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Not far from the north gate of Kyoto, there is a not-so-long street. Compared with the other three city gates, the north gate has always had a lot less traffic, so this street usually seems dilapidated and deserted.

Among the hundreds of streets in Kyoto, this street is very inconspicuous. No one has the desire to look back when passing this street.

This street is always filled with a rancid smell, just like a layer of stench floating in the air. Although outsiders don't know the reason, the people nearby know that this rancid smell comes from Fu Sanguaizi. It came from a stinky tofu shop.

Fu Sanguaizi's tofu shop has been operating on this street for decades. Since his father, he has been running a tofu shop on this street.

Their tofu is not special, and it is not better than others, but the stinky tofu in their store is definitely the best in Kyoto. Although it is smelly, but the taste is extremely delicious. People who are familiar with it will always know it. Come here to taste the stinky tofu. Some officials even heard about the reputation here and sent their servants to buy it back.

However, at dusk today, the tofu shop, which usually closes at midnight, put up a sign and closed its doors. The neighbors found out clearly that Fu Sanguaizi was not feeling well, so he had a rest earlier.

So the neighbors lamented that Fu Sanguaizi had worked hard for several years, and now he is over 50 years old, and it is normal for him to suffer from minor illnesses.

……

Xue Poye put his hands behind his back, poked his head out in the alley, looked at the closed door of the tofu shop, and said indifferently: "Military Master, the gift you mentioned is in there?"

Standing beside him, Hua Xian said leisurely, "That's right, that's a great gift from the Chief Steward to Master Xue."

Xue Poye rubbed his nose and said, "It seems that this gift is really big enough, and I have to use hundreds of Habayashi guards to pick it up...!" His sharp eyes swept around, and around the tofu shop, hundreds of elite The Habayashi guards have quietly approached the tofu shop.

These Habayashi guards are all in the role of ten. In terms of combat power alone, it is like nearly a thousand ordinary soldiers encircling a tofu shop. In today's Kyoto, hundreds of Habayashi guards can be mobilized to deal with a small tofu shop. Xue Poye can do it.

Hua Xian laughed and said, "This is a big fish. If Lord Xue Hou catches it, it must be a marvelous feat. It will greatly enhance his prestige in the court."

A sneer appeared on the corner of Xue Poye's mouth, and he said lightly: "Military Master, you should also tell me what this fish looks like, don't be a small fish or shrimp, it will be tasteless if you catch it... If it is a man-eating shark , I am afraid that my manpower is not enough."

Xue Poye knew very well that Yang Yao's so-called "gift" was not easy to get.

At first, Xue Poye was quite strange, Yang Yao was mysterious, what is this "gift"?

When Hua Xian ordered Xue Poye to bring a team of Habayashi guards to the North Gate to encircle the tofu shop, Xue Poye realized that the gift Yang Yao gave him was the court's imperial convict hiding here?

Xue Poye even thought of Liu Tuo, who is currently wanted by the whole country. After the mutiny, that kid mysteriously disappeared, so he couldn't be hiding here.

Hua Xian said leisurely: "The Habayashi guards are all elite soldiers who count as ten, and these hundreds of feather guards are even more elite soldiers. To deal with those people in the store, although they can't be said to be easy to capture, they are enough."

Xue Poye touched his nose and said in a deep voice, "Who is in there?"

Hua Xian glanced at Xue Poye, saw his sharp eyes, even with a gloomy expression, smiled lightly, and said, "Don't worry, Lord Xue, those are all traitors...!"

"traitor?"

Xue Poye was about to ask again, when he heard a sound of Xiaozhu passing through the air, and it disappeared as soon as it sounded. He knew it was the Habayashi signal, which meant that the Habayashi guards had already occupied a favorable terrain and surrounded the tofu shop. With Poye's order, hundreds of Yulin will rush towards the tofu shop like more than 100 wild wolves.

Hua Xian laughed and said, "Master Xue, you must have heard of the names of Leng Yanyun and Sima Jinglun?"

"Leng Yanyun?" Xue Poye frowned and whispered, "Sima Jinglun?" Startled suddenly, he said coldly, "You mean, Leng Yanyun and Sima Jinglun are in the tofu shop?"

Leng Yanyun is the head of Qinglianzhao War Hall, and Sima Jinglun is the head of the Xing Hall. Together, these two openly opposed the chief rudder Yang Yao within Qinglianzhao, and even sent capable subordinates to sneak into the state capitals of Dachu. Using various methods to control each sub-rudder, the strikers have always been ruthless. When they were in Hangzhou, Xue Poye and other important figures in the Hangzhou sub-rudder almost died at the hands of their subordinates.

