Under the sky

Chapter 152: First Show ([-])

The strong man in blue shirt asked: "What's in your sack? Let me see."

Li Jingfeng replied: "It's nothing, I may have admitted the wrong person. I'll say goodbye now." He realized that this matter was a bit strange, so it was better to leave first and think about the root cause clearly before talking.However, the strong man didn't seem to want to let him go easily.

"It's weird. Take it down and see what it is." The strong man in blue shirt ordered.

The swarthy man who opened the door took a step forward and grabbed Li Jingfeng's shoulder, trying to snatch the sack from his hand. Li Jingfeng twisted his shoulder, and the man groaned and fell forward.

The strong man in blue shirt's expression changed and he shouted urgently: "He's good at martial arts, come here, come here! Arrest him!"

After shouting, he took a step forward, made a crane's mouth gesture with his left hand, and put the five fingers of his right hand together like a snake.This is the Snake Crane thirteen-step boxing technique.Attack Li Jingfeng.

"Why are you hitting people now?" Li Jingfeng thought to himself. He had no intention of hurting people. He dodged left and right, jumped and fell. The strong man in blue shirt used a snake-and-crane [-]-step move, which made him look like a tiger and a tiger, but all his moves failed.It turns out that snakes can't find their way, and cranes can't find the north. I can't help but feel very anxious.

Li Jingfeng was full of doubts and was hesitating whether to withdraw or fight back.Early in the morning, more than ten people surrounded the nursing home. The strong man in blue shirt shouted: "Catch him, arrest him!"

The martial arts of the disciples of this remote sect are really not very good. With Li Jingfeng's current skills, it is not difficult at all to escape.It's just that he ate too much after being hungry for a long time, the rice cake became bloated, and he drank a lot of water.This movement makes my chest and abdomen feel disgusting.The opponent was tightly surrounding him again. He raised his original intention and raised his sword, only to hear screams from around him.Shoot four or five strong men away.Make a way out.

Everyone was shocked when they saw how powerful he was in martial arts, and they all shouted and did not dare to step forward.At this alarm, more than ten people ran out, and twenty or thirty people surrounded Li Jingfeng on the country road.Just as he was about to leave, he heard someone shout again: "The master is coming. Get out of the way, the master is coming."

Li Jingfeng thought to himself: "It's just the right time for the leader to come. Let me explain the truth clearly. I won't have to tangle with them." He was tired from the day and was really too lazy to do anything.So he shouted: "Who is the leader? Are you bullying passers-by by attacking for no reason?"

Li Jingfeng was surprised when he saw the crowd lining up to make room for one person.

The "head" was probably only eight or nine years old, in short, less than ten years old.He is less than six feet tall, with a thin face and a flat nose.There were two large red spots on his cheeks that looked like rouge, a wooden shoe brace was placed on his left calf, and a crutch was placed under his right armpit.Come step by step.

Not only is he a child, he is a disabled child.

Although he is a child, his expression is that of a child, with his eyebrows lowered and his eyes lowered.He only heard him ask Ha Lao, who was standing behind him: "What happened?"

Mr. Ha hurriedly said: "He is a confused stranger who came to the door blindly."

The strong man in blue shirt said: "This person is suspicious, maybe he is a craftsman sent by Nanxing Sect."

"He came from outside the town. It shouldn't be." Mr. Ha quickly explained.

The headmaster said: "Since he is a passerby, there is no need to make things difficult for him. No matter who he is, just drive him out. Ningka Town is far away from the countryside, a land where birds do not lay eggs. Is there anyone trying to take root here?" He He spoke very maturely, not like an eight or nine-year-old child at all.

The strong man in blue shirt loudly said: "Ask him to hand over the sack and let us see what is inside. If there is no suspicion, let him go."

Mr. Ha hurriedly said: "Master Juan, the master has given orders. There is no need to make things difficult for others."

But Mr. Juan said: "It's important to be on guard against others. The master has a very good temper. What will happen if someone bullies him? Master, it's up to you to decide this matter. We have to dig out the root cause."

