Chapter 7: The Law Enforcement Officer from Chang'an and the Spy from the Grasslands

  A man in a green shirt stood by the window, not looking at the dazzling dance on the elaborately decorated stage inside the Red Sleeve Building. He was gazing outside, as if something on the horizon had caught his attention. The cold wind blowing through the open window ruffled his slightly faded green shirt.

  Perhaps it was because the wind was a bit too cold, and Xi Dang's wife, sitting in the chair, couldn't help but shiver.

  Only she herself knew that no matter how strong the wind was, it wouldn't make her feel cold. She felt cold because of what the man in green had just said. He said he was going to Mount Da Xue, and it was this sentence that made her feel a chill run down to her bones. It was an irresistible coldness, one that seeped into her marrow and into her heart.

  "Do we have to go?"

  She asked.

  The big girl doesn't look old at all, although there are some fine wrinkles around her eyes, but her face is still delicate, especially her eyebrows and eyes are the most beautiful, beautiful to the extreme. Her eyebrows are like willow leaves, and her eyes are like a pool of water. Without a doubt, if she wants to find a man to marry now, the men who want to marry her can line up outside Fanggu City.

  Although Fang Jie is the landlord of Hongxiu Building, he has only seen Xi Dainiang once.

  Just this once, Fang Jie found it hard to forget Xi Da Niang's eyebrows and eyes.

  It's not that he's a lecher, but these eyebrows and eyes are indeed too beautiful.

  Xī Dà Niáng's name was Xi Huà Méi, but her eyebrows weren't painted on. Born with a pair of eyebrows that left people unforgettable, born with a pair of eyes that left people unforgettable. Between her eyebrows and eyes, there was a subtle, natural charm that wasn't too strong or artificial. Since she was a young girl, countless men had fallen for her. How many men were willing to risk everything for her, how many men were willing to disregard life and death for her.

  But she fell in love with him.

  Her nemesis in her fate.

  "How's your body?"

  He didn't answer Xiaguang's question but asked a question instead.

  "Good... it's rare for you to still remember her."

  "Ten years ago, you left Xiner with me and disappeared without a word. For ten years, no one knew whether you were dead or alive. In these ten years, Xiner has asked me more than once where you are. Only in the past two years have her questions gradually decreased, perhaps she believed the answers I gave her. But how can your heart be so cruel? For the sake of that obsessive thought in your mind, you didn't even care about her?"

  "What did you say to her?"

  The man in the green shirt still did not answer Xiagu's question.

  "I said you're dead."

  She bit her lip and said with a frown.

  "Whatever."

  The man in the green shirt turned around, smiled and said: "Let her think I'm already dead, then she won't have any more worries or thoughts about me. This might not be a bad thing for her. In another ten years, maybe she'll completely forget about me. Without me in her heart, her days will be happier. The memories I gave her seem to be nothing worth remembering."

  "We have to go."

  He suddenly answered her first question.

  The man in the green shirt looked up at the gray sky again, his eyes calm but with a fiery determination: "In this world where everyone is submissive and humble, someone has to try to do something. Someone set the rules, and people gradually got used to them, so they naturally became subservient... Gradually forgetting that they are individuals."

  A person, with one stroke and one dot, can stand tall and upright like a pillar holding up the sky.

  She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.

  "My heart is not ruthless."

  He replied to her second question: "If my heart were more ruthless, I would not have let that person go ten years ago. If he didn't leave, the world wouldn't be so unfair. If I were even more ruthless, I shouldn't have cherished my own life and hesitated, allowing his followers to take him far away. I spent ten years recovering from my injuries, and he also spent ten years... But you know, he has many miraculous medicines, so he should recover faster than me. If I don't go now, I won't have any more chances."

  "Since you already know, why can't you wait until you have absolute certainty before going?"

  The sound of her voice was extremely sharp and loud, and the undulations in her chest became more intense.

  "Moreover... aren't you afraid of triggering a great calamity?"

  Upon hearing this, the man in green seemed taken aback for a moment before shaking his head and speaking in a flat tone: "The great calamity will come sooner or later. Rather than waiting until it's too late to resist, it's better if it comes early. At least then people will have some chance of survival."

  "The teacher won't agree with you going."

