That time, they stayed in the inn for several days, and only after Liu Zhuiyi was safe and sound did they set out to the north. Along the way, the four of them had some minor frictions, but they also lived comfortably and happily.
Xun Yan was gentle and kind, and Bian Zhen'er and Yun Yao took good care of her, never letting her do heavy work. Liu Zhuiyi saw this and felt very jealous. She always deliberately walked in front of Bian Zhen'er like a willow in the wind, and sighed tenderly: "Oh, I'm so tired, my head hurts."
But Bian Zhen'er knew she was acting and often pretended not to see it. Liu Zhuiyi was always so angry that he stamped his feet and shouted: "Little monk, you have no conscience!"
Whenever Liu Zhuiyi was angry, Yun Yao would go over to comfort her, saying in a rogue manner: "Come on, Liu'er, if you are tired, come into the young master's arms." Liu Zhuiyi kicked Yun Yao from behind without any hesitation, then sat aside angrily and sulked.
Fortunately, her temper comes and goes quickly, so she doesn't need any comfort and everything will be fine.
On a late summer night, Liu Zhuiyi and his three companions traveled for four hours and finally found a dilapidated land temple in the wilderness where they could rest.
Yun Yao and Bian Zhen'er, the two men, moved quickly and efficiently. They used the straw stalks in the temple to spread a layer of mat on the floor, and then put two pieces of clothing on top to prevent it from hurting people.
"We still have some dry food left, only enough for tonight and tomorrow morning. So, we must go to the market to buy something tomorrow." Yun Yao said as he packed his bag. He took out the last bag of silver ingots and sighed, "It's a pity that there is not much silver left. We have to find a way to earn silver."
"Making money is no big deal, but it's been so deserted here that it might be hard to get to the town." Liu Zhuiyi lay down on the ground, bent his legs, and swung one leg over the other.
"We have to go though. We can't just wait to die," Yun Yao said.
Liu Zhuiyi glared at him and said, "I didn't say I wouldn't leave."
Bian Zhen'er, who had been silent, walked to the door, bit her index finger, and stroked her forehead. The pupil in her forehead lit up again. A faint red light flashed, and the three people were shocked when they saw it.
"Wow, Bian Zhener, what kind of magical power is this?" Yun Yao ran over to join in the fun.
Bian Zhen'er did not shy away from the question and said, "This is called the eyebrow pupil, and it can see things far away."
"Wow! What did you see?" Yun Yao looked outside the temple and stared at Bian Zhener excitedly.
Bian Zhen'er shook his head and said, "Within fifty miles, there is not a single family to be seen. There is only one deserted village."
"Ah?" Yun Yao's shoulders slumped like a wilted eggplant. "Then I'm afraid we won't see him even if we walk all morning tomorrow."
"Maybe we'll see him after walking fifty miles. Besides, we have a carriage, so it won't take us the whole morning to walk." Liu Zhuiyi mocked Yun Yao.
Yun Yao thought about it and it was true. He looked at Liu Zhuiyi who was lying on the floor with her eyes closed, walked over to her side, and said rudely: "Liu'er, let's sleep together." But before Yun Yao lay down, Liu Zhuiyi kicked him out, "Get out!"
Yun Yao rubbed his buttocks and returned to the other side politely. He waved to Bian Zhener and said, "Come, little monk, let's sleep together."
Bian Zhener shook his head helplessly, closed the door of the land temple, built a fire inside, and then lay down next to Yun Yao.
That night, everyone was asleep, except for one person who remained awake.
Just after the Yin hour, a strong wind blew outside the door, and the dilapidated old mahogany door of the land temple could not withstand the wind and was blown down. The sound of the mahogany door collapsing woke up Bian Zhener and Liu Zhuiyi, and they both sat up in shock.
Bian Zhener looked at Liu Zhuiyi and said, "I'll go out and take a look." He got up and walked to the door. Liu Zhuiyi could only see a vague outline of Bian Zhener's figure, and the wind was rustling his clothes.
"Little monk, is it going to rain?" Liu Zhuiyi rested his hands on the straw and felt the slightly damp air.
Bian Zhener frowned slightly and said, "It doesn't look like rain."
Liu Zhuiyi got up and walked behind Bian Zhener, who raised her hand to signal her to stay in the house and not come out. Bian Zhener walked out of the temple to investigate the strange night image.
"Little monk." Liu Zhuiyi held onto the door frame and called out to Bian Zhener worriedly.
"Miss Liu, wake them both up." Bian Zhener said.
"Okay." Liu Zhuiyi went back and shook the sleeping Xun Yan, "Xun Yan, wake up." Fortunately, Xun Yan had a light sleep and woke up as soon as he was called. But Yun Yao, with his limbs spread out like a pig, could not be woken up no matter how much he was called. Liu Zhuiyi had no choice but to pinch his thigh. Yun Yao immediately sat up and said in a daze, "What's wrong? What's wrong?"
