That day, Li Jinglong suggested returning to Chang 'an to accompany Hongjun to find some good food and wait for Qing Xiong. Hongjun finally dispelled his worries from last night and left Mount Li with the Carp Demon. Although waiting anywhere was the same and the Golden-Winged Roc would naturally come when it wanted to find them, he still felt more at ease in the Exorcism Division.
Last night, there was also new snow in Chang 'an, but it did not accumulate. At noon, the streets were muddy and water kept dripping from the eaves. Li Jinglong specially brought Hongjun to Fish Leaping Over Dragon Gate to order a table of drinks. Anyway, Changshi was rich now and did not need to order plain water. Hongjun thought that it was a pity that Atay and the others had left. If he had known, he would have eaten another farewell meal. The two of them casually chatted about the New Year while eating.
Hongjun only felt that after one night, his relationship with Li Jinglong seemed to have undergone some strange changes.
If it was in the past, Li Jinglong was always the boss. After they all left, he was now like an elder brother and the closeness of family became more obvious.
"If Qing Xiong doesn't come," Li Jinglong said, "then, won't we have to spend the New Year in Chang 'an?"
Hongjun smiled and said, "We didn't spend the New Year in Dazzling Gold Palace. Do you want to go home?"
Li Jinglong replied, "I used to live in my cousin's house and live under someone else's roof. I'd rather spend it in the Exorcism Division."
Hongjun knew that Li Jinglong treated that place as his home, but he also gradually understood that a place with family was home. Last night, Chong Ming did not take him away, but gave Li Jinglong some hope that he would no longer be lonely. Otherwise, when he returned to the Exorcism Division and found it empty, it would not be interesting.
The two of them left Fish Leaping Over Dragon Gate and were about to leave Xi City when they suddenly saw a line of people standing outside the bookstore.
"What delicious food are they selling?" Hongjun knew that there was delicious food when he saw the line.
Li Jinglong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Didn't you just eat?"
"I'm only seventy percent full." Hongjun rubbed his stomach and replied.
Li Jinglong had no choice but to go and buy it. He didn't know who was the subordinate and who was the superior. Why did he have to serve Hongjun as a senior official? However, when he reached the end of the line, he found that it was a fortune-teller. There were two banners hanging at the door. On the left was "Carefree Sun and Moon", and on the right was "Roaming the Universe".
"There's a fortune-telling shop here?" Li Jinglong was very surprised.
"Very accurate!" The commoner said to Li Jinglong, "Chang 'an came yesterday! I'll leave in three days! "
Hongjun craned his neck to take a look. Seeing that they weren't selling food, he said, "Let's go."
"Elder Li, are you here to predict marriage or official fortune?" Someone teased.
Li Jinglong hesitated for a moment. He originally wanted to leave, but he felt that it would be a pity to miss this opportunity. He had an idea and said, "Can you calculate the whereabouts of the person you're looking for?"
Hongjun had never had his fortune told before. Would it really be useful? He wasn't the least bit curious about the future, but after thinking about it, he still wanted to join in the fun.
"What do you want to ask?" Hongjun stood in line and asked Li Jinglong.
Li Jinglong hadn't thought about it yet. Hongjun said, "Do you want to ask about marriage?"
Li Jinglong suddenly said, "Let's see how far our fate can go."
Hongjun didn't say anything. Li Jinglong put his arm around his shoulder and leaned on him. They looked like two brothers and said, "When I first met in the Exorcism Department, I knew that Mo Rigen and the others would leave one day. But I don't know why, but I always felt that you wouldn't leave."
Hongjun smiled and said, "I'll take you home. If you want to go back to Chang 'an, we can come down together."
Strangely enough, when the two of them stood in the line, the fortune-teller inside sped up. After a few words, it was their turn. Just as they were hesitating about who should go first and Li Jinglong was about to let Hongjun go first, someone inside said, "Elder Li, please go first."
