Chapter Thirteen: The Widow's Sharp Tool

  Qu Qing Shi no longer sold Guan Zi, and said: "The Jiulong Temple was established for more than 300 years, the case is clear, the responsibilities are clear, the three courts of heaven, earth and man, every major event has a record to be checked, only the volume of Liang Daren at that time, all disappeared..."

  In Jiulong Temple, Qianhu was not a small official, but also not the true core. Ordinary Qianhus may not understand much, but Qu Qing Shi was different.

  The Qu family has been investigating the case of Liang Yili for 300 years, and a key yamen like Jiulong Temple has always been under their close attention. It can be said that since the founding of Da Hong, every move of Jiulong Temple has been under their surveillance, except for the unclear events during Liang Yili's term.

  Qu Qing Shi had almost determined that these people were all officials of the Jiulong Si from the same period as Lord Liang when he first saw the corpse of the monkey-like expert.

  Last night, Liu also tasted the bone-breaking method, but this method is not very accurate and can only infer that the monkey's corpse has been dead for more than 200 years. Since it's more than 200 years, it's naturally possible that it was before 300 years!

  Finally, Qu Qing Shi said in a low voice: "It can be seen that at that time, the Jiulong Temple had four courtyards. In addition to Tian, Di and Ren, there was also a Ban Shan!"

  At least some of the Qingyi under the jurisdiction of the Mountain Moving Institute are monkey spirits, and what they were used for; They also executed tasks; Why was it cancelled after Liang Yier's death... At this moment, even Liang Xin understood that the Jiulongsi Mountain Moving Institute had an inseparable connection with his ancestor Liang Yier's case!

  Three people were talking in a low voice, their feet moving quickly as they hurried along the rugged mountain path, which gradually became wider and more open. Liu was at the front, scouting out the route, often stopping suddenly after walking for a while to carefully examine the rocks around him, then looking up at the sky to confirm their direction before continuing on with his companions.

  Liáng Xīn knew this was the special skill of the Qing Yi Wei, and didn't ask any more questions. He honestly followed behind them, occasionally rubbing his belly which was almost rebelling...

  From dusk till the break of dawn the next day, they had long left the desolate valley and entered the endless mountain ranges. It was now in the clear autumn season, the grass and trees on the mountains were in their final flourish, insects chirped, and night owls hooted. If it weren't for Liang Xin's hunger that made him want to eat grass, this all-night trek through the mountains would have had some charm.

  Liu Yi, who was walking in the front, finally let out a sigh of relief and turned his head to say to his two companions: "We've finally found the guide! The place where the Mountain Qingyi's master lives is not far from us!"

  Liang Xin opened her eyes wide and searched hard, but couldn't find anything suspicious among the grass and trees. Liu Yai smiled and said: "Around the secret sentry points of the Jiulong Temple, there will be route guides set up, only our own people can understand them, so don't waste your energy."

  Liang Xinting was eager to learn, and smiled: "I don't understand, teach me..." Before he could finish speaking, Qu Qingshi suddenly stretched out his hand to cover his mouth, and pressed him down among the tall grass!

  Liu Yi's face changed, his body even more agile than the spirit monkey, and he climbed up a large tree beside him in two or three strides, hiding among the dense branches.

  A moment later, not far away, the grass and trees shook, and a sturdy figure entered Liang Xin's line of sight; Xiang Chanman!

  A toad with four limbs on the ground, slowly crawling in the mountains, its eyes full of vigilance, sniffing the smell in the air while turning its head, constantly searching.

  Liang Xin saw that there was only one head of the item crab, and his heart slightly relaxed. This kind of barbarian tribe is fierce, but one or two heads should be harmless. Unexpectedly, at this time, the willow on the tree suddenly let out a strange cry: "Hurry up!"

  Almost at the same time as the strange cry, Qu Qing Shi grabbed Liang Xin and jumped up, his body shape quickly like a gust of wind, and Liu Yi together rushed towards the west. Immediately after, the strange whistle sounded from all sides, countless Yīnguì demons appeared from the surrounding dense forest, crying strangely and rushing towards them!

  In the midst of the chaotic drinking, he raised his hand and fiercely threw out the embroidered spring knife, directly hitting the left eye of that fierce-looking man who had been bullying him earlier. The sturdy barbarian let out a miserable cry and fell to the ground, frantically flailing his four limbs but unable to get up no matter what.