"The sky is falling!" Liu Zhuiyi complained to him angrily and turned to look at Bian Zhener.
Bian Zhener walked in and said, "It's windy outside, but the clouds in the night sky haven't moved at all. It looks a bit weird. Everyone, be careful."
When Yun Yao heard this, he immediately huddled up and hid behind Liu Zhuiyi, saying, "Liu'er, I will protect you."
Liu Zhuiyi looked at him speechlessly without saying a word.
Xun Yan was a little nervous, and unconsciously moved closer to Liu Zhuiyi and Yun Yao, but as she moved, she felt something crawling across her fingers. She looked down and saw a few black hard-shelled reptiles crawling out of the straw, with their blood-red eyes sticking out!
"Ah——" Xun Yan screamed suddenly.
Bian Zhen'er was quick and agile. He held Xun Yan's shoulders, lifted her up, stepped back with his heels, and flew to the open space. Yun Yao also found that there were reptiles moving where he was sitting, and immediately helped Liu Zhuiyi stand up.
"Don't stay in the temple, go outside!" Bian Zhener said loudly.
When the four of them hid outside the temple, they found that the temple was also full of reptiles. Liu Zhuiyi turned her head and looked back, and happened to see the reptiles bypassing the fire that Bian Zhener had started. She understood something in her heart, and rushed over to pick up two torches. The reptiles saw the situation and climbed onto the back of her hand. Liu Zhuiyi shook off the reptiles and kicked another torch to Bian Zhener: "Little monk, catch it!"
Bian Zhener reached out to catch the torch that was thrown to him, and swept it at the reptile, which indeed took half a step back.
"Yun Yao." Liu Zhuiyi handed a torch in his hand to Yun Yao. Bian Zhener protected Xun Yan and cleared the way for everyone. Liu Zhuiyi and Yun Yao carefully provided support.
But the reptiles were so dense that three people were not enough to disperse them. Xun Yan had been holding Bian Zhen'er's hand and had no power to defend herself.
"My legs..." Xun Yan suddenly became nervous. Several reptiles crawled up her legs. Seeing this, Bian Zhen'er subconsciously reached out to brush them away, but the reptiles saw that someone was attacking them and bit them without mercy. Bian Zhen'er felt a pain on one side of her palm, but she did not stop for a moment.
Seeing this, Liu Zhuiyi went to help Bian Zhener, but she was confused by the sudden appearance of so many reptiles. Liu Zhuiyi was sharp-eyed and saw the straw piled near the land temple. She gritted her teeth and said, "I'm sorry, Grandpa Land, please be generous and don't blame me." As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Zhuiyi threw the torch onto the dry grass outside the land temple.
Suddenly, the dry grass burst into flames. The reptiles were afraid of the raging fire and did not dare to get close. After hesitating for a moment, they slowly retreated . Liu Zhuiyi finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Bian Zhen'er! What's wrong with you?" Xun Yan's voice suddenly rose anxiously. Liu Zhuiyi turned his head and saw that Bian Zhen'er's lips were purple and his body was lying limply in Xun Yan's arms.
Yun Yao led the carriage tied outside the land temple over and said, "The land temple is about to collapse, let's get on the carriage first. Liu'er, you can keep an eye on Bian Zhen'er from the carriage."
"Okay." Liu Zhuiyi seemed calm, but there was a hint of fear in her eyes. She felt quite uneasy in her heart, but she didn't know where this uneasiness came from.
Everyone worked together to lift Bian Zhener onto the carriage, and Yun Yao drove in front.
Liu Zhuiyi held Bian Zhen'er's dark, almost stiff right hand, looking at the bite marks that were as terrifying as the dark abyss, and felt a little uneasy. She tore off a piece of cloth from her skirt and tied it around Bian Zhen'er's wrist to prevent the spread of the poison.
Liu Zhuiyi reached out and touched Bian Zhener's cold face covered with sweat, and asked worriedly: "Little monk, can you hear me? I will find a way to save you, but you have to hold on, okay?"
Bian Zhen'er was shaking all over, his eyes were rolling back, his lips were trembling, and he was unable to answer a single word for a long time.
"Sister Liu." Xun Yan was so scared that she started crying, "What should I do?"
"I don't know what kind of poison this is, but it's very potent. Now, I'm afraid I have to find a way to suck out the toxin first, and then do other treatments." Liu Zhuiyi said. She felt a little guilty, blaming herself for the fact that her little medical skills were of no use at the critical moment.