Li Jingfeng only felt that what happened today was extremely weird. It was just a sack and a wooden top. Was it worth all the effort and effort?Seeing that they were struggling, he simply took out the sack and said, "Take it if you want to see it." After that, he threw it to the strong man in blue shirt named Juan Ye.Ha Lao's expression changed drastically again, and even the leader seemed surprised.

Master Juan shook out the linen bag and found a piece of millet cake inside.Naha Lao was about to explain when he saw it was a piece of cake and looked like he was being pardoned.He said hurriedly: "It's just a piece of cake, I just said it was a mistake."

"Mr. Ha, I think this bag looks very similar to yours?" Master Juan seemed to still have doubts.

"Which bag has an unusual appearance? Master Juan is really suspicious."

"Now that I know I made a mistake, can you pay me back?" Li Jingfeng interrupted.Help the elderly out temporarily.

Master Juan threw the sack on the ground, and Li Jingfeng leaned over to pick it up. He didn't blame him for being rude and asked, "I see your faction is in trouble. I'm a bodyguard traveling from Qingcheng. I lost my way on the Gansu road. Turn to Come here, or hire me."

Master Juan waved his hand and said: "No need! Get out!"

Mr. Ha whispered to the leader: "Master, we are going to file a complaint of revenge against the Nanxing Sect. I think his kung fu is very good. Multiple voluntary aids can reduce the losses of brothers."

When Li Jingfeng heard the words "Qiu Mingzhuang", his heart thumped. He had always hated this custom of killing three generations of people and cannibalizing people in disguise, so he wanted to know more about it.

"Have you ever killed anyone?" the leader asked.

Li Jingfeng nodded.He had to lower his head to talk to the leader.

"How much?" the leader asked again.

Li Jingfeng replied: "Take care of water, food, and sleep. One penny a day."

Master Juan said: "One penny a day? Do you think this is Guan County?"

This is the common price for ordinary bodyguards, but it is still a large amount in this remote country.

"Is Kung Fu good?" the leader asked again.

"Two of them come up. If you touch a piece of my clothes, this is a gift." Li Jingfeng tied the original intention back to his waist and said, "You can also come up with three."

"Please." The headmaster cupped his hands and replied: "May I know your name?" This child is really polite and thoughtful, and very sophisticated.

"My name is Li Jingfeng." Li Jingfeng replied.He guessed that his vengeful complaint had not reached here.Besides, most of the nine people thought he was dead.

Beixingmen is not big, generally the size of a three-entry courtyard.It's just crude, and the roof is so low that you can hit your head if you jump.The earthen hut is made of grass tiles and has no decoration.The yard is a bare wasteland with no corridors, just two rows of houses and a hall. Next to the hall is a stone tablet with the words "Beixing Gate" crookedly carved by hand.There was only a red lacquered Taishi chair with a backrest and a few low stools in the hall.

A young woman poked her head out from behind the hospital and asked, "What's going on?"

Master Juan frowned and scolded her: "It's none of your business, go in!"

The young woman immediately shrank back.

Li Jingfeng was invited into the hall, the headmaster took the main seat, and Master Juan sat on the low stool on the right, which was about the same height.Li Jingfeng was also assigned a low stool.Old Ha whispered a few words in the head's ear, and the little head nodded, waving for Old Ha and the people below to retreat.

"My surname is Mu, head of the North Star Sect." Those little feet were still dangling on the bench.Head Mu said: "This is my brother-in-law, his surname is Ye. Just follow everyone and call him Master Juan."

Li Jingfeng stood up and cupped his hands and said: "Master, Master Juan."

"I heard Mr. Ha say that your kung fu is very good. You defeated five of the dozen disciples. Even Master Juan is no match for you." The leader said: "There is an old enemy in the Beixing Gate, and we are about to end it. That's it. I still need your help for a few days."

"In a few days, we will issue a petition of revenge against the Nanxing Gate." Master Juan said, "At that time, I will ask you to help me and help me kill the enemy."

Li Jingfeng asked: "What is the deep hatred that makes the leader want to issue a complaint?" He asked straight to the point, "I have to know the cause and effect before I can help. It is not necessary to issue a complaint to get things done. There is some room left, so there is no need to kill everyone."

"If you don't want to kill people, what are you going to do? One penny a day, can you eat something?" Master Juan cursed. He seemed to really think that one penny could buy a killer.

