Bone

The National Teacher Tower immersed in the night was deeply quiet, but the main hall was singing and dancing.

It was the same as when I came back last time, the prince was still seated, the emperor slowly arrived, and the national teacher appeared on the seat like a ghost——

Amidst the sound of silk and bamboo music, and the intertwining of toasts and chips, Qin Nianjiu and Tan Fengyue drank and ate food with ease, and turned their heads to talk and laugh with Mrs. Tan Taifu from time to time.Ji Zhuoran, who was sitting alone in the special seat, had a habitual smile on his lips, dealing with the ministers who came to chat with him.The end is the same as usual, only three pairs of eyes and six lines of sight will drift to the side of the national teacher from time to time, always paying attention to his movements.

Qin Nianjiu bit the rim of his cup, looked at the crooked national teacher from afar, and asked Tan Fengyue in a low voice, unable to hide his worry, "...Will there be any problems with Sanjiu? I don't think those two little leaves are very reliable... ..."

"With Fu Duanshui in charge, they should behave properly." With the sound transmission paper crane in hand, if something happened there, they would fly over to help, and there should be time.The old God Tan Fengyue picked up a chopstick dish for him on the ground, "Let's talk about it if something goes wrong."

Right.If something happens in the National Teacher Tower, the National Teacher should make some changes first... Qin Nianjiu looked at the National Teacher curled up on the seat, who seemed to be dozing off, nodded, and shared the dishes brought by Tan Fengyue After putting it into his mouth, his eyes widened slightly, "Oh! It's delicious——what is this?"

Just as Tan Fengyue wanted to laugh at him saying why he hadn't even tasted this before, he suddenly recalled his 67 years in the borderland where the sun had never been seen, lowered his raised lips, and said softly: "It's chicken soup. Thin shredded bamboo shoots that have been simmered. It’s past the season, and the bamboo shoots are too old and tough, so you can’t taste the freshness. Wait for spring next year, go to the south to find, there..."

Qin Nianjiu carefully chewed the shredded bamboo shoots that had been simmered softly, and listened carefully to him talking about where the bamboo shoots are the best and how to cook them to make them delicious. On the other side of the national teacher, three or two ministers toasted and walked over, asking him for his fate.

As if this had become a fixed part of the banquet, the more people gathered around him, the national teacher still showed no impatience on his face, but his movements were a little lazy, and his voice was extremely low and long, carelessly Through the wrists they handed over, solve their doubts one by one.

"——I heard that there is another kind of pickled bamboo shoots, which smell sour but taste delicious." Tan Fengyue said, adding another chopsticks of bamboo shoots to the ghost beside him, "When all the dust settles, you can eat it in your free time." You can take a trip out of Qingyuan and taste the flavors of the world."

Qin Nianjiu couldn't say it well, so he grinned at him, "Then please hurry up and settle all these 'things', so that you can be at ease—"

Knowing that the "everything" he mentioned not only refers to the prince entrusting them to deal with the national teacher, but also refers to Guan Shizong's many mysteries that seem to be closely related to him, Tan Fengyue paused and took a sip of wine.

Thinking about the many clues they have obtained so far, but none of them have a clue, it is useless to passively guess here, it is better to...

Mo Ran made a decision after weighing in his heart. He put down his wine glass and answered his words, "En."

With a pair of gray and cloudy eyes, all he can see is white, and he can only vaguely feel some light and shade in the white, and vaguely see a few long silhouettes surrounding him.I think he was——

...Back then, back then?I can't think about that year anymore.

The national teacher Wuming lazily took the wrist of the next one who came to ask for a solution, "...So, ask, what is it?"

He didn't pay attention to what the listener asked, and he was only distracted to perceive the three uninvited guests who sneaked in through the night moths inhabiting the tower—have you found the dark room... The action was faster than he expected .

"National teacher? Cough... National teacher?" Seeing that he had been silent for a long time, the minister who was holding his arm squeezed out a panicked smile, "The matter of my wife begging for a son...isn't it right?"

The national teacher came back to his senses bluntly, yawned lowly, and answered him perfunctorily, "...be quiet, wait, year..."