"He actually knows your name!" Hongjun said in surprise.
"His ears and eyes are sharp." Li Jinglong said in a low voice, "He heard the people outside talking just now."
As he spoke, he stepped in. He saw that there was a screen in the shop. After going around the screen, there was another screen on the side and a door in front of him.
"Sit here first." A man's voice said in a low voice.
As soon as Li Jinglong walked through the screen, the surroundings instantly became silent. It was as if he had stepped into a magic array. In an instant, all the sounds disappeared. It was so quiet that it was simply abnormal.
"A sea of sound insulation." The man replied, "Those outside can't hear what's inside, and those inside can't hear what's outside."
Across the table sat a pale and frail young man. His eyes were still covered with a black cloth. His pitch-black robe was wrapped up to his collar, and his lips were as gentle as jade.
Li Jinglong immediately became vigilant. The person in front of him knew magic?! Was he a demon?
"Li Jinglong, Chang 'an Exorcism Commissioner." The man said in a low voice, "I've heard a lot about you. I'm Yuan Kun."
Li Jinglong didn't expect that he would be a kindred spirit. He said in a low voice, "Who are you?"
"There are people waiting in the backyard. They will naturally answer you." Yuan Kun said in a low voice, "What else do you want to ask?"
Li Jinglong was suddenly speechless. He looked at Yuan Kun suspiciously. Yuan Kun said slowly, "Didn't you want to ask about fate?"
Li Jinglong: "You know Hongjun? Are you a demon? "
"Fate is in your hands." Yuan Kun tilted his head and thought for a long time. Then, he said, "Tianbao's 14th year, which is one year later. You must act cautiously."
Li Jinglong took a deep breath. Yuan Kun stretched out his hand. One of his elbows was on the table, while the other hand's fair fingers were spread apart and pressed toward Li Jinglong's chest.
Li Jinglong stepped back. Yuan Kun said leisurely, "Take off your shirt. Hurry, the people behind you are still waiting."
"What do you want to do?" Li Jinglong said vigilantly.
Yuan Kun answered, "Whether you can undo it or not, it's in your hands."
Li Jinglong: "…"
Li Jinglong subconsciously raised his hand to undo his shirt.
"That's right." Yuan Kun said casually, "All things in the world are born from a single thought, and are also destroyed by a single thought."
Li Jinglong undid his shirt and exposed his left chest. He said, "You want to see my Heart Lantern?"
Yuan Kun did not answer. Instead, he said, "Fate, life and death, success and failure, heaven and earth turning upside down, mulberry fields and the vast sea, all depend on a single thought."
As he said this, Yuan Kun pinched his fingers and gently drew a rune. He pushed it forward and branded it on Li Jinglong's left chest. Li Jinglong felt a burst of burning pain. He said, "What is this?!"
Yuan Kun answered, "You will know in the future."
"You …"
"I'm done asking." Yuan Kun put his hands on the table and looked at Li Jinglong with his blindfolded eyes. He said, "Pay up."
Li Jinglong frowned deeply. He asked, "How much?"
"Draw a mark." Yuan Kun answered, "You owe me a corpse. When the time is up, I will come and get it myself. Write."
Li Jinglong said in a low voice, "Whose corpse?!"
Yuan Kun raised his eyebrows. He said, "Just write. In short, I won't let you kill anyone. When the time comes, I will only ask you for a dead person. Whether you believe me or not, it is all up to you. "
The two were in a deadlock for a moment. Li Jinglong's breathing gradually quickened as he confronted the blind man. His eyes were fixed on Yuan Kun. Yuan Kun handed over a brush and spread out a piece of paper. Li Jinglong then wrote, "I owe Yuan Kun a corpse." Yuan Kun then pushed the cinnabar seal over. Li Jinglong did not know why, but he unexpectedly pressed his fingerprint on it.
What am I doing? After pressing his fingerprint, Li Jinglong finally woke up slightly.