  He thought of his last reason for stopping her.

  "You're wrong."

  The man in the green shirt turned around, looking at Xi with a gentle expression: "You don't understand, sir. If I don't go... he will eventually go anyway. By the time sir has no choice but to go, the disaster will be truly imminent. You know his position, there are always many inconveniences. So, sir won't oppose me going."

  "Would he just stand by and watch you go to your death?"

  "I won't"

  The man in the green shirt said softly: "Sir, would you burn a stick of incense and scatter a handful of paper money for me?"

  Silence

  Both people fell silent.

  Perhaps to break the annoying silence, the man in green asked curiously: "Just now, there was a young man sitting below watching the dance, wearing black clothes, and being taken away by several border soldiers... do you know him?"

  "Recognize... his name is Fang Jie, the owner of this building, the landlord who beckons with a red sleeve."

  "At such a young age, it's really impressive."

  "He is very good at making money."

  "He's going to die soon."

  The man in the green shirt took a sip of tea and spoke of something that had nothing to do with him. It was just that little guy who made him somewhat curious, but the things inside that little guy's body also made him disgusted. Only he could see such ruthless and poisonous means, and only that person could use them.

  "Just die then."

  Her mind was never on this issue, and in her opinion, that young man, although not unpleasant, had nothing to do with her life or death.

  ……

  ……

  Walking out of the dungeon, Fang took a deep breath of the cool outside air. The damp and musty smell in the dungeon was uncomfortable, and the darkness and cold inside made people even more uncomfortable. After being in there for so long, it felt like something was stuck in his heart.

  That guy called Wanyan Liuyao, a Northern Liao person, is a clever fellow. Fang Jie could tell that this person's status in the Northern Liao tribe would not be low at all. The other Northern Liao people, although deliberately pretending to be calm, couldn't hide their respect for Wanyan Liuyao in their eyes.

  I don't know what a desolate and cold place it is.

  Fang Jie thought of the words that Wan Yan Liao said about the coldness of the ten thousand great mountains, and he couldn't help but shiver. He tightened his fur cloak, thinking regretfully in his heart that if he could cultivate his skills, he would be able to ignore the severe cold like Mu Xiaoyao. The winter in Fan Gucheng was already strangely cold, but Mu Xiaoyao still only wore a thin long skirt. As for Da Quan... that guy wore a fur cloak with a lining, but inside, he wasn't wearing any underwear at all...

  As Fang Xing walked out of the large courtyard, he suddenly thought of something.

  If this matter is resolved, then one's military achievements will be sufficient. As long as Li Xiangzong gives himself a letter of recommendation to the Ministry of War, he can take part in the examination of the Martial Arts Academy. If he can smoothly pass the examination and enter the Martial Arts Academy, after graduation, at the very least, he will become a Xiaowei. However, although he has been practicing martial arts continuously for years without interruption, because he cannot cultivate his skills in the military, he will not be reused.

  But... the Martial Arts Institute, after all, emphasizes martial arts.

  Of course, if he performs well enough in other aspects, he might be able to stay at the Martial Arts Academy as a minor official. In mathematics and music, Fangie still has some confidence.

  As long as I can stay in the Daxing Martial Arts Academy, those who have been chasing me for so many years will not dare to cause trouble in Chang'an even if they eat a leopard's gallbladder. Even if they dare to enter Chang'an City, will they still dare to cause trouble in the martial arts academy?

  Just thinking about his own bright future made Fang Jie's heart feel much more at ease.

  When he's in a good mood, he wants to go to Yunnan to eat braised dog meat.

  He was the most special one in Fanggu Castle, so all 800 Bianjun troops gathered to prepare for battle, but he could still stroll around on the main street with nothing to do. Unable to find someone to accompany him, he reluctantly went alone to swallow a pot of hot and fragrant dog meat stew.

  Fang Jie walked into the Yun Ji restaurant when Su Tu was butchering a dog.

  Bloody-handed, Pei Pi saw Fang Jie walking over and wiped the blood on his hands on his apron. He stood up with a smile and said: "Fang little brother, you're here to do business with me again."

  "Actually, I came to see your wife."

