DWGL _ Chapter - 28

Chapter 28: The Eight-Barren Formations

Old Man Mu Chi

By the time the two arrived, the commotion on the stage had subsided, and Sai Pan An was still sitting on the stage with his eyes slightly closed, waiting for the next person to solve the game, as if nothing had ever happened.

Duan Bai Yue asked the people around him and found out that someone had come to rob the gold, but before he could rush up to the stage, he was slapped down by Sai Pan An and struggled to get up for a long time, and was just taken away by the officers on patrol.

"Who would have the audacity to do such a thing at the foot of the Emperor and with so many people watching?" Duan Bai Yue frowned.

"No, I think he's crazy poor and hungry for gold.”  The young man said, "It's just that no one expected that the man who set up the ring, who looked like a gentleman and thin, could actually do some kung fu. I didn't even see what was going on before the robber spat blood and flew off, smashing a crater in the ground."

If that was the case, then he was not just a master of kung fu, but an expert. Duan Bai Yue took another look at the stage, then pushed his way out of the crowd with Chu Yuan and walked to a quiet place.

"Do you have something to say?" Chu Yuan asked.

Duan Bai Yue nodded: "I want to go and see who the robbers are."

"This kind of trivial matter will be taken care of by the government." Chu Yuan poked him in the chest, "I don't need to bother Xinan Wang."

Duan Bai Yue said, "Go ahead."

Chu Yuan: "......"

Duan Bai Yue continued with a straight face, "Xinan Wang's Mansion is the most nosy, not to mention the other people fighting, even if it's a couple arguing, I definitely want to listen to the corner."

Chu Yuan was helpless: "Do you really want to go? I'll only take you to the government office, you can see for yourself." After all, according to common belief, Duan Bai Yue should be in Xinnan at this moment, gathering his strength and preparing for a rebellion in the north. He should not be in the Wangcheng with a flowered windmill in his hand.

Duan Bai Yue nodded: "Okay."

Chu Yuan took him through several alleys, stretched out his hand and pointed to a high wall: “Turning over is the prison. At this time, it is estimated that Zhang Zhican has returned to the residence. A bandit is not a big deal, and the trial will be retried tomorrow.”

Duan Bai Yue asked, "Shall I go alone?”

Chu Yuan: “......”

Otherwise?

Duan Bai Yue said, "Together."

Chu Yuan: "......"

Duan Bai Yue quickly shoved the windmill to him, then dragged his waist and leapt, landing steadily in the courtyard.

Chu Yuan raised his palm and hit him.

Duan Bai Yue didn't hide, covering his chest with pain on his face.

Chu Yuan tapped him on the head with a windmill: "Pretend!”

Duan Bai Yue laughed out loud.

The prisoners here are all thieves and gangsters, so there is no fear of robbery, and there are not many patrolling officers. The two of them easily bypassed the snoozing head of the cell and entered the cell without anyone in sight.

The place where the prisoners are kept, the environment is not good, and it is summer, the stench is as pungent as it can be, Duan Bai Yue took out a hand towel from his pocket in time and covered his mouth and nose tightly.

Chu Yuan was dumbfounded, "Your tactics are comparable to those of a kidnapper."

Duan Bai Yue stiffened and then silently covered the handkerchief loosely.

Chu Yuan reached out and pointed to the front, "The newly arrived untried prisoners will all be locked up in this area."

Duan Bai Yue stepped forward quietly and saw four prisons in a row, only two of which were holding prisoners. One of them was a fat man, who was lying on the ground shaking and screaming. He didn't seem to be injured and slept soundly. As for the other person, he was lying on his side curled up on the ground and moaning, his forehead was broken, and he looked miserable with blood all over his head, and he couldn't see his face clearly. Only when he turned over, the blue tattoo on his left arm was revealed.

Duan Bai Yue frowned slightly.

When Chu Yuan saw the difference in his expression, he was about to ask what was wrong but was told to go out first.

The two of them landed back in the alleyway where they had been before, and the air was much better. Chu Yuan said, "Do you recognise that man?"

