chewing dragon

Chapter 240
After being ridiculed by Qi Jingzhi, instead of being annoyed, Fu Da shook his head with a smile on his face and said, "The seven of us are low-minded, and our bodies were suppressed under the Xiema Bridge before. Over the years, I have pleaded with ghosts passing by..."

While speaking, it turned its head and looked around the inn lobby, with a bit of injustice in its words: "It's a pity that there is no one who is willing to help out, and there are quite a few who gloated and laughed at others, especially those who are on the way to the gods. Ghosts are the most abominable thing! As time goes by and the number of times increases, why do we still not understand? It’s easy to stop talking about it!”

When he said these few words, Fu Da's voice was not low, obviously he didn't pay attention to the spirit sitting in the hall at the moment.

Qi Jingzhi also turned his eyes and saw that besides the four dead man's clothes sitting in the northwest corner, there was a strange snake on the square table by the window in the east. It was born with the head of a rabbit and the body of a snake. With a circle of white fluff.

Stared at by the three glowing golden eyes, the rabbit-headed snake immediately closed the pair of red eyes and ignored it.

Seeing this, Fuda immediately introduced as if there was no one else present: "That rabbit-headed snake is named Banbi. It usually lives in caves in the mountains. Sometimes it will go down the mountain to attack lonely travelers. It likes to bite people's armpits and suck human blood. .”

Hearing this, Qi Jingzhi's eyes immediately turned cold, he made a note in his heart, and then looked towards the southeast.

Sitting alone in that corner was something barely resembling a human being. Its body was like a wooden stake as thick as a bowl, and its height was no more than four feet. It is full of large and small sarcoma and scabies, and there is no good skin in the whole body.

It has no hair on the top of its head, and it is also rugged. Its face is swollen into a strange shape, and its five sense organs are squeezed into the gap between the tumors. It really looks disgusting and terrifying.

Sensing Qi Jingzhi's gaze, the sarcoma freak slowly turned his face around, the corners of his mouth slowly cracked, revealing an extremely ugly smile.

Qi Jingzhi was slightly taken aback, and then nodded slightly at the other party.

"That's Fengzi ghost, it's the form of a parasitic branch on an old maple tree nearby."

Fuda is obviously very familiar with the spirits and monsters around Xiema Bridge, and he introduced them logically: "I have heard people say that maple ghosts are gathered by the wind, and if there are galls, the wind spirit gathers them. They are called Fengzi ghosts."

"The so-called maple is old and has galls. When the maple tree is old, it is easy to produce tree galls. If there are galls that attract the essence of the wind in a thunderstorm, it may give birth to spirituality, and it will turn into a long-term tree overnight. The parasitic branch of Chi, shaped like a human ghost, with a complete mouth and eyes, is called a maple person or a maple ghost."

"Those things growing on its body look like warts, but they are actually just tree galls raised from the bark. Don't think it looks vicious and ugly, but it is a coward. It can't fart loudly with three sticks. I have never fought with others, and there is no bad news spread."

Fu Da paused, and then added: "Our brother also asked this Fengzi ghost to rescue him, but it was probably afraid of the town water beast head, or it didn't dare to offend those road gods and road ghosts. I couldn't bear to refuse, and didn't dare to nod in agreement. Our brothers also know its temper, so we won't make things difficult for it anymore."

Qi Jingzhi immediately looked away from Feng Zigui, looked down at Fuda, and asked with a chuckle: "Since the spirits are unwilling to help, why don't you try to ask the human race for help?"

"The Xiema bridge was built by the human race. You just said that the women would go to the stream to wash their clothes. I think the water-suppressing animal heads on the bridge can only suppress spirits, but they will not hinder the human race."

Hearing this, Fuda sighed: "Of course I have tried it! In fact, as benefactor said, if you want to save our brother from trouble, even a mortal who doesn't know how to practice is much easier than ordinary ghosts."

