Chang'an: Qinglian Sword Song

Chapter 22
It's hard to imagine that a rough guy like Cheng Yaojin would have such great cooking skills!
In such a short period of time, stir-fried, steamed, stewed, and marinated, such a rich banquet has been prepared, and the texture and taste of each dish are completely different. Compared with this rich experience, Chang'an City Those guys who call themselves chef gods should hang themselves in shame!

He completely forgot his determination not to drink the stolen spring water when he was thirsty.

After he realized it, the dazzling array of banquets in front of him and the rice bucket as tall as half of Li Township beside him were all empty!
Of course, most of them are the credit of Kunlun Mole.

After eating up every single grain of rice without the slightest bit of shame, he sat down satisfied, picked up the dishes and went to do chores.

Li Bai sighed for a while.

In the past, the swordsman who was skilled in swordsmanship and was worth a thousand has been reduced to a ruthless cooking machine.

But looking at him, he seemed to be enjoying it, and he didn't feel wronged at all.From the bottom of my heart, I love this kind of day when I look at the gate every day and do chores so that I can have enough food.

This is too easy to be satisfied.

But when he looked at the table full of dishes that had been swept away, he suddenly felt a sense of peace and steadfastness.

After coming to Chang'an, it was the first time that he was so peaceful and quiet.

This city is too big.

It's too gorgeous and beautiful, and it's dazzling to plunge into it. Everyone is in a hurry, chasing the distant goal, going further and further...

In this way, I gradually forgot the simple life and the appearance of the past.

But now, in Cheng Yaojin's house, Li Bai has a rare sense of relaxation in returning to the wilderness.

What's more, it's an even more bizarre feeling: such a life of eating and exercising every day, eating a big meal after exercising, and finally getting a good night's sleep seems to be a good life? !
Moreover, there is endless wine!

Or, give up your escape plan first, and stay a few more days?
Wait, is this the conspiracy and purpose of Cheng Yaojin!

It is too insidious...

He couldn't help but glared at the guy across the table who was showing off his muscles again.

Then he picked up the jug next to his hand and poured himself a large glass.

Wine is innocent, it will go bad if you don't drink it after opening, it can't be wasted!
To be happy in life is to have fun, don't let the golden cup be empty to the moon!

It's just that when he picked up the wine glass, he couldn't help but look outside the door, on the parasol tree in the courtyard... the scarlet pupil among the dense branches and leaves.

The ominous bird fluttered its black wings and jumped on the branches, but it didn't make a loud scream, instead it seemed to be secretly watching for something.

crow.

Just as he frowned, he saw the drunk Cheng Yaojin pick up a chicken bone from the table and threw it into the night outside the door.

There was only a low and mournful howl, and the crow fell from the branch in embarrassment.

Soon, Cheng Yaojin pulled his neck and lifted it up.

"Hey, I'm so lucky, I'm worried that tonight's supper is too vegetarian—"

He casually tied the crow and shook it in his hand: "Such a lot of meat, making it into old soup must be very nourishing!"

Amidst his triumphant laughter, more crows started up from the branches and flew into the distance in haste.

In the middle of the night, Fangshi stretched out, and the distant lights faintly illuminated the outline of the tower.

Countless crows rose and fell silently, only pairs of scarlet eyes glowed in the darkness, making one shudder.

An old man in a gray robe stood in front of the window, stretched out his hand to catch the birds descending from the night sky, and listened to the obscure calls.

After a long time, he turned around and shook his head at the gloomy man in green shirt behind him.

"Master, he disagrees."

"You can't talk about Ji Xianke?" The man with the sword asked coldly, "Could it be that fifty thousand gold won't buy him?"

The gray-clothed old man shook his head, and after a moment of silence he replied: "He said... the owner of the workshop is the most honored, and if you want him to act, unless you have 20 gold, you can't talk about it."

"20 gold? Do you really think his reputation as the number one swordsman in Chang'an City is worth much?"

The gang leader sneered: "Forget it, since he doesn't give face, then naturally there is no need to say much... What happened to that kid named Li Bai?"

