Chapter 9 Chapter Nine Liang Shanbo‧Zhu Yingtai
Di Yun stayed in the Snow Valley for another half a month, and practiced the sword skills and internal skills in the Blood Knife Sutra so proficiently that he would never forget it again, so he burned the Blood Knife Sutra to ashes and scattered it on the grave of the blood knife ancestor.
During the past half month, he still slept on the big rock outside the cave.Although Shui Sheng left, he still didn't dare to sleep in the cave, and naturally he didn't dare to use her mattress or mat.
He thought: I should go!I don't need to take this Toba clothes with me, I will come back to live in this snow valley after I finish my work.People outside are very smart, I don't know what's going on in their hearts.No one will come here, it is better to live here.
So he left the snow valley and headed eastward.The first thing is to go back to my hometown Maxipu in Xiangxi to see how Master is doing.I was brought up by my master since I was a child, and he is the only relative in the world.
From the border of Tibet to the west of Hunan, one has to cross Sichuan.Di Yun thought to himself that if he met the heroes of the Central Plains, a fight would be unavoidable, he had no grudges against them, all the incidents started because he shaved his hair and wore Baoxiang's monk robe.At this time, although his martial arts are already extremely high, he has no confidence at all, he expected that if he meets one or two masters from the Central Plains, he will definitely be killed by them.So I bought a set of villager's blue cloth clothes and pants, and put them on, burned Baoxiang's monk clothes, and then smeared his face with coal char from the bottom of the pot.Farmers in Xiangxi, Sichuan like to wrap their heads in white cloth, which is said to be a legacy of mourning for Zhuge Liang.Di Yun also found a dirty white cloth and wrapped it around his head.Traveling eastward all the way, he occasionally ran into people from the rivers and lakes on a narrow road, but no one recognized him.
What he was most afraid of was meeting Shui Sheng, Wang Xiaofeng, and Hua Tiegan. Fortunately, he never saw them.
After walking for more than 30 days, I arrived at Maxipu's hometown. At that time, the weather was already warm, and the seedlings in the field had grown to four inches high.The closer you get to the former residence, the more emotion you feel, gradually your face becomes hot and your heart beats faster.
He walked along the mountain road that he was used to walking when he was a teenager, and came to the door of the former residence. He couldn't help being shocked, and he couldn't believe his eyes.The three huts by the stream and the willow tree have turned into a big house with white walls and black tiles.This house is at least three times larger than the original hut. At first glance, although it looks rather sloppy, it looks very majestic.
Surprised and delighted, he looked carefully at the surrounding scenery, and found that it was indeed Master's hometown, thinking: Master has made a fortune and returned home, that would be great.Overjoyed, he shouted loudly: Master!But he only yelled once, and then he stopped, thinking: I wonder if there is anyone else in the room?I look like a little beggar, don't disgrace Master.Let's see and understand.It is because he has experienced many hardships in these years that he is so cautious. Just as he was thinking about himself, a person walked out of the room, looked at him sideways, his face was full of contempt, and asked: What are you doing?
Di Yun saw that the man's hat was crooked and his body was covered in dust, which did not suit the mansion. Judging from his expression, he seemed to be the head of a mason and carpenter, so he said, "Excuse me, boss, is Master Qi at home?"
The man snorted, and said, "Seventh Master, Eighth Master, they don't have it here."Di Yun was startled, and asked: Isn't the owner here surnamed Qi?The man asked back: Why are you asking this?If you want to beg for rice, you don't need to make friends with others.No, just no!Little beggar, go, go!
Di Yun missed his master, so he came back after a long journey, how could he leave with just one word from him, and said: I am not a beggar for rice, so I asked you, the surname Qi lived here in the past, I don’t know if he is an old man Still living here?
The man sneered and said, "Look at you little beggar, you just have this kind of pedantry. The owner here is not surnamed Qi, nor is he surnamed eight, nine or ten."Your old man invites me early.
While speaking, another person came out of the room. This person was wearing a melon skin hat and bright clothes. He looked like a housekeeper of a rich man's house. He asked, "Old Ping, who are you arguing with again?"The man said with a smile: "Look, is this little beggar talking too much?"Just begging for rice, but came to inquire about our master's family name?The butler's face changed slightly when he heard it, he looked at Di Yun for a while, and said: "Little friend, why do you want to know our master's name?"
If it were Di Yun five or six years ago, he would have stated the matter directly, but at this time he was rich in experience and knew the dangers of the human heart. Seeing the suspicious look in the housekeeper's eyes, he thought: I won't say it directly, take it slowly. It's not too late to inquire, maybe there's something weird about it.Sideways: I just want to ask the host what is the last name of the master, and I want to call him loudly and ask him to give me some rice. Are you the master?He deliberately pretended to be stupid, so as not to arouse the other party's suspicion.
The housekeeper laughed out loud, although he felt that this person was very stupid, but he mistook himself for the master, he was also happy in his heart, and said with a smile: I am not the master, hey, silly boy, why do you think I am the master?Di Yun said: "You look good, you are majestic, you look like a rich man."
The butler was even more happy, and said with a smile: "Silly boy, my old Gao really made a lot of money in the future, and there will be benefits for you."Hey, silly boy, I see you are strong and strong, why don't you do your job well, but ask for rice?Di Yun said: No one asked me to do something.Rich man, can you give me a meal, will it work?The butler patted that surnamed Ping on the shoulder vigorously, and said with a smile: Listen, he keeps calling me the rich man, and it's impossible not to give him a meal.Lao Ping, tell him to carry the soil too, and give him a share of the wages.The one surnamed Ping said, "Yes, it is according to your old orders."
Listening to the accents of the two, Di Yun found that the foreman surnamed Ping was a native of Xiangxi, and the butler surnamed Gao was from the north, so he calmly said respectfully, "Master rich man, young master rich man, thank you both very much."The foreman laughed and scolded: Damn it, nonsense!The butler just stumbled with a smile, and said: I am the rich man, and you are the rich man's young master. Isn't this your cheap old man?The foreman grabbed Di Yun's ears and said with a smile: "Go in, go in!"Have a good meal first, and start work at night.Without any resistance, Di Yun followed him in, thinking: Why do you start working at night?
Entering the big house and passing through a hall, one could not help but be shocked, what he saw was really strange.I saw a huge deep pit dug in the middle of the house, and the edge of the pit was almost connected to the four walls, leaving only a narrow passage.Iron hoes, shovels, dustpans, shoulder poles and other utensils were thrown into the pit, apparently still digging.Seeing the majestic appearance of this big house, one would imagine that such a big earth pit was dug in the house.
The foreman said: "You are not allowed to talk about things here, do you know?"Di Yun said: Yes, yes!I know that the feng shui here is good, and the owner's family wants to bury the grave, so people outside should not know.The foreman chuckled and said, "That's right, the silly boy is smart, come and eat with me."
Di Yun had a hearty meal in the kitchen.The foreman told him to wait in the corridor and not to wander around.Di Yun agreed, feeling more and more suspicious.I saw that all the furnishings in the house were very simple, there was no built-in stove in the kitchen, there was only a large stove and an iron wok.The desks, benches and other things are also cheap things from poor families, which are really not commensurate with this big house.
