Qingyuan Tower Although it is a kiln, the decoration of the private rooms is quite charming.
The gauze curtains and window lattice are exquisitely carved, the interior furnishings are simple and elegant, the walls are filled with calligraphy and paintings, and the fragrance of tea lingers on the table.
One side faces the street, covered with snow in winter Chang'an.
Looking inward from the other side, looking through the window, the pond below is rippling with water vapor, the rockery is covered with snow, and the opera pavilion is located in the middle of the water, with green tiles covering the roof and cornices at the four corners.
In the pavilion, the sounds of fish drum, Yunxiang Ban and banhu intersect, and the hale old man holds Erhu in his hand and sings. "Zhongnan Mountain, a poor Daoist monk, raises his hand every day to eat Daoist ginseng, eats Qianjia rice for his mouth, and chants boundless Dharma..."
The lyrics are elegant and vicissitudes of life, it is exactly Zhouzhi Taoist Opera.
The title of the play <Selling the Taoist Robe> is about the sixty-fourth birthday of Han Yu. Han Xiangzi, who has become an immortal, transforms into a Daoist boy. He comes to pay homage to his birthday and wants to sell his Daoist robe as a treasure.
A lot of laughter is all enlightenment Han Yu.
Later, the two Fang Xiang recognized each other, and Han Yu asked him when they would meet again?
Han Xiangzi smiled and said: Unless that "Snow Blocks Blue Pass, Horses Cannot Advance".
Han Yu didn't know why, and was later demoted for admonishing and welcoming the Buddha's bones. When he arrived at Qinling Blue Pass, he saw a man coming from the wind and snow, it was Han Xiangzi. He said with a smile, "Do you still remember that poem?"
Han Yu sighed for a long time and chanted, "Nine Heavens, a memorial to the court, was demoted to eight thousand people on Chaoyang Road in the evening. If you want to eliminate evil things for the sage, you are willing to cherish your decline and cherish your remaining years? Where is Yun Heng's family in Qinling? Snow Blocks Blue Pass, Horses Cannot Advance. I know you came from afar with intention, so that you can collect my bones by the Miasma River."
This poem is called <Moved to Blue Pass, Showing Nephew Xiang>.
Li Yan shook his head and listened carefully.
Although these Daoist dramas are all folk tales, most of which were compiled by later generations and are not true Daoist secrets, they have profound implications.
The uncle and nephew Hei Dan next to them were both absent-minded.
His eyes were complicated, as if he was recalling the past.
One of them looked around with curiosity on his face.
"Wan Fang girl is here!"
With a shout from Big Teapot, the door slowly opened, and a woman covered her face with a fan and swayed in.
She was dressed in white and had a graceful figure. She covered her nose with a fan, revealing only her fair skin and soft eyes.
Gudong!
Next to him, Hei Dan's eyes widened and he swallowed.
The young man has just begun to fall in love. How could he have seen such stunning beauty?
The round fan is half-covered, just like holding the pipa and half-covering the face, adding a hint of temptation in the mystery.
Li Yan had no choice but to spread his hands and said, "I really have no money."
In a word, it is a terrible sight.
He was just looking for someone, but Big Teapot and the old bustard were welcomed into this private room in a daze.
Qingyuan Tower Courtesan Zhao WanFang, will also come to serve.
According to Big Teapot, this Zhao Wan Fang is a descendant of the Emperor of the Song Dynasty, with peerless beauty and profound knowledge. There are countless high-ranking officials in Chang'an City, but they would not even come to see him.
Li Yan thinks it's all nonsense.
But if you want to find someone, you can only make it clear first.
Poof!
Hearing Li Yan say that he had no money, Courtesan Zhao WanFang sneered, "Young Master Li are you in such a hurry to leave?"
As he spoke, he shook his fan slightly, revealing his exquisite appearance.
Next to him, Hei Dan blushed and lowered his head, not daring to look again.
Li Yan wanted to continue explaining, but a glint flashed in his eyes, he leaned back, assumed a sitting posture like a golden sword, and said with a smile, "Why do I feel that it's not me who is in a hurry... but the girl who is a little anxious?"
