Chang'an: Qinglian Sword Song

Chapter 7

After working all night, Li Bai slept until dusk before waking up.

I just felt my stomach growling. Fortunately, there were freshly baked soup cakes and Biluo sold at the entrance of the alley, and for Xun Qing's sake, I sent a bowl of hot fish soup.

"Speaking of which, where is Yunjian Building?"

When he was full, Li Bai finally remembered the business and asked back.

"One of the largest gold-selling caves in Changlefang, a place where rich people want extravagance. It is said that as long as you are willing to spend money, there is nothing you can't enjoy. I don't know how much it is. After all, you seem to be able to go there. Can you afford someone from anywhere?"

Xun Qing snorted coldly, "There is no one who enters the door with ten taels of silver as a reward, even the door welcome looks down on you."

"So exaggerated?" Li Bai held the empty bowl in a daze for a long time, and felt Xun Qing's repulsion and resistance: "Why? People there have enmity with you?"

"Having a grudge is not a big deal, maybe people don't know me at all..." Xun Qing shook his head unhappily, "It's just that I can't get used to it. That kind of scum who makes people's money will be punished sooner or later!"

"Good scolding!" The busy stall owner interrupted, full of disdain and disgust: "Ji Xian, that bastard who lost his children and grandchildren, will die!"

As he spoke, his hands kept moving, and he filled two more bowls for the new guests.

The stall owner's scolding caused ripples in the crowd, and the voice of contempt was endless, which made Li Bai a little stunned. It was the first time he had seen such an angry guy.

"What does he do?" Li Bai asked, "Why is it so annoying?"

"Hey, he is now a well-known wealthy businessman in Chang'an City, how could he have anything to do with our group of Anlefang adherents who don't even have a registered permanent residence?"

The middle-aged man eating noodles next to him sneered, shook his head, and said nothing more.

Xun Qing's expression was complicated, and he sighed.

Li Bai thought carefully for a long time, but found that there was no such place as Anlefang in the Fangshi he knew.

"Don't think about it, Anlefang disappeared 15 years ago." Xun Qing shook his head and put down his chopsticks, "Now there are only homeless survivors like us."

"there is none left?"

Li Bai looked around, the huge city was still in operation, and countless organs formed part of this huge city, how could such a big thing just disappear and disappear.

"Things like organs have a lifespan, Li Bai." Xun Qing sighed softly: "The same goes for Fangshi... It's just that some can die, and some may not be so lucky."

"Once the lifespan of the Fangshi is about to end, Yu Hengsi's official organist will gradually move the Fangshi to the periphery of Chang'an, start stripping and decentralizing it, and finally sink below Chang'an, turning it into an empty abandoned workshop."

Xun Qing paused for a moment, and murmured darkly: "But sometimes, the square city will be damaged due to accidents."

If we trace back upwards, it is the disaster that shook the entire Chang'an 15 years ago.

It does not exist in the records of texts and archives, but is only a word-of-mouth accident between those who experienced it first-hand and those who came later——[The Great Crash].

Anlefang 15 years ago, a thriving market in Chang'an City, should have had a long time of more than [-] years.

But suddenly, it was discovered that the core was severely damaged, and only a short night of life was left.

It was a shocking change.

Before dawn, countless people escaped in embarrassment, and were displaced because of this, and more people fell into the underground world together with the broken square city.

After losing everything, he became a homeless remnant.It would be fine if they were wealthy or skilled, but more people could only be forced to wander between various cities and towns, struggling to find new shelters.

But Chang'an City is so big, every inch of land is fully occupied, how can there be so many places to accommodate these displaced people?
"I was a four-year-old child at that time, my parents and sister were gone, and I was begging for food alone..." Xun Qing shook his head and sighed softly: "If there is no teacher, I am afraid I would have starved to death."

Hearing Xun Qing's words, the expressions of the people around him also darkened.

Remembering the pain of the past.

Even after so many years, the wounds in many people's hearts still cannot heal.Family, possessions, lives... There are many people who have lost everything and nothing.

