Six Dynasties Cloud Dragon's Chant (Physical Cover, Volume 20) Author: Nongyu & Longxuan

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The Six Dynasties Cloud Dragon's Chant

Author: Nongyu & Longxuan Word
Count: 63,000

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Episode 20

Synopsis: Cover Characters: Old Man Zhu and Xiao Zi abandon Cheng Zongyang, an "outsider,"
to discuss matters with the Black Demon Sea Witch Clan. Cheng Zongyang can only spend his time with Lu Jing, taking on cases to pass the time. One client's request is extremely
difficult, with almost no clues: find all the unknown customers who appeared in a certain foot inn on a specific date! Moreover, this
foot inn has already been burned to the ground!

Unexpectedly, the observant Lu Jing takes Cheng Zongyang around to visit various places and actually manages to find several of them by peeling back the layers
. However, after these people with different identities and professions are found, they die one by one in various accidents!

Chapter 1

Under the night sky, the majestic Yique stands solemnly on both sides of the Yi River, like a gate guarding the imperial capital. The sound of carp leaping on the water
echoes continuously, splashing up tiny droplets of water under the moonlight. The river water felt like warm, soft
silk, so comforting it almost made him want to fall asleep.

"You brat,"

Cheng Zongyang said, "Ever since we left the Southern Wilderness, I've felt you're getting less and less energetic. Before, you had the energy
to misbehave with me all day, but now you're all listless, just wanting to sleep. Hey, have you been away from the sea
for too long ?"

"You big dummy,"

Cheng Zongyang said, "Once the old man's business is done, I'll take you to the beach. You can swim however you want
, for as long as you want. Or we can build a seaside villa, half the rooms on the water
, with a swimming pool in the bedroom directly connected to the sea. Or we can just build half the house
in the sea."

As Cheng Zongyang was daydreaming, his clothes suddenly tightened, and Xiao Zi pulled him underwater. Cheng Zongyang quickly held his breath,
his eyes wide open.

Xiao Zi reached her finger out of the water and pressed it to his lips, signaling him to be quiet, before diving deeper into the water.

Large swathes of reeds grew along the bank, their slender stalks bent into arcs, their heavy tips leaning
towards the water, revealing clusters of white reed flowers. Xiao Zi
darted nimbly through the gaps in the reed roots like a fish, without touching a single reed.

Cheng Zongyang, having exhausted his breath, tried to surface for air, but Xiao Zi pulled him back. She wrapped her arm around
his neck, pressed her delicate face against his lips, and breathed softly. Cheng Zongyang's anxieties vanished
, his breath and chest filled with the sweet scent of a young girl. Hand in hand, they quietly stopped in a patch of reeds.

A carriage lay tilted and stuck in the reeds, the stalks bent and twisted by the wheels. The driver lay beside the carriage,
a bloody hole in his vest, blood and foam gushing out.

The carriage curtain was slashed open with a sharp blade. A veiled girl, huddled in
a corner She hugged her shoulders, shaking her head frantically. "It wasn't me, it wasn't me..."

A masked man in black pulled her out, ripped off her veil, lifted her chin,
examined her in the moonlight, and then shook his head at his companion behind her.

The man behind her frowned, then nodded slightly. The man in black released the girl and
plunged , the blade piercing her ribs and precisely into her heart. The girl's body jolted,
then collapsed limply. The two men sheathed their knives and disappeared into the reeds.

Cheng Zongyang's mouth and nose were not in the water; only his eyes were visible among the reeds.

He hadn't expected to witness such a murder so soon after arriving in Luodu. The two men in black acted swiftly
and decisively time to stop them.

After the two men in black had gone some distance, Cheng Zongyang emerged from the water and saw the young girl lying in the carriage, her chest
pierced by a sharp blade. Her exquisite silk dress was stained with blood; she was dead.

Who was the murderer? Who was the victim? What was the cause? All of this was unknown.

What was clear was that the carriage was quite fine, and the girl's clothing was clearly not from an ordinary family.
Her hairpins and ornaments were also very valuable. A pair of jade mandarin ducks tied around her waist, each half the size of a palm,
were of lustrous white jade, exquisitely crafted, and more valuable than gold. He wondered which family's woman had suffered such a calamity.

Xiao Zi took the girl's hand, touched it, and said, "Boss Cheng."

Cheng Zongyang took the hand Xiao Zi offered and noticed that although the girl's hand was soft, there were
thin calluses on her knuckles, indicating she was used to physical labor.