"After being sent to the Cheng Mansion by the owner of Guangdefang, there is no news."

The gray-clothed old man reported: "The crow I arranged was also shot down, and I dare not do more spying."

"...well."

The leader's expression was gloomy, and he pressed the hilt of his sword for a long time: "That guy Cheng Yaojin has many backers behind him, so it's inconvenient for us to do it.

Let that boy Li Bai live in peace for a few days, and he will suffer later.

On the contrary, the group of survivors in Anlefang are getting more and more jumpy, pass the order, let people pay more attention, don't be ruined by a bunch of untouchables. "

"Understand."

Under the dim moonlight, several crows spread their wings and flew away with the sad news.

The next morning, Li Bai woke up from his dream.

Amidst the high-pitched sound of stones rubbing against each other, he seemed to see his dream of getting a good night's sleep spreading its wings and gradually drifting away from him.

He turned over, closed his eyes, and planned to sleep again, but the continuous noise made him sleepless.

Getting up angrily, he pushed open the window.

Sure enough, seeing the shirtless man in the yard holding several huge stone locks and tossing them like toys, the terrifying wind pressure spread.Occasionally, when those stone locks collided in the air, a series of high-pitched sounds that made the scalp tingle.

Each... At least hundreds of catties, right? !

Li Bai was stunned.

"Hahaha, kid finally woke up?"

The stone locks in Cheng Yaojin's hands were piled up in the air like a magic trick, even more exaggerated than ordinary people's height, and they were held in his hands casually.

"You can really sleep, donkeys in Dongshi dare not sleep like you!"

He grinned and urged: "Get up quickly, our happy morning exercise begins!"

"Forget it, this method is not suitable for me!"

Li Bai shook his head crazily in protest: "Too vulgar, and out of manner..."

"Yo huh? Look down on strength training? You can't say that until you beat me!"

"You have the ability to give me the sword!"

Li Bai was furious: "I'll teach you eighteen ways to write a sword right away, do you believe it or not?"

"Hey, that's my trophy."

Cheng Yaojin scratched the beard on his chin, and said without shame: "Besides, how can there be any reason to give someone a handle when you know that your opponent is good at swordsmanship? I'm afraid you are not a fool."

Li Bai felt really stupid.

How did this guy say such shameless words so confidently?

Besides, it was his own weapon, when did it become his trophy?

Just when he was shocked, a swarthy head suddenly lifted up by the window.

"Young man, are you awake?" Kunlun Mole solemnly reminded: "Get up quickly, I will heat your breakfast on the stove for you, there is meat this morning, it will not taste good after a long time."

When he said this, Kunlun Mole was still holding a watering can in his left hand and a small pair of pliers in his right hand.An apron was hanging on his burly body, which was covered with mud and dust. Even though the oversized apron was on him, it was as tight as a bellyband.

Very weird.

"what are you doing?"

Li Bai was at a loss, not knowing what the hell this guy was planning outside his window.

"Weeding and watering the flowers."

Kunlun Mole replied: "No one comes to Cheng's mansion every day, and I am idle, so I asked the master to tidy up the backyard and flower beds in the mansion.

The cabbage you ate yesterday tastes good, right?I planted it myself! "

Speaking of this, he smiled very proudly. Growing delicious cabbage from the bottom of his heart is a very remarkable and honorable thing.

When Li Bai put on his clothes and went out, he saw the flowers around the yard that he ignored.

Just in the stone troughs, flower pots and nurseries, all kinds of flowers are conspicuously blooming.Even though Li Bai traveled all the way, going all over the world, he still has never seen so many kinds of flowers blooming together.

Peony, white orchid, calendula, daisy, peacock grass...

There are also many kinds of flowers that he has never seen before.

There are also flowers blooming brilliantly under the supply of Chang'an's geothermal heat even though the season has passed.

The burly giant was squatting among the flowers, holding pliers that were several sizes smaller than his own palm, carefully cutting off the small miscellaneous branches, and delicately pulling out the weeds from the soil with the thick fingers of the mallet. , peeled off the roots, and planted another tulip from Haidu into the soil to make a new home.