"Go to the backyard." Yuan Kun said, "You are a good child. You still have a long way to go."
Li Jinglong retreated. He thought that if Yuan Kun was a demon, he must quickly go back and discuss countermeasures with Hongjun. If he left behind this IOU, as long as he stayed true to his heart and did not kill people indiscriminately, even a demon would not be able to do anything to him.
He stood up and retreated outside the curtain. In an instant, the surroundings became noisy again. He only heard Yuan Kun's clear voice from inside. "Next."
Li Jinglong turned his head. He did not see Hongjun coming in. Yuan Kun said from inside, "Why aren't you leaving? Do you have to be in the same place all the time to feel at ease? "
Li Jinglong could only enter the backyard. There was a man standing in the courtyard. When he saw him enter, he slowly nodded his head.
"Other people have their fortunes told. They all leave from the side door." The young man said politely. "I have been waiting for you for a long time, Li Jinglong."
The young man was tall and straight. He was nearly nine feet tall and was as tall as Li Jinglong. His facial features were deep and his eyes were pitch black with a faint dark gold luster.
At this moment, his upper body was bare. His abdominal muscles were clearly defined. He had wheat-colored skin and a black royal dress with golden embroidery was wrapped around his waist. His feet were neither too far apart nor too far apart. His demeanor was casual, but he had the aura of a monarch.
Li Jinglong instantly began to worry about Hongjun's safety. He took a step back and thought, Is this the Hei Jiao? Who was that outside?
"Oh, it's not the Hei Jiao." The young man said, "Don't worry."
Li Jinglong was shocked. He could see through his heart? What kind of demon was he?
"Yes." The young man nodded and said, "The one outside can see your future. I can see through your heart. We can't be considered demons, although … I occasionally eat people. But at least I don't eat people now. "
"Who are you?" Li Jinglong finally spoke. He sized up the young man. The young man was bare-chested and the style of his royal dress reminded him of the man he saw on the high cliff of Mount Li last night … Their royal dress styles were very similar. Could it be …
"You guessed right." Qing Xiong said gently, "There's not much time left. Let's exchange a few moves so that my little nephew's ears won't be cut off again."
Li Jinglong: "…"
Hongjun turned around the screen and looked around. He asked, "Is anyone here?"
"Over here." Yuan Kun answered from behind the curtain. "Where are you looking? Don't go to the courtyard. Don't blame me if you're exposed. "
Hongjun: "???"
"Are you that fortune-teller?" Hongjun entered the curtain and sat down.
Yuan Kun said, "You're really smart."
Hongjun chuckled. He lowered his head and saw Li Jinglong's paper. He asked, "What's this?"
Yuan Kun kept the paper and said, "Speak. What do you want to ask?"
Hongjun scratched his head and said, "In my lifetime, will I still be able to see my father?"
Yuan Kun: "Your father's temper isn't very good."
Hong Jun made an "uh" sound and said, "It was me who made him unhappy."
Yuan Kun answered, "All worries come from the heart. Don't worry about it. Your father still loves you."
"Liar." Hongjun's eyes reddened. "Last night, he even yelled at me."
Yuan Kun said, "What's there to ask?"
"Then," Hongjun asked uncomfortably, "Can I go home? If I go home, will I be separated from Chief Shi? "
"That depends on where you consider your home." Yuan Kun answered.
Hongjun didn't understand. Yuan Kun said again, "What's there to ask?"
Hongjun thought for a moment and said, "Nothing."
"That carp behind you should hurry up and cultivate." Yuan Kun couldn't help but say.
"Zhao Zilong. Hey, I'm talking about you." Hongjun carried the Carp Demon out. The Carp Demon was taking an afternoon nap. It rolled its eyes and woke up. It opened its mouth and tilted its head to look at Yuan Kun.
Yuan Kun: "How did you cultivate to become like this? It's so unaesthetic."