Cheng Zongyang pulled a hairpin from the girl's hair and examined it. "Those two weren't robbing her. This hairpin is worth
at least several dozen gold coins, yet they didn't even glance at it. They weren't after her either; her clothes are perfectly fine."

Xiao Zi said, "Then it was revenge?"

Cheng Zongyang wasn't sure either. "Hard to say."

This girl was clearly wearing someone else's clothes, impersonating someone else, but that's where the strangeness lies.
Judging from the thin calluses on her hands, her environment wasn't particularly privileged. But he had seen the fabric of her clothes in a silk shop in Qingzhou before
; it was Jiangling silk, a tribute item, and its price was exceptionally high. Based on the existing clues, it's highly
likely that the family discovered they were being targeted by enemies, so they had the maid wear the young lady's clothes to lure the enemies away. Ultimately,
the enemies attacked, killing only the maid. The question is, what is the background of this family?

Since this girl could impersonate the young lady, she must be that young lady's personal maid. But even wealthy families who could afford
Jiangling silk had maids in their inner quarters who lived in luxury. Their hands, let alone calluses, would be rough enough
to serve their mistresses.

Judging from the thin calluses on her hands, the family wasn't particularly wealthy. So why
was she wearing such precious Jiangling silk? And her ornaments were all top-quality pearls and jade, especially the pair of mandarin duck jade pendants
and the longan-sized pearl in her hair—things that even money couldn't buy.

On one side was a poor maid from a humble family, on the other, extremely luxurious clothing; the identity of this young lady in the middle seemed
shrouded in mystery. In contrast, the actions of the two assassins left much more information. Seeing the person switched, they
immediately killed to silence her—clearly revenge. Taking nothing after the murder made it even more obvious. They weren't thieves,
nor were they hired assassins. With a clear target and swift action, they could only be retainers or
servants .

Cheng Zongyang thought for a moment, then put the hairpin and jade pendant into his robes and said, "Where's the camera? Have Jingli take it..."
"Record all of this."

A moment later, Jing Li emerged from the reeds, carefully holding the camera, and said, "Those
two people walked extremely fast; I only managed to get a clear shot of their backs."

Cheng Zongyang pointed to the carriage, "Record everything. Make sure their faces are clear. And the driver too. This is a bit
strange; since we've encountered them, let's keep some evidence."

...

The night gradually faded, and a faint ray of light appeared on the horizon, illuminating the green reeds, the golden
fields, and the emerald river. Cheng Zongyang sat in the reeds, holding a charcoal-black fishing rod,
its two-zhang-long shaft thinner than the reed stem at the tip, with a transparent fishing line hanging below.

There was no float on the water, but with Cheng Zongyang's current heightened senses, he could feel even the slightest tremor on the fishing line.
He closed his eyes, enjoying the gentle breeze. Suddenly, the fishing line sank, and the thin tip of the rod bent
downwards , forming an arc.

Cheng Zongyang slightly relaxed his fingers, confirming the fish was hooked, before gently tightening them again,
reeling it in steadily and calmly.

Ripples spread across the water as the fish struggled underwater, trying to escape the hook. The slender rod
tip swayed precariously, seemingly on the verge of breaking. Cheng Zongyang, however, was unconcerned. This fishing rod, though seemingly delicate, was
far more resilient than he had imagined. In his incomplete testing, both the rod and line had
easily handled half a ton of weight; he could even reel in a crocodile.

The swaying of the water intensified, and suddenly a carp leaped from the water, its bright red fins
shimmering , almost leaping onto the rod tip.

Cheng Zongyang flicked his right hand back, lifting the carp high before it could fall back down, and pulled it ashore.

The carp was jumping around in the damp mud among the reeds. Cheng Zongyang removed the hook, broke off a
reed , threaded the stalk through the fish's gills, tied a knot, and placed it in the puddle at his feet.

"Little Cheng, good luck with your business!"

Old Zhu emerged from the reeds, his hands clasped together, staring longingly at the fish. "Tsk tsk tsk... this fish
must weigh at least three pounds, right? Look how lively it is! Make a pot of soup, it'll taste amazing!"

He swallowed hard as he spoke.

Cheng Zongyang said, "Want to eat fish? Go catch some yourself. Who fed all the dry rations we brought to the donkey last night?
You think you can just eat for free now? Don't even think about it!"

"Little Cheng, didn't my donkey injure its hoof? What's

wrong with eating some of your dry rations?" "A little? You didn't leave a single bit! If I hadn't brought my fishing rod, we'd all be
starving ."

"Little Cheng, why are you so petty? Let's go fish!"

Old Zhu said, "I brought my own rod too!"

