Taiping Inn

Hu Liang handed over the visiting card.

The middle-aged woman took the visiting card with a smile. When she saw the word "Zifu" on the visiting card, she was shocked. She had been following her master for some years and had seen some things in the world. Naturally, she had heard of the name of Zifu Sword Immortal. So when she saw the word "Zifu" on the visiting card, she immediately thought of the Zifu Sword Immortal who once roamed the Jiangbei and Heshuo areas with only one sword.

Li Xuandu said softly: "Please send this visiting card to Mr. Chen and say that an old friend is visiting. As for whether to meet or not, let him decide."

The middle-aged woman did not dare to act on her own when it came to the Zifu Sword Immortal. After taking the visiting card, she apologized and turned into the garden.

Soon the woman came back and greeted Li Xuandu, saying softly: "My master is not in a position to greet us personally, please forgive me, please follow me."

Entering the manor, walking around the screen wall, passing through the corridor and the hall, and coming to the main hall, there was an old man with white hair and beard waiting there. After seeing Li Xuandu, he immediately came forward, first waved his hand to signal several managers to leave, and then smiled and bowed, saying: "My benefactor, I haven't seen you for many years. Are you well?"

Zhou Shuning, who was hiding behind Li Xuandu and only half of her face was exposed, looked at the old man. His hair and beard were all white, and he smiled kindly. He was wearing a black crane cloak, which made him look like an immortal. But for some reason, she always had a faint fear of the old man, and she didn't feel close to him as much as when she faced Li Xuandu and Hu Liang.

Li Xuandu returned the greeting by bowing his hands, saying, "Thank you for your concern. You are much better than before."

This old man was Chen Guhong, who was famous in Jiuhe Prefecture. He waved his hands and said, "It's just a small fight. It's not much different from those mountain kings who occupy the mountains. It's just a joke."

Then the old man turned sideways and stretched out his hand to make a gesture of invitation, inviting the three people to enter the main hall.

After they were seated, Li Xuandu introduced them, "This is Hu Liang, a person from the northwest."

Hu Liang clasped his fists and saluted Chen Guhong.

Chen Guhong returned the greeting by bowing his hands, "I have heard of the great name of Brother Hu, 'the Northwest Owl Hu Yidao' for a long time."

Li Xuandu looked at the little girl sitting next to him and said, "Her name is Zhou Shuning, and she is my adopted sister."

The little girl stood up timidly and bowed.

The old man nodded with a smile.

Li Xuandu hesitated for a moment and said, "To be honest, I came here this time to ask for something, and I want to take shelter in your place for a while."

The old man smiled and said, "What are you talking about, benefactor? Back then, I was hunted down by the people of Zhengyi Sect. If it weren't for your help, I, Chen Guhong, would have been a pile of dry bones, and I wouldn't be here today. Now that you are in trouble, how can I just sit there and watch? As long as you say a word, I, Gu, will go through fire and water without hesitation."

Hu Liang frowned and said nothing.

Li Xuandu said: "In that case, I will speak frankly. I encountered some difficulties in Luzhou this time because of the Qingluan Guard."

Chen Guhong's expression froze, and then he smiled and said: "It's just a Qingluan Guard. This is not the imperial capital. They can't cause any trouble in Luzhou."

Before Li Xuandu could speak, Chen Guhong continued: "Your Excellency can stay in my manor. No matter how strong the wind and rain outside are, they can't affect you at all."

Li Xuandu stood up and bowed to express his gratitude.

Chen Guhong personally escorted the three people to a single-family courtyard, and after arranging all matters, he left slowly.

When there were only three people left, Hu Liang asked, "Old Li, does this person know your background?"

Li Xuandu shook his head and said, "I don't know. Back then, he was chased by the people of Zhengyi Sect all the way to the bank of the river. I happened to pass by. Coincidentally, those people of Zhengyi Sect also had a grudge against me, so I defeated them and saved him. Although he asked my name at that time, I only said my name was Li Xuandu in order to avoid trouble."

Hu Liang asked again, "Do you know his background?"

Li Xuandu said, "It's not that we are too close, but we have occasionally exchanged letters in the past few years."

Hu Liang nodded, thinking.

Li Xuandu asked, "Did you see any clues?"

"No." Hu Liang shook his head and said, "I just feel a little uncomfortable."

Li Xuandu frowned slightly, "What do you mean?"

Hu Liang pondered for a moment and said, "Maybe I think too much, but I always feel that this person seems to be upright and heroic, but in fact he is scheming to protect himself."

Li Xuandu was silent for a moment, and slowly said, "It is said that if a person does not work for himself, he will be punished by heaven and earth. Even if Chen Guhong has reservations, it is human nature. You don't have to blame him too much."

Hu Liang sighed lightly, knowing that Li Xuandu had made up his mind, so he said no more.

Zhou Shuning had been listening to the conversation between the two people beside her. She knew that Li Xuandu and Hu Liang had some disagreements on this matter, but this time she was more inclined to Hu Liang than Li Xuandu.

For some reason, this picturesque manor always made her feel an inexplicable sense of discomfort.

Just like the Taiping Inn where many people died.

Although Shen Changsheng had almost dealt with the corpse when Li Xuandu took her downstairs, she still smelled the bloody smell that could not be covered by the rain, which made her feel nauseous.

Zhou Shuning glanced at the two of them and whispered, "I also think this place is a bit strange."

Li Xuandu whispered, "The lair of a master of the Xiantian realm is of course strange, but we are just looking for a place to hide temporarily, and we will not stay here for long."

Hu Liang looked at Li Xuandu and asked, "Old Li, how many days do you think we will stay here?"

Li Xuandu thought for a moment and said, "Since you are worried, then we will stay here for three days. We will leave Jiuhe Mansion at most three days later."

Hu Liang nodded and said, "That's the only way."

Li Xuandu looked up at the sky and said, "It's going to rain."

Hu Liang touched his chin and said, "The northwest is still better. Most of the time it is cloudless and good weather."

In the twilight approaching dusk, a heavy rain came as promised.

It started to drip, falling on the black eaves and the ground paved with bluestone slabs, covering the entire manor with a thin layer of mist.

Then it rustled and filled the entire sky and earth. Looking around, there was only a vast expanse of rain and mist.

Zhou Shuning looked at the rain outside, thinking of what Hu Liang had just said, and couldn't help asking: "Uncle Tianliang, why is it good weather when there are no clouds in the sky?"

Hu Liang smiled and said: "It will rain only when there are clouds. If there are no clouds, there will be no wind or rain. Isn't it good weather?"

Li Xuandu got up from the chair, came to the eaves, looked at the heavy rain outside, and suddenly asked: "Tianliang, what do you often say about human heart?"

Hu Liang said softly: "It was said by the Confucian sage. The sage believed that human nature is good, because the highest good is like water, so the human heart is like water."

Li Xuandu murmured: "People go to high places, water flows to low places, do you think the human heart is high or low?"

Hu Liang shook his head and answered the question: "The human heart is like water with many ripples, which may not be a good thing."