After the minister heard this, the forced smile on his face was replaced with sincerity, he hurriedly thanked him, and said flatteringly: "The national teacher is tired? Do you want to go back to the national teacher's tower to rest first?"

……go back?Now is not the time to go back.The national teacher let out a cracked and strange laugh from his throat with unknown meaning, "...No, no..."

Although I heard him say no need, but seeing that he was indeed tired, the rest of the ministers who were waiting by the side couldn't go forward to ask again - who knew that the state teacher was so sleepy, so it was not accurate That's right—they can only scatter like birds and beasts with regret on their faces, each returning to his place, listening to music and dancing.

...is it gone?also good.Keep your ears clean.The national teacher stretched out his hand slowly, and got a wine glass. He was about to call the young eunuch to fill him some wine, when someone came up to take the wine pot and refilled his glass.

Sensing the faint aura lingering around his side, the national teacher paused the hand holding the cup, and turned his head to "look" at the visitor.

... The sect's rescuers invited by the prince finally couldn't hold back anymore, did they want to confront him directly?Heh, after all, one generation is not as good as the previous generation, not compared to those gangs back then——

He stopped his thoughts, and heard a voice that was so familiar to him, but it had been so long that he almost forgot it: "—I wonder if Xiaosheng is lucky enough to ask the national teacher to help me find a match?"

——Tan Jun welcome!

The four eyes meet each other, a pair of peach blossom eyes are full of inquiry, and a pair of gray and white eyes are empty.It was the reunion of old friends from the past, one face remained the same, but the other was completely different, and the face of the old man could no longer be seen clearly.

I don't know why he showed up at this juncture, I don't know why he came - did he recognize him?Is it to seek revenge?Or... with the prince?

Whether it is true or not, in the end he can't mess up his position and ruin his plan.

Guo Shikong looked at him, calmly put the wine glass under the veil, moistened his chapped lips with the wine, and asked just now: "...What are you asking?"

There are many clues, but no clue, blind guessing is useless, it is better to take a risky game and ask the national teacher directly.Ignoring the surprised gazes cast by Qin Nianjiu and Ji Zhuoran, Tan Fengyue only looked down at the hunched black-robed national teacher, and said indifferently: "It's not about things, but people. I don't know if the national teacher can Calculate."

I want to ask someone... Ha, who could I ask.I wasn't there back then, so I just remembered to ask now?The national teacher couldn't help letting out a shrill laugh from his throat, full of mockery, "...Oh?...Who?"

Unexpectedly, he heard him say word by word: "My surname is Xu, and my name is Yan Qing."

Seeing that the national teacher was slightly stunned, Tan Fengyue pretended to be sincere and added: "Oh, that's the word 'Haiyan Heqing'."

...Yuan recognized him.I haven't seen him for many years, but this person's temper has become much calmer.The national teacher smiled hoarsely again, he didn't even bother to pretend to pinch his fingers, and responded bluntly: "...the person is, dead...why, should, count?"

Unexpectedly, he would answer like this, Tan Fengyue was slightly taken aback, and then sighed with fake regret after a while, "...Really. Do you know how he died?"

……he does not know?he does not know!As if he couldn't bear it anymore, the national teacher kept laughing hoarsely, and said in a low voice with an overly piercing laugh: "... people, death is like a lamp, extinguish... and, ask this... and, what's the matter?" use?"

"..." Finding that the national teacher seems to have been deliberately avoiding the events of the past, Tan Fengyue frowned slightly, and still said calmly: "It is necessary to clarify the death of the old man, so as to seek peace of mind."

Peace of mind?He was about to be out of breath from laughing at his words, the national teacher let out a few short guttural sounds one after another, "...I'm afraid, I'm afraid you know, you know... It's difficult, you feel at ease..."

...What does this mean?Hearing that he directly pointed the words at herself, Tan Fengyue frowned deeper, a trace of panic seemed to creep into her heart for no reason, and she stopped pretending to be with him, and asked straightforwardly: "Why don't you feel at ease? What did i do wrong?"

Realizing that he really didn't know anything about what happened back then, the national teacher's ugly laughter was mixed with a bit of sarcasm and a bit of desolation, "...no, yes....you, that, nothing, did nothing ..."

