Jinyi Night Walk

There were 480 temples in the Southern Dynasties.

Although the imperial court suppressed Buddhism and confiscated a large number of Buddhist fields and temple properties, being a monk is almost a lifetime career, and it is impossible to close down just because the pilgrims wither away.Besides, Jiangnan is originally the place where the wind of good Buddha is the most prosperous, and the small folk temples should not be greatly influenced by the Buddha.

For example, this Bodhi Temple is located in the countryside. There are not many Buddhist temples in the first place, and there are no great guardians of gentry and officials.

The empty space in front of the temple is a market where people from the four townships and Bali regularly go to the market to sell agricultural products and buy household items.Monks and people living in the world live in peace and harmony here.

At this moment, among the crowd in the market, there are also a few strange figures. They wear ordinary clothes and look like ordinary people in the market, but they don't ask about the price of vegetables or buy small household utensils like others. His eyes cautiously scanned every commoner who came into the concentration.

Xia Xun held Ming'er's hand, and just after walking into the market, he discovered these people who behaved abnormally. Compared with those professional beggars who pretended to be beggar spies, these professional spies were obviously too amateurish.

Xia Xun was startled and wanted to retreat, but leaving at this time was undoubtedly more obvious.As soon as he turned his head, he saw the Bodhi Temple. Before the spy who was scanning around like a hunting dog could stare at him, he turned and walked towards the temple.

Xu Ming'er noticed his nervousness and glanced at him, but didn't speak, but speeded up her pace tacitly.A spy is like a vigilant hound. He stared at the figure that hurried into the monastery, and a little doubt arose in his heart.He stopped in his tracks, whispered something to his companion, and the two chased towards the monastery pretending to be leisurely.

There are many pilgrims in the monastery, and it is not correct to say that they are pilgrims, because most of these people go to the market and stop by the temple to see, so although there are quite a lot of people, the incense is not strong.There are some stalls under the corridors on both sides of the temple, where a few young monks sell some incense candles and small ornaments for consecration, but there are few people who care about them.

Xia Xun entered the monastery without stopping for a moment, then stepped into the left side hall, where the Four King Kongs were enshrined, and a banner was hung under the lintel, with four large characters written on it: "Free interpretation of scriptures".

When Xia Xun saw an old woman who was about to sit on the seat, she hurriedly dodged and occupied the seat first, and Ming'er obediently stood beside him. The old woman with the vegetable basket gave him a dissatisfied look. Standing at the back resentfully, barely blocking him, looking from the outside, it looks like an old woman with her little granddaughter, waiting here for a monk to explain the scriptures.

Behind the desk, a [-]-year-old monk with big ears, red face, and benevolent eyes looked him up and down, smiled serenely, put his hands together, and said gently: "Isn't the benefactor a local?"

Xia Xun hurriedly folded his hands together and said, "Yes, Xinnan brought it from Hezhou and Wujiang to Yangzhou to visit relatives and friends."

The great monk smiled, nodded slowly and said, "Well, it's been a long way, and the benefactor passed by here by chance, this is also a fate!"

"Is it a thousand miles away from Wujiang to here?"

Xia Xun wanted to laugh, but held back quickly, and replied reverently: "Yes, it's fate. Xinnan and Buddhism have always been destined."

At this time, the two people had already chased into the temple, swept the tourists in the courtyard around, and then chased into the Daxiong Palace.

The great monk's eyes were shining with kindness and wisdom, he pointed behind him, and said kindly: "Since the fate has arrived, don't you want to pay homage to the Buddha with a stick of incense?"

Xia Xun looked behind him, and saw a narrow wooden plank in front of the wall, on which were many bundles of the crudest incense sticks. The monk said, "One stick of incense costs ninety percent of my father's money, and one stick of incense costs ninety percent of my father's money. It’s not expensive, it’s just out of respect for the Buddha.”

Xia Xun glanced at the main courtyard and said with a smile, "Master, Xinnan has come all the way, and he is very cash-strapped. He entered the temple today because he just wanted to hear the master explain the scriptures."

After hearing this, the great monk still had a quiet and indifferent smile like an eminent monk, but his eyelids drooped downwards, and the corners of his mouth slightly twitched. Swing outward, very elegant.