"Oh?"
Zhao Wan Fang's eyes were full of charm, as if there was a layer of mist, and water would drip out at any moment. He twisted and swayed forward, "Look at what you said, it's still daylight, what's the hurry for me?"
As he spoke, his skirt shook.
Whoosh!
A beautiful leg popped out as coldly as a poisonous snake, as fast as thunder, and there was a dagger on the tip of the shoe, piercing Li Yan's throat.
However, Li Yan was well prepared. He struck with his left hand, grabbing the opponent's ankle and sending it away. At the same time, he wrapped his right hand around the silk and grabbed it, blocking the right palm that was attacking his eyes, and used his strength to twist it.
Zhao Wan Fang lost his balance and sat down on his lap.
Just as she was about to move, she found that Li Yan had strangled her neck. Her palms were like steel. With just a slight movement, she could break her slender neck.
Both parties moved very quickly, just in the blink of an eye.
In the eyes of Hei Dan's uncle and nephew nearby, it was the beauty who first flirted with words, then spun around and lay in Li Yan's arms.
Okay, it's broad daylight...
Li LaoGan quickly covered Hei Dan's eyes with his hands.
"Skirt Leg?"
Li Yan There is a smile on the corner of the mouth, but the eyes are cold, "I mean, the girl is anxious to save my life, so I have to explain the reason first."
"Eating Ge Nian? Whose job did you receive?"
The so-called "those who eat Ge Nian" are Ge Family, which is opposite to Guazi Trade. They are both from the training family, but they rely on their martial arts to do business such as murder, kidnapping, and robbery, and they are usually hired by others.
He asked himself that he had not offended anyone in the brothel.
Then the most likely possibility is the killer.
Skirt Leg This Kung Fu cannot be practiced well without inheritance.
The uncle and nephew Hei Dan next to him were startled. He was about to stand up and shout, but was signaled by Li Yan's eyes and sat down again.
The situation is unknown, so be careful of other people.
Courtesan Zhao WanFang At this time, the charm was gone, her eyes were determined, and the blade of the fan gradually stretched out from under the fan in her hand.
Li Yan has an amazing sense of smell. He can detect it even with his eyes closed. How could he be tricked? He freed up his other hand and twisted it, causing the fan to fall immediately.
There was no patience left in his eyes, "This guy has so many things to do, he must be a den of thieves, and he just happened to be all over it!"
"It has nothing to do with others!"
Zhao Wan Fang's face changed slightly, and he said solemnly, "You and I have a personal enmity. Even if you don't come to the door today, you will still wait for an opportunity to strike."
"I'm in trouble today. If you want to kill or chop me into pieces, don't implicate others!"
"Private vendetta?"
Li Yan said thoughtfully, "I killed someone of yours. Let me tell you about it, so I can get an idea."
When he entered the Jianghu, countless people died under his command.
Although they all had reasons for taking action, these people did not jump out of the cracks in the rocks after all.
It's not surprising that someone seeks revenge.
Zhao Wan Fang gritted his teeth, "It's not you, it's your father!"
"My father?"
Li Yan felt dizzy when he heard this, and then frowned, "That's nonsense. You are so young, how can you have anything to do with my father."
"Hahaha..."
Zhao Wan Fang smiled bleakly, his eyes full of misery, "Back then, your father had an accident in Jin Cui Brothel, but people in the world took revenge. My mother and aunt were all buried in the sea of fire."
"You know how much I have suffered over the years. I don't want to live anymore. It's just a pity that I didn't take you with me..."
Li Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, "Are you a survivor?"
When he came to Chang'an this time, he naturally followed the investigation of what happened that year. Unfortunately, that Jin Cui Brothel was burned, and the official files said that everyone was dead.
Unexpectedly, there was one left...
Thinking of this, he whispered a few words into Zhao Wan Fang's ear, then stretched out his hand to push and let go.
Zhao Wan Fang rolled forward, picked up the fan from the ground, and held it in front of him as if holding a dagger behind his back, with uncertain eyes, "Is what you said true?"