  These geckos moved silently, with astonishing eyesight and smell, had already discovered the three of them, and were quietly surrounding them when one was spotted by Qu Qing Shi.

  However, these barbarians were extremely cunning. The leader of the lizardmen knew that he had exposed his trail and pretended to forage for food in order to divert the attention of the three people, allowing his companions to continue their encirclement. But Qu and Liu were not ordinary people. After discovering the flaw, they carefully observed and immediately understood the enemy's plan, and quickly jumped up and ran away.

  Hundreds of giant toads were jumping wildly, chasing after them like mad.

  Three people took advantage of the barbarians not having completed their encirclement and rushed out. The big fatty Liu Yi exerted himself to run wildly while angrily shouting: "How did Xiang Chan's barbarian troops end up following us here?!"

  "Go to the execution ground!"

  Liu Yi responded with a sound, following Lu Ying's indication, leading Qu Qing Shi to hurry along, until the two were panting, and Liu Yi finally shouted loudly: "It's just ahead!"

  Li Xinxun followed the slender fingers of Liu Yixiao, which were like a small hammer, and looked into the distance. In the depths of the dense forest in front of him, a large house stood vaguely, like a giant beast hibernating, motionless and crouched there!

  In an instant they rushed to the front of the big house, Liu Yī's both hands supported the gate, slightly exerting force, creaked open with a "squeak" sound, the pitch-black gate opened in response!

  Like all the other government offices under Da Hong's rule, behind the large gate was a spacious and bright hall. Sunlight filtered through the dense forest, casting dappled shadows on the ground. Everything in the hall was dilapidated, covered in thick dust. A skeleton dressed in a nine-dragon green robe lay prostrate on the ground, its skull still struggling to lift up, with empty eye sockets staring towards the gate.

  Liang Xin carefully took a look and found that this corpse was human, not an ape's.

  At this moment, the loud chirping of the cicadas can be clearly heard, and they are only a few hundred meters away from them, rushing towards the place where they are.

  After entering the house, the two men in green clothes immediately became busy. Liu Yi took off his long gown and frantically swept away the thick dust on the ground, muttering to himself as he counted something. Soon, he found a blue brick and exclaimed, "It's here!" He then used force to lift it, moving the two-foot square blue brick aside.

  A small recess appeared under the bluestone, Qu Qingshi threw Liang Xin to one side, took out a monkey-shaped token from his bosom, and slapped it into the recess with a "pa" sound. Immediately, the sound of machinery rose in succession, and both Qu and Liu were overjoyed.

  Those geckos that had entered the dense forest seemed to have also sensed danger, and without warning stopped in their tracks, crouched down on the ground, vigilantly gazing around...

  Qu Qing stood at the door with Liang Xin and Liu Yi, a cold and sinister smile playing on his lips as he gazed out into the distance.

  Liu Yi also explained to Liang Xin: "The nine dragon temples set up in the dangerous places of the temple or the secret sentry posts will all be equipped with mechanisms around them, and when they are launched, they will become copper walls and iron walls!"

  After a brief and suffocating silence, the sudden swooshing sound shook the air, and Liang Xin only felt a flash of silver light in front of his eyes. In an instant, countless three-foot-long silver needles burst out from the dense forest around the big house, and the enemy was beaten into a bloody sieve before they could even react!

  The remaining items were greatly shocked and discolored, screaming and fleeing in a hurry under the arrow rain.

  Liāng Xīn gazed in stunned silence, previously in the fierce battle at the mine entrance, Xiè Chán Méi's body was as solid as it could get, even a hundred-refined steel knife found it hard to cause any harm, but now, under these silver arrows, they all turned into tofu dregs.

  Liu's face was ferocious, but his mouth was laughing loudly, shouting in a loud voice: "Well done! You turtle bastards, today Laozi's dinner will be roasted with your meat!"

  Qu Qing's face was filled with a smile, and his eyes were full of the pleasure of revenge. In a low voice, he explained to Liang Xin: "These mechanisms are equipped with our Jiu Long Si's secret broken armor sharp instruments. The fine needles' tips are all made from refined iron and copper, not to mention Xiang Chan is just a thick-skinned and fleshy body, even if it were an armored cavalry, they couldn't withstand it."