Xia Xun asked in surprise, "Master?"

The great monk's eyes closed, and the corners of his mouth curled down a little more. He didn't speak, but just waved his hands again.

"Oh!"

Xia Xun nodded quickly, lifted his buttocks and left.

"Why is this monk..."

Ming'er became indignant, Xia Xun squeezed her palm, and walked to the gate of the temple without saying a word. Xia Xun bought a vegetable pile and carried it vertically on his shoulders, covering half of his face, and pulled Ming'er again. hand, moving forward step by step with the crowd...※※※

Seeing the tight security on the upper reaches of the Qinhuai River, Xia Xun realized that he had underestimated Luo Kedi. He would be safe if he never left the city. This game of cat and mouse had just begun.

After careful analysis, he thought it was very dangerous to go south at this time, and his whereabouts had already been leaked. If he forcibly went south to contact the responders he had arranged, he would definitely be in a trap.So he decisively gave up the idea of ​​going south to contact the responders, and turned to go north.Unsurprisingly, the security along the way was not very strict.

Apparently, that carriage had attracted the attention of Jin Yiwei, and their main force had rushed to the south, where they had spread a huge net, scraping three feet to search him out, and he walked back at this time, Instead, there was no danger.Xia Xun walked back, of course not back to Nanjing City, he was resigned to the fate of the city, he didn't want to hand over his life to God's mercy.

He believed that after more than a year of experience, his subordinates already possessed the basic fighting wisdom, and they would definitely push the boat forward, make the momentum bigger, attract more attention from the government, and go north to his most likely destination, but with The news that they were found on the South Road spread, and Luo Heshi must deploy a large number of manpower to search south, so that the number of sentries and spies in the north will be greatly reduced.

Sure enough, the number of checkpoints and guards along the way has been greatly reduced. Xia Xun copied the trail and escaped safely to the bank of the Yangtze River.Going forward, it is not easy. There is a small pier in front of it, not very big. This place cannot moor large cargo ships with a deep waterline, and it is not a special pier for ferrying passengers. It is built by fishermen fishing along the river. A small pier that is convenient for fishing boats to dock, but even such a small pier is guarded by people.

Xia Xun observed quietly. Those people should be local inspectors and their helpers. The four men with knives are obviously the best inspectors in the yamen. In addition, there are more than a dozen people with water and fire sticks , It is a helper outside the regular service.Xia Xun stared at the distribution of these people and the weapons they carried, thinking about how to seize the ship.

When he had some clues in his mind, he whispered to Xu Ming'er: "Ming'er, it's too dangerous to take you to snatch the boat, you go down the river, go farther, at least a few miles away, in the Wait for me by the river downstream, I will find you after I seize the boat."

After Xia Xun finished speaking, he didn't hear Xu Ming'er's answer. He turned his head and looked at Ming'er with some surprise. As if wanting to see a flower on his face, Xia Qian raised his eyebrows and asked in doubt, "What's wrong?"

Ming'er shook her head, pursed her lips and did not speak.

Xia Xun said: "Four inspections and a dozen helpers are not easy to deal with. Moreover, once it is revealed that we are two people, a man and a woman, the target will become more obvious. You go downstream and wait for me, wait I took the boat, if..., if I never show up, you, Long...go back to Zhongshan Prince's Mansion first, I know you don't want to go back, but..."

"I know!"

With a sullen face, Xu Ming'er said something very serious, she bit her lower lip until it turned white, and after she finished speaking, she stooped and ran towards the lower reaches of the Yangtze River.Xia Xun was a little puzzled by the change in her expression, but at this moment he didn't think much about it. He turned to the pier again, focusing on the patrols and helpers, thinking about the plan to seize the ship.

Another fishing boat docked, and the two bamboo baskets on the boat were half full of fresh fish. An inspector went up to meet him, bent down to have a look, and saw that the silvery fish in the basket were all fresh fish. I was constantly jumping and squatting, and I couldn't help but yelled out: "Yo ho, honestly, you are lucky, and you have returned with a full load."

As he spoke, he snapped off a long weed from the beach, and scraped off the leaves, leaving only the stalks. Pick fat, big fish with delicious meat, and skewer them with grass stalks. An inspector next to him, sitting lazily on the side of a small boat with his legs crossed, said to him, "Pick some fish for me too." The big ones come out and go home to drink and eat at night.

