Half an hour later.
"I bet a hundred taels on An Lushan winning," Ashina Chong said.
"I bet on An Lushan."
"I bet on Xie Yu," Qiu Yongsi said expressionlessly.
When Mo Rigen returned to the Exorcism Division, he did not know what had happened. He saw Yang Guozhong kneeling at the side and the exorcists casually gambling in front of the table.
"What time is this?! What are you still doing here?! " Mo Rigen looked at Yang Guozhong, who was tied up by runes and kneeling on the ground. He then looked at Li Jinglong, who was lying at the side. He was speechless. Lu Xu explained what had happened. Mo Rigen looked at Qiu Yongsi in disbelief.
"You believe him?" Mo Rigen frowned.
Qiu Yongsi looked up at Mo Rigen, and the two of them looked at each other. Mo Rigen said, "How many times has Xie Yu tricked us?! How can we believe his words? The Fox Demon Case, the Ghost King Case, the Daming Palace, the Dragon-subduing Pagoda … "
"This is my last chance." Yang Guozhong said calmly, "What's the use of harming your lives for someone who will either succeed or die trying? Kong Xuan rejected my suggestion in the past. If he had listened to me earlier, he wouldn't be in trouble today. "
"He's lying," Lu Xu suddenly said.
Yang Guozhong's expression changed. Everyone turned to look at Lu Xu.
Lu Xu got up and walked to Yang Guozhong. He looked him in the eye and said, "When you proposed to Kong Xuan, you didn't care about Hongjun's life and death. You only wanted to separate the demonic seed from his body so that you could ascend. Once the demonic seed leaves his body, Hongjun's three spiritual and seven physical souls will be destroyed. Without the most important magical equipment, how are you going to protect him? "
"How did you know?" Yang Guozhong narrowed his eyes and muttered, "That's impossible. At that time, Kong Xuan and I were the only ones who discussed this …"
The sleeping Li Jinglong's eyelashes fluttered slightly.
In the autumn night, it was drizzling, and it was getting colder. Yang Guozhong left the Kong residence. When he reached the front courtyard, he turned his head to look inside.
"Then what about Xing 'er?" Jia Yuze asked anxiously.
Little Li Jinglong tiptoed to the window and eavesdropped on the conversation between Kong Xuan and Jia Yuze.
"We need a transcendent artifact to reforge his three souls and seven spirits," Kong Xuan answered, "Let the demonic seed separate. Xie Yu is right. This is the only way. "
"What magical treasure?" Jia Yuze said urgently. "How could your elder brother be willing to use the power of nirvana to help Xing 'er reforge?"
"He will." Kong Xuan said, "I've already sent a letter and asked Second Brother to help me search for the ancient magical equipment that is still in the human world."
"How much of Xie Yu's words are true and how much is false?" Jia Yuze's heart was in a mess. He paced around the room and said in a low voice, "Your Dazzling Gold Palace has a feud with him."
"That's just Big Brother!" Kong Xuan said, "Yuze, listen. This is our only chance …"
"I won't give Xing 'er to him!" Jia Yuze answered.
"… Let's go find this transcendent artifact. After we find it, we'll follow Xie Yu's plan and reforge Xing 'er's three souls and seven spirits …"
"No!" Jia Yuze interrupted, "I will never give Xing 'er to him!"
At that moment, a clear sound came from outside the room. Kong Xuan and his wife immediately turned their heads. Kong Xuan asked warily, "Who is it?"
In the corridor outside the room, Little Hongjun was standing barefoot in a snow-white shirt and shorts. He looked at Little Li Jinglong with a puzzled expression.
Little Li Jinglong immediately made a "shh" gesture and pulled Hongjun back to the room, indicating that he should go in as soon as possible. Little Hongjun asked in a low voice, "Who are you?"
"Don't ask." Little Li Jinglong answered quickly and urged Hongjun to get on the bed. He lifted the quilt and slept on the bed next to him. Not long after, Jia Yuze pushed the door open and entered the room. The room was dark and Little Hongjun was lying quietly in a deep sleep. Jia Yuze didn't go forward. He closed the door and left.
