The three of them stood side by side on the bridge and looked eastward, looking eastward at the meandering river. Under the clear starry night, there were many houses on both sides of the bank, filled with rich layers of static beauty, picturesque and dreamlike.

Ba Fenghan was afraid of disturbing the sleeping residents in nearby houses and whispered: Kou Zhong, are you underestimating the enemy too much? Why don't you seem to take Li Shimin seriously? According to me, among the heroes, no one or his own

His strength may be second only to Yu Wenhua and Li Mi before the fight, or even better.

Xu Ziling said: I have never heard of Li Shimin losing a battle.

Kou Zhong said proudly: With my current meager strength, only an idiot can challenge him head-on.

Ba Fenghan and Xu Ziling couldn't help laughing at the same time.

The former laughed and scolded: Damn you, you are obviously going to attack with an army, but you want to reverse the plan and become a nondescript soldier. If the soldiers are not brave, they will lose without fighting.

Kou Zhong laughed with the two of them for a while and then said in a low voice: Li Zi has no time to deal with me.

Xu Ziling said: What do you mean?

Kou Zhongdao: Xue Ju, who claims to be the overlord of the Western Qin Dynasty, and his son Xue Renguo, who is highly skilled in martial arts, are preparing to invade Chang'an again; while Liu Wuzhou will take advantage of the situation to attack Taiyuan and shake the foundation of his Li family. In this case, Li Zina still has time.

Come and take care of me.

Ba Fenghan said with a moved expression: "The strength of these two groups of soldiers and horses is indeed not easy to resist. I heard that Xue Ju had a general named Zongluohou who was brave and unparalleled and was very good at using the Guandao."

Xu Ziling said, "Although Mr. Zhong's plan is satisfactory, it's a pity that we don't know when this will happen. Then Li Shimin still has enough time to try to kill us first."

Kou Zhong said confidently: "Try to guess where Li Zi slipped away just now?"

The two of them were immediately stumped and speechless by him.

Kou Zhong said energetically: He is going to see Wang Shichong.

Both of them agreed and couldn't help but admire his extraordinary intelligence.

Kou Zhong explained: Good or bad, I am now a member of Wang Shichong's camp. If Li Zi wants to move me, I have to say hello to Wang Shichong to see what he thinks. On the last trip, Wang Shichong agreed to implement the city ban because he did not want to implicate Juan.

When I entered the dispute over He's Bi, I deliberately expressed my innocence, but also because I didn't think that Shi Feixuan would kill me before the truth about He's Bi came to light.

Ba Fenghan said: Since Wang Shichong is an old fox, he should see through your ambitions. He might let Li Shimin get rid of you.

Kou Zhong smiled and said: If you said this yesterday, I really wouldn't dare to refute you. But after my arrangements, Wang Shichong weighed the interests and would only dare to touch me after Li Mi's defeat. Now it's too late to defend me!

Ba Fenghan wondered: Why do you have such confidence?

Kou Zhong said happily: "The first thing is the relationship with Zhai Jiao. Now I have become a middleman. Only from my department, Wang Shichong, can get the most precious information about Li Mi's army. Even if they instigate rebellion, they are still secretly loyal to Zhai Rang's old army."

Ba Fenghan nodded and said: This reason alone is enough for Wang Shi to protect you like a jewel. What is the other reason?

Kou Zhong replied: Wang Shichong will be present when Rong Fengxiang arranges the birthday banquet the day after tomorrow. This will give Shen Luoyan an opportunity to stab him. How could Wang Shichong, a man who cherishes life so much, dare to beat him without me, an adviser and a master, by his side?

This is a dangerous plan to lure the snake out of its hole.

Ba Fenghan exclaimed: "You are indeed both brave and cunning. Whoever underestimates you, Kou Zhong, will definitely regret it one day."

Kou Zhong said calmly: "I think Wang Shichong will agree to Li Zi to join forces to deal with me, but he will only take action after defeating Li Mi. At that time, he will have a showdown with me. If I am willing to be used by him, everything will be fine. Otherwise, he will set up a trap."

