sword sentient beings

Chapter 399 Outer City
As the sun sets, the Drum Tower finishes beating the sunset bells and drums, and Mucheng fell into silence just like its name.

Teng Liang led Tang Zhao through the second city wall and entered the outermost outer city.

As soon as he stepped out of the outer city gate, there was a "Zhaza" sound from behind, and the city gate was raised, and no one was allowed to enter or enter.Three complete circles of city walls separated the inside and outside into four worlds.

Although Tang Zhao is a local, he has never been to the outer city at night.

When he was a child, his parents strictly forbade him to go out at night, especially in outer cities.They described the outer city as a scourge, as if he would be picked up by some night owl when he went to the outer city.

Of course, that's right.Tang Zhao now knows that in the dark corners of the city, there are many beasts more terrifying than night owls—people.

In Tang Zhao's memory, he has only been to the outer city at night once, and not only has he been there, but he has traveled across the entire Mucheng city.

It was one night after his parents passed away, he took his luggage and the old and young members of the Sui family class carefully through the city walls at night, first came to the outer city, and then came to the last city wall, waiting for the second When the gate of the city of heaven was opened, he fled out of the city, never to return.

That night, they arrived at the gate of the city at the second watch. The gate was closed and there was no one there.With nowhere to go, they just sat in the cold all night.

Tang Zhao remembered that he hadn't slept all night, leaned against the corner, curled up his hands and feet, and stared at the winding and narrow streets of the outer city with his eyes open.

He only felt that the outer city was very dark, every house was dark, and there were almost no lights.

It is also very depressing there, it seems that the sky is two floors lower than other places.

And it was very quiet, the eardrum seemed to be covered with thick paste, and I couldn't hear anything.However, it is so quiet, but there will be a sudden burst of loud noises, such as the sound of wind, inexplicable footsteps, and the chirping of night crows on the tree. The sudden explosion is like thunder in the quiet night, shaking from the eardrum to the bottom of the heart.

The mood of that night may only be compared to that day when I was passing through a deserted village and was scared by the shadows of crows all over the sky by human traffickers and fled in the mountains.Just thinking about it, after all, it was a little more at ease that night.After all, there were still young and old members of Sui's class sitting with him at that time.Brother Sui took the initiative to sit in front of the vent to shield the children from the wind, Ayun quietly gave him dried chestnuts to eat, and Liangzi even secretly told jokes.

What the joke was about he forgot, but it must have been funny, he remembered laughing rarely.

At that time, Ryoko was articulate, lively, never downcast, and laughed loudly. She was the kind of little sun who could inspire people.Tang Zhao, on the other hand, is a homeless orphan who knows nothing, and needs to be close to the sun to keep warm.

It wasn't until he left the light source and fell into the long night alone that Tang Zhao encouraged himself to learn to shine.He even wants others to get warmth from him.

Now, he has begun to emit his own light, and the outer city is already covered with shadows in the dusk. The darkness is sweeping from the horizon, swallowing the whole world into his belly.

At this time, he is not afraid.

……

It's not that I'm not afraid at all.

Even now, he still doesn't like walking at night.Don't say you're afraid, just... hairy.

"I said, why are you coming to the outer city so late? All the shops are closed at this hour, what else can you eat? How do you go back after eating?" Tang Zhao asked.

In the air of the outer city, the smell of pyrotechnic stoves can occasionally be heard, but it doesn't smell good, but instead has a scorching and spicy smell.

Tang Zhao remembered that on the way to Zhuoyu Villa, he followed Xingji to the homes of the people in the countryside. At dusk, he often smelled the smell of food wafting from the smoke from the kitchen, the smell of big fish and meat, and the smell of simple food.He smelled so much that he could even tell which house he wanted to go to for a meal.

The rice in the outer city smells not as good as the earthen stoves in the countryside, and it is also mixed with more impurities.

When you look carefully, the crooked streets and alleys in the outer city, the crowded low houses, and the ditches where the sewage flows across are far more dilapidated than ordinary villages.

Teng Liang smiled and said: "You don't understand, the smell of wine is not afraid of deep alleys, we are looking for delicious food in other people's alleys, and others can't usually find it. I know you are afraid of the dark, so you won't let you go out at night On the way back. I’ll drink two catties of wine later, we’ll have a drink, and if we get dizzy, we’ll go to sleep in my kennel, and I’ll take you back when we get up tomorrow morning. By the way, you’re good at martial arts?”

Tang Zhao said, "It's okay."

Teng Liang clapped his hands and said: "That's fine. I know your temper, and you should listen to what you say. If you say it's okay, it's amazing. You must be very strong. That guard Jiao has such a good relationship with you, and he has only one eye No one looks down on you. If you look down on you, how can I be friends with you? I know that you are good at martial arts. Then you should be on guard. Although this area is my territory, it is easy to mention me, but I am afraid In case someone who doesn't have good eyes moves me while I'm not paying attention. If you are not good at martial arts, don't leave my side, I will protect you."

Tang Zhao smiled and said, "Okay, then you can protect me. You can protect me as you please, so there is no reason to let the guests do it?" He glanced at the alleys around him, and found that the place was getting dilapidated and dilapidated. As the night darkened, the alley couldn't see the bottom at a glance, and he asked, "Do you live here?"

