Chapter 5 Chapter 5 Mouse Soup
The terrain below Jiangling is flat, and the Yangtze River twists and turns between Hunan and Hubei, flowing eastward, and small boats float slowly with the river.I saw towns and villages passing by the boat on both sides of the Yangtze River.Ships with sails and sculls coming down from upstream passed him one by one.When the people on the boat passed by the small boat, they all cast curious and surprised looks at Di Yun, who had long beard and long hair and blood on his face.
Near the evening, Di Yun finally had some strength, and at the same time his stomach was rumbling non-stop, and he felt very hungry.He sat up, picked up a plank, and slowly rowed the boat to the north bank, thinking of buying some food in a small restaurant.The area of Piansheng is very desolate, and there is no family in sight.The boat turned a bend along the river, and saw three fishing boats tied under the shade of willows, and the smoke rose from the boats. When his boat approached the fishing boats, he could only hear the sound of fish being fried in the pot on the stern, and the aroma came straight over. .
He rowed the boat over and said to the old fisherman on the stern: "Old fisherman, can you sell me a fish to eat?"The old fisherman saw his frightening appearance and fear in his heart, he didn't want to, but he didn't dare to refuse, he said: Yes, yes!Put a fried herring in a bowl and sent it over by the boat.Di Yun said: If you have white rice, buy a bowl for Yifa to eat.The old fisherman said: Yes, yes!A large bowl of brown rice was served to him, with more than half of sweet potatoes and sorghum mixed in the rice.
Di Yun ate up a large bowl of rice after pawing twice, and was about to ask for more, when suddenly he heard a hoarse voice on the shore shout: "Fisherman!"If there are big fish, bring some up.
Di Yun looked sideways, and saw that he was a very tall and thin monk, with very big eyes, shining brightly.Di Yun's heart skipped a beat, he recognized him as one of the five monks who came to prison that night to make things difficult for Ding Dian, after thinking about it, he remembered that Ding Dian had said his name was Baoxiang.That night Ding Dian shot and killed two monks and seriously injured them, but the elephant saw the opportunity and escaped.
Di Yun didn't dare to look at him again.Ding Dian said that this monk is very skilled in martial arts, and he once told him to be careful if he encounters him in the future.It would be terrible if Ding Dian's body was found by Baoxiang Monk.He held his rice bowl in both hands, even though he was not a cowardly person who was afraid of death, he couldn't help his heart beating wildly, and his arms couldn't help trembling slightly, he only said in his heart: Don't tremble, don't tremble, don't show it. Tell me!But the more I want to calm down, the more I can't control myself.
I only heard the old fisherman say: All the fish caught today are sold, and there is no fish.Baoxiang said angrily: Who said there are no fish?I'm so hungry, get a few quickly!No big fish, small ones are fine.The old fisherman said: Really not!I have fish, you have money, why not sell it?As he said that, he picked up the fish basket, turned it over, and the bottom of the basket was facing the sky, and there was no fish in the basket.
Baoxiang was very hungry. Seeing a big boiled fish beside Di Yun, he had only eaten a small half, so he called: "Man Wu, do you have any fish?"
Di Yun was flustered, seeing him talking to him, he thought he had recognized him, let alone answering, he raised the plank of the boat, pushed hard on the willow tree roots by the river, and the boat swung out into the river.
Baoxiang said angrily: "Thief man, I asked you if you have any fish. Why did you run away?"
Di Yun was even more frightened when he heard him yelling, so he rowed the boat vigorously, and swung the boat towards the center of the river.Baoxiang picked up a stone from the bank and threw it at him vigorously.When Di Yun saw the stone being thrown, he immediately leaned over, but he heard the strong wind, the stone flew past his head, and with a bang, it fell into the river, splashing high.
Seeing him dodging the stones swiftly, Baoxiang looked like a Lianjiazi, definitely not an ordinary fisherman and boatman, he became suspicious and shouted: "Fucking back, or I'll kill you!"
Di Yuna went to take care of him, rowing desperately, Bao Xiang squatted down, picked up a stone with his right hand, threw it immediately, followed by throwing another stone with his left hand.Di Yun was rowing the boat with his hands, his eyes focused on the way the stones came from.The first one avoided it sideways, and the second one came very low, flew flat against the hull, and immediately fell down, lying on the bottom of the bilge.The difference was only an inch, and I saw a black thing flying by rapidly in front of my eyes, and the severe wind blew my nose and cheeks aching.As soon as he sat up, the third stone hit the bow of the boat with a slap, and sawdust flew all over the boat, and a piece was missing from the bow.
Seeing that Di Yun dodged nimbly and the boat was drifting along the river, Baoxiang immediately threw two stones, aiming at the boat.If he threw the boat as soon as he made a move, the small wooden boat would be pierced and sunk immediately, but at this time the distance was already far away, although several stones hit the boat one after another, but the strength was already weakened, only some of the sides and planks of the boat were broken That's all.
Seeing that he couldn't restrain him, Bao Xiang yelled and cursed angrily, and saw Di Yun's messy beard and long hair fluttering in the distance when he saw the wind blowing in the river, he suddenly thought: This man looks like a prisoner who escaped from prison.Ding Dian escaped from prison in Jingzhou Mansion, and rumors spread in the rivers and lakes.Perhaps from this prisoner, some traces of Ding Dian can be found.Thinking of this, the greed grows, but the anger is extinguished, and he shouted: "Yujia, Yujia, hurry up and catch up with him."
But the fishermen on the three boats under the willow tree saw him throwing stones and beating people, they were very vicious, they had already quietly let go and went down the river.Baoxiang kept shouting, but who would come back to pick him up?Baoxiang threw several stones whirringly, and one of them hit a fisherman on the head.The fisherman's brain burst and he fell into the river backwards.The rest of the fishermen were scared out of their wits and rowed even faster.
Baoxiang chased along the river bank, running fast, much faster than Di Yun's boat.The treasure elephant was chasing on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and Di Yun couldn't stop rowing to the south bank.Although Baoxiang overtook him, he was still getting farther and farther away from the boat.Di Yun thought to himself: If he finds a boat on the shore and forces Shao Gong to chase me away, it will be hard to escape his murderous hands.In panic, I could only murmur my prayers: Brother Ding, Brother Ding, you are alive after death, so that this evil monk can't find the boat.
There are many boats going up and down the Yangtze River, but fortunately there are no boats berthed along the north bank for several miles.Di Yun tried his best to row the boat to the south bank. Although the river is not wide in this area, it is covered by trees and the treasure elephant cannot be seen. So he put the small bundle in his arms, picked up Ding Dian's body, and went ashore Just do it.Suddenly remembered something, turned around, and pushed the boat towards Jiangxin, only hoping that the treasure elephant would look at it from afar, and said that he was still in the boat, chasing all the way downstream.
He ran south in a panic, hoping that the farther away from the river the better.Running to Lixu, he couldn't help crying out, but seeing a vast expanse of white water, the big river was in front of him, and it turned out that the Yangtze River turned here and turned south.
