Anthology of Gu Long: End of the World, Bright Moon, Knife

Chapter 14 Peacock Villa (1)
The human face is itself a mask, a mask that can change with the environment and mood.

——Who can see the secret hidden in his heart from someone else's face?
——What kind of mask can be more delicate and wonderful than a human face?

The more noble the status and the higher the status of the person, the mask they wear on their face is often more difficult to see through.

When Ming Yuexin saw Qiu Shuiqing, she asked herself in her heart: "What kind of mask is he wearing on his face?"

No matter what kind of mask it was, it was always a pleasure for the owner of Peacock Villa to come out to greet them in person.

Splendid and beautiful Peacock Ling, splendid and beautiful Peacock Villa.

The emerald-green tiles shone like emeralds in the setting sun, and the white stone steps were as beautiful as white jade, passing through the high gold-like walls. This place seemed to be completely made of gold, jewels and jade.

Under the cherry trees in the garden, there are several peacocks wandering, and there are mandarin ducks floating in the pool.

A few girls in colorful clothes quietly stepped across the soft grass, disappeared into the depths of the flower forest, and disappeared into this colorful garden.

There is an intoxicating fragrance in the wind, as if someone is playing a flute in the distance, and the world is full of peace and tranquility.

The three main gates inside and outside the village are all open, and there is no guarding gate in sight.

Qiu Shuiqing was standing on the long white jade steps in front of the door, looking at Fu Hongxue quietly.

He is a very conservative person, he is very conservative in his words and deeds, even if he is happy in his heart, he will never show it.

Seeing Fu Hongxue, he just smiled lightly and said, "I didn't expect you to come, but you came just in time!"

Fu Hongxue said, "Why exactly?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "There are still guests here tonight, and it happens that they are not vulgar visitors."

Fu Hongxue said, "Who is it?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Gong Ziyu."

Fu Hongxue closed his mouth, his face was completely expressionless, and Ming Yuexin unexpectedly remained calm.

Qiu Shuiqing looked at her, then at Yan Nanfei who was being carried in: "Are they your friends?"

Fu Hongxue didn't admit it, nor did he deny it—are they friends or foes?Even they themselves couldn't tell the difference.

Qiu Shuiqing didn't ask any more questions, just turned sideways and said, "Please, please come in!"

The two carried Yan Nanfei up the long steps, Ming Yuexin followed behind, then stopped suddenly, stared at Qiu Shuiqing, and said, "The owner didn't even ask why we came here?"

Qiu Shuiqing shook his head.

——Since you are Fu Hongxue's friends, I don't need to ask, and since you don't need to ask, I don't need to open my mouth.

He has never been a talkative person.

Ming Yuexin refused to shut up, and said: "Even if the owner doesn't ask, I still want to say."

She must say, Qiu Shuiqing will listen.

Mingyue Xin said: "Firstly, we came to avoid disaster, and secondly, we came to seek medical treatment. I wonder if the owner of the villa can see his illness first?"

Qiu Shuiqing finally opened his mouth and said, "What is the disease?"

Mingyue said heartily: "Heart disease."

Qiu Shuiqing suddenly turned his head, stared at her, and said, "Only heart medicine can cure a heart disease!"

Mingyue Xin said: "I know..."

After saying these three words, Yan Nanfei on the stretcher suddenly jumped out like an arrow.

Ming Yuexin has also made a move.

One of them was standing in front of Qiu Shuiqing, and the other was behind Qiu Shuiqing.

They attacked at the same time, one in front of the other, blocking all of Qiu Shuiqing's retreats!
There is no absolutely perfect martial arts move in the world, but their strike is close to perfect.

No one can find their flaws, and no one can parry and dodge. In fact, no one can think that they will make a sudden attack.

Their actions have undoubtedly been extremely carefully planned, and this attack has undoubtedly undergone many times of training and cooperation.

So the world-renowned owner of Peacock Villa didn't even have a chance to fight back, and was restrained outside his gate.

At this moment, they have tapped eight acupuncture points between the joints of his arms and legs!
Qiu Shuiqing didn't fall down because they had supported him.

Although his body was stiff, his expression was still very calm. Under such circumstances, there would never be more than ten people who could remain calm.

As soon as Ming Yuexin succeeded in the blow, her palms were also wet. She exhaled lightly, and then continued what she said just now: "It is because I know that heart disease can only be cured by heart medicine, so we came to you."

Qiu Shuiqing didn't even look at her, but just stared at Fu Hongxue coldly.

Fu Hongxue was still expressionless.

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Do you know why they came here?"

Fu Hongxue shook his head.

Qiu Shuiqing said: "But you brought them here."

Fu Hongxue said, "Because I also want to see why they came here?"