After hearing this, the man picked out a few more big fish, then waved his hand and said, "Okay, let's go!"

"Damn it, these bastards, why don't they suffer retribution!"

Ren Honestly cursed secretly, but he didn't dare to show the slightest displeasure on his face. He quickly nodded and bowed in agreement, lifted the basket ashore, and took out a shoulder pole. A young man with gray cloth and short brown came towards him and passed him by.

"Stop, what are you doing?"

The fish inspector became suspicious, seeing that this man did not look like a fisherman, and this was not a ferry, so what was he doing here?

Xia Xun didn't allow him to ask any more questions. Before the inspector's hand touched the handle of the knife, Xia Xun made a move. His five fingers bent, and his fist was shaped like a blunt shovel. The patrol inspector didn't make a sound, and fell on his back, with a hoo-hoo sound from his throat. Xia Xun's punch probably shattered his throat bone.

The big fish were scattered all over the ground. As soon as a few big fish that were not dead fell on the sand, they flapped their tails desperately. One of the fish jumped and jumped on his face, and the big tail kept slapping. Slapped his face, and he didn't move,

Seeing this scene, Ren Laoshi was so surprised that the shoulder pole slid off his shoulders: "My God, is it really so clever?"

Seeing this, several patrol inspectors and gangsters rushed over with roars, and the slowest responder among them was the patrol inspector sitting on the side of the boat. There was the largest intimate contact with his face, and the patrol inspector's face was colorful and his nose was bleeding profusely. With a muffled grunt, he slipped out to the side of the boat and passed out after being submerged in the river water. The water is shallow, you have to be below your feet, or you will drown.

Xia Xun made a move brazenly, he had to do it, the road guide on his body did not have the official defense of Jinling Mansion, but the man appeared here, if he checked, he would miss his feet, so he could only act preemptively.Kicking the inspector unconscious, Xia Xun bent down and pulled out his saber.The remaining two inspectors brandished steel knives and shouted and urged from behind, and a dozen helpers brandished water and fire sticks, relying on their large numbers, they rushed towards Xia Xun desperately.

"kill!"

With a knife in his hand, Xia Xun suddenly turned into a fierce tiger that devours people. He stepped on the soft sand and jumped forward. When he met the blow to the head, he had already shifted slightly sideways, and the whistle stick whizzed down against his shoulder. The narrow blade in Xia Xun's hand stabbed straight into the man's lower abdomen. As soon as he picked it, the man screamed and fell down, blood spattering.

Xia Xun withdrew his sword, his right shoulder sank, and he fell heavily on the beach. He rolled and avoided five or six whistle sticks, which were enough to break a person's bones and tendons once they touched his body. As soon as the momentum slipped, it swept across like mowing grass, and three helpers screamed and fell out, throwing away the sticks in their hands, and screaming wildly while hugging their bloody calves.

But one of the helpers also took this opportunity to use a stick as a gun, instead of a slash as a stab, and slammed on his side, if it wasn't because the man wanted to avoid his knife, he jumped back temporarily to relieve some force , This stick can break one of Xia Xun's ribs, even so, the painful feeling still makes Xia Xun almost breathless.

Those who can help the inspectors are all the fiercest gang of desperadoes among the rogues. When they saw blood, they aroused their ferocity, and they danced fiercely with a fire stick. Shengfeng, Xia Xun deliberately wanted to make things worse here, Wu Wu took a knife in his hand and did not escape. At first, because he was hit in the ribs, the speed and strength of his hands were not enough. After the movie, his speed And strength returned to normal.

He cut off two whistle sticks with one knife, and with a swipe, another helper flew out in a circle. His knife cut a hole under the man's ribs, and his internal organs were squeezed out.

But at this moment, Xia Xun was also seized by an experienced inspector and stabbed him in the back.

A good man is hard to beat with four hands, and it is as difficult as going to the sky to be unscathed when fighting. However, some people are still alive and well with injuries, and some people die after being stabbed. The difference is that you must know how to avoid it. The key is to know how to let go.Xia Xun's combat experience was fully demonstrated at this time. As soon as the inspector's knife touched his body, he went forward with all his strength, and was beaten hard in the stomach. But it's not serious.