He turned around hastily, and saw a small ruined temple on the right, immediately carried Ding Dian's body to the temple, and was about to open the door to enter, when suddenly his knees gave way and he fell to the ground, unable to stand up again .After he was injured, he bled profusely and was already very weak. He was exhausted from rowing and running with his corpse in his arms, and he had no strength at all.After struggling twice, unable to sit up, he could only lean on the ground and pant for breath.But seeing that the sky was getting dark, I felt a little relieved, thinking: as long as it is night, that evil monk Baoxiang will never be able to find us.Although Ding Dian was dead at this time, he still regarded him as a close companion in his heart.
Lie straight outside the temple for more than half an hour, gradually recovering strength, then struggled to get up, carried Ding Dian's body and pushed the door into the temple.Seeing that it is an earth temple, the clay sculpture of the earth god is short and trivial, and its appearance is very funny.When Di Yun was wounded and defeated, when he saw the little statue, he suddenly felt awe, knelt down respectfully, and kowtowed to the statue a few times, feeling a little more comforted in his heart.
Sitting in front of the idol seat, he stared blankly at Ding Dian lying on the ground with his head folded.As the sky darkened little by little, he gradually felt a little more peaceful in his heart.
He lay next to Ding Dian's body, just like in the small prison cell in the past few years.
Before midnight, it suddenly began to rain, pattering, heavy and light.Feeling cold all over his body, Di Yun huddled into a ball and leaned against Ding Dian. Suddenly, he touched Ding Dian's icy skin. Thinking that Brother Ding was dead and could no longer talk to him, his chest was filled with grief, and two lines of tears slowly flowed down his face. down the cheeks.
Suddenly, there was a sound of kicking and kicking footsteps in the sound of rain, walking towards the Earth Temple.The man trampled on the mud, but walked extremely fast.Di Yun was taken aback, and heard the man getting closer, hurriedly hid Ding Dian's body under the altar, and shrank himself behind the altar.
The closer the footsteps came, the faster Di Yun's heart beat, and there was a bang, and the temple door was pushed open, followed by someone who cursed: Damn it, I don't know where this old thief has escaped to, and it's raining so hard again , I got wet all over my body.This voice is exactly Baoxiang. It is not right for a monk to scold Momba Xiaozi, and it is even more absurd to call himself Laozi.Although Di Yun didn't know much about world affairs, he was no longer the ignorant country boy he was when he listened to Ding Dian's talk about the world these past few years. Absolutely no scruples, most likely an extremely ferocious thief.
Hearing more and more obscenities from Baoxiang's mouth, he cursed for a while, then sat down in front of the altar, followed by rustling sounds, he could be heard taking off all his wet clothes, and went to the corner of the hall He went to wring it out, put it on the edge of the altar, lay down on the ground, and soon snored, and fell asleep by himself.
Di Yun thought to himself: Wouldn't it be a crime for this evil monk to take off his clothes and sleep in front of the statue?I thought again: I will take this opportunity to smash him to death with a big stone, so as not to be in trouble tomorrow.But he really didn't want to kill people casually, and he knew that Baoxiang's martial arts were ten times better than his own, if he couldn't kill him with one blow, as long as he had a little strength to fight back, his life would be in danger.
At this time, if he escaped quietly from the backyard, Bao Xiang would definitely not notice it, but Ding Dian's body was under the altar, and he was determined not to let it go, as soon as he moved it, the evil monk was alarmed.Hearing the constant dripping of the rain in the courtyard, he was at a loss what to do. He only hoped that the rain would stop in the morning and that the precious elephant would leave him.But it sounds like the rain will never stop.At dawn, if Baoxiang refuses to come out of the temple in the rain, he will search around the temple, and he must see the corpse.Even so, I still had a lucky thought in my heart: Maybe the rain will stop at dawn, and this evil monk is eager to chase me, so he hurried out of the temple.
Suddenly remembered something: when he came in, he cursed loudly, saying that he didn't know where the old thief had escaped to.I am not old, why do you call me an old thief?Is he chasing another old man again?After thinking for a while, I suddenly realized: Ah, yes, I have long hair and a long beard on my face, and I haven’t shaved for several years, so I am naturally an old man in the eyes of others.He called me an old thief, hehe, called me an old thief!Thinking of this, he reached out to touch the grassy beard on his cheek.
Suddenly there was a slapping sound, and Baoxiang turned around.In his sleep, he kicked under the altar, just in time to kick Ding Dian's corpse.As soon as he felt the situation was different, he immediately woke up. He only knew that there were enemies under the altar, and he didn't know how many people were ambushing in the temple in the dark. , shouted: Who is it?Damn it, you bastard of thieves!He scolded several times, but he didn't hear anyone's promise, and he held his breath, but he still didn't hear anyone.
In the dark, Bao Xiang hacked fifteen or six knives, hacking all over in all directions. It was the eighth way of night warfare. He flew up with one foot, and with a bang, he kicked the altar down. Mixed with the sound of bones breaking, Ding Dian's body had already been hacked.
Di Yun heard clearly that Bao Xiang was slashing Ding Dian.Although Ding Dian is dead and has long been ignorant, in Di Yun's heart, he is still his most respected and beloved brother-in-law. It was as if the knife had been cut on him, and he immediately wanted to rush out and fight for his life, but the five-year prison The torture has turned this simple and reckless young man into a young man who thinks about things.As soon as I thought about it, I thought: I rushed out to fight with him, there would be no other result except my own life.Brother Ding and Miss Ling's wish to be buried together cannot be fulfilled.How can I be worthy of him?
Bao Xiang slashed at Ding Dian's body, but there was no further movement, and he couldn't see the slightest clue in the darkness.The fire paper he was carrying was already soaked in the heavy rain, and he couldn't light it to see clearly. He stepped back slowly step by step, leaning his vest against the wall to prevent the enemy from sneaking up behind him, and then listened attentively.
At this time, there was a screen wall between the two, and there was no other sound except the patter of rain.
Di Yun knew that as long as his breathing was a little louder, his life would be lost immediately, so he could only absorb the breath extremely finely, inhale it slowly, and exhale it slowly, but his mind was spinning rapidly: In more than an hour, the sky will be clear .When this evil monk sees Brother Ding's body, he will definitely spoil it, so what should he do?
His mind is not flexible at all, but trying to save Ding Dian's body from Bao Xiang's hands is a huge problem.He thought hard, and really couldn't come up with any idea after thinking about it. He was very anxious and complained to himself: Di Yun, Di Yun, you stupid guy, naturally you can't come up with an idea.If Brother Ding does not die, he has his own way.Panicked, he stretched out his hand to grab the hair, pulled it hard, and immediately tore off six or seven strands.
Suddenly, a thought appeared in my mind: This evil monk called me an old thief.When he saw that I was full of beards, he only said that I was an old man.If I shave my beard clean, wouldn't he be able to recognize me?It's just that there is no razor around, how can I shave off this beard?Hmph, I am not afraid of death, so am I afraid of pain?Pull them out one by one with your hands, that's all.
As soon as I thought about it, I did it. I touched the beards one by one, and pulled them out gently one by one. I was afraid of making the slightest sound. I thought: Even if the evil monk can't recognize me, it's just that he doesn't come to kill me. What can I do? Protect Brother Ding thoroughly?Well, one step counts, one step counts, I just need to save my life for the time being, and I can get close to the evil monk, and when he is unaware, I can try to kill him.
