吃完饭后,陈老三等人开始对付新一批的尸体.
谁也不知道那个白发太监杀了多少人.这几天,陈老三对这一切有些麻木了.在死者中,他已经注意到几具引起怀疑的尸体.
"嗯?"
陈老三抓起一具尸体,准备把它放进坟里,却突然在动静中僵住了.
他静静地回头看了一眼——王老双和罗成并没有察觉到什么异常,而更远处,白发太监正盘腿而坐,似乎专心致志地为他疗伤.
确定海岸畅通无阻后,陈老三再次低下头.他小心翼翼地把手伸进尸体的长袍里,小心翼翼地掏出一个令牌.
令牌是一块墨黑色的牌匾,既不翠也不石,表面刻着一只黑龟的形象.它的中心是一个古老的印章字符——一个陈老三不认识的字符,但这并不妨碍他确切地知道这个令牌是什么.
"这是...黑龟海豹?!
黑龟印是皇室的象征.天下,只有皇室血统的人才敢使用它.任何冒充他们的人都会被天界局无情地追捕.
"这些人是皇室成员!"
陈老三的额头上瞬间冒出了冷汗.他迅速将令牌埋到一边,继续盖住尸体,假装什么都没发生过.
他不可能把它留在身上.那个老太监的武功恐怖,他的手段远超人知之.如果陈老三随身携带令牌,那无异于死刑判决.
当最后一批尸体被埋葬时,黄昏已经降临.
白发太监,几乎休息完毕,看到三人完成任务,站了起来.在确认没有遗体后,他慢慢地走了过去.在他们周围,其他士兵开始逼近,形成一个完全封闭区域的紧密圆圈——他们每个人都像没有感情的机器一样站着.
太监没有和陈老三等人说话.相反,他拿出一个指南针,在墓地上绕了三圈.只有在确认没有隐藏问题后,他才将乐器塞回长袍中.
"这是你的奖励."
白发太监在距离陈老三等人三步远的地方停了下来,扫视着他们,脸上不屑地扭动着.
然后,他掏出一袋银子扔在地上.
陈老三等人交换了一下眼神,却没有一个人动手接银子.
命运的时刻已经到来,没有人愿意成为第一个死去的人.
太监似乎看穿了他们的犹豫.他冷笑一声,转身,开始走开.
"迷路吧.你那没用的命,连这个太监都不值.
"说着,他的身影慢慢消失在远处.封锁该地区的士兵像幽灵一样融入森林中,无声无息地消失了——直到连一丝耳语都没有留下.
他真的放过我们了吗?
他们三人难以置信地盯着那些渐渐褪去的影子,无法摆脱自己在做梦的感觉.当他们埋葬尸体时,他们每个人都已经为死亡做好了准备.然而现在,在最后一刻,那个太监已经让他们走吧.
"谁在乎他是否真的放过我们.多活一天就是多活一天.
罗成突然转身,扑向躺在泥泞中的那袋银子.
"我还没活完呢!"
陈老三和另一个男人很快回过神来,冲了过来,与罗成一起争夺银牌.
他们干了肮脏的工作——他们不可能没有得到应有的份额就走.
这三个人都是经验丰富的埋尸者.他们很容易分辨出钱袋是否掺有毒药.在确保一切都安全后,他们坐下来进行了一次只能称为正式的银子分裂会议.
半天后.
The three returned to Qingya County, their pockets heavier.
Chen Laosan went straight home.
"Third Uncle?!"
In the courtyard, Chen Luo was practicing his martial arts when he heard a noise. He rushed over and swung the door open.
The moment he saw Chen Laosan, a look of surprise and joy lit up his face.
He had thought his Third Uncle was already dead. For the past two days, he'd been asking around nonstop for any news.
"Hah! Surviving a great calamity means good fortune is on the way! Come on, your Third Uncle's treating you to some real meat tonight!"
Chen Laosan was just as excited. On the way back, he and Wang Laoshuan had been on edge the entire time—neither of them had expected they'd actually make it home alive.
Thinking about the silver he had earned from this job, Chen Laosan couldn't help but feel pleased.
Now, his nephew's martial arts training expenses were covered.
Tomorrow, he'd head to Ba'an Hall to buy some herbs and prescriptions to help his nephew strengthen his blood. And as for finding him a wife, it was time to get that started as well. He needed to find a woman with a thick waist and big hips—the kind that could bear children well! That way, when he went back for the New Year, he'd have something to report to his big brother.