Li Yan said in a deep voice, "This matter is secret. If you want to find the murderer alive, don't make it public. I will come to you to discuss it in detail tonight."
Zhao Wan Fang's eyelids trembled slightly, "Okay!"
Although she practiced martial arts, she was no more than Peak of Manifested Strength and had not yet stepped into Hidden Strength. This time, she also tried her best to seduce Li Yan with her beauty. She took advantage of Li Yan's unpreparedness and slashed her with a knife.
The blades of the knives are all quenched with poison, and they all want to die together.
But Li Yan's strength was obviously not something she could compete with, and what the other party mentioned also made her suspicious.
The actions of the two made Hei Dan confused.
Make out for a while,
Use the knife in a while,
Could this be Jianghu?
Li Yan didn't know what Hei Dan was thinking. He stared at Zhao Wan Fang and said in a deep voice, "We will talk about this later. There is something else that I want to trouble the girl with."
After hearing what he said about the cause and effect, Zhao Wan Fang was silent for a moment, turned around and came to the door of the house, his expression returned to normal, he opened the door and said softly, "Hu Dengzi, go, please Band Leader Bai come over."
Zhao Wan Fang has some status among this Qingyuan Tower. Big Teapot quickly went to invite someone, and soon an old man came up with a happy face.
The old man was skinny and dry, with a dog skin plaster on his neck, and the corners of his clothes were torn. He was obviously not doing well.
He originally thought it was a high-profile guest who wanted to watch the show, but when he saw everyone in the room, he was stunned for a moment, his eyes were complicated, and then he squeezed out a smile and said, "Junior brother Li, it's you, long time no see."
"Senior Brother Bai..."
Seeing the old man, Li LaoGan was a little excited at first, but when he heard these words, he trembled and said in disbelief, "It's... it's you?"
"Why don't I understand what Junior Brother Li said?"
A flash of panic flashed in the old man's eyes, but he was pretending to be confused.
"You old fool!"
Li LaoGan was instantly furious and came up to grab his clothes, "Senior brother, I treat you well, why are you hurting me!"
Li Yan looked on coldly and shook his head slightly.
The so-called thief has a guilty conscience, but the old man let it slip right away.
Li LaoGan came to help him before, but now he came to his door in despair. The other party didn't care about what happened recently, and didn't ask why he hadn't seen him for a long time. He only meant one thing:
He knows the situation of Li LaoGan and even knows the inside story.
Being torn apart by Li LaoGan, the old man didn't fight back. He was silent at first, and then he couldn't hold it any longer. He burst into tears and fell to his knees, "Junior brother, I can't help you..."
With runny nose and tears, he explained the reason.
It's still gambling that's to blame.
Since the master left, their opera troupe's situation has deteriorated day by day, and they can't survive in the local area, so they think that Chang'an City is prosperous and they can always make a living here.
However, Chang'an City is prosperous and there are more capable people.
Shaanzhou is not the only one who is an expert in shadow puppetry here.
Not to mention the Huayin Laoqiang team, experts from all over Sichuan and Qilu gathered together, and they all have unique skills.
With just a few moves, they were able to hang out on the street and eat their fill. Later, they relied on connections to take root in Qingyuan Tower.
Although I can put food on the table, I can't save any money.
In addition, this Pingkang Ward is the busiest place in Chang'an, prosperous and charming, and the young people in the team will inevitably feel unhappy.
How come other people can have a lot of money, but they have a low life!
Li LaoGan was quite wealthy at that time, and he was dressed luxuriously when he came to the door. Although he was kindly offering help, it also made those young people even more unwilling. They tried to get Band Leader Bai to intercede and teach them the craftsmanship of making Spirit Hide.
Band Leader Bai Although he was jealous, he still had principles. Knowing that this matter was unscrupulous, he reprimanded those young people without mentioning it.
Not long after, those people became addicted to gambling.
I thought I would become rich suddenly, but I lost everything and still owed a large sum of money to the gambling house.
