Seeing the clouds

Chapter 1 Introduction
On top of Lingshan Mountain, a touch of white danced in the slightly cold night.

Lingshan is the first Buddhist holy place in Luoyang City, the central capital.The Zhi'an Temple on the mountain is even known as the "No. [-] Temple in the World". During the day, there are countless pilgrims and pilgrims, but at night it is not as noisy as during the day. It finally has a sense of peace and tranquility.

The white figure flashing in the night sky crossed Zhi'an Temple and arrived at the back mountain of the forbidden area. Finally, it stopped in a bamboo forest, motionless as if waiting for something.

The breeze blew the bamboos swaying back and forth, and the night was like ink.Suddenly, an old monk in blue robes fell behind the white figure, and the two faced each other.

The old monk is thin but relatively tall, like a dead bamboo in a bamboo forest; his face is sharp and angular, as hard as a rock carving.Looking at the back of the young man with white hair, white clothes and white boots, the old monk probably guessed the purpose of this uninvited guest.But being able to easily cross Zhi'an Temple and reach the back mountain without being discovered, the other party is not a fuel-efficient lamp. I wonder if he can use the few pots of old Dukang left in the courtyard to send him away.

The old monk sighed when he thought of this.There was nothing to feel bad about drinking. He didn't drink, but if his alcoholic second junior brother found out about it, he would have to steal some of his valuable calligraphy and paintings and go down the mountain to exchange for wine.How could he not feel sorry for those antique calligraphy and paintings that he regarded as his life.

"I heard that Houshan has always treated guests with wine. Although Houshan has become a forbidden area since the incident ten years ago, there are still many people who have come here to visit in recent years." The young man turned around with a smile on his face. Smiling, her snow-white eyebrows stand out in the dimly lit bamboo forest.

"King Qi is one of them."

Looking at the white-haired young man in front of him who looked like a banished immortal, the old monk clasped his hands together, closed his eyes and sighed, his eyebrows slightly frowning inadvertently.

Still can't hide it.

It should be said that there was no need to hide it. How could a person like King Qi, who was upright and aboveboard, deliberately hide his whereabouts?

What's more, at that time, he was still a powerful general, not a sinner who "usurped the throne in a certain dynasty" now.

The old monk sighed again.

The young man looked at the thin old monk and tied up his white hair on his back.

"Master, there is no need to sigh, I will not drink alcohol."

What I want is not what I portray.

As for those who are not drunk, they will not be greedy for the beautiful scenery of the mountains and rivers behind them, right?Besides, it was still midnight.

"Mr. Shi came to visit late at night. Since he was not greedy for the poor monk's few pots of wine that were difficult to sell, he didn't want to exchange experiences with antique calligraphy and painting with the poor monk, right?"

The old monk opened his eyes and looked at Shi Xihan, one of the "Five Tigers of Secret Service", "Walking in the Snow and Leaving Fragrance" in front of him, his eyes as sharp as sharp edges. Although the other party did not show murderous intent, what happened today must be an enemy rather than a friend.

After being recognized by the old monk, Shi Xihan was a little surprised.It was only a few years ago that he was incorporated into the secret service, and the secret service was only responsible for the safety of the emperor, or helping the right minister to do some hidden things that were not visible on the stage, so their names were not prominent. The old monk lived in seclusion in the back mountain for ten years. It is a strange thing that he can still recognize himself after so many years.

"I didn't expect Master Huchan to recognize me, but the master has been living in seclusion for ten years, and I don't know where he heard my name."

The cold wind was blowing, and both of them were still wearing thin clothes, but their momentum was rising.

"My second junior brother loves drinking, so he often goes down the mountain to buy wine." The old monk gave an ambiguous answer.

Shi Xihan naturally couldn't believe it: "That's it?"

The old monk continued to answer: "The restaurant owner's surname is Jiang and his name is Liunian."

