Winter turned to spring, and soon it was the fifteenth day of the first month of spring in the eighteenth year of Daye.
Today is the Lantern Festival. After nightfall, the city in Xu County, Yingchuan appears to be very prosperous and lively. It is completely different from the desolate and desolate scene when Yu Wenhuaji ruled here.
Today is the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month. This festival has been valued as early as the Western Han Dynasty, but as a folk festival in the Central Plains and even the whole world, it only started after the Han and Wei dynasties.
And now, it is already the end of the Sui Dynasty. Since most of the Central Plains has been controlled by the Shuanglong Army, there is no longer the pain of war, and there is a rare curfew tonight, so people will naturally not let this go easily.
of important holidays.
Likewise, Xu Ziling, as the marshal of the Ssangyong Army, would naturally not let him go.
Of course, he was not going to have fun with the people, but because Shi Qingxuan, who had said that he would come back to the Central Plains when he had free time the year before last, really came again, and specially invited him to a hotel not far outside the city that was very suitable for viewing.
See you in the moon's garden?
In the moonlit willow branches, people meet after dusk.
When a confidante travels thousands of miles to attend an appointment, Xu Ziling will certainly not miss out on the most beautiful thing in the world!
Therefore, after making some arrangements and preparations, and seeing that it was already getting late, he arrived at the exquisite garden early when it was dark, and as expected, he saw there the handsome man whom he had not seen for nearly two years.
She is becoming more and more beautiful and refined, like a fairy-like beauty who cannot eat the fireworks of this world.
So, the two of them met and after greeting each other and comforting each other, they naturally enjoyed the moon, drank wine and made jokes, completely forgetting many mundane things.
But...
What Xu Ziling and Shi Qingxuan never imagined was that when the two people reunited after a long separation, they entered the house and chatted for a while, and they were in love with each other. It was very likely that something transcendent would happen soon in this place where there were only two people.
When it comes to ordinary friendship, an uninvited guest comes to the door again.
"Such a festive season..."
"My old friend is here, why doesn't Ziling come out and meet him?"
As a resentful and clear voice came, Xu Ziling and Shi Qingxuan in the house first looked at each other in shock, and then, as Shi Qingxuan entered the inner room in shame and anger, Xu Ziling thought about it and had to say with some annoyance.
Pushing the door open, I immediately saw a slender white figure standing at the pavilion in the lotus pond of the garden.
However, it is the first month now, and although spring has entered, the cold here in Yingchuan is still biting, so there must be no lotus flowers or lotus leaves in the lotus pond, except for the frozen pond, the surrounding rockeries and the white snow on the pavilion.
Outside, only the bright moon in the sky can barely be seen.
But despite the beautiful scenery of the festival, Xu Ziling felt that he would rather spend it with Shi Qingxuan, who had hid in the inner room at this time, rather than with the person in front of him.
Some displeased Shi Fei Xuan!
"..."
Therefore, since Xu Ziling was slightly unhappy and always felt that the other party had ruined his good deeds, he naturally walked outside the pavilion and stood still without saying a word.
He didn't go in, and just stared at the other person who was slowly turning around in the night across the twists and turns of the stone plank road in the lotus pond.
"how?"
"It seems that Ziling doesn't welcome Concubine Xuan's arrival?"
Seeing Xu Ziling's polite but distant indifferent expression, Master Fei Xuan was startled, and then sighed with a wry smile.
"..."
Xu Ziling made no excuse.
Because he was not welcome in the first place, not to mention that he knew without guessing that the other party following him here this time must have something to trouble him or want to cause trouble for him.
"Yeah?"
"It seems that Zi Ling still has some resentment in his heart..."
Once again, she looked at Xu Ziling, who was silent, and then the master concubine Xuan sighed bitterly and quietly.
Then, she didn't say anything or explain, she just slowly turned around again, walked to the pavilion and looked up at the night sky.
"Such a beautiful time..."
"I don't know if we can see it with Zi Ling next year?"
Then, after looking at the night sky for a while, the master's concubine Xuan seemed to be inspired by it, and she sighed sadly again.
"oh?"
Frowning slightly, Xu Ziling didn't want to continue playing riddles with the other party, and he always felt that there was something in the other party's words. At the same time, he was also very curious about the other party's purpose of looking for him again tonight. Xu Ziling thought for a while, and simply asked directly:
"Why did Fairy Master sigh like this?"
"That's fine!"
"If you have something to say, just say it!"