"That ungrateful bastard Ji Xian made his fortune like this!"

Someone said bitterly: "Back then, the old Fangzhu saw him as a demon, so he took him in kindly, but unexpectedly, he raised a white-eyed wolf!"

Sometimes, the morals of the world are so absurd. When countless people are in grief, there are still some people who can laugh out loud and base their happiness on the pain of others.

It's like Ji Xian, the owner behind Yunjianlou.

When the Great Crash happened, he was the first to react. The first thing he did was not to rescue the victims, but how to use these dead people to make a fortune.

By colluding with a group of rangers and thugs, he began to resell the remains of Fangshi, dismantling many organs from Anlefang and selling them into the ghost market.

For this reason, I don't know how many victims' families were destroyed.

But relying on this transformation, he changed from a tramp to a rich man in Chang'an City.

So many people are still sinking in the sea of ​​suffering, but he is able to step on other people's bones to travel thousands of miles... If there were no people like him who fell into trouble, how could there be so much suffering?
None of the survivors of Anlefang didn't hate Ji Xian, and even some victims who were forced to ruin their homes by him wanted to die with him, but they were all dealt with by the bodyguards beside him.

"If it's about him, it's going to be troublesome."

When the two returned to the workshop, Xun Qing reminded in a low voice: "That guy is like a tortoise, he hides tightly and won't show his flaws easily."

"If you just sit and wait, there won't be dinner in the sky."

Li Bai held a grass root that he didn't know where he found it, and after pondering for a while, he suddenly said: "We must take the initiative to attack."

He asked, "Where is Yunjian Building?"

"Are you crazy?" Xun Qing lost his voice in shock: "If he did it, he must be on guard against us now, as soon as we enter the Yunjian Building, he will be played by him in the applause. Isn't he in charge?"

Li Bai raised his eyebrows and smiled slightly: "Who said we have to enter through the main entrance?"

"You give up."

Xun Qing began to pour cold water: "The security of Yunjian Building at [-] o'clock has never been interrupted. There are more than six swordsmen guarding each floor, and there are four teams patrolling inside, and there are mechanism divisions in charge, not to mention going there to play. The bodyguards brought by the dignitaries are simply impenetrable, so don’t dream of sneaking in.”

"...How do you know so clearly?"

Li Bai was stunned for a long time, not because he was shocked by the strict guards in Yunjian Building, but because he was surprised that Xun Qing knew this well!
"..."

Xun Qing suddenly looked away in embarrassment.

Who didn't have the dream of being a hero when he was young?

"Is there really no room to sneak in?" Li Bai was dubious.

"Not at all!" Xun Qing shook his head decisively.

"Then we'll go in openly!"

Li Bai patted the table without thinking.

"Hey, don't come and deliver food!" Xun Qing trembled for a moment, thinking of the bad deeds of this guy who dragged him into the den of thieves, suddenly there was a sign of uneasiness in his heart.

"It's just that you seem to need to... make a little change."

Li Bai squeezed his chin, looked at his face, walked around him several times, the smile on his face made Xun Qing more uneasy.

Xun Qing shrank back a little in panic.

There is a bad feeling.

When Xun Qing saw what Li Bai took out from his arms, his vision went dark.

But it's too late.

When he was about to run away, Li Bai had already pressed him on the chair, binding his hands and legs.

"After thinking about it, this is probably the only way."

Li Bai opened the ink cartridge in his hand, picked up the brush, and sighed melancholy: "For everyone, I have wronged you, Xun Qing."

"help!"

Xun Qing cried out in shock: "Don't come here!!!"

Just like that, the terrified face was covered in darkness.

Two hours later, in Changle Square, under the feasting night, crowds came and went.

At the intersection, a blond-haired and blue-eyed man violently pulled the servants behind him, attracting many people's curious eyes, but it's a pity that no righteous man jumped out to help, which is very regrettable.

The dark-skinned, curly-haired little Kunlun slave had tears in his eyes and looked pitiful. He was dressed in commoner clothes and shivering in the cold wind. It seemed that he had suffered a lot in his daily life.