A foul wind blew in Chang 'an City and a rain of blood fell. Hongjun quickly left the Lingyan Pavilion and piled all the painting scrolls in his arms into the wooden box. Li Longji's team was ready to leave the city. All the servants were dismissed. The Human Emperor was clad in armor and carrying a sword. He was actually a little unsteady on his tall horse.
"Eliminate the evil concubine!"
"The Yang Family is to be executed!"
The clamorous officers and soldiers of the six armies gathered in front of the palace. For a moment, their prestige was at its peak. For ten years, the Yang Family's karma of tyrannical abuse had finally come to an end. The rumors that the Emperor was muddle-headed and was manipulated by Yang Guifei became more and more intense. The deaths of Feng Changqing and Gao Xianzhi were facilitated by Bian Lingcheng, and Bian Lingcheng was promoted by Yang Guozhong in the past. An Lushan was in power. Tongguan fell and the Emperor fled in panic. The Tang Dynasty was facing the danger of being overthrown. In the end, this debt was naturally blamed on the Yang Family.
"Stop arguing!" Hongjun shouted.
Gao Lishi's face was ashen. He shrank back and hid behind Hongjun. At this moment, the servants in the palace had been sent to protect the families of the officials. The six armies were facing the crisis of mutiny. However, even if the servants were still there, they were only a group of eunuchs who knew a bit of martial arts. How could they compare to the tens of thousands of soldiers?
"Follow me — into battle —" Li Longji's voice rang out. The six armies instantly fell silent. Hongjun knew that things were going to be bad when he saw Li Longji appear. As expected, the tens of thousands of people stared at the old and dizzy emperor.
Hongjun looked back at the carriages. Yang Yuhuan and Madam Han had boarded the carriage. Xingqing Palace was in chaos, but he was the only one protecting Li Longji and Yang Yuhuan.
"Let's go." Hongjun stood in front of Li Longji and faced the thousands of soldiers of the Imperial Army. He was the only one blocking them, but no one dared to step forward. Their gazes first fell from Li Longji to the carriages and then back to him.
The commander of the Shenwu Army walked out of the crowd and asked Hongjun, "Where's Marquis Yadan?"
"He's covering the evacuation of Chang 'an citizens," Hongjun replied curtly. "Are we going or not?"
The commander's name was Chen Xuanli, and he was of the same rank as Hu Sheng. Hongjun had seen him before when he followed Li Jinglong, and he had also seen Hongjun. The demon slayings in Chang 'an had spread like wildfire throughout the city. However, the six armies also knew that Li Jinglong's group was not to be trifled with.
Chen Xuanli saw that the Exorcism Department had only sent one person, so he clearly had nothing to fear. After some consideration, he finally gave up on his plan and raised his hand to give the order. Hongjun mounted his horse and stood guard beside the carriages. He followed Li Longji and set off.
The rain of blood covered the sky and earth. The soldiers of the six armies silently mounted their horses and were drenched. Hongjun purposely stayed behind. He saw the curtain of the carriage open, revealing Yang Guifei's side profile.
"Has the Yang Family left?" Yang Guifei asked.
Hongjun: "…"
"I asked the crown prince to bring them to the palace and leave with Her Majesty." Yang Guifei frowned. "Big Brother didn't come. They didn't come."
Hongjun didn't know what to say. In the blink of an eye, the guards had already left Xingqing Palace. He thought for a moment and replied, "I don't know, but they must have left …"
"Go take a look for me." Yang Guifei said.
"My duty is to protect Her Majesty." Hongjun said, "This is the mission assigned to me by the Exorcism Department."
Yang Guifei insisted, "Her Majesty will be fine. The one they hate is none other than me. Go, Hongjun. Give this to the steward. "
Hongjun pondered for a moment and urged his horse forward. Just as he was about to ask Chen Xuanli, Chen Xuanli continued to wait and talk to him.
"What is your duty?" Chen Xuanli asked.