After pulling out more than half of the beard, I suddenly remembered: Even if I don't have a beard, this full head of long hair still reveals my true face.This evil monk was chasing me along the Yangtze River, so he could clearly see my disheveled appearance.If you don't do it, you don't stop, you stretch out your hand to grab the two hairs, shake them lightly, and then pull them out.
Pulling out the beard is not painful, but it is really painful to pull out all the hairs.As he pulled it out, he thought in his mind: Don't say it's just such a trivial matter as pulling out the beard and hair, as long as it's for Brother Ding, even if you want me to cut off my own siblings, I won't frown.I thought again: My method is so stupid, the ghost of Brother Ding must be laughing at me.But he can no longer teach me a clever trick.
Hearing that Baoxiang had fallen asleep again, he was afraid that the evil monk would hear his voice, so he pulled out some hair and beard, and then retreated a step very slowly. It took half an hour before he retreated into the courtyard. After a long time, I slowly left the back door of the Earth Temple.The heavy rain hit his face bit by bit, and Fang Shi let out a sigh of relief.
You don't have to worry about being heard by Baoxiang outside the temple. It is much faster to pluck the beard and hair, and finally pluck out the long hair and beard.He buried the hair and beard he had pulled out in the mud to prevent the treasure elephant from becoming suspicious when he found out, and touched his bald head and chin. Not only was he no longer an old thief, but he had become a bald thief. I couldn't help being amused, thinking: I've been pulling like this for a while, the top of my head and chin must be stained with blood, and I have to wash it well to avoid showing traces.So he raised his head and let the rain wash away the dirt on his face.
Then I thought: I don’t have any flaws on my face, if the evil monk recognizes this clothes, it will still be bad after all.Well, I had no clothes to change, so I took off naked like that evil monk, but so what?So he took off his clothes and trousers, and the black silkworm clothes could not be taken off, so he only had underwear but no trousers, so he tore off the coat and wrapped it around his waist, fearing that the treasure elephant would know the origin of the black silkworm clothes, So he rolled in the mud, and his whole body was covered with mud.
At this time, Ding Dian came back to life, fearing that he may not be recognized for a while.Di Yun groped under a big tree, dug a hole in the mud with his fingers, buried the small bundle in it, and thought to himself: If he can escape the evil monk's poisonous hands and get Brother Ding's safety, he will repay the person who took my place in the future. The great kindness and great virtue of the person who wrapped my wound and gave me two pieces of silver jewelry.But who is he?
By this time, the sky was slightly brighter.Di Yun quietly headed south, turned west, and walked about miles away. It was already dawn, and seeing the heavy rain, he expected that Baoxiang would not leave the temple. He wanted to find a weapon, but he went there in the wilderness. go?I had no choice but to pick up a sharp piece of stone and hid it in my waist, thinking that if I could kill this evil monk at the vital point, it might kill him too.It's best that the evil monk has left the temple, that's good luck.
Taking a photo in the puddle, I couldn't help laughing when I saw my weird appearance, but then I felt a burst of unspeakable misery.
With Ding Dian in mind, he couldn't wait to find another more suitable weapon, so he headed east towards the Earth Temple, thinking: I have to go crazy and pretend to be a local rascal.When approaching the Earth Temple, he let go of his throat and sang a folk song loudly:
To Shan’s sister, listen to me sing,
Don't marry a rich man when you marry,
Mr. Wang and grandson have a bad conscience!
If you want to marry me, my dysentery-headed Ah San, please shine!
When he was in the countryside of Hunan, he was good at singing folk songs. He and Qi Fang had sung tens of thousands of folk songs in the fields by the lake, in front of the stream and behind the mountains.Hunan rural customs and folk songs are all impromptu compositions in response to the occasion, uttered casually, with rough and shallow rhymes, which are not much different from daily speech.As soon as he sang, he couldn't help feeling sore in his chest. Since he and Qi Fang traveled hand in hand that year, this folk song has not come out of his throat for more than five years. At this time, the old tune is heavy, and the scene in front of him is extremely strange. .The song listener was no longer that pretty little junior sister, but a naked, vicious monk.
He slowly approached the Earth Temple, tightened his throat, and sang again imitating a female voice:
What is the fragrance of your dysentery-headed Asan?
Want to marry me like a flower and a jade girl?
Coveting your hairless hair without combing?
covet you
You haven't finished singing the following sentence of coveting, Baoxiang has already walked out of the earth temple.He wrapped his coat around his waist and opened it to see who was coming. He saw Di Yunkou singing a folk song, with a bald head, and said that he was really a bald man, but the folk song was full of self-deprecation, so he couldn't help but Funny, shouted: Hey, bald man, come here!
Di Yun sang:
Master, why did you call me?
Want to send me gold and silver?
The man with dysentery is lucky,
The master wants to treat me to a fat pig.
As he sang, he walked towards Baoxiang. Although he tried his best to pretend to be calm, his heart couldn't help beating violently and abnormally, and his face changed color.But Baoxiang noticed it there, and said with a smile: "San, the dysentery head, go and find me something to eat. The master will reward you very much. Is there any fat pig?"
Di Yun shook his head and sang:
There are no fat pigs in the barren mountains
Baoxiang shouted: "Speak well, don't sing and sing."
Di Yun stuck out his tongue, trying to put on a glib air, and said: Diarrhea-headed Ah San is used to singing folk songs, so his speech is not so smooth.Master, here is Buba Village in the front, and Badian in the back. Within ten miles, there is no human habitation.Don't say you want to eat fat pigs, even vegetables and rice are hard to find.Fifteen miles west of here, there is a big town, where there is wine and meat, chicken and fish. Master can eat whatever he wants, so you might as well go there.He knew that he was powerless to kill Bao Xiang, so he avenged him for slaying Ding Dian, but he only hoped that he would believe his words and go west to find food, so he could carry Ding Dian's body and escape.
But the heavy rain never stopped, and it fell on the two of them.
Baoxiang said: "Go and find me something to eat. It's best to have wine and meat, otherwise you can kill a chicken or a duck."
Di Yun only cared about Ding Dian, agreed with his mouth, walked into the hall, and saw that Ding Dian's body had been dragged out from under the altar, and all his clothes were torn, obviously he had been carefully searched by Bao Xiang.Di Yun felt grief and resentment in his heart, and he couldn't hide it anymore, he said, "Is there a dead person here that you killed?"
His face changed drastically, Baoxiang only said that he was afraid of seeing the dead, and said with a sneer: "I didn't kill him."Come and find out, who is this man?Do you recognize him?Di Yun was taken aback, felt guilty for a moment, and said that he had seen through his hiding place, if he hadn't been determined to protect Ding Dian, he would have run away, so he forced himself to calm down, and said: This man looks very strange, he is not from this village.
Baoxiang smiled and said: He is naturally not from your village.Suddenly snapped: "Go find something to eat."You are disobedient, see Buddha not wanting your dog's life?
