Pawn Crossing the River

The atmosphere was solemn.

The county magistrate, Shi Baihu, and Taoist Zhou were sitting in the main hall of Xiang's house, all with solemn expressions. After all, these are not troubled times when human lives are as cheap as grass, but peaceful times. There are so many corpses, although not all of them may have died in them. During his term of office, it is very likely that there will be old cases, but no one dares to be careless. This is a major event that affects his official career.

Qi Xuansu stood outside the door, with his hands on the dagger and gun at his waist respectively, looking up at the bright moon.

The situation reaching this point was beyond his expectation.

People do not hurt the tiger's heart, but the tiger harms people's intentions.

If he hadn't had the "Jade of Death", he would have ended up like that alchemist and become one of the many bones.

It seems that the alchemist saw some clues and came to catch the ghost. Unexpectedly, there was another demon hiding in the dark. He was outnumbered and lost his life in vain.

Thinking of this, Qi Xuansu tightened his grip on the weapon.

No matter how high your level of cultivation is, as long as you are not a heavenly being, you may capsize in the gutter. This may not be because your skills are inferior to others, but because the world is dangerous. Taking a closer look, there are not a few people who have higher cultivation than Qi Xuansu but died at the hands of Qi Xuansu.

At this moment, someone came to report that Xiang Rulin had finally woken up.

The three people who had been sitting in the main hall for a while stood up at the same time.

Although Xiang's house has been sealed off and every family member has to answer clearly, most of these people don't know about it. Even if there are one or two people who know about it, they only know it later, or they are just making assumptions, which is of no great use, so the key is still It must land on Xiang Rulin.

Qi Xuansu hesitated for a moment and followed behind the three of them.

When the three of them were discussing matters earlier, Qi Xuansu was nearby. The Qingluan guards, government officials, and Taoist priests saw that their superiors were very polite to this person, so they did not dare to stop him, and they only regarded him as a superior officer from other places.

The four of them came to Xiang Rulin's bedroom. Xiang Rulin was sitting on the bed, his face still pale and without any blood.

Someone brought chairs for several chief officials, but the magistrate came forward and said: "Xiang Rulin, what's going on with building a cemetery at home? Hurry up and recruit people from the real world, otherwise under three trees, hehe..."

Although this place is not the county government hall, and there are no third-class government officials, the threat from the county magistrate is still obvious, and people can't help but feel chills running down their spines.

There is a saying in the yamen that goes, "Under three trees, just hope for a quick death." Or, "Under three trees, what can you ask for?" , foot shackles, and hand shackles, many criminal thieves can't bear it, let alone a pampered and weak-bodied gentry like Xiang Rulin. They are afraid that their lives can be killed by just three trees.

Probably because everything must be reversed, Xiang Rulin calmed down at this time and smiled bitterly: "I have the reputation of being a juren. If you really want to beat me to death, I'm afraid you can't afford it. At least you have to wait until my juren is removed." It’s all about fame, but it’s meaningless now. Now that you’ve seen the cemetery, I have nothing to say.”

Shi Baihu said: "There are snake demons and evil ghosts in this house, but your wife and concubine are both missing. What's the connection?"

Xiang Rulin lowered his head and said nothing.

Taoist Zhou said coldly: "Since you don't say it, you are acquiescing. I wonder if it is a snake wife and a ghost concubine, or a ghost wife and a snake concubine?"

Xiang Rulin's body trembled slightly, but he still lowered his head and remained silent.

Qi Xuansu didn't speak, just expressionless.

Although Xiang Rulin did not commit cannibalism or murder, he deliberately condoned it and failed to report the knowledge, so he cannot escape his guilt. Even if the Confucian family is hiding from each other, there is no need to come here. What's more, today's world is no longer the world of Confucianism, but the world of Taoism.

The magistrate couldn't hold himself any longer. Although he didn't have a gavel on hand, he still slapped the table with his palm and shouted: "The great traitor and evil are always stubborn!" As he said this, he stood up quickly.

Although Qi Xuansu had a chair, he remained standing. At this time, both Shi Baihu and Taoist Zhou stood up.