"This is a bodyguard. Killing people is not that cheap." Li Jingfeng endured his temper and asked: "South Star Gate, Beixing Gate, it sounds like the two families are related."

"We used to be family, but now we are enemies." The leader tried his best to restrain his little feet that started to sway inadvertently.He spoke with the most serious expression and tone for a boy of this age, like a child imitating his father: "Go south from the town, past the well, and you will reach Phuket Town, which is under the jurisdiction of Nanxing Gate."

"The leader said that the two sects were originally one sect?" Li Jingfeng interrupted: "Did the Tang Sect allow you to separate?"

"We were divided into two sects before King Nu's uprising." The leader puffed up his chest proudly: "King Nu Fengjie revolted, and our ancestors were the first to respond. In the battle of Wu Gorge, our ancestors could not swim and were not afraid of the bumps in the river. They drove a small boat Charge, first push out a big hole in the building ship. Iron hook climbs onto the ship, and kills the head of the commander-in-chief Tian Shen. This is the first victory of King Nu on the Yangtze River."

Li Jingfeng didn't understand how big the commander-in-chief was. The deeds of King Nu were widely circulated, but not every battle was familiar.Although the story told by the young master was somewhat believable, Li Jingfeng still praised him sincerely: "Mighty!"

"After the death of King Nu, the nine families made the decision. We were in charge of the two small towns of Phuket and Ningka. Originally, nothing happened." The leader said, "But they occupied the only wells in these two towns."

"Why?" Li Jingfeng asked.He gradually understood the reason why the village was short of water.When he was in the inn, the shopkeeper asked him to fetch water by himself.

"They think the well is theirs. I wouldn't say it's wrong, but I can't say it's right. There used to be a stream here, but now it's gone. We can only store rainwater and snow for irrigation. The rest The source of water is that well." The leader said, wringing his hands tightly.

"Does the well belong to them?" Li Jingfeng asked, "If it belongs to them, you shouldn't rob it."

"Are you teaching me how to make decisions for the people of Ningka Town?" The young leader's face bulged and his eyebrows raised: "Every time the townspeople fetch water, they are attacked. The bodyguards we have sent have already been sent this month. Two died.

"As long as they continue to prevent us from using water, I will protect the villagers of Ningka Town and the gatekeepers of Beixing Gate at any cost."

Vengeance?What about the disciples of Beixing Gate and Kung Fu?Li Jingfeng thought to himself.Then he asked: "Can't we have a good talk with them? Or notify the Tang Sect to deal with this matter."

"The person we sent to negotiate had his left ear cut off and was sent back. Blood debts must be repaid with blood. This is more important than any other rules." The young leader said.

"We have already hired help. We will take action when they arrive in a few days." Master Juan said, "If you don't dare, leave quickly."

Li Jingfeng was silent for a long time, and then the leader said: "I will give you two taels of silver a day. If you win, I will give you another tael. There will also be a donkey and a raft."

Master Juan said dissatisfied: "Master?" He obviously felt that the master was too generous.

"Skin raft?" Li Jingfeng asked, "Is there a river near here?"

"No, but if you want to go to Guan County, you have to find a river. The fastest way is to follow the river. You need both a donkey and a raft."

"Okay!" Li Jingfeng replied readily.

Li Jingfeng was placed in a back room where he slept with other guards. After being tired for several days, he put down his luggage and fell asleep until someone knocked on the door and asked him to come out for dinner.

There are eleven low clay tables and low stools in the dining room, with eight people at each table.There is also a wooden table, which is the same as that used in ordinary inns.Ha Lao saw him coming in and hurriedly stepped forward to greet him to sit down.The food is very basic.On the clay table were millet rice, a piece of millet cake, pickles, a plate of fried mushrooms, a small plate of sweet sauce, and a small plate of fried bacon.Vegetable soup is served in portions, one bowl per person.

The wooden table was naturally the main table, and there was an extra plate of scrambled eggs and a plate of unknown poultry.The first person to come in was Mr. Juan, and the young woman who had poked her head in before followed him. When Mr. Juan sat down, the young woman was still standing aside.Li Jingfeng asked others and found out that it was the head's sister, Master Juan's wife.After waiting for a while, the leader walked into the dining room.After he sat down, the young woman followed suit.