"Uh..."
Chen Luo's words suddenly caught in his throat.
"Eating and drinking is fine, but no need to go that far."
Chen Luo paused, then said with a sly grin, "Third Uncle, you've become quite the celebrity in the alley over the years. Every time you walk down there, some of those cheap 'aunties' greet you and ask why you haven't been around for so long."
"You brat, what are you thinking?!"
Chen Laosan raised his hand and gave him a slap.
"I'm talking about eating meat." With that, he turned and walked out the door.
In the past, whenever they had long-term tasks, the uncle and nephew would go to the old noodle stall for a meal. But today, Chen Laosan was feeling generous and directly took Chen Luo to Ju De Lou.
He ordered over ten dishes in one go, and only stopped after ordering two jars of wine.
The money in the white-haired eunuch's purse was no small amount. Chen Laosan, Luo Cheng, and the others each received a small gold ingot. In addition, there were some scattered silver coins—coins with the face value used in the capital, which, when exchanged in the local area, turned into a small fortune!
After eating and drinking their fill, the uncle and nephew packed up the leftover food and wobbled their way back to their place.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, as soon as the sun came up, Chen Luo got up to practice his punches.
After Third Uncle returned, the only concern he had disappeared. With this shift in mindset, his progress in martial arts accelerated. The 'brain' in his mind constantly helped optimize his punching techniques. The Black Tiger Fist that Ma Quezi had passed on to him was continually being improved, and it had now completely transformed.
But the momentum and strength were much stronger.
For the next few days, he continued practicing martial arts in the yard. It wasn't until the third day, when he received a message from his master, Ma Quezi, that he finally went out to visit Ma Quezi's house.
"Still under lockdown?"
Chen Luo walked to the street and took a careful glance.
The long street leading to Ma Quezi's house was still closed off, the blockade remained in place. The atmosphere in the street felt off, too, as there were many unfamiliar faces in the county. For some reason, the situation in Qingya County had been growing increasingly tense.
When Chen Luo took a detour to Ma Quezi's house, he found that someone was already there.
"You're here?"
Ma Quezi was sharpening a bamboo knife at the door. Seeing Chen Luo approach, he looked up and spoke.
Ma Quezi had a certain appreciation for this disciple who came in halfway. The other's aptitude for martial arts was exceptional—within just a few days, he had fully mastered his fist technique. What remained were just some experience-based issues, and there was little more for Ma Quezi to teach.
Ma Quezi himself wasn't a great martial artist, so there was no possibility of him being a hidden master. With a whole array of "external brains" helping him, learning Ma Quezi's fist technique was naturally a piece of cake for Chen Luo.
"Master."
Chen Luo respectfully bowed.
"Come inside and we'll talk."
Ma Quezi put down the bamboo knife in his hand and led Chen Luo into the house.
In the yard, a strange young woman was practicing on a sandbag. From her swift and powerful punches, it was clear that her foundation was very solid, far beyond where Chen Luo had been when he first started.
"Her name is He Min. She'll be your junior sister from now on."
Ma Quezi didn't say much, only offering a brief introduction. Like Chen Luo, He Min was also a connection-based disciple. Living in Qingya County, Ma Quezi couldn't avoid the local social dynamics. No matter how well he hid, there were always people who knew about his skills.
"Master Ma."
On the other side, He Min had finished a set of punches, her body radiating heat. The two-tone training outfit, a mix of blue and white, outlined her figure, and paired with her seven-part beauty, she gave off an impression of youthful vigor and elegance.
"This is your senior brother, Chen Luo. He is my disciple, whom I took in half a month ago."
Ma Quezi made the introduction.
Since they were both his disciples, Ma Quezi naturally hoped that the two of them would support each other, especially He Min. Her father came from a gang background, so mentioning it in advance could help avoid a lot of trouble.
"Senior Brother Chen."
He Min respectfully bowed, her attitude very polite.
"Junior Sister He."
Chen Luo returned the gesture with a bow.
"Since you're both here, let's lend a hand." Ma Quezi clapped his hands and said to the two of them.
"Yes."
The two exchanged a glance, and in their eyes, a spark of fighting spirit ignited simultaneously.
Chen Luo was also eager to find out what level he had reached. Since Junior Sister He came from a gang background, her skills were surely impressive.