In the evening, more and more people came into the house. They were all young and strong villagers from the surrounding area. Everyone was drinking and eating noisy.Di Yun ate with the crowd, and he spoke the local dialect with a very correct voice.The housekeeper and the foreman didn't have the slightest suspicion after hearing this, and they all said that he was just a local young man doing nothing.
After everyone had eaten, the flat foreman led everyone to the hall and said: "Guys, let's work hard to dig. I hope you will have good luck tonight. If you dig something useful, you will be rewarded."Everyone agreed, and the sound of hoes and shovels hitting the soil made a rustling sound.An older villager said in a low voice: I have been digging for more than two months, and I haven't dug half of the fart.Even if there is a treasure here, it depends on whether you are lucky enough to get it.
Di Yun thought to himself: They want to dig treasures?What treasures will be here?He waited for the foreman to turn his back, slowly approached the old villager, and said in a low voice: Uncle, what treasure are they going to dig?The man said in a low voice: This baby is amazing.The owner here will be disappointed.He is not a local, but he saw the precious light rushing up from a distance, and knew that there were treasures in the land, so he bought this land, fearing that the news would be leaked, so he built this big house first, and told us to sleep during the day and dig treasures at night.Di Yun nodded and said, "I see. Uncle, do you know what kind of treasure it is?"The man said: The foreman said, it is a cornucopia, a copper coin is put into the basin, after one night, it will become a pot of copper coins tomorrow.Put a tael of gold into the basin, and tomorrow morning it will become a basin full of gold.Did you say baby?
Di Yun nodded again and again, and said: What a treasure, what a treasure!The man said again: The foreman specially ordered that the hoe should be light, and if the cornucopia is broken, it is not for fun.The foreman said, after digging the cornucopia, you can lend it to each of us for a night, and you can put anything you like.Silly boy, you have to figure it out yourself, what to put.Di Yun thought for a while, then said: I am often hungry, so if I put a grain of white rice in it, it will turn out a pot full of white rice tomorrow, wouldn't it be good?The man laughed loudly and said: Good, good!
Hearing the laughter, the foreman came over and shouted: Don't waste your time and say no, dig quickly, dig quickly!
Di Yun thought to himself: What kind of cornucopia is there in the world?This owner is by no means a fool, he must have another plan, fabricating a cornucopia of lies to deceive people.Then he asked in a low voice: What is the last name of the owner here?You say he is not a local?The man said: Look, didn't the master come out?
Di Yun followed his gaze and saw a man in his fifties coming out of the back hall. He was thin, with piercing eyes and extremely gorgeous clothes.Di Yun only glanced at him, his heart pounded violently, he turned his head, not daring to look at him again, and kept saying in his heart: I've seen this man before, I've seen this man before.Who is he?I just felt that this person looked very familiar, but for a while I couldn't remember where I met him.
I could only hear the man say: Tonight, everyone digs the western half three feet deeper, no matter what scraps of paper, wooden strips, bricks and tiles there are, don't miss a single bit, and bring them up to me.When Di Yun heard his voice, his heart trembled, and he suddenly realized: Yes, it turned out to be him.He lowered his head, squinted at him again, and thought: Yes, it really is him.
The owner of this big house is actually an old beggar who taught him three moves of swordsmanship at Wan Zhenshan's home in Jingzhou.
At that time, his clothes were torn, his hair was disheveled, and his whole body was extremely filthy. Today, he is a rich man with luxurious clothes, and his whole body has been transformed. Therefore, I didn't recognize him until I heard his voice.
Di Yun immediately wanted to jump up from the pit and recognize him, but the sufferings of the past few years have taught him to be cautious in everything and not to be rash and impatient. He thought: This old beggar treats me very well. Fighting with the big thief Lu Tong, he was already defeated, fortunately he came to rescue him.Later he taught me three exquisite sword techniques, and I was able to defeat all the disciples of Wanmen.Thinking about it now, his three sword moves are ordinary and nothing special, but at the time they saved me from being humiliated.
I thought again: we meet again today, I should have thanked him well.But this is my master's former residence, what is he digging here?Why did he build such a big house to hide his eyes?He used to be a beggar, how did he get rich?I thought to myself: I'd better see it clearly.Although he is my benefactor, there is no need to rush to thank him.Why is he not afraid of my master coming back?Could it be that the master is dead?
He was brought up by his master since he was a child, and he always regarded him as his father. Thinking that his master might have passed away, his eyes turned red.
Suddenly, there was a soft ding on the southeast corner, and a villager's hoe hit something.The master jumped into the pit, bent down and picked up an object.All the villagers in the pit stopped digging and looked at him, only to see that he was holding a rusty iron nail in his hand. dig!
Di Yun and all the villagers had been busy all night, and the master had been engrossed in supervising them until dawn, and then they called it a day.Most of the villagers dispersed to go home, and seven or eight of them lived far away, so they slept on the ground under the porch on the east side of the big house.Di Yun also fell asleep on the porch.After sleeping until the afternoon, everyone got up to eat.Di Yun's body was dirty, and others didn't want to get close to him, and stayed far away from him when sleeping and eating.Di Yun was exactly what he wished for.Although he has learned to be cautious and dare not trust others, he still finds it difficult to pretend to be a fake. After a long time, he will definitely show his feet.
After eating, Di Yun went to a small village three miles away, looking for someone to ask if Master had ever been back.From a distance, he saw several playmates from his childhood, all of whom were now stout adults, busy working in the fields. He didn't want to reveal his identity, and he didn't go up to greet him. He found a thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy he didn't know, and asked about the house. The situation of the big house.
The young man said that the big house was built last autumn, and the owner of the house was rich, so he came to dig the cornucopia, but he hadn't found it yet.The young man was talking and laughing, it can be seen that the matter of digging the cornucopia has become a laughing stock in the surrounding area.The original huts?Well, no one has lived there for a long time, and no one has ever come back.When building a big house, it is natural to tear down the small house.
Di Yun bid farewell to the young man, feeling sullen and full of doubts, unable to figure out what the old beggar's intentions were for doing this strange thing.He walked among the fields and passed a vegetable field, but he saw a piece of green, full of water spinach.
Water spinach, water spinach!
Suddenly, these clear naughty voices sounded in his heart.Water spinach is the most common vegetable in western Hunan. It is thick and long, and the center of the vegetable stem is hollow.His junior sister Qi Fang gave him this nickname, laughing at him for being straightforward and not thinking at all.Since he left Xiangxi, he has never seen water spinach again until today.He stayed there for a while, bent over to pick one, smelled the smell of the vegetable juice, and walked west slowly.
To the west are barren hills with jagged rocks, where even tung trees and camellia oleifera trees cannot be planted.In the barren hills over there, there was a cave that no one else knew about, but it was the place where he and Qi Fang used to play.He missed the old days and walked towards the cave.After climbing over two hillsides and drilling through a big cave, I came to this mysterious and desolate cave.