The leader said: "Everyone, let's have a meal."

After he gave the order, everyone began to eat. Many guards were curious about Li Jingfeng and asked him where he studied, but Li Jingfeng responded casually.There were also people who were dissatisfied with him and their words were quite provocative, but Li Jingfeng ignored them.When you are full, drink up the vegetable soup.Seeing that some people at the table were full, they did not leave the table.Li Jingfeng waited for a while.Take a peek at what's going on at the main table.

The three people at the main table said nothing. Although the young woman was sitting on the table, she did not move her chopsticks.It seems that the family rules are strict and you have to wait until the men in the family are full before eating.The leader doesn't use it much.But Mr. Juan just ate vegetables and soup without thinking about his wife, who was as thin as a millet stalk.The young woman gave the head some advice.The leader then pinched one leg again.I saw Master Juan say a few words again.The leader nodded and replied a few words, but Li Jingfeng couldn't hear clearly.After a while, the leader stood up and left.Mr. Juan didn't care that the young woman hadn't eaten yet and ate all the vegetables and meat on his own.The poor woman was left with nothing but millet cakes and sweet sauce.

Li Jingfeng stood up suddenly, pushed the bowl and chopsticks away, and said, "I'm full."

Everyone looked at him, and Mr. Ha said, "Master Juan is still eating."

Li Jingfeng shook his head and said, "I am a bodyguard, not a disciple, so I don't have to abide by these rules." After he finished speaking, he left. Some disciples wanted to shout and scold them, but they didn't say anything when they saw Master Juan, so they endured it.

Li Jingfeng followed the leader and shouted: "Master Mu!"

The leader turned around, glanced at Li Jingfeng, and asked, "What's the matter?" "Give it back to you!" Li Jingfeng threw the wooden spinning top away. The leader took it, his cheeks suddenly turned red. He looked around first and saw the guard standing quite far away. , said angrily: "Are you humiliating me?"

Li Jingfeng asked: "Why are you humiliated? This is not yours?"

"This is a child's thing!" His face darkened, and his little face showed a fierceness that did not suit his age. "I am the head of the North Star Sect! I am not a child!"

"I didn't know that the leader couldn't play with tops." Li Jingfeng replied: "I also like to play." He smiled at the leader and said, "I bet that the leader can't beat me!"

The leader shouted angrily: "Discourteous! Are you looking for death?" As soon as his voice rose, the guards hurriedly followed him, but Li Jingfeng did not panic.The guard stood in front of the leader and asked: "Master, what's wrong?"

The leader's face turned red and he looked at Li Jingfeng fiercely.Li Jingfeng bowed his hands and said, "The villain said something wrong and bumped into the master. I'm sorry, I deserve to be punished!" He bent down and made a big bow, begging for mercy: "Master, please spare the villain's life."

This face is enough for the leader.The leader then said: "You seeking death slave, I'll let you rush like this next time!" He then said: "It's okay. You can go down." Then he said to Li Jingfeng: "Be more cautious in doing things in the future."

Li Jingfeng was obedient, peeking sideways, the leader had his hands in his sleeves.No one saw the wooden top.Limping away.

This time he also figured out the secret of the wooden top. Li Jingfeng returned to the room and slept well in the afternoon. He practiced the exercises for a while. The roof was short and could not be extended. Fortunately, it was spacious at the front and back. There was no other furniture except a kang. .He held his right hand empty, simulating the appearance of holding a sword, moving his steps, and practiced the Nine Orders of Dragon City.He has mastered the first six moves, and has also practiced the last three moves.

After knocking twice, Li Jingfeng stopped and shouted: "The door is unlocked, please come in."

The person who opened the door was Ha Lao holding a lantern.

"Ha Lao, if you don't come to me, I will go to you." There were no seats in the room, so Li Jingfeng pointed to the kang: "Come in and sit."

Ha Lao closed the door and sat by the kang. There was no oil lamp in the room, so Ha Lao put out the lantern anyway.We are too poor here to waste any money.

"What do you want from me?" Ha Lao asked.

"If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be able to drink a sip of water this afternoon. I want to say thank you." Li Jingfeng asked, "What does Mr. Ha want from me?"

