Chapter 75: Dàxīng City
The battle ended swiftly, leaving only corpses.
True to her thieving nature, Xu Xiaoyan searched the bodies of Chi Mu Heng and Xue Lang, finding a fifty-tael silver note and over twenty taels in loose silver.
A small fortune.
Jiang Yiran and the others, after taking Chi Mu Heng and Xue Lang’s heads, quickly retreated.
That night, hidden deep in the mountains, the group feasted on meat and wine, celebrating their victory and toasting Hao Xinghua and the, albeit disappointingly plain-looking, “Night Lily.”
Chi Mu Heng and Xue Lang’s treachery had claimed the lives of many righteous martial artists on their way to join the rebellion.
If not for Hao Xinghua and Night Lily, they wouldn’t have been able to avenge their fallen comrades, forced to retreat instead.
And the image of Hao Xinghua single-handedly defeating two seventh-rank experts was deeply etched in their minds, especially his final, decisive strikes.
The next day, Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan retreated with the group to a remote manor.
The manor’s owner, ostensibly a local landowner, was secretly a member of Dark Thunder.
Xu Xiaoyan went to negotiate with Jiang Yiran and the others. A while later, she returned, a small pouch in hand, a satisfied smile on her face.
Shi Hao asked, “How did it go?”
Xu Xiaoyan giggled, “Those Minor Restoration Pills are worth eight hundred taels. But they couldn’t pay the full amount, so they gave us twenty gold beans, worth three hundred and sixty taels, and the remaining four hundred and forty taels is considered our investment.
“I had them write an IOU in Fu Shiyuan’s name. If the rebel army is still around next year, they’ll repay us the principal plus double the interest.”
Shi Hao chuckled, “Double the interest? That’s eight hundred and eighty taels, plus the principal. I don’t know if you’re trying to extort them or make a charitable donation.”
Since the pills were stolen, he didn’t really care. Although, considering their market value, they had sold them cheaply.
And if the rebel army survived the barbarian court’s onslaught until next year, they would have grown too powerful to be suppressed. In that case, their profit wouldn’t just be monetary but also the potential connections within the next dynasty.
“Brother Hao!” Lu Tong approached, her voice soft, “Are you leaving?”
Shi Hao nodded slightly, “I have other matters to attend to.”
He didn’t mind joining Dark Thunder, but he was currently disguised with the Evil Shadow Disguise Technique, and the disguise couldn’t be maintained indefinitely. After a day or two, it became unbearable.
Lu Tong looked up at him, wanting to say something, then lowered her head and whispered, “Take care.”
Shi Hao looked at her and said slowly, “The martial world is a dangerous place, and your cause is a difficult one. Take care, Miss Tong.”
Lu Tong looked up at him again, “Where are you going next, Brother Hao?”
Shi Hao hesitated, then looked at Xu Xiaoyan. She giggled, “Dàxīng City! We’re going to Dàxīng City!”
Lu Tong said, “Dàxīng City… Brother Hao, wait a moment.” She turned and spoke with Jiang Yiran and the others.
After a while, she returned and whispered, “In Dàxīng City, in Wannian County, there’s a place called Calabash Alley. At the end of the alley, there’s a door. If you need our help, Brother Hao, knock three times, then five times.
“Our branch is there. They’ll contact you. We’ll inform them about you.”
Shi Hao nodded, “Thank you.” He bid farewell to Lu Tong.
She escorted them out of the manor and stood at the gate, watching them until they disappeared from sight.
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan walked along a small path, away from the main road. Xu Xiaoyan turned around, her hands behind her back, walking backwards as she looked at him.
Shi Hao asked, “What is it?”
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “You’re quite the heartbreaker. You haven’t even dealt with your last lover, and now you’ve entangled yourself with Miss Tong.”
Shi Hao said seriously, “Don’t talk nonsense! Miss Tong is a righteous warrior, a true hero. Don’t say things that could be misunderstood.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “You said your last lover wasn’t a ‘comrade.’ And you said this Miss Tong is a comrade, nothing more. You’re clearly playing with their feelings.”
Shi Hao sighed, “The world is in chaos. Who knows what the future holds? I don’t have time for such things.”
He looked at Xu Xiaoyan, “Dàxīng City?”
