Mysterious Martial Arts: The Record of the Swordsman

Chapter 156

Willow shoots on the moon, the dazzling lights and bustling people in Guangzhou City, the more sporadic they are as they get closer to the Xiguan marsh, until they suddenly look up, only to find that there are only dark alleys and fallen leaves in front of them, in the desolate and dilapidated scene With a disturbing silence.

The short and crooked earth embryo houses on both sides are crowded together, like two rows of extremely irregular teeth, accompanied by the rustling sound of dead leaves, grinning grinningly at the few people who stepped into it.

"Master, have we come to the wrong place..."

Fu Ningdie has already walked in the middle of the team very naturally, slightly one step ahead of the two senior brothers. It is hard to understand why she came to such a remote place - shouldn't beggars beg in the city?
Jiang Wen judged the location based on the stars in the broad sky, touched his chin and said, "According to my inquiries in the evening, it should be in the west..."

Fu Ningdie looked around suspiciously, and saw some tattered and faded yellow talisman papers stuck to the shabby door panels on both sides, which were covered with winding and unidentified lines, which looked like words but seemed to be paradoxical, stacked one by one Together, densely packed like eggs laid by insects.

Seeing that every household is like this, the lights are turned off and the doors are closed early in the alleys of Xiguan, no sound is heard, the talisman papers are noisy when the cold wind blows, and the rural rumors I have heard before suddenly come to my mind, these talisman papers seem to be suppressing and driving away something. It was an extremely terrifying thing, which made Ningdie even more certain that she had gone the wrong way.

Jiang Wen turned his head and glanced at Ning Die, and suddenly said, "Apprentice, as a teacher, I suddenly remembered a terrifying legend here. It is said that there was a large mass grave at the foot, and after being forcibly razed to the ground, ghosts often appeared. The word 'is often regarded as a 'corpse yard', it's very evil..."

Sure enough, Ning Die was taken aback for an instant. Looking at the densely packed talisman papers on the doors on both sides, she already wanted to go back, not to mess with tonight's so-called meeting in the rivers and lakes.

"Master... I'm afraid..."

Jiang Wen covered his face helplessly, why is this apprentice still so timid, how can he walk alone in the rivers and lakes in the future?

"What are you afraid of? What is there to be afraid of in a few hundred years?"

However, Hong Wending went up without any fear, took off a talisman paper that had been brittle, and said to Jiang Wen: "Master, I think we should be there soon."

Fu Ningdie looked at this scene tremblingly, and almost screamed out. Fortunately, after waiting for a long time, there was no evil wind, no flying sand and rocks, and no ghost with eyes as big as lanterns falling from the sky to snatch people away, so she was relieved quietly. in one breath.

Jiang Wen sighed, and brought the talisman paper in front of Fu Ningdie.

"See clearly, although this piece of paper is pretending to be a talisman and is written like a talisman, but you might as well turn it around and look at it, will you be able to understand it?"

Xiao Ningdie took it suspiciously, turned the direction repeatedly to distinguish the shape of the characters, and slowly read out the results of the research.

"... I will take the money from your mansion and disperse the beggars from the Fifth Court. With this document as evidence, do you dare to come here alone?"

Once read, the weirdness in it suddenly became clear. Obviously, these talisman papers are not used to drive away ghosts and suppress evil spirits, but to drive away homeless beggars at the door.After all, no matter how magical the Taoist talisman is, there will be no such inexplicable causal weapon. The densely packed talisman papers in front of you are actually issued by the beggar gang.

For example, Guangzhou has a large population, regardless of whether it is a big or small household, a wedding or funeral is a good opportunity to beg for food. If the proof given by the leader is not posted, the beggars will come to beg one after another, and it will be difficult to cope. Therefore, I would rather spend a larger sum of money, lest the gate be filled with embarrassing beggars and cause trouble.

Therefore, it was originally intended as a proof that the beggar gang had received protection fees. The reason why it was transformed into an indistinguishable talisman shape was just to add another layer of mystery to the legend that beggars are good at controlling snakes and dogs, so that it will be convenient for future visits. More protection fees.

The appearance of these talisman papers now shows that there is indeed a large-scale gang of beggars in the city. The large number of this kind of talisman papers shows that this place is not far from the beggar's den, otherwise it would not be so frequent that commoner families would It has to be covered with talisman papers to avoid disaster.

Hong Wending had the experience of wandering the rivers and lakes. Even if he couldn't recognize the handwriting at this time, he could see the way in it at a glance, and knew that he was not far from his destination.

After Jiang Wen's explanation, Ningdie finally let go of her doubts.