Cheng Zongyang glanced sideways and saw the old man holding a thin bamboo pole that looked like it had been picked off a broom,
with a line or several different colored lines haphazardly pieced together. The most valuable part of the fishing rod
was the hook, which was made from a sewing needle with a broken eye bent into a shape. The old man had managed to make a fishing rod look
like a colorful beggar's guild mix.

Old Zhu was quite pleased with himself. "Little Cheng, look at this fishing rod that I made myself! It's not bad, is
it?"

Cheng Zongyang looked at his high-tech fishing rod and then at the old man's broken
rod that even beggars wouldn't look at. He wanted to spit on it.

Old Zhu was still showing off, "Young Cheng, dare to compete with me and see who catches more fish?"

"Oh, sir, I really don't dare,"

Cheng Zongyang said, "With your rod, even if I win, I'll be ashamed!"

"So young, how come you have no guts?"

Old Zhu said, "Let's put up a wager! If you win, my donkey is yours!"

"You better keep that donkey! If I run into its owner, I won't be able to explain myself no matter what!"

Cheng Zongyang put on a smiling expression, "Old man, if you really want to gamble, let's change the wager. If you
lose, Yue Pengju and you will have our past grievances wiped clean, how about that?"

Old Zhu snorted, "And if you lose?"

He thought, "If I can lose with that broken rod, I might as well drown." Cheng Zongyang generously said, "You name your price!
Name whatever you want!"

"I won't cheat you,"

Old Man Zhu said, "If you lose, you'll have to do me a favor..."

Before he finished speaking, the old man hurriedly put away his broken rod, "Oh my! It's hooked! Little Cheng,
look at my skill! My luck!"

"Wait!"

Cheng Zongyang exclaimed, "You call that a fish!"

Old Man Zhu's fishing rod had a small crucian carp wagging its tail, less than a finger's length from head to tail.

Old Zhu's face beamed like a chrysanthemum. "Look at what you're saying, is this a donkey or a fish?"

"Even if you catch a hundred, they wouldn't be as big as this one!"

"It's all about who catches the most fish, one fish counts. Even if you catch a fish the size of a donkey, that still counts
. Oh dear! Another one..."

Old Zhu didn't care about the size of the fish; he caught them all. In no time, he had caught five or six, the largest of which
was almost the size of a palm. It was so big that it almost broke the fishing line.

Cheng Zongyang wasn't slow either, but his hooks were no match for small fish. The smallest one weighed over a pound, and
he had only caught three so far.

"Old man! Make it clear what kind of help you need! If you dare to renege, I'll turn on you immediately!"

Old Zhu chuckled. "Just a small favor, I need to buy you something."

"What is it?"

"The main gate on the west side of Luoyang is called Yongmen. North of Yongmen is Shangximen. The area between Yongmen and Shangximen is called
Jinshi."

Old Zhu said, "Jinshi is full of businesses, big and small shops, about four or five hundred in total
..."

"Wait a minute!"

Cheng Zongyang put down his fishing rod and took out a slip of paper from his pouch.

Most of the trade in Han Kingdom took place in fixed areas within the city, called markets. Before setting off, he had someone compile a list of
Luoyang's most important commercial districts, a total of nine markets. Now, after looking at them from beginning to end, he couldn't find the Jinshi that Old Zhu
mentioned .

"Old man, are you trying to fool me again? Luoyang has nine markets, where is the Jinshi?"

"Young Cheng, you don't understand, do you? The nine markets you remember were where people from the Six Dynasties did business. The Jin Market
's business isn't limited to the Six Dynasties; merchants from the Abbasid Caliphate and the Qin Dynasty also trade there."

Cheng Zongyang was skeptical. "I didn't realize you were involved in import/export trade. What are you planning to buy?
Jewelry and rare treasures from abroad, or jade and spices?"

Old Zhu said, "I think if you don't ruin your Qilifang, you can buy me a whole street."

Cheng Zongyang's eyes turned red upon hearing this, and he retorted angrily, "Buy a turkey! Buy a whole street? You make it sound so easy! Do you know
how much cost? In gold coins, it could kill you hundreds of times and still have money left over!"

"Young Cheng, wanna gamble?"

"Only a fool would follow you..."

Cheng Zongyang suddenly perked up and shouted, "Bet!"

Old Zhu gave him a thumbs up, "You've got guts!"

Another fish took the bait, and Old Zhu grinned from ear to ear. He quickly lifted the rod, only to find half
a fish on the hook...

