Chang'an: Qinglian Sword Song

Chapter 3 Chapter [-] Blood and organs

Chang'an, the city of thousands of cities, the pearl of the earth, the city of organs, the city of miracles...

Before coming here, Li Bai had heard about it countless times. Some people said it was the most beautiful place in the world, while others said it was hell.

But even though he had already made all kinds of fantasies, what he saw still made him dizzy.

Whether it's the street in front of you, the buildings next to it, or the floating lights above your head, or even the countless flower boats and chariots, or even the entire city...it's all made up of institutions!
Seeing the luxurious mechanism carriages passing by, Li Bai almost couldn't hold back, and wanted to pull out the parts from a mechanism elephant that was transported by a mechanism master... Thanks to Xun Qing's sharp eyes, he rushed up and hugged it. Arm, otherwise they will visit Yu Hengsi after entering Dali Temple today!

"It's really all done by agencies?"

"Of course."

Xun Qing dragged him forward and explained: "Chang'an is composed of various squares and cities, and each square city is built by institutions. The whole of Chang'an is actually a whole institution. It's like a huge mechanical clock.

Although the daily changes are very small, over time, every year, all the squares and cities will circle around the Weiyang Palace at the highest point, isn't it amazing? "

Accompanied by his words, under the light in the distance, the bell tower as tall as a giant pillar made a low voice and began to tell the time.

On the surface, the huge pointer moves slowly.

The earth is slowly rotating.

Just like being in the sea, it makes people feel unrealistic and illusory.

"Then you won't get lost?"

"The changes of the square city are regular, so you can't remember it. Besides, the square city has a map... Each square city is jointly managed by the square owner and the organist, and has different characteristics. For example, the Chongren Square we just passed is The place with the largest number of organ division workshops in the whole city produces all kinds of things. Qujiang Fang has a prosperous literary style, Qushui flows, and there are grand gatherings of organs fighting poetry almost every day. Pingkang Fang is most famous for its puppet singing and dancing. Divas are said to be more beautiful than real people..."

As soon as he talked about the characteristics of Chang'an, Xun Qing couldn't stop with joy.

"Where are we going next?"

"Of course Changlefang!"

Xun Qing swallowed, "All delicacies and wines in the world can be found in Changlefang. As long as you have money, there is nothing you can't eat in Changlefang, and there is no wine you can't drink!"

"Oh oh oh oh!!!"

Li Bai's eyes lit up instantly, and his speed increased, almost pulling Xun Qing to run wildly: "Let's go!"

I can no longer see the calmness and calmness just now.

Only at this time is it like a teenager.

"You guy, how strange..." Xun Qing was out of breath, and sighed in bewilderment: "I heard that some swordsmen, in order to pursue the stability of their palms and the speed of drawing their swords, don't even drink alcohol. "

"Maybe the others are like that?"

Li Bai raised his head, raised the rough long sword at his waist, and smiled triumphantly: "But I won't!"

Xun Qing was speechless.

Maybe alcohol won't affect your speed of drawing your sword, but if you drink too much, it will affect your speed of sudden death, my friend... Is this guy okay?
"Speaking of which, what do you rely on to operate these mechanisms?" Li Bai looked around at the huge mechanisms that were raised and lowered, and asked, "Water power? Wind power?"

Xun Qing raised his hand, and a small mechanical spider crawled out from his sleeve. In his hand, he turned over on his own initiative, and the shell of his abdomen opened, revealing the complicated structure inside and a pearl. Complex creations of size.

"Look at this, organ core."

He said, "This is the brain and source of power of the organ beast."

"Can such a small one support Fangshi?"

"Of course it's impossible. This is just a small one. I don't know how many years it takes to build one of those super-large mechanism cores. The power comes directly from Chang'an itself." Xun Qing said with fascination, "Every time a new Fangshi mechanism core is born , all represent the emergence of a brand new city. If I have the opportunity, I really want to see it."

"According to what you said, the organ master is the person who manages, makes and manipulates the organ?"

"Well, almost."

Xun Qing sighed and nodded, "You haven't heard of it?"

"Ah, I've seen quite a few of them before, but everyone looks arrogant and doesn't speak human words. Looking at others is like looking at second-class people, and they can't speak at all."