"Ningdie, don't think that beggars are just a group of beggars who are suffering. In this kind of thoroughfare, beggars can not only receive donations and reward money, but also buy land and keep wives and concubines if they are wealthy. It is not necessarily better than ordinary people. abjection."

Jiang Wen said with a blank face, but Fu Ningdie couldn't imagine how high-spirited beggars were, wearing gold and silver.

"Master, why do they still have to be beggars when they don't lack money? Isn't it good to buy land and become rich?"

When this sentence was asked, Jiang Wen could only smile helplessly. In fact, everyone understands clearly whether to teach a man to fish or to teach a man to fish. Who would give up an industry that can make money?
And as early as in "Taiping Guangji" "Chengdu Beggars" and "Government and Civil Affairs Supplement", the organization of the Beggar Gang was mentioned, and it was clearly stated that they were by no means poor beggars, but a group of blackmailers. Bad guys—it's just that hooligans collect protection fees for fighting and killing, and rely on "fighting evil"; while beggars collect protection fees for talking about death and relying on "nuisance".

"The reasons for this are complicated, so I'll leave it to you to comprehend."

This is not the time to chat, because as the few people moved forward, some sneaky figures appeared in the shadow of the corner in front of them.

They whispered to each other following Jiang Wen's footsteps, and the dirty smell kept coming out from the corner of the wall. During the day, the eyes that used to pretend to be docile and miserable, could not help but reveal a cunning and brutal look at this time, and they kept close to each other. Staring at Jiang Wen's master and apprentice.

Two steps forward, as the vision suddenly widens, a Guandi Temple with mottled exterior walls has appeared in front of you. The flat land is full of simple shacks made of bamboo and wood, and the people in ragged clothes are all squatting. The terrifying beggars slowly surrounded him.

The dirty beggar got closer and closer, and Jiang Wen moved forward expressionlessly, deliberately revealing the ancient bronze sword hilt at his waist.At this time, as a strong and tall beggar opened the temple door and appeared, the sneaky beggars, old and young, lowered their heads and dispersed, returning to their timid and cowardly appearance.

"Jiuyang, please sit down at the Xiangfu, where are you from?"

The strong beggar spoke with a northern accent and cupped his hands at Jiang Wen.

Fu Ningdie looked around suspiciously, but the other party didn't offer a chair, why did they suddenly let them sit?
Jiang Wen, however, knew well that this sentence was a slang word in the world, and he was asking what he was doing here, rather than intending to greet him politely.At this time, if you show cowardice, you will be seen through by the other party, and ordinary people will suffer if you can't say it.

"I can't be called a prime minister. Don't try it anymore, I'm the head of the Wuyi faction. I'm here to make a deal with your manager. You just go and report it."

However, Zhuang Beggar didn't move a single step after listening, and looked suspiciously at the three apprentices behind Jiang Wen.

"Excuse me, our Emperor Guan will not let you go."

As soon as these words came out, Jiang Wen immediately lowered his face.

Putting Yangzi on the rivers and lakes refers to the kidnapping and trading of tickets. Does the co-author think of himself as a gangster who failed to extort ransom and changed jobs to kidnap and sell children?
The members of the Beggar Gang are really low-spirited and reckless, even if they have not done evil things such as harvesting and cutting off, people often negotiate with them to buy and sell people, extort and kidnap people.

"You are full of nonsense, do you want to take the postgraduate entrance examination?"

Jiang Wen urged impatiently, "I'm here to buy news, if you keep procrastinating, I'll break in."

The strong beggar hurriedly took the first step to block the entrance of the temple, and explained to Jiang Wen: "Don't be angry, the Taoist priest. I didn't stop it on purpose. We have encountered something in the past two days. The leader is discussing business inside and there are no outsiders. You still have two days." Come here again..."

Hearing this news, Jiang Wen became even more furious.

Just being chased here and there by a group of monks who are empty-handed during the day, and being turned away at a stinky beggar at night, what kind of shit is this?How xenophobic is this city of Guangzhou that made him so unlucky the moment he stepped here?

"Well, then I'll come back another day."

Jiang Wen smiled and nodded, pretending to turn around and leave, but when the strong beggar was not paying attention, he turned over and passed by, put his palm on the crack of the door to exert strength, and supported the strong beggar's arm with one hand, letting him go in a hurry. Can't get out of the room.

Jiang Wen's three apprentices had already guessed that the master was not so easy to talk to. Seeing Jiang Wen holding the door panel, they filed in cunningly and sneaked into the heavily guarded Guandi Temple first.