Ha Lao sat there in shock for a while, as if he was lost in thought.Li Jingfeng didn't rush him either.Just sit on the ground and wait for him to speak.

There was no light in the room, but Li Jingfeng could clearly see his wrinkled old face through the moonlight outside the window.In this northwest desert, survival is difficult, and the years have engraved it more deeply.

After a while, Mr. Ha said: "Master said you returned the things to him." He hesitated for a while and said: "I am also here to thank you. Master... he is still young. Life... is not easy... "

These words were really nondescript, but Li Jingfeng understood the meaning.
"I want to see the leader again, in private, without anyone else."

Mr. Ha did not expect that Li Jingfeng would make such a request, and his eyes were uneasy, "You can't meet the leader alone." Mr. Ha said: "The old leader doesn't have such good kung fu as you. You are very dangerous."

"I'm not in danger, only hatred is dangerous." Li Jingfeng said: "You care about the leader, unlike others. I mean, only you can buy tops for him." He must be the closest person to the child. Or the person you believe the most.

"Don't mention the top again, otherwise no matter how good your martial arts skills are, you will be buried in the millet field and rot." Ha Lao reminded him.

"I heard during dinner that the South Star Gate and the North Star Gate had a good relationship before, but they fell out later." Li Jingfeng was moved again: "Ha Lao's age should be in time. Do you really want the two factions to kill you to the death? "

Ha Lao asked: "Do you have a solution?"

Li Jingfeng shook his head and said, "I'll try my best." He didn't dare to say too much, "I don't have to go to the stage of revenge."

Ha Lao was silent for a long time.Maybe he thought that in such a dark night, Li Jingfeng couldn't see the changes in his face, but Li Jingfeng could indeed see that his mood was ups and downs.

"Ask the master." Mr. Ha leaned over, picked up the lantern, opened the door and walked out.Li Jingfeng understood what he meant and followed him.

From the back room to the front yard, only two rooms had lights on.One is in the east chamber and the other is in the west chamber, facing each other from a distance.Li Jingfeng followed Mr. Ha to the room in the east wing.Ha Lao knocked on the door. "The bodyguard I hired this afternoon has something to ask the boss."

The leader replied: "Did I say I'll see you soon?"

Although the sect is small, its airs are not small.Li Jingfeng said: "Master, I have something to ask you in private."

"Get out!" He only heard an angry voice.

"Master, come see him, he has something to say." Mr. Ha advised.His tone was gentle, not like a subordinate's respect for the leader, but more like a grandpa coaxing his coquettish grandson.

There was no sound for a long time, and Ha Lao tried to persuade him a few more times.The leader said: "Come in."

Li Jingfeng walked into the room. The room was not small, but there was little furniture. There was a desk against the earthen wall. One of the legs was padded with paper, and the other leg was reattached with wood of a different color.A thick-backed knife was hung on the wall, and a few broken books were placed on the empty bookshelf as decorations.Next to the low coffee table is the most representative item of wealth in this town - a kettle, which is not known to be full or not.It's still the same as this sect, there is only a shell, and everything inside is empty.

The leader was sitting on the second armchair Li Jingfeng saw today.When Ha Lao exited, he closed the door.They were the only two people left in the room.

"Why are you looking for me?" the leader asked, his childish face still stern, "Ha Lao asked you to see me alone, he must trust you very much. How did you bribe him?"

"I want to talk to the Nanxing Sect for you." The leader did not let Li Jingfeng sit down, so he just stood. "Find a way that is good for both parties without making a grudge."

"That's impossible. They want wells too."

"Didn't you share a well before?"

"You don't know what's going on between us. You took the money and just helped us. You didn't speak for them."

"I'm helping you. If you are better than them, the well belongs to you and not to them. Master Juan doesn't need to ask for help, and the boss won't hire me."

"We will win and kill them all." The leader's head was held high like a little rooster.

"Has the leader ever killed anyone?" Li Jingfeng asked.

The red face of the leader became even redder.

"When you hit the enemy, blood will spurt out. It will splash all over your head and face." He touched the blood vessels on the side of his neck: "Especially here, it can spray several feet away. After several days, you can still smell it. The smell of blood."