The two of them only spoke three sentences, and the garden, which was originally full of peace and tranquility, suddenly became full of murderous intent!
The murderous aura came from the 49 swords. The lights and swords flashed, but the people did not move.

The owner of the villa has been threatened by others, and no one dares to act rashly.

Qiu Shuiqing suddenly sighed, and said, "Yan Nanfei, Yan Nanfei, how could you do such a thing?"

Yan Nanfei was surprised and said, "You already know who I am?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "The eighty miles around here are all restricted areas of Peacock Villa. As soon as you enter the restricted area, I already know the details of your origin."

Yan Nanfei also sighed, and said, "It seems that Peacock Villa is really not a place where people can come and go freely."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "It's because I know too much about your background that you took advantage of me."

Yan Nanfei said, "Because you couldn't think of it?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "I really can't think of it."

Yan Nanfei smiled wryly, and said, "Actually, I didn't even think of it myself."

Ming Yuexin hurriedly said: "He has no choice but to, he is really too sick."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "I have medicine to save him?"

Mingyue Xin said: "You have, only you."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "What kind of medicine is that?"

Mingyue Xin said: "It's a secret."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Secret? What secret?"

Mingyue Xin said: "The secret of Peacock Ling."

Qiu Shuiqing closed his mouth.

Mingyue Xin said: "This is not entirely a threat, but an exchange."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "What exchange?"

Mingyue Xin said: "It's also a secret, and it's also Peacock Ling's secret."

Twilight is deep, lights are lit!

The room is elegant and quiet, Qiu Shuiqing is undoubtedly a very tasteful and elegant person.

It's a pity that his guests were not in the mood to appreciate his elegant taste, as soon as they walked in, Ming Yuexin immediately got to the point: "Actually, I also know that Peacock Lingyuan has been lost since your great-grandfather Qiu Fengwu's generation. "

This is a secret, a secret that no one in the world knows.

Qiu Shuiqing was moved for the first time, and said, "How did you know?"

Mingyue Xin said: "Because Qiu Fengwu once brought a peacock picture to a person, begging him to create a peacock feather in the same way."

The peacock picture itself is also a secret, that is, the structure and graphics of the peacock feathers.

No one knows whether the peacock or the peacock feathers came first, but everyone believes that if there is a peacock, it can be created in the same way.

Mingyue Xin said: "But this idea is wrong."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "How do you know that this idea is wrong?"

Mingyue Xin said: "Building mechanical hidden weapons is also a very complicated and profound knowledge."

Not only do you need a pair of sensitive and steady hands, but you also need to know the principles of metallurgy and hidden weapons.

Mingyue Xin said: "Qiu Fengwu went looking for, of course, the No.1 craftsman in the world at that time."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "The No.1 craftsman in the world at that time is said to be Mrs. Xu from the Tang Sect in Central Shu."

Tang Sect's hidden poison weapon has been unrivaled in the world for more than four hundred years, and it has always been passed on to daughters-in-law but not to daughters.

Mrs. Xu was the eldest daughter-in-law of the Tang Sect at that time. Her embroidery skills and hidden weapon making were known as the best in the world.

Mingyue Xin said: "But Mrs. Xu spent six years of painstaking efforts, even her hair has turned white due to exhaustion, but she still can't create a pair of peacock feathers in the same way."

Qiu Shuiqing looked at her, waiting for her to continue.

Mingyue Xin took out a brilliant golden cylinder first, and then continued: "In those six years, although she also made four pairs of peacock feathers, the appearance and structure are exactly the same as those recorded in the peacock picture. , but it lacks that magical power."

Qiu Shuiqing looked at the golden cylinder in her hand and said, "Is this one of them?"

Mingyue Xin said: "Yes."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "In recent years, there has been a person named 'Peacock' in the rivers and lakes..."

Mingyue Xin said: "His peacock feather is also one of them."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "You gave it to him?"

Mingyue Xin said: "I didn't hand it over to him, but I just happened to let him find it."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Because you deliberately want to let people in the Jianghu know the secret that Peacock Ling has been lost."

Ming Yuexin admitted.

Since Peacock Ling appeared in someone else's hands, of course it is no longer in Peacock Villa.

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Why did you do this?"

Mingyue Xin said: "Because I have always doubted one thing."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "What's the matter?"

Mingyue Xin said: "Peacock Ling is the lifeblood of Peacock Villa. The past owners of Peacock Villa are all very careful and prudent people, so..."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "So you still don't believe that Peacock Ling is really lost."

Ming Yuexin nodded and said: "It is said that Peacock Ling was lost in the hands of Qiu Fengwu's father, Qiu Yifeng. Qiu Yifeng was so talented, how could he do such a careless thing? It's just to test his son's ability to adapt."

Although her speculation is reasonable, it has been unable to prove it.