"Don't forget the background you said before—"

The man walking in front held his head high and said in a low voice, "My name is White Lee, and you are my servant, named Zhuyeqing. We are wealthy businessmen from Haidu, the ones who are not short of money. Remember to pretend to be a bit... Also, can you lift your head up? It's not for you to dress up as a woman..."

"Why are you the master and I'm the slave!" Xun Qing was about to cry angrily: "Also, what the hell is Zhuyeqing! Is there really anyone in Haidu with this name!"

"How about telling you to burn the knife?"

"Can't you start with a name other than wine!"

"Shh!"

Li Bai interrupted him in a low voice: "It's almost here!"

During the conversation, they actually came under the resplendent high-rise building. Under the illumination of countless lights, countless luxurious machinery and carriages came and went, and the gatekeepers at the bottom of the steps warmly greeted and saw them off.

Noticing the two walking up swaggeringly, someone immediately walked up quickly.

Behind Li Bai, Xun Qing held his breath, sweating profusely.

When he thought that if he was found out, not only his own life would be in danger, but even half of his life's reputation would be in vain, he couldn't help feeling sad.

If Lord Daoxuan knew that he was beaten to death in front of the Yunjian Building disguised as a Kunlun slave, he might even have his own grave torn down angrily... And he would become the most powerful master of Yuheng Division's "Top Ten Mechanisms" this year. A strong contender for 'How Stupid'.

Thinking of this, Xun Qing burst into tears and choked speechlessly.

But this trembling look was even more eye-catching. Menying looked over suspiciously, wondering why everyone was smiling when they came here, but one guy had a mournful face.

He even looked suspiciously at Li Bai.

Don't you come here to find trouble?
He coughed a bit, and prepared his words: "This guest..."

Snapped!
Before he finished speaking, Li Bai took out two gold tickets from his pocket and threw them over: "Lead the way."

"Uh, this expensive..."

Men Ying was stunned for a moment, but before he could react, he was about to say something when he saw Li Bai pull out two gold tickets from his pocket and threw them on his face.

"Stop talking nonsense."

Li Bai took out a thick stack of gold tickets from his pocket, slapped them in his hands, and urged in a cold voice, "Lead the way!"

Not only the door greeter, but even Xun Qing behind him was dumbfounded. He had never seen anyone with so many gold tickets on him!
Aren't you afraid of being robbed?
If you lose one, you will suffer from angina!
But the simplest and crudest method is often the most useful.

Even though Xun Qing knew Li Bai's true face well, he couldn't help but feel that what he saw in front of him was a embroidered straw bag with a lot of eyes and a lot of money...

Holding the golden ticket, Men Ying had already put Xun Qing's strange situation behind him.

He originally wanted to say that a real man doesn't eat the food that comes from the cheap, 30 years in the east of the river and 30 years in the west of the river...but he gave too much!

He only hoped that the more humiliation he would suffer, the better!
"This way please, sir!"

Overjoyed, he led the way in front, and sang with a high voice: "You two honored guests! Your seat in the private room! Master, this way, this way...be careful not to bump into it."

Just like that, with a flattering smile on his face, he opened the door for them.

Bright golden light illuminated their eyes.

The lights in Yunjian Building are brilliant.

Numerous huge bronze mirrors are erected and hung in the high hall, reflecting the lights and clouds, making people dazzled.

With the beautiful smile coming from the ear, the slender white arms under the neon clothes and feathers and the smiling face decorated with flowers and flowers, it is like being in the heaven among the clouds.

Blowing by the warm wind with the fragrance of agarwood, one is three points drunk before drinking.

What you see and hear is like the bliss of the world.

It's a pity...it's too bloated, and too exaggerated.

Totally tasteless.

Does anyone think that the more valuable things are piled up, the better it will look?It's almost like seeing a big fat man covered in gold and silver, every place is full of money words, which is very disgusting.