"Is Tianji Tower a fleeting year... No wonder..." Shi Xihan muttered the name in a low voice, suddenly realizing.

The Tianji Tower that Shi Xihan mentioned was not a visible and tangible building in Luoyang City, but a rather strange sect.Why is it called strange? Because this sect does not have a specific sect address, and its members are distributed all over the Central Plains, with their whereabouts erratic and their identities changing.There are traces of them ranging from wealthy officials to green-skinned beggars, but they are only good at gathering intelligence, not fighting with force, so they appear to be extraordinarily different in the eyes of people in the martial arts world.

As soon as Shi Xihan contacted Tianji Tower, which even the Secret Service could not find out its origin, he knew that it was not surprising that his identity was exposed, but he did not expect that Tianji Tower could even grasp the secret information of the Secret Service, which was indeed very secretive. underestimate.

"Don't worry about such unimportant things. I'm here tonight just because I have two wishes. I hope the master will fulfill them."

Shi Xihan clasped his hands in salute and bowed deeply.For no other reason than because the person in front of him was one of the best martial arts masters in Luoyang City and even in the world. In terms of seniority, the current abbot of Zhi'an Temple had to call him senior brother.

The old monk simply said, "Let's talk first."

No matter how you look at it, the old monk is not the kind of fool who agrees to requests before they are even mentioned. He has experienced countless storms and heavy rains. It is not an exaggeration to call him a human spirit. Naturally, he knows that Shi Xihan can treat him so seriously. , it must not be a simple matter.

"One wish, I heard that the master is a famous master of martial arts in the world. Yi Shi Feiyun is ranked among the top three in swordsmanship. Although I don't practice swordsmanship, as a person in the world, I also want to ask for advice."

Hu Chan has a sword named Luo Ying.

With that said, Shi Xihan clasped his hands together and bowed again.

"I wish again that the master can hand over the child. With the master's wisdom, we should be able to guess his identity."

The old monk sighed for the fourth time: "The poor monk has sworn never to hold a sword again in this life, so I'm afraid Mr. Shi will regret it and return home."

If you just don’t hold a knife, why do you regret it?

"Since Master is determined to do so, I forgive this junior for being disrespectful."

Shi Xihan was a smart person, so he naturally understood what the old monk meant by returning home with regret.So he stopped talking. He made a fist with his left hand and placed his arm horizontally on his back. His right hand spread its fingers together and faced the old monk with a resolute gesture of "asking for advice."

The old monk shook his head and sighed again: "Mr. Shi is such a martial arts idiot. This poor monk is rude and rude."

The two of them sighed five times and bowed twice all night long. It was obviously a peaceful moon, but it was obscured by dark clouds that each had its own meaning.

Suddenly a gust of wind passed by, and Shi Xihan suddenly jumped up, moving straight towards Hu Chan like thunder, and the hem of his white clothes was also shaken up.Hu Chan clasped his hands together without making any unnecessary movements, waiting for Bai Yi's arrival.Then Shi Xihan raised his right hand and struck at Hu Chan. His right hand, approaching Hu Chan like a hungry wolf hunting for prey, was surrounded by a strange white color, fluttering like graupel blown away by the breeze.

Hu Chan is not verbose at all. The Buddha's light shines everywhere. He raises his left hand and shakes it hard.The two palms met, creating a huge momentum.Shi Xihan was knocked back by the force of the old monk's fist. After flipping around in the air, he finally landed five steps in front of Hu Chan. On the contrary, Hu Chan just lightly pulled back with his right foot, holding back. The body that fell down, and with the curved surface in front of him, a large piece of frost spread around, but it did not enter the Buddhist realm of the monk at all.

With just one palm, the victory and defeat have already been decided.

Shi Xihan fell to the ground, dusted off the dust on his white clothes, and looked at Hu Chan with squinted eyes.Hu Chan was expressionless. He waved away the cold air condensed on his left hand and looked at Shi Xihan.

