Dragon Gate Swordsman

"If the emperor knows, then of course, but...what if the emperor doesn't know this person's background?"

"..."

A gloomy and stern look flashed across Zuo Xuanliao's face again.

Then he turned and left, leaving behind this sentence: "I will keep an eye on him until I am completely sure."

……

When Chongxiao returned to the inn with Yumen's special sesame cakes and smoked meat, Xiaobai was meditating and practicing martial arts with great concentration.

The reason why Cheng Lufeng could become the leader of the Green Lake Bandits was not only his courage and brains, but also his own strength which cannot be ignored. Therefore, Xiaobai also has a foundation in martial arts, and his level is quite good.

Otherwise, she would not have been able to swim to the shore that night.

Cheng Lufeng was known for his external skills and knew basically nothing about internal energy and mental skills, so naturally he had no way of teaching his daughter the real superior martial arts.

This is extremely good news for Chongxiao... With an excellent foundation and blank internal strength, she is simply the most perfect unpolished gem. Next, as long as he teaches Xiaobai the most advanced martial arts, she can grow into a true master even without hands-on guidance in the future.

At least he can definitely walk sideways in the world.

So after "careful consideration", Chongxiao decided to teach her a martial art called Beiming Divine Art.

The reason is simple: this thing seems to be able to resurrect people, although it may be an exaggeration...

"It's time to eat, Xiaobai."

"oops!"

The girl who was practicing breathing exercises was frightened and shuddered, then started coughing violently.

"Master, why did you come in without even knocking?"

"Because this is my room and yours is over here."

Chongxiao calmly pointed to the right, then opened the oil paper bag and handed the sesame seed bun with bacon in it to Xiaobai, "Eat it quickly, or it will get cold."

The simplicity and tradition of Yumen are not a style that is deliberately pursued, but it is difficult to obtain local materials and produce enough furniture and supplies in this desolate desert, so everything has to be kept simple.

For the purpose of supply, most of the mobile cities in the northwest of Dayan have been connected to Yumen. In addition, there is a special supply corps responsible for procurement and transportation. This is the only way to ensure that the mobile cities that cannot be self-sufficient can maintain operation.

By the way, those civilians who come to Yumen to do business are actually not stupid, but have good vision... The soldiers of the border guards stay here for years, and it is normal for them to live here for ten or twenty years. Naturally, the military pay cannot be spent, so many people simply spend it here.

Xiaobai took the sesame cake and immediately started to eat it. All she ate on the way were fast food bought by Chongxiao. She was also scared at night because she had just arrived in a strange place, so it was not until this time that she could have a good meal.

But the girl soon noticed that Chongxiao, who picked up another pancake, did not eat it, but stood there in a daze, not knowing what he was thinking about.

"Master, are you worried?"

"No."

"Then why don't you eat?"

"It seems like there's too much chili powder. It makes my nose choke."

Master, how can you say such nonsensical lines in a serious manner... Xiaobai stuck out his tongue, secretly complained in his heart, and was glad that he didn't put chili powder in it.

Chongxiao didn't start eating in the end.

Don't get me wrong, he really wasn't worried, but he did put too much chili powder, and water in Yumen is a relatively precious and limited resource.

The inn became a little more lively at noon, and footsteps and conversations could be heard coming from outside the corridor.

Most people in the martial arts world are not very particular about details, so there is no need to expect them to keep any secrets. Therefore, Chongxiao, who was teaching Xiaobai the mantra, easily heard what they were talking about.

The main thing is: the Yumen border guards do not welcome the arrival of people from the underworld.

Considering Zuo Xuanliao's attitude and the incident that led to his punishment and demotion ten years ago, it must have been the gangsters at that time who caused the trouble and caused extremely bad effects, otherwise there would be no need to respond with such a bad attitude towards the warriors who came to Yumen to help.

Chongxiao still has some free time now, mainly because the war is not tense. Chongyue Heling, who led the troops out to intercept the evil beasts, has not returned yet. As a captain of the imperial guards who only has treatment but no real power, he lacks an introducer to the border defense forces.