  Liang Xin nodded, but his expression still showed some doubt. Qu Qing Shi understood what he meant and shook his head with a sigh: "My sons, of course, also have such powerful crossbows for breaking armor, but usually they just watch the prisoners work, who would carry such heavy things on their backs? Xiang Chan's arrival was too sudden, there was no time to take out the crossbow... If you really want to set up a formation, relying on these inhuman and ghostly barbarians, wanting to attack and kill a thousand-strong Green Robed Guard is just a dream!"

  In a few words, the ban in the dense forest had launched its first round, followed by the sound of machinery, and the second round of dark crossbow began to tighten its strings.

  The item was thrown into the forest, leaving behind over a hundred corpses, and for the time being, no one dared to approach.

  Liuxin secretly praised the Nine Dragons' forbidden craftsmanship, which was still so powerful after 300 years. As he thought about it, even their clothes were so sturdy, let alone their mechanical devices.

  Liu Yi stared outside for a while before turning back to pat Liang Xin: "Follow me!" He then led him running towards the backyard.

  The front and back differ by three hundred years, but the construction pattern of the Jiulong Temple seems to have not changed much. This temple doesn't have anything special about it either. Liu also brought Liang Xin along, turning left and right with ease.

  Liáng Xīn then discovered another anomaly, the temple occupied a vast area of land, built in the center of a dense forest. Although it was old and dilapidated, with thick dust everywhere, there were no wild vines or creepers, nor any spider webs.

  Liu also noticed his doubts, with a somewhat complacent tone: "In the mountains and forests, the most annoying thing is the tall grass and ants, so the Qingyi will plant some medicinal powder around the temple to drive away the grass, wood, insects and beasts. Don't worry, these medicinal powders won't hurt people."

  "What kind of medicine powder is this, it's still effective after three hundred years?"

  "The recipe for this spiritual medicine is said to have been obtained from a poisonous family with the surname Wen in Jiuding Mountain, western Sichuan." As he spoke, Liu led him into a large, square earthen cellar in the backyard.

  The underground chamber was in a state of complete disarray, with swords, guns and armor scattered all over the floor. Large chests were also opened, their contents spilling out at an angle. Liu Yi saw the scene before him and was clearly shocked: "What's going on? The armory has been looted?"

  Liang Xin suddenly understood that this was where Si had stored his weapons.

  Liu quickly walked to the end of the cellar, tapping and feeling around with his left and right hands. Then, with both arms against the wall, he took a deep breath and pushed hard. With a dull thud, the wall flipped open, revealing another hidden room.

  In the dark room there were no swords or guns, only a large box sealed with stone wax.

  Liu Yi finally breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled: "Fortunately, these treasures are still here!" He then walked forward, laboriously lifting the lid of a trunk, only to see a row of black crossbows soaking in coal oil.

  Liu also burst out laughing and said: "It's them, the Nine Dragons' Sharp Weapons, the powerful crossbow that can pierce armor, is called 'Widow'!"

  Liang Xin scratched the back of his head and laughed: "Widow's Bow? This name is quite strange."

  "This crossbow, no matter how thick the armor is, can penetrate it in one shot. The men who fight will die, and only widows will be left at home. This name isn't strange, it's ruthless!" Liu Yi spoke with his mouth, and his hands didn't stop either. He picked up several "widows" in a row, hugged a big bundle of arrows, and swayed back.

  Liang Xin also worked hard, but only after picking up the crossbow and arrows did he realize that these sharp instruments were astonishingly heavy. With his strength, he could barely hold a single crossbow and a dozen or so arrows.

  When they returned to the front hall, Qu Qing Shi was sitting on the ground with a frown, looking dazed. Seeing them return, he first revealed a bitter smile: "The barbarians have surrounded us from the outside, and judging by the calls, their numbers are increasing. However, I've heard that the barbarians are night-blind, so once it gets dark, we'll make a breakthrough."

  He changed the subject and pointed at the corpse in blue clothes on the ground: "Guess what identity this person has?"

  Liáng Xīn's face suddenly changed, he took a cold breath in reverse, his lips trembling as he guessed: "Is... my ancestor, Liáng Yī èr?"

  "Fart! I asked you what his identity is, not who he is!" Qu Qing Shi scolded with a calm and collected expression.