  Fang Jie said something shamelessly, then stood aside to watch Su Tu skin the dog. He found that although Su Tu was a simple-minded person who could be called weak, he had managed to turn killing and skinning dogs into an art form. The dogs killed by Yun Ji were not domesticated dogs, but wild dogs from the Langruo Mountains, as ferocious as wolves. In winter, when there was less prey on the Langruo Mountains, the wild dogs would often come down in packs to attack livestock.

  Hunters hunt hill dogs and usually send them to Yunji.

  "Hurry up and go in, it's cold outside."

  The wooden stupid dog smiled and said.

  "Butcher's brother, you kill dogs every day, don't you have nightmares?"

  Fang Jie suddenly asked very seriously.

  Su Tu put down the knife in his hand, remained silent for a moment and replied seriously: "Or maybe I've killed too many, even the most vicious mountain dog would not dare to enter my dreams as a ghostly dog. If it dares to enter my dreams again, I'll just kill it once more."

  The tone was calm, but it made Fang Jie's heart skip a beat.

  "That makes sense"

  Fang Jie nodded thoughtfully and turned around to walk into the Yun Ji.

  "Square Little Brother..."

  Su Tu Dog suddenly stopped Fang Jie and hesitated for a moment before saying: "These days, you should drink more wine."

  "Why?"

  Square root of question mark.

  Su Tu's dog smiled and said: "It's cold."

  He stretched out a middle finger: "Has your family's wine been selling less recently?"

  As he walked into the Cloud Accounting House, Fang Jie didn't notice the pity in Su Tou's eyes. Su Tou squatted down and continued to peel the skin, muttering to himself as he worked: "It's just that you've eaten a lot of wine at my house and spent a lot of silver, so it would be a shame if there was one less big customer in the future... I don't know who has such ruthless means, drinking more wine can make your blood vessels flow smoothly, otherwise..."

  ……

  ……

  Just as Fang Xian was about to have a dog meat stew in Yunji, a guest also arrived at Li Xiaozong's study in Fangu City.

  The man wore a leather cloak, and his fur hat covered his head and face. After entering Li Xiang's study, he took off the thick hat and placed it on the edge of the stove. Before long, the hat was roasted, emitting wisps of white smoke.

  This person was extremely thin, and even his face had hardly any flesh on it. His eye sockets were sunken, his cheekbones protruded, and he had a monkey-like face shape, yet he still sported a goatee. So he looked somewhat comical, but Li Xiaozong didn't dare laugh when he saw this person. He respectfully poured a cup of tea and handed it over, standing aside with his head bowed.

  "Although you are a collateral or illegitimate child of the Li family...the great general still places considerable importance on you."

  This man took the teacup and glanced at Li Xiangong, sighing with a hint of resentment: "That's why I had to run hundreds of miles on such a cold day to remind you... The Ministry of War and the Temple of Justice have been out of Chang'an for over half a month. They've handled over a dozen cases along the way, killing four above the rank of commander, including one fourth-rank Langjiang... This time, His Majesty is truly enraged, so you'd better be careful."

  "You should know, Your Majesty detests nothing more than corrupt officials... especially those in the military who embezzle funds. If it's proven true, you won't even have a way to survive. Don't think that your cultivation is impressive, you should know that among the people sent by the Ministry of War and the Supreme Court this time, there are at least three high-ranking officials above the 6th rank, and also a symbol master who broke through ten years ago..."

  "I dare not harbor any lucky thoughts."

  Li Xiaozong hung his head, his face slightly pale.

  Beyond the fifth rank is a broken mirror, and masters above the sixth rank in the army will inevitably be reused. Although he entered the broken boundary just a year ago, he can't stop the joint attack of three broken boundary masters at all. Moreover, this time there is also a most annoying symbol master among them.

  "I heard that you became greedy because of someone named Fang Jie?"

  The goat asked in a hoarse voice.

  Yes

  "The general heard that there were Mongol spies infiltrating the city of Fan Guo, attempting to bribe and win over the border troops... This was discovered by General Li Xiangzhong. The general will report this matter truthfully to the Ministry of War and the Judicial Commissioner of the Grand Court."

  "I..."

  Li Xiaozong swallowed hard and spat out a mouthful of bitter saliva: "I understand."