Longevity begins with slaying demons and eliminating demons

Chapter 347 Jiange Xu Man
"The scene is full of yin and yin, like peaks and clouds and fire. The sun rises to the sky with the sun, and the red color enters the eaves of the palace by the wind." (1)

Gu Xu suddenly felt that this poem is quite appropriate to describe the scene at this moment.

Mangshan Ghost King is indeed powerful, but its power is limited after all.

Like the morning sun driving away the gloom of night.

The black smoke in the alley quickly spread out under the strong light and gradually faded away.

The speed of Hu Yun's body recovery suddenly slowed down.

I don't know if it's Gu Xu's illusion—he also noticed that in Hu Yun's cold and empty eyes, there was a hint of painful emotion.

Such an expression never appeared even when Hu Yun was being scorched by the flames just now.

After the black smoke in the alley became thinner, Gu Xu mobilized his whole body's true energy, and prepared to use "Flint" again to completely burn this "ghost attendant" who dared to hurt his fiancée into ashes.

As a vengeful person, Gu Xu has long kept the Mangshan Ghost King and his "ghost servants" in his little book in his heart.It's just limited by his cultivation, he can't deal with the "Mangshan Ghost King" himself for the time being, so he can only get rid of its minions first.

However, at this moment, like lightning piercing through the night, a dazzling silver-white light suddenly flashed across the dark sky.

Immediately afterwards, a sharp sword glow descended from the sky, instantly dispelling the black smoke in the alley.

Gu Xu couldn't help looking up, and saw a huge hole suddenly appeared between the thick clouds, revealing a clean and clear blue sky.The sun shone through the hole, hurting his eyes.

Among the ten thousand zhang rays of light, Gu Xu saw a flying figure with Yu Jian.

It was a thin woman with a cold temperament.

She was dressed in a black dress with long boots, and a bamboo hat with a circle of light gauze on her head.Although her face was covered by a light veil, Gu Xu could feel her sharp gaze like a sword.

Shi Xiaohan blinked his eyes even more, longing for it.

Her dream has always been to become a heroine who slays demons and slays demons, and acts for the heavens.This black-clothed woman with Yujian volleying in the sky is undoubtedly her ideal self.

But the most unexpected thing was the reaction of "Ghost Attendant" Hu Yun.

When the woman in the black hat appeared in his field of vision, Hu Yun suddenly covered his head with his hands, and fell to the ground, his brows furrowed and his teeth clenched, as if he was in extreme pain.

In the blink of an eye, the woman in black put away her sword and landed beside Gu Xu and Zhao Yan.

Gu Xu took a step forward, cupped his hands at the woman in black and said, "Gu Xu, the head of the Exorcism Division, has met Pavilion Master Xu."

The cold and sharp woman in front of her is Xu Man, the master of the Jiange Pavilion in Shu, one of the "Five Sages" of the Qi Dynasty, and Su Xiao's master.

Although Gu Xu had never seen her before, he knew her appearance and usual attire through portraits and other people's descriptions, combined with her cultivation level, so he was able to recognize her at a glance.

Xu Man glanced at him, and said lightly: "So you are the young genius Gu Xu who has become famous recently. It is indeed extraordinary that you can use "Seven Styles of Burning Heaven" in such a way. No wonder Su Xiao always wants to find Opportunity to learn from you."

While talking, Xu Man's eyes swept over Shi Xiaohan's body - the petite girl was lying on Gu Xu's back like a koala, staring at her curiously with a pair of big apricot-like eyes.

It seems that Shi Xiaohan's appearance awakened some memories of Xu Man.Behind the tulle, came a soft sigh.

As for Zhao Yan, she took a step back and remained silent.

After all, after Yan Guogong Zhao Changying's treason, as the "daughter of a rebel", her identity became very sensitive.And Xu Man is the head of Dazong, and also has the title of "Caibao" in the court.Officially speaking, the two are undoubtedly on opposite sides.

Of course, everyone present didn't know that Emperor Tianxing had issued an imperial edict to "kill the traitor Gu Xu".Otherwise, even if Gu Xu was given ten guts, he wouldn't dare to greet Xu Man on his own initiative.

"Junior Sister Xu, you are here..." At this moment, Hu Yun, who had fallen to the ground and covered his head, suddenly spoke, his voice hoarse and painful.

Xu Man finally turned to look at him.

No one could see her expression clearly through the white veil.

She took two steps forward, and her attention suddenly fell on the silk flower pinned to Hu Yun's chest—Hu Yun was scarred and ragged, but the silk flower was bright in color, clean as new, and looked particularly abrupt.

Just when she was about to speak, black energy rose from Hu Yun's body again, the painful struggle in his eyes disappeared without a trace, and he became indifferent and stern again.

