I come to see Bai Yujing today

Chapter 18: Demons and Ghosts in Xuantianjing

Under the pear blossoms in spring, Xu Xiyue actually had dinner at the home of the young man who accepted her hydrangea.

Only the duck bones were left of the duck on the stone table, and even the two vegetarian dishes were eaten up by the three people at the stone table.

Xintong blinked his eyes, savoring the taste of this dinner.

She remembered her chef saying that Suwuzhou's duck was not suitable for stir-frying because the duck meat would easily become tough and taste bland.

But today, when the young man in front of him was frying duck meat, Xintong felt that the smoke coming out of the pot and the smoke from the firewood on the ground were both fragrant.

She knew that her young lady would like it too. Coupled with the bowl of hot noodles that were dry but not astringent, smooth, soft and chewy in the mouth, Xintong suddenly felt a little sorry.

"If Chen Zhian accepts the embroidery and comes to the Xu residence, he should be able to take good care of the young lady."

Xin Tong smacked her lips unconsciously, then woke up again, and hurriedly shook her head, thinking to herself: "Being able to cook is not a good skill, a gentleman stays away from the kitchen, and for the sake of eating delicious food, how can I think that the young lady should be paired with Chen Zhian, who is only worthy of greed for small money?"

The spring evening breeze was a little chilly, making the pear blossoms on the trees rustle.

Shen Hao ate the meal with great satisfaction, and looked at Xu Xiyue with some pride: "Look, the food made by my neighbor is worth it, isn't it?"

Xu Xiyue turned her head and looked at Chen Zhian who was watering the pear tree in the yard.

The young man's back seemed taller and not so thin compared to a few days ago.

The tall and straight figure is actually quite outstanding.

"Sister Xiyue, have you ever met General Xuan Zi?" Shen Haohao was still concerned about Xu Xiyue's business. "The supply of medicinal materials for the 90,000 Songhuai Army is very important. I think the Zhou family in Sunan Prefecture has already found a lot of lobbyists. You should be more careful."

Xu Xiyue naturally knew that Shen Haohao was not interested in buying and selling, and the reason she asked was probably because she cared about her.

So she answered seriously: "General Xuan Zi seems to be in a hurry these days. Few people can see him. Every day when he goes to the clan mansion where he stays, he only sees the head of the Zhou family. I also went there...but General Xuan Zi never saw me. Only someone took the herbs I offered."

Shen Haohao was a little worried. If the Xu family's business didn't go well, when would Xu Xiyue be able to be free again and return to Mount Qixia to live in the blue clouds in the morning and sleep in the clouds in the evening?
Xu Xiyue saw Shen Haohao's worry and said, "Haohao, don't worry about me. The quality of several medicinal herbs in my Xu family is actually extraordinary. Compared with the Zhou family, there are only three kinds of medicinal herbs used by the advanced practitioners in the army that are a little different...

I have asked people to look for it. If we can find other better sources of medicine, the Xu family still has a chance this time."

"What's more, we have agreed with the military procurement department that we still have half a year. If we really can't renew the contract, half a year is enough time to find another way out."

Shen Haohao nodded, not quite understanding.

Xintong, who was standing by, couldn't help feeling a little panicked.

"If the supply of medicinal materials to the Songhuai Army stops, with the speed of the Zhou family's expansion, it may not take half a year to completely drive out the Xu family's share of medicinal materials in the three states..."

She thought so in her heart.

Shen Haohao asked again: "Which three herbs are they? I will write to the brothers and sisters in Guiyun Room, maybe they have some information."

Xu Xiyue thought about it and did not reject Shen Haohao's kindness: "It is three kinds of medicinal materials: Buddha's Armor, Kynam Leaf, and Lantern Gold Thread."

Shen Haohao wrote it down carefully. Xu Xiyue sighed a little because she could finally talk in front of others. She said worriedly, "These three herbs are not rare and precious. It's just that the military has too high requirements for the quality of these three herbs. I don't know where the Zhou family found the superior source of herbs. The three herbs they offered are really much better than those of my Xu family."

Shen Haohao only had a limited understanding of medicinal herbs, but she still tried to comfort her: "The fate of the world is indescribable. A turning point may come in just one day or even a moment. Don't be discouraged, sister."