He was stabbed in the back, it was hot, and the movements of his hands were slow. Seeing an opportunity, an inspector in front swung his knife to join the battle group, and slashed at him head-on. Xia Xun stopped in a hurry, and his body stiffened He turned sideways, raised the knife in his hand, and with a loud roar from Zhentianjie, an arm holding the knife flew into the air, and the spurted blood spattered his head and face.

Like a crazy tiger, Xia Xun danced a few times to force everyone away, jumped to the riverside, chopped off the cable that tied a small boat with a knife, jumped on the boat in a hurry, and quickly swung his oars away from the shore. , and at the same time desperately paddle to escape downstream.

The bow is a weapon only equipped by the army and the archers of the people, and it is not allowed to be used at ordinary times. It must be locked in the Wushu when it is not in a state of war or when it is ordered to suppress bandits. These public inspections do not have bows and arrows. They can only wield knives With a stick, he watched Xia Xun's boat float down the river and chase the car along the river bank.

But this river bank is not flat... Everywhere is easy to navigate, the boat went down the river, and with the help of Xia Xun's paddle, it was as fast as a galloping horse for a while, and none of them was a long-distance runner. Xiao Ming's Gongmen were left behind.

Xia Xun waited on the shore for a long time, reckoning that Ming'er had walked a considerable distance before showing up to seize the boat. Once he got away from those Gongmen, he immediately tried his best to get closer to the shore and searched for Ming'er along the river. figure.

The small boat is like a fallen leaf in the wind, being impacted by the mighty river, rushing downstream.Suddenly, a small figure appeared on the shore, standing there alone. As soon as Xia Xun saw the familiar figure, Xia Xun immediately stood up and slashed towards the bottom of the cabin with a knife, one knife, two knife, three knife, sawdust flying... …

Xia Xun came ashore covered in water, and the boat behind him was still floating downstream, but the river water had already surged up from the fountain boat at the bottom of the boat, and the boat was half-sunk, and would soon sink completely into the middle of the river.

Ming'er was standing by the river with a small basket on his shoulders. In the basket was his change of clothes. Xia Xun dripped onto the shore in a pool and grinned at her. Ming'er suddenly dropped the basket and threw himself into his arms, tightly He hugged his waist and buried his head in his arms. Those slender arms were so hard that Xia Xun, who had a knife wound on his back, gasped in pain.

Xia Xun clasped his hands, and said a little at a loss, "Ming'er, what's wrong?"

Huailai came out and Ming'er's muffled, nasal voice said, "I thought...you don't care about me!"

Ming'er raised her face from his embrace, with tears in her eyes: "I thought... you were going to leave me and run for your life alone..."

"This little girl is too sensitive!"

Xia Xun was angry and funny at the same time, but he never thought about how fragile Ming'er's heart was at this moment.The third brother died, and died at the hands of the eldest brother. What a strong impact this incident had on her heart. She was carefree and never knew the dangers of the world. Suddenly, she saw that the flesh and blood of her loved ones were like this. Who else could she trust? ?

Ruthless eldest brother is the master of Zhongshan Palace, and Ming'er, who is heartbroken, no longer considers that place as her home.The dearest relatives are gone, the family is gone, and suddenly she has nothing and no one to rely on. How can she not be anxious and worried about gains and losses.

Awakening that she was still hugging him tightly, Ming'er shyly let go of her hand, wiped away her tears, and broke into a smile: "You have a conscience, remember me..."

The wound on Xia Xun's lower back was soaked by the river water, and it was a little numb at first, but when she hugged her, she felt unbearable pain. As soon as she let go, Xia Xun also heaved a sigh of relief, and hurriedly said: "Come on, find a place to change clothes first." .”

Ming'er suddenly remembered a big event, and asked strangely, "By the way, why did you scuttle the boat and how do we cross the river?"

Xia Xun said: "Who said we have to cross the river?"

Ming'er was surprised and said, "Isn't it the river?"

"I can't cross it. The other side of the river is also their territory. Knowing that we have seized the boat to cross the river, haven't they cast a sky net and an earth net? Our road leads to Lishui. Once someone checks it, it will be exposed immediately."

"Then we..."

"Let's go to Lishui!"