"Then let me suck it. Bian Zhen'er is like this because he saved me." Xun Yan didn't say anything, picked up Bian Zhen'er's injured hand, and sucked on the wound. Liu Zhuiyi stretched out her hand to stop her, and then slowly put it back. Yun Yao was driving in a hurry, and the carriage was very bumpy. She lifted the curtain and said to Yun Yao, "Stop for a while."
Yun Yao stopped driving and took a look inside.
Liu Zhuiyi clearly saw that Xun Yan was showing signs of dizziness due to the effects of the toxin.
"That's enough." Liu Zhuiyi stopped Xun Yan. There was a large amount of thick blood on Xun Yan's lips. She was weak to begin with and could not withstand the effects of the poison. Her consciousness became blurred and she fainted.
"She..." Yun Yao was confused when he saw this.
Liu Zhuiyi found a small dagger from the car, heated it with a fire stick, and said, "Because of saving her, Bian Zhen'er's life was hanging by a thread. She may blame herself. She is fine. She needs to rest for a while. I will make some medicine for her tomorrow morning. She will be fine."
Liu Zhuiyi held Bian Zhener's hand and scratched the wound. Bian Zhener groaned in pain and sweat broke out on his body. Liu Zhuiyi stretched out his hand to cover Bian Zhener's forehead and gently stroked him to relieve the pain of the wound.
"Yun Yao, squeeze out the poisonous blood for him." Seeing Bian Zhen'er rolling over and over in pain, Liu Zhuiyi handed his hand to Yun Yao, moved forward, hugged Bian Zhen'er's head, and placed his fingers between his teeth.
Because Xun Yan had sucked out the outer layer of blood clots before, Yun Yao squeezed out the largest mass of poisonous blood. Thick black blood clots fell on his clothes, and waves of pungent smells came to his nose. If Bian Zhener felt any pain, he would bite Liu Zhuiyi's fingers tightly. Liu Zhuiyi frowned and reluctantly relieved him.
Yun Yao looked at Liu Zhuiyi, sighed heavily in his heart, and bandaged Bian Zhener's wound.
Liu Zhuiyi is usually playful, spoiled and willful, but at critical moments she always thinks of Bian Zhener, even if Bian Zhener doesn't know.
Perhaps, some people do things without the other party knowing.
As for some people, there is no need to express the feelings we have for them.
One is for Liu Zhuiyi, the other is for Yun Yao. As for Bian Zhener, no one knows what he is thinking.
Yun Yao drove to the deserted village that Bian Zhen'er had mentioned before. It was still dawn, but the occasional thunderbolt illuminated the sky. He and Liu Zhuiyi worked together to bring Bian Zhen'er and Xun Yan to the village, just as a thunderstorm was about to arrive.
Bian Zhen'er felt a little better, the cold sweat faded away, the color of her lips gradually returned, and the temperature of her injured hand returned to normal.
Xun Yan was carried into the village by Yun Yao and woke up stumbling. As soon as she woke up, she asked, "Master Yun, how is Bian Zhen'er?"
"He won't die." As soon as Yun Yao put Xun Yan down, she went to see Bian Zhen'er despite her own weak body. Seeing that his complexion had improved, Xun Yan's face showed relief, "It seems that he is much better."
Seeing Xun Yan's affectionate look, Liu Zhuiyi stepped out and said, "If there is any danger, I will go out and guard."
Yun Yao followed Liu Zhuiyi out and sat down with her outside the door. Xun Yan sat next to Bian Zhener and took care of her.
There was a sudden thunderstorm outside. Liu Zhuiyi sat with her hands on her knees. The temperature was low, and she rubbed her arms unconsciously. Yun Yao went back to the house and brought a coat, draped it over Liu Zhuiyi's shoulders, and said, "Don't catch a cold."
Liu Zhuiyi turned her head to look at Xun Yan covering Liu Zhuiyi with clothes, and asked softly: "Yun Yao, do you think the poisonous insects came here strangely?"
"There's no one in this wilderness, so it's normal to have some poisonous insects." Yun Yao comforted Liu Zhuiyi.
Liu Zhuiyi raised the back of his hand, which was red and swollen.
"Liu'er, your hand!" Yun Yao was shocked and hurriedly pulled Liu Zhuiyi's hand to check. Suddenly he remembered that she was crawled by a poisonous insect when she was taking the torch.
"I had no clothes to cover my body, so I became like this after being crawled on." Liu Zhuiyi said calmly.
Yun Yao frowned slightly, feeling a little distressed. Look at her, there is a big red and swollen patch on the back of her hand, and her finger was bitten by Bian Zhen'er. Yun Yao sighed, took off the hairpin on Liu Zhuiyi's head, and said, "Liu'er, bear with it."
Liu Zhuiyi was afraid of the pain, so she grabbed Yun Yao's clothes with her other hand. Yun Yao used a hairpin to pierce the redness and swelling on the back of Liu Zhuiyi's hand, and a ball of thick poison immediately flowed out. Yun Yao squeezed out the poison for Liu Zhuiyi, and Liu Zhuiyi hugged Yun Yao's arm, clenching her teeth in pain.