"If I'm not mistaken, he should be Diamond Monkey." Duan Bai Yue said, "He is a famous thief in the Jianghu, and has been besieged several times, but to no avail."

"Such high kung fu?" Chu Yuan wondered.

"It's not that he has high kung fu, but that he has previously studied with a foreigner and knows the art of ground vanishment." Duan Bai Yue said, "Often, people would try to corner him, only to have him disappear in the blink of an eye."

"If that's true, then the person who set up the ring should also be a master." Chu Yuan said, "Otherwise, he wouldn't have injured him so easily."

Duan Bai Yue nodded, "There doesn't seem to be a name for this person in the Jianghu, I will keep an eye on him in the coming days."

"Even if he is good at kung fu, he is not a nuisance to the public." Chu Yuan said, "What are you watching him for?"

"If we wait for him to cause trouble before arresting him, it will be too late." Duan Bai Yue shook his head, "Besides, this is under the roots of the Imperial City, there can't be any chaos."

"As you wish." Chu Yuan looked at the sky, "I have to go to court tomorrow morning, so I should go back."

"I'll see you off." Duan Bai Yue said.

Chu Yuan stepped on the small stone path and walked back slowly.

Duan Bai Yue took a few steps to follow him and bathed in the bright moonlight side by side.

The shadows of the two figures were lengthened and gradually overlapped and entwined.

As the affairs of the court were complicated, Chu Yuan did not give much thought to Sai Pan An. The next morning, he left a few of his ministers to discuss the matter and then went back to the imperial study to mark a few pages.

"Your Majesty, it's time for dinner." Si Xi said softly.

Chu Yuan was about to say that he had no appetite, but then he remembered that he had only eaten a bowl of congee at noon, so he said, "Pass the meal."

As he walked, Si Xi helped him out of the imperial study and said, "Xinan Mansion has sent some spicy and sour seasonings with fragrant leaves and thatch today, so if Your Majesty's appetite is not good lately, why don't you change it to another taste tomorrow?"

Chu Yuan paused, "Even this has to be sent a long way?"

"Yes." Si Xi said, "There is also a cart of wax fish."

Chu Yuan laughed: "There is no need for a cart, just give it to the other lords."

Si Xi nodded in agreement and turned around and gave the order.

This time the lords had experience, and after receiving the fish, they all found ropes and hung them up under the eaves, and no one ate them - after all, in a few hours, the emperor would probably send soldiers to retrieve them again.

After the evening meal, Chu Yuan did not even have time to have a cup of tea when Lord Taifu entered the palace in a hurry to see him.

Eunuch Si Xi sighed in his heart, the emperor was so relaxed that he thought he could rest early tonight, but something came up again.

"Your Majesty." Tao Taifu was in a hurry and was a bit out of breath, so he looked like he was in a hurry, "I wonder if Your Majesty knows that someone has recently set up a chess tournament in Wangcheng?"

Chu Yuan nodded: "Does Ai Qing mean that Sai Pan An?"

"It is indeed him." Tao Rende said, "That game of chess is definitely not an ordinary game of confusion, but a heart-devouring game."

Chu Yuan frowned slightly.

 "The wrecked game is called Fen Xing Game. At first glance, one may not see anything unusual, but if one becomes obsessed with the game, one will be consumed by it and fall into the path of the devil." Tao Rende said.

"Fen Xing Game, Fen Xing?" Chu Yuan stood up.

"Your Majesty has heard of this mysterious game?" Tao Rende was surprised.

Chu Yuan shook his head and sat back in the dragon chair: "Ai Qing, go on."

"Yesterday, I went to the Da Lisi Temple and found out that more than 50 years ago, there was a master in the Jianghu named Lan Yizhan who had become a demon because of this Fen Xing Chess and committed countless murders.” Tao Rende said, "After that, all the chess manuals with this game on them were burned and no one in the world had ever seen Fen Xing again. It was only because I was obsessed with the game when I was young that I was able to learn about this game, as I had collected a wide range of chess recipes."