In the main hall, the singing did not end, and the dancing did not stop.The melodious music dissipated his voice in an instant, diluting it into a sigh.

Hearing that there seemed to be some accusations in his words, and hearing him say "no", Tan Fengyue became more and more puzzled, she pursed her lips wordlessly, and was about to ask further, but the national teacher suddenly stopped laughing and smiled slightly. Leaning forward, looking at him with a pair of white pupils, he said: "...the day before yesterday, at the banquet, there were, two, little eunuchs, watching...interesting. Today, why, didn't you see?"

Realizing that he has noticed that the two little leaves are actually from the sect, and more likely to have noticed their intentions, Tan Fengyue lightly shook her sleeves, hid the silver fan in her hand, and said calmly: "There are many eunuchs in the palace. , I don’t know which two the national teacher is talking about?”

The national teacher was not thinking about this at all, but just wanted to see if he knew that the two people were actually the sword spirit of that person. Hearing this, he laughed sinisterly, and still said with sarcasm: "...Yes, I don't know!...You, just, don't know anything..."

——If he knew, how could he associate with the Zongmen people? If he knew, how could he let those two sword spirits stay in the Zongmen and recognize the thief as his father!

If he knew back then...

I don't understand why he seems to be hostile to me, and I don't know why he insists on an attitude of not wanting to pursue the events of the past. It was he who came forward to test the national teacher first, but he was always passive... ...Tan Fengyue clenched the silver fan under her sleeve for a little while, and took half a step back, "I see that the national teacher is also tired, so I won't bother you..."

But suddenly, a shriveled and thin hand clasped his left wrist.

He almost didn't see how he made the move, only felt that there was a icy cold on his wrist, Tan Fengyue was shocked for a moment, and almost wanted to show the silver fan, but he didn't see any extra movements from the national teacher, he just said in a low voice He laughed and said: "...It's rare to see you again. Since, it's here... I will, also, take my life for you..."

The five fingers around the wrist were as cold as ice picks, Tan Fengyue resisted the discomfort and said: "No need, I don't believe in fate."

The national teacher didn't pay any attention to his words, and ran across his wrist with his fingertips, and then laughed sullenly as if he had found some fun.

Realizing that Tan Junying in front of him is just a mortal body, there is nothing to be afraid of, the laughter in his throat became harsher, and he gave him a verdict: "...a sweet dream, exhausted, and it is useless to start again... To stay, not to stay, to be empty in a blink of an eye..."

"..." I realized that the national teacher was full of dislike for me, but I didn't expect that he would swear bad words to himself in a sly way. Withdrawing his hand, he walked away.

The national teacher didn't stop him, he just shrank back in his seat with a half-smile, watching the blurry outline in front of him gradually fade away and return to a vast expanse of whiteness.

--"you!"

As soon as Tan Fengyue sat back beside Qin Nianjiu, she was slapped mercilessly. Qin Nianjiu glared at him angrily, "Are you possessed by that little leaf?! Why did you rush over to find that little leaf?" Master?!"

"I wanted to hurry up and 'dust settle'—" Fearing that the ghost would be worried, Tan Fengyue reluctantly opened her frowning brows, suppressed all her thoughts back to the bottom of her heart, and said in a relaxed tone: "I didn't expect to be Against the generals, I didn’t ask anything.”

"..." The national teacher seemed to be a scheming man, how could he pry words out of his mouth so easily, Qin Nianjiu looked at him speechlessly, "I want you to hurry up, but I don't want you to leave immediately! "

Tan Fengyue shrugged, "I am not a member of Yuyan Sect, and no one came to punish me for kneeling." He was slightly relieved, and smiled with him: "Even when he grabbed my wrist, I was still worried that you would rush up" Save the beauty"—"

Feeling that this old ancestor has become a lot more frivolous again, Qin Nianjiu was speechless for a while, he almost brought up his umbrella before saying nothing, just snorted and said: "I thought you two were old acquaintances, he More or less, I will be merciful to you."

