Chapter 9: Street Drama Drum, Not the Sound of Singing (2)

He does not recognize anyone named Lü Shou, how could these people have found him

It is he, the whereabouts of Lü Shou, are with this kid... However, this kid is not easy to deal with, his father is Zhou Sang, you all know, his uncle...

In a moment of daze, a voice brought Zhou Quan back to his senses. He blinked hard and shook his head.

It is said that we are hiding in the capital on the orders of the Master, and this moment is precisely what we have been waiting for. Moreover, if we were to withdraw now, how could those sent by the Master possibly let us go

Otherwise, how could Aunt Li Li Yun send her disciple, whom she had cultivated for six years, directly to his home

At that time, he felt that Fang Zhuo was rather talkative, but now he understands that Fang Zhuo's chatter was actually intentional, aiming to use his words to convey information to the outside world

Almost instinctively, Zhou Quan raised his leg and kicked the man in front of him in the abdomen. The man clutched his stomach and doubled over, falling down while squawking like a hen that had just laid an egg with all its might

"Master, if one day you have to leave Bianjing, where would you like to go?" he asked.

Shishi's eyes were filled with terror; she had never encountered such a situation at Aunt Li's place. When she saw Zhou Quan turn around, her heart was filled with both hope and despair.

"Boldly, under the vast sky and the emperor's feet, what do you all wish to do?" At this moment, Zhang Zeduan also shouted out.

Zhou Quan felt a sudden stir in his heart and could not help but ask the scholar: "Do you wish to depict the scenery of Bianjing in your painting? This truly is a remarkable idea. May I ask for your esteemed name?"

Brother, brother!

However, this person seems somewhat dazed, with ink stains on their face. Even when speaking just now, it did not seem directed at Zhou Quan, but rather more like a monologue.

As soon as he finished speaking, someone behind him interjected. Zhou Quan turned around in surprise and saw a scholar-like figure gesticulating animatedly as he spoke

Shishi widened her eyes and pouted, saying: "Brother is talking nonsense again. Why should we leave Bianjing? In this world, where else is there a place better than Bianjing!"

They spoke as they walked, yet did not notice that a few idle-looking individuals had quietly followed them from behind

Hiss! Upon hearing the name of Uncle Zhou Quan, these few idle men all took a breath

After all, even if he were to fall into the hands of these idle men, it is not certain that he would die

"Let her go, and I will go with you!" Zhou Quan shouted, looking at the grinning man and the idle men closing in from both sides.

When he awoke, he faintly heard the sound of quiet weeping by his ear. He opened his eyes and saw Shishi kneeling beside him, wiping away her tears.

Shishi's gaze dimmed, while the man who held her tightened his grip with his arm, causing Shishi to feel a constriction in her neck, faintly hearing the sound of bones.

It is him, kid, to speak frankly, just as you mentioned earlier, once it is said, we have nothing to do with each other, and we shall go our separate ways

and even the fate of the entire Huaxia

Zhou Quan was astonished

This is the first renowned figure from later generations that Zhou Quan encountered after returning to the Song Dynasty

He does not understand painting, but he is still aware of the "Along the River During the Qingming Festival". In another world, this painting is renowned and can be said to be known by every household. Therefore, Zhou Quan racked his brains and recalled some comments about this painting from memory, which coincidentally aligned quite well with what Zhang Zeduan had said.

At this time, it is the first year of the Zhenghe era, and the current emperor, known by the temple name Huizong, is only a little over ten years away from the catastrophic Jingkang incident that led to the downfall of the Northern Song dynasty.

Young man, why do you not ask us who we are

His cheap father, Zhou Tang, although holding a low position, is indeed a key figure in the marketplace of Bianjing City

His hands were both bound behind him, making it impossible for him to reach out and touch.

I am Zhang Zeduan of Langya, styled Zhengdao, the scholar replied

At that moment, those few men acted with careful preparation. Zhou Quan had already left the main street and entered a narrow alley, where there were not many pedestrians. Zhou Quan had just started to run a few steps when he suddenly heard a loud shout from behind: "Kid, if you run any further, I will kill this young lady!"

At this moment, the few idle men revealed a fierce expression, and the painter's observational skills were exceptionally sharp, thus Zhang Zeduan was left in shock, opening his mouth as if to call out.

This answer is absolutely beyond Zhou Quan's imagination

"Is this the kid?" one of the idlers among them said

They exchanged a glance, both having made up their minds

"It's nothing, where is this place, where are they..." Zhou Quan asked, and then he heard a chuckle.

Shishi was pulling at his clothes from behind, wondering why he was standing there in a daze, while Zhou Quan merely sighed.

"What does the gentleman find appealing about Bianjing?" Zhou Quan could not help but ask

Zhou Quan suddenly realized that there was something wrong with that Fang Zhuo while he was in prison

Laughter drives away the lingering cold, while Shishi pouts, "Brother, you are truly annoying, you've messed up my hair again"

Zhang Zeduan initially regarded Zhou Quan with indifference, but as their conversation progressed, he realized that although the young man spoke little, each of his words struck a chord with the longings in Zhang's heart, leading to a profound rapport between them

"You are looking for me, what is the matter?" Zhou Quan asked

Zhou Quan was unaware of the impending danger, continuing to stroll and chat merrily with Zhang Zeduan.