There were clumps of shoulder-length grass covering the hole.Feeling sad again, he went into the cave and saw that everything in the cave was still exactly the same as when he and Qi Fang left, it hadn't moved at all, it was just full of dust.
The clay figurines that Qi Fang made out of clay, the slingshot he used to play birds, the trigger to catch hares, and the piccolo that Qi Fang played while herding cattle were still placed on the rocks in the cave.Over there is Qi Fang's sewing basket.The scissors in the basket were covered with yellow rust.
Back then, during the winter slack days, he would often weave straw sandals or bamboo baskets in this cave, and Qi Fang would sit beside him making shoes.She took some scraps of cloth, folded them into shoe soles, and sewed them on stitch by stitch.Both Master and his shoes have green cloth uppers.Her own shoes, sometimes with a flower embroidered on them, sometimes with a bird embroidered on them, are of course worn during Chinese New Year, and the shoes she usually wears are all blue cloth.If you go to the fields to make crops, you either wear straw sandals or go barefoot.
Di Yun casually picked up an old book from the sewing basket. On the cover of the book were written the words Anthology of Tang Poems.Neither he nor Qi Fang could read much, and neither of them knew how to read Tang poems, which Qi Fang used to pinch shoes and embroider patterns.He opened the book casually and took out two paper patterns.It was a pair of butterflies, cut by Qi Fang for embroidery.The scene at that time emerged clearly in his mind.
A pair of big yellow and black butterflies flew to the entrance of the cave, flying east and west for a while, but the two butterflies never separated.Qi Fang shouted: Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai!Liang Shanbo, Zhu Yingtai!People in western Hunan call this colorful butterfly Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai.This kind of butterfly must be a male and female pair, and they live together and fly together.
Di Yun was playing straw sandals when the pair of butterflies flew to him. He raised half of the straw sandals and beat one butterfly to death.Qi Fang cried out and said angrily: What are you doing?Seeing her suddenly getting angry, Di Yun couldn't help being at a loss, and mumbled: You like butterflies, so I'll call you.
The dead butterfly fell to the ground and remained motionless, while the surviving one was circling around the dead butterfly.
Qi Fang said: Look, what a crime!They are a good couple, but you have torn them apart.Seeing her dejected expression and hearing her sad voice, Di Yun felt apologetic in his heart, and said, "Oh, it's my fault.
Later, Qi Fang cut out an embroidery pattern according to the dead butterfly, and embroidered it on her own shoes.During the Chinese New Year, I embroidered another purse for him. It was also a pair of butterflies, with yellow and black wings, and some thin red and green lines on the wings near the body.He kept this purse with him all the time, but after Jingzhou was arrested and imprisoned, he gave it to the jailer.
Holding the pair of embroidered paper butterflies, Di Yun vaguely heard Qi Fang's voice in his ears: Look, what a crime!They are a good couple, but you have torn them apart.
He stayed for a while, then took the paper butterfly back to the book, flipped it casually, and saw that there were many red paper patterns on the pages, some were a carp, some were three goats, those were window grilles pasted on the windows during the Chinese New Year, all of them were red paper patterns. Qi Fang cut it.
He was taking a closer look at the sheets, when he suddenly heard the sound of stones hitting each other dozens of feet away, and someone came.He thought to himself: No one has ever come here, could it be a beast?He conveniently stuffed the book with the embroidered pattern into his arms.
I only heard someone say: This area is so desolate, it wouldn't be here.Another old voice said: Hey, the more desolate it is, the more people will come to collect treasures.We have to search here.Di Yun thought to himself: Why do you come here to hunt for treasures?He stepped out of the cave and hid himself behind a big tree.
After a while, someone came to this side, and there were seven or eight people who heard the footsteps.He looked out from behind the tree, and saw a person with bright clothes, oily face and a very familiar face, followed by another person with a shovel in his hand, walking over.This man is tall and imposing.When Di Yun saw it, he couldn't help but get angry, and immediately wanted to rush out and strangle him to death.
This person is exactly Wan Gui who snatched his junior sister and sent him to prison, causing him to suffer untold hardships.
How did he get here?
The younger one next to him is Shen Cheng, the younger brother of Wanmen.
As soon as those two people passed by, all disciples of Wanmen came behind, Lu Kun, Sun Jun, Bu Yuan, Wu Kan, Feng Tan all arrived.
Wanmen originally had eight disciples, and the second disciple Zhou Qi was killed by Di Yun in the abandoned garden of Jingzhou City, leaving only seven disciples.Di Yun was very surprised: What kind of treasure are these people rushing here to look for?Is it also a treasure hunt?
Shen Cheng could only hear him shouting: Master, Master, there is a cave here.The old voice said: Really?The joy in the voice could not be restrained.Followed by a tall figure came over, it was Wu Yunshou Wan Zhenshan.Di Yun hadn't seen him for many years, but he was hale and hearty, his steps were steady, and he didn't look old at all.
Wan Zhenshan entered the cave first, and all the disciples rushed in.The voices of the people came from the cave: There are people living here!The dust is so thick that no one has visited for years.no no!Lo and behold, there are new footprints here.Ah, there are new mudras here, someone who just came here not long ago.It must be Uncle Yan, he stole the Liancheng Sword Manual.
Di Yun was surprised and amused at the same time: Are they looking for the sword manual of Liancheng Sword Art?Why have you been stirring for so long, but still haven't found it?Uncle Yan what?The master said that his second senior brother Yan Daping has been missing for many years, and there is no news of him. He is afraid that he is no longer alive, so why did he come out again to snatch the Liancheng sword manual?That's obviously my handprint and footprint, they guessed it, it's really a hell.
Just listen to Wan Zhenshan's way: Everyone, don't be too busy making noises, look around carefully.Someone said: "Since Master Yan has been here, why don't you take it?"Someone said: "Qi Changfa is really scheming. He hid the sword manual here. It's really not easy for others to find it."Another person said: Of course he is scheming, otherwise why would he be called Tiesuo Hengjiang?
Wan Zhenshan said: Just now we followed that countryman from afar, this person's footsteps were so fast, he disappeared after a while.This guy might be a bit of a villain too.Wan Gui said: The local country people are familiar with the mountain roads, so they must have turned to the small roads and left.If it wasn't for him, even if we look for it for a year or so, I'm afraid we won't find it here.
Di Yun thought to himself: So they came with me, otherwise how could they find this cave so secluded.
I could only hear everyone rummaging and digging around.There was nothing in the cave at first, so everyone rummaged around like this, just throwing a few junk things here and there to move them.Then there was the sound of shovel digging, but the bottom of the cave is full of rocks, where can it go down?Wan Zhenshan said: "There's nothing left, let's all go out and go outside to calculate the total."
All the disciples followed Wan Zhenshan out, walked to the side of the mountain stream, and sat down on the rock.Di Yun didn't want them to see him, and he didn't dare to approach him.The voices of these eight people were very low, and they couldn't hear what they were saying.After a while, the eight people got up and left.