"The Xiema Bridge is an important road near the left. I don't know how many pedestrians and horses pass by it every year. After a long time, the humane suppression force gathered in the town water animal head is quite impressive. Our brothers were crushed and couldn't move. , only in the middle of the night when there are few people walking, can I transform into a shape and come out to breathe."

Speaking of this, Fu Da shook his head, and showed an indescribable expression on his face: "However, there are very few people in the human race who travel at night. Occasionally, there are a few who see us from a distance, and either turn around and run away in fright, or shout. Killing, chopping with knives and shooting arrows, caused our brother to fake death several times."

"Tonight we also saw that benefactor is not like ordinary people, but also handsome and kind-hearted, with stains on his body..."

Fuda suddenly stopped, and after deliberating his words, he said in a low voice: "With that eye-catching aura, our brothers showed up to stop us, but we didn't dare to expect to be rescued from under the bridge by benefactor."

Qi Jingzhi nodded clearly, and pondered: "Listening to the meaning of the old monster outside, the inn here should also be opened by the human race, but it was used by the Taoist City God to hold a banquet tonight, so they don't entertain strangers. Where are the fellows and even the travelers who spend the day here?"

"Usually they fall asleep in their own rooms and won't wake up until dawn. The elves who come to the banquet know the rules and won't touch the strangers in the shop easily."

Fuda replied without hesitation, thinking that it was not the first time that the Ghost Night Banquet was held at the Xiema Inn.

Only then did Qi Jingzhi feel relieved, jumped off Ban Nu, walked to the empty table under the west window, and occupied a bench by himself.

Bannu tactfully lay behind him, consciously acting as a backrest.

This guy was born mighty and mighty, and his talent is also extraordinary, but now his way of doing things is just ordinary, especially after he got the Zouwu Banner and ate a lot of good things in the Crane Valley, the gold and tiger spirits in his body gradually purified, Nothing was left out, so no matter whether it was the old plaque monster at the gate of the courtyard, or all the ghosts in this hall, they didn't take it seriously.

The seven Spoke Boys also pushed the wheels and followed, sitting in twos and threes in an orderly manner, filling up the other three benches.

Qi Jingzhi glanced at the empty counter in the lobby, and asked curiously: "The old plaque outside is responsible for welcoming customers and preventing strangers from entering. I wonder who will be the shopkeeper and waiter?"

Hearing this, Fu Da giggled, and then shouted loudly: "Cheng Deqi, you old man is dodging again, why don't you hurry up and greet the distinguished guests!"

It only called twice, and the curtain separating the lobby and the back kitchen suddenly moved, and a short and fat man came out from the curtain.

Qi Jingzhi could see clearly that this short and fat man named Cheng Deqi was wearing a black coat and a black hat, and his complexion was also dark.

It is no more than three feet tall, much shorter than the Fengzi ghost, but compared to the Fengzi ghost, which is no bigger than the mouth of a bowl, Chengdeqi's waistline is extremely wide, and it looks like a vertical stone roller , very similar to Shan Gulang who delivered the letter for the three-eyed stone puppet back then.

The ghosts of Daqi are more or less influenced by the principles of human nature and law, and there are quite a few of them who have taken human form, but it's hard to say how similar they are.

Seeing the seven spoke boys and the hardwood wheel, Cheng Deqi couldn't help but wondered, "Why did you come out?"

"What is this! Why can't we come out?"

Fu Da suddenly became unhappy, and even the other six boys glared at Cheng Deqi: "Our brothers have been suppressed for so many years, and finally we have to meet a nobleman, and the time has come!"

Hearing the words, Cheng Deqi let out a hey, turned to look at Qi Jingzhi, looked up and down for a while, then supported his fat belly with both hands, and walked towards the west window with three steps, walking in the middle of his body. There was a faint sound of water.

Seeing it coming, Qi Jingzhi stretched out his hand to wipe it on his waist calmly, and the gold medal of Chen Yuan was immediately hidden in the black robe and disappeared without a trace.

After a few breaths, Cheng Deqi walked up to him and stood still. After he had recovered his breath and the faint sound of water in his body subsided, he calmly raised his head and cupped his hands, and asked respectfully, "Please forgive me." Cheng has poor eyesight, so I don't know how to address the distinguished guest?"

