Chapter 281 286, Friendship of Old Friends, Trust of a Lifetime
Hong Qi drank a cup of tea, ate some fruits and cakes, and was talking to Ou Peng and Lin Yue when he suddenly saw the doorway darken slightly and two figures walked in side by side.
"Hong Qi." The tall and slender chivalrous woman, wearing a silver-white gown and with her hair tied up with a silk scarf, greeted with a smile.
"Ms. Lin!" Hong Qi stood up and looked at the heroine, whose face remained the same as yesterday. Not only had she not aged over the years, but she seemed to be a few years younger. His eyes were filled with surprise at meeting an old friend again.
"It's been many years since we last met. How have you been, Brother Hong?" The man next to the heroine, who was dressed in white as white as snow, was tall and handsome, with a face that was much more mature than many years ago, and his temperament was not as cold and hard as before, also said with a smile.
"Brother Ouyang!" Hong Qi was so excited that he took a few steps forward and wanted to raise his hand to shake Ouyang Feng's arm, but he hesitated halfway.
Today, Ouyang Feng has taught many disciples who are already top masters in the world. How powerful is Ouyang Feng himself?
What's more, he is not just a martial artist, he is also a prince of the new Yong Dynasty. He is the god of war who created the Yong Dragon Cavalry and Wolf Cavalry. He is invincible, able to conquer any enemy and destroy cities and countries.
After not seeing each other for many years, will Ouyang Feng still be the young knight who used to share roasted lamb and drink fine wine with him by the clear stream at the foot of the Helan Mountains, who, although he has a cold face and every word he says hits the heart, is warm-hearted and chivalrous?
Hong Qi was hesitating.
Ouyang Feng smiled and raised his hand, reaching out and holding Hong Qi's arm tightly:
"Brother Hong, where have you been all these years? I asked someone to look for you, but there has been no news from you. You too, why don't you come to find us? Although I rarely show up, Sister Lin's name as the Huashan Patriarch has been very famous in Guanzhong in recent years. If you come to Guanzhong to look for us, you will definitely find Huashan Sect, Sister Lin and me..."
He did ask someone to look for Hong Qi.
Before the rise of Dayong, although he basically only operated in Guanzhong and the Western Regions, he also had many connections in the Guandong area.
For example, the Yellow River Gang, Zhao Kesong and even Xiao Ajiao were all his connections in the Jin Kingdom.
He had asked them to look for Hong Qi several times, but there was no news from Hong Qi.
"I……"
Feeling the strength of Ouyang Feng's palm, looking at his sincere eyes full of joy, and listening to his slightly reproachful words, Hong Qi's throat choked slightly and his eyes became hot.
No matter who Ouyang Feng has become now, at least he has not forgotten the friendship of the past, and still regards Hong Qi as a brother who has shared adventures and fought side by side with him.
Hong Qi took a deep breath, suppressed the boiling emotions in his heart, and grinned:
"After I parted ways with you and Lady Lin, I went to Zhongdu to do some work, but I ended up making a big mistake."
Ouyang Feng looked at Hong Qi's right hand which was missing an index finger, then looked at his face which seemed to have been carved through the vicissitudes of life, and said:
"So you hid yourself?"
"It's not like I'm hiding." Hong Qi shook his head and said, "I just started to doubt myself, became a little disheartened, and even wanted to retire from the world..."
"But you still cheered up." Ouyang Feng smiled: "With your personality, no matter how isolated you are from the world and live alone, your blood can't be cooled down. So, you came out again."
"Brother Ouyang knows me well." Hong Qi smiled and said, "After I came out of the mountains, I realized that the world and the martial arts world have undergone drastic changes. The stories of people who lived in seclusion in the mountains for many years, practiced magic skills, and came out of the mountains to shock the world, now seem to be impossible to tell."
Ouyang Feng nodded:
"I really can't go on. There will be no more stories of people who live in seclusion in the mountains, practice for many years, and become invincible as soon as they come out of the mountains. However, Brother Hong is a genius of the time. Even if he lags behind for a while, as long as he finds the right direction and catches up, he can still be among the top."