Xue Poye used to have a bad impression of Leng Yanyun and Sima Jinglun, and even hated them, but after meeting Hua Xian and Yang Yao, Xue Poye suddenly discovered that the whole Qinglian photo The main arena was in a mess, everyone was sinister and ruthless, they were nothing more than raccoon dogs.

It's just that he never expected that Yang Yao and Hua Xian would do such a thing of betraying their brothers.

Even though the confrontation between the two sides is becoming more and more serious, after all, they are all Qinglianzhao's people. To solve the problem, they must always break up with each other internally, but this time Xue Poye led the Habayashi guards to exterminate Leng Yanyun and others. One person, this is already tantamount to selling Leng Yanyun and others to the imperial court.

Thinking of this, Xue Poye despised Yang Yao and Hua Xian's character to the extreme.

Seeing Hua Xian's pretty face, Xue Poye couldn't help asking; "Military Master, Leng Yanyun and the others are brothers in the association after all, it seems a little too much to use the hand of the court to exterminate them?"

A cold light flashed across Hua Xian's eyes, and he said indifferently: "Leng Yanyun is Qing Lianzhao's rebellion. He has ulterior motives and violated the teachings long ago. The chief helmsman thinks of his past achievements. He did not depose him, which is considered as the most benevolent......!"

Xue Poye sneered in his heart: "To the extent of benevolence and righteousness? I am afraid that he has no ability to dethrone Leng Yanyun?"

"However, Leng Yanyun and his group took the chief rudder's benevolence as cowardice. They pushed forward every step of the way, and even secretly went to various places to persecute the brothers in the rudder. How can such a tiger and wolf heart be tolerated in the world?" Time." Hua Xian said calmly: "This time these guys learned that the chief rudder is in the capital, and they rushed out to the capital, intending to kill the chief rudder... The chief rudder couldn't bear to do anything to them, but They had to get rid of it, so they wanted to give this big gift to Lord Xue, Lord Xue must be very happy to accept it?"

The surroundings of the tofu shop seem to be very peaceful. In the night, the guards of the Habayashi hide their traces very skillfully. There is a small cart passing by on the street, and the old man who pushes the cart is still humming a tune leisurely He couldn't feel that there were hundreds of sharp steel knives hidden around him.

Xue Poye fully understands the tricks of Yang Yao and others.

Saying that you can't bear to do it is naturally a lie. According to Xue Poye's guess, it's not that Yang Yao doesn't do it, but that Yang Yao and his group are obviously not the opponents of Leng Yanyun and others, and their strength is insufficient, so there is no way to kill Leng Yanyun Waiting for others, under such circumstances, Yang Yao naturally thought of Xue Poye, and wanted to use Xue Poye's imperial power to kill people with a knife.

Should this knife come out?

It is true that leaving Leng Yanyun and others behind is definitely a huge disaster, even more threatening than the existence of Yang Yao. Once this opportunity is used to kill them, firstly, this potential threat can be eliminated, and secondly, it can be completed. According to Yang Yao's order, Sanlai can use this success to gain higher prestige in the court. After all, killing the main figures of Qinglianzhao is something that even the Metropolitan Procuratorate has not been able to do. Once successful, it can be said to kill three birds with one stone.

However, Xue Poye faintly felt that in the middle... it seemed that something could be done to obtain greater benefits.

"Military division, are you sure they will be inside?"

Hua Xian said with great certainty: "Leng Yanyun and Sima Jinglun are connected, there are 17 people in total, they are all the elites of the war hall and punishment hall. inside."

Xue Poye said indifferently: "Is the military involved in this operation?"

Hua Xian smiled slightly, and said: "Since it's a gift from the Chief Steward, it's inconvenient for me to participate...!" Looking up at the sky, he said: "Master Xue, it's time to do it."

Xue Poye rubbed his nose, and was about to give an order, when he heard a shout from the tofu shop: "There's a dog!" Called, the two sides actually fought.

……

……

Leng Yanyun is a young man under the age of 30. Contrary to Sima Jinglun's hidden knife in his smile, Leng Yanyun is an extremely indifferent person. He is unsmiling and not handsome, but he belongs to the kind of person you will never forget because His face is too cold, just like his last name, a kind of coldness from the bottom of his bones.

