The sky was overcast and gloomy, the Ghost Tooth Mountain was eerily quiet, and on the rugged and narrow mountain path lay more than 20 corpses, with rain still pouring down, and everywhere was a mixture of blood and water.

  Lao Yang said: "Zhou Gongzi, shouldn't we turn back? The road collapse is definitely a scam."

  Zhou Xuan looked at the corpses all over the ground and was furious. He had only thought of going to Hongzhou easily, but he didn't expect to provoke Wei Jue, this local snake. He didn't even know the rules of winning or losing in a gamble, and now you're acting like a small-time hoodlum? If you have the ability, come again!

  Zhou Xuan let San Chi kick all the corpses to the roadside bushes, this mountain road is remote, but someone must have passed by, don't make a noise immediately, it's troublesome to alarm the local government, asking questions will definitely not be able to get away for a while.

  Just after covering up the body, a small peddler carrying a pole came walking from the mountain path. Zhou Xuan asked him for directions, and the peddler said: "After leaving this mountain road and heading east for another ten miles, you will arrive at Shizui Head."

  Lai Fu has learned his lesson this time and reminds: "Brother-in-law, won't we be cheated again?"

  Zhou Xuan said: "It's not that complicated. I don't believe Wei Jue can still use his linked strategy, he must have thought we would become the sacrificial pawns for these fake mountain bandits."

  They tied the remaining fake mountain bandit to the cart shaft and continued on their way. After leaving the mountain path, it was indeed a flat plain. They traveled east for ten miles until they reached Shizui Head.

  "Let's press on for another stage," said Zhou Xuan, "and try to get back to Jiangzhou by the day after tomorrow."

  This day, they arrived at Yanfang Village to rest their feet until nightfall. The next morning, they set off early again despite the drizzle. Fortunately, nothing out of the ordinary happened along the way. That evening, they arrived at Mabei Ridge, which is 70 miles from Jiangzhou. They would be able to return by noon the following day.

  Found an inn, booked five superior rooms. Old Yang and Lai Fu shared one room, and that fake mountain bandit didn't get a bed to sleep in. San Chi pointed at him and told him to lean against the wall corner.

  Zhou Xuan stayed in Yang Xiaoyin's room until midnight before returning to his own room to sleep. Although this woman was taciturn, her eyebrows and eyes would speak for her, and it was also fun to tease out a sentence from her after half a day. Zhou Xuan said he had also taken on a songstress as a student, named Rui Chu, who played the zither extremely well and had a wonderful singing voice. She loved writing lyrics.

  Yang Xiaoyin heard Zhou Xuan boast that Sui Chuyan's zither playing was good, and her beautiful eyebrows moved slightly, seemingly not convinced.

  Coming out of Yang Xiaoyu's room, I heard the sound of chess pieces being knocked from San Chou's room. Pushing open the door and taking a look, San Chou and Si Chou were still deeply engrossed in studying that clever puzzle that Zhou Xuan had given them for free the day before yesterday. They really are diligent.

  "Why don't you two get some rest early? Otherwise, I'll give away the solution for free!" Zhou Xuan chuckled and walked in.

  "Wait, wait. Don't tell us the answer yet. It's no fun if you just tell us. We have to figure it out ourselves."

  Zhou Xuan smiled and was about to go out the door to take a nap. Suddenly, he heard a faint "sandy" sound on the tile roof, different from the rain, like a civet cat had jumped over.

  A gust of wind passed by, and the three fools and four fools who were originally sitting and playing chess had disappeared, leaving only a lonely lamp and half a set of scattered pieces.

  A loud crash was heard from the rooftop as swords clashed, and someone exclaimed in extreme astonishment: "It's you!"

  This is neither Sanzhi nor Sihchu's voice.

  Zhou Xuan rushed out of the door and saw a black shadow flashing across the night sky, followed by another black shadow chasing after it, and then everything was quiet.

  Zhou Xuan's heart sank: "A top-notch Wei Jue expert has arrived!" He hastily went to Yang Xiaodiao's room and knocked on the door, asking: "Xiaodiao, are you okay?" A faint "Mm-hmm" came from inside.

  A faint "clink" sound, four silhouettes fell from the sky, and the short sword in their hands was inserted back into the alligator skin scabbard at their waist.

  "Fourth Brother, what's going on? Where is your senior brother?"

  Fourth Fool said: "Chasing that person away, he recognized my Shixiong, so it's necessary to kill him to silence him, I'll stay behind to protect you."

  Those who can recognize San Chidi must be extraordinary people. Zhou Xuan asked: "Who is that person? He's very powerful?"

  Si Chai said: "I don't recognize him, but judging from his movements, he should be a descendant of Kongzhong."