"That's all, after all, there is no news from Sanjiu." Tan Fengyue brought the new soup from the eunuch to Qin Nianjiu, and tried to persuade him to calm down, "Just treat me as if I'm going to hold back the national teacher. Let him leave the table and go back to Taco first?"

As he said that, he glanced at the side of the national teacher, "Here, the crown prince has also passed."

Far from being tense with Tan Junying just now, the national teacher caught the sound of Ji Zhuoran's footsteps, and lazily raised his head and "looked" at him, "...the crown prince...is also here to ask for a calculation? ?”

It doesn't matter whether it's fate or chatting, just keep him at the banquet and not let him leave.Ji Zhuoran smiled and said, "Why not."

Then he generously rolled up the brocade sleeve and passed his wrist over.

"...No, use... don't..." The national teacher didn't take his hand, and smiled hoarsely, and then made a straightforward assertion, "...the mechanism, the calculation, the gain, the loss, the arrival...Dream, Bubbles, all become smoke, clouds..."

Hearing this inauspicious and ominous assertion, Ji Zhuoran did not get angry, but still smiled, "Is that so? Bengong said it was not certain."

The national teacher has many eyes in the palace, and if he thinks that he gathers people from the sect to deal with him, he probably can't hide it from him.But...it's hard to say who will win the battle.

"...One, don't believe it, two, don't believe it..." The national teacher shook his head, smiled sullenly, sipped his wine to moisten his lips, and when he spoke again, the conversation turned away, "...Eight, prince, How about your eyes?"

He was so happy to leave him chatting at the banquet, Ji Zhuoran's face remained unchanged, he called the eunuch to add a soft stool for him, and sat down nearby, "Master Lao is worried..."

……

Looking at the national teacher and Ji Zhuoran who were "talking happily" from a distance, Qin Nianjiu breathed a sigh of relief, and turned his head to glance at Tan Fengyue, "Those two little leaves are really punished for nothing... Tsk, but after a while... After a day, one by two rushed to join the national teacher - not afraid of accidents!"

"The situation at the palace banquet is unclear first, so it's better to watch it from a distance. There are other arrangements for this one, and of course the priority must be to hold back the national teacher." Tan Fengyue naturally defended her recklessness, and then paused for a while, " But it is indeed a bit strange... At the banquet the day before yesterday with the brother surnamed Ye, at the banquet with me today, the national teacher has clearly recognized that they are actually members of the sect, and I have an old relationship with him, why did he not do anything to us? Have you seen him do anything else?"

……really.Qin Nian paused for a long time, "Maybe it's like what you said, the situation is still unclear for him, so it's better to watch from a distance and stay still?"

Tan Fengyue pondered for a while, "...or maybe, he still has a backup, so he is not afraid?"

"..." Qin Nianjiu fell into silence, and after a while, he tapped his forehead with the back of his hand irritably, "It's like this every time, and I can't figure out the eyebrows after guessing."

"Tianzun, don't worry, when Sanjiu and the others come back from exploring the tower, there may be new clues." Tan Fengyue pushed the bowl of soup that was still hot in front of him, and coaxed him with a smile, "Don't think about it if you are worried. Alright, try this, it's much more delicious than shredded bamboo shoots."

It’s okay not to mention Sanjiu, but when he mentions it, he is worried... Qin Nianjiu stirred the thick soup with a silver spoon depressedly, and saw that there were many finely minced meat strips and shredded mushrooms wrapped together In the gravy, it didn't look like pork or beef that he had seen and tasted before, so he asked the ancestor, "What kind of dish is this? Chicken soup?"

Tan Fengyue is always afraid that he will show such simple confusion, and make him inevitably think of his empty 67 years... Inevitably he sighed softly in his heart, he slightly hooked the corners of his lips, and explained to him: " No, this is snake silk soup—"

There was a sudden pause in his voice, Qin Nianjiu was also startled, and he recalled what the prince said: "I was afraid of snakes when I was young, and I was frightened by pythons when I was young, and I fell off the cliff—"

"Uh..." Qin Nianjiu looked hesitantly at Ji Zhuoran who was dragging and talking with the national teacher, "...The prince is afraid of snakes, so will the palace prepare dishes made of snake meat?"