"What do you think this person means?" Chu Yuan asked.

Tao Rende said, "I am afraid that the opponent is not a good person."

"People come and go on Tai Ci Road every day, and Sai Pan An is highly skilled in martial arts, if he really wants to cause trouble, innocent people will be hurt." Chu Yuan shook his head, "Since Ai Qing knows about Fen Xing Chess, should be responsible for investigating the matter thoroughly, and remember to protect the people's safety."

"Yes." Tao Rende received the order and bowed to exit the imperial study.

Chu Yuan leaned back in his chair, his brow slightly furrowed, as if he was thinking about something.

Si Xi stood beside him and did not dare to make a sound to disturb him.

"Go and invite Xinan Wang here." After a few moments, Chu Yuan suddenly said.

"Ah?" Eunuch Si Xi had no idea.

"Don't let anyone else see." Chu Yuan stood up and left the door without looking back, "I will wait for him in the bed chamber."

"Yes, yes, yes." Eunuch Si Xi slapped his stomach and happily went to give orders.

Chu Yuan has been used to being served by Si Xi since he was a child. Even if he ascended the throne and succeeded to the throne when he grew up, he did not keep more palace attendants around him, so the palace was very quiet. The night was heavy and the wind blew the gauze tent, and only one plum tree was silent in the courtyard.

When the door was pushed open, Chu Yuan was sitting at the table, lost in thought.

"What's wrong?" Duan Bai Yue closed the door, sat beside him and asked, "I thought something had happened again."

"Something has happened, but it's not serious." Chu Yuan said, "It has to do with Fen Xing."

"Fen Xing?" Duan Bai Yue was surprised, "What, did you lose it?"

Chu Yuan stretched out his hand and a bead was glowing brightly.

Duan Bai Yue laughed: "So?"

"Today, Lord Tai Fu came to the imperial study and said that the remaining game of chess that Sai Pan An had played was also called Fen Xing." Chu Yuan said.

Duan Bai Yue frowned, "Fen Xing?"

Chu Yuan repeated what Tao Rende had said earlier.

"I've never heard of it before." Duan Bai Yue shook his head.

"When I first wanted Fen Xing, I only heard my mother mention it occasionally, saying that it was an auspicious omen from the past, that's all." Chu Yuan said.

"People in the Jianghu want it so badly, but they say it's because it can bring back the dead." Duan Bai Yue took Fen Xing away from his palm, "But no matter what, until we know the truth, we should stay away from it."

Chu Yuan raised the corner of his mouth, "How can you take back something that you have already given away?"

"I'll just send another one some other time." Duan Bai Yue said, "As for Fen Xing if I am sure it is not in danger, I will return it."

"That's fine." Chu Yuan said, "It's getting late, if there's nothing else -"

"Let's have a drink together." Duan Bai Yue interrupted him.

Chu Yuan raised his eyebrows: "Xinan Wang has brought wine with him?"

"I came in a hurry and didn't have time to bring good wine." Duan Bai Yue smiled, "But even if Emperor Chu is thrifty, there should be at least one altar of wine in this huge palace."

Chu Yuan shook his head, "I have to go to the morning court tomorrow."

Duan Bai Yue said, "Here we go again."

"There is still a pile of folders in the imperial study." Chu Yuan leaned on the table, "If I get drunk tonight, I'm afraid a group of old ministers will come to make trouble tomorrow."

Duan Bai Yue sighed, "If I could help, I would really like to do it all for you."

Chu Yuan laughed at his words, "So the rumour is correct, the wolf is ambitious and he has to do the work for me?"

"The rumours are correct, Xinan Wang is indeed ambitious." Duan Bai Yue leaned closer to him, his tone a little ambiguous, "But he doesn't want the kingdom, he wants ......"

"Hey!" Chu Yuan dodged away from him.

"Hm?" Duan Bai Yue calmly reached out and took down a box from a shelf at the back, "It's just a thing, why are you panicking?"