Hong Qi raised his thick eyebrows and said:
"To be honest, I think so too."
The two looked at each other and laughed in unison.
At this time, Lin Chaoying smiled and said:
"Okay, you two, stop standing and talking. Sit down and chat slowly."
Ouyang Feng said:
“I haven’t seen Brother Hong for many years. I was a little excited, but I neglected him.”
As he spoke, he took Hong Qi's arm and led him to the hall to sit down, and then sat down opposite Hong Qi with Lin Chaoying.
Baoqin obediently replaced the tea for Hong Qi, and served tea to Ouyang Feng and Lin Chaoying.
"Brother Ouyang and Miss Lin are happily married, but I knew nothing about it. I didn't bring any gifts with me this time. I feel really ashamed."
"It's okay. You have your own difficulties." Ouyang Feng looked at Hong Qigong's right hand, "But in the future, you may take the nickname of Nine-Fingered Divine Beggar."
"Nine-fingered beggar? Not bad." Hong Qi nodded with a smile, and then asked, "But, isn't it forbidden to have beggars under the rule of Dayong?"
"Beggars are not allowed." Ouyang Feng said calmly: "There is no idle land in the world, and farmers still starve to death. This will not happen in Dayong. Refugees and beggars will not appear in Dayong either."
"Even if you can achieve this with the new atmosphere of the new dynasty and your invincible dragon riders and wolf riders, how can you guarantee that you can continue to maintain it after decades? Can you guarantee that the new powerful families will not be greedy?"
"Of course I can guarantee it."
"But why?"
"Just because I am Ouyang Feng. Just because I can control the life and death of everyone in this world like the King of Hell. Just because if I want, I can even become the God of this world."
"..."
Hong Qi looked at Ouyang Feng in surprise, but saw that his eyes were calm and his face was composed. Lin Chaoying next to him also looked as if it was natural and should be so, as if she didn't think there was anything wrong with what Ouyang Feng said.
Ouyang Feng did not immediately clear his doubts, and started talking about the Beggars' Sect again:
"Da Yong will definitely conquer Jin and Song and unify the world. And it will happen in the next few years. By then, the Beggars' Sect, the world's largest gang, will no longer exist."
Hong Qi said: "How are hundreds of thousands of Beggars' Sect disciples going to survive?"
"The new dynasty has many major tasks to do. Develop water conservancy projects, dredge rivers, build roads and bridges... These are long-term projects that will take ten years. Even if Beggars' Sect disciples don't want to farm, they can always find something to do. And no matter what they do, it's better than being a beggar. If you have skills, you can join the army, or become a constable."
Hong Qi frowned and said:
"The Qin and Sui dynasties fell in the second generation because they abused the people's power and tortured them too much, which led to rebellion throughout the country. The major events you mentioned..."
Ouyang Feng smiled and said:
"The new Yong Dynasty will not impose corvée labor and exploit the people like the Qin and Sui dynasties did. Instead, we will set up a special construction team, provide them with adequate money and food, and provide medical treatment and pensions for the injured and sick. This will prevent the people from complaining."
Hong Qi frowned even more tightly:
"But if this is the case, it will cost a lot of money and food."
Ouyang Feng said calmly:
"Unless there is a major famine that affects the entire country and lasts for several years, the money and grain in the world is actually enough to use, and there will even be a lot of surplus. Moreover, the world is constantly developing, and the output of the world should be increasing. It's just that some people are too greedy and take too much. As for me, I am very good at taking the surplus to make up for the shortage."
"You are being too absolute."
Hong Qi shook his head:
"The royal family, meritorious officials, nobles... It's fine when the new dynasty is first established, but in the future, as the royal family, meritorious officials, nobles, and even the descendants of the scholar-official families multiply and their desires expand, the land and money in the world will be concentrated in their hands. By then, how can they take away the surplus? The knife is in the hands of the royal family, meritorious officials, nobles, and aristocratic families. How can they cut their own flesh and blood to feed the people of the world?"