Xu Xiyue nodded gently: "In a few days, the medicine keeper in Songhuai Army will evaluate all the medicinal materials submitted by the prefectures. We will see then."

She thought about it and looked at Xintong beside her. Xintong immediately came to her senses and took out five taels of silver and placed it on the stone table.

Shen Haohao was stunned for a moment, and subconsciously wanted to pick up the silver and return it to Xintong, and said: "Sister Xiyue, there is no need to do this..."

But she suddenly remembered that she had rashly brought two people to dinner, and Chen Zhian was the one who cooked the meals. Even if she wanted to refuse, it should be Chen Zhian who did it. She had already taken advantage of many benefits by eating here for days, so how could she do Chen Zhian a favor?
She is hesitating.

Xu Xiyue had already stood up and said to Chen Zhian who turned his head to look at her: "Thank you...Mr. Chen for your hospitality. My master and I are sorry to bother you today."

Chen Zhian saw the silver on the table, but did not refuse. He just nodded and smiled, "It's okay, Miss Xu, come often when you are free."

Xintong curled his lips.

Chen Zhian is indeed greedy for money. It is not wrong for him to take it if he is given it, but he should at least be polite.

The master and servant walked all the way to the yard. When they were about to leave the yard, Xu Xiyue couldn't help but turn back and take a closer look at the blooming pear tree in the yard.

"The pear blossom trees in this yard are so beautiful, just like the white mist flowers on Mount Qixia."

Xu Xiyue thought so in her heart.

Not far away, Chen Zhian suddenly picked a branch of snow-white pear blossoms.

At this time, the branches of the trees in the courtyard were swaying, the crows were crying in the spring sky, the clouds and mist were dispersing, and the bright moon in the sky had already cast its moonlight.

Under the cold, gray moonlight, Chen Zhian gently plucked a branch of pear blossoms.

"Miss Xu likes it, why not pick one and put it in the room as a decoration."

Chen Zhian said this without moving forward, but just threw the pear blossom to Xintong.

Xintong is in a hurry to deal with this branch of pear blossoms.

Xu Xiyue looked at Chen Zhian in the moonlight, not knowing what he was thinking.

The master and servant said goodbye to Shen Haohao and left, disappearing into the dim night of Qihuang Street.

Shen Haohao looked at the two's backs and curled his lips: "Charging five taels of silver for a meal is too greedy."

Chen Zhian said frankly, "For the Xu family, there is no difference between five taels of silver and five cents or fifty taels of silver. Miss Xu left the silver because she didn't want to eat my food for free. Why should I pretend to be polite and refuse? It's better to accept the silver and give Miss Xu peace of mind."

"What's more, there is an old saying in my hometown." Shen Haohao became curious: "What old saying?"

"If you don't make money when you have it, you're a bastard." Chen Zhian said.

-

Shen Haohao also left.

Chen Zhian started practicing Tiger Embrace Fist in the yard. Now the thick blood and energy in his body were surging. The energy of the Great Snow Mountain Ginseng Qi Posture was extremely fast. Between the various moves of the Tiger Embrace Fist, blood and energy were rushing, filling Chen Zhian's whole body.

Every punch, kick and push was filled with fierce power, even bringing up a surging gust of wind.

Half an hour later, Chen Zhian calmed down the blood and energy in his body and stood still, then he let out a long sigh.

There was some surprise in his eyes.

He has completely mastered the 24 moves of Tiger Fist, and it is no exaggeration to say that he can do it "with ease".

Even the blood and energy in his body, combined with the Tiger Fist, can arrive in an instant and move according to his thoughts.

"This Tiger Fist is quite simple, I wonder what rank it is in the martial arts world."

Chen Zhian stood in the moonlight and muttered to himself.

"This Tiger Embrace Fist is a must-learn method for soldiers at Iron Buddha Pass. In the martial arts world, it is considered a superior fist technique. The martial arts passed down by the clans that dominate the county are roughly at the level of this Tiger Embrace Fist."

Suddenly, a voice came to Chen Zhian's ears, answering his doubts.