Di Yun thought to himself: They came to look for the Liancheng sword manual, but they suspected that it was stolen by my second master Yan Daping.My master's house was changed into a big house. The old beggar said he was looking for a cornucopia, yes, yes!
Suddenly, a flash of inspiration flashed through his mind, and he suddenly realized: What kind of cornucopia is this old beggar looking for? He is also looking for the Liancheng Sword Manual.He believed that the sword manual had fallen into the hands of my master, so he came here to search carefully. In order to deceive people, he first built such a big house, and then dug a hole in the house to search for it, lest people get suspicious and spread rumors that he was looking for a cornucopia. That, of course, is a nonsense to deceive the country people.
Then he thought again: Master Wan was celebrating his birthday that day, and this old beggar came and went day and night, obviously with ulterior motives.Well, Wan Zhenshan and the others couldn't find the sword manual, so why not go to the big house to check it?Most of them have already gone to check.This matter is not over yet, I went to the big house to wait and see the excitement, there is something strange in it, a hundred things are wrong!
But what about my master?Where is his old man?His family has been turned upside down, does he know it?
Where is the junior sister?She should stay in Jingzhou City and enjoy being a young mistress.People from Wan's family were going to search her father's house, and they probably wouldn't let her know.What is she doing now?
At night, oil lamps and pine lights were lit on the walls of the big house.More than a dozen villagers picked up hoes and shovels to dig the ground.Di Yun was also digging among the crowd, neither particularly hardworking nor lazy, and the less people noticed him, the better.His hair was fluffy and he didn't shave his beard. Most of his face was covered by the hair, and some plaster was applied. The white cloth wrapped around the head and the green cloth belt around the waist were used interchangeably.This night, they were digging on the north side, and the old beggar was walking up and down by the pit with his hands behind his back.Of course, he didn't look like a beggar at all now, with rich clothes, a jasper ring on his left hand, and a big piece of Chinese jade hanging on his belt.
All of a sudden, Di Yun heard someone quietly approaching from outside the house.These people were still far away, the old beggar obviously didn't realize it.Di Yun turned his body sideways and looked sideways at the old beggar, only to hear footsteps gradually approaching, five, six, seven, eight, that's right, it was Wan Zhenshan and his seven disciples.But the old beggar still didn't notice.Di Yun had already heard clearly, and the eight people seemed to be right in front of him, but the old beggar seemed to be deaf.
Five years ago, Di Yun treated the old beggar like a god.He only learned three moves of swordsmanship from the old beggar, and he completely defeated the eight disciples of the Wan family, leaving no room for parry.But why his martial arts has become so bad, isn't it him?Is it the wrong person?No, I will never admit my mistake.Di Yun did not expect that his own martial arts had advanced to a very high level, which was clearly audible to him, but completely silent to the ears of others.
Eight people are getting closer.Di Yun was very surprised: These eight people are really funny, who can't hear you sneaking up, or are you so sneaky and sneaky?The eight people approached more than ten zhang, suddenly, the old beggar trembled slightly, turned his ears to listen to the sound.Di Yun thought to himself: Did he hear that?Is he deaf?In fact, the eight people are still far apart. If it were Di Yun one or two years ago, he would not have heard footsteps, and even if he got closer, he still wouldn't be able to hear them.
The eight people got closer, took a few steps, and stopped for a while, obviously to prevent people in the house from finding out.But the old beggar has already noticed.He turned around and picked up a crutch leaning against the corner, which was a thick wooden crutch with a dragon head.
All of a sudden, the eight people rushed forward at the same time and surrounded them on all sides.With a bang, the door was kicked open, Wan Gui rushed in first, followed by Shen Cheng and Bu Yuan.Each of the seven men raised their long swords and surrounded the old beggar.
The old beggar laughed loudly and said, "Very good, all the buddies are here!"Master Wan, why don't you come in?
A person outside the door laughed loudly and stepped in slowly. It was Wu Yunshou Wan Zhenshan.He and the old beggar stood across the pit, and the two looked at each other.After a while, Wan Zhenshan said with a smile: "Junior Brother Yan, I haven't seen you for a few years, you've made a fortune."
These three sentences fell into Di Yun's ears, and his mind suddenly became confused: What?Is this old beggar the Second Martial Uncle and the Second Martial Uncle Yan Daping?
I just heard the old beggar say: Senior brother, I made a little fortune.Your business has been very good in recent years.Wan Zhenshan said: TOEFL!Hey, boys, why don't you kowtow to the uncle?Lu Kun and others knelt down together, and said in unison: Disciple kowtows to Master Yan.The old beggar said with a smile: that's all, that's all!With a sword in hand, kowtowing is inconvenient, so let's avoid it.
Di Yun thought to himself: This man is indeed Master Yan.He He?
Wan Zhenshan said: Junior brother, are you opening a coal mine here?How did you dig such a big hole?Yan Daping chuckled, and said: Senior brother guessed wrong.My little brother has too many enemies, so he took refuge here, and digging a deep pit serves two purposes.If the enemy is killed by the younger brother, he will be buried casually without digging a hole.If my younger brother is killed by others, this pit is the place where my younger brother will be buried.Wan Zhenshan smiled and said: "Wonderful, junior brother is really thoughtful."The younger brother is not fat, so I think the pit is deep enough, so there is no need to dig any more.Yan Daping smiled and said, "It's more than enough to bury one person, but it's probably not enough to bury eight people."
Hearing that the two of them were confronting each other with tit-for-tat, he couldn't help thinking of Ding Dian's words, and thought: Their senior brothers worked together to kill their master.What kind of friendship do they have with each other if their mentors are going to kill each other?I heard from Brother Ding that their brothers had obtained the Liancheng sword manual, but they did not obtain the sword formula.The sword formula is full of numbers, the first word is four, the second is fifty, the third is thirty-three, and the fourth is fifty-three. Brother Ding didn't finish talking until he died.Isn't the sword manual already in their hands?Why did you come here again to look for it?
Wan Zhenshan said: "Good junior brother, we have been in the same school for many years, you understand my thoughts, and I have seen through your guts a long time ago, do you still need to talk in circles?"bring it!After saying these two words, he stretched out his right hand.
Yan Daping shook his head and said, "I haven't found it yet."Qi Laosan's scheming, neither of us brothers are rivals.I would never have guessed where he hid the sword manual.
Di Yun shuddered again: Could it be that the three of his senior brothers worked together to snatch the sword manual, but gave it to my master?But all these years, why has there been no movement at all?That's right, my master must have done it very cleverly, and they haven't noticed it all the time.Since the master is not here, the sword manual will be carried with him, how could it be buried in this room?Isn't it too stupid for them to search here desperately?However, he knew that Wan Zhenshan and Yan Daping were definitely not fools, they were more than ten times smarter than him.What kind of conspiracy and institutions are hidden in the middle?
Wan Zhenshan laughed loudly, and said: Junior Brother, why are you pretending?Everyone said that our third junior brother is Iron Lock Hengjiang, with powerful methods.I said, your second junior brother is the best.bring it!As he spoke, he stretched his right hand forward again.