Seeing that Ding Dian's body was unharmed for now, Di Yun felt relieved, and replied: Yes, yes!Turning around and leaving the temple, I thought: I will avoid him for a while, as long as he doesn't come back for a long time, he can't bear the hunger, so he will go looking for food.He finally failed to take Brother Ding away.He has already searched Brother Ding's side, but he can't find anything, so he can give up.Unexpectedly, he only took two steps, and Baoxiang shouted sharply: "Stop!"where are you goingDi Yun said: I'll go buy you something to eat.Baoxiang said: Well, very good!how long do you come backDi Yun said: "Soon, I'll be back in a while."Baoxiang said: "Go!"
Di Yun turned his head and glanced at Ding Dian's body, then walked out of the temple.Suddenly there was a slight movement of the wind behind him, two slaps, and a slap on the left and right cheeks.Fortunately, Baoxiang only said that he is a country boy who does not know the slightest martial arts, and his strikes are not heavy; and fortunately, Baoxiang is extremely fast, and he can hit him as soon as he makes a move. Some of them will dodge and dodge, and it is never too late to think of pretending not to know martial arts.
Di Yun was taken aback, and said: "You, you think to yourself: since he has seen through, he has no choice but to desperately."Just listen to Baoxiang said: "How much silver do you have on you, show me it!"Di Yun said: "My treasure elephant said angrily: You are naked, sorry you poor man has no money, with your bad face, you can get it on credit and owe it again?"Hmph, when you said you were going to buy me something to eat, didn't you mean to slip away?Hearing what he said, Di Yun felt relieved: So he only saw through the fakeness of my shopping, so it doesn't matter.Baoxiang said again: "You bald man said that there is no one living within ten miles, so how can you go buy food and come back immediately?"Isn't this obviously lying to me?Hmph, tell me the truth, what are you thinking?Di Yun stammered, "I, I, I was scared when I saw Master, and wanted to run away home."
Baoxiang laughed loudly, patted his chest covered with black hair, and said: What are you afraid of?Are you afraid that I will eat you?As soon as the word "eating" was mentioned, my stomach gurgled, and I was even more hungry.After dawn, he had already searched everywhere in the temple, but there was nothing to eat.He murmured a few words: Are you afraid that I will eat you?Are you afraid that I will eat you?Saying so, a fierce light suddenly appeared in his eyes, and he looked Di Yun up and down.
Di Yun's hair was all over his body when he saw this look, and he already guessed what the evil monk was planning.Sure enough, Baoxiang was thinking: Human flesh tastes good, but human heart and liver are even more delicious. There is a pig here, why not kill it and eat it?
Di Yun couldn't help crying in his heart: I was killed by him, but it's nothing.Looking at the appearance of this evil monk, it is obvious that he is going to cook me and eat me, which is really wronged.I fight with you.However, if you try your best, you will definitely be killed. After you are killed, you will still be eaten by him, so what's the difference?I saw the fierce light in Baoxiang's eyes, grinning grinningly, and walking over.
Seeing him approaching step by step, Di Yun retreated step by step with his ugly face becoming more and more terrifying.Baoxiang smiled and said: Hehe, you skinny ghost, it must taste bad.This dead body is fatter than you, but it's a pity that the dead body is poisonous and cannot be eaten.There is no way, there is no fat pig, and the thin pig has no choice but to deal with it.He reached out and grabbed Di Yun's left arm.
Di Yun struggled desperately, but where could he struggle?The anxiety and fear in my heart is really indescribable.After these years of torture, he was no longer afraid of death, but the thought of being eaten alive by this evil monk made him shudder.
Seeing that Di Yun could not escape, Baoxiang thought it would be better to ask him to boil the soup first, and then slaughter him. It is a pity that this man will not kill himself, and then burn himself into a big bowl of braised human flesh. The general came up and said, "I'll kill you to eat. There are two ways."One is to cut the muscles on your legs raw, and roast them as you cut them, then you will suffer a lot.The second method is to kill you with a knife and cook meat soup to eat.Do you think that method is good?
Di Yun gritted his teeth and said: You want to kill me, you, you evil monk, you want to yell at me, but you are afraid that he will make you suffer from Ling Chi in a fit of anger.
Baoxiang smiled and said: Yes, it's good that you know, the more obedient you are, the easier it is to die.If you struggle stubbornly, it will be a big trouble.Hey, dysentery-headed San, let me say, go to the kitchen and bring that iron wok, and boil a wok full of water.
Di Yun knew that he was going to use it to cook himself, but he couldn't help but ask: What for?
Baoxiang smiled and said, "There's no need to ask more about this."go!Di Yun said: "To boil water, it's inconvenient to boil water in the kitchen. It's inconvenient to take out an iron wok."Baoxiang said: The kitchen is full of dust and cobwebs, Lafayette sneezes as soon as he enters.I don't look at you, you little mangy must run away.Di Yun said: "I don't want to run away."Bao Xiang said angrily: "What I say is what I say."How dare you be disobedient?As he said that, he swung his palm, hit him hard on the right side of the face, and kicked him somersault again.
Di Yun rolled on the ground, and suddenly remembered: He told me to boil water, it was a chance, I waited until a large pot of water boiled, took it up and poured it on him.He was naked, wouldn't he be scalded to death immediately?With this idea in mind, he no longer feared at once, so he went to the kitchen and brought out a broken wok.Seeing that the top half of the iron wok is broken, it can only hold half of the wok of water, half of the wok of boiling water may not be able to scald the evil monk to death, but he thinks it would be good to scald him half to death even if he is not killed.
He brought the iron wok to the courtyard in front of the hall, collected the rainwater from the eaves, washed it clean first, and then filled it with rainwater until the water broke through and could not be filled again.
Baoxiang praised: Great, great!Diarrhea-headed Ah San, I really don't want to eat you.You are clean and neat, and you are good at cooking human flesh soup!
Di Yun smiled wryly and said, "Thank you, Master, for your compliment.I picked up seven or eight bricks and put them under the iron wok.There are many broken tables and broken chairs in the ruined temple. Di Yun was eager to fight Bao Xiang for life and death, so he quickly picked up the old wood and piled it under the iron wok.But it is difficult to find the kindling.Di Yun opened his hands, showing a helpless expression.
Baoxiang said: "What?"Don't have tinder?I remember he had it.As he spoke, he pointed at Ding Dian's body.Seeing that Ding Dian's thigh was cut to bloody pulp by the elephant, Di Yun rushed up with grief and indignation in his chest. He turned his head and stared at the elephant, wishing he could pounce on him and bite him a few times.The treasure elephant was like an old cat catching a mouse. It had to play with it before eating it. It didn't care about Di Yun's anger at all, and said with a smile: "Look for it."If you can't make a fire, the great monk can eat raw meat.
Di Yun leaned down and felt in Ding Dian's pocket, and sure enough he came across two small hard objects, which were a fire knife and a flint. Where did he get these two things?Turn over the fire knife, and there is a line of Yangwen signboard cast on the knife: Jingzhou Lao Quanxing Ji.Di Yun and Ding Dian went to the iron shop to cut off the shackles on their bodies, so this is the shop name of that iron shop.Di Yun held the pair of knives and stones, and thought: Brother Ding was very considerate. He took the knives and flints from the iron shop. He originally intended to use them to travel with me in the world.Staring blankly at the fire knife and flint, he couldn't help but burst into tears.