Ming Yuexin said again: "That's why I revealed this secret on purpose, and let the children of the enemy's family from Peacock Villa come to the door."

Qiu Shui said coldly: "No one who came can go back alive."

Mingyue Xin said: "So I think my guess is not wrong, Peacock Ling must still be in your hands."

Qiu Shuiqing closed his mouth again, his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, but he was always staring at Ming Yuexin.

Ming Yuexin added: "Qiu Fengwu didn't look for Mrs. Xu again, of course it was because he had already found Peacock Ling."

Qiu Shuiqing remained silent for a long time before slowly saying: "Maybe he shouldn't have gone to her at all."

Ming Yuexin said: "But he trusts her, they were friends before Madam Xu got married."

Qiu Shuiqing sneered, and said: "There are always many people who betray their friends in this world."

Mingyue Xin said: "But Mrs. Xu did not betray him, this secret is known to no one except the direct descendants of the head of the Tang Sect!"

The light in Qiu Shuiqing's eyes became sharper, and he said, "What about you? Who are you from the Tang family?"

Ming Yuexin smiled and said: "When I told this secret, I didn't plan to keep it from you anymore."

She continued slowly: "I am the eldest daughter of the head of the Tang Sect. My real name is Tang Lan."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "The children of the Tang Sect, how could they be lost in the wind and dust?"

Mingyue Xin said: "Although the Tang Sect uses poison hidden weapons, the rules are far stricter than those of the Seven Sects. The children of the Tang family are never allowed to interfere with the affairs of the Jianghu."

Her voice was calm and firm: "But we are determined to come out and do something."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Who is your target?"

Mingyue Xin said: "It's violence, our purpose is only four words."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Resist violence?"

Mingyue Xin said: "Yes, resist violence!"

She went on to say: "We don't dare to betray the sect's rules. For the convenience of action, we have to hide in the wind and dust. In the past three years, we have organized a force against violence. It's a pity that our strength is not enough."

Yan Nanfei said: "Because the opponent's organization is more rigorous and their strength is stronger."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Who is their leader?"

Yan Nanfei said, "He's a damned person."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Is he your heart disease?"

Yan Nanfei admitted.

Qiu Shuiqing said: "You want to use my peacock feather to kill him?"

Yan Nanfei said: "Control violence with violence, stop killing with killing!"

Qiu Shuiqing looked at him, then at Fu Hongxue, and suddenly said, "Slap open the acupuncture points on my legs, come with me!"

Walking past the huge and beautiful mural, passing through a maple forest, a clump of mottled bamboo, and crossing a nine-curved bridge, the lights suddenly faded away.

In the dark courtyard, there was an indescribably gloomy and desolate feeling, even the lights seemed to be pale blue.

Compared with the palace-like and splendid pavilions in front, this place is like another world.

The tall house is gloomy and cold.

There were more than a hundred long-burning lamps lit in the room, and the gloomy lights looked like will-o'-the-wisps.

In front of each lamp, there is a spirit seat.

The names on each spiritual seat were once prominent, and a few of them were not so long ago that they were incomparable figures in the world!

Seeing the rows of spirit positions, Ming Yuexin's expression also became serious.

She knew that these were all people who died under Peacock Ling, and she hoped that there could be another spiritual place and a name here.

"Gongzi Yu!"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "The ancestors set up their spiritual seats here to save their dead souls because they were afraid that their descendants would kill too much!"

Then he took them into the heart of Peacock Villa, and walked in through a corridor.

I don't know how many winding corridors and heavy iron bars there are!
They followed behind him in silence, feeling as if they had suddenly walked into an ancient emperor's tomb, which was gloomy, damp and mysterious.

The last iron gate was actually made of a three-foot-thick steel plate and weighed over a thousand catties.

There are thirteen locks on the door.

"The thirteen keys were originally held by thirteen people, but now there are fewer and fewer trustworthy friends."

So now there are only six people left, all of them are old people with gray temples, among them are the trusted families of Peacock Villa, and there are also famous martial arts figures who were once prominent in the Jianghu.

Their identities and origins are different, but their friendship and loyalty can also make Qiu Shuiqing absolutely trust.

Of course, their martial arts are more trustworthy. Qiu Shuiqing only clapped his hands, and the six of them suddenly appeared like ghosts. The fastest one came, with sharp eyes like eagles, and agile movements like eagles, with scars on his face. Intertwined, it seems to be Gongsuntu, the "Immortal Condor" who shocked the desert in the past.

The key is tied to the body with an iron chain, and the last key is on Qiu Shuiqing.

Ming Yuexin watched him unlock the last lock, and when she looked back, the six people had suddenly disappeared, like the ghosts specially sent by the ancestors of the Qiu family from the nether world to guard the forbidden area.