"Bite me if it hurts. I have thick skin." Yun Yao said.
"It doesn't hurt." Liu Zhuiyi endured it.
After squeezing out the venom with great difficulty, Yun Yao quickly bandaged Liu Zhuiyi. Liu Zhuiyi looked at the bandaged back of her hand, which was shaking uncontrollably in pain. Yun Yao found her like this funny and said, "Still pretending."
"No." Liu Zhuiyi muttered, hugging his knees tightly. Wind and rain blew in and hit his face.
Xun Yan sat next to Bian Zhen'er in the room, dozing off on the bed. Bian Zhen'er regained consciousness and slowly opened his eyes. In his blurred vision, he saw Liu Zhuiyi's thin back sitting outside the door, wrapped in rain and fog.
At sunrise, Bian Zhener woke up and no longer felt as uncomfortable as he did last night.
Xun Yan, who was drinking medicine nearby, hurried over to support Bian Zhener and said, "Slow down."
Yun Yao sat on the side and made a fire, saying, "He's awake, Xun Yan, give him a bowl of medicine."
"Okay." Xun Yan nodded and poured a bowl of medicine for Bian Zhen'er. Bian Zhen'er took it and asked, "Where is Miss Liu?"
"Sister Liu went fishing." Xun Yan replied.
"Catching fish?" Bian Zhener was puzzled.
"Yes." Yun Yao fiddled with a pile of dry firewood that couldn't start a fire, and said, "I didn't get enough rest. I ran out to collect herbs for you early in the morning, and now I'm going to catch fish. Fish is good, it replenishes the body." Yun Yao's words were filled with strong jealousy, and Liu Zhuiyi's bright voice came from outside the village, "Yun Yao! Have you started the fire? Let me tell you, the fish in that river are so fat, haha!"
The sound caught the sight before the figure. Liu Zhuiyi ran in barefoot from outside with his trouser legs rolled up, holding a fish basket in his arms, with several large grass carps flapping their arms in it.
"Little monk, are you awake?" Seeing that Bian Zhen'er had woken up and his complexion was gradually returning to normal, Liu Zhuiyi put the fish basket aside and strode to Bian Zhen'er. Bian Zhen'er did not avoid her gaze this time and smiled, "I'm fine."
"Then I'll grill some fish for you." Liu Zhuiyi turned around and poured out the big live fish from the fish basket. Bian Zhener thought about the time when Liu Zhuiyi teased him with a live fish when they first met, and said hurriedly, "Miss Liu... I'd better eat dry food. I 'm a monk and can't eat meat."
Yun Yao finally ignited the fire and couldn't help asking, "What rules and regulations do you, a monk who hangs out, have to follow?"
After hearing this, Liu Zhuiyi walked up to Bian Zhener, put his face close to him, and said sternly, "No! You have to eat today whether you want to or not!"
After she finished speaking, she shook her head, and her long braid brushed against Bian Zhen'er's face, making it tingle.
Liu Zhuiyi skillfully killed the fish and asked Yun Yao to skewer the fish with branches and put it on the fire to grill. Bian Zhener took a deep breath and said, "Amitabha." Then, he drank the medicine he had been holding in his hand.
The fish was grilled quickly and the aroma spread far and wide.
Bian Zhen'er had his back to them and wanted to recite the scriptures quietly, but the fragrance was so good that he couldn't help swallowing.
"Xun Yan, come and eat some meat. It's good for your health." Liu Zhuiyi handed a fish to Xun Yan. Xun Yan took it, looked at Bian Zhen'er, and said, "Bian Zhen'er, you should eat something too."
"I'm not hungry." Bian Zhener said. Then, his stomach growled.
Liu Zhuiyi tried not to laugh, and Yun Yao cooperated and seduced her, saying, "Wow! It's delicious! Liu'er, you are such a great cook, this is absolutely amazing, this is the most delicious fish I have ever eaten in my life!"
"Of course not." Liu Zhuiyi deliberately shouted towards where Bian Zhen'er was, "My Liu Zhuiyi grilled fish, the meat is meat, the bones are bones, even without any seasoning it can attract the gods from heaven to come down to earth. Back then in Ruyi Tower, the guests who came to listen to the music and watch the dance would put Liu Zhuiyi's grilled fish on every table! I dare not say that the taste is the best in the world, but it is the best in Chang'an City without any effort."
Yun Yao coughed lightly and said, "It's over, it's over."
Liu Zhuiyi stopped talking immediately, took a grilled fish and walked to Bian Zhener, handed it to him, and said, "Would you like to try my cooking?"