Thanks to the existence of these flowers, the rough and weird style of Cheng Mansion has been softened, from a fighting arena to a home where you can live in peace.

All kinds of colors show a vibrant beauty under the careful care of Kunlun Mole.

Not only here, but also the lotus in the water tank, the creeper on the wall, the camellia and lilac on the tree...

Close your eyes and sniff carefully, just like being in the wild jungle.

"You planted these...?" Li Bai exclaimed.

"correct."

Kunlun Mole scratched the braided hair on his head, as if a little embarrassed: "In the past, my family's flowers were very famous in Chang'an, but unfortunately there is no way to grow them anymore."

He sighed and said nothing more.

I don't want to mention the past too much.

When the rough fingers gently trimmed the branches of the flowers, the faintly sad expression became quiet and gentle, full and enviable.

Fresh as the flowers in full bloom at the moment.

"It's amazing."

Li Bai sighed in admiration: "Can you teach me next time?"

Li Xiang's birthday is coming soon, and Li Bai suddenly has a new idea.

If it's a flower, even if you can't see it, you must be able to smell such a reassuring fragrance, right?
Kunlun Mole smiled honestly: "Okay, but many people find it troublesome, it's a waste of effort, and it will delay your time."

"It's ok."

Li Bai bent down, gently touched the dew on the branches, and smiled: "They are so beautiful, it's not a pity to spend a little time on them."

If it wasn't for the uneasiness and constant anxiety in my heart, it would be a very refreshing thing to stay in Cheng's mansion.

There is wine and meat, and the three meals are exquisite, with a wide variety and no repetition.Apart from always urging Li Bai to exercise with him, this muscular middle-aged man is actually quite talkative.

What's rare is that even when facing a young man like Li Bai, he can be sincere, talk about everything, and never put on airs of a big man, and his behavior style really suits Li Bai's taste.

Apart from not letting him go out, there are almost no shortcomings.

In the early years, he didn't know how many places he had been to. He knew everything from all over the world, but he could always speak clearly about some places that were slightly famous.

Take it with wine, the aftertaste is long.

Moreover, the style of the Great Wall in his mouth is very informative, whether it is the style of the Great Wall or the guards of the Great Wall who Li Bai has been curious about for a long time, he has a deep understanding.

In addition to writing two quite satisfactory poems about going out of the border, Li Bai also began to wonder, did this guy stay there for a few years?

It's just that Cheng Yaojin has never talked about his identity, and his mysterious and secretive appearance makes people very curious.

To be able to purchase such a large house in Xinghuafang, where every inch of land is expensive and where celebrities gather, is really not something that ordinary powerful and powerful people can do.

But since he didn't want to say more, Li Bai didn't bother to ask.

It's just that I have some doubts... the guy who can make friends with that despicable elder on the same level, isn't he also a Fangzhu?
Just in the afternoon, when he was drowsy, he felt the ground shake suddenly.

roar!

Immediately afterwards, countless panicked shouts rang out together with the violent vibration under his feet, causing Li Bai to jump up from his chair, only to see the willow trees in the courtyard shaking violently.

And the solid ground under his feet was shaking like a sampan on the sea.

In the deepest part of the ground, there was a long and mighty roar, and countless huge structures resonated so far, turning into the roar of a giant beast!

Soon, this sudden turmoil ended again.

There is no beginning and no end.

Li Bai looked suspiciously at Cheng Yaojin under the willow tree.

I found that this guy is still drinking afternoon tea with some exquisite snacks!

It is unwavering!
It seems that even if the sky falls and the earth falls, it can't stop him from eating...

"What happened?" he asked. "An earthquake?"

"What are you panicking about? Normal operation."

Cheng Yaojin sipped his tea and waved his hand calmly: "It happens like this every time a new fangshi is born. Other fangshi will be rearranged to make room for the new fangshi to connect. During this process, Chang'an will Unscheduled turmoil…”

"Yu Hengsi and those guys didn't say a word?"

Li Bai couldn't restrain his annoyance when he heard the screams coming from outside.