Baoxiang only said that he knew his fate would not be long after he discovered the fire, so he wept bitterly, and laughed and said: "The great monk is a noble body. You have cultivated it in your previous lives, and you can use the stomach of the great monk as a coffin, and use the stomach of the great monk as a coffin." If you use your belly as a tomb, you will have a deep fortune, and your luck is really not bad!Light a fire!
Di Yun didn't say much, he found an extremely old yellow paper stick in the temple, put it beside the fire knife and flint, and lit the fire.The flame burned to the yellow paper sign, and the handwriting that had been covered by dust was exposed. I saw the words printed on the sign, such as "Unable to seek an official position, difficult marriage, bad travel, and difficult to recover from illness". Burned half of the paper stick.Di Yun thought to himself: I have been unlucky in my life, I know it without asking for a lottery.When the paper stick was used to ignite the wood chips, the dead wood at the bottom of the wok gradually burned.
The clear water in the iron wok slowly produced crab-eye foam, he knew that half of the wok would boil in less than a stick of incense.He was nervous, looking at the water, and at the naked belly of the treasure elephant, thinking that life and death were at stake, and his hands trembled uncontrollably.Finally, the white air was steaming, and the water bubbles in the broken wok boiled.Di Yun stood up straight, picked up the iron wok, and raised his hands to pour it on the elephant's head.
Unexpectedly, as soon as he moved, Baoxiang was startled, stretched out his ten fingers, grabbed his wrist first, and shouted sharply: "What are you doing?"Di Yun didn't know how to lie, he tried hard to splash the boiling soup on Bao Xiang's body, but his wrist was caught, as if he was wrapped in a pair of iron hoops, and he couldn't move at all.
If Bao Xiang wanted to pour the boiling soup on Di Yun's head, he only needed to shake his arm, which would be an easy task, but it was a pity that the half-pot of hot soup drowned the dysentery-headed son to death. trouble.He exerted a little strength with his arms, pressed down flatly, put the iron wok back to its original place, and shouted: "Let go of your hands!"
No matter how willing Di Yun was to let go of the iron wok, he grabbed it with both hands again.Baoxiang kicked out with his right foot, and with a bang, he fell straight out, head and foot forward, and crashed into the altar.Baoxiang thought to himself: This dysentery has a lot of head and hands.At this time, I didn't think about it carefully.He shouted, "I'm going to kill you."Obediently take off the clothes by yourself, so as to save me the trouble.
Di Yun took out the sharp stone hidden in his waist, and wanted to rush out to fight the evil monk. Suddenly, he saw two rats with their bellies facing the sky at the foot of the altar, their bodies twitching uncontrollably, dying. Seeing a glimmer of light, he shouted, "I caught two mice. I'll eat them for you to satisfy your hunger, okay?"The taste of the mouse is very fresh, even more delicious than dog meat.Baoxiang said: "What?"Is it a mouse?Is it dead or alive?Di Yun was afraid that he wouldn't eat the dead rat, so he hurriedly said: "Of course it's alive, it's still moving, but it's just pinched half to death by me."Grab the two mice and reach out from under the altar to show him.
Baoxiang had eaten mice before, and knew that the taste of rat meat was similar to that of lean pork. Seeing that the two mice were not fat, he thought it was because there was not much food in the ruined temple, so he hesitated for a while.
Di Yundao: Master, I skinned the mouse for you and made a big bowl of soup to drink. It's fast and delicious for you.
Baoxiang is a big lazy man, and he would feel upset when he was asked to kill, wash, peel, cut up and cook food. Hearing Di Yun say that cooking him mouse soup would suit him well, saying: "Two mice are not enough to eat, you can eat them again." Go catch some more.
Di Yun thought to himself: I have lost my martial arts now, my hands and feet are not good enough, where can I catch mice?But finally there was a glimmer of life, and he must not let it go, he hurriedly said: "Master, I cooked these two big mice for you as snacks, and I will catch them again immediately!"
Baoxiang nodded and said, "That's fine too. If I'm full and I spare your life, what's the problem?"
Di Yun got out from under the altar and said: I borrowed your knife and cut off the mouse's head.
Baoxiang didn't think it was a thing for this little bald country boy, pointed at Shandao, and said: "You use it!"Then I added another sentence: If you have the guts, try to chop a few knives at Lao Tzu!
Di Yun really intended to grab the single knife and turn around to chop, but he cut it first, so he didn't dare to act rashly. He chopped off the rat's head with two swords, ripped open the belly, peeled off the skin, and used the mouse's stomach, heart and lungs together. Wash it with rainwater and put it in the wok.
Baoxiang nodded again and again and said: Very good, very good.You bald man, you're good at making rat soup.Hurry up and catch some more.Di Yun said, "Okay, I'll catch it."Turn around and walk towards the apse.Baoxiang said: If you want to escape, I will cut off your flesh and eat it alive.Di Yun said: If you can't catch mice, you will catch frogs. There are fish and shrimps in the river, and you can eat anything.I serve your master, I am full and comfortable, why do you have to eat me?Diarrhea head Ah San has sores and leprosy on his body, if you eat it, you will have diarrhea, chills and fever.Baoxiang said: Humph, don't make me wait impatiently.Hey, you can't go out of the temple, you know?
Di Yun agreed loudly, crawled on the ground, pretended to be a mouse catcher, slowly crawled to the back hall, and stood up straight.He looked around, trying to find a hiding place to hide. Looking out from the back door, he saw a small pond on the left. He didn't care about it, and ran quickly, and slipped into the pond gently, only his mouth and nose were exposed. The water surface is breathable, and some duckweed and weeds are grabbed and piled on the nose.
He was born by the water since he was a child, and his water skills are excellent, but it's a pity that this place is too far away from the river, otherwise he would jump into the big river and go down the river, no matter what, the treasure elephant would not be able to catch up.
After a while, I only heard Baoxiang shout: "Good soup!"Mouse soup was good.It's a pity that there are too few mice.Little baldy San, did you catch the mouse?After yelling a few times, he cursed loudly.Di Yun stuck his right ear out of the water, listening to him.But after hearing his swear words and scolding so vulgarly, he kicked and walked through the mud to find it.After only a few steps, we reached the edge of the pond.Di Yun still dared to show his face, pinched his nose, and got under the water with his whole body.Fortunately, the pond was full of green weeds and algae. Once he sank to the bottom of the pond, he couldn't be seen from above.