Li Bai shook his head: "They are all a group of guys with their eyes above the top, and they don't bother to talk to each other."

"Oh, those aristocratic mechanics?" Xun Qing understood: "They are all the same. But besides the nobles, there are other civilians who are also engaged in this industry. Although everyone is not doing well, they are poor after all. .”

Li Bai turned around, looked at him carefully for a long time, and nodded in agreement: "...well, that's right."

Hey, why don't you refute this for me!
Before Xun Qing had time to be sad and angry, he heard Li Bai's next words.

"The one you sneaked into your pocket before, is it an organ core?"

Xun Qing's movements froze for a moment, becoming stiff, and his face gradually turned pale.

"You... have you seen it?"

"You made such a big move, of course I saw it." Li Bai comforted, "Don't worry, I won't talk nonsense."

Just before getting off the boat, Xun Qing quietly picked up something from the ground while bending down, which seemed to be something secretly transported by those smugglers...

A fist-sized glazed orb.

Speaking of this, Xun Qing muttered for a long time, then became depressed, and took out his stolen goods from his pocket to show Li Bai.

But when he really compared it with the agency, Li Bai discovered the difference between the two.

Although the small mechanism core of the mechanism spider is not as big as this one, it is shining brightly, as if it can breathe.But this one was dull, even a little muddy.

"At first I thought I picked up a big bargain, but I was so happy when I saw it." Xun Qing sighed: "This thing has been broken and completely scrapped."

"When encountering such a thing, it is worth celebrating to be able to save one's life. Do you still want to make a fortune?"

Li Bai shook his head, he had a new understanding of this guy's stingy nature, and was about to say something, but his footsteps stopped suddenly.

He looked into the alley next to him.

"what is that?"

In a place out of the light, the children curled up in the corner of the alley, unkempt, stared at the pedestrians outside the alley.

The broken bowl in front of him was empty.

Occasionally, when patrollers pass by, they will yell loudly and tell the group of stinky beggars to get away.

Li Bai reached into his arms, but just as he grabbed the purse, Xun Qing stopped him.

"Don't give money..."

When Li Bai frowned, he saw Xun Qing's helpless expression.

"Those children are controlled by bullies, and they will be robbed if they ask for a little money."

He said, "Leave it to me."

After finishing speaking, he walked to the nearby vendor, picked out a few pancakes and two bowls of worthless offal hot soup, put them in front of the children, turned around, and patted the crumbs on his hands.

"Let's go." Xun Qing said.

But after walking two steps, he noticed Li Bai's strange eyes next to him: "What's wrong with you?"

"I see."

Li Bai smiled delicately: "Didn't you say you won't give money? What did you put under the bowls for those children just now?"

Xun Qing was stunned for a moment, feeling embarrassed to be exposed, so he could only speed up and walk to the front.He replied angrily, "It's none of your business! Why, is this a lie?"

"Hahaha, you guys really like to say one thing with your mouth and do another thing with your hands."

Li Bai put his arms around his shoulders, whistled, and laughed loudly: "But this time, I'll just pretend I didn't see it, let's go, let me buy you a drink! Let's have a glass of wine before your death, why do you need a thousand years of fame after you?"

"Huh? You guy, you can also write poetry?"

Xun Qing felt that he had discovered a new world, and couldn't believe it, "It's still well written?"

"What kind of poem is this?"

Li Bai shook his head indifferently, "It's just normal."

Just, it looks awesome.

He shook his head slightly, and sighed silently: This superficial thing cannot be compared with something truly beautiful and powerful.

So is poetry, so is sword.

Obviously there is still room for further progress.

But what was frustrating was that no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't overcome this invisible barrier.No matter how many ways he has traveled and tried...

to the limit.

Li Bai sighed, and soon, the gloom disappeared.

"Let's go, drink and drink! It's rare to come to Chang'an once, at least you have to drink enough!"

He hugged Xun Qing happily, and strode towards the colorful city whirlpool.

"Chang'an, Meijiu, I'm coming!"

In the beginning, everything was crystal clear.

But soon, under the fertilization of fine wine, everything becomes dazzling, the whole world seems to dance happily around, and funny double images appear on everyone's body.

Everything seems to be getting cute.