After all, there was a beautiful woman waiting in the room behind him. Although tonight's good things must have gone awry, he was still a little impatient as he did not want to get too involved with the concubine in front of him in order to avoid misunderstanding or extraneous matters.
Urgent.
"..."
Concubine Xuan, who had her back to Xu Ziling, suddenly stiffened when she heard Xu Ziling's somewhat unkind words.
Then, after a long time, he slowly turned around, stared at Xu Ziling's eyes and cold expression under the moonlight for a long time, and finally said slowly:
"do you know?"
Having said this, Concubine Xuan, who looked increasingly melancholy, paused for a moment, then looked at Xu Ziling again. After realizing that Xu Ziling seemed a little impatient, she continued:
"Master and the others..."
"We have decided to get rid of you 'Yangzhou Shuanglong' at all costs."
"Master, she..."
"Now, I'm afraid we should have arrived at Yuhang City, right?"
That’s right!
What Shi Feixuan said was more than just a threat!
After several attempts to stop the development of the Ssangyong Army came to nothing or even failed, Cihang Jingzhai had no other option. Apart from being ready to attack the two of them directly, they now had no other option.
choose.
"!
"
"You want to take action against Kou Zhong?"
Although the other party who followed him tonight and came here must have uneasy intentions, Xu Ziling was more worried about his brother Kou Zhong than his own safety.
"when?"
So, when he heard what the other party said, he felt anxious and asked quickly.
"when?"
"Why……"
"It's probably now, when else?"
"On Lantern Festival night, when the moon is full..."
After saying that, she slowly turned around again and looked at the bright moon in the sky. Shi Feixuan couldn't help but sigh again.
"What?"
"Just tonight?"
Xu Ziling was startled at first, and then began to feel worried and angry.
However, after frowning and thinking for a while, he hesitated and couldn't help but look at Concubine Xuan, who had her back turned to him, with a look that looked like a fool and asked in confusion:
"Are you really planning to take action in Yuhang?"
"If what I expected is correct..."
"Master Song and the others should be in Yuhang at this time, but you chose this time. Are you afraid that you are crazy?"
If it were normal times, Xu Ziling would be really worried, just like the last time Kou Zhong returned to Jizhou with only a dozen riders and was blocked by the "sanren" Ning Daoqi, which was very dangerous!
If that situation happened again, he was not sure whether Kou Zhong could escape safely.
However, the other party couldn't choose a good time, so they chose to take action today during the Lantern Festival. Although their master Anne is probably not in Yuhang at the moment, Lord Song and others alone are probably enough for the other party's people to drink a pot.
Yes.
"crazy?"
"Maybe……"
Thinking about last year and what her master, Li Yuan and others did, Shi Feixuan rarely refuted, and her face couldn't help but look a little ashamed and embarrassed.
"but……"
"It is reported that on the night of the Lantern Festival, Kou Zhong will celebrate with the people and will appear on the Drum Tower of Yuhang City. By then, he may only have dozens of guards around him?"
"As long as they move quickly enough, Master and the others should be able to succeed."
"Master Song..."
"I'm afraid I can't stop them."
Turning around again and continuing to look at the bright moon in the sky, the master concubine Xuan didn't hide anything and directly stated their plan in general.
Maybe, when she thought about it, the plan had already begun to be implemented, and it had even been successful. Whether they talked about it or not, it no longer mattered.
"they?"
Hearing this, Xu Ziling took a deep breath.
"Can't even the Song clan leader stop him?"
"Who are they?"
He just heard that the other party had taken into account the existence of Song Que, the "Heavenly Sword" of Lord Song, when planning. If that was the case, then the result would be really difficult to predict?
"Except for concubine..."
"They're all gone."
"Master, the Four Holy Monks, Taoist Master Ning, and several elders from Cihang Jingzhai..."
Shi Feixuan sighed quietly again.
In just a few words, she revealed what could be described as the most luxurious assassination lineup in today's martial arts world.
"!
"
"you!
"
"Are you crazy?"
At this time, Xu Ziling finally panicked.
"For that Li Clan, how could you do this?"
"I see."
"You are here to kill me tonight too..."
"Once Mr. Zhong and I die, the Ssangyong Army will collapse without a fight, right?"
As he spoke, Xu Ziling, who was in disbelief, first sneered sadly and angrily and sneered at the concubine's remarks. Then, with a stern look on his face, he waved his hand, and his broken snow sword kept in his storage bag appeared.
into his hands.
"Feixuan knows she shouldn't..."
"Feixuan doesn't want to either..."
"but……"
"Fei Xuan can't help herself."