A quarter of an hour later, Cheng Zongyang sat leisurely in the reeds. With a graceful flick of his wrist, the fishing rod arced through
the air , the transparent line flying straight out, the hook with the earthworm falling into the water and
sinking instantly. A fish easily took the bait.

As Cheng Zongyang reeled in the line, he shook his head and sighed, "There are so many fish in this water. You can catch
them , it's so unrewarding."

Old Zhu squatted to the side, his face dark.
Ever A school of carnivorous blackfish swam in from somewhere, wiping out all the small fish near the shore. Those blackfish were heavy and powerful,
thrashing about on the shore. Old Zhu accidentally caught one, almost losing his fishing rod in the process.

In contrast, Cheng Zongyang was incredibly lucky. A group of carp in their breeding season were gathered in a reed bed about three or four zhang (approximately 10-12 meters) from the shore
. He never missed a fish once he cast his line. His fishing rod stretched out to over two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), and
with a flick of the line, he easily cast four zhang (approximately 10 meters). Old Zhu, on the other hand, was in a terrible situation. His bamboo pole was only five chi (approximately 1.5 meters), and with the fishing line
, it was less than a zhang (approximately 3.3 meters). He couldn't even touch the fish.

Seeing that the group of blackfish showed no sign of leaving, Old Zhu couldn't sit still any longer and quickly moved to another spot.
He had just found a place to sit down when he remembered something and jumped up as if his backside was on fire. But he was too late. No sooner
had he left than the group of blackfish swam over and devoured his entire group of small fish that he had strung together with reeds
.

Half an hour later, Cheng Zongyang held up two fingers, "Twenty to zero! Look at the mess this has made... How about
I give you two? So you don't lose face like this."

Old Zhu said with a dark face, "Zi girl! What's so good about this brat? You're helping him like this?"

Xiao Zi surfaced and laughed, "I've already slept with Boss Cheng. If Boss Cheng loses, I
'll lose face too."

"Even if you want him to win, you should at least leave one for me."

Xiao Zi laughed, "The biggest one is yours."

A fat carp with golden scales and a fiery red dorsal fin emerged from the water. The fish was over three feet long, its two whiskers twisting like dragons, its immense strength almost crushing the bamboo pole.

Old Zhu's face brightened, and he quickly hooked a fish by the gills, grinning from ear to ear. "Red-finned golden carp
! Little Cheng, go start the fire! Quickly make a pot of fish soup, let me have a taste!"

Cheng Zongyang released most of the fish he caught back into the water, keeping only two. He cleaned them thoroughly, cut them open behind the gills, removed the fishy
tendons, skewered them with reeds, and hung them beside the cart.

Since his transmigration, Cheng Zongyang had spent most of his time traveling. He could bear the hardships, but
cooking was the last thing that made him furious. Initially, he followed those rough men like Wu Dadao. They were
all tough fighters, but when it came to cooking, they were all complete failures. They were lucky if they could even cook something properly; they had no idea what "taste" meant.
On the trip to Taiquan, he followed Wu Er and Xiao Yaoyi. Wu Er was a beast, never lifting a finger to do any work,
and if the food wasn't to his liking, he would complain. Cheng Zongyang had wanted to throw the pot in that guy's face more than once. The young
master was quite unpretentious, eating whatever was given to him without complaint—meaning
he'd eat anything "you" made, no matter how bad it was. Asking him to start a fire and cook? Forget it!

In comparison, this was the most promising trip, with three women in the team. But while cooking,
Cheng Zongyang realized that no matter the era, professional women were unreliable!

Xiao Zi had no interest in cooking; according to her tastes, everyone should avoid cooking and eat raw food for its
richer flavor and nutrition. Poppy Woman and Jing Li were female assassins, skilled only at enduring hardship, not at eating. If
they could make several different dishes in one meal, they wouldn't be in this line of work. Cheng Zongyang also wanted to just make do
and fill . But after eating their bland dinner, out of responsibility to his own palate,
Cheng Zongyang had to pick up the pot and pan again.

This time, the sun actually rose in the west—the old man actually made a pot of fish soup himself. He made a crispy head and
tail dish , and braised the leftover fish meat, not wasting a single bit.

Old Zhu said, "The carp from Luoyang is a rare delicacy."

Cheng Zongyang tasted the fish soup and was immediately shocked. "They say dragon meat is a heavenly delicacy. This fish
is almost turning into a dragon. No wonder the old man was willing to take action."

"The white dragon descends into the abyss and transforms into a fish,"

Xiao Zi said. "It must leap over the Dragon Gate to become a dragon again."