"Not only is the master's sword skills extraordinary, but his fists are also invincible. But does the master's palm mean that Zhi'an Temple is determined to go against the Holy Master?"

"Amitabha. Don't take it seriously. Didn't Mr. Shi not try his best? But what happened tonight was just the selfish intention of the poor monk and had nothing to do with the temple." Hu Chan bowed back with his hands clasped together.

Hearing this, Shi Xihan was stunned for a moment, and then said angrily: "Master, do you know what a crime it is to harbor a fugitive!"

Unprecedentedly, Shi Xihan, who had always been kind and gentle to others, actually scolded Hu Chan.If Midi, who is also one of the "Five Tigers of Secret Service", could see Shi Xihan's appearance at this time, he would definitely say: "This old monk has raised his white eyebrows and has the jade pendant left to him by his father?"

"The poor monk knows it, but the poor monk only hopes that the general can leave a trace of his blood. After all, Mr. Shi also understands who is right and who is wrong in this matter."

After hearing this, Shi Xihan sighed.But since ancient times, it is difficult to have both loyalty and justice. He is not like Master Huchan who has nothing to worry about in this world. Who understands the difficulty in his heart?
"Since I can't fulfill the first two wishes, Master, I will boldly make the third wish." "Please tell me, Mr. Shi." Hu Chan clasped his hands together and listened attentively.

"I hope that this child will never leave the back mountain for the rest of his life. I must ask the master for permission." Shi Xihan untied his white hair, which spread out and fell on his back.

"The poor monk will do his best, and I would like to thank Mr. Shi for taking care of the poor monk and the child."

How could Hu Chan, such a smart person, fail to realize that although Shi Xihan's words sounded like a warning to himself and his children, they were actually concerned about their safety.Or maybe only by following his words can we save the child's life to the greatest extent.Everyone said that the people in the Secret Service were like wolves and tigers, only loyal but ignorant of reason, but tonight Hu Chan saw that the dark corner of the Secret Service also had a bit of humanity.

Whether you are a general or yourself, you, Shi Xihan, are a gentleman!
Hu Chan bent down and bowed sincerely.

"Then let's call it a night. I hope that Master Xiang will reconsider this matter. After all, the next time I visit the back mountain, the people who visit me may not be as talkative as I am." After saying that, Bai Yi disappeared into the depths of the dark bamboo forest.

Hu Chan looked at the place where Bai Yi finally disappeared and said softly.

"When the cunning rabbit dies, the good dog is cooked; when the birds disappear, the good bow is hidden...the helpless autumn..."

In an unknown small restaurant in Luoyang City, a man was sitting in the corner of the building, drinking heavily alone, while the potbellied man at the table kept persuading him something.

It was long past closing time, and the lights in the building were still on but no one was there, making it a bit deserted.On the contrary, it was the man's voice that sounded particularly clear: "Sir, our shop is closed. If you want to drink, go elsewhere and don't make excuses like waiting for someone. I won't charge you for the drink. I'll pay you back tomorrow." You have to open the store as soon as possible, I beg you."

Listening to the content, it turned out to be a story about a shop owner who persuaded unscrupulous customers to drink elsewhere because it was closed.In this case, the shop owner is not a shrewd businessman. How can anyone do this kind of business and persuade customers to drink elsewhere without counting the cost of the wine? This business is simply a loss of blood!
But the man who was drinking heavily and smelling of alcohol remained unmoved at all. He continued to drink what he was supposed to drink. His head was completely covered by the big hood on his gray and black robe, so that no one could see the expression on his face.

Just when the shop owner was already talking and his mouth was dry, the man suddenly put down the wine jar in his hand and said something incomprehensible.

"It didn't work?"

When the shop owner heard this, he was confused at first, and then suddenly became pleasantly surprised. He thought that this man was satisfied with his drink and was about to leave?That's not right. Since you are leaving, why would you say something irrelevant? There is no one else besides him.