Yan Daping patted his pocket and said: We are brothers who have been brothers for many years, what else can we divide?Brother, if brothers get this stuff, I will definitely not be able to deal with it alone, you have to take charge of the overall situation, brothers can only help and share some benefits.But if the senior brother gets it, hehe, although there are many disciples under the senior brother's sect, their skills are still young, I am afraid that the brothers will have to make do with it and add a top leader.
Wan Zhenshan frowned and said: What did you get in the cave over there?Yan Daping wondered: What cave?Is there a cave near here?Wan Zhenshan said: Junior Brother, you and I are both so old, why bother to hurt our friendship in the end?Please take it out for everyone to refer to.How about sharing blessings and difficulties in the future?Yan Daping said: "This is amazing, why do you insist that I got it?"If I've got it, what's the point of digging around here?Wan Zhenshan said: You have many tricks, who knows what you are doing?Yan Daping said: Third Junior Brother's things are so easy to find.I see, it won't be in this house. If I dig for another three days, if there is still no result, I don't want to disturb it anymore.Wan Zhenshan sneered and said: Humph!I think you'd better dig for another ten days and a half months, and pretend to be a bit more.
Yan Daping's face suddenly changed, and he wanted to turn his back on him, but in a flash, he held back his anger and said: "How do you believe it?"He put down his crutches, unbuttoned his clothes, took off his robe, grabbed the hem of the robe, turned it upside down and shook it twice, a few taels of silver and a snuff bottle tinkled out, and all fell to the ground.
Wan Zhenshan said: Are you so stupid that you will keep it with you after you get it?Even if it is hidden by your side, it must be kept close to the meat, and it will not be placed in the robe pocket.Yan Daping sighed, and said: Brother, since you don't believe it, then come and search.
Wan Zhenshan said: "So offended."She winked at Wan Gui and Shen Cheng.The two nodded, put their swords back into their sheaths, walked to Yan Daping's side, one on the left and one on the right.Wan Zhenshan gave Bu Yuan and Lu Kun another wink, and the two slowly circled behind Yan Daping, gripping the hilt of the sword tightly.
Yan Daping patted his underwear pocket and said: Please search!Wan Gui said: Uncle Shi, I offended you!Reached out to touch his pocket.
All of a sudden, Wan Gui let out a shriek, and hurriedly withdrew his hands and backed away. Under the firelight, he saw a big three-inch-long scorpion crawling on the back of his hand.He hit the side of the pit with his backhand, and with a slap, the scorpion was smashed to pieces, but the back of his hand was already poisoned, and it swelled up immediately.He wanted to be a hero, he refused to moan, but beads of sweat oozed from his forehead like soybeans.
Yan Daping was startled and said: "Ah, Wanxian, where did you disturb this poisonous insect?"This is a spotted scorpion, but it is very powerful.This thing is unplayable.Brother, come on, come on, do you have an antidote?As long as the rescue is one step late, it will be great, great!Be good my mother!
I saw the back of Wan Gui's hand turn from red to purple, from purple to black, a red line slowly rising towards his arm.Wan Zhenshan knew that he had fallen into Yan Daping's trap, so he had no choice but to bear a sigh of relief, and said, "Junior brother, I've convinced you as an older brother."I just throw in the towel.You bring the antidote, we clap our hands and walk, we won't bother you anymore.
Yan Daping said: "Is this antidote? I have had it before, but it's been so long that I don't know where I lost it. I'll look for it with you in a few days, maybe I can find it."Otherwise, I went to Daming Mansion, found the prescription, and prepared it for you, that would be fine.Who taught our teachers and brothers to have a deep friendship.
When Wan Zhenshan heard this, his chest really exploded with anger. This kind of poisonous snake and poisonous scorpion injury can kill a person in a short time. As soon as the red line reaches his chest, he will die immediately. What did you say? I searched slowly for a few days, and I traveled thousands of miles to Daming Mansion in Hebei. He said that he was so shameless to find prescriptions and dispense them. Suppressing anger, thinking that the gentleman will take revenge, ten years is not too late, he said: Junior brother, this somersault, I am doomed.What do you want me to do, just draw the road.
Yan Daping put on his robe slowly, buttoned it up, and said: Senior brother, what can I do for you?You can do whatever you like.Wan Zhenshan thought to himself: Today I will let you pull the flag of the wind, and in the future I want you to know how powerful I am.Said: "Well, the surname Wan will never see you again from now on."What are you talking about, my surname Wan is not human.Yan Daping said, "I dare not do this."As a brother, I just ask my senior brother to say that the Liancheng Sword Manual should belong to Yan Daping.If the brother finds it by chance, there is nothing to say; even if it falls into the hands of the senior brother, it should be handed over to the brother.
Wan Gui's poisonous gas gradually rose, and he felt dizzy for a while, and his body swayed involuntarily.Lu Kun shouted: Junior Brother, Junior Brother!Reaching out to support him, he tore his sleeve.I saw that red line has passed the armpit.He turned his head to Wan Zhenshan and shouted: Master, promise everything today!
Wan Zhenshan said: Alright, this Liancheng Sword Manual is yours, junior brother, congratulations!Congratulations!These two words of congratulations were spoken with gritted teeth and full of resentment.
Yan Daping said: "In that case, let me go into the house and look for it. Maybe I can find some antidote. It depends on whether Wanxian's concubine has such a fortune."After speaking, he slowly turned around and entered.Wan Zhenshan winked, Lu Kun and Bu Yuan followed in.