Qi Jingzhi didn't answer but asked instead: "Are you the shopkeeper of this Xie Ma Inn?"

Cheng Deqi nodded slowly: "Cheng practiced in this resting place on weekdays, and only came out to support one or two at times like tonight."

Qi Jingzhi asked again: "Apart from these ghosts in front of you, who else is coming to the banquet tonight?"

Cheng Deqi seemed to be completely unsuspecting, and he answered all questions without hesitation: "Cheng just opened the door to welcome guests, but he really didn't know the truth. But according to past experience, if Master Fandao City God sent a post to invite people, the road in the north of Meizhou Gods and monsters will give some face."

"Among them, there are not many who can be ranked first. First of all, there are four black and white gods. These eight are the closest to Master Daochenghuang, followed by the nearby mountain spirits. There are three most famous, namely Gao Tianzhang of Piling, Shuyan Po of Xiashan, and Jin Pinger of Baqiu."

Qi Jingzhi looked at Fuda after hearing this: "How do these three mountain spirits behave?"

Fuda thought for a while before he said: "These three are quite famous. We brothers didn't dare to get too close to them before, and we don't know much about them. The reputations of Gao Tianzhang and Jin Ping Boy are fair, but vertical Yan Po is notoriously tyrannical, and is also a cannibal. Because the eyes of the human race grow horizontally, the woman called the stranger "cross-eyed meat."

Qi Jingzhi couldn't help frowning. First, the strange snake nose that sucked human blood, and then the vertical-eyed woman who regarded human race as meat. Is it true that all the demon towns in Meizhou are vegetarians?There is also the Taoist City God, who does not distinguish between good and evil, and makes friends with bandits.

Thinking of this, he nodded slightly to Cheng Deqi who was quietly standing aside: "I want to teach the treasurer to know that my surname is Lu, my name is Qiyun, my name is Linshanke, and my name is Skinning Demon Lord. This time I am going to the banquet." It was invited by the two road gods of Niutouya."

Cheng Deqi was a little surprised when he saw the seven car-spoke boys, and then he always had the attitude of having nothing to do with himself and that the visitor is a guest. He bowed when he heard the words: "It turns out that the devil came all the way from Linzhou. Come on! It will be time for the banquet in a while, I don't know if the Demon Lord is particular about food, so the shop should hurry up and prepare."

Qi Jingzhi chuckled, and asked gently: "Are there any cross-eyed people at today's banquet?"

Hearing the sound, Cheng Deqi raised his head, facing the three angry eyes, he immediately shook his head and said: "After all, this place is the territory of the human race. The Daoist City God has always been strict in management, and the small shop is not allowed to use strangers as food."

Qi Jingzhi's tone remained unchanged, he waved his hands and said, "That's fine, as long as it's a human diet."

Without waiting for the other party to agree, he followed up and asked: "Master Cheng is practicing in Xiema Inn, and he has seen many guests coming and going from north to south. The knowledge in his chest must be comparable to ordinary gods and monsters. Can you explain to me?"

Cheng Deqi was taken aback, and there was some doubt in his tone: "What does the devil want to ask? If he can say it, Cheng will know everything."

Qi Jingzhi then asked: "I have been to many states and counties, but I only heard of the names of Taoist City God and Road God in Meizhou. I don't know why?"

Cheng Deqi was stunned when he heard the words: "It turned out to be this. I want to teach Lord Lu that the area in the north of Meizhou is full of mountains and ravines. If you want to get lost or even be trapped in the mountains, even the local people often go astray and have nowhere to look.”

"Over time, those divergent roads have suffered a lot of worry and confusion, and many Taoist road monsters have been born, and they have gradually spread to the south, causing many divergent and dead ends on the ordinary roads outside the mountains. In order to deal with this situation, the local officials and people want to With many methods, Tao City God and Road God came into being."