Xiang Rulin was also startled. He couldn't help but raise his head and trembled again when he saw the four people standing side by side.

The magistrate looked sternly and looked at him: "Even if there is no confession, as long as there is enough physical evidence, we can close the case, but when that happens, it will be ugly. You have been pampered since you were a child, I'm afraid you can't bear it!"

Xiang Rulin was silent for a long time and said slowly: "What do you want to ask, sir?"

The magistrate's expression softened slightly: "Do you know about the snake demon and the fierce ghost? Or don't you know?"

Xiang Rulin didn't know whether it was because he was in a desperate situation or because he was feeling sad about the death of his wife and concubine. His eyes were dim and he said weakly: "Report to your lord, I know."

The magistrate asked again: "Do you know about the harm they did to others?"

Xiang Rulin did not quibble, and said slowly: "I know."

"Okay, you have backbone." The magistrate suppressed his anger and said, "You are a good man if you dare to take action."

Xiang Rulin smiled sadly: "That year I went to Beijing to take the exam and met bandits on the road. If it weren't for them, I would have turned into bones. After we got married, it was thanks to them that I was able to keep the family business passed down by my ancestors."

Taoist Zhou sneered: "You are sentimental and righteous. Aren't the lives of those who want to die in vain not life?"

Xiang Rulin was speechless.

Qi Xuansu just watched with cold eyes. Just yesterday, the two of them were drinking and chatting. At that time, how did Xiang Rulin view himself? A dying person?

If Xiang Rulin didn't know about it, Qi Xuansu would have been willing to save him because of his kindness in entertaining her, but since he knew about it, there was no kindness at all in the banquet, and it was just a decapitation meal at best. .

Are you ready to go on the road after eating?

Qi Xuansu sneered in his heart.

If you come to provoke me and take my life, this is the way to die.

Zhang Yuelu said that Qi Xuansu was full of murderous intent. Since he had murderous intent, he could not avoid being violent. What Buddhist monks often say about resolving hostility is not just talking nonsense.

Even Zhang Yuelu herself admitted that she also had anger, and not only that, but quite a lot of it, as shown when she broke Xu Kou's wrist, but she just didn't show it to Qi Xuansu. All this anger was accumulated bit by bit in Beichen Hall and Tiangang Hall. He was going through life and death all day long, so it would be weird to not have any violent temper.

As for Qi Xuansu, walking in the mud of the rivers and lakes, his anger was more, not less, than Zhang Yuelu's. However, most of the time, he hides this violent spirit deep in his heart. Not only does he not show it in front of people close to him, but he also does not show it in front of people he has normal friendship with. It will only be revealed when he kills someone. come out,

Qi Xuansu, who is very angry, is naturally not a good person.

At this moment, Shi Baihu said: "Brother Wei, what do you think?"

Qi Xuansu said calmly: "Kill to pay for life, debt to pay for money, it is natural and right."

None of the three people spoke. Although the three people had different positions and looked at the matter from different angles, they came to the same result, and they all recognized Qi Xuansu's words.

Qi Xuansu walked up to Xiang Rulin and asked: "Excuse Xiang, I came to your house to stay overnight to avoid the wind and snow. You hosted a banquet for me. Logically speaking, I owe you a favor. But this favor It’s not so big that I have to pay for it with my life. I might as well tell Ming that the snake demon and the fierce ghost want to eat me, but they all die in my hands. This is considered inferior to others. What else can you say?”

Xiang Rulin looked into Qi Xuansu's eyes. He was still a little resentful, but when he met Qi Xuansu's eyes, he felt that there was only cold murderous intention in them, which actually made him speechless. Only then did he realize that this The man in black is different from the county magistrate and Taoist priest Zhou. He came out of the shadow of swords and swords, with countless lives on his hands. Even evil spirits are afraid of evil people. He is lucky not to provoke others. How dare he If you take the initiative to provoke him, isn't that asking for death?

Qi Xuansu said: "That means I have nothing to say. If I don't kill you, I will leave it to the government to determine the punishment. I believe the government will give me justice."