  Zhou Xuan was stunned, he had read "Tang Legends" and "The Adventures of the Tang Dynasty", so naturally he knew that the number one assassin of the Tang Dynasty was Kong Kong'er. Kong Kong'er also had a junior apprentice named Jing Jing'er who died at the hands of Nie Yinniang. These were all legendary figures from unofficial histories, but he never thought they actually existed!

  "Which of the Five Eccentric Wanderers are you? Nie Yinniang? Hong Xian? Kunlun Nu?"

  "Hey, you still don't know much! Stop talking nonsense and hurry back to your room to sleep. You can go sleep with your little wife too."

  Zhou Xuan's face turned slightly red as he said, "Fourth brother, we haven't played a game of chess yet. I'll play a round with you while we wait for your senior brother to return."

  Si Chui was delighted, last time at Lushan Shimen Stream, Master Brother and Zhou Xuan's game, he watched from start to finish, clearly observing that Master Brother lost very unfortunately, there was no need to kill Zhou Xuan's big dragon, it could have been won steadily, but such a chess move was unexpectedly turned over by Zhou Xuan step by step, he was very dissatisfied and had been wanting to find an opportunity to compete with Zhou Xuan.

  Two people went into the Three Fools' room and sat cross-legged on the bed, guessing who would go first. The Fourth Fool held a white piece and made the first move.

  Autumn night knocking on the chessboard, the sound of wind and rain carries a solemn and murderous atmosphere.

  After placing more than 30 pieces on the board, Zhou announced that he was in the lead. This four-stroke chess feels good, with a familiar hand, but it's slightly inferior overall compared to San Qi's balanced style. Let's see how his mid-game killing power is?

  Four idiots are fighting fiercely on the chessboard, several big dragons entwined with each other towards the middle of the board, the situation is very complicated, black and white are evenly matched.

  Put in a lot of time thinking.

  Suddenly I heard the distant sound of the watchman's rattle, it was already the fourth watch.

  Zhou Xuan put down a chess piece in his hand and frowned, asking: "Old Fourth, why hasn't your Shixiong returned yet? He's been gone for so long?"

  The four fools didn't even lift their heads and said: "It's nothing, that person is no match for my senior brother, otherwise he wouldn't have fled at the first encounter."

  Zhou Xuan said: "That's because you're there, two against one, he naturally wants to run."

  The Fourth Fool said: "It's no use telling you, it's like playing chess. My senior brother is better at chess than I am. If he plays with you, what can I do to help even if I'm standing beside him?"

  Zhou Xuan glared and said: "Playing chess is playing chess, a one-on-one game. Sword fighting to the death is different, two against one is not the same as one against one."

  The four fools rolled their eyes and said: "Just focus on playing your chess, don't argue with me about martial arts. You're not qualified."

  These words made Zhou Xuan uncomfortable, but he had no choice. He couldn't suggest a sword fight with Si Chou, after all. Among the 360 professions, it was impossible to be number one in everything. One could only be ruthless in his heart and make a killing move on the chessboard to defeat Si Chou soundly and vent his anger.

  The room suddenly darkened. The oil lamp dimmed and then brightened again. A cool mist spread out. San Ci, drenched from head to toe, stood before the two opponents.

  The four fools jumped off the bed and exclaimed: "Third brother is back! Zhou Xuan was still worried about you, look down on people!"

  Zhou Xuan saw San Chi, although he had become a laughing stock, his face was as usual, and he quickly said: "Old Fourth, ask the shopkeeper to prepare hot water for Jian Nu to take a bath."

  Four fools went to call on the shopkeeper to boil hot water. Zhou Xuan asked: "Sword slave, how is it? The enemy is very fierce?"

  San Ci said faintly: "Almost let him escape, chased out forty miles before succeeding."

  Zhou Xuan secretly clicked his tongue, he and the fourth fool had been playing chess for more than half a time, and the third fool had already gone back and forth eighty miles and killed a strong opponent! Asked: "Is it an empty family descendant?"

  San Chou raised an eyebrow in surprise, gazing at Zhou Xuan for a moment before withdrawing his gaze and speaking with the humility of a servant: "Master is wise. The assassin was indeed sent by Kong Kong'er."

  Four fools have arrived. The interface said: "It turns out that you are really a 'Crow's Gate' person, Wei Jue has made up his mind to kill Zhou Xuan."

  Zhou Xuan sighed inwardly that he still didn't understand this era well, and it wasn't just about superficial eating, drinking, having fun, and being infatuated with appearances. He asked: "Is Qumeng a sect?"