Could it be a ghost?

It was a ghost. At some point, a white figure appeared behind the shop owner, but the shop owner didn't know it.

"Well, that monk with long eyebrows is smelly and hard. I can't help it, I was blocked back." Another strange voice sounded from behind the shop owner. When the shop owner heard it, he almost peed his pants in fright, and fell to the left with a pop. He turned to his side, sweating constantly on his round face, and his heart rate stabilized only after he turned his head and confirmed whether the white-clothed person who appeared at an unknown time was a human being or not a ghost.The man in white who suddenly appeared was Shi Xihan, who had just come across a gray face from the back of Lingshan Mountain.

There are no ghosts in the world, there are just people who scare people.

"Even if we can't win, it's still easy to stop him from snatching the child away, right?" The man in gray had stopped drinking and started talking to the man in white. The frightened shopkeeper next to him listened to the conversation between the two, and was confused. inside.

"You forgot that there is an even stinkier and tougher fat monk inside." Faced with the man on the table's sarcasm, Shi Xihan was not angry and replied quietly. "

"That's true... but it may be a good thing for you to have your child stay in Lingshan, but I'm afraid the boss won't be able to handle it."

Shi Xihan was as calm as an ancient well: "It doesn't matter."

The man in black thought for a while, stood up, took out a small bag of broken silver and left it on the table, and disappeared at the door of the restaurant with Shi Xihan.I didn't forget to tell the shopkeeper when I took it away.

"Look, I didn't lie to you, I'm really waiting for someone."

The shop owner believed that he would never forget the sight of the man in black and gray drinking wine, as well as the sudden appearance of the young man dressed in white from head to toe.

He rubbed his eyes and stood up. There was no one in front of him.He looked at the dead restaurant and said softly.

"What a young immortal."

In the mountain house at the back of Lingshan Mountain, a fat monk was coaxing a young child to sleep, and the flame on the lamp was swaying slightly.The room was not very big, but it was very empty. Even the few pieces of furniture were covered with dust, as if no one had lived there for a long time.The kang where the two slept was very clean, and some areas were not yet dry, so it was obvious that they had just been wiped.

The wooden door was gently pushed open, and a thin monk in blue walked in. He looked at the two people on the kang with a sad face.

The fat monk gently patted the baby who had just fallen asleep in his arms, looked at Hu Chan who walked in the door, and asked softly.

"Is the trouble leaving?"

Hu Chan didn't answer, took a deep breath and nodded.

"You didn't serve him with my wine, did you?" the fat monk asked again, looking at the sad Hu Chan.

This time Hu Chan still didn't answer, but this time he shook his head.

"You are shaking your head, are you not taking my wine or are you taking my wine?" The fat monk looked at the shaking head and didn't understand what he meant. He was a little anxious, and his saliva was about to fly to the face of the old monk Hu Chan.

"No." Hu Chan replied softly, probably because he couldn't bear the taste of the fat monk's saliva.

"It's fine if it's not, it's fine if it's not." After hearing the answer that satisfied him, the fat monk immediately showed a cheerful smile.

Hu Chan turned around and looked at the four dusty characters "Wind and Moon Boundless" that he had inscribed on the wall, and was filled with emotion.

"I don't know if the choice I made this time is correct." Hu Chan said after a while.

"I can't blame you entirely for what happened ten years ago." The fat monk comforted him.

"It's my responsibility after all." The old monk looked at the calligraphy on the wall and sighed deeply, as if he had aged ten years.

At this time, the child in the fat monk's arms suddenly opened his eyes and looked at the fat monk.

Seeing this, the fat monk asked softly: "What's the matter?"

"Dreaming."

The toddler blinked.

"What about now, are you still sleeping?" The fat monk said with a loving look on his face.

The toddler lowered his head, pouted, and shook his head.

"I miss my brother..."

(End of this chapter)