Get rid of me when I'm not prepared. This is a famous motto taught by Master Bai through the ages.

Xu Ziling interjected: But with Li Shimin's intelligence, he should have seen that if Wang Shichong couldn't deal with it, you might still take action. If you are lying dead on the street now, even if Zhuge Liang comes back to life, you won't be able to guess who did it.

Kou Zhong said with a smile: "As long as Li Zi doesn't dare to openly gather a crowd to besiege me, why should I be afraid? If I, Kou Zhong, were killed so easily, I would have died countless times!"

This is indeed an unshakable fact.

Ba Fenghan muttered: Although you can secretly influence and even control the situation in the Central Plains, I still don't understand why you are so confident in fighting for the world.

Kou Zhong took a deep breath and said: The key point is that if I can't find Yang Gong's treasure house, I will have no choice but to die and fight for the world. Come to the desert to ride horses on the grassland with you for fun, or simply do a private salt business. I have passed this time in a dream.

Half a lifetime is enough.

Ba Fenghan wondered: Even if you have precious weapons but no territory and no soldiers, how can you challenge someone with a strong foundation like the Li clan?

Kou Zhong's eyes flashed with lightning and he said in a deep voice: This is back to the issue of fighting bravely and fighting against evil. If Li Mi is defeated, the Li family will be the target of public criticism. As long as I can design another setback, Du Fuwei will have the opportunity to focus on Pegasus Ranch and Jingling.

Establish my power and then expand it to the north and south at the same time. In the south, I will unite Xiao Mian and the Song Dynasty clan, and in the north, I will win over Dou Jiande and Liu Wuzhou. As long as Wang Shichong can still resist the Li clan in the west, one day this world will be in my pocket, Kou Zhong.

Ba Fenghan sighed: Only you, Master Zhong, can think such a difficult and complicated thing can be done easily. I feel a headache just thinking about it.

Kou Zhong smiled bitterly and said: I am only 50% sure, but if Ling is willing to help me, I will have full confidence.

Xu Ziling said calmly: You must never talk back on good things, otherwise how can you establish trust in the world?

Kou Zhong apologized and said with a smile: Mr. Xu, please calm down. I am just saying it casually. Mr. Xu, I am very grateful that you are willing to accompany me to hunt for treasure!

Xu Ziling changed the topic and said: Although I am very dissatisfied with Li Jing now, I never think that he is a person who betrays his friends for glory.

Besides, we also want to miss one thing. Li Zi may have learned from Li Xiuning that we have a way to change our appearance.

When the four major bandits attacked Pegasus Ranch, Shen Luoyan and Li Tianfan wanted to plot against Li Xiuning, and Kou Zhong intervened. At that time, he used the mask of Lu Miaozi to hide his true face.

Kou Zhongdao: How could I forget that I deliberately questioned Li Jing but he admitted it himself.

Xu Ziling said: How is he?

Kou Zhong thought for a long time and said: At that time, he really answered strangely that whatever he said was mine. But at that time, I had already burned my head with anger and even scolded him a few times. That’s all! It doesn’t matter whether he did it or not.

.Since he has become Li Shimin’s lackey, I will one day confront him. All brotherly love and friendship are worthless.

Ba Fenghan said with emotion: There are many things that would be better off thinking less. The biggest trouble in life is thinking too much.

Xu Ziling asked with concern: How is your injury? How about we work together to treat your injury before dawn!

Ba Fenghan smiled bitterly and said: You must not lose any one's skill at this moment when powerful enemies are around. It will bring unexpected disasters.

Xu Ziling sighed: But I think you are afraid that if you fully recover, there will be no reason to leave immediately.

Kou Zhong suddenly said: I understand that you want to avoid that beauty from Turks.

Ba Fenghan opened his right palm and saw the shining hairpin that Badel had returned to him.

Then the hairpin tilted on his right palm fell into the river and sank without causing any ripples.

Ba Fenghan said calmly: It's almost dawn!