Ouyang Feng said calmly:
"Brother Hong, you are wrong. The knife will always be in my hand. As long as I am here, such a thing will not happen."
Hong Qi said in a deep voice:
"But can you stay here?"
Ouyang Feng said seriously:
"I can always be there."
"..."
Hong Qi looked at Ouyang Feng's serious expression and really didn't understand where his confidence came from.
Ouyang Feng smiled again:
"Of course, although I can always be here, I won't always be watching over the world. However, Huashan Sect will always exist and keep watching. If Huashan Sect decays, another sect will take its place... In short, the sword that monitors the world will always exist, hanging over the heads of all greedy people."
Hong Qi still didn't understand why he had such confidence. Could it be that he could really be "God"?
Ouyang Feng still did not clear up Hong Qi's doubts, and said with a smile:
"The Beggars' Sect is very powerful in both the Jin and Song Kingdoms, and is very familiar with local intelligence. When the Yong Kingdom unifies the world, I hope Brother Hong can lead the beggars to help the Yong Kingdom. This way, there will be less killing, and the country will be unified as soon as possible, returning peace to the people of the world.
"Also, I know that Brother Hong is a knight-errant who doesn't want to be bound by any rules, and I'm afraid he won't want to work for the new dynasty in the future. But I still hope that Brother Hong can be an inspector who is not bound by the government and the court, and is only responsible to me and the prime minister, to travel around the country, supervise officials, and investigate lawlessness. I believe that with Brother Hong's personality, he will never wrongly accuse a good person, nor will he let a bad person go."
Hong Qi burst out laughing:
"You want to destroy the Beggars' Sect, but you have to use them first, and you even want to exploit me... It seems that my feeling back then was right. You are really not a good person."
Ouyang Feng said with a smile:
"Then, Brother Hong, are you willing to accept my proposal?" Hong Qi looked at Ouyang Feng, then at Lin Chaoying, and nodded heavily:
"Although you are very different from before, but... I believe in you! I believe you can do what you say and make this world a better place! I'll take your job!"
A world without beggars, what a wonderful vision!
If Ouyang Feng could really do it, then he would be happy even if Hong Qi became the last leader of the Beggars' Sect.
Ouyang Feng smiled and said:
"Thank you, Brother Hong. In this case, it's time to give Brother Hong a boost."
Hong Qi was slightly startled: "Strengthen?"
"Brother Hong has the best talent in the world, but he just missed some opportunities. But now, since I want to use you, how can I waste your talent?"
Ouyang Feng laughed and said:
"Next, until the autumn harvest, when we go to attack the Jin Dynasty, Brother Hong should stay in Huashan and practice hard. There are many new skills, and Brother Hong will definitely be interested."
That night.
Ouyang Feng and Lin Chaoying hosted a family dinner to entertain Hong Qi, who drank heavily and got drunk.
Although he had vowed never to get drunk or eat too much again, today was different.
When old friends meet again, we should celebrate.
And with Ouyang Feng, he didn't have to worry about making mistakes even if he was drunk and unconscious.
the next day.
Hong Qi got up early and started his "make-up lessons" practice.
Ouyang Feng has changed the world of martial arts.
Since he had been communicating and exchanging ideas with Lin Chaoying and Huang Yaoshi without reservation, performing martial arts and discussing Taoism, teaching each other, and creating new skills together, the stories of practicing in the mountains and becoming invincible when they came out would never happen again.
No matter how great the adventure in the mountains is, it cannot be greater than the sparks created by the collision of wisdom among a group of top geniuses, nor can it compare to the adventures brought about by Ouyang Feng's travels through the worlds.
In this world, the real top masters will only appear beside Ouyang Feng.
……
"To be honest, I don't like Hong Qi very much."
In the paradise of caves, Huang Yaoshi stole half a day of leisure from his busy life and came to the paradise of caves to go fishing with Ouyang Feng.
Through the introduction of Ouyang Feng and Lin Chaoying, Huang Yaoshi has already met Hong Qi, but the two do not seem to get along very well.