Leng Yanyun started fighting from a small congregation in the battle hall, and within five or six years, she has become a figure who calls the wind and rain in Qinglianzhao's main altar. Yanyun is empty, there are five halls in the main altar, and seven or eight out of ten congregants have already taken refuge in Leng Yanyun's sect. This is certainly related to his talent, but his rewards and punishments have a certain degree, which also played a huge role.

Leng Yanyun is an ambitious person, but in the early days, he just wanted to rely on his own ability to slowly gain the approval of the congregation, and eventually become the chief rudder of Qinglianzhao, if he hadn't accidentally found out that the chief rudder Yang Yao planned A secret conspiracy, he will not openly confront Yang Yao, and establish his own power so early.

Leng Yanyun is an aborigine of Shu, and he is indeed a direct descendant of a certain minister of the Later Shu Kingdom, so he has deep feelings for Qing Lianzhao, an organization that opposes Chu and restores Shu. When he discovered Yang Yao's secret, He was furious from the bottom of his heart, so he had to build up power to attack Yang Yao and make Yang Yao's plan abort.

After nearly two years of fighting openly and secretly, Leng Yanyun has gradually gained the support of the majority of people in the general arena. Even if he is divided in various places, through cruel persecution methods, half or six out of ten are in control.

Of course, he also wanted to build up his prestige slowly and convince others with virtue, but time has not allowed him to have such a luxurious accumulation, so he can only force most of the sub-rules to fight against Yang Yao with a strong method.

Coming to the capital this time, from Leng Yanyun's point of view, it was an appointment.

Although he knew that what Yang Yao said about handing over the token of the chief helmsman to abdicate to Xian was nonsense, but as long as Yang Yao could show up, Leng Yanyun would resolutely go to the appointment. To this day, the things that should be resolved must be settled.

He was not worried that Yang Yao would use the staff of the Kyoto sub-helm to deal with him. After all, there were still many of his own people inside the Kyoto sub-helm. Leng Yanyun was not afraid of showing off her tricks.

Leng Yanyun even discussed with Sima Jinglun that if Yang Yao really had some tricks, on the premise of saving himself, he would immediately kill Yang Yao in the capital.

Although Yang Yao is a martial artist of the Seven Paths, Leng Yanyun and Sima Jinglun have both reached the peak of the Six Paths and broke through the Seventh Path. In addition, there are several dance masters under his command. Once he starts to fight, Yang Yao will obviously suffer Otherwise, it would be impossible for Yang Yao to hide in Tibet for more than half a year, not daring to show his face.

It's just that he never imagined that Yang Yao betrayed them treacherously, told the court of their whereabouts, and even forced Xue Poye to lead the court's most elite Habayashi guards to carry out this killing mission by threatening means.

When the Habayashi guards approached, most of Leng Yanyun's subordinates were asleep, recharging their energy and waiting for the meeting with Yang Yao the next day, and the two subordinates who were guarding outside to detect the wind did not even feel that the danger was coming. Perhaps it was because they never thought that the people in the court would know that they were hiding here, and the second half of the night was a time when people were easily distracted, so they just sat in the corner of the yard boredly, yawning occasionally.

Naturally, Leng Yanyun and Sima Jinglun couldn't fall asleep. They were discussing in low voices what might happen when they meet Yang Yao tomorrow, thinking about how to deal with it when the time comes.

Although the Kyoto sub-helm has its own people, but generally speaking, the Kyoto sub-helm controlled by the elder brother is still in the hands of Yang Yao, and they have to guard against it.

In order not to attract attention, Leng Yanyun's room was not lit, and Sima Jinglun and Sima sat in the dark room, whispering.

"Brother Leng, in your opinion, will Yang Yao really hand over the Sifang Order of the chief rudder this time?" Sima Jinglun said softly, "This guy managed to get it from Han Bangchang in the first place." It is not easy for him to hand over the position of chief helmsman."

Leng Yanyun said calmly: "Since he can take it from Han Bangchang, we can naturally take it from him too."

Sima Jinglun was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Brother Leng, Yang Yao has been away from the main altar for more than half a year, and he seems to be hiding out of fear of us, but I think he may be planning some kind of conspiracy. This time we will meet in the capital." See, is there some trick?"