"Protect the imperial family." Hongjun said, "The Yang Family …"
Chen Xuanli said, "Hongjun, the Exorcism Department is under the command of Her Majesty and the crown prince. It is under the orders of the imperial family. I think you all know this."
Hongjun sized up Chen Xuanli but didn't reply. The rain poured down as everyone marched on the main street.
"The Yang Family is not the imperial family." Chen Xuanli said coldly, "If the crown prince's orders go against the Yang Family's orders, how will you choose?"
Hongjun: "You …"
Chen Xuanli said in a low voice, "Answer me! I know that you exorcists are powerful, but if you really want to fight, don't go too far! "
Hongjun was silent for a long time before answering, "Jinglong will listen to the emperor."
"Look at Her Majesty!" Chen Xuanli leaned down from his horse and suddenly grabbed Hongjun's collar. He said through gritted teeth, "Does he still recognize anyone?"
Hongjun gasped for breath. Chen Xuanli said again, "Answer me!"
"Listen to the crown prince." Hongjun finally said.
Only then did Chen Xuanli let go of Hongjun. Hongjun said, "I'll go find the Yang Family."
"I'll ask you one more time." Chen Xuanli said, "Yang Guozhong's true body is a demon, isn't it?"
Hongjun suddenly turned his head and looked at the carriage, then at Chen Xuanli.
Hongjun: "Yes, but the inside story …"
"I'm only asking you if it's true or not." Chen Xuanli said in a low voice.
Hongjun didn't say anything. Chen Xuanli asked again, "Madam Guo is also a demon, isn't she?"
"But Consort Gui isn't!" Hongjun could vaguely sense the danger the Yang Family was in and said angrily, "Let her go! She's the only one left by your emperor's side! "
"If it weren't for those demons from the Yang Family causing trouble!" Chen Xuanli said in a low voice, "Our emperor wouldn't have fallen into such a state where he's deserted by everyone!"
Hongjun held the token and said in a low voice, "I'll catch up to you. Chen Xuanli, if you have the guts, try touching Consort Gui before I come back."
"Do you really want to conspire with the evil consort and help the evildoer do evil?" Chen Xuanli said. "Think carefully." Hongjun didn't wait for him to say anything else and left on his horse.
The autumn air was refreshing and the sky was long. Under the camphor tree, two ropes hung from the trunk and tied to a wooden board that swayed gently with the wind. Little Hongjun sat on the swing and stared blankly. Little Li Jinglong hurried over and put down the book in his hand. He knelt in front of the swing and hugged Little Hongjun. He tilted his ear and listened through the thin clothes on Little Hongjun's chest.
Little Hongjun: "???"
"Do you believe me?" Little Li Jinglong asked.
Little Hongjun asked, "Believe in what?"
Little Li Jinglong answered, "Take out your demonic seed and use my magic weapon to make your three spiritual and seven physical souls again."
Little Hongjun asked, "Will it hurt a lot?"
Little Li Jinglong shook his head but hesitated and said sadly, "Maybe."
Little Hongjun stared at Little Li Jinglong and nodded his head lightly.
"Come with me." Little Li Jinglong held his hand and slipped out of the back door while no one was around.
"What magic weapon do you have?" Little Hongjun wore wooden clogs and ran in the alley. Little Li Jinglong turned his head and answered, "The Heart's Lantern. It's not mine. I borrowed it."
"Don't you need to return it?" Little Hongjun asked again.
Little Li Jinglong: "… …"
At night in Chang 'an, the rain poured down. Hongjun rode his horse through the streets of Chang' an and arrived outside the Yang Family's house. The house was already empty and countless treasures were piled up randomly. Antiques, paintings, and jewelry were thrown in the rain.
"Is anyone here?!" Hongjun wiped his face and shouted.
It was empty. Hongjun picked up a painting and threw it into the hall. He mounted his horse again and rode through the corridor, backyard, and garden. If he couldn't find anyone alive, they must have already fled. He took a deep breath and wanted to go back to the Exorcism Division to take a look. However, for some reason, he thought of another family. He immediately exited the alley, turned into two main roads, and entered another small alley.