Listening to Xu Ziling's scolding and seeing Xu Ziling holding the sword in his hand, Master Feixuan turned her head and opened her mouth. After murmuring a few words, she slowly lowered her head, with a look of misery and helplessness on her face.
.
"..."
Xu Ziling said no more, but looked at the other party with cold eyes.
Because, since the opponent who went to assassinate Mr. Zhong looked so luxurious, then there must not be too few people from the opponent who came to assassinate him tonight!
"Ziling!"
"Will you and Fei Xuan retire from the world?"
"Put it all aside, Feixuan really doesn't want to do anything with you."
Seeing Xu Ziling's expression, the struggle and sorrow on Shi Feixuan's face became even more intense. It took a long time for her to speak out and plead in pain.
Obviously, she had the same intention as Bi Xiu before, and planned to 'feed the devil with her own body'.
However, the 'demon' she raised today was not a 'demon', and it seemed that she had no need to do that. At the same time, the estranged relationship between her and Xu Ziling was probably far from that level, but she
He just said it and was ready to do it.
Maybe, just to alleviate the guilt a little bit in her heart?
"Feixuan really doesn't want to..."
"Ziling..."
Shi Feixuan begged bitterly again.
She really didn't want to do this, but her sect had a destiny, so what else could she do?
Furthermore, now they have received a tip-off that Wagang Li Mi, who was vaguely reluctant to persuade the Li clan to surrender, is being persuaded by the "femme fatale" Shen Luoyan, and wants Wagang to switch to the Shuanglong Army?
Therefore, they have no way out. This will be Cihang Jingzhai's last counterattack. Once they fail, there will be no chance to turn around and the consequences will be disastrous!
"well……"
For a long time, looking at the fairy in front of him who seemed to have completely fallen into the mortal world, Xu Ziling's expression changed for a long time, and finally he sighed with regret, and then said:
"Let's go!"
"If I were not your opponent in the past, I might be kidnapped by you again, but now..."
"You will not be my opponent."
Yes, although Xu Ziling, Kou Zhong and others are still far from reaching the level of a great master, with the nourishment of the "He's Bi" and the "Evil Emperor's Relic" and the support given by Master Anne,
With the hard training of "Taibai Sword Jue" and "Henless Will Decision", he is confident that he will not be afraid of the Shi Fei Xuan in front of him, and even has the confidence to defeat him in a hundred moves!
"Feixuan knows!"
"but……"
"Feixuan didn't come alone today."
The next second, the words just fell.
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
Soon, several people jumped out of the darkness silently and immediately surrounded Xu Ziling from all directions.
And when he took a closer look, he found that there were quite a few acquaintances there, including Monk Kong Kong, the Four Great Vajras of Jing Nian Monastery, and others.
Of course, there are also some great monks and old nuns that Xu Ziling doesn't know very well.
"good!"
"So many masters..."
"It seems that Fairy Master is determined to win!"
If there was only Shi Fei Xuan, Xu Ziling would naturally not take it seriously. However, there were so many in front of him. At a rough count, there were more than ten of them, and I don't know if there were others in the dark. With such a lineup, Xu Ziling could take him down.
It is indeed more than enough.
While talking, Xu Ziling couldn't help but feel secretly frightened by Cihang Jingzhai's background.
You know, in order to get enough of the hundreds of second- and third-rate masters flying wooden planes, they had almost wiped out the Yinkui Sect and Song Clan, but now the other party has a dozen first-rate and top-notch masters.
Existence, not counting those who had to deal with Kou Zhong. With such strength, Xu Ziling was frightened but also envious in his heart.
"Ziling..."
"Come with me, let's leave the Central Plains and escape overseas..."
"Go to the life of the wandering clouds and wild cranes and completely forget everything here?"
Seeing that Xu Ziling seemed to have been appointed, Shi Feixuan, who couldn't bear to kill him directly, persuaded him again.
"..."
However, Xu Ziling looked at her in silence for a while, then slowly shook his head and sighed:
"well……"
"Why is this beautiful lady like you a thief?"
"before……"
"Zi Ling always thought that Fairy Xuanshi, the imperial concubine, was the best fairy in the world, but now it seems that she is just a common guest in the world."
"and……"
"You can't tell the difference between right and wrong?"
If it were in the past, before the Li family allowed the Turks to invade, two years ago, Xu Ziling might really be tempted, but after that kind of thing happened, it would no longer be possible!
Besides...
Think about the concubine in front of you, and then think about Shi Qingxuan in the room who may be listening. Comparing the two, who is better and who is worse? Who treats me sincerely, and who just wants to use or control me?