Gu Xu can probably guess that this is the will of Mangshan Ghost King and Hu Yun, who are fighting for control of this body.

It's just that he didn't expect that after Hu Yun had been a "ghost attendant" for so long, his own will still remained and was not completely wiped out by the Mangshan Ghost King.

Moreover, the previous relationship between Hu Yun and Jiange Pavilion Master must have been extraordinary—after all, when Xu Man appeared, Hu Yun's self-awareness became extremely active and tenacious, and he even faintly resisted Mangshan Ghost King's attack. his control.

"roll."

Xu Man glanced at the black smoke, and said in a cold tone.

She didn't draw a sword.

But a silver sword light flashed past, cutting the black smoke to pieces.

Hu Yun raised his head and stared at her blankly, there was no emptiness or coldness in his eyes.

Xu Man knelt down slowly in front of him, reached out and grabbed the silk flower on his chest, and said softly: "Senior brother Hu, these years...you have been wearing it all the time?"

"Yes," Hu Yun laughed dryly like a fool, "Since you pinned it on my shirt that year, I haven't taken it off."

Xu Man was silent and didn't speak immediately.

These years, Hu Yun was expelled from the sect, wandered around the world, and then somehow became the "ghost attendant" of the ghost king of Mangshan Mountain, and then moved to Luojing City, where he worked as an undercover agent for many years... He has really experienced too much suffering.He had a broken arm, and the clothes on his body were torn and smelly, but the silk flower was still brand new.

Xu Man clearly remembered that this silk flower was made by herself with ordinary silk cloth when she was a girl, without any special spell attached.

It can be preserved so far without any dust, only because Hu Yun has been caring for it subconsciously.

"At the beginning, when you came to Luojing City and taught at Longmen Academy, I was quite happy for you," Xu Man sighed again, and continued, "I thought that you had escaped the law of Jiange as you wished, walked out Forged his own way, became prominent in the Great Qi Dynasty, and gained the respect of the world... Well, as you said back then, he slapped Master in the face.

"I didn't expect that so many things that I didn't know happened in the middle.

"Well, if there hadn't been that battle of ideas between you and the master...if you were willing to bow to the master temporarily, if I had begged for you, if...if you could have stayed in the Jiange, stayed How good would it be to be by my side?"

"Yeah, how good would that be?" Hu Yun smiled silly, looked at her, and repeated her words.

Then he lowered his head, looked at his bruised body, and sighed softly: "It's a pity, time can't be turned back, and I'm about to die... Spirituality is something that kills people more than it pays."

After all, Hu Yun is not a strong saint.

Gu Xu's spell "Flint" caused fatal damage to his internal organs.

It was the power from Mangshan Ghost King just now, maintaining his vitality and combat effectiveness.

Now, he has cut off the connection with the Mangshan Ghost King and got rid of Mangshan Ghost King's control. Naturally, he has no ability to stop his life from passing.

It's just that he didn't expect that he would be able to see Junior Sister Xu again when he was dying.

This made him feel joyful, regretful, and somewhat inferior.

"Come back to the Jiange with me," Xu Man said, "there are still many treasures in the sect. I don't believe I can't save you."

Hu Yun looked at her with a smile, then shook his head slightly.

"No need," he said, "an accomplice of ghosts like me is a heinous crime. If you live in this world, you will be sorry for the dead people of Luojing City. Your treasures should be reserved for those who need them more .

"Actually... Junior Sister Xu, for me now, if I can die soberly and happily, it would be the happiest thing. It's better than living in a daze and being a puppet manipulated by ghosts."

Xu Man did not open his mouth to refute.

With her head lowered, she silently adjusted his dirty and tattered skirt and the bright silk flower with her slender hands holding a sword.

"By the way, Junior Sister Xu," Hu Yun said suddenly, "Can I see your face again?"

Xu Man nodded, and then slowly lifted the light veil on the bamboo hat.

Under the light veil is a delicate and pure face.

Long nose, thin lips.

The eyebrows are thin and the eyes are quiet, and the facial features are picturesque.

Although it is not stunning, but coupled with her cool and sharp temperament, it has a unique charm.

"You're so young," Hu Yun sighed, "You haven't changed at all after all these years, you still look like a young girl, you are worthy of being a genius swordsman who was promoted to a saint at the age of 36.

"And I'm only one year older than you, but I'm already a bad old man with white hair and beard."

Once a practitioner is promoted to a saint, he will be able to maintain his physical condition for a long time, and will not age again until his life essence is exhausted.

Therefore, although Xu Man has passed her sixtieth year, her cheeks are still white and smooth without any wrinkles.