I don't know how many people were affected by this sudden earthquake. If it was more serious, property damage would be fine, but life might even be injured.

Having been in Chang'an for so long, Li Bai is no longer the dazed outsider he was at the beginning, at least... he still knows the meaning of the name Yu Hengsi.

Maintaining all the public agencies in the entire Chang'an City, governing all the agency divisions in the city, the institutional department that makes practitioners turn their faces when they hear about it.

After bringing together the world's best mechanism divisions and mechanism technology, Yu Hengsi can be said to be the highest authority of mechanism divisions.Among the three divisions, the status is also faintly higher than that of Honglu Temple, which maintains law and order, and Dali Temple, which focuses on major cases.It can be said that it is a behemoth with flawless financial, human, material, military and technical capabilities.

Possessing such great power, yet treating his duties so contemptuously.

Li Bai couldn't imagine what kind of gang it was.

"Hahaha, although Yu Hengsi is a bunch of bastards, you are wronging them too much by saying that." Cheng Yaojin laughed and shook his head: "They want to predict in advance, but they don't know it themselves, and How to tell you?"

Li Bai was stunned.

"What do you mean?"

"Literally... Although the imperial court claims that Yu Hengsi is responsible for maintaining the operation of Chang'an, in fact, the operation of Chang'an has its own rules, and it is not something that Yu Hengsi can interfere with.

At best, those guys are just tools to maintain Chang'an. Do you want to rely on them to correct the operation of Chang'an?Still early! "

In this way, he unscrupulously revealed this secret that should have been sealed behind layers of curtains.

"Since ancient times, the operation of Chang'an has never been fixed, and there has never been a mechanism master who can control such a huge mechanism... In fact, Yu Hengsi has not even figured out the law of its own operation. Comparing historical materials and records, it is only calculated in advance about the birth and fall of Fangshi."

"and many more!"

Li Bai raised his hand, and carefully sorted out his thoughts: "I heard before that there is a huge mechanism under Chang'an. It turns out that it turned itself around from the beginning..."

"correct."

"There are so many mechanism masters in Chang'an, but no one has ever been able to control it?"

"That's right." Cheng Yaojin nodded, and sighed leisurely: "On the other hand, Chang'an is the teacher of all mechanism masters. Up to now, we haven't finished learning what we should learn. I really want to know what it is like." Only the power of God can create such a miracle... Only the legendary gods can do it..."

Li Bai once again felt the power of Chang'an, the most magnificent city of institutions on the mainland: "It is amazing that people and institutions can coexist harmoniously to such an extent!"

He was a little curious: "There are so many people living on top of the functioning mechanism, and they don't know the law of the mechanism's operation. Isn't there any unpredictable danger?"

Cheng Yaojin asked back, "Do you know why the earth can carry all things? Why don't the stars in the sky fall down, why don't the seas submerge the earth? We just don't understand... Chang'an is not such a fragile thing."

As he spoke, he bent down, stroked the ancient city at his feet, and sighed in awe: "It's older than us, and it's also stronger than us.

It has never refused our arrival, on the contrary, like a generous mother, it has continuously endowed us with more wisdom and knowledge.

It has never rejected people, so why should people be afraid of it? "

"..." Li Bai was silent for a long time, and asked curiously, "But, is it really conscious?"

"who knows."

Cheng Yaojin leaned on the rocking chair, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes comfortably: "I don't care, because I like it."

like.

These two words are stronger than any reason.

Li Bai was deeply admired.

This guy can always make some absurd things seem like the truth, but sometimes, Li Bai would feel that if he could look at the whole world from his perspective...

This world will definitely be much more exciting and happy, right?

The only flaw is that it may often be regarded as convulsions...

It is really incomprehensible.

Li Bai looked at him for a long time, shook his head helplessly, and lay back on the chair.

Close your eyes and sigh silently.

Compared with Cheng Yaojin who loves this city so frankly, Lu Gong who protects the lives and peace of countless survivors, and Xun Qing who is now running for it...

But I was imprisoned in this protective cage, doing nothing...

(End of this chapter)