"How bold!"

The strong beggar was held back by his elbows and couldn't get away. With a curse, he turned around and punched Jiang Wen's temple with his fists. Obviously, he had a lot of skill in ruthless moves.

Seeing this situation, Jiang Wen stretched out a leg to block the door, drew his hand and collided with the opponent's fist, intending to draw and defuse the punch to another place, but found that the opponent's moves also changed suddenly, and instantly turned into a technique of grabbing the wrong bone.

This time, the 36 Tiangang grabbing hands are about to be deployed, and the attack is the "jumping shoulders and unarming" trick to control the enemy, buckling elbows and grabbing shoulders in one go.

The 36 Tiangang capture hand that has been circulated in the world is a practical and efficient way to defeat the enemy. It has the functions of punching acupuncture points and breaking bones. Ordinary people in the world are suddenly beaten close to each other, and often cannot find the key to deal with it in time. If he struggled wildly and was caught, he would only suffer a broken bone and die, and no matter how powerful his martial arts were, he would not be able to perform it.

Now the beggars around have noticed the abnormality, and they swarmed in. Once they are surrounded by these people, they will be invincible with two fists and four hands. time to smell.

But Jiang Wen glanced at him unhurriedly, with a mocking look on his face and kept silent.The fist is like a snake coming out of the hole. Jiang Wen's grasped palm suddenly turned and clasped the opponent. .

As soon as Jiang Wen's sneer was seen by him, it was accompanied by a series of bursts of coldness and crispness, and it was pulled down repeatedly.

At this time, Jiang Wen kept shaking with strength, but the strong beggar's arm was straight and he couldn't bend it. Only severe pain came from the joints. He only felt that his arm was about to be broken in two, and he would turn upside down if he didn't let go. Turned ten degrees!
"Look out, this sect master will teach you this little silk-wrapping hand trick, and you must remember not to be caught again in the future."

Jiang Wen said with a smile, adding more effort.

The strong beggar could only let go under the pain, and was kicked on the butt by Jiang Wenbu, staggered and rolled to the steps outside the door, and then the gate of Guandi Temple was slammed shut, and it was even reported that the door was locked. The sound turned out to lock the door completely.

A group of beggars swarming stopped at the gate of the temple and looked at each other. They could only stare at the embarrassing and strong beggars. They didn't know what to say, and they didn't dare rush in. What if it is said to be a rebellion?
"What are you looking at! Go away!"

The strong beggar jumped up from the ground with a carp, and shouted at the surrounding wild beggars, "Whoever gets in will be unlucky if the gang leader fights inside, and you need to worry about it? Go to sleep!"

As the gate of the temple was closed tightly, Jiang Wen let out a sigh of relief and found that although the Guandi Temple was small, it was solemn and imposing. The couplets written in red lacquer on the stone lintels on both sides of the main hall of the temple were particularly eye-catching.The majestic Master Guan sits in the middle of the temple, with white-faced Guan Ping and black-faced Zhou Cang standing on both sides, both about the size of a living person, with wide-eyed glaring eyes.

Jiang Wen, who broke into the temple, was stunned to find that he was just playing small fights outside, and the inside of this Guandi Temple was full of fighting. A large group of beggar elders divided into two factions to fight vigorously. I don't have time to take care of this little thing at the door.

As the so-called family ugliness should not be exposed, Jiang Wen found that he seemed to blame the beggar at the door by mistake, but they all came...

"Everyone, I am Jiang Wen, the leader of the Wuyi Sect, and hereby pay a visit to the leader of the Guangzhou Beggar Gang!"

However, the chaos in Guandi Temple has no intention of stopping at all. In the chaos and noise, he heard some people agreeing, some people wanting to get away, and some people scolded angrily. Continue to mess up.

"Master, are they competing in martial arts?"

Xiao Shitou looked carefully for a while, and was a little confused by the real martial arts master said, "Obviously they can bite people, why can't I?"

Jiang Wen also watched the beggars fight with embarrassment. In the arena, there were endless tricks such as monkey stealing peaches and double dragons seizing pearls. Lifting legs and stepping on toes can be regarded as aboveboard, and the brazenness has been developed to the peak-like capture As soon as the wrestling kung fu came out, he threw himself on the ground and rolled, and took the opportunity to catch up with the movement of biting his ears.

However, at this moment, a figure suddenly appeared in the inner hall, stepping out from the statue of Guan Gong who was reading with a knife, stomping heavily on the ground with each foot, kicking away the beggar gang elders who were entangled and fighting on the ground, tearing apart the bones with both hands Dividing the tendons is like washing the ground, quickly clearing an open space, leaving a place to wail

"You guys stop fighting quickly, how can you make people laugh in front of your comrades!"