"Monks can't eat meat." Bian Zhen'er said stubbornly, turning his head away and ignoring him, but his stomach's three consecutive protests had already betrayed him.
Liu Zhuiyi squatted down, stretched out his hands to pinch Bian Zhener's cheeks, put the grilled fish close to his lips, and threatened softly: "Bian Zhener, you are not a monk at all!"
"You can't eat it, that's it. Master will definitely blame me." Bian Zhen'er's cheeks were pinched tightly, and her speech was unclear. Liu Zhuiyi smiled and stuffed the grilled fish into Bian Zhen'er's mouth, coaxing gently, "Okay Liu Lang, it's okay to eat a little."
Bian Zhen'er wanted to cry but had no tears. When he held the fish in his mouth, the rich aroma entered his throat and he found it inexplicably delicious.
Do you want to eat it? Will the Buddha and Master forgive you if you eat it? Forget it, just recite the Heart Sutra more. Bian Zhener took the grilled fish in both hands and took a bite to try it. It tasted delicious!
"That's good." Liu Zhuiyi patted Bian Zhener's cheek and sat back with satisfaction.
She tricked him again, and Bian Zhen'er's face felt hot.
After a hearty meal, the four set off again.
Liu Zhuiyi and Yun Yao were sitting in the driving seat, feeling like birds that had escaped from a cage. They played music while driving and would start arguing over the slightest disagreement.
Xun Yan couldn't help laughing when she saw the two of them playing with each other, "Sister Liu and Young Master Yun are really funny."
"Yeah, we are a good match, right?" Yun Yao asked with raised eyebrows.
"They're a good match." Xun Yan said with a smile.
"What the hell! I don't like you." Liu Zhuiyi rolled her eyes at Yun Yao, and Yun Yao said in a sly way, "It doesn't matter, as long as I like you, that's all."
Liu Zhuiyi sneered and said, "There are so many women you like. I don't feel lucky at all!"
"You can't say that." Yun Yao curled his lips and said, "How can those coquettish and slutty women who are greedy for money compare with you?"
"I don't want it!" Liu Zhuiyi stuck out her tongue at Yun Yao.
"I like it." Yun Yao smiled brightly, but immediately afterwards, he was punched several times on the head.
Bian Zhener looked at the two of them helplessly, bowed with one hand and sighed: "Amitabha."
"Good, good." Liu Zhuiyi and Yun Yao shook their heads and added the next sentence. Xun Yan covered her face and laughed secretly, while Bian Zhener had a dark face.
It would be great if I could live happily like this forever.
The carriage bumped along the trail for five days. They had to rely on wild fruits to quench their thirst and fish to fill their stomachs. Occasionally, they would go in and ask for some food from a village family to change their taste. Yun Yao often pulled at his clothes and said, "Oh, I've lost weight again!"
Bian Zhen'er used his eyebrow pupil again and said, "The city of Luoyang is just ahead. Luoyang is a big city. Be patient and go there to eat something."
"You need money to eat. The money we have now is only enough to stay in an inn." Liu Zhuiyi glanced at Yun Yao.
"Then just make money. Nothing can be difficult for this young master." Yun Yao said, patting his chest.
"Really?" Liu Zhuiyi curled the corners of his lips and came up with a plan.
Since Yun Yao feels that nothing can stump him, then leave the job of making money to Yun Yao.
Under the city of Luoyang, four people who were selling medicine on horseback were being watched by a group of people. Luoyang City was huge, with countless vendors coming and going, and there were also quite a few people selling medicine on horseback. However, these four people were a little strange, as there were two women among them and one of the men was a monk.
Liu Zhuiyi tied her black hair up high, and the willow branches tightly coiled her hair. She clasped her hands together and said to the onlookers, "Everyone, my four brothers and sisters came from Chang'an to look for our relatives, but we didn't find them and our travel expenses were robbed by bandits. We are helpless and have to rely on the help of you elders and fellow villagers. Today, we will perform whatever performance you want to see until you are satisfied. I also hope that those who have money will support us. I would like to thank you all here."
As soon as this was said, the crowd immediately became lively, and someone couldn't help but ask: "Can we really watch any performance we want?"
"Of course, as long as it's performed by a foreigner, we'll learn it." Liu Zhui Yili said.
"Then I want to see the chest break the stone, break into two pieces!" Someone shouted first, and Yun Yao almost vomited blood. It turned out that they were not performing, and there were two pieces of stone breaking, which could be fatal!
"Will you step on the sword?"
"Can you breathe fire?"
"I want to see the fight!"
"Show your bone-shrinking skills!"
Yun Yao looked embarrassed, and Bian Zhener comforted him, "Don't worry, I will help you."
"Help me, how can you help me! That little bitch asked me to perform!" Yun Yao yelled at Bian Zhener.