Teng Liang said: "I live in Waisanjie, two entrances away. This area is our territory, not beyond. My house is close to the territory, which is convenient for collecting protection fees, but it can't be inside the territory, you know, Rabbits don’t eat grass by the side of their nests, so they can’t really collect money from the neighbors in the street. I want to go to Midtown to collect protection fees, but unfortunately it’s not our turn, so the government will collect them.”

Tang Zhaodao: "The government accepts..."

Teng Liang said: "That's right, once you enter the city wall, it is the territory of the government. They take money every year and send three classes of government officials to take care of it. It's not like the outer city, no one is in charge. So we take care of it."

Tang Zhao smiled, put away the smile, and said, "Sooner or later, someone will take care of it."

In recent years, the Yunzhou government has done something, but for the common people, they are too slow.The government can take it slow at its own pace, but the lives of the common people are suffering every day.

Teng Liang said: "Don't, give us some space. The outer city won't give us? The old man can't wipe it all out, can he? We robbed the land and robbed blood, killed and injured so many brothers, it's so easy If they occupy a piece of land, they can’t just take it away, can they?”

He laughed and said: "So I said that it would be fine if you become a high official. When the time comes, you will occupy the territory, and I will manage it for you, collect the money and distribute it to you. We brothers eat delicious food and drink spicy food together."

Tang Zhao sighed silently, and said, "If that's the case, I won't be a high-ranking official."

Teng Liang smiled and said: "You can't be in the first place, why are you talking cheap here?"

The two were talking, and they had already turned into an alley. The alley was very narrow, and it was difficult for them to turn around when they were standing side by side.

After walking a few steps, there was a burst of fragrance in the alley.

It is very thick and mellow, as if it can dispel the cold air, and the smell makes people move their index fingers.

Tang Zhao moved his nose and praised: "It's really fragrant."

Teng Liang said with a smile: "You know the fragrance? Can the place I introduced be wrong? Come with me."

The two went in again, and saw a hut next to the alley with a window facing the street, with half a window open, the window was steamy, emitting white smoke and aroma.

Faintly, the sound of yelling and shouting came out of the hut.

Teng Liang took a step forward and shouted loudly: "Old cripple, what can we eat today?"

There was a little confusion on the other side of the window, and a little old man's head popped out, and when he saw Liangzi's smile, his wrinkles widened, and he said with a smile: "Oh, Master Liang, you are here again. This...is your friend?"

Teng Liang said: "My best buddy. When you see him in the future, it will be the same as seeing me. Bring out your best craftsmanship. What soup do you have today?"

The old man smiled and said, "There are good soups, top-quality beef soups, frog soups, and various broths."

Tang Zhao thought, there are all kinds of meat?This little shop sells everything.

Teng Liang turned his head suddenly, showing a narrow smile, and said, "Zhaozi, do you want to try various broths?"

Tang Zhao said, "All kinds of broth? How many kinds of meat? A hodgepodge?"

Teng Liang laughed loudly and said, "Where have you ever eaten this? All kinds of meat are rat meat."

Tang Zhaolue choked, the old man showed a flattering smile, and said, "Exactly, rat meat is our specialty. We kill and sell now, and you can get fifty of them in one soup pot."

The corners of Tang Zhao’s mouth twitched, and there seemed to be a "squeak" sound in his ears. Teng Liang smiled and said, "Go to your meat, it tastes good, but there is no meat to clog your teeth. First, let's have two bowls of beef soup to eat." Mat, we brothers still have something to talk about, and when the time comes, we will taste your soup pot all over. After you have served, there will be a reward, it depends on whether my brother has drunk enough."

After all, the two opened the curtain and entered the store, and saw a small door with three or four tables full of seats.

As soon as Teng Liang came in, he coughed first, and several people stood up from the two tables inside, and said one after another: "Brother Teng—oh, Brother Teng is here, sit down quickly."

Teng Liang looked at Tang Zhao proudly, and Tang Zhao understood what he meant: It's not that we didn't do well, didn't we become "Brother Teng" already?
Tang Zhao gave him an encouraging smile in a considerate manner.

The gangster next to him is not necessarily younger than Teng Liang, and some are a few years old. He is called Brother Teng because of his low status, and he smiled flatteringly: "Brother Teng, sit here. Quickly move a chair for Brother Teng." .”

Teng Liang scolded with a smile: "What chair? You guys go to the side and move a table for me."

The gangsters were all taken aback, although Teng Liang was "Brother Teng", he was not their real boss, and it seemed that he was not enough to make room for him.Teng Liang would not be so closed-eyed in the past, what happened today?
Tang Zhao said, "It's not necessary..."

Teng Liang said: "Stop coming, can you squeeze in with them? Go, go, make room for my brother, get out!" He patted the table.

Seeing him go crazy, the gangsters thought that he had taken the wrong medicine, but Teng Liang has been in the limelight recently, and seeing that he was about to advance one step further, they didn't want to bump into him head-on, so they got up one after another.There was another one who saw that Tang Zhao was born well, and thought to himself: Where did this Teng find a child, and he was going to show off in front of him, right?Don't hinder his good deeds, and spread the word that we are jealous of our husband's rivalry.

But this room is only so big, when a table is vacant, other people will be even more crowded. Immediately, a few gangsters Da Ma Jindao sat next to them, squeezing the last few honest diners out.

Tang Zhao sat down and entered the gangster's private room in a serious way.

Teng Liang snorted at the table twice, and said, "Come on, then go and invite me over to the string player at the back, and serve my brother a drink."

(End of this chapter)