Chu Yuan was speechless and gave him a fierce glare.

Duan Bai Yue shook the box in his hand, "It smells good, what is it?"

Chu Yuan replied, "Spring Night Drunk."

Duan Bai Yue: "......"

Hmm?

"Would Duan Wang like to have a drink?" Chu Yuan asked leisurely.

Duan Bai Yue hesitantly opened it, but it was really ...... Spring Night Drunk. The three words on the bottle were written with a strong brush, obviously in imperial handwriting.

But this object ......

Duan Bai Yue looked up at him again, his heart celestial warfare.

The bottom of Chu Yuan's eyes has quite a deep meaning.

Duan Bai Yue reached out to pull him back, but he got a slap on the face instead: "What are you thinking?"

"Huh?"

"It's a tranquillizer, Xiao Jin prepared it, so I just gave it a random name." Chu Yuan laughed, "You really believe that."

Duan Bai Yue sighed with relief, but he didn't know whether to cry or laugh.

This kind of name can also be randomly named?

Chu Yuan took the box back: "With this medicine, I can sleep more soundly at night."

"The reason why you can't sleep is because you have something in your heart.”  Duan Bai Yue shook his head, "Don't put everything in your heart."

"If the ruler of a country doesn’t put things on, who else can put them?" Chu Yuan asked.

Duan Bai Yue said rightfully, "Naturally, it's the ministers in the court, since they are paid, they have to work hard, otherwise what's the point of keeping them? They are not good-looking and have many problems." If they were in Xinan, they would have been stuffed with worms by Duan Yao in three days.

Chu Yuan looked at him with a smile.

"If you don't want to drink, don't drink, but don't go to the imperial study again." Duan Bai Yue said, "Get some rest. As for Fen Xing and Fen Xing Chess, I will send someone to investigate."

Chu Yuan nodded, "Thank you."

Duan Bai Yue watched him enter the inner chamber before turning around and leaving. After returning to the inn, he took out Fen Xing again, but it was back to its previous state, as dull as the most worthless pearl.

In the days that followed, the imperial guards and Xinan Mansion’s secret guards kept an eye on the ring, both intentionally and unintentionally, but found nothing unusual. The people continued to take the stage every day, but they were always defeated, and they could only watch the golden eyes and stomp their feet.

Early this morning, Duan Bai Yue was drinking tea in his room when he heard the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs and Duan Nian's delighted voice: "Master Nan, Xiao Wang Ye!"

Duan Bai Yue reached out and rubbed his temples.

The door of the room slammed open and Duan Yao said joyfully, "Brother."

"Yao-er." Duan Bai Yue reached out and tapped his head, a little surprised - he thought he was going to come crying again, after all, he was always reluctant.

Nan Mo Xie reached out to take a snack, looked around and praised, "It's really worthy of being Wangcheng, a guest room is much bigger than in Xinan."

"Did you have a safe journey?" Duan Bai Yue poured a cup of tea for him.

"Nothing happened at all." Nan Mo Xie sounded disappointed as if he was looking forward to some chaos.

Duan Bai Yue said with a headache, "If you want to make trouble, you should wait until you return to Xinan and so calm down in Wangcheng."

"I'm still waiting for you to get married, so I won't lose face." Nan Mo Xie opened his bag and rolled out a bunch of things, "I've brought a lot of gifts for your beloved during this journey."

Duan Bai Yue: "......"

The dried vegetables, salted duck eggs, copper plates, silver teapots, porcelain vases, and jade ornaments, they had really bought all the specialities of the towns they had passed.

Nan Mo Xie said, "Does it look okay?"

Duan Yao sighed next to him and thought that this time the master had been buried in the grave for a long time. How could these ragged things be taken out and given away? It was embarrassing. His brother was also a king, and Xinan Mansion was not short of money.

"What is this?" Duan Bai Yue picked up a wooden trinket in his hand.

"This belongs to Yao-er." Nan Mo Xie said, "Yesterday, on the way to Wangcheng, we met an old man in rags who was begging for food, so Yao-er gave him a pocketful of buns in exchange for this little mechanism as a thank-you gift."