  Four fools looked at three fools, and three fools nodded slightly. Four fools said: "After the Anshi Rebellion in the Tang Dynasty, local governors controlled their own armies, and the wind of assassination between vassals was prevalent. The Eagle Gate was born at that time, and it has been passed down for hundreds of years since then, always taking assassination as its business. Therefore, it is not surprising to say that the Town South Governor's Mansion and the 'Eagle Gate' are connected."

  "Isn't that the same as your Five Eccentric Wanderers?"

  Si Chui glared and said, "How can the Hawk's Gate compare to us? These words are useless to you, you should know that Wei Jue doesn't have the face to invite someone from the Hawk's Gate to kill you. It must be his old man, Wei Bo, who made an appearance. The corpses on Ghost Tooth Mountain were discovered by them, so they changed their plan and sent the swift and deadly Hawk's Gate assassin."

  Zhou Xuan cursed and suddenly thought of the four words "red beauty calamity", Yang Xiaojin's beautiful appearance was unmatched, although she didn't have a flirtatious attitude, but that kind of pure beauty gave people a strong shock. All his troubles started after he won her at Tengwang Pavilion: first, the scar-faced tiger robbed him on the street, then "Sai Guo Jie" Song Wu's murderous intentions were everywhere in the Hongmen banquet, and the fake mountain bandits on Ghost Tooth Mountain wanted to kill him - even inviting a master like Kong Xiang from Tang legend to kill him.

  "Beauty is a calamity!" Zhou Xuan couldn't help but laugh, thinking to himself: "Can I really believe in such an outdated theory? So-called 'beauty is a calamity' just means that men blame their own mistakes on women and pretend to be innocent! Yang Xiaojin, I've made up my mind about you. Let's see what kind of trouble you can get me into!"

  ***************

  That night, in Nieqiao Village thirty miles from Mabailing, Wei Jue and the traveling military governor of Zhen'nan were drinking wine in a guest room, with several small dishes and a jar of "Yuzhang Taibai Wine".

  Wei Jue felt a bit uneasy, Wang Sima said: "Young Master, with the people of Quemen taking action, what's there to worry about? I reckon within an hour, Zhou Xuan's head and Little Mei will be brought back. Come on, Young Master, have a drink."

  Wei Jue furrowed his brow and said, "I really didn't expect Zhou Xuan's house servant to be so formidable. It's my fault for being careless. I saw the servant's martial arts skills at Tengwang Pavilion last time, and I shouldn't have sent those guards disguised as mountain bandits to ambush them. I should have had the people from the Eagle Gate take action directly."

  Wang Sima was even more ruthless and said indifferently: "Young Master, if those imperial guards hadn't died, the Duke's personal bodyguards wouldn't have agreed to ask for help from the Quemen people. So, in order to kill Zhou Xuan, a necessary price still has to be paid."

  Wei Jue nodded and the two of them continued to drink slowly, until the fourth watch. Wei Jue couldn't help but feel anxious, putting down his cup and saying: "How come there's still no news?"

  Wang Sima was also a bit anxious, and by rights that assassin from the Wu Gate should have returned. He comforted him saying: "Young Master, don't worry, it's probably because he brought back Little Concubine Mei so his return journey is slightly delayed."

  Wei Jue thought for a moment and sat back down, sipping the fragrant "Yu Zhang Tai Bai wine", waiting for the beauty to return.

  It was another quarter of an hour, and the eastern sky was already white, it was almost dawn. Wei Jue became anxious and shouted: "What are you waiting for? Hurry up and send someone to check what's going on! Maybe Zhou Xuan has also killed the Khitan envoy!"

  Wang Sima also did not

  It was determined that the governor's guard, disguised as 100 civilians, searched all the way to Ma Hui Ridge. They found where Zhou Xuan and his party stayed overnight at an inn, and were told that they had left for Jiangzhou three hours ago, and there was no sound of quarrel or fight in the small shop.

  The jailer returned and reported to Wei Gongzi and Wang Sima. The two men looked at each other in dismay, standing still for a long time.

  Wei Jue said in a daze: "What's going on? Where did the people from Que Men go? No one is seen alive, no corpses are seen dead!"

  Wang Sima said: "Is it that the people in the palace didn't bother to lay a hand on Zhou Xuan, and he just walked out by himself?"

  Wei Jue thought back to that day when Song Wu also didn't say two sentences before letting Zhou Xuan go. He called out: "Return to Hongzhou and ask Song Wu, what kind of person is Zhou Xuan, that even the great 'Sai Guo Jie' would be afraid to take action?"

  ************************

  On the fourteenth of September, at the junction of Wu and Shen, Zhou Xuan's group entered the city from the east gate of Jiangzhou and rushed to the Zhuquefang Zhou residence. At this time, the sky had also cleared up. Everyone dismounted in front of the door, and Zhou Xuan rushed into the house before Lai Fu. He shouted loudly: "I'm back!"