Cheng Deqi paused for a moment, and then asked back: "Actually, if you want to explain this clearly, you must first talk about the division of roads in this world, especially the various names of forked roads. I wonder if the devil knows?"

Qi Jingzhi simply shook his head: "I would like to hear the details!"

Cheng Deqi held his big belly that was falling down, and talked eloquently: "According to the saying that has been handed down since ancient times, if a road has no forks, and one road leads to the dark, and there is only one destination in the end, it is called Yida. One is called the road."

"If there is a fork in the road, there will be two destinations, and it is called Erda. Erda is called Bibang, which means that it goes out from the side of the divergent road, and it is also called a divergent road."

"Sancha crossing is Sanda, which is called Jupang. The word 'Ju' means many things, and 'Jubang' means that there are many differences."

"By analogy, the crossroads are four-way, which is called Qu; the four-way thoroughfare has a divergence, which is like a plum with five petals, which is five-way, which is called Kang. There are many Kangqu in the mountains of Meizhou, which is Meizhou. The origin of the name; the intersection of the three ways is called Liuda, which is called Zhuang."

"Nowadays, 'Kangqu' and 'Kangzhuang' are often used to refer to broad, flat roads extending in all directions. This is the origin of this. I heard that there are many Kangzhuang roads in the capital of Daqi, known as Daobi Kangzhuang. Everywhere is unfavorable; the car is on the same track, and it is suitable everywhere."

"It's just that the great scenery of humanity is only found in the capital of the country. The plum blossoms in the local mountains with five petals and the side roads will only make people lose their way. It is said that when Meizhou was founded, there were many road spirits running rampant in the mountains in the north. Its name It is 'Ji', it looks like a savage, and there are thousands of years of roads to breed monsters, its name is '趺', it looks like a wild girl and is black."

"These Taoist road monsters have done a lot of harm, but they have been suppressed repeatedly. It wasn't until the people of Meizhou erected a stele to protect against evil spirits, and raised black and white road gods by mistake, that they gradually ebbed and flowed, blocking the taboo and the evil. southward spread."

"Later, the Taoist City God came to the throne, and several generations of Taoist City Gods took over. Finally, this road was used as a boundary to isolate most Taoist road monsters and other mountain monsters from the common people."

"To this day, the humanity of Meizhou is so prosperous that there is even enough energy to go north into the mountains, so that the ghosts and monsters in the large mountains to the south have disappeared. Ordinary people may have heard of the names of Taoist City God and Black and White Road God, but they don't know what taboo and scorpion are. .”

For a moment, Qi Jingzhi was fascinated by what he heard.

He has the Xuanjian of Heaven and Earth in his hand, traveled to Liaozhou in the East China Sea, and visited Xianyu Mountain. He asked himself that he has seen many kinds of spirit monsters, but this is the first time he has heard of the Taoist road monsters that were born from forked roads. And according to Cheng Deqi's statement, the Taoist City God and the Black and White Road God are not useless. Although the latter is also harmful, to the people of Meizhou in ancient times, it was the lesser of two evils.

The two pairs of black and white road gods in Budaijian and Niutouya were refined by the Xuanjian of Heaven and Earth. At this time, they are spiritually aware, and they are afraid that there will be indignation and grievances that the birds will hide their bows and the rabbits will die.

Thinking of this, Qi Jingzhi nodded, and asked curiously again: "Shopkeeper Cheng, is there any other way of saying this?"

"Naturally there is."

Cheng Deqi continued: "Three roads converge and one road diverges, which is called Qida, which is called drama; when four roads are handed over, it is called Ba Da, which is called Chongqi; when four roads are handed over, and there are bypasses again, it is called Jiuda. The way of nine reaches is called Kui."

"It is said that the more divergent roads, the more powerful the breeding of spirits and monsters. Therefore, there is a strict order in Meizhou that no matter whether it is an official or a civilian, the roads must not exceed five stretches, otherwise they will be punished as worshiping evil gods! Even in the capital, the roads only end at Kangzhuang. , so as not to breed giant monsters for disaster."

(End of this chapter)