"Naturally there are tricks." Leng Yanyun said calmly, "But no matter what tricks he uses, I won't be afraid... Hehe, the dignified Qinglianzhao is the chief rudder, and now he is hiding around like a stray dog. For the sake of it, Yang Yao can be regarded as exhausted."

Sima Jinglun shook his head, and said: "As far as I know, Hua Xian is also in the capital right now, these two people together, things must be unusual...Brother Leng, in order to prevent them from cheating, I will go to the appointment tomorrow." Go to the appointment, and you stay still, lest they play tricks."

Leng Yanyun sneered and said: "Brother Sima, I understand what you mean, but I have been fighting with Yang Yao for two years, and I have come and gone in secret, and I will spread out the cards for tomorrow's appointment, and I will no longer play hide-and-seek with him. If he is sensible and hand over the order of the four directions, I think he is a member of the meeting, let him live, otherwise, he will be killed." After a pause, he said confidently: "Don't forget, we brothers, but Even if everyone is a top player, even if they pull all the Kyoto sub-helms over, they may not be our opponents."

Sima Jinglun knew that what Leng Yanyun said was true, so he nodded slightly.

Based on the information they have, the only thing Yang Yao can use in the capital is the capital sub-helm. With the power of the Kyoto sub-helm alone, it will be very difficult to deal with his group of people.

"That's right, brother Sima, is there any news about the whereabouts of Lan Muyan and those people?"

Sima Jinglun sighed: "I really saw a ghost. Lan Muyan led dozens of brothers to pacify Huizhou, Yinzhou and Suzhou successively. After pacifying Suzhou, he sent someone to report to the main rudder. He went to Hangzhou... But since then, there has been no news, no one alive, no dead body... It's really strange."

How did they know that Lan Muyan and his subordinates fought in the Hongyan Pagoda, and the entire army was wiped out. All the corpses were melted by the rotting corpse water, and there were no bones left. Where can they find anyone.

Leng Yanyun was silent for a long time before saying: "It seems that there are not two main hall masters left in the Hangzhou sub-rudder... I heard that since the seventh junior sister was killed, Hangzhou has a new helm master. Do you know the news about this person? "

Sima Jinglun replied: "I also sent people to inquire, but they didn't find out. It seems that only a few hall masters in the Hangzhou branch know who that person is. It is said that Juhuatong and Lianhuatong are dead, and Taohuatong is imprisoned. In Wulan Mountain Villa, there are only lotus and sunflowers left now." After a pause, he said softly: "But these two people seem to have disappeared, and the brother sent to contact the brother who was hiding in the Hangzhou sub-rudder through secret notes, according to his knowledge Said that the whereabouts of Hehuatong and Sunflowertong suddenly disappeared a few months ago, and now all the brothers in the Hangzhou branch are just lurking, and there is no movement."

Leng Yanyun sneered and said, "Could it be Yang Yao who did it behind?"

Su Ma Jinglun was about to speak when he heard a soft voice from outside the door: "Master, this subordinate has something to report."

The two recognized the voice of Fu Sanguaizi. This was their hidden stake buried here. A few years ago, Fu Sanguaizi became Qing Lianzhao's owner. This tofu shop was also a meeting point for them in Kyoto.

Sima Jinglun stepped forward to open the door, put Fu Sanguai in, closed the door gently, and said in a deep voice, "What happened?"

"The dog... the dog is barking!" Fu Sanguaizi said in a panic.

Leng Yanyun said coldly: "What dog is barking?"

Fu Sanguaizi explained softly: "Sun Mazi, who buys roasted seeds and nuts next door, has a dog. He never barks at this time of day, but he barked a few times just now... This is a bit unusual...!"

Leng Yanyun said coldly: "You mean...someone startled the dog?"

"My subordinates don't know either." Fu Sanguaizi said, "But that dog has been here for three or four years, and it has never barked at this time. Today is the first time it has barked."

Sima Jinglun buckled the two iron darts and ordered: "Stealer, tell the brothers to get up...I'll go out and have a look." He went out lightly, leaned against the wall, looked around, and suddenly appeared in the next room. At the corner, a shadow swayed slightly, knowing that he had been ambushed, he loudly reminded, "There is a dog!"

The two iron darts in his hand shot out instantly, hitting the shadow like lightning.

That shadow is naturally the Habayashi guard in ambush, waiting for the general guard to give the order to attack. He was caught off guard by two cold lights, and although he tried his best to avoid one, the other iron dart hit his chest, and there was a sound. Screaming, he fell from the corner of the eaves.