Xu Xiaoyan turned around, her skirt swirling, “That’s right, we’re going to Dàxīng City! It’s one of the most prosperous cities in the world. If you want to get rich, go to Dàxīng City. You can find anything there, any information.
“It’s a melting pot of all sorts of people, a place where many young heroes make their name. If you want to live in seclusion amidst the hustle and bustle, go to Dàxīng City. If you want to become famous, go to Dàxīng City.”
Shi Hao said, impressed, “That sounds tempting. But you’re the Night Lily of Jiangzhe. It’s already strange that you’re in West Shu. Have you been to Dàxīng City before?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “No.”
Shi Hao looked at her, “Then why are you so enthusiastic about it?”
Xu Xiaoyan chuckled, “Because I haven’t been there, that’s why I want to go.”
She took his hand, “Let’s go!”
Dàxīng City was the former capital of the Sheng Dynasty. During the latter years of the dynasty, it had been repeatedly attacked and destroyed during the barbarian invasions.
After establishing their rule, the Jin clan renamed it “Fengjin City,” but in the martial world, it was still known as Dàxīng City, a symbol of the Sheng Dynasty’s former glory. No one in the martial world used the new name.
After changing boats several times, Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan finally arrived at Dàxīng City.
Standing before the city gates, they looked up at the imposing thirty-foot-high walls.
The city gates were crowded, people coming and going, a mix of commoners and martial artists of all kinds. Although soldiers were checking permits, they were clearly going through the motions, barely glancing at the passersby.
With such a large population, it was impossible to thoroughly check everyone.
Shi Hao and Xu Xiaoyan, having returned to their original appearances, easily entered the city.
Shi Hao looked around. The streets were bustling with activity, lined with shops selling all sorts of goods.
Even the busiest market in Jin Prefecture paled in comparison to a random street here.
They saw people from all over. A fight suddenly broke out on the street, and the crowd instinctively parted. In the distance, constables and barbarian soldiers watched the commotion, and even the onlookers simply moved further away, continuing to watch as if this were a common occurrence.
They passed through an alley lined with elegant buildings, colorful silk banners hanging from the windows, a beautiful street, yet strangely quiet and deserted in the middle of the day.
Xu Xiaoyan, clearly not a naive, sheltered young lady, snorted and pulled Shi Hao away, “Let’s go somewhere else.”
She glanced at him, seeing his faint smile, and then snorted, “Are you thinking of coming back here tonight?”
Shi Hao chuckled, “Don’t put words in my mouth. I didn’t say anything.”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “That’s what all you men think.”
Shi Hao said, “Hey, don’t generalize.”
They turned a corner and saw four martial artists sitting at a small table, drinking and chatting.
Seeing them, the four men turned and looked at them, their gazes lingering on Xu Xiaoyan, despite her simple dress. One of them whistled.
Xu Xiaoyan glared back, “What are you looking at?” She pulled Shi Hao away.
The four men cursed at them but didn’t follow.
Shi Hao chuckled, “Why did you glare at them?”
Xu Xiaoyan also chuckled, “They’re clearly gang members. If you glare at them, they won’t know what to make of you and will just curse back. But if you act scared or intimidated, they’ll know you’re an easy target and will bully you.”
Shi Hao asked, “Where are we going now? Should we find an inn?” He felt like he had been following her lead since they left West Shu.
Not that he minded.
Xu Xiaoyan giggled, “Although this is my first time in Dàxīng City, I made a promise to a friend that I would visit her if I ever came here. She and her grandfather took me in for a while back in the Gai Bamboo Mountains. Something happened, and they moved here, while I stayed in Jiangzhe.”
Shi Hao asked, “Where do they live?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “I remember her mentioning Floating Cloud Monastery on Rong Mountain in her letter.”
Shi Hao looked at her, puzzled, “If you know where you’re going, why are we wandering around?”
Xu Xiaoyan said, “I…”
Shi Hao smiled, “How long has it been since you last saw your friend?”
Xu Xiaoyan whispered, “Three years. I don’t know if she’s married now, or if I’ll be disturbing her, so I…”
Shi Hao stopped a passerby and asked, “Excuse me, how do we get to Rong Mountain?”
Leave a Reply