As the sun rose, the mist lingering between the two banks gradually dissipated, and the distant scenery gradually became clear. Yique
was like an open gate, revealing a magnificent city behind it. The majestic city walls
stretched , and two towers made of white marble soared into the clouds. The vermilion bird patterns on them could even be seen, like
guardians standing against the sky protecting the palace. Countless palaces and pavilions within the city stretched as far as the eye could see. Four
huge golden figures stood in the four directions, holding bronze plates to collect dew, which shone brightly in the sunlight.
At the highest stood an incomparably magnificent palace, its awe-inspiring
grandeur palpable even from dozens of miles away.

Cheng Zongyang gazed at the dreamlike splendor of the imperial capital, and sighed after a long while, "This Dragon Gate is so high; leaping over it
won't be easy."

...

Outside the gates of Yique, crowds surged, countless people flocking daily to this bustling imperial capital. Walking among
them , Cheng Zongyang clearly sensed the distinct atmosphere between the Han and Jin-Song states.

The Han state was fiercely martial; it only prohibited civilians from possessing powerful crossbows and armor, disregarding other items. Therefore,
most travelers carried swords. To Cheng Zongyang's surprise, the Han people carrying the most weapons were not wandering knights,
but scholars. Whether officials in tall hats or literati in square caps, all wore longswords at their waists
. And these weren't the gold-inlaid, jade-adorned swords of the Jin nobility, more decorative than practical; they were
genuine longswords used in combat. Most of their scabbards and tassels were worn, clearly indicating frequent use.

Whether on horseback or on foot, they walked with their hands on their swords, each with a dignified and imposing air.
The upright posture and long swords at their waists distinguished Han scholars from the refined and elegant scholars of the Jin and Song dynasties, giving them a robust and
simple air , full of martial and unrestrained spirit.

The heroes of the Han dynasty carried the most swords. The sword, the king of weapons, was the easiest
to wield . In close combat on the streets, a long sword in hand meant
an extra life.

Young men often used slingshots; they often had a bow case hanging on one side of their saddle and a leather bag full of slingshots on the other. The most
obvious distinguishing feature was the bridled hound beside their mounts and the falcon perched on their arms. One could say that anyone with a falcon and
a hound was a chivalrous young knight.

There was another type of traveler who also carried bows, but their arrows were unique, with extremely fine
silk threads . These were skilled hunters, and the silk threads at the ends of the arrows allowed them to effectively retrieve both the arrow and the prey. Therefore,
along with bows and arrows, they often carried a hunting fork on their shoulder, from which their captured prey was suspended.

Another group carried short swords, their scabbards inlaid with gold and silver, sometimes even with handles made of rhinoceros horn or ivory. These were
wealthy merchants, whose weapons were often a display of their riches.

Han nobles mostly wore short swords, their scabbards inlaid with jewels and white jade symbolizing their status, ornate and extravagant.
They rode swiftly on fine horses, surrounded by throngs of servants, exuding the arrogance and nobility of royalty.

Some carried engraving knives with sharpened tips; these were lower-ranking officials. Although the Han state
was famous , official records were primarily on bamboo and wooden slips for long-term preservation. The Han state did not use the imperial examination system; officials
were mostly appointed through recommendation, while clerks held hereditary positions. Clerks skilled in law were a formidable
force in the Han state.

Cheng Zongyang, leading his horse, followed the flow of people into the pass, his eyes darting about, overwhelmed by the sights. Suddenly,
a scream . A middle-aged man had just reached the door when a young boy lunged at him, pulling a sharp knife from his robes and
plunging it deep into his back. The middle-aged man screamed and collapsed, and then a burly, imposing man leaped forward, drawing
his sword and decapitating him. A commotion erupted in

front of the door, and passersby scattered. The boy dropped the knife, wrapped the rolling head in his clothes, and
slipped into the crowd, disappearing from sight. The imposing man, however, calmly thrust his blood-stained sword into the ground before him
, sat cross-legged beside the corpse, and shouted, "Heaven punishes the villain!"

"A true hero!"

a group of young men nearby cheered.

A squad of soldiers in crimson robes and black armor guarded the gate; as soon as the bloodshed occurred, the soldiers immediately surrounded the man and
swiftly took him away.

The surrounding witnesses were buzzing with discussion. Cheng Zongyang turned his head, looking at Old Man Zhu with a puzzled expression. "In
broad daylight , is the Han Kingdom really that chaotic with its public order? Killing someone in the street like this?"

"This is revenge; they wouldn't easily harm the innocent,"

Old Man Zhu said nonchalantly. "Didn't you see someone already paid with their life?"

