cloud temple phoenix hairpin

Chapter 113

Chapter 100

When approaching the temporary sacrificial place, people were crowded everywhere, and the carriage slowed down.Ming Yu asked the coachman to stop, and helped his grandfather himself. Xie Jingzhu took Zhi'er with one hand and Ah Zhi with the other, and they went there with the accompanying Gao Jun and others.The family members who had been waiting for a long time saw it from a distance and rushed over to greet him.Passers-by saw that it was the young Mrs. Zhou Mu who came with her children, and they all bowed to make way.

The group sat down at the pre-set location, and saw a huge flat ground with a radius of several feet, with horses criss-crossing, banners fluttering in the wind, and lamas in colorful clothes chanting scriptures and praying around the firepit.Ming Yu looked over and saw Xie Zuiqiao standing there with his back to him, talking with local officials and several elders. The distance was a bit far away, and the surrounding voices were noisy, so he couldn't hear what he was talking about.

Looking at her husband's tall and slender back, Ming Yu felt a burst of delicate tenderness in her heart, and the corners of her mouth could not help but curl up slightly.

"Daddy! Daddy! Here I am!"

Seeing his father, Ah Zhi almost climbed onto the table, shouting and waving desperately.

"Ah Zhi, Daddy is busy and can't hear you calling him."

Ming Yu hurriedly grabbed her daughter's waist and pushed her back to her position.Ah Zhi was unwilling, but he couldn't hold back his mother, knowing that she was not as talkative as his father, so he could only sit back with his mouth curled up.

As if sensing the scene behind him, Xie Zuiqiao suddenly turned around.

"Daddy!"

Ah Zhi suddenly became active again, stood up abruptly, and waved to him.

Xie Zuiqiao laughed, gave an order to an official beside him, and strode towards this direction.When he got close, he picked up his daughter in one hand and fondled the top of her hair.Ah Zhi hugged his father's neck with both hands and giggled.

The big lama in the sacrificial field raised his hand, and the sound of neat horns sounded, and the audience slowly fell silent.

"Waiting for you, let's go."

Ming Yu tugged on Xie Zuiqiao's sleeve and urged softly.

Xie Zuiqiao smiled at her, put down Ah Zhi, and turned to go to the archery stand.

After the great lama burned incense and prayed, Xie Zuiqiao took over the crossbow wrapped in red silk under the gaze of countless eyes.

The arrow is specially made, with an iron ball embedded in the top. After firing, it collides with the heart of the gong. The louder the sound, the more favorable the weather and the stronger the cattle and horses in the next year. The local people attach great importance to this custom, so Now the audience is silent, and everyone looks solemn.Even Zhier and Ah Zhi sat still, staring at their father with wide eyes.

Ming Yu was not worried about Xie Zuiqiao's archery skills. Seeing that he unhurriedly stretched his bow to the full, put on an iron ball arrow, and aimed at the arrow that hung dozens of steps away from the top of the wooden frame, shining brightly in the sun. As soon as Zhang Xian let go of the copper gong, the arrow flew out straight like lightning, but just as it was about to hit the heart of the gong, a feathered arrow came whistling from the side and hit the gong. The iron ball on the top of the arrow was skewed and flew out by rubbing against the gong.

This scene happened so suddenly that everyone in the audience was stunned.

Xie Zuiqiao looked in the direction of the arrow.Seeing outside the crowd, a young man in black clothes was riding high on a horse with a bow on his arm.It was he who fired the arrow just now.

This young man was seventeen or eighteen years old, with a dark face, a strong figure, braided hair, and a heroic spirit. He did not look like a Han Chinese.Seeing Xie Zuiqiao looking at him like lightning, instead of being afraid, he raised his chin and raised the corner of his lower lip provocatively.

The people around finally reacted, there was a whisper, and soon, the noise became louder, and many local people showed anger, and shouted at the boy.

Such a move is undoubtedly destroying the sacrifice. If the gods are angered, who can afford it?

Xie Jingzhu grew up so big, it was the first time he saw such a lively and magnificent exotic scene, and he was very interested in watching it, but when he saw that someone was so openly seeking trouble, he was shocked and angry, and looked at Ming Yu.Seeing that she just frowned slightly, comforting her son and daughter, she looked at her brother, who didn't look very worried, then regained her composure, and hurriedly looked at the field again.

The black-clothed boy ignored the glaring and scolding of others, but stared straight at Xie Zuiqiao.

"Little brother is good at archery, but what he did just now violated the taboo of this Tianshen Festival. See, you are not a newcomer, and you know what to do, let alone forgive it. Someone, take him down!"

Xie Zuiqiao looked at the boy and shouted, his voice drowning out the noise around him.When the people heard that the man was going to be arrested, they fell silent.