The man also spoke the northern Mandarin, with a stubble on his face, he looked quite proud, and angrily reprimanded his subordinates, "I beat you every day and night, and I closed the door because I was afraid of embarrassing you. You bastards really think that I have no means to make it!"

However, among the beggar elders who were beaten down, some still stuck their necks and uttered insults.

"Master Fan, although your Xinghan Beggar Gang has spread across three provinces, but now that you are in charge of our Guandi Society, you have stretched your hand too far!"

Another gray-haired elder also said indignantly: "Exactly! Chief Wu was in charge of the Guandi Temple, and our Hongsheng Temple, Wenchang Palace, Confucius Temple, Meizhou Temple, and Lianhua Nunnery naturally followed him, but he also You have never deliberately pushed us down like you before!"

The Gang Leader Fan they were talking about was about to say hello to Jiang Wen, but suddenly someone disturbed him behind his back. Jiang Wen's face darkened instantly when he saw him, as obvious and sudden as the change of sky in summer.

"Enough! Dare to say that there is such a pillar!"

He slapped his big hand and left a deep handprint on the wooden pillar, "Guan Emperor Guild Master Wu has discussed with me many times before that the Guandi Guild will be merged into the Xinghan Beggars' Guild, you can't pretend to be stupid For the sake of money, if you want to rebel, you must beat me first!"

Then forced a smile and said to Jiang Wen.

"My friend, this is not a place to talk now, why don't we change the time, Fan will definitely attend the appointment!"

The implication was already very obvious. Gang Leader Fan felt a little ashamed and wanted Jiang Wen to give way first, which was already a soft order to expel the guests.

However, what the mighty Master Fan said was like farting. Immediately behind him, members of the Guangzhou Beggars' Gang began to mutter in low voices.

"Master Fan, what are you saying that you can't say publicly!?"

"Yes, why don't you say it in front of your friends in Jianghu!"

"Hmph, I suspect that Gang Leader Wu was killed by you!"

Jiang Wen looked at the darker-faced Gang Leader Fan in amazement, and guessed that these local elders decided that the law would not punish the crowd, and that the strong dragon would not overwhelm the local snakes, and planned to forcefully crowd out this martial arts master from other places.

Listening to their tone of voice, it seems that Quan Wu Xing has been fighting for a long time, and Jiang Wen and his party did not choose the right timing, so they happened to get involved in a power conflict during the re-election.

However, Jiang Wen understood that it was normal for a loose organization like the Beggar Gang to have the current situation happen.

In the Jianghu of Ming and Qing Dynasties, there was no unified gang of beggars as the number one in the world in Jin Yong’s book, let alone a dog-beating stick to order a group of beggars—and this is not in line with common sense. There are always people who resist and don't obey orders all the time. How can a group of beggars from all over the world be united and only recognize one leader?
The beggar gangs in the Ming and Qing dynasties were actually many beggar organizations scattered in various provinces. Relying on the tacit cooperation with the local government and gentry for a long time, they seemed to be omnipotent local intelligence agencies.

Among them, the more well-known beggar gangs, such as the poor family, are popular in Shandong and Henan, and spread all over the Central Plains; there are also Huazihui mainly in Jiangxi and Fujian, Xiaoyihui is deep in Sichuan, Yunnan and Guizhou, baskets and baskets are scattered across the south and lakes, and poles have already entered the capital. The Guandi Society in front of me is the name of the Liangguang Beggars' Gang.

In such an organization, there are not only people who are forced to degenerate, but also people who are born and cut off from time to time. The right and wrong inside are elusive, and it can only be said to be a deformed phenomenon created by the chaotic world.

Of course, there are exceptions. For example, the beggar's nest in Fuzhou City was dispersed and expelled by the Hongyang Shengtong who was entrenched in the city.

"Master Fan, I think what they said is also reasonable. If you have something to say, maybe Jiang can give some advice..."

It's fun to watch again, okay!
Seeing that Jiang Wen took the opportunity to speak boldly, Elder Gang Jing immediately wanted to retort.

But Jiang Wen had expected this to happen a long time ago, so he took a Jade Bee Needle with extremely high gold content from Ningdie's head in advance, fired it like a bullet, and rubbed the necks of several Beggar Clan elders, deeply Deep into the bluestone bricks in front of Guandi Temple, in exchange for the silence in the field.

"The reward for listening to the news will also be offered, what do you think?"

(End of this chapter)