"Killing someone just like that? This is too... too simplistic!"

a young man shouted. "This villain dared to frame Hero Guo! His execution today is the will of Heaven!"

With the young men's enthusiastic pronouncements, Cheng Zongyang quickly understood the whole story. According to Han Kingdom customs,
the emperor begins constructing his mausoleum upon ascending the throne. Now, more than ten years into his reign, the mausoleum is mostly complete. The Han Kingdom places great
importance on elaborate burials. The emperor's mausoleum is not a simple tomb, but a palace built to resemble a mortal palace.
In addition to the mausoleum, there is a complete set of city walls and palaces, everything just like in the mortal world. To ensure that emperors
could continue , the Han Dynasty would even build cities around their mausoleums, relocating wealthy and powerful families from the surrounding area to
the mausoleum complex. The famous "Five Mausoleum Youths" were sons of these wealthy families.

The current emperor did the same, but with even greater ambition, issuing an edict to relocate all wealthy households in the Han Dynasty
with assets exceeding three million strings of cash to the newly built mausoleum area. It is said that as many as 60,000 households were included in the relocation register,
demonstrating the immense power and influence of the Han Dynasty's powerful clans.

Among these relocated wealthy households was a renowned commoner swordsman, so famous that even Cheng Zongyang,
thousands of years later, had heard of him: Guo Jie. As a key figure in the biographies of wandering knights, his name was practically synonymous with
chivalry .

The problem was that although Guo Jie was famous, his actual wealth was not substantial, falling far short of three million strings of cash. However,
local officials felt that having him remain in the area would be a major problem, so they also submitted his name. Guo Jie's retainers and
close friends contacted various parties, hoping to remove him from the list. They even approached Grand Marshal
Huo Zimeng , who relayed to the emperor that Guo Jie's family was poor and unsuitable for relocation. Surprisingly, the emperor, who always obeyed the Grand Marshal, was
astonished and asked, "Guo Jie is just a commoner; how could he have the Grand Marshal personally intercede? Is he really that poor?"

Grand Marshal Huo was speechless and had no choice but to drop the matter.

When Guo Jie finally had to relocate, due to his poverty, those who had received his favors sent him money and assistance. However,
the local officials forbade him from receiving guests. Guo Jie's followers were all brave and courageous men; being bullied by a mere official,
they were enraged and assassinated the head official, surnamed Yang.

The heroes of the Han Dynasty sang a tragic song of heroism. While Guo Jie's retainers were indeed spirited and valiant, the Yang family was not one to be bullied.
After the Yang family's funeral, they immediately sent someone to Luoyang to file a complaint, but they didn't expect that someone was already guarding Yique, leading to
the bloodshed.

Those youths, including the murderer, had never actually met Guo Jie; they only admired his
chivalrous deeds and acted righteously. To avoid implicating Guo Jie, the murderer even stayed behind to take the blame.

Chapter Two:

Yique was already bustling with people, and now, with this bloody incident, the soldiers hadn't even finished cleaning up...
The area was now packed with onlookers. Hearing the youths' impassioned speeches, the crowd cheered loudly, many
striking the ground with their swords in admiration of the heroes' chivalry. Only one scholar said, "The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people. People
like Guo Jie kill at the drop of a hat; how can they be called virtuous?"

The youths retorted angrily, "Hero Guo is generous and righteous, always ready to help those in need, resolving their troubles without regard for
his own safety. His chivalry is unparalleled! Where did this pedantic scholar come from, daring to criticize Hero Guo!"

The scholar didn't back down, "Guo Jie is nothing but a self-proclaimed hero; in the end, he's just
after ."

The youths were filled with righteous indignation. "Hu..." "Speak ! Master Guo's chivalrous deeds are always kept secret. Only those he has helped,
grateful for his kindness, spread the word. Even we wandering knights, who occasionally have the opportunity to serve Master Guo,
never leave our names. Unlike you pedantic scholars who seek fame and fortune!"

The scholar said, "Knights break the law with their martial arts. With Master Guo as our example, you've been taught to be vengeful youths,
killing in a fit of rage. Where is the law?"

The guards, disturbed by the argument, returned. The youths mounted their horses and
shouted , "You pedantic scholar, dare to leave your names!"

The scholar replied loudly, "Zheng Ziqing from Hejian! I've come to the capital to study at Yuntai Academy. If you have any guidance,
I, Zheng, will be waiting!"

The youths glared at him angrily, then roared and left the pass.