"Is anyone here?" Hongjun ran into a house and saw that the door was half open. He hurriedly got off his horse and went inside. This was the home of Chen Zi 'ang's descendants. Hongjun hurriedly entered the room and saw a woman and a child lying on the bed. The woman was Madam Duan. When the child saw that Hongjun had come, he only made a "shh" gesture and said, "Don't wake my mother up."
Hongjun had seen him several times when he was still a baby. It had been a few years since then, but he didn't expect him to be so old. When he first came to find the Chen family's descendants, this child was almost one year old. Now that three years had passed, he was already four years old.
Hongjun said, "Why are you still sleeping? Quickly leave the city … … Are you okay? "
He reached out to touch Madam Duan's forehead, but her body was already cold. He didn't know when she had died.
Hongjun: "… …"
Hongjun didn't know why he thought of the original owner of the Mind Lamp. He was about to bring the token and give it to Madam Duan to take refuge with the child if she hadn't left the city. He didn't expect to see this scene in front of him. It turned out that Madam Duan had caught a cold in autumn and gradually fell ill. Fortunately, she had some money to spend, so she had the neighbors brew soup and send medicine every day to take care of her. Until three days ago, when An Lushan army besieged the city, the citizens of Chang 'an began to flee. In one night, the entire city had fled, and no one cared about the mother and daughter. Madam Duan's illness didn't recover. When she was on her deathbed, she developed a high fever and passed away after a night of fever.
The child sat by the bed and ate the cold steamed buns on the stove when he was hungry. He didn't know that his mother had died and only thought that she was asleep.
For a moment, Hongjun didn't know how to comfort the child. Suddenly, there was a loud noise outside the courtyard. The child jumped in fright. Hongjun quickly ran out and looked at the sky.
The blood rain had stopped. In an instant, the wind blew and the black clouds surged again.
The child asked, "Are the demons going to enter the city?"
Hongjun flipped over and landed on the roof. He looked into the distance and saw the black clouds rolling and beginning to invade Chang 'an.
"Who did you hear that from?" Hongjun asked.
The child replied, "That's what they all said."
Hongjun asked again, "What's your name?"
The child said, "Chen Feng. I know you. You are my family's benefactor."
Hongjun: "… …"
Chen Feng muttered to himself, "My mother said that you and Elder Li often helped us and told me to study hard and be a good person."
"How old are you?" Hongjun whispered, "You're already studying?"
"I can recognize a lot of words." Chen Feng said, "Are you here to take us away? I'm going to wake my mother up. "As he said this, he ran inside and shook Madam Duan.
Hongjun couldn't bear it and closed his eyes. Chen Feng continued to call out for a while. As if he realized something, his voice carried a sobbing tone, followed by a kind of panic.
"There's no time." Hongjun rushed in like a gust of wind and picked up Chen Feng. Chen Feng shouted, "My mother hasn't woken up yet!"
"She's dead." Hongjun thought of his mother. Suddenly, a myriad of grief welled up in his heart. He carried Chen Feng and mounted the horse. Chen Feng instantly shouted, "She's not dead! She's not dead — —! "
"She's dead." Hongjun repeated. He hugged Chen Feng tightly. Ignoring his shouts and screams, he spurred the horse and rushed out of the alley. The whole of Chang 'an was in chaos. Everyone was trying to get out of the city. The ice wall built by the Mysterious Underworld outside the city had already collapsed. In the distance, the screams of the Earth Swallowing Beast could be heard.
It was as if doomsday had arrived in Chang 'an City. Chen Feng shouted, "Where are you taking me?!"
"Be obedient!" Hongjun shouted at Chen Feng.
Chen Feng was so scared that he didn't dare to make a sound. He curled up in Hongjun's arms and couldn't stop trembling. Hongjun was stationed in Maxi City. The huge Maxi City had long been empty and looked like a ruin. He wanted to hand Chen Feng over to Yang Guifei. However, looking at the situation of the six armies, it was quite unsafe. He could only bring him back to the Exorcism Division to think of a solution.