Li Bai shook his head unhappily, and when he looked back, he found that Xun Qing was looking around, with a silly smile on his face, and he was about to lose his footing.

You should give me a little confidence!

Quietly kicking this guy finally made him sober up a bit.

"It's just entered the door." Li Bai reminded in a low voice: "Remember to remember the layout, and don't forget what we are here for."

He said, "Calm down."

Xun Qing called the police when he heard the words, and quickly raised his hand to wipe the drool from the corner of his mouth, but the look of the country bumpkin who was looking left and right remained unchanged.

But Li Bai walked in front, followed the door, shuttled between the complicated corridors and halls, carefully looking for his destination.

But when he was going upstairs, Li Bai heard the faint noise from the sound of silk and bamboo, shouting and cursing.Between cursing and rushing, he could only see a staggering figure from the end of the corridor.

It seems to be a teenager.

But soon, the door was closed, and the pleading voice could no longer be heard.

"What's going on?" Li Bai frowned.

"No, it's nothing, I'm just dealing with an ignorant servant." Menying squeezed out a flattering smile, and rolled up the beaded curtain for them: "Please, please, please, don't disturb Yaxing because of these lowly things. "

But at that moment, Li Bai heard Xun Qing's confused murmur behind him.

"... Ah Xiang?"

"You know him?" he asked in a low voice.

"No, I probably read it wrong..." Xun Qing looked a little uneasy, and forced a smile.

But soon, the smile froze slightly on his face.

musk.

Because of the faint musky smell.

If you don't pay attention to it deliberately, it is almost impossible to distinguish this tiny wisp from the countless fragrant incense in the entire Yunjianlou.But it was followed by a warm laugh.

Make him so 'familiar'!
"Your guest is here, welcome."

Someone laughed and went down from the top of the stairs.With a graceful bearing, the finely woven gold thread on the Chinese dress shimmered faintly under the candlelight.

Surrender to the high-rollers who are coming today.

I don't know if it's because of lack of sleep, but that dignified and upright face is faintly pale, but the pupils are erect, like a beast.

Demon.

It's a hybrid monster.

"Ji Xian..."

Li Bai heard Xun Qing's voice squeezed out between his teeth.

Then, as he approached, he gradually smelled more and more rich musk... It was too rich, and it was completely inferior among the group of fragrances that advocate elegance and indifference.

But make no mistake, that is indeed expensive and money priced.

"I heard that there are distinguished guests visiting today, so hurry up and see me."

Ji Xian laughed warmly, full of enthusiasm and earnestness, cupped his hands and said: "Please come upstairs, please come upstairs, honored guests come to visit, it really makes the Yunjianlou flourish, and there will be fine wine, singing and dancing as soon as you come. Please don't be rude."

Li Bai didn't speak.

Just looked at him silently, his smile.

I can't understand why this person is obviously smiling, but he can't feel any real happiness from that face.

Like a mask covered in mold.

It's just fluff.

lie.

He is lying.

In the short silence, Ji Xian was stared at by those eyes, and his smile froze for a moment. Just as he was about to say something, the guest in front of him had already stepped forward and passed him by.

Only indifferent words remained.

"I will."

Ji Xian stood where he was, smiling as he watched the distinguished guest and his servants go up the stairs and disappeared behind the corner, his smile gradually dissipated.

He just turned around and looked at the followers behind him.

"Send someone to keep an eye on that guy, don't take him to the gambling house. If he's here to spend money, keep all the money, and if he's here to make trouble, don't leave."

He paused for a moment, and ordered in a cold voice: "Also, before Mr. Antler comes, finish all the following matters, and don't leave any traces, you understand?"

The attendant nodded, and the chill in his eyes flashed.

Soon, enthusiastic laughter sounded again, and he took the initiative to meet the luxurious mechanism carriage at the gate again.

"It turned out to be Mr. Boqing coming here. I am sorry for the inconvenience."

In this way, in the welcoming and sending off, the sound of silk and bamboo and singing and dancing unfolded again.

The night is getting thicker and thicker.

(End of this chapter)