Cheng Zongyang watched the scholar curiously. This kid really had some courage, daring to argue with a group of hot-blooded young
knights in the street. If he were in the shoes of this Confucian scholar, he might not dare to step forward. It wasn't that he couldn't win, but it simply
wasn't worth it.

He had only skimmed through Sima Qian's Biographies of Wandering Knights, vaguely remembering that Guo Jie's clan was wiped out, but he
had no recollection of why. If history hadn't gone astray,
Guo Jie's life had already begun its countdown after being ordered to relocate. Although he was quite
curious about this great hero who was listed in official history and whose name resounded throughout the ages, it was clearly unwise to try to establish a connection with him on his deathbed.

"Let's go find the Pengyi Society first."

Cheng Zongyang took out the address he had memorized and glanced at it. "Tongshang Lane, located in the northwest of Luoyang, next to the West Market.
It says that the West Market is the largest of the nine markets in Luoyang. Looks like a good place."

Old Zhu watched the commotion with amusement, without saying anything sarcastic. At this moment, he was walking ahead with his hands behind his back, leading his lame donkey.
When they passed a teahouse, he suddenly stopped, straightening his hunched back slightly.

A thin man sat in the teahouse, drinking tea. He kept his head down, seemingly oblivious to Old Zhu's gaze, his hand remaining motionless as he held
the teacup . After finishing his tea, he slowly set down the bowl, counting out the copper coins one by one and placing them on
the table. Then he stood up and slowly raised his face.

The man was extremely tall; Cheng Zongyang felt he was a head taller than himself. His face was unusually pale, almost
revealing the fine veins beneath his skin. His hair was white, but his age was impossible to discern. To put it bluntly, he
could be in his thirties or forties, fifty or sixties, or even older.

He met Old Zhu's gaze for a moment; those seemingly ordinary eyes seemed to conceal a pair of sharp hooks.
Even Cheng Zongyang, the observer, felt a sting in his eyes and involuntarily closed them.

When he looked again, the man had already left the teahouse, leaving only his receding figure in the distance.

Cheng Zongyang's heart skipped a beat. The man wasn't walking fast and was inconspicuous among the crowd, but
in the blink of an eye, he had already walked more than ten steps, and then disappeared in the next blink,
as if he had seen a ghost in broad daylight.

Old Zhu said, "Young Cheng, you go into the city by yourself. I'll come find you in a few days."

"Okay."

Cheng Zongyang didn't ask a single question and led his horse away.

"Purple Girl, come with me."

"What!"

Cheng Zongyang immediately exploded. "That brat is mine! Why should she go with you?"

Old Man Zhu said in a deep voice, "This is a matter for our Black Demon Sea."

"Don't give me that! Who begged me for help? Now you remember I'm an outsider? Either that brat
comes with me, or I'll go with you. You think you can take that brat away? No way!"

Cheng Zongyang was not polite at all. "Why should an old man like you take my woman on an adventure?"

"The grand competition is after the sacrifice. According to the rules, neither side will fight before the grand competition. This
is just a meeting with the people of the Witch Sect."

"If anyone's going to meet, it'll be me! What can that brat do with her little skills? You knelt down and begged me back then, wasn't
it just so I could fight them in the arena?"

Old Man Zhu said, "Who knelt down and begged you?"

"Stop with the details! Just tell me! In your grand competition, is it that brat or me who's going to represent us? Let me
tell you, having that brat represent us is definitely not an option!"

Old Zhu blinked and said, "Then what do you want me to say?"

"Boss Cheng, the sect's grand competition isn't just about two people going up to fight on the stage,"

Xiao Zi said. "The purpose of this meeting with them is to decide how to select the Chosen One. The grand ceremony is
next month , so even if there's danger, it's still a month away."

"That's all ancient history. Don't forget that the Witch Sect has already been wiped out once, and almost all those who follow the rules are dead
. What if they don't follow the rules?"

Cheng Zongyang lowered his voice and said, "I'm afraid they'll resort to underhanded tactics."

"Little Cheng, you're looking down on me!"

Old Zhu complained, "What underhanded tactics, what martial arts, I'm not afraid of anything. Besides, even
if look down on me, you can't look down on Zi-ya."

"Why are your ears standing so long! You're eavesdropping on our whispers!"

Old Zhu turned his face away, looking embarrassed. Cheng Zongyang held Xiao Zi's hand, his
anxiety . You see, the old man's original disciple was the Ghost Witch King; Xiao Zi wasn't even a substitute. Even though the old man
had no other choice and had to change his mind, he was still filled with worry.