"A mechanism?" Duan Bai Yue's heart stirred.

"Yes." Duan Yao put the snack in his mouth and came over to demonstrate for him. After pressing a small, raised ring, five silver needles shot out of the hidden hole and snapped through the pillar with a bang.

Although the shape is not very the same, it is much the same as the ghost wooden box of the day. Duan Bai Yue stood up suddenly and said, "Where is the old man now?”

“How could I know." Duan Yao was taken aback, “I met him at Luming Shanshui Lake yesterday, and I didn't ask him where he was going. I gave the buns and left."

“Follow me into the mountains!” Duan Bai Yue carried him out together, “In any case, someone must be found!"”

Duan Yao was caught off guard and almost died of strangulation.

Nan Mo Xie was very happy, and followed happily, for fear that there would be no excitement to see.

A signal flare whistled into the sky, but the people in the city didn't care when they saw it, and they thought it was another sect that was recruiting people. However, the secret agents of Xinan Mansion, who were hidden in various parts of the city, had already been instructed to rush to the direction where the signal flare had risen.

Duan Nian was guarding the entrance to the mountain path, and after gathering his men, he led them into the mountain to find someone!

"Crazy old man?" Duan Yao was curious as he walked, "What are you looking for him for?"

Duan Bai Yue said casually, "I don't know."

Duan Yao was choked for a moment, slightly saddened.

Duan Bai Yue, however, had no time to comfort his younger brother because he really didn't know.

......

There were not too many people from Xinan Mansion, and Luming Mountain was not too big either. According to Duan Yao's words, the old man from yesterday was already a bit old and his legs were not very strong, so he could not walk very fast.

The time passed in a few hours. At night, Duan Nian circled around the water pool but found no one there. He was about to move to another place when he saw a movement in the deep grass next to him, which looked like someone. So he immediately chased after him.

"Spare my life, warrior!" The man in the bush shouted as he saw someone chasing him, holding his head.

"Don't be afraid, old man." Duan Nian hurriedly said, "I'm not a robber."

"You're not a robber and you're chasing me." The old man's face was filthy and his eyes were full of caution.

"Are you old man Mu Chi?" Duan Nian asked tentatively.

"No, no, no, no." The old man shook his head repeatedly.

Duan Bai Yue had already heard the sound and rushed over.

“I'm really not, I'm just a beggar." The old man twitched his nose and turned to leave.

Duan Yao jumped down from above and stood in front of him.

“Huh? Why are you the little boy?” The old man was very surprised.

“My brother is looking for an old man, are you him or not?" Duan Yao asked.

“No, no, no, no." Continue to shake his head.

“If you are not Mu Chi, how could you know about such an exquisite mechanism?" Duan Bai Yue stepped forward, holding the wooden box he gave Duan Yao yesterday in his hand.

“This is a gadget, where can it be regarded as a delicate mechanism.” The old man's head shook without stopping, but his right hand was quietly stuffed into the burden, and he took out a hidden weapon with lightning speed.

But it's a pity that Duan Yao shot three points faster than him.

After being pressed sideways on the grass, the old man cried: “You little doll is very unkind. I kindly gave you something for self-defence, but you brought someone to catch me.”

“I don't want to either.” Duan Yao was full of bitterness, "But my brother is really not a bad person. Maybe he just wants to ask a few things and he will let you go." Be full of hope for life.

The old man sat cross-legged on the ground and gambled, "Then I won't walk, I need someone to carry me."

Duan Bai Yue said, "Duan Nian!"

Duan Yao quickly moved out of the way, thankful that I’m not the one to carry him.

Duan Nian was so sad that he put his sword into its sheath and stepped forward to carry the old man.

"Young man, you're still too light on your feet." The old man was lying on his back and shook his head, "Aren't you afraid that I will take advantage of the opportunity to poison you?"

"Not really." Duan Yao said from the bottom of his heart as he followed him, "My family grew up eating poisonous insects."