過了好一會，三人都沒出來，也沒聽到甚麼聲息，只見萬圭神智昏迷，由沈城扶著，已是不能動彈。萬震山心中焦急，向馮坦道：你進去瞧瞧。馮坦道：是！正要進去，只見言達平走了出來，滿臉春風的道：還好，還好！這不是找到了嗎！手中高舉著一個小瓷瓶，說道：這是解藥，行，治蠍毒再好不過了。萬賢姪，你好大的命啊。以後這種毒物可玩不得了。說著走到萬圭身邊，拔開瓶塞，在萬圭手背傷口上洒了些黑色藥末。
這解藥倒也真靈，過不多時，便見傷口中慢慢滲出黑血，一滴滴的掉在地下，黑血越滲越多，萬圭手臂上那道紅線便緩緩向下，回到臂彎，又回到手腕。
萬震山吁了口氣，心中又是輕鬆，又是惱恨，兒子的性命是保全了，可是這一仗大敗虧輸，還沒動手便受制於人。又過了一會，萬圭睜開了眼睛，叫了聲：爹！
言達平將瓷瓶口塞上，放回懷中，拿過拐杖，在地下輕輕一頓，笑道：這就行啦，萬賢姪，你今後學了這個乖，伸手到人口袋裏去掏摸甚麼，千萬得小心才是。
萬震山向沈城道：叫他們出來。沈城應道：是！走到廳後，大聲叫道：魯師哥，卜師哥，快出來，咱們走了。只聽得魯卜二人啊，啊，啊的叫了幾下，卻不出來。孫均和沈城不等師父吩咐，逕自衝了進去，隨即分別扶了魯坤、卜垣出來。但見兩人臉無人色，一斷左腿，一折右足，自是適才遭了言達平的毒手。
萬震山大怒，他本就有意立取言達平的性命，這時更有了藉口，這口惡氣那裏還耐得到他日再出？當即刷的一聲，長劍出鞘，刃吐青光，疾向言達平喉嚨刺了過去。
狄雲從未見萬震山顯示過武功，這時見他這一招刺出，狠辣穩健，心中暗想：這一劍好像沒有漏洞。狄雲此時武學修為已甚是深湛，雖然無人傳授，但在別人出招之時，自然而然的首先便看對方招數中有甚麼破綻。
言達平斜身讓過，左手抓住拐杖下端，右手抓住拐杖龍頭，雙手一分，擦的一聲輕響，白光耀眼，手中已多了一柄長劍。原來那拐杖的龍頭便是劍柄，劍刃藏在杖中，拐杖下端便是劍鞘。他一劍在手，當即還招，只聽得叮叮叮叮之聲不絕，師兄弟二人便在土坡邊上鬥了起來。鬥得數招，均覺坑邊地形狹窄，施展不開，同聲吆喝，一齊躍入坑中。
眾鄉民見二人口角相爭，早已驚疑不定，待見動上了傢伙惡鬥，更是嚇得縮在屋角落中，誰也不敢作聲。狄雲也裝出畏縮之狀，留神觀看兩位師伯，只看得七八招，心想：二位師伯內力太過不足，招法卻儘夠了，就算得到了甚麼連城劍譜，恐怕也沒甚麼用處，除非那是一部增進內功的武經。但既是劍譜，想來必是講劍法的書。
他又看幾招，更覺奇怪：劉乘風、花鐵幹他們落花流水四俠的武功，比之我這兩位師伯高得多了。兩位師伯一味講究招數變化，全不顧和內力配合。那是甚麼道理？當年師父教我劍術，也是這麼教。看來他們萬、言、戚師兄弟三人全是這麼學的。這種武功遇上比他們弱的對手，自然佔盡了上風，但只要對手內力稍強，他們這許多變幻無窮的劍招，就半點用處也沒有了。為甚麼要這樣學劍？為甚麼要這樣學劍？
只見孫均、馮坦、吳坎三人各挺長劍，上前助戰，成了四人合攻言達平之勢。
言達平哈哈大笑，說道：好，好！大師哥，你越來越長進啦，招集了一批小嘍囉，齊來攻打你師弟。他雖裝作若無其事，劍法上卻已頗見窒滯。
狄雲心想：他師兄弟二人的劍招，各有各的長處。言師伯當年教了我刺肩、打耳光、去劍三式，用以對付萬門諸弟子，那是十分有用的，用來對付萬師伯，卻是半點用處也沒有了。唉，他們大家都不懂，單學劍招變化，若無內功相濟，那有甚麼用？半點用處也沒有，真是奇怪，這樣淺的道理，連我這笨人也懂，他們個個十分聰明，怎麼會誰也不懂？難道是我自己胡塗了？
突然之間，心頭似乎閃過了一道靈光：丁大哥跟我說過那神照經的來歷，顯然，師祖爺梅念笙是懂得這道理的，卻為甚麼不跟三個弟子說？難道難道難道他心中連說三個難道，背上登時滲出了一片冷汗，不由得打了個寒噤，身子也輕輕發抖。
旁邊一個老年鄉民不住唸佛。阿彌陀佛，阿彌陀佛，別弄出人命來才好。小兄弟，別怕，別怕。他見狄雲發抖，還道他是見到萬言二人相鬥而害怕，雖出言安慰，自己心中可也著實驚懼。
狄雲心底已明白了真相，可是那實在太過陰險惡毒，他不願多想，更不願將已經猜到了的真相，歸併成為一條明顯的理路，只是既然想通了關鍵的所在，一件件小事自然會匯歸在一起。萬震山、言達平、孫均、馮坦這些人每一招遞出，都是令他的想法多了一次印證。不錯，不錯，一定是這樣。不過，又恐怕不會罷？做師父的，怎能如此惡毒？不會的，不會的可是，倘若不是，又怎會這樣？實在太也奇怪了。
一張清清楚楚的圖畫在他腦海中呈現了出來：許多年以前，就是在這屋子外面，我和師妹練劍，師父在旁指點。師父教了我一招，很是巧妙。我用心的練，第二次師父卻教得不同了，劍法仍然很巧妙，卻和第一次有些兒不同。當時，我只道是師父的劍法變幻莫測。這時想來，兩次所教的劍招為甚麼不同，道理是再也明白不過了。
突然之間，心裏感到一陣陣的刺痛：師父故意教我走錯路子，故意教我些次等劍法。他自己的本事高得多，卻故意教我學些中看不中用的劍招。他他言師伯的武功和師父應該差不多，可是他教了我三招劍法，就比師父的高明得多
言師伯卻又為甚麼教我這三招劍法？他不會存著好心的。是了，他是要引起萬師伯的疑心，要萬師伯和我師父鬥將起來
萬師伯也是這樣，他自己的本事，和他的眾弟子完全不同卻為甚麼連自己兒子也要欺騙？唉，他不能單教自己兒子，卻不教別的弟子，這一來，西洋鏡立刻就拆穿了。
言達平左手捏著劍訣，右手手腕抖動，劍尖連轉了七個圈子，快速無倫的刺向萬震山胸口。萬震山橫過劍身，以橫破圓，斜劈連削，將他這七個劍圈盡數破解了。
狄雲在旁看著，又想：這七個圈子全是多餘，最終是一劍刺向萬師伯的左胸，何不直捷了當的刺了過去？豈不既快又狠？萬師伯斜劈連削，以七個招式破解言師伯的七個劍圈，好像巧妙，其實笨得不得了，若是反刺言師伯小腹，早已得勝了。
猛地裏腦海中又掠過一幕情景：