"You look down on me!" The leader suddenly stood up.He tried to intimidate Li Jingfeng, but he had to raise his head to glare at Li Jingfeng, "One day I will kill someone, one day I will do it."

"I hope the leader won't learn it. That's not a good thing, nor is it something to show off one's power." Li Jingfeng thought for a moment and said, "Let's make a bet."

"What are you gambling?"

"Fighting Beyblade!" Li Jingfeng said: "I win, send me as a messenger to the South Star Gate. Let me solve this matter. If the master wins, I will help the master."

"Children's stuff!" He saw the leader's eyes flicker, looking excited, but he quickly suppressed the suggestion with a stern tone.

"But only adults can play well." Li Jingfeng said with a smile.There is no look of contempt at all.On the contrary, it seemed extremely sincere.

The small face pursed its lips tightly, and its throat, which had not yet developed an Adam's apple, opened and shrank.Li Jingfeng decided to take advantage of the situation and pursue it: "We will compete in the inner room, and I won't tell anyone whether we win or lose."

"Don't think you've won." The leader turned around and walked toward the bedroom in the house.It's more private there.

Li Jingfeng suppressed his laughter and said, "Slow down, I have to make one first."

"I have plenty." The leader replied without turning his head.Li Jingfeng quickly followed.

The dormitory was even emptier than the outside. There was only a kang and a few pictures, and the paintings were very poor.But he can be identified as a relative of the leader.Li Jingfeng saw a particularly new one among them, which looked somewhat similar to the leader.

The headmaster noticed his gaze and said, "That's my father. He passed away two years ago."

He knelt down, pulled out a small box from under the bed and opened it. Inside were large and small wooden tops.There were more than a dozen in total, and he asked Li Jingfeng to choose one. Li Jingfeng weighed the weight and center of gravity of the top and chose a stable one.

"On the count of three, let's play top together." The leader said. He could no longer suppress his excitement and couldn't help but rub his hands together to try it out.

"Wait, what do you mean?" Li Jingfeng asked confused.

"When playing top, isn't it about standing on whose top longer?" asked the leader.

"There is such a comparison, but we compete more fiercely." Li Jingfeng almost had to keep a straight face to prevent himself from laughing.He bent down and drew a two-foot circle on the dirt. This was dirt, and it was not difficult to make a mark on the ground.

"You have to get into the circle and let the two tops collide. Whoever gets knocked out of the circle loses!" Li Jingfeng said.

"Is there such a competition?" The leader's voice became more and more excited, as if no one had ever played with a spinning top with him, "Then I'll change it to a bigger one!"

"A big bully is not a good man."

"Then I'll take the small one and give you some."

"That's not necessary!" Li Jingfeng replied.

The leader was the first to hit the top, but his hand was unsteady and the top was a little skewed.It's difficult for him to fall on the edge again. Some unskilled people have difficulty even breaking into the circle.Li Jingfeng used clever force when throwing out the rope, hitting the leader's top from the side.With a snap, the leader's top was pushed to the outside.

"Two wins in three fights, no, four wins in seven fights!" the young leader shouted unwillingly.

"Okay! It's up to you!" This time it was Li Jingfeng who took the lead in hitting the top.Land firmly on the center point.The leader missed this time and did not fall into the circle.

"It doesn't count!"

"This is a scam!"

"Come again!"

Entering the third battle in the circle, Li Jingfeng's top was as stable as a rock. The leader's top hit it, bounced out, and fell to the ground crookedly.

"I do not believe!"

In the end, it was still a battle without any suspense. After all, Li Jingfeng had probably seen more tops than this kid had played with.The leader has lost four games in a row.I am not reconciled, I am annoyed, and more importantly, I am unwilling to let it end like this.

"Let's compete again." Li Jingfeng said: "Maybe the master has too little practice."

There was light in the leader's eyes again, and he couldn't hold back his excitement and shouted: "Okay!" After a while, he finally couldn't help but ask: "How did you do it? Why is your top so stable?"

"I'll teach you!" At this moment, Li Jingfeng finally smiled. What he saw was no longer the head of the North Star Sect who suppressed his nature, but a child.

(End of this chapter)