  Xiao Di was playing with Tian Da Zhuang in the front yard when she heard Zhou Xuan's voice, and ran over like a flying arrow, shouting: "Brother-in-law, brother-in-law---", her red headband shaking violently.

  Zhou Xuan suddenly picked him up and spun around in mid-air twice, laughing: "Xiao Di, do you miss your brother-in-law?"

  "I miss her. My sister also misses her brother-in-law, and I miss my sister."

  "What were you thinking?"

  "Two sisters were playing chess in the study at night, talking about their brother-in-law's affairs - their brother-in-law was not at home. Everyone felt dull and unenthusiastic."

  Zhou Xuan's heart was moved, this place is now his home, and he has people here that he cares about.

  Zhou Xuan said: "Xiao Di, your brother-in-law bought you many gifts in Hongzhou, all of which are toys. Ask Lai Fu to bring them out for you to see."

  Xiao Di was overjoyed and quickly pulled Lai Fu's hand to go see the toys.

  Zhou Xuan let Yang Xiaoxin sit in the side hall first, and he went to the inner courtyard to see his mother-in-law and two young wives. Qin Que had not returned from the medical office yet. Madam Qin was delighted to see her son-in-law return and chattered on endlessly.

  Zhou Xuan hastily went to see Zhen, saying: "Mother-in-law, I have brought you a gift from my humble self in Hongzhou. Let me get it for you right away." He got up and rushed to the fourth courtyard, where he heard Zhen talking to someone in the yard:

  "This style has several versions with multiple slits, rolled edges and added floral decorations, available in large, medium and small sizes —"

  Yahuan Xiaomei saw Zhou Xuan and exclaimed: "The young master is back, the young master is back!" Suddenly, several maidservants emerged from their rooms, and Xiao Xiang ran over to say excitedly: "The young master has really returned, Miss Queer's prediction was accurate, she said he would be back either today or tomorrow."

  "Husband——"

  She leaned against the door frame, biting her lower lip, with a look of being so happy that she was about to cry.

  Zhou Xuan walked over and was about to put his arm around her waist and go into the house to be intimate, but he saw an old woman in the room who humbly saluted him: "Master Zhou."

  The needle finally cracked a smile and said, "Husband, this is our clothing store's Mrs. Cai, her sewing skills are extremely fine, I was just discussing the dress with her——Alright, Mrs. Cai, you can go rest in the front yard first, it's not too late to head back after dinner."

  As soon as Aunt Cai left, Zhou Xuan slammed the door shut. Xiao Xiang, Xiao Mei and Xiao Ju were all outside the door. Xiao Xiang pouted and secretly felt jealous on behalf of Miss Que Er.

  Zhou Xuan held the needle in front of her chest, kissed her forehead and asked: "Needle, you've been working hard these days, isn't it troublesome to deal with the affairs of the tailor's shop?"

  Wrapped in the arms of her beloved, Zhen was so happy she felt like she was suffocating, and with a gasping voice said: "Not tired, Zhen likes doing those things, doesn't feel hard at all, it's just...just really misses husband." As she spoke, she tiptoed up to give him a fragrant kiss.

  This deep kiss made both people's bodies hot, *rushing inside, the needle simply wanted to be reckless and give their body to their husband right now.

  Zhou Qizuo still endured, holding the needle and saying with a rich and tender face: "Needle, today is September 14th. Next month on the 19th, I'll accompany you to Mufu Village to pay respects to your father, and then we can get married, okay?"

  Overjoyed to the point of tears, she buried her face in Zhou Xuan's broad and sturdy chest, as if trying to squeeze into his body.

  Zhou Xuan said: "Needle, I'll tell you something. This time when I went to Hongzhou and had a poetry contest with someone, I won a young prostitute back."

  Zhen's "heh heh" laugh: "Hubby is really formidable, even people can be won back."

  Zhou Xuan said: "I'll go call her to come and pay respects to you, her name is Yang Xiaoxin, she's introverted by nature, doesn't talk much, don't provoke her."

  Zhen was immersed in the joy of her husband's return, and said with a pout: "Who did Zhen annoy? Is it that my husband is saying this because he thinks I'm not obedient enough?"

  Zhou Xuan smiled and said: "My wife is the most gentle little darling."

  "Where's Sparrow's sister?"

  Zhou Xuan said: "The sparrows are also gentle, the two little wives are the most gentle, I Zhou Xuan have this good fortune, isn't that so?"

  Smiling brightly, husband is really great, as soon as he comes back I feel elated.