Old man: "......"

After returning to the inn, Duan Bai Yue handed the old man a cup of tea: "I'm sorry for the disturbance today, please forgive me."

"Tell me, what do you want from me?" The old man tacitly acknowledged his identity.

Duan Bai Yue thought for a moment and said, "I don't know."

Old Man Mu Chi: "......"

If you're sick, go cure it quickly.

"It is not me who is looking for a senior, but a friend of mine." Duan Bai Yue continued.

Old man Mu Chi slanted his eyes at him, "A sweetheart?"

Duan Bai Yue raised his eyebrows.

"You are all youngsters." The old man shook his head repeatedly, "Last time, a demon girl came to capture me, saying she wanted to exchange it for the rejuvenation potion, so I think your sweetheart is also in the same line of work as her. So it's better to split up as soon as possible."

Duan Bai Yue insisted, "Please go with me to see him."

The old man grunted with his hands in his pockets, "I've been arrested, what's the point of disagreeing?"

Duan Bai Yue said, "It's no use."

‘I knew this would happen’ was written all over his face as he squatted down on a chair and sighed.

The man who had gone to the palace to deliver the message soon returned, saying that the emperor was waiting in the back garden.

Duan Bai Yue took the old man with him and entered the palace at night.

Duan Yao and Nan Mo Xie wanted to go with them, but Duan Nian stopped them, saying that they would kill themselves if they couldn't, so they had to regretfully drink tea.

The back garden was very quiet, with only one cold palace hall, where no one would normally come.

Eunuch Si Xi was waiting at the other end of the courtyard wall, and when he saw the two of them, he led them into the hall.

When he saw Chu Yuan from afar, the old man rubbed his eyes and then whispered, "Your beloved is really tall, a woman born like this can be called chic." And your aesthetics are also chic.

Chu Yuan's martial arts skills were strong and his ears were naturally good, so his face froze.

Duan Bai Yue frowned and said, "Don't talk nonsense, he is the Emperor."

The Emperor? The old man was stunned for a moment, but then he ran over to him with great speed.

Duan Bai Yue was taken aback.

"I am here to see Your Majesty!" The old man knelt on the ground with shock, saluting in a very solemn manner.

Duan Bai Yue: "......"

He was so reluctant before, but why did he suddenly become so enthusiastic again?

Are you sure you're right in the mind?

"Please rise, old man." Chu Yuan walked two steps closer and reached out to help him up, "No need to be polite."

"Your Majesty, you are really the Emperor." The old man was in tears and asked, "I wonder if I can stay in the palace for a long time to come?"

Duan Bai Yue: "......"

Chu Yuan laughed: "If the old man is willing, naturally, I would like to do so."

The old man continued to cry, "Your Majesty doesn't know, everyone outside wants to catch me, it's a hard time." He needed a source of support.

Duan Bai Yue really couldn't see it, so he stepped forward and forcibly pulled him away: “If you have anything to say, it's not too late for the senior to sit in the room and talk about it.” As long as you don't hold his hands all the time.

The old man was still in tears, crying about how he was being chased around. It would be nice to live in the palace. After all, even the most daring robbers would not dare to come here to rob people.

Si Xi brought in some hot tea and a few plates of dim sum. Somehow, one looked at this idiot old man and felt that he must be very hungry.

"Thank you, Eunuch." The old man looked at Si Xi with envy in his eyes. He had a big stomach, he was not being chased, and he had enough to eat every time.

"Do you want me to go back?" Duan Bai Yue asked hesitantly. In fact, he had no intention of exploring Chu Yuan's secrets, nor did he want to eavesdrop. But since this idiot old man seemed to be so mysterious, he didn't know what kind of trouble he would cause, so he didn't feel comfortable leaving the two of them alone.

"No need, there is no harm in listening together." Chu Yuan said, "I want to ask the old man if he can recreate the Eight Barren Formations. "

—— ฅʕ•̫͡•ʔฅ ——ㄚ

Note: ...

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