Bian Zhener said: "I will control my strength, trust me."
Seeing the enthusiasm of the people in Luoyang City, Liu Zhuiyi said quickly: "Okay, okay! Come one by one, don't be impatient, let's break the stone in our chests first." After that, Liu Zhuiyi winked at Bian Zhener and Yun Yao. Yun Yao lay on the ground, with an attitude of resignation.
Bian Zhener placed two large bluestones on Yun Yao, and then swung the stone hammer on the side. Everyone held their breath, and Yun Yao also used his internal force to support his chest to avoid getting hurt later.
Bian Zhen'er hit Yun Yao with a hammer, and Yun Yao groaned. The two bluestones on his chest immediately broke into two pieces. Seeing this, everyone was amazed and applauded. Bian Zhen'er helped Yun Yao up, and Yun Yao symbolically patted his chest and bowed to everyone.
Liu Zhuiyi passed a color to Xun Yan again. Xun Yan lifted up her skirt, made a pocket, walked towards the crowd, and said, "Thank you everyone, thank you."
Not many people threw silver in the first round, but Liu Zhuiyi had another trick up her sleeve. She clapped her hands and said, "Okay, if you still don't feel satisfied after watching the chest-breaking stone, let's continue with the steel knife-stepping and bone-shrinking skills."
"Good! Good!" Everyone's enthusiasm was ignited.
Yun Yao was almost ready to die. He did whatever Liu Zhuiyi asked him to do. Fortunately, he had Bian Zhener's help. Otherwise, with his physique, he would have died a thousand times ago.
Liu Zhuiyi didn't feel sorry for him at all. Throughout the whole show, she asked him to perform whatever the audience wanted to see, and she really treated him as a professional who was just showing off his knowledge.
When performing the bone shrinking skill, one needs to get into a wine jar. Yun Yaoshi really didn't know how to do it, so he had to push Bian Zhen'er out. Bian Zhen'er didn't refuse, but stared at the wine jar in front of her and thought.
At this time, there was a louder noise coming from outside the crowd, and a burly black man led a group of people and squeezed through the crowd with great fanfare. Seeing the fierce force coming, Liu Zhuiyi quickly pulled Xun Yan back.
"I heard that you are stealing business here?" The black man threw his spear to the ground and said in a rough voice.
Bian Zhener and Yun Yao blocked the two girls behind them and stared at the newcomers vigilantly.
The black man wiped his face and asked disdainfully: "You are from another place?"
Yun Yao walked up cheerfully with a smile on his face and said, "Haha, brother, we're all just trying to make a living..." A spear suddenly came down and stopped just above Yun Yao's face. He swallowed the word "eat" mixed with saliva, and retreated with his neck shrunk.
The black man waved his spear and said, "Luoyang City is my territory, Hei Laowu. How dare you make money here without telling me? Tell me, what should I do?"
When the onlookers saw that it was Hei Laowu, they consciously retreated far away.
Bian Zhen'er was relatively calm and said, "I'm sorry, the four of us have just arrived in Luoyang City and don't know the rules here. Let's pack up our things and leave here immediately."
"Just leaving like that?" Hei Laowu put his hands on his hips and challenged.
"Then what do you want?" Liu Zhuiyi asked, sticking half of his head out.
Hei Laowu glanced at Liu Zhuiyi and Xun Yan who were hiding in the back and said with a smile, "That's easy. You and the girl next to you follow me, Hei Laowu, and give me the money you just earned."
"No!" Bian Zhener and Yun Yao said in unison.
Hei Laowu blew on the tip of the spear in his hand and said arrogantly: "Since you are not accepting my favor, then don't worry about the spear in my hand.
Bian Zhener reached back and held Liu Zhuiyi tightly. Liu Zhuiyi felt a sweet feeling in his heart when he saw this subtle movement.
Hei Laowu roared, wielding his spear and stabbing at Bian Zhener, but Bian Zhener formed a palm with his bare hands, and the palm wind was invisible but powerful, splitting the spear in half. Hei Laowu was stunned, and before he could react, Bian Zhener grabbed his shoulders and forced him to kneel on the ground.
When the men saw Hei Laowu being captured, they all came forward to help. Liu Zhuiyi and Yun Yao flashed by and acted very quickly. In the blink of an eye, all the men fell to the ground.
Yun Yao clapped his hands and said disdainfully: "Grandpa is smiling at you because he doesn't want to cause trouble. Do you really think we are paper tigers?"
"No, no, no, young man! Young man, we can talk it over!" Hei Laowu was pinned to the ground by Bian Zhen'er and could not move, so he quickly begged for mercy.
"Are the two girls who accompanied us okay? Do you still want the money we have?" Bian Zhener asked.