First, I went to the Deyi Building for supper. The dishes were four cold and four hot, two soups at ten o'clock. After paying the bill, I went to the Chunfeng Building next door to buy all the cinnabar wine that arrived this month. After drinking half of it, I beat up the thief who stole the purse It seems that I accidentally spilled half of it again.

Later, I beat up a few thieves who stole leather bags. When I arrived at Pingkangfang, after eating two bowls of noodles, I went to another rice wine shop to drink pot of immortals...

It's as if all the fine wines in the world are here.

Before I knew it, I became drunk and sleepy.

As for that guy Xun Qing, he was patting his chest to make sure he was fine, but he collapsed completely after drinking half of it.

Li Bai carried him to guide the way.

"You guy, are you really a tour guide?"

Just after all the restaurants were closed, Li Bai walked on the desolate road with Xun Qing's arm on his shoulders, looking around in a daze: "Have we come back after another detour?"

"It's okay, trust me! I'm familiar with Pingkangfang, turn right ahead and you'll arrive at the inn..."

"Hey, we weren't in Pingkangfang two hours ago!"

"Impossible! Let me see..."

Xun Qing hiccupped, raised his head and looked blankly for a long time, but couldn't see anything clearly, so he dragged Li Bai, "Go ahead, I'll take a look at the road signs."

But Li Bai didn't move, he still stood where he was.

The originally thin and light body is now as hard as iron.

Under the icy moonlight, his eyes fell into the darkness at the end of the street, and gradually became colder: "Hey, Xun Qing, do you have any enemies?"

"The enemy? What enemy? Do you look down on me?"

Xun Qing was at a loss, and immediately became furious: "I, Xun Qing, have always been bullied by others. How can I have the opportunity to bully others?"

"...I've said it all, if you can't drink it, don't drink too much."

Li Bai sighed, pulled up the drunk man's collar, and threw it behind him.

Look forward.

Under the pale moonlight, a strange man wearing a bamboo hat stood at the end of the street. In the gap of the kerchief covering his face, only a pair of bloodshot pupils looked at the two people walking across.

In his hands, he was pulling a disheveled child with a welt on his face, and the dried blood formed a tear-like scar.

That face seemed familiar.

Li Bai was taken aback for a moment.

That little beggar...

"It's the two of them, right?" the masked man asked coldly.

The child trembled in horror, and nodded slightly.

Tearing up.

Meeting at night, unfamiliar environment, unknown opponents, even the number is not clear.

worst case.

Moreover, the other party still has hostages in hand, and on his side, there is also a drunken oil bottle.

Should you run away?
But with Xun Qing, I'm afraid I can't run far, let alone...

He looked at the frightened and trembling child in the opponent's hand.

Abandoned the idea.

"Hey, no matter what you come to me for, there's no need to bully a child, right?" Li Bai pressed his sword, his voice gradually turned cold: "Or do you only want to show off in front of children?"

The masked man laughed hoarsely, and didn't even say anything.

But just behind Li Bai, in the shadows, suddenly a silhouette that had been hidden for a long time emerged, protruding from the moonlight!
Ten steps away, the long knife in the sheath screamed hungrily.

The long distance was leaped, and the sharp blade flew out of the sheath, and with a piercing beep, it slashed at Li Bai's head.

The blade and the blade collided in one place.

Li Bai took a step back, but heard the child's scream not far away.

Immediately, his back felt chilly, and he could only see a strange shadow emerging from the moonlight under his feet, and pounced straight towards him, with a dark green light glowing on the blackened dagger.

One light and one dark, double sneak attack!

The sound of iron and steel screaming was like a crane's jittering, rising suddenly. For a moment, it was difficult to distinguish how many high-pitched voices overlapped in one place.

The ice-like rays of light criss-crossed from the air, splitting the heavy steel, and the two attackers flew upside down.Li Bai stepped on the attacker's head and flew up towards the masked man...

The pupils of the masked man were still indifferent, as if he were laughing.

Immediately afterwards, there was a tingling sound.

It was the low hum of a bowstring tightening.

from the dark.

The arrow pierced through the air, not towards Li Bai, but towards what was behind him...

"Xun Qing!"

Li Bai suddenly turned his head and looked at the drunken hapless ghost on the ground.