That is to say.

When chatting in the capital, Chongxiao knew that Ling once served as a military advisor in Yumen, and was a true military officer. He was still receiving a salary after retirement today... He didn't expect to become rich, but it was more than enough for him to just enjoy fine wine.

With such a legendary figure in Yumen coming forward, Chongxiao's "airdrop" would be easier for the soldiers to accept.

"Master, how long will we stay in Yumen?"

"We don't know yet, it could be one or two months, or it could be several months."

"Then...wouldn't it be better to rent a house than to stay at an inn?"

Chongxiao raised his eyebrows and thought to himself that this child is actually quite smart and knows how to live frugally.

Little did he know that the relatives to whom Cheng Lufeng entrusted his daughter rejected this pirate. Although they did not abuse Xiaobai, they did not care much about her either, so the girl had to learn certain things in advance.

"No, maybe if we wait a little longer there will be a free house for us to live in."

"what?"

Before Xiaobai could ask curiously, there was a knock on the door.

Could it be that Master Wu and Ling have already returned to Yumen, so Li Wuan sent someone to inform him?

Chongxiao didn't think much about it, he just stood up and walked over to open the door.

No one... The corridor was empty, with nothing but the flowing air.

What's going on? Is it a ghost in broad daylight? Or is it a prank?

Chongxiao frowned and walked out of the room. He looked around and indeed did not see any figure, so he turned around and prepared to go back to the room.

Unexpectedly, the scene before him made his pupils shrink and his eyes widen.

The originally ordinary standard room of the inn has somehow turned into a place surrounded by rocks and streams, with birds singing and flowers blooming. One can even hear the clear and pleasant sound of flowing water.

What's going on! ?

Stunned, Chongxiao walked towards the lush green grass and looked down.

It swayed gently with the breeze, emitting the unpolluted fragrance of grass and trees. The actual touch and the feedback from the skin on his fingertips told Chongxiao that what he was touching was real green grass.

But... this is simply impossible.

After calming down, Chongxiao's expression became much more serious.

This must be an illusion, and an illusion of such an incredibly high level that even I, who had never been truly deceived by an illusion before, fell for it.

The more critical issue is that not only the five senses, but even the brain's rational analysis cannot find any "falsehood".

So... could it be that all of this is actually true? It's just that I entered some kind of enchanted space.

That’s easy, it’s a barrier, right?

Just as Chongxiao was getting ready for a burst of psychic energy, a few words suddenly appeared in the air in front of him, as if they were written with a pen.

Please come this way.

"You are the one who did this? Stop it now, my apprentice is still here..."

You can take her with you.

Ah, this... is it so easy to negotiate?

Before Chongxiao, who had a strange look on his face, could react, Xiaobai suddenly fell from mid-air and landed in his hands that he raised subconsciously.

"Master... Master! How come you disappeared as soon as you left the house? Where is this place? What's going on? "

"It's okay, it's just an invitation. Don't be afraid with Master here."

Chongxiao put Xiaobai down, then took her hand and followed the faint ink traces in the air towards a small hill not far away.

Obviously, that was the instruction from the "culprit".

After all, he had just witnessed the battle on the city wall. Chongxiao knew that it was the fairy in the painting who invited him here, and he and Xiaobai... were afraid that they had entered her world in the painting.

The two did not walk too far, and soon the hill appeared completely in their sight.

And the fairy in the painting was standing at the foot of the mountain with her back to them.

What Chongxiao saw before was correct, this was indeed a woman... She was slightly shorter than Ling and Qing, and not much older than them. She had long black hair with a hint of green that naturally fell behind her head, and the green dragon horns on both ends of her forehead had an inexplicable sense of slenderness.

Sure enough, the Fairy in the Painting was not an invited helper. She was also one of the twelve descendants, the younger sister of Chongyue and Ling.

"You want to meet me?"

"..."

The other party did not answer, but slowly turned around and looked at Chongxiao and Xiaobai who was huddled beside him.