But the bottom of the water was not breathable, so he endured it until he couldn't bear it anymore, and finally slowly raised his head up, wanting to take a light breath, but just after taking half a breath, there was a sudden sound, a big hand came down and grabbed the back of his neck.Bao Xiang scolded: If you don't cut you little bald man into seventeen or eight dollars, I'm not a human being.你膽敢逃走！狄雲反手抱住他胳臂，一股勁兒往池塘內拉扯。寶象沒料到他竟敢反抗，塘邊泥濘，腳下一滑，撲通一聲，跌入了塘中。
狄雲大喜，使勁將他背脊往水中按去。只是池塘水淺，寶象人又高大，池水淹不過頂，他一踏到塘底，反手便扣住狄雲手腕，跟著左手將他頭掀下水去。狄雲早豁出了性命不要，人在水底，牢牢抱住了寶象身子，說甚麼也不放手。寶象一時倒給他弄得無法可施，破口大罵，一不小心，吞進了幾口污水，怒氣更盛，提起拳頭，直往狄雲背上擂去。
狄雲只覺這惡僧一拳打來，雖給塘水阻了一阻，力道輕了些，卻也疼痛難忍，只要再挨得幾拳，非昏去不可。他絕無還手之力，只有將腦袋去撞寶象的胸膛。
正糾纏得不可開交，突然之間，寶象大叫一聲：啊喲！抓住狄雲的手慢慢放鬆，舉在半空的拳頭也不擊落，竟緩緩的垂下，跟著身子挺了幾挺，沉入了塘底。
狄雲大奇，忙掙扎著起來，只見寶象一動不動，顯已死了。他驚魂未定，不敢去碰他身子，遠遠站在池塘一邊觀看。只見寶象直挺挺的躺在塘底，一動也不再動，隔了良久，看來真的已死，狄雲兀自不敢放心，捧起塊石頭擲到他身上，見仍是不動，才知不是裝死。
狄雲爬上岸來，猜不透這惡僧到底如何會忽然死去，心中忽然閃過一個念頭：難道我的神照功已然大有威力，自己可還不知？在他胸口撞得幾頭，便送了他的性命？試一運氣，只覺足少陽膽經一脈中的內息，行到大腿五里穴，無論如何便不上行，而手少陽三焦經一脈，內息行到上臂清冷淵也即遇阻滯。比之在獄中時只有反見退步，想是這幾日來心神不定，擱下了功夫所致。顯然，要練成神照功，時日火候還差得很遠。
他怔怔的站在池塘之旁，對眼前的情景始終不敢相信是真事。但見雨點一滴滴的落在池塘水面，激成一個個漪漣。寶象的屍身躺在塘底，了無半絲生氣。
呆了一陣，回到殿中，只見鐵鑊下的柴火已經熄滅，鐵鑊旁又有兩隻老鼠死在地下，肚皮朝天，耳朵和後足兀自微微抖動。狄雲心想：嗯，原來寶象自己倒捉到了兩隻老鼠，沒福享受，便給我打死了。見鑊中尚有碗許殘湯，是寶象喝得剩下來的，他肚中正饑，端起鐵鑊，張口便要去喝老鼠湯。突然之間，鼻中聞到一陣奇特的香氣。
他一呆之下，雙手持著鐵鑊，縮嘴不喝，尋思：這是甚麼香氣？我聞到過的，那決不是甚麼好東西。再聞了聞老鼠湯中的奇香，登時省悟，大叫一聲：好運氣！雙手一抬，將鐵鑊向天井中拋了出去，轉過身來，向著丁典的屍身含淚說道：丁大哥，你雖在死後，又救了兄弟一命。
在千鈞一髮的瞬息之間，他明白了寶象的死因。
丁典中了金波旬花的劇毒，全身血肉都含奇毒。寶象刀砍丁典屍身，老鼠在傷口中噬食血肉。老鼠食後中毒而死，寶象煮鼠為湯而食，跟著便也中毒。兩人在池塘中糾纏鬥毆，寶象突然毒發身亡。眼前鐵鑊旁這兩頭死鼠，也是喝了鑊中的毒湯而死的。
狄雲心想：倘若那金波旬花不是有這麼一股奇怪的香氣，倘若我心思轉得稍慢片刻，這毒湯已然下肚去了。
又想：我第一次聞到這金波旬花的香氣，是在凌小姐的靈堂之中，凌知府塗了在他女兒的棺木上。丁大哥以前卻曾聞過的，曾中過毒，第二次怎能不知？是了，那時丁大哥見到凌小姐的棺木，心神大亂，甚麼都不知道了。
他曾數度萬念俱灰，自暴自棄，不想再活在人世，但此刻死裏逃生，卻又慶幸不已。天空仍是烏雲重重叠叠，大雨如注，心中卻感到了一片光明，但覺只須留得一條命在，便有無盡歡樂，無限風光。
他定了定神，先將丁典的屍身端端正正的放在殿角，然後出外將寶象的屍身從池塘裏拉起來，挖個坑埋了。回到殿中，只見寶象的衣服搭在神壇之上，壇上放著一個油布小包，另有十來兩碎銀子。
他好奇心起，拿過油布小包，打了開來，見裏面又包著一層油紙，再打開油紙，見是一本黃紙小書，封皮上彎彎曲曲的寫著幾行字不像字、圖不像圖的花樣，也不知是甚麼。翻將開來，見第一頁上繪著一個精瘦乾枯的裸體男子，一手指天，一手指地，面目極是詭異，旁邊註滿了五顏六色的怪字，形若蝌蚪，或紅或綠。狄雲瞧著圖中男子，見他鈎鼻深目，曲髮高顴，不似中土人物，形貌甚是古怪，而怪異之中，更似蘊藏著一股吸引之力，令人不由自主的心旌搖動，神不守舍。他看了一會，便不敢再看。
翻到第二頁，見上面仍是繪著這個裸體男子，只是姿式不同，左足金雞獨立，右足橫著平伸而出，雙手反在身後，左手握著右耳，右手握著左耳。一路翻將下去，但見這裸體人形的姿式越來越怪，花樣變幻無窮，有時雙手撐地，有時飛躍半空，更有時以頭頂地倒立，下半身卻憑空生出六條腿來。到了後半本中，那人手中卻持了一柄彎刀。
他回頭翻到第一頁，再向圖中那人臉上細瞧，見他舌尖從左邊嘴角中微微伸出，同時右眼張大而左眼略瞇，臉上神情古怪，便因此而生。他好奇心起，便學著這人的模樣，也是舌尖微吐，右眼張而左眼閉，這姿式一做，只覺得顏面間十分舒暢，再向圖形中看去時，隱隱見到那男子身上有幾條極淡的灰色細線，繪著經脈。狄雲心道：是了，原來這人身上不繪衣衫，是為了要顯出經脈。