Xun Qing seemed to be frightened, dazed, watching the iron light rush towards his face, but in the distance, the long sword in Li Bai's hand had already been thrown out of his hand.

First come first!

Cut off the sneak attacking arrow from the middle, the blade brushed against Xun Qing's face, wedged into the stone, buzzing.

It was only now that Xun Qing had time to let out a scream.

But immediately after, the masked man lifted his palm hidden behind the cloak, held a heavy steel crossbow, and pointed it at the unarmed Li Bai in front of him.

aim.

But then, his arm holding the crossbow suddenly shook, and he lost his target.

Beside him, the little beggar who was caught suddenly jumped up like crazy, grabbed his arm, and pulled it vigorously.

But that body was too weak and too thin, and it couldn't compete with the strength of the masked man at all, and instead aroused his anger.

"Bastard, let go!" the masked man yelled angrily, and punched him in the face, making the child stagger.

"Be careful!" The child turned around and shouted hard at him: "Run, they...they still..."

But during this brief stalemate, there was a sudden muffled sound.

Snapped!
On the masked man's arm, the child stiffened for a moment, lowered his head dully, and saw the scarlet spreading from his chest, and the arrows that could penetrate the armor pierced through the body, making him powerless.

It fell to the ground like a dead leaf...

In the dead silence, Li Bai stared blankly at the pervasive scarlet, as if he even forgot to take back his sword.

It's unbelievable to see all this.

Incomprehensible.

Why is there such a ridiculous thing happening in this world.

"You...killed him?" Li Bai asked hoarsely.

"You're next to fuck!"

The pupils of the masked man were scarlet, and he had raised the heavy steel crossbow again.

want to aim.

But at that moment, he found that Li Bai had disappeared in place without a trace.Immediately afterwards, there was a shadow, blowing towards the face!

In an instant, those pupils filled with anger were within reach!
Crane chirping sounded.

The long sword wedged into the iron stone seemed to have a spirit, broke free from the shackles, flew into Li Bai's hands, and slashed down with his arms!
The iron light flashed, and in an instant, his arm was cut off, and with the steel crossbow in his hand, countless parts flew out of it and landed together with the blood.

The masked man groaned hoarsely in pain, but pulled out a short knife from behind with his left hand and stabbed Li Bai's throat.But in the next moment, the dagger, together with his arm, left his body.

Then, he saw that Li Bai's clenched fist quickly enlarged in front of his eyes!

With the muffled sound of bone shattering, he flew upside down, hit the wall, and slowly slid down.

But before he got up, a sword blade slashed across his face, tearing off the camouflage covering his face, revealing the ugly face that had been completely torn by the scar long ago.

The icy sword edge swirled, clinging to his neck, piercing into the stone.

"do not move!"

Li Bai lowered his eyes, suppressing the killing intent surging in his heart, and warned hoarsely: "This is for your own good, don't provoke me anymore—tell me, who are you and what are you going to do..."

On the ground, the blood-vomiting murderer grinned, as if he wanted to speak, but when he opened his mouth, thick white foam spewed out of his mouth, together with pieces of internal organs and blood.

The smile became so ferocious.

"You won't know, Li Bai, hehe, you don't even know who you offended." He took one last look at Li Bai, and smiled sharply: "You are dead... you are dead..."

Amid the high-pitched and mocking laughter, the scarfaced attacker suddenly twitched and lost his breath.

In the dead silence, Li Bai froze in place.

For a long time, for a long time.

When he finally came back to his senses, he looked behind him, at the messy street, and Xun Qing who was prostrate on the ground.

"What are you still doing in a daze? Come and help, he...he..."

Xun Qing was holding the child's body, shouting something vigorously, as if trying to wake him up.

He stretched out his hand, trying to cover the child's wound, but no matter how much he blocked it with his palm, no matter how many sackcloths blocked it, the blood still gushed out continuously.

In the end, his voice became lower and lower, and he could no longer feel the warmth in his arms.

Xun Qing raised his head and looked at Li Bai dully.

His lips moved, and the blood gradually faded away.

"he died."

Li Bai closed his eyes.

In the distance, the city was silent, and the cold wind blew in those dark and narrow alleys, making a muffled sound.

It's like laughing.

For the first time, this huge city showed its ferocious mockery to those who came in front of it.

(End of this chapter)