"Young girl... what you said is too exaggerated," Xu Man squeezed out a self-deprecating smile, "at least she is an old lady."

"No, no," Hu Yun said with a chuckle, "In my eyes, Junior Sister Xu, you will always be that [-]-year-old girl who pinned silk flowers on me."

Even as a "ghost attendant", Hu Yun still remembers the situation at that time——

The peach blossoms in Jiange are in full bloom.

He wanted to pick one and give it to Junior Sister Xu.

Junior Sister Xu kept a straight face and shook her head repeatedly, claiming that peach blossoms look beautiful, but they will eventually wither and become corrupted.

Hu Yun was very frustrated and didn't know what to do for a while.

Seeing Junior Sister Xu giggling, she took out the silk flower and said mischievously, "Let me give you this never-withering peach blossom!"

Perhaps, it was precisely because of this stubborn memory that he was able to barely maintain a trace of self-will, and was not completely obliterated by the Mangshan Ghost King.

"You're talking nonsense again." The veil on Xu Man's bamboo hat hung down again, blocking her beautiful face, "No wonder your name is 'Hu Yun'!"

Hu Yun continued to smirk.

While smiling, the look in his eyes gradually faded.Xu Man knew that this was his life slowly passing by.

Just when he was about to close his eyes, he suddenly remembered an important thing.

He braced his weak body, took out a crumpled thin book from his robe, and stuffed it into Xu Man's hand.

"Junior Sister, give it to... to that little girl for... me," he said weakly, "This... This is the new path I took after I left the sect... But, I can't go any further... That little girl is quite talented in swordsmanship... In the academy, I didn't fulfill my duty as a gentleman to teach her the real swordsmanship...if she wants , maybe she can try to follow this path in the future..."

His words came to an abrupt end.

He has been a walking dead for many years, and finally turned into a real corpse today.

Xu Man stretched out her hand, closed his eyes for him, then stood up, looking for the "little girl" in Hu Yun's words.

Her gaze first swept across Zhao Yan, stayed for a moment on her fire phoenix wings and the spear in her hand, and then landed on Shi Xiaohan.

Seeing the destroyed formation in the alley, seeing the shackles on Shi Xiaohan's hands, seeing the looming bird seal pattern on the back of her neck, and seeing the "Kunwu knife" thrown on the ground, Xu Man can roughly Guess what just happened.

"Are you a swordsman?" She walked up to Shi Xiaohan and asked her.

Shi Xiaohan gave an "um" and nodded.

"Hu Yun is your teacher in the academy?" Xu Man asked again.

Shi Xiaohan pondered for a moment, pursed his lips, and nodded again.

At this time, her spirit has recovered a little.

She clearly remembered that Hu Yun asked her to practice all kinds of basic saber moves day after day, which made her out of breath and increased her appetite sharply, but refused to teach her any more advanced things; she also clearly remembered, While comforting her who failed to withdraw from the "Luoshui Conference", Hu Yun tricked her into the formation, trying to turn her into a "ghost attendant".

"Hu Yun should have done a lot of things to offend you," Xu Man continued, "Although it was not out of his original intention, as his junior sister, I still want to apologize to you on his behalf."

Having said that, she bowed deeply to Shi Xiaohan.

Seeing a sage and strong man perform such a great gift to him, Shi Xiaohan was taken aback and almost fell off Gu Xu's back.

"Pavilion Master Xu, you don't have to—"

"——Many years ago, when Hu Yun was still young," Xu Man smiled and interrupted her, "he used to talk to the former master of Jiange, who is also our master, in terms of the concept of practice. There are some different opinions. At that time, he made a lot of noise and made the master very angry. Later, the master couldn't bear him, so he broke his sword and expelled him from the sect.

"After that, he abandoned the sword and turned to the sword, and based on the "Pingtian Sword Art", he created a set of sword techniques of his own, opened the 'Fengdu Gate', and possessed his own dharma body.

"Well, if he hadn't met the Mangshan Ghost King, he might have had the opportunity to prove his way and become a strong saint.

"It's a pity that fate played a trick on him.

"I haven't read this booklet yet. But if nothing else, it records the set of saber techniques he created himself, as well as his lifelong enlightenment.

"Now he leaves it to you.

"In this way, you can be regarded as his only heir and my nephew.

"If you read something you don't understand, you can write a letter and send it to Jiange. Hu Yun's sword technique was born out of Jiange's "Ping Tian Jian Jue", maybe I can help you answer some questions.

"If you want, you can also come to Jiange to practice in the future. The mountains and mountains in Shu are much quieter than the streets and streets in Luojing."

…………

Notes:

(1) Excerpted from Tang Qibai's "Shouchang Festival Fu Gets Red Clouds to Watch Summer";
(End of this chapter)