Behind the iron gate is a large stone house, the walls are already covered with moss, and six ever-burning lamps are burning.

The lights were gloomy, illuminating all kinds of strange outer sect weapons on the wooden frames on all sides, some of which even Yan Nanfei had never seen before, and it was unclear whether they were weapons used by the distant ancestors of the Qiu family or by their enemies , Now these weapons are still there, but their bones have long since decayed.

Qiu Shuiqing pushed away another boulder, and there was an iron cabinet hidden in the stone wall. Could it be that the peacock feather was in this iron cabinet?
Everyone held their breath, watching him open the iron cabinet, and respectfully took out a delicately carved sandalwood box.

No one would have guessed that what was contained in the wooden box was not a peacock feather, but a waxy yellow skin.

Ming Yuexin didn't want to hide her disappointment, she frowned and asked, "What is this?"

Qiu Shuiqing's expression became more serious and respectful, and he said in a deep voice, "This is a person's face."

Mingyue Xin lost her voice: "Could it be the skin peeled off from a person's face?"

Qiu Shuiqing nodded, eyes full of sadness, and said sadly: "Because this person lost a very important thing, he felt that he had no face to live on, and left a will before committing suicide, asking someone to peel off the skin of his face as a descendant vigilance."

He did not say the name of this person, but everyone already knew who he was talking about.

Qiu Yifeng's sudden sudden death was originally a question in the Jianghu at that time, and Qiu Shuiqing has only revealed this secret until now.

Ming Yuexin could only hear shudders all over her body, and after a long time, she sighed and said, "You shouldn't have said such things!"

Qiu Shuiqing said with a serious face: "I didn't want to say it at first, but I must let you believe that Peacock Lingjiu is no longer in Peacock Villa."

Mingyue Xin said: "But those people who died in Peacock Villa recently..."

Qiu Shuiqing interrupted her, and said coldly: "There are many ways to kill people, and you don't have to use peacock feathers."

Ming Yuexin looked at the human skin in the wooden box, thinking of the tragedy and tragedy of this person when he died to make atonement, and only wished that he had never been here before.

Yan Nanfei was obviously regretting the same thing in his heart. At this moment, he heard a "ding", and the iron door was closed!
Then there were thirteen soft beeps of "heh, heh, heh", and the thirteen locks outside were apparently all locked.

Ming Yuexin's expression changed, Yan Nanfei sighed, and said, "We should neither come nor know this secret, let alone insult the heroic spirit of our predecessors, we deserve to die."

Qiu Shui listened quietly, with no expression on his face.

Yan Nanfei said, "But my life already belongs to Fu Hongxue, Fu Hongxue doesn't deserve to die."

Qiu Shui said coldly: "I don't deserve to die either."

Yan Nanfei looked at him in surprise, Ming Yuexin rushed to ask: "Isn't that what you mean?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "No."

Ming Yuexin was even more surprised: "Who locked the iron gate outside? Who can enter such a secret place?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "There are at least six."

Mingyue Xin said: "But they are all your friends."

Qiu Shuiqing said: "I said before, there are always many people who betray their friends in this world!"

Fu Hongxue finally spoke, and said, "Among the six people, as long as there is one traitor, that's enough."

Mingyue Xin said: "Who are you talking about?"

Fu Hongxue didn't answer, but instead asked Qiu Shuiqing, "Was it Gongsuntu who opened the first lock?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Yes."

Ming Yuexin rushed to ask again: "Is it that 'Immortal Condor' Gongsun Tu who should have died many times?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Yes."

Yan Nanfei also asked: "In his last battle to the death, was his opponent Gong Ziyu?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Yes."

Yan Nanfei looked at Ming Yuexin, and Ming Yuexin looked at Fu Hongxue, all three of them shut their mouths.

This question no longer needs to be asked.

Gongsuntu escaped under the palm of Gongzi Yu, which was considered a miracle in Jiang Hu.

Only now did they know that it was not a miracle. Gong Ziyu had deliberately let Gongsuntu go, and at the same time bought him.

The only thing that should be asked now is: "Is there a second way out here?"

"No."

Qiu Shuiqing answered very simply, there should not be a second way out of the secret treasury where treasures are stored!

Ming Yuexin let out a breath, and her whole body seemed to have collapsed.

There are three-foot-thick iron gates and six-foot-thick stone walls. No matter who is locked in such a grotto, the only thing they can do is wait for death.

Yan Nanfei suddenly asked again: "Is there any wine here?"

Qiu Shuiqing said: "Yes, there is only one jar, one jar of poisoned wine!"

Yan Nanfei smiled and said, "Poisoned wine is better than no wine."

What's the harm in poisoned wine for a man whose only choice is death?
(End of this chapter)