※※※

The three horses all galloped through a sparse forest in the northwest outside the city, then ran up a slope and reined in their horses to stop.

Surrounded by mountains, a lake lay peacefully on the grassland in front. The blue waves and green water were rippling among the trees. In the early morning, the mist was floating on the green lake. The three of them suddenly felt refreshed.

Kou Zhong pointed at the poetic and picturesque scenery in front of him with his riding whip and said with a long smile: If we hadn't insisted on giving you another ride, we would never have known that there was such a good place nearby.

Ba Fenghan jumped off the horse and tied a heavy money bag to Kou Zhong's saddle and said with a smile: "There are at least fifty ingots and one tael of gold in this bag. The so-called three armies have not moved the food and grass first; think of it as my Ba Fenghan"

Feng Han has donated some funds to your Kingdom of Kou.

Kou Zhong did not refuse and said happily: There is no need to talk nonsense between us brothers. Anyway, I, Kou Zhong, take it seriously! You'd better put on the mask immediately. Those who want to track you will come to Ba Fenghan and wait for them to disappear.

Ba Fenghan shook his head and said: Just changing my face is not enough. When I arrived at the nearest town, I changed my clothes, put away my weapons, and simply pretended to be an ordinary business traveler. That would be more deceptive.

Xu Ziling said: If not Badel, who could make you Ba Fenghan try so hard to hide your true colors?

Ba Feng Hanfei turned around and looked around for a week before sighing and saying: From this moment on, I will never think of her again, let alone meet her again.

Then he looked deeply at the two of them, his eyes fixed in front of him, and he said solemnly: I don’t know if we can see each other again after we say goodbye here. Two brothers, take good care of it!

With a strong belly and a long neigh, the horse let go of its four hooves and rushed down the hillside.

The two of them watched him appear and disappear among the trees and grass without looking back, and finally disappeared into a dense forest. Kou Zhong then breathed a sigh of relief and said: No one is following him!

Xu Zilingtou agreed.

The two men turned around and galloped slowly down the slope.

Kou Zhong let out a heavy sigh filled with emotions of separation and said bitterly: Separation in life and death is so heartbreaking. My mother's death and Fenghan's separation are so hard to let go and unable to change. If it weren't for Badel, that old woman

I'm afraid Lao Ba will still play with us for a while longer.

Seeing Xu Ziling's thoughtful look, he seemed to have not heard his own words and asked, "What are you thinking about? Are you surprised that no one is following us? In fact, it should be like this. Now, whoever wants to mess with us, why don't you think twice?"

Xu Ziling shook his head and said: I suddenly remembered that Sister Su felt unhappy in her heart.

Kou Zhongse changed his way: Don't scare me!

Xu Ziling sighed: Maybe it was because of meeting Li Jing! After killing Yu Wenhuaji, I went back to find Sister Su to see how Xiangyushan treated her? Hum!

Kou Zhong pondered for a while and said: It's time to introduce Wang Shichong to you!

Xu Ziling shook his head with a look of boredom and said: I still don't want to see this kind of person today. You should go back to the city first! I want to ride a horse. I don't know why but I always feel a little depressed in my heart.

Kou Zhong said in astonishment: Isn't this a sign of obsession?

Xu Ziling laughed and scolded: Go to hell with your obsession. Now you take your Yangguan Road and I will take mine. Don't forget that Song Lu set up a banquet at Dong's Restaurant at noon and waited for us to go see your Wang Shichong and Shuni sister!

He rode his horse and went straight away.

Kou Zhong stayed for a long time before he smiled bitterly and shook his head and returned to the city.

※※※

Jing Nian Zen Temple stands on a mountain with a solemn atmosphere.

Xu Ziling jumped off the horse, hugged the horse's neck and coaxed it like a child, and after some affectionate words, he left it to graze on its own and then rushed towards the entrance of the mountain gate of the monastery.

After passing the archway engraved with Jing Nian Zen Monastery, the long and steep stone steps lead up to the mountain, giving you the feeling of ascending to the sky and reaching the other shore.
To be continued...