This young man committed public outrage, if he is not detained, I am afraid that the people here will attack him, and the scene will be chaotic, so Xie Zuiqiao ordered him to be arrested.

The soldiers got the order and immediately surrounded the boy.Unexpectedly, the young man was not afraid at all, instead he laughed and said, "Master Xie has good eyesight, I am indeed not a newcomer. Everyone in this land knows that the arrow that kicked off the Celestial Festival in the past has always been the number one in the grassland. This is the greatest worship to the gods! I don’t know why, but I have abandoned this rule. I know that Mr. Xie is the son of General Xie Nanjin. I have won a few battles here before, only talking about the grassland The number one warrior, I'm afraid it might not be possible..." As he spoke, he crossed his arms and laughed endlessly.

What he said was correct, it was just a matter of decades before Yuncheng was occupied by Xiting.Now from the young man's mouth, some elderly people were recalled and sighed for a while.

Xie Jingzhu lost her mother when she was young, and her body was weak, so her temperament was inevitably weaker. Later, she met Mingyu and stayed with her father in Jiangzhou for a few years. Naturally, her knowledge and mind are quite different from those when she was a child.After all, she is the daughter of a general, and now that she is in this border town where the sky is far away from restraint, the blood in her bones is even more aroused. Seeing this young man of a different race blatantly ridiculing her elder brother who he regards as a god, how could he bear it and stood up He snorted and said, "Listening to what you mean, do you think you are the number one warrior on the grassland? I read the Book of Songs once, and the words are eloquent and thick-faced, and they are most suitable for you. Oh, yes Look at you, maybe you don't even know what the Book of Songs is, do you want to teach you?"

Her voice was clear and crisp, and her words were like pearls and jade. As soon as she finished speaking, Jiang Kui, who was next to her, slapped the table and laughed, and the people around her also roared with laughter.

The boy saw that the one who robbed him was a young girl, her skin was as white as snow, her eyes were like lacquer spots, she was wearing a blue shirt, standing there, with a light waist that was about to break.Most of the women he saw on weekdays were fit, but had he ever met such a beautiful and elegant one?A black face was flushed red, but he couldn't help but take a second look.

Ming Yu didn't expect her sister-in-law to speak so eloquently after not seeing her for a few years.Surprised and funny at the same time, knowing that Xie Zuiqiao would be able to handle this matter by himself, he hurriedly pulled her back and told her to sit down.

Xie Zuiqiao saw that the scene was chaotic, raised his hand to suppress his laughter, looked at the young man and said, "Of course I don't dare to be the number one warrior. If my little brother had reminded me earlier, I could have set up a ring, and those who are capable will win, and they will shoot today's opening ceremony." Arrow. Now guests from all walks of life have gathered in Yuncheng, just waiting for the start of the Tianshen Festival. The arrow is on the string. As the shepherd of a state, I have to lead the bow temporarily. Next year, I will definitely compete for a warrior. By then, little brother Come again!"

The young man laughed and said, "I despise you Han people for being inconsistent. I'll just say it straight, I want to compete with you. If you beat me, I will naturally admit defeat. If you shoot the arrow that opens the gong, only if you lose Already, I will shoot the arrow today!"

As soon as he said this, there were boos everywhere.The boy didn't take it seriously, but just stared at Xie Zuiqiao closely.

Xie Zuiqiao frowned slightly.

This young man's clothes are no different from those of the Xiting people who have lived here for a long time. Only the horse under his crotch has a small head, a straight back, a straight back, strong limbs, and a coat that is as shiny as oil. It was a thousand-mile BMW, even the bridle was made by Wu Jin, the texture was so delicate and unusual, how could ordinary people afford it?Such a young man suddenly appeared to openly provoke him, and from what he just said, he seemed to know him very well.Although I don't know what his intention behind it is, he must have no good intentions.If you don't shock him, I'm afraid there will be no end to the nonsense.After making up his mind, he said, "Tell me, how do you compare?"

"Since shooting gongs, it is naturally better than archery." The boy said immediately.

Xie Zuiqiao is an expert, seeing the arrow he shot just now, the strength and accuracy are excellent, so he knows that this young man is also proficient in this way, he thinks he is quite conceited about his archery skills, he said with a smile: "Your respect is yours."

When the onlookers saw that Master Zhou was about to compete with this young man in archery, they all got excited and stared with wide eyes.Soon some soldiers took the target and stood on the open space fifty paces away, agreeing to shoot three arrows each, and the one who hits more hearts will win.

Xie Zuiqiao looked at the boy and said with a smile: "Little brother is younger than me, you should shoot the first arrow."