Now that the matter has come to a point, they have decided to unite with each other and try to win their money back by playing Conman.
What kind of place is that casino? There are so many masters there. They were spotted on the spot. They tied up a few people in the middle of the night and asked Band Leader Bai to redeem them with money.
Otherwise, the body will be collected the next day.
Band Leader Bai had no money, so he begged hard.
Those young people were scared, so they shouted at the casino people to go to Li LaoGan to ask for compensation.
One of them also revealed the origin of the Li LaoGan craftsmanship.
This attracted the attention of the casino people. One of the leaders immediately said that the debt could be cancelled, but asked them to write down the cause and effect of the incident one by one with a pen.
They returned by chance, but they were all frightened.
Not long after, news came that Li LaoGan had an accident...
"Bring those guys up!"
Hearing this, Zhao Wan Fang also looked disgusted.
Soon, those young people were brought in. Perhaps because of their dirty tempers, they all had sinister looks on their faces.
When I saw Li LaoGan, I immediately knew that the matter was exposed.
"Old man Li, it has nothing to do with me, it's all his idea..."
"Fart, didn't you say it first?"
One person even slapped a stick on his neck and yelled, "What the hell are you afraid of? This old guy provoked dirty things and sucked my father's essence. The matter is not over yet!"
"Also, our troupe is in trouble. This old dog must have caused trouble and ruined our luck. We have to make him compensate us!"
"Yes, pay for it!"
Those boys seemed to have gained the courage, and they all stood up and yelled.
"I'll give your mother a ball!"
Hei Dan was already furious and hit him when he came up.
He had been practicing boxing since he was a child. Although he was not very good at it, he was more than good at dealing with these boys, and he immediately beat them until they howled like ghosts.
"Eh~"
Now that things have happened, Band Leader Bai is extremely regretful. He opened his mouth and wanted to plead for mercy, but he just sighed, lowered his head and stopped talking.
"Hei Dan, stop!"
Li LaoGan scolded and called Hei Dan.
Looking at this messy scene, he also had mixed emotions and sighed, "Why do you have to be like this?"
"That craft can only be learned by passing Spiritual Root, otherwise you will suffer disaster. I don't even dare to teach it to my nephew, let alone you."
"Even if one of you passes Spiritual Root, I will pass on this technique without Senior Brother Bai saying anything..."
"You go away. From now on, all ties will be cut off!"
At this time, Zhao Wan Fang suddenly spoke again and said coldly, "Band Leader Bai, although people in the world of rivers and lakes cheat and deceive, there is also a taboo. No one wants to see a villain who repays kindness with revenge."
"The world is so stormy, you guys can't stay with this Chang'an City..."
"Wait!"
Li Yan said in a deep voice, "Let me make it clear first, which gambling house is it and what is it called?"
Band Leader Bai on the side, already full of shame, said directly, "It's Jinbao Gambling House, the one who tricked us is a young scholar."
"We don't know him, but we heard someone calling him Third Brother."
"Jinbao Gambling House?"
Li Yan frowned slightly, thoughtfully.
Xianyang City also has a family called Jinbao Gambling House, which is rumored to be related to a certain nobleman from Chang'an. The two families are probably related...
"Let's go and find someone at Jinbao Gambling House."
"Band Leader Bai Could you please follow me and help me identify it."
Li Yan nodded slightly to Zhao Wan Fang, then took Hei Dan uncle and nephew, and Band Leader Bai towards Jinbao Gambling House.
As soon as they left, Big Teapot took a few men and beat up a few young people, and threw them out together with the guys in the shadow puppet class.
Band Leader Bai sighed and did not look back.
The young people panicked and ran away.
In the white snow, the box of the shadow puppet troupe shattered, and all kinds of little skin figures were scattered on the ground. They were quickly scrambled and trampled in a mess.
A beggar picked up Lord Guan's leather doll, danced with joy, pinched his throat, winked at the beggar next to him and said, "Hey, wait and see who I am!"
"Hahaha..."
The beggars banged their broken bowls and laughed...