"Hong Qi is generous and open-minded, and you, Pharmacist, are not fussy about trivial matters. You should appreciate each other. Why are you unhappy?"
"He thought that my method of cleaning up Guanzhong was too cold and cruel, but I thought that some of his ideas were too naive and kind. In short, he and I both disliked each other."
"A conflict of ideas?" Ouyang Feng shook his head helplessly.
After all, Huang Yaoshi is not a good person. Not only is he cruel and ruthless, he will do anything to achieve his goals. He is even willing to deceive naive children. The title of "Eastern Evil" is well deserved.
Of course, Huang Yaoshi had known Ouyang Feng and Lin Chaoying since he was a teenager, and had guided them in the right direction. Now that he has the opportunity to realize his ambition to rule the world, he will not be as radical and cynical as he was in the original world line.
However, it is difficult to change one's nature, and Huang Yaoshi's inherent coldness and cruelty will definitely not change.
This is also why he and Ouyang Feng hit it off right away.
Because they are essentially the same kind of people.
Speaking of which, even in the original world line, the East Evil never felt that there was anything wrong with the West Poison. He was even more willing to marry his daughter to the old beggar's playboy nephew than to the old beggar's silly apprentice. It can be seen that Huang Lao Xie really values the old Poison.
"Hong Qi is a true chivalrous man."
Ouyang Feng said:
"He is not only an upright hero, but also a sincere person to his friends. We can always trust him with our backs. If you or I are in trouble, he will do his best to rescue us, even if it means going through fire and water, he will not frown."
Huang Yaoshi snorted:
"There's no way I'll be in trouble!"
Ouyang Feng smiled:
"I'm just making an analogy. Anyway, he will be a qualified inspector. In the future, he will travel around the country and supervise local officials. I can trust him unconditionally."
Huang Yaoshi frowned and said:
"You are too trusting. Even if he is your childhood friend, you shouldn't trust him so much."
Ouyang Feng smiled:
"When I first founded Huashan Sect, I exchanged martial arts with you without reservation, and even exchanged methods of entering the Dao and secrets of the outer world. Later, my brother and I entrusted all military and national affairs to you. Why didn't you say that I trusted you too much?"
Huang Yaoshi choked for a moment, then said confidently:
"Of course it's because Mr. Huang is trustworthy!"
Ouyang Feng nodded:
"It's the same with Hong Qi. Even though he knew that the Beggars' Sect would be destroyed and he would be the last leader of the Beggars' Sect, he was still willing to help me. Isn't this worthy of my trust?"
"..."
Huang Yaoshi was speechless for a while, then shook his head and said:
"Forget it. As long as Hong Qishao hangs around me, don't argue with me. You can believe him if you want! Anyway, I...ah!"
Huang Yaoshi exclaimed softly, staring at the floating object in front of him, and said in surprise:
"I've got a fish!"
After pulling gently a few times, he actually caught a small fish about a foot long. Huang Yaoshi was immediately delighted.
"Is this fish for you?" Ouyang Feng asked with a smile.
"Don't give me that. If you want to eat it, catch it yourself. I'm going to take this fish back to make soup!"
Huang Yaoshi smiled happily and stroked the fish gently, as if he was caressing a rare treasure.
Ouyang Feng smiled and whistled. The sea surface not far away suddenly parted, and a huge snake head with two snow-white horns and feather-like flowing mane on its neck slowly rose.
The big snake, whose scales were as white as jade, was holding a live fish over ten feet long in the corner of its mouth.
"I caught fish too."
Ouyang Feng looked at Huang Yaoshi with a smile:
"Stay and eat together?"
Huang Yaoshi looked at the big fish in the white snake's mouth, then looked at the small fish in his hand, but he did not look depressed. He just said proudly:
"Can this be considered fishing? Besides, the bigger the fish, the better. In many cases, small fish are more tender and delicious!"
After saying this, he summoned a bronze gate and left.
【Ask for monthly tickets! 】
(End of this chapter)