Hei Laowu bowed quickly and said, "No, no, no, please have mercy on me, young man. I, Hei Laowu, have no eyes to recognize a great man!"
"Will you still care about us selling our weapons in Luoyang City in the future?" Liu Zhuiyi knocked on Black Tiger's head and asked.
Hei Laowu hurriedly said, "It doesn't matter, it doesn't matter. As long as you let us go, I, Hei Laowu, will take these men and do whatever you want in Luoyang City!"
"Okay then." Liu Zhuiyi signaled Bian Zhen'er to let go. As soon as Bian Zhen'er let go, Hei Laowu rubbed his aching shoulder, stood up, and said with an apologetic smile, "Thank you, young man, thank you, young lady!" Then, he urged his subordinate who was lying on the ground and crying out in pain, "Why don't you thank them for not killing you?"
"Thank you, young man. Thank you, young lady!" The men knelt on the ground and kowtowed.
Bian Zhener said: "You don't have to kneel before us. I never intended to kill anyone, so how can I be so kind as not to kill you?"
"Get up!" Hei Laowu signaled to his men again.
Xun Yan put all the silver into her purse and said, "Bian Zhen'er, Sister Liu, Master Yun, we have made some small change today, so let's go first."
"Okay." Bian Zhener turned around and started packing up her things.
Hei Laowu followed Liu Zhuiyi and asked, "Girl, where are you from? Where are you going? If there is anything you need help with, Hei Laowu is willing to serve."
Liu Zhuiyi pretended to think, and said, "Then can you return these props to Master Li on Sanyuan Street for us?"
"Okay, we know Master Li well!" He called his brothers to come over and move the things. Yun Yao was a little confused by the enthusiasm, so he whispered to Liu Zhuiyi and asked, "Is it a scam?"
"No, he just saw that we are good at martial arts and wanted to find someone to rely on so that he can get along better in Luoyang City in the future." This was Liu Zhuiyi's intuition based on her many years of experience in the martial arts world.
"Brother Hei!" Liu Zhuiyi knew that the rules of the martial arts world were inevitable, so she clasped her fists and said, "Thank you for your hard work. Come to Donglai Inn when you have time. I, Liu Zhuiyi, will treat you to a drink."
Hei Laowu immediately returned the greeting and said, "Miss Liu, you are too polite. Just call me Laowu. Laowu will visit you another day."
"Okay, see you later."
"Okay, okay, Miss Liu, have a safe journey."
Liu Zhuiyi and the others walked towards the inn. One of Hei Laowu's men was puzzled and asked, "Brother, why should we swallow our anger against a few little kids?"
"What do you know about swallowing your anger?" Hei Laowu said, "These people can help you make money, don't you know?"
The person asking the question didn't understand, so he just scratched his head and gave up.
Liu Zhuiyi and the others returned to the inn, poured out the silver and counted it. After counting the copper coins, it was exactly one tael full. Yun Yao sighed and said, "This little money is not even as much as my daily pocket money."
"That's Chang'an, and this is Luoyang. Besides, if you save a little on food, it will last for a few days. You can use the copper coins here to buy a few buckets of rice, and even porridge will keep you full for a long time." Liu Zhuiyi couldn't stand him. How could a person who had been living a life of luxury since childhood understand the importance of silver? Even if it was only a penny, it was a treasure at that time.
"But going from luxury to frugality requires a process. You see, Bian Zhen'er and Xun Yan still need delicious food to nourish their bodies, right? Autumn is coming soon, and we also need to prepare warm clothes." Yun Yao pointed and talked about all kinds of troubles.
Xun Yan hurriedly said, "Master Yun, I'm already well, it's okay, porridge is fine too."
Seeing that Liu Zhuiyi looked unhappy, Bian Zhener said, "I am used to traveling around the world. In fact, it doesn't matter what I eat or where I live."
Yun Yao said, "I... I know, that's not what I meant. I just said that we may need to prepare some things in these aspects. Besides, we have to spend money to stay in the inn, right? We won't make much money from performing today. I think tomorrow I should go out with Bian Zhener to see if there is any other work, and we can divide the work."
Liu Zhuiyi divided the silver and copper coins into four parts and put them into their respective pockets. He said, "Okay, count me in for the division of labor. Xun Yan, you don't know martial arts, so you can stay at the inn and help look after our luggage."
Xun Yan nodded and said, "Okay, I can also help you wash your clothes."
"Okay, both of you go back to your rooms and have some rest early." Liu Zhuiyi said to Bian Zhener Yun Yao.
After the two of them went out, Liu Zhuiyi closed the door, looking thoughtful.
The next morning, before the inn officially opened, Liu Zhuiyi ordered a pound of good wine and beef, and sat in the most conspicuous seat to drink by herself. She knew that people like Hei Laowu who often traveled around would definitely get up early for a good piece of land, and people like him who were busy making a living must have a wide network of contacts. If she wanted to find out something, she could just go to him.