Carp Demon: "…"
The Carp Demon suddenly screamed, "Kun Shen! Kun Shen! Are you Kun Shen?! "
Yuan Kun frowned and said, "Not only is it unaesthetic, but it's also so talkative."
"Kun … You're Kun Shen?" Hongjun was shocked and said, "Why are you in Chang 'an? Where's Qing Xiong? "
Hongjun knew that Qing Xiong had a close friend who was a Kun from the North Sea. It was just that it rarely came to the Central Plains. He didn't expect to meet it here!
"Long live Kun Shen!" The Carp Demon hurriedly knelt and said, "I beg Kun Shen to show me the way …"
Hongjun: "Are you really Kun Shen? Where's Qing Xiong? Tell me quickly! Have you seen my father? "
"Shut up, all of you!" Yuan Kun was impatient.
The Carp Demon immediately went to Hongjun's bag and took out a bag of fish food from Mount Li. It held it with both hands and said with anticipation in its eyes, "Kun Shen, this is a tribute from me … I want to be a dragon. Even if I can't, I want to be a human. Please!"
"I'm not eating this." Yuan Kun was very annoyed by the Carp Demon and said, "Save eighty-one people. Come find me after you save them. You have to rely on yourself. No one can help you."
"As for you …" Yuan Kun held a ruler in his hand and knocked on the table. He thought for a moment and said, "After two years, you can naturally return to Dazzling Gold Palace."
"Really?" Hongjun said.
"Are you doubting my ability?" Yuan Kun almost exploded.
Hongjun hurriedly waved his hand and said no, no. Yuan Kun said, "Pay the carp. Get lost. Leave the fish food. As for you …"
Hongjun said, "I have money."
Yuan Kun said, "Leave an IOU. You owe me a soul."
Hongjun, "Huh?"
Yuan Kun said, "Write."
Hong Jun was baffled. He wrote on the paper and pressed his thumbprint on the paper. Yuan Kun said, "Finally, all of them are gathered."
"Whose soul?" Hongjun asked.
"It's not yours." Yuan Kun said, "It's not Li Jinglong's either. There's someone waiting for you in the backyard. Go on."
Hongjun was puzzled. When he reached the backyard, he suddenly saw Qing Xiong and immediately shouted and went forward. Qing Xiong was teaching Li Jinglong a set of boxing moves. When he heard Hongjun's shout, he pointed a finger at his forehead and stopped him.
"Where's my father?" Hongjun asked.
"I don't know." Qing Xiong finished the last two moves and said to Li Jinglong, "Have you memorized it?"
"I've learned." Li Jinglong cupped his fists and said.
Qing Xiong said to Hongjun, "In the past, you always pestered me, saying that I didn't teach you martial arts. Now that I'm teaching you, watch carefully. Li Jinglong, when you're free, you have to urge him to practice more. "
Li Jinglong agreed and watched from the side.
Hongjun restrained his thoughts and followed behind Qing Xiong. Qing Xiong had previously shown Li Jinglong a set of Roc Flying Ten Thousand Li, but now he changed his stance. He opened his fist and said, "This set of palm techniques was used by your father when he was alive. It must be combined with the Five-colored Divine Light in order to display its greatest power."
Hongjun grunted and didn't dare to interrupt. Qing Xiong explained, "The entire set of palm techniques only has two moves. The first move is' release 'and the other move is' withdraw '. The Five-colored Divine Light is the world's strongest magic weapon. Although there are bound to be restraints, it contains the power of God and Devil as one …"
As he said this, Qing Xiong spread his hands and said, "When it's released, it's all-encompassing, like an ancient gate of mystery, endlessly growing and multiplying. When it withdraws, it's like Mount Sumeru being contained in a mustard seed. Even if you're a mountain range or an ocean, everything will be withdrawn into nothingness. "
Hongjun followed Qing Xiong and turned around. He crossed his palms and stared at his palms. The Five-colored Divine Light circulated in his palms.