Chen Zhian was immediately startled and broke out in a cold sweat, and quickly looked up in the direction of the voice.

But I saw a person sitting cross-legged on the roof of my house.

It was already late at night, and even with the moonlight, the courtyard was still very dark.

Before Chen Zhian started practicing, he would never have been able to see the person on the roof.

But now, Chen Zhian transformed and nourished his Qi, and the Qi and blood not only tempered his body bones and internal organs, but also trained his five senses, allowing him to see the person on the roof clearly at a glance.

The man already had white hair and several very obvious wrinkles on his face, but his eyes shone with golden light, appearing particularly bright under his long eyebrows.

The man looked old and tired, but his eyes were sharp and bright.

"Iron-armed General..."

Chen Zhian recognized the person on the roof.

The old man on the roof slowly stood up, then casually took a step forward, and suddenly stepped into the void in front of the roof.

He fell to the ground without raising a speck of dust.

General Tiebi was standing not far away from Chen Zhian. He looked Chen Zhian up and down many times, and the fatigue in his eyes became even more intense.

He thought to himself: "One year older, every year older, now the world is ruled by these young tigers, especially this Chen Zhian... The speed of his cultivation is simply unbelievable..."

Chen Zhian didn't know that General Tiebi was praising him in his heart, so he bowed to General Tiebi.

"That day, Shen Haohao brought these two secret books to you. I didn't expect that in just a dozen days, you had already mastered the Tiger Fist." General Tiebi put his hands behind his back, his tone somewhat emotional.

But after sighing, his tone changed and he asked, "Do you know who created this Great Snow Mountain Ginseng Qi and Tiger Fist?"

Chen Zhian shook his head and said respectfully, "Please help me, General."

General Tiebi's eyes showed some scrutiny: "The person who wrote the Great Snow Mountain Cangqi Post and the Tiger Fist is called Si Yuanyan, the current Dayu Shafo Hou, the current Rongtian General, and the person whose name is engraved on the Qi-riding Whale Stele.

He was still young and fashionable when he wrote these two secret manuals, and they were created specifically for the soldiers at Tiefo Pass."

Chen Zhian's eyes showed more admiration and joy, and he was about to speak.

The voice of General Tiebi, who was not far away, came again: "Don't be too happy. Your father went to Xuan Tianjing this time to meet your mother and the famous Buddha-killing Marquis. If he could meet the Buddha-killing Marquis, even if your father didn't die, he would have to return with injuries. You knew about this earlier and were prepared in your heart, so you won't be too surprised and angry."

The joy and admiration in Chen Zhian's eyes disappeared immediately. Without hesitation, he saluted General Tiebi again and said, "General, please tell me the reason."

"Si Yuanyan wants to take your mother as his concubine. The wedding will be held in September this year. Your father hurried to Xuan Tianjing for this matter."

Chen Zhian couldn't help but think of the woman in white in his dream, and also thought of his father's dream as described by Chu Muye.

So... Chen Zhian stopped asking other questions and just asked, "Did the Li family, where General Xuan Zi is from... agree?"

"I agree." General Tiebi said quietly, "There is no force that would not want to make friends with a powerful person who is expected to achieve the realm of good fortune. The Li family is also very prosperous in Xuantianjing, but there is no one who can enter the world's hundred whale riders.

Si Yuanyan is ranked 41st on the Riding Whale Monument, and the Li family... is clinging to him."

"In order to curry favor with this Buddha-killing Marquis, General Rongtian, my mother has to go to his mansion to be a concubine?"

Chen Zhian lowered his voice and said, "I think my mother in Xuantianjing doesn't agree, otherwise why would General Xuan Zi come to see my father."

When he said this, he suddenly remembered what Chen Shuijun had said to him.

——"The court is full of evil spirits. The lowly cling to the powerful, the weak curry favor with the tyrannical, the aristocratic families control the government, intermarry with each other to exclude the poor, the common people and bureaucrats, and prevent the spread of cultivation methods throughout the world. Some people who want to do something are excluded and can only leave in disgrace.

Not to mention whether you can pass the imperial examination, even if you pass and become an official, you will be eaten up by those aristocratic families. Instead of that, you might as well do something you like. "

(End of this chapter)