, it is already clear at a glance.
"pity!"
"Xu is not alone tonight either."
As he spoke, he shook his head, and then Xu Ziling suddenly raised his hand to send a certain hand signal.
soon!
Dots of firelight appeared in the dense forest about a few miles away from this villa. Then, thousands of firelights lit up one after another and turned the place into a huge circle. At the same time, the sound came out.
The sound of shouts and the sound of footsteps clashing with weapons and armor also began to be heard in the distance.
With that movement, even a fool would know that at least tens of thousands of soldiers have surrounded this place and are converging and shrinking from afar.
At the same time, people from the Yinkui sect such as Zhu Yuyan, Hunan, Wen Caiting, Elder Yun, Elder Xia and Bai Qing'er also jumped out from all directions, either standing on the wall, standing on the roof, or appearing.
In the corner, they looked indifferently at Shi Feixuan and others who were panicking and changing their expressions.
"Master Fairy..."
"It's true!"
"Your activities in Yingchuan have already been discovered by Sect Master Zhu and others, but..."
"But I didn't expect that only small fish like you are here tonight, while the big fish have all gone to Yuhang. This is really something we didn't expect!"
"but……"
"Young Master Zhong should be fine. Although Master Anne is indeed not in Yuhang, but..."
"At this time, besides Master Song, there are also "Sword God" Dugu Feng and "Evil King" Shi Zixuan beside Mr. Zhong!"
Then, when Master Fei Xuan reconciled with Monk Kong and the Four Great Vajra and others in Jing Nian Zen Monastery were panicked and confused, Xu Ziling continued to explain like this without saying anything shocking.
"!
"
"The Evil King and Dugu Feng?"
"How could this happen?"
Sure enough, upon hearing Xu Ziling's words, Master Fei Xuan couldn't help but turn pale with shock, and her face instantly became even uglier.
"Why not?"
"I'm afraid you don't know yet, right?"
"The Evil King and Dugu Feng went out to the fortress and successfully assassinated Bi Xuan, Jieli Khan, Zhao Deyan and other high-ranking Eastern and Western Turks, including hundreds of people!"
"In addition to the meteorites that fell from the sky before, the grassland is now in chaos. The Turks will no longer be able to invade the south within a hundred years. The overall situation of the world has been decided!"
Xu Ziling said leisurely, with a lot of emotion and a little pride in his heart.
"!
"
"Is this happening?"
"Why did I wait without knowing?"
Shi Feixuan still had a look of disbelief on her face, as if she didn't believe that they hadn't received any news at all.
"It's snowy and the mountains are closed. It's normal for the news to be blocked and we don't know."
"Five days ago, those two people personally told Zi Ling when they passed by Yingchuan. Now, the news should have reached Li Clan. Fairy Shi will know the truth and falsehood in the future."
While explaining, Xu Ziling secretly calculated that in five days, Dugu Feng and Evil King should have reached Yuhang by the time they were able. Therefore, he felt that Kou Zhong would not be in any danger?
Of course, he himself was not sure whether he would arrive or not.
"!
"
"quick!"
"Retreat quickly!"
At this time, before Xu Ziling's army could encircle them, before Zhu Yuyan, Huanwen and others could take action, the four Vajras and the unknown nuns and monks simply stepped forward when they saw that nothing could be done.
They grabbed Shi Feixuan who was still about to say something, and then they all quickly retreated, disappearing in the darkness under the moonlight in an instant.
"You're here and you still want to run away?"
Although he saw only a group of small fish and shrimps surrounding him, the "Yin Queen" Zhu Yuyan had no intention of letting him go.
"Follow me!"
"Since we haven't caught that old nun Fan Qinghui, there's no harm in catching the younger ones first!"
"Where to run!"
"It's better to stay and be a guest in Yingchuan!"
Therefore, before Xu Ziling could speak, she waved her hand and led the elites of the Yinkui faction to surround them. At the same time, she also sent a firework signal to the sky, as if she was commanding and dispatching the army to cooperate with them in rounding up those few people.
An assassin caught in their trap?
You know, Cihang Jingzhai and the Yinkui sect have been fighting for so many years, and today is the most proud time for them. This kind of opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"..."
Xu Ziling did not pursue or stop Zhu Yuyan and others' actions.
After all, those people are just clowns after all. As a general of the Yingchuan Army, he will start preparing for the war against the North and the Li clan after the beginning of spring. But no accidents can happen at this time, so he just
Just wait here.
——————————
Chapter completed!