他和師妹戚芳在練劍，戚芳的劍招花式繁多，他記不清師父所教的招數，給迫得手忙腳亂，連連倒退。戚芳接連三招攻來，他頭暈眼花，手忙腳亂，眼看抵敵不住，已無法去想師父教過的劍招，隨手擋架，跟著便反刺出去
戚芳使一招俯聽文驚風，連山石布逃，圈劍來擋，但他的劍招純係自發，不依師授規範，戚芳這一招花式巧妙的劍法反而擋架不住。他一劍刺去，直指師妹的肩頭。正收勢不及之際，師父戚長發從旁躍出，手中拿著一根木柴，拍的一聲，將他手中長劍擊落了。他和戚芳都嚇得臉色大變。戚長發將他狠狠責罵了一頓，說他亂刺亂劈，不依師父所教的方法使劍，太不成話。
當時他也曾想到：我不照規矩使劍，怎麼反而勝了？但這念頭只是一閃即逝，隨即明白：自然因為師妹的劍術還沒練得到家。要是遇上了真正好手，我這般胡砍亂劈當然非輸不可。他當時又怎想得到：自己隨手刺出去的劍招，其實比師父所教希奇古怪、花巧百端的劍法實用得多。
現下想來，那可全然不同了。以他此刻的武功，自是清清楚楚的看了出來：萬震山和言達平兩人所使的劍術之中，有許多是全然無用的花招，而萬震山教給弟子的劍法，戚長發教給他和戚芳的劍法，其中無用的花招更多。不用說，師祖梅念笙早瞧出三個徒兒心術不正，在傳授之時故意引他們走上了劍術的歪路，而萬震山和戚長發在教徒兒之時，或有意或無意的，引他們在歪路上走得更遠。
臨敵之時使一招不管用的劍法，不只是無用而已，那是虛耗了機會，讓敵人搶到上風，便是將性命交在敵人手裏。為甚麼師祖、師父、師伯都這麼狠毒？都這麼的陰險？
他們會和自己的兒子、女兒有仇麼？故意要坑害自己的徒弟麼？那決計不會。必定另外有更重大的原因，一定有要緊之極的圖謀。難道是為了那本連城劍譜？
應該是的罷？萬師伯和言師伯為了這劍譜，可以殺死自己的師父，現在又在拚命想殺死對方。
不錯，他們在拚命想殺死對方。土坑中的爭鬥越來越緊迫。萬震山和言達平二人的劍法難分高下，但萬門眾弟子在旁相助，究竟令言達平大為分心。鬥到分際，孫均一劍刺向言達平後心，言達平回劍一擋，劍鋒順勢掠下。孫均一聲啊喲！虎口受傷，跟著噹的一聲，長劍落地。便在這時，萬震山已乘隙削出一劍，在言達平右臂上割了長長一道口子。
言達平吃痛，急忙劍交左手，但左手使劍究竟甚是不慣，右臂上的傷勢也著實不輕，鮮血染得他半身都是血污。七八招拆將下來，左肩上又中了一劍。
眾鄉民見狀，都是嚇得臉上變色，竊竊私議，只想逃出屋去，卻是誰也不敢動彈。
萬震山決意今日將這師弟殺了，一劍劍出手，更是狠辣，嗤的一聲響，言達平右胸又中一劍。
眼看數招之間，言達平便要死於師兄劍底，他咬著牙齒浴血苦鬥，不出半句求饒的言語。他和這師兄同門十餘年，離了師門之後，又明爭暗鬥了十餘年，對他為人知之極深，出言相求只有徒遭羞辱，絕無用處。
狄雲心道：當年在荊州之時，言師伯以一隻飯碗助我打退大盜呂通，又教了我三招劍法，使我不受萬門諸弟子的欺侮，雖然他多半別有用意，但我總是受過他的恩惠，決不能讓他死於非命。當下假裝不住發抖，提起手中鐵鏟在地下鏟滿了泥土。
只見萬震山又挺劍向言達平小腹上刺去，言達平身子搖幌，已閃避不開。狄雲手中的鐵鏟輕輕一抖，一鏟黃泥向萬震山飛了過去。泥上所帶的內勁著實不小。萬震山被這股勁力一撞，登時立足不住，騰的一下，向後便摔了出去。
眾人出其不意，誰也不知泥土從何處飛來。狄雲幾鏟泥土跟著迅速擲出，都是擲向點在壁上的松明和油燈，大廳中立時黑漆一團，眾人都驚叫起來。狄雲縱身而前，一把抱起言達平便衝了出去。
狄雲一到屋外，便將言達平負在背上，往後山疾馳。
他於這一帶的地勢十分熟悉，儘往荒僻難行的高山上攀行。言達平伏在他背上，只覺耳畔生風，猶似騰雲駕霧一般，恍如夢中，真不信世間竟有這等武功高強之人。
狄雲負著言達平，攀上了這一帶最高的一座山峰。山峰陡峭險峻，狄雲也從未上來過。他曾與戚芳仰望這座雲圍霧繞的山峰，商量說山上有沒有妖怪神仙。戚芳說：那一日你待我不好了，我便爬上山去，永遠不下來了。狄雲說：好，我也永遠不下來。戚芳笑道：空心菜！你肯陪著我永遠不下來，我也不用上去啦！
當時狄雲只是嘻嘻傻笑，此刻卻想：我永遠願意陪著你，你卻不要我陪。
他將言達平放下地來，問道：你有金創藥麼？言達平撲翻身軀便拜，道：恩公尊姓大名？言達平今日得蒙相救，大恩不知如何報答才是。狄雲不能受師伯這個禮，忙跪下還禮，說道：前輩不必多禮，折殺小人了。小人是無名之輩，一些小事，說甚麼報答不報答？言達平堅欲請教，狄雲不會捏造假姓名，只是不說。
言達平見他不肯說，只得罷了，從懷中取出金創藥來，敷上了傷口；撫摸三處劍傷，兀自心驚：他再遲得片刻出手，我這時已不在人世了。
狄雲道：在下心中有幾件疑難，要請問前輩。言達平忙道：恩公再也休提前輩兩字。有何詢問，言達平自當竭誠奉告，不敢有分毫隱瞞。狄雲道：那再好不過了。請問前輩，這座大屋，是你所造的麼？言達平道：是的。狄雲又問：前輩僱人挖掘，當然是找那連城劍譜了。不知可找到了沒有？
言達平心中一凜：我道他為甚麼好心救我，卻原來也是為了那本連城劍譜。說道：我花了無數心血，至今未曾得到半點端倪。恩公明鑒，小人實是不敢相瞞。倘若言達平已經得到，立即便雙手獻上。姓言的性命是恩公所救，豈敢愛惜這身外之物？
狄雲連連搖手，道：我不是要劍譜。不瞞前輩說，在下武功雖然平平，但相信這甚麼連城劍譜，對在下的功夫也未必有甚麼好處。言達平道：是，是！恩公武功出神入化，已是當世無敵，那連城劍譜也不過是一套劍法的圖譜。小人師兄弟只因這是本門的功夫，才十分重視，在外人看來，那也是不足一哂的了。
狄雲聽出他言不由衷，當下也不點破，又問：聽說那大屋的所在，本來是你師弟戚老前輩所住的。這位戚前輩外號叫作鐵鎖橫江，那是甚麼意思？他自幼跟師父長大，見師父實是個忠厚老實的鄉下人，但丁典卻說他十分工於心計，是以要再問一問，到底丁典的話是否傳聞有誤。
言達平道：我師弟戚長發外號叫作鐵鎖橫江，那是人家說他計謀多端，對付人很辣手，就像是一條大鐵鍊鎖住了江面，叫江中船隻上又上不得、下又下不得的意思。