At this moment, not only Chongxiao, but even Xiaobai felt a sense of "amazement" in their hearts, and then stayed where they were...

If Ling is the epitome of peerless beauty and elegance, then the person in front of us may very well be her sister's fairy in the painting, who is worthy of the word "fairy" with a completely different but equally stunning face. And the retro long gown that seems to have combined some features of cheongsam makes her feel even more fairy-like.

But at this moment, she had no expression on her face. Although her eyes were as crystal clear as amber, they exuded a kind of otherworldly indifference and loneliness, as if she had nothing to do with anything in this world.

"Please forgive me for inviting you rashly."

The voice was soft and pleasant, and if it weren't for the lack of any tone, it would easily make people feel sympathy and love.

"…It's not a big deal. In fact, I just wanted to ask you about Ling."

"Your sister will be back soon, why bother asking me?"

"Ah this... okay, you should know that my name is Chongxiao, this is Xiaobai, my apprentice, and what about you? You can't really be the fairy in the painting."

This is only because Reiwa is pretty enough. If it was a big and strong guy pretending to be so cool, Chongxiao would have to use brute force to tear apart this world in the painting even if he didn't beat him up first... He was very sure that he could do it.

"evening."

"It's a nice name. Your brothers and sisters' names are better than each other... Did you guys come up with them all by yourselves?"

Xiao Bai stared at Chong Xiao with a strange look on his face, secretly wondering why his cheap master suddenly became such a chatterbox? Could it be that he had a crush on her because she was so beautiful?

A fourteen-year-old girl already knows a lot about this kind of thing.

Xi did not reply, but stared at Chongxiao, with no expression on his face.

Until Chongxiao, who was frightened, couldn't help but speak again...

"Do not……"

A hint of barely noticeable sadness emerged in those amber eyes, "The person who named it is no longer here."

For some reason, Xi's emotion made Xiaobai feel like crying, even though the person she mentioned had nothing to do with the girl.

However, Chongxiao had already thought of a deeper level: the person who could name the twelve-year-old descendant was probably not a mortal, but one of them, so how could he possibly... die?

But at this moment, Xi suddenly asked a puzzling question.

"Excuse me, where is the golden city that can soar into the endless sky?"

A golden city that can soar into the endless sky?

Chongxiao was dumbfounded. If it weren't for Xi's ethereal appearance, he would have suspected that the other party had watched too many children's programs at the six o'clock show.

"I'm sorry, I'm not sure what the Golden City you're talking about is."

"…Then I am being presumptuous."

Even so, Xi did not show any apology, but raised his hand and drew a few strokes in the air, "Please accept this painting as an apology."

No, no, no!

Chongxiao raised his right hand and was about to refuse, but he found that everything in front of him became blurry, like a drop of water on an ink spot.

Just half a second later, he found that he and Xiaobai had returned to the room of the inn, and there was a rolled-up painting in his raised hand.

"Master, what on earth does she want to do?"

"If you ask me, who should I ask?"

Chongxiao, feeling inexplicably lost, unfolded the scroll and discovered that it was a painting of mountains, rivers and pavilions. Although it was done in ink and wash, it was extremely exquisite and detailed, and one even felt that "the picture was alive".

However, he didn't know that Xi Zheng, who was still standing in the world of the painting, was staring into the distance, with a look of confusion and sigh on his face.

Brother, why do you think that this person... might hold the answers we are looking for?

Chapter 94: Meeting Again, Shocked to Hear About a Strong Enemy

In the morning, he toured Yumen City and met civilians who were accustomed to a simple life and the people of the martial arts world who gathered here. In the afternoon, he went to the Wenshi Pavilion introduced by Li Wuan to read the information accumulated over hundreds of years. In the evening, he stayed by Xiaobai's side and carefully taught her how to practice internal skills.

Chongxiao always felt that something was not right, but Ying Zhen did not grant him the power of a captain of the imperial guards, so he could not take the initiative to do anything.

Fortunately, on the sixth day after he arrived in Yumen, the troops that had gone out to the depths of the desert to wipe out the evil beasts returned.