"Myriad changes are contained in these two moves." Qing Xiong said, "If it withdraws correctly, it can raise monstrous waves and break mountain ranges. If it's released correctly, it can block heaven-shattering thunder and crush Mount Tai."
Hongjun staggered and turned around. Qing Xiong was like a Golden Roc spreading its wings. Hongjun was like a graceful peacock. When he practiced martial arts, his expression was calm and natural. It was extremely pleasing to the eye.
"Have you learned it?" Qing Xiong asked.
"A little." Hongjun said, "Just now, Kun Shen said …"
"Practice slowly." Qing Xiong replied, "Good nephew, we'll meet again someday." Then, he turned around. With a loud bang, a golden light burst forth and rose from the ground. There was a loud noise in the front hall. A black light broke through the sky. The two great demons disappeared at the same time, leaving behind Li Jinglong and Hongjun looking at each other in dismay.
In the afternoon, Hongjun's face was full of disbelief. As if he was dreaming, he walked into the Exorcism Department with Li Jinglong.
The Carp Demon, on the other hand, was staggering. Even its steps were full of confusion.
"What did he do to you?" Hongjun asked.
Li Jinglong replied, "He left a brand where the Heart Lamp is."
Hongjun said, "Let me see?"
Hongjun saw that there was a flame-like mark on Li Jinglong's chest. It looked like a bruise.
"Maybe it's a spell to protect your heart." Hongjun said, "What did Qing Xiong teach you?"
Li Jinglong smiled and replied, "A few palm techniques and a few sword techniques."
"Zhao Zilong, are you okay?" Hongjun shouted at the Carp Demon.
The Carp Demon was disdained by Kun Shen. It was a bit dejected. It hugged the Buddha bone and said, "I want to go save people."
At this moment, someone shouted outside the door, "Elder Li! Elder Li of the Exorcism Department! "The voice belonged to the Supreme Court's Huang Yong. Li Jinglong went to open the door and let him in.
Huang Yong was wrapped in a thick fur coat. When he came in, he panted and said, "Something big happened in the northwest. The messenger eagle flew for a day and a night. You have to come with me to the Ministry of War. And you … go go go, all of you go!"
Li Jinglong frowned.
At dusk, on top of the Great Ming Palace.
Chong Ming, Qing Xiong, and Yuan Kun stood on top of the roof. The setting sun shone on the glazed roof tiles.
"Let's see what happens to him." Yuan Kun said, "I'm just afraid that when Tianma comes back to life, Man proposes but God disposes."
Chong Ming's voice was filled with anger. "I only want to bring him back to the Dazzling Gold Palace. If he never leaves the mountain in this life, no matter how strong the demonic seed is, what can it do to him? If Kong Xuan had listened to me back then and stayed in the Dazzling Gold Palace and didn't fall in love with that woman, how could he be where he is today?! "
Qing Xiong said faintly, "Chong Ming, a chick leaving the nest is a matter of course. Your day of nirvana is near. When that time comes, who can protect him? "
"Although the Heart's Lamp was given to the wrong person." Yuan Kun's blindfold fluttered in the wind. He said in a low voice, "But the appearance of that Li Jinglong may not necessarily not be a turning point. As long as he can hold on …"
"I won't pin my hopes on a mortal!" Chong Ming said angrily.
Qing Xiong said, "That's why you forced Hongjun to choose. In short, as long as you're uncomfortable, you want everyone to be uncomfortable."
"You …" Chong Ming stared into Qing Xiong's eyes and exhaled restlessly.
Qing Xiong replied, "You also heard what Hongjun said today. Isn't that enough?"
Yuan Kun's brows furrowed. He said in a low voice, "Sometimes I'm really annoyed with you birds. All you do is chirp and wishy-washy. The most important thing right now is to find that Hei Jiao. Where did it escape to?"
— Volume One – Fox Beauty – End —