table and took a big bite of the tender chicken meat on it. He seemed to be telling Lin Yuguo something.
Lin Yu Guo, who was almost thirty years old, suddenly smiled.
"Yes." He nodded heavily.
A somewhat ancient voice echoed silently in the palace hall.
..
After Lin Yu Guo left, it took about half an hour.
A figure landed in front of the main hall of the General's Mansion like a ghost.
He could vaguely see the outline of the old general through the shadow projected on the door.
The visitor hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he took a deep breath and pushed open the door.
"Everyone says that your Stealing Saint Sect's Meteor Stepping Movement Technique is unparalleled in the world. You've traveled 800 li for a full day and a half. If your grandmaster finds out, he'll probably have to jump out of the coffin and deal with you, you unworthy disciple."
Lin Shou, who was drinking and pouring himself into the hall, said.
It seemed that Lin Shou had expected his arrival long ago.
The person who came was a middle-aged man. He looked to be in his early forties, his face full of beard, and he was somewhat untidy. His body even carried a strong smell of alcohol. Clearly, he was a perennial alcoholic.
The man was not angry when he heard Lin Shou's mocking words.
He chuckled. He closed the door and sat in front of Lin Shou. He casually picked up the food from his desk and began to eat the wine beside him.
While eating, he said vaguely, "The road is not ripe. I took a detour."
"However, the food in your General's Mansion is really delicious. If I had known earlier, I wouldn't have gone to the Thieving Saint Sect to learn the Thieving Technique. If I had followed you, I would have succeeded. Now, there are already a large number of wives and concubines."
Hearing this, Lin Shou smiled and said, "If you turn around now, I can still recommend you to the Imperial Court. It won't be a problem for you to be an official."
When the man heard this, he hurriedly waved his hand, "That's not possible. The matters of the Imperial Court are too complicated. I, someone from Chu, cannot do it. I'm doing this now, so it's quite good. I'm free and easy."
At that time, Lin Shou looked deeply at the man and asked leisurely, "Is it really good?"
'".." The middle-aged man's wolfing action paused for a moment before he said, "Really good."
The old general who had obtained this answer did not ask any further.
He silently watched the middle-aged man eat up the food at the table like a storm. Only after he burped out an extremely indecent belch did Lin Shou's expression become serious.
"I'm dying." As he spoke, a terrifying light suddenly burst out from his turbid eyes, staring straight at the middle-aged man.
"I know." The middle-aged man waved his hand and did not respond.
The old man didn't say anything, but he still stared at the man. The light in his eyes turned from dazzling to scorching hot, from scorching hot to an unquestionable determination.
Under that gaze, the man finally softened.
He sat to the side and said with a rare seriousness, "This is not good."
"I don't have a better way." The old man replied unyieldingly.
"Everyone dies .. Sometimes, living is more terrifying than dying .." The man did not give up and tried to persuade.
"But if I die, what about Great Zhou? What about Big Yellow City?"
'"This question clearly asked the man where he was hurt. He fell silent, not knowing how to respond.
"Isn't the Northern Region King still here? You know Mu Ji's abilities."
"Of course I know Mu Ji's abilities, but I know more about Mu Ji's nature!" The old man interrupted the man impolitely. At this moment, he was like a lion. Even if he was old, as long as he could still breathe, there was no room for doubt.
He didn't know if he had sensed the old man's determination or if the old man's words were more thorough.
The man fell silent again.
This time, the silence was longer and more silent than the last time.
Apart from the night breeze outside the mansion, there was no sound inside the mansion.
..
"Have you.. thought it through?" Finally, the man broke the silence.
He suddenly stood up and faced the old man. The light in his eyes flickered and was extremely complicated.
"Yes." At that time, the old man also stood up. His thin, stooped body was like Mount Tai in front of the man, pressing down on his chest, making the man unable to breathe.
The man sighed.
Then, he stretched out his hand and gently pressed it on the old man's shoulder.
He was very slow and serious in this process, as if he was carrying out some sort of solemn ceremony.
At that moment, his gaze became incomparably deep, as if the boundless night sky was filled with stars hidden within the pitch-black chaos.
His mouth slowly opened.
After taking a deep breath, he finally said word for word.
"No."
"Yes."
"Die."
..
In just three short words, the man spoke with great difficulty. It was as if he had exhausted all the energy in his body before spitting it out.
That was supposed to be a request for him to stay, but he also spoke in a very heavy tone.
Instead, it was more like a farewell.
At that moment, the corners of the old man's mouth suddenly rose.
He took a deep look at the man and laughed.
"The people from the Sacred Bandit Sect won't let me die."
"How dare I die?"
Liked it? Take a second to support Novels on Patreon!