The young man snorted, jumped off the horse, took off the bow on his arm, stood still, drew the bow and fired it, and only heard a whistling sound, the feathered arrow pierced through the air and hit the target.

"Heart is in the middle!"

The officer reported loudly.

The boy raised his eyebrows and looked at Xie Zuiqiao.

Xie Zuiqiao smiled slightly, and shot with his bow.

"The red heart is right in the middle. Two arrows head to head, there is no winner!"

the magistrate called again.

For the second arrow, the target was moved a hundred steps away amidst the exclamation of the crowd.It was still the boy who shot first.His arrow skills are really good, from such a long distance, he still hits the heart with one arrow.There were already cheers from the sidelines.

Xie Jingzhu saw that the young man really had two brushes, and became a little worried for a moment, staring at it with wide eyes, afraid that he would miss it in the blink of an eye.Seeing that the boy finished shooting the second arrow, he turned his head and seemed to glance at himself. He hated him in his heart, so he didn't glance at him, only looking at his brother.

Xie Zuiqiao drew out the second arrow, drew the bow to aim, let go of his hand suddenly, the feathered arrow pierced through the air like lightning, before reaching the target, it went straight into the tail of the previous arrow on the target.With a crisp beeping sound, the arrow shaft was cut open until it was nailed into the target.The shaft of the feathered arrow that the young man shot earlier has been split into two. Although it is still nailed to the target, the tail of the arrow has already hung down weakly.

In the land west of the river, although almost everyone can shoot arrows, how come they have seen such exquisite archery techniques?There were continuous cheers one after another.

"Daddy is the best!"

The distance was a little far away, Zhi'er and Ah Zhi couldn't see clearly, they only heard the cheers of others, and knew that their father must have won the arrow, so they jumped up and shouted at the top of their voices.

The young man was a little surprised, stunned for a moment, and refused to accept: "There is one arrow left. The target is too close, this time move two hundred steps away!"

Xie Zuiqiao smiled slightly and said, "Why not?"

The archery target two hundred paces away was too small to be seen clearly.In the silence, the young man drew his bow and arrow again.

Archery is the most taboo to be impetuous.Xie Zuiqiao saw that the young man was obviously a little bit annoyed and ashamed just now, but at this moment he put his hand on the bow, but immediately held his breath and concentrated his mind, his expression was solemn, very demeanor of everyone, he must be from a famous teacher.He didn't neglect any more, after he shot the arrow, he also took aim, put on the bow and fired the arrow.

A wonderful scene happened.

When the arrow in front was about to hit the bull's-eye, the arrow from the rear came whistling as if it had eyes, and caught up with the arrow from the front.Before the youth's arrow reached the bull's-eye, it was split in two in the air, like a bird with broken wings, and suddenly fell to the ground, and the arrow that was fired after that did not stop, and was directly nailed into the target. Tail trembling non-stop.

What kind of arm strength and aim are needed to chase such two arrows in the air and cut them into the target!It's really unheard of, unseen!
After a while of silence, thunderous applause suddenly broke out in the pasture.That young man never dreamed that Xie Zuiqiao would have such supernatural skills, he was afraid that his master also didn't have such skills, he was stunned for a moment, stood still, and the bow in his hand hung down feebly.

Xie Zuiqiao put away his bow as usual, and didn't look at the young man. He just took the bow just now and shot an iron arrow at the big gong on the wooden frame. , the ceremonial officer who came to his senses hurriedly proclaimed loudly: "The Tenjin Festival will start!"

Amidst the hustle and bustle, Ming Yu watched Xie Zuiqiao walking towards her, and stood up with a smile.

"Father! Father!"

Zhi'er and A Zhi, who were so happy that they couldn't get enough, rushed over, their eyes were full of adoring little stars, and Xie Zuiqiao hugged one of them.

"Ayu, I accidentally found a good place a while ago, when I'm free today, I'll take you there to have a look."

He lowered his head to her ear and whispered quickly.

Ming Yu smiled and nodded.

Xie Zuiqiao kissed a pair of sons and daughters on the left and right, put them on the ground, beckoned Gao Ling to come over, and said in a low voice: "Just now that young man has suspicious origins, I suspect that he has something to do with the royal family of Xiting, you send someone to watch him."

Gao Ling nodded and left quickly.

Xie Jingzhu was proud of his elder brother's victory, seeing the young man standing there with his head bowed, he was too lazy to look at him again, snorted, and took Zhi'er and A'zhi's hands.Suddenly seeing that young man raised his head and looked towards him, he grinned grinningly, was startled, and turned his head hastily.The sun was shining hot on the top, but she felt as if there was a slight chill on her back, and she felt uncomfortable being watched by this man.

(End of this chapter)