狄雲心中一陣難過，暗道：丁大哥的話沒錯，我師父竟是這樣的人物，我從小受他欺騙，他始終不向我顯示本來面目。不過，不過他一直待我很好，騙了我也沒有甚麼。心中仍是存著一線希望，又道：江湖上這種外號，也未必靠得住，或許是戚師傅的仇人給他取的。你和令師弟同門學藝，自然知道他的性情脾氣。到底他的性子如何？
言達平嘆了口氣，道：非是我要說同門的壞話，恩公既然問起，在下不敢隱瞞半分。我這個戚師弟，樣子似乎是頭木牛蠢馬，心眼兒卻再也靈巧不過。否則那本連城劍譜，怎麼會給他得了去呢？
狄雲點了點頭，隔了半晌，才道：你怎知那連城劍譜確是在他手中？你親眼瞧見了麼？
言達平道：雖不是親眼瞧見，但小人仔細琢磨，一定是他拿去的。
狄雲道：我聽人說，你常愛扮作乞丐，是不是？言達平又是一驚：這人好厲害，居然連這件事也知道了。便道：恩公信訊靈通，在下的作為，甚麼都瞞不過你。初時在下料得這本連城劍譜不是在萬師哥手中，便是在戚師弟手中，因此便喬裝改扮，易容為丐，在湘西鄂西來往探聽動靜。狄雲道：為甚麼你料定是在他二人手中？言達平道：我恩師臨死之時，將這劍譜交給我師兄弟三人
狄雲想起丁典所說，那天夜裏長江畔萬、言、戚三人合力謀殺師父梅念笙之事，哼了一聲，道：是他親手交給你們的嗎？恐怕恐怕不見得罷？他是好好死的嗎？
言達平一躍而起，指著他道：你你是丁丁典丁大爺？丁典安葬梅念笙的訊息後來終於洩露，是以言達平聽得他揭露自己弒師的大罪，便猜想他是丁典。
狄雲淡淡道：我不是丁典。丁大哥嫉惡如仇。他他親眼見到你們師兄弟三人合力殺死師父，倘若我是丁大哥，今日就不會救你，讓你死在萬萬震山的劍下。
言達平驚疑不定，道：那麼你是誰？狄雲道：你不用管我是誰。If people do not know, unless they do nothing.你們合力殺了師父之後，搶得連城劍譜，後來怎樣？言達平顫聲道：你既然甚麼都知道了，何必再來問我？狄雲道：有些事我知道，有些事我不知。請你老老實實說罷。若有假話，我總會查察得出。
言達平又驚又怕，說道：我如何敢欺騙恩公？我師兄弟三人拿到連城劍譜之後，一查之下，發覺只有劍譜，沒有劍訣，仍是無用，便跟著去追查劍訣狄雲心道：丁大哥言道，這劍訣和一個大寶藏有關。現下梅念笙、凌小姐、丁大哥都已逝世，世上已無人知道劍訣，你們兀自在作夢。只聽言達平繼續說道：我們三個人你不放心我，我不放心你，每天晚上都在一間房睡，這本劍譜，便鎖在一隻鐵盒之中。我們把鐵盒鎖上的鑰匙投入了大江，鐵盒放在房中桌子的抽屜裏，鐵盒上又連著三根小鐵鍊，分繫在三人的手上，只要有誰一動，其餘二人便驚覺了。
狄雲嘆了口氣，道：這可防備得周密得很。言達平道：那知道還是出了亂子。狄雲問道：又出了甚麼亂子？言達平道：這一晚我們師兄弟三人在房中睡了一夜，次日清晨，萬震山忽然大叫：劍譜呢？劍譜呢？我一驚跳起，只見放鐵盒的抽屜拉開了沒關上，鐵盒的蓋子也打開了，盒中的劍譜已不翼而飛。我們三人大驚之下，拚命的追尋，卻那裏還尋得著？這件事太也奇怪，房中的門窗仍是在內由鐵扣扣著，好端端的沒動，因此劍譜定非外人盜去，不是萬師哥，便是戚師弟下的手了。
狄雲道：果真如此，何不黑夜中開了門窗，裝作是外人下的手？言達平嘆了口氣，說道：我們三人的手腕都是用鐵鍊連著的。悄悄起身去開抽屜，開鐵盒，那是可以的，要走遠去開門開窗，鐵鍊就不夠長了。狄雲道：原來如此。那你們怎麼辦？言達平道：劍譜得來不易，我們當然不肯就此罷休。三個人你怪我，我怪你，大吵了一場，但誰也說不出甚麼證據，只好分道揚鑣
狄雲道：有一件事我想不明白，倒要請教。你們師父既有這樣一本劍譜，遲早總會傳給你們，難道他要帶到棺材裏去不成？何以定要下此毒手？何以要殺了師父來搶這劍譜？
言達平道：我師父，我師父，唉，他他是老胡塗了，他認定我們師兄弟三人心術不正，始終不傳我們這劍譜上的劍法，眼看他是在另行物色傳人，甚至於要將本門武功盡數傳於外人。我們三人忍無可忍，迫於無奈，這才這才下手。
狄雲道：原來如此。你後來又怎斷定劍譜是在你戚師弟手中？
言達平道：我本來疑心是萬震山盜的，他首先出聲大叫，賊喊捉賊，最是可疑。我暗中跟蹤他，跟得不久，便知不是他。因為他在跟蹤戚師弟。劍譜倘若是萬震山這廝拿去的，他不會去跟蹤別人，定是立即躲到窮鄉僻壤，或是甚麼深山荒谷中去練了。可是我每次在暗中見到他，總是見他咬牙切齒，神色十分焦躁痛恨，於是我改而去跟蹤戚長發。
狄雲道：可尋到甚麼線索？言達平搖頭道：這戚長發城府太深，沒半點形跡露了出來。我曾偷看他教徒兒和女兒練劍，他故意裝傻，將出自唐詩的劍招名稱改得狗屁不通，當真要笑掉旁人大牙。不過他越是做作，我越知道他路道不對。我一直釘了他三年，他始終沒顯出半分破綻。當他出外之時，我曾數次潛入他家中細細搜尋，可是別說沒連城劍譜，連尋常書本子也沒一本。hey-hey!這位師弟，當真是好心計，好本事！
狄雲道：後來怎樣？
言達平道：後來嘛，萬震山忽然要做壽，派了個弟子來請戚長發到荊州去吃壽酒。當然哪，做壽是假，查探師弟的虛實是真。戚長發帶了女兒，還有一個傻頭傻腦的弟子叫甚麼狄雲的一塊兒去。酒筵之間，這狄雲和萬家的八個弟子打了起來，露出了三招精妙的劍術，引起了萬震山的疑心恩公，你說甚麼？狄雲淒然搖了搖頭。言達平續道：於是萬震山將戚長發請到書房中去談論，兩人你一言我一語的說翻了臉。戚長發出手將萬震山刺傷，從此不知所蹤。奇怪，真是奇怪，真奇怪之極了。
狄雲道：甚麼奇怪？言達平道：戚長發從此便無影無蹤，不知躲到了何處。戚長發去荊州之時，決不會將盜來的劍譜隨身攜帶，定是埋藏在這裏一處極隱蔽的地方。我本來料想他刺傷萬震山後，一定連夜趕回此間，取了劍譜再行遠走高飛，是以一發生事故，我立即備了快馬，搶先來到這裏等候，瞧他這劍譜放在那裏，以便俟機下手，可是左等右等，他始終沒有現身。一過幾年，看來他是永遠不會回來了，我便老實不客氣，在這裏攪他個天翻地覆，想要掘那劍