"Brother, what are you daydreaming about?" Shishi looked up at him

This young brother speaks well; Bianjing is indeed the best place in the world

I do not know Lü Shou; I only learned some things about him from the people while in the Kaifeng Prefecture prison

Zhou Quan seized the opportunity, turned around, and ran away. The few men reacted, abandoning Zhang Zheduan, and wildly chased after Zhou Quan.

It is indeed him

Upon hearing this, the idle man chuckled softly and then nodded, saying, "You are indeed a clever person... In that case, let me ask you, where is Lü Shou?"

Zhou Quan walked slowly along the streets of Bianliang, observing the continuous shops on both sides, expressing his agreement with Shishi's viewpoint

Unknowingly, I have been used... One cannot underestimate the ancients!

"I do not know... wait a moment, are you referring to the Lu Shou who stole the treasure of the Fengchen treasury?" Zhou Quan suddenly recalled and said

You are nothing more than a mere scribe in a small district

"You young man are overthinking... If you don't want her to die, then be honest!"

Zhou Quan almost wanted to prostrate himself and then ask Zhang Zeduan to paint a version of "Along the River During the Qingming Festival" for him. With this painting, passed down to future generations, what a tremendous wealth it would be

What he just saw was not merely an illusion, but the fate of this renowned city and its flourishing civilization more than a decade later

Among the three, it was Zhou Quan who was least aware of the impending danger. Having grown accustomed to living in an era of legal order, he indeed lacked the vigilance of the present moment. It was only when he heard Shishi's loud cry that he noticed the group of fierce men charging towards him.

What he just said should have moved these bandits, but Zhou Quan did not dare to entrust his life to the mercy and integrity of his opponents

Since you are aware of my grandfather, you should know that he is not an ordinary calligrapher. Therefore, let's not mention such things and get straight to the point

Zhou Quan reached out his hand, tousled her hair, and made her originally neat double bun a complete mess, then burst into hearty laughter

The sweet and soft voice of the little girl lifted Zhou Quan's spirits: for the sake of his loved ones, and for this little girl, he must find a way

"It must be from Fang Zhuo, if he were still alive, we would not need to seek you out." The man spoke, his voice tinged with a hint of hatred

"It can be included in the painting!" the scholar replied decisively

This sentence caused the second man, who was originally lunging at Zhou Quan, to pause slightly, and then he retaliated with a punch, knocking Zhang Zeduan to the ground

She hoped that Zhou Quan could save her, but she also understood that her lowly status meant that Zhou Quan had no reason to put himself in danger for her

"Are you afraid?" The man who knows the most about the Zhou Quan family chuckled coldly while crossing his arms: "What is there to be afraid of? The Fengchen treasury is filled with gold and jade, and the loot brought in by Lü Shou is enough for the leader to start a rebellion. By then, why should we fear a mere military gatekeeper?"

A man, originally hidden in the darkness, now revealed his face and approached him step by step

Then Zhou Quan felt a darkness above his head, and immediately lost his senses

At this moment, he suddenly remembered that he had not yet asked the young man's name. Just as he was about to speak, he caught sight of those idle men out of the corner of his eye

Zhou Quan turned around and saw that a man had already captured Shishi

So it turns out to be Master Zhang! Zhou Quan was pondering how to deceive the other party into handing over the painting, yet he spoke with utmost politeness, bowing and offering several compliments in succession

Just as she was despairingly waiting for death to arrive, Zhou Quan, who had run a few more steps, suddenly came to a halt

I still feel pain in my head, and the sticky sensation seems to be blood. Those who attacked him were truly ruthless.

Almost simultaneously, Shishi, who was following closely behind Zhou Quan, shouted: "Run!"

Zhou Quan slightly closed his eyes, his thoughts racing like lightning.

"Brother, are you alright!" When Shishi saw him move, she rushed over. For some reason, when Zhou Quan heard the word "brother" this time, it felt much more affectionate than before

All that just happened is gone; before him, there remains the splendid city of Bianjing under the golden rays of the sun, unparalleled in its prosperity

Zhou Quan truly cannot bear to let a little girl die because of himself

Indeed, Zhou Quan glanced back and then turned around to run again

Well, at present, Bianjing is indeed the best place in the world

Ah...

"The first question you may not answer, and the second, if you do answer, will surely lead to the death of my siblings and me. Therefore, it is better not to ask at all." Zhou Quan smiled and said, "Now that you know me, I do not know you. Once this matter is concluded, we shall have nothing to do with each other and will never meet again... I suppose you also do not wish to be pursued by my father."

With a bitter smile on his face, Zhou Quan muttered, "In the end, it is impossible to achieve..."

Several individuals quickened their pace and moved closer to Zhou Quan

The bustling world before us is indeed suitable for being captured in a painting, but it is merely a depiction of a city

Bang