丁典在獄中授他神照功之時，曾將人身的經脈行走方位，解說得極是詳細明白，練這項最上乘的內功，基本關鍵便在於此。他早已記得熟了，這時瞧著圖中人身上的經脈線路，不由自主便調運內息，體內一股細微的真氣便依著那經脈運行起來。
尋思：這經脈運行的方位，和丁大哥所授的恰恰相反，那只怕不對。但隨即轉念：我便試他一試，又有何妨？當即催動內息，循圖而行，片刻之間，便覺全身軟洋洋地，說不出的輕快舒暢。他練神照功時，全神貫注的凝氣而行，那內息便要上行一寸、二寸，也是萬分艱難，但這時照著圖中的方位運行，霎時之間便如江河奔流，竟絲毫不用力氣，內息自然運行。他心中又驚又喜：怎麼我體內竟有這樣的經脈？莫非連丁大哥也不知麼？跟著又想：這本冊子是那惡和尚的，而書上文字圖形又都邪裏邪氣，定不是甚麼正經東西，還是別去沾惹的為是。
但這時他體內的內息運行正暢，竟不想就此便停，心中只想：好罷，只玩這麼一次，下次不能再玩了。漸漸覺得心曠神怡，全身血液都暖了起來，又過一會，身子輕飄飄地，好似飽飲了烈酒一般，禁不住手舞足蹈，口中發出嗚嗚嗚的低聲呼叫，腦中一昏，倒在地下，便甚麼也不知道了。
過了良久良久，這才知覺漸復，緩緩睜開眼來，只覺日光照耀，原來大雨早停，太陽晒進殿來。狄雲一躍而起，只覺精神勃勃，全身充滿了力氣，心想：難道這本冊子上的功夫，竟有這般好處？no no!我還是照丁大哥所授的功夫用心習練才是，這種邪魔外道，一沾上身，說不定後患無窮。拿起冊子，要想伸手撕碎，但想了一想，總覺其中充滿秘奧，不捨得便此毀去。
他整理一下衣衫，但見破爛已極，實在難以蔽體，見寶象的僧衣和褲子搭在神壇之上，倒是完好，於是取過來穿在身上。雖然穿了這惡僧的僧袍，心中甚覺彆扭，但總勝於褲子上爛了十七八個破洞，連屁股也遮不住。他將那本冊子和十多兩碎銀都揣在懷裏，到大樹下的泥坑中將那包首飾和銀兩挖了出來收起，抱起丁典的屍身，走出廟去。
行出百餘丈，迎面來了一個農夫，見到他手中橫抱著一個死屍，不由得大吃一驚，一失足便摔在田中，滿身泥濘的掙扎起來，一足高一足低的快步逃走。
狄雲知道如此行走，必定惹事，但一時卻也想不出甚麼善策。幸好這一帶甚是荒僻，一路走去，不再遇到行人。他橫抱著丁典，心下只想：丁大哥，丁大哥，我捨不得和你分手，我捨不得和你分手。
忽聽得山歌聲起，遠遠有七八名農夫荷鋤走來，狄雲急忙一個箭步，躲入山旁的長草之中，待那些農夫走過，心想：若不焚了丁大哥的遺體，終究不能完成他與凌小姐合葬的心願。到山坳中拾些枯枝柴草，一咬牙，點燃了火，在丁典屍身旁焚燒起來。
火舌吞沒了丁典頭髮和衣衫，狄雲只覺得這些火燄是在燒著自己的肌肉，撲在地下，咬著青草泥土，淚水流到了草上土中，又流到了他嘴裏
狄雲細心撿起丁典的骨灰，鄭重包在油紙之中，外面再裹以油布。這油紙油布本是寶象用來包藏那本黃紙冊子的。包裹外用布條好好的縛緊了，這才貼肉縛在腰間。再用手挖了一坑，將剩下的灰燼撥入坑中，用土掩蓋了，拜了幾拜。
站起身來，心下茫然：我要到那裏去？世上的親人，便只師父一人，自然而然的想起：我且回沅陵去尋師父。師父刺傷萬震山而逃去，料想不會回歸沅陵老家，必是隱姓埋名，遠走高飛。但這時除了回沅陵去瞧瞧之外，實在想不出還有旁的甚麼地方可去。
當下轉上了大路，向鄉人一打聽，原來這地方叫做程家集，是在湖北監利縣之北，要到湖南，須得先過長江。
狄雲到了市集，取出碎銀買些麵食吃了，來到渡口，搭船過江，回想昨日過江時逃避寶象的追趕，何等驚慌，今日卻悠悠閒閒的重過長江，相隔不過一日，情景卻全然不同了。
渡船靠了南岸，狄雲上得岸來，只聽得喧嘩叫嚷，人頭湧湧，不少人吵成一團，跟著砰砰聲響，好些人打了起來，狄雲好奇心起，便走近去瞧瞧熱鬧。
只見人叢之中，七八條大漢正圍住一個老者毆打。那老者青衣羅帽，家人裝束。那七八條漢子赤足短衣，身邊放著短秤魚簍，顯然都是魚販。狄雲心想這是尋常打架，沒甚麼好瞧的，正要退開，只見那老人家飛足將一名壯健魚販踢了個觔斗，原來他竟身有武功。
這一來，狄雲便要瞧個究竟了。只見那老家人以寡敵眾，片刻間又打倒了三名魚販。旁邊瞧著的魚販雖眾，一時竟無人再敢上前。忽聽得眾魚販歡呼起來，叫道：頭兒來啦，頭兒來啦！只見江邊兩名魚販飛奔而來，後面跟著三人。那三人步履頗為沉穩，狄雲一眼瞧去，便知是身有武功之人。
那三人來到近前，為首一人是個四十來歲的漢子，蠟黃的臉皮，留著一撇鼠鬚，向倒在地下哼哼唧唧的幾名魚販望了一眼，說道：閣下是誰，仗了誰的勢頭，到我們華容縣來欺人？他這幾句話是向那老家人說的，可是眼睛向他望也沒望上一眼。原來過江之後，這裏已是湖南華容縣地界。
那老家人道：我只是拿銀子買魚，甚麼欺人不欺人的？那頭兒向身旁的魚販問道：幹麼打了起來？那魚販道：這老傢伙硬要買這對金色鯉魚。我們說金色鯉魚難得，是頭兒自己留下來合藥的。這老傢伙好橫，卻說非買不可。我們不賣，他竟動手便搶。
那頭兒轉過身來，向那老家人打量了幾眼，說道：閣下的朋友，是中了藍砂掌麼？那老家人一聽，臉色變了，說道：我不知道甚麼紅砂掌、藍砂掌。我家主人不過想吃鯉魚下酒，吩咐我拿了銀子來買魚。普天下可從來沒有甚麼魚能賣、甚麼魚又不能賣的規矩？
魚販頭兒冷笑道：真人面前說甚麼假話？閣下尊姓大名，能見告麼？倘若是好朋友，別說這兩尾金色大鯉魚可以奉送，在下還可送上一粒專治藍砂掌的玉肌丸。
那老家人臉色更是驚疑不定，隔了半晌，才道：閣下是誰，如何知道藍砂掌，如何又有玉肌丸？難道，難道魚販頭兒道：不錯，在下和那使藍砂掌的主兒，確是有三分淵源。
那老家人更不打話，身形一起，伸手便向一隻魚簍抓去，行動極是迅捷。魚販頭兒冷笑道：有這麼容易！呼的一掌，便往他背心上擊了過去。老家人回掌一抵，借勢借力，身子已飄在數丈之外，提著魚簍，急步疾奔。那魚販頭兒沒料到他有這一手，眼見追趕不上，手一揚，一件暗器帶著破空之聲，向他背心急射而去。