Sure enough, not long after the waiter opened the door and Liu Zhuiyi was halfway through his meal, he saw Hei Laowu and his group carrying knives, guns, sticks and clubs passing by Donglai Inn.
"Hei Laowu." Liu Zhuiyi called his name slowly.
When Hei Laowu heard this, he turned his head and looked up at the inn's signboard. He hurried in and said, "Hey, it's Miss Liu!"
"Come here." Liu Zhuiyi called him and poured wine into the bowl across the table. Hei Laowu sat down across the table and drank it all in one gulp. He asked, "Miss Liu, are you not going to sell wine today?"
"I have other things to do, so I asked you to come and help me." Liu Zhuiyi tore off another piece of beef for Hei Laowu, who took it and stuffed it into his mouth, saying as he ate, "Miss Liu, if you have any problems, just tell me. I, Hei Laowu, will help if I can, and I will do whatever I can to help if I can't."
Liu Zhuiyi smiled slightly and said, "It's not difficult. I just want to find out something from you."
"You say." Hei Laowu sat upright.
Liu Zhuiyi asked: "Do you know which dance studio in Luoyang is doing good business? Of course, the kind that is doing good business and is in need of dancers."
Hei Laowu frowned and thought for a while, then said, "Miss Liu, as far as I know, there is no news of recruiting in the dance studio in Luoyang City. But..."
"But what?" Liu Zhuiyi stared at him closely to prevent him from telling any lies.
Hei Laowu said in embarrassment: "Miss Liu, are you going to be a dancer? I'd better not tell you about that kind of place, after all, you are a girl."
"Is it a brothel?" Liu Zhuiyi understood and asked with a smile on his face.
Seeing that Liu Zhuiyi was not shy about it, Hei Laowu said, "It's a brothel, and it's the largest brothel in Luoyang City. The most popular singer there was bought by someone else, and they are short of people now."
"Do you have a way to take me there?" Liu Zhuiyi slapped the table, stood up, and leaned forward. This was no longer a question, but a request.
Hei Laowu also stood up, looked around, and whispered to confirm: "Miss Liu, are you really going to that kind of place?"
"I'm not afraid, so why should you be afraid? If you can take me there and persuade the old lady to let me try, I will give you half of the money I earn." Liu Zhuiyi said.
Hei Laowu quickly took a step back, regarded Liu Zhuiyi as a benefactor, and said with a fist: "Laowu dare not, if Miss Liu insists, Laowu will definitely help her and protect her safety."
"Thank you." Liu Zhuiyi winked at Hei Laowu.
Hei Laowu immediately called his brothers and said, "Put the things back. Let's do other work today." After that, he turned back to Liu Zhuiyi and said, "Miss Liu, wait for my news."
"Okay, thank you!" Liu Zhuiyi nodded.
After Hei Laowu left, Liu Zhuiyi sat down leisurely and ordered a sumptuous meal. Calculating the time, Bian Zhener and the others should be getting up soon.
Although the Ruyi Tower in Chang'an City was not a brothel, it was also a place where rich officials and nobles consumed their time. She knew what those rich people liked.
After a while, Bian Zhen'er and the other two got up and went downstairs. Seeing the table filled with fish and meat, Yun Yao asked in surprise, "Liu'er, did you pick up some silver?"
"We didn't find any silver, but we are just rewarding you. After all, we have to go out and find a way to earn money soon, right? We always have to eat a lot when we are out and about. Come, sit down." Liu Zhuiyi greeted them and said, "Little monk, don't be polite. You have already broken your vows."
Bian Zhener sat down and ate the vegetarian dishes in an orderly manner. With the delicious food in hand, Yun Yao didn't care about anything else and started to eat voraciously. After breakfast, Liu Zhuiyi asked Bian Zhener and Yun Yao to go out first. The two of them didn't suspect anything and went out to find work first.
Xun Yan stood up and said, "Sister Liu, I'm going to wash clothes."
"Go ahead, you've worked hard." Liu Zhuiyi sat on a stool and drank his after-meal tea.
Xun Yan went about her own business, but what she found strange was that after going back and forth between the laundry room and her room many times, she still saw Liu Zhuiyi sitting on the first floor, without moving at all, and seemed to be waiting for someone.
At noon, Hei Laowu ran in from outside and said anxiously, "Miss Liu, Miss Liu! The old lady said she wants to see you."
"Take me there!" Liu Zhuiyi threw the teacup hard on the table, and the remaining water in it splashed out.
"Okay, I'll take you there." said Hei Laowu.
Liu Zhuiyi immediately followed Hei Laowu outside, and Xun Yan happened to see this scene. She frowned and thought, wondering where Liu Zhuiyi was going.