那老家人奪到鯉魚，滿心歡喜，一股勁兒的發足急奔，沒想到有暗器射來。魚販頭子發射的是一枚瓦楞鋼鏢，他手勁大，去勢頗急。狄雲眼見那老家人不知閃避，心中不忍，順手提起地下一隻魚簍，從側面斜向鋼鏢擲去。
他武功已失，手上原沒多少力道，只是所站地位恰到好處，只聽得卜的一聲響，鋼鏢插入了魚簍。那魚簍向前又飛了數尺，這才落地。
那老家人聽得背後聲響，回頭一瞧，只見那魚販頭子手指狄雲，罵道：兀那小賊禿，你是那座廟裏的野和尚，卻來理會長江鐵網幫的閒事？
狄雲一怔：怎地他罵我是小賊禿了？見那魚販頭子聲勢洶洶，又說到甚麼長江鐵網幫，記得丁大哥常自言道，江湖上各種幫會禁忌最多，若是不小心惹上了，往往受累無窮。他不願無緣無故的多生事端，便拱手道：是小弟的不是，請老兄原諒。
那魚販頭子怒道：你是甚麼東西，誰來跟你稱兄道弟？跟著左手一揮，向手下的魚販道：將這兩人都給拿下了。
便在此時，只聽得叮噹叮噹，叮玲玲，叮噹叮噹，叮玲玲一陣鈴聲，兩騎馬自西至東，沿著江邊馳來。那老家人面有喜色，道：我家主人親自來啦，你跟他們說去。
魚販頭子臉色一變，道：是鈴劍雙俠？但隨即臉色轉為高傲，道：是鈴劍雙俠便又怎地？還輪不到他們到長江邊上來耀武揚威。
說話未了，兩乘馬已馳到身前。狄雲只覺眼前一亮，但見兩匹馬一黃一白，都是神駿高大，鞍轡鮮明。黃馬上坐著一個二十五六歲的青年男子，一身黃衫，身形高瘦。白馬上乘的是個少女，二十歲上下年紀，白衫飄飄，左肩上懸著一朵紅綢製的大花，臉色微黑，相貌卻極為俏麗。兩人腰垂長劍，手中都握著一條馬鞭，兩匹馬一般的高頭長身，難得的是黃者全是黃，白者全是白，身上竟無一根雜毛。黃馬頸下掛了一串黃金鸞鈴，白馬的鸞鈴則是白銀所鑄，馬頭微一擺動，金鈴便發出叮噹叮噹之聲，銀鈴的聲音又是不同，叮玲玲、叮玲玲的，更為清脆動聽。端的是人俊馬壯。狄雲一生之中，從未見過這般齊整標緻的人物，不由得心中暗暗喝一聲采：好漂亮！
那青年男子向著那老者道：水福，鯉魚找到了沒有？What are you doing here?那老家人道：汪少爺，金色鯉魚找到了一對，可是可是他們偏偏不肯賣，還動手打人。
那青年一瞥眼見到地下魚簍上的那枚鋼鏢，說道：嘿，誰使這般歹毒的暗器？馬鞭一伸，鞭絲已捲住鋼鏢尾上的藍綢，提了回來，向那少女道：笙妹，你瞧，是見血封喉的蝎尾鏢！
那少女道：是誰用這鏢了？話聲甚是清亮。
那魚販頭子微微冷笑，右手緊握腰間單刀刀柄，說道：鈴劍雙俠這幾年闖出了好大的名頭，長江鐵網幫不是不知。可是你們想欺到我們的頭上，只怕也沒這麼容易。他語氣硬中帶軟，顯然不願與鈴劍雙俠發生爭端。
那少女道：這種蝎尾鏢蝕心腐骨，太過狠毒，我爹爹早說過誰也不許再用，難道你不知道麼？幸好你不是用來打人，打魚簍子練功夫，還不怎樣。
水福道：小姐，不是的。這人發這毒鏢射我。多蒙這位小師父斜刺裏擲了這隻魚簍過來，才擋住了毒鏢。要不然小的早已沒命了。他一面說，一面指著狄雲。
狄雲暗暗納悶：怎地一個叫我小師父，一個罵我小賊禿，我幾時做起和尚來啦？
那少女向狄雲點了點頭，微微一笑，示意相謝。狄雲見她一笑之下，容如花綻，更是嬌艷動人，不由得臉上一熱，很感羞澀。
那青年聽了水福之言，臉上登時如罩了一層嚴霜，向那魚販頭子道：此話當真？不等待對方回答，馬鞭一振，鞭上捲著的鋼鏢疾飛而出，風聲呼呼，拍的一聲，釘在十數丈外的一株柳樹之上，手勁之強，實足驚人。
那魚販頭子兀自口硬，說道：逞甚麼威風了？那青年公子喝道：便是要逞這威風！提起馬鞭，向他劈頭打落，那魚販頭子舉刀便格。不料那公子的馬鞭忽然斜出向下，著地而捲，招數變幻，直攻對方下盤。魚販頭子急忙躍起相避。這馬鞭竟似是活的一般，倏的反彈上來，已纏住了他右足。那公子足尖在馬腹上輕輕一點，胯下黃馬立時向前一衝。那魚販頭子的下盤功夫本來甚是了得，這青年公子就算用鞭子纏住了他，也未必拖得他倒。但這公子先引得他躍在半空，使他根基全失，這才揮鞭纏足。那黃馬這一衝有千斤之力，魚販頭子力氣再大，也是禁受不起，只見他身軀被黃馬拉著，凌空而飛。眾魚販大聲吶喊，七八個人隨後追去，意圖救援。
那黃馬縱出數丈，將那馬鞭繃得有如弓弦，青年公子蓄勢借力，振臂一甩，那魚販頭子便如騰雲駕霧般飛了出去。他空有一身武功，卻是半點使不出來，身子不由自主的向江中射去。岸上眾人大驚之下齊聲呼喊。只聽得撲通一聲，水花濺起老高，魚販頭子摔入了江中，霎時間沉入水底，無影無蹤。
那少女拍手大笑，揮鞭衝入魚販群中，東抽一記，西擊一招，將眾魚販打得跌跌撞撞的四散奔逃。魚簍魚網撒了一地，鮮魚活蝦在地上亂爬亂跳。
那魚販頭子一生在江邊討生活，水性自是精熟，從江面上探頭出來，已在下游數十丈之外，污言穢語的亂罵，卻也不敢上岸再來廝打。
水福提起盛著金鯉的魚簍，打開蓋子，歡歡喜喜的道：公子請看，紅嘴金鱗，難得又這般肥大。那青年道：你急速送回客店，請花大爺應用救人。水福道：是。走到狄雲身前，躬了躬身，道：多謝小師父救命之恩。不知小師父的法名怎生稱呼？狄雲聽他左一句小師父，右一句小師父，叫得自己心中發毛，一時答不上話來。那青年道：快走，快走。千萬不能耽擱了。水福道：是。不及等狄雲答話，快步去了。
狄雲見這兩位青年男女人品俊雅，武藝高強，心中暗自羨慕，頗有結納之意，只是對方並不下馬，想要請教姓名，頗覺不便。正猶豫間，那公子從懷中掏出一錠黃金，說道：小師父，多謝你救了我們老家人一命。這錠黃金，請師父買菩薩座前的香油罷。輕輕一拋，將金子向狄雲投了過來。狄雲左手一抄，便已接住，向他回擲過去，說道：不用了。請問兩位尊姓大名。
那青年見他接金擲金的手法，顯是身有武功，不等金子飛到身前，馬鞭揮出，已將這錠黃金捲住，說道：師父既然也是武林中人，想必得知鈴劍雙俠的小名。
狄雲見他抖動馬鞭，將那錠黃金舞弄得忽上忽下，神情舉止，頗有輕浮之意，便道：適才我聽那魚販頭子稱呼兩位是鈴