"Don't worry,"

Xiao Zi chuckled, "I'll get the Taiyi Scripture back and solve the problem in your stomach."

"What's the Taiyi Scripture? It's not even worth a hair on your head!"

In the end, Cheng Zongyang only said one thing: "I'll go with you."

Xiao Zi curled her lips, "The Black Demon Sea is mine; I won't let you interfere."

Cheng Zongyang wanted to tell her not to worry about the dowry, that he just wanted her to be alright. But he didn't say it.
Outsiders might only see how domineering and ruthless Xiao Zi was, but he knew how delicate and sensitive she was. In
her heart, not a grain of sand could be tolerated.

Cheng Zongyang was silent for a moment. "There are only two of you. It's too dangerous."

"Shi Jingtang is already here. Besides, the Poison Sect isn't without connections in the Han Kingdom. If we're just talking about
numbers, we might even have more than the Witch Sect."

Since the old man dared to come, he must have some confidence, but Cheng Zongyang was worried that the old man was too unreliable.
The old man wasn't bad to Xiao Zi, but his style of doing things was full of wild and whimsical ideas,
a kind of eccentricity that was neither ordinary nor artistic, which made him very uneasy.

After a long silence, Cheng Zongyang said, "Be careful of Jian Yuji."

"I know."

Xiao Zi blinked. "Boss Cheng, you're always thinking about her. When I finish the [full text] competition,
how about you call her over to warm your bed?"

"What a joke! That bitch is cold inside and out, warming the bed for you?"

Cheng Zongyang hugged Xiao Zi's soft body tightly and whispered in her ear, "Don't underestimate your opponent.
If there's danger, better to kill the innocent than let the guilty go free."

Hearing such a resolute statement from someone as kind as him, Xiao Zi's beautiful eyes flickered slightly. Then
she wrinkled her nose. "You said what I wanted to say first."

She stuck out her tongue and gently licked Cheng Zongyang's earlobe, saying in a soft, almost melting voice,
"Boss Cheng, when I come back, how about I give you a blowjob..."

"You brat!"

Cheng Zongyang wanted to put on a stern face to increase his persuasiveness. But hearing this, even amidst his anxiety
, he couldn't help but smile. Xiao Zi rolled her eyes at him. …

From Yique, one could see the majestic palaces of Luoyang, the capital of the Six Dynasties, seemingly close at hand, though in reality,
it was still over forty li away. Cheng Zongyang didn't arrive at the city walls of Luoyang until the afternoon.

Luoyang was nestled against Mangshan Mountain to the north and bordered the Luo River to the south. The original city was nine li long from north to south and six li wide from east to west, known as the
"Nine-Six City." However, the city walls had been expanded to include the horse market and the southern market, which were now part of the outer city, making the entire city more square.

The outer city walls of Luoyang were six zhang high, with a watchtower every hundred steps. Beyond the walls flowed the mighty
Luo River. Inside the outer city was an inner city, also with walls, and further in was the palace city. Unlike the capitals of the other five
dynasties, Luoyang had two palaces, one in the north and one in the south, known as the Southern Palace and the Northern Palace respectively. Within the
palaces , pavilions stood facing each other, with more than ten buildings over ten zhang tall, the tallest exceeding twenty zhang. The sheer scale
was astonishing, even to Cheng Zongyang, a time traveler who had seen skyscrapers from the future world; no wonder
it could be seen from forty li away.

Cheng Zongyang crossed the Jinyang Bridge over the Luo River and entered the city through the Jin Gate in the southwest corner. As the capital of the Han Kingdom and
the renowned imperial capital of the Six Dynasties, Luoyang's prosperity was worlds apart from Wudu. At least, there wasn't a single
thatched- ; three- or two-story houses lined both sides of the roads. Similar to Wudu, the city
was also divided into neighborhoods by streets. Under the setting sun, the entire city was bathed in a pale orange glow,
magnificent dreamlike.

The Tongshang neighborhood, where the Pengyi Society was located, was in the northwest of Luoyang, more than ten li from the city gate. Cheng Zongyang inquired along the way and
finally found the Pengyi Society at dusk.

Xiao Zi hadn't taken Jing Li and Poppy with her when she left, and Cheng Zongyang couldn't very well take them to the Pengyi Society. He first
settled them in the nearby West Market before paying them a visit.

The Pengyi Society's business in the Han Kingdom had only recently opened, and the shop wasn't large, with only a few people inside. However, being
a carriage and horse trading company, the courtyard was extremely spacious, enough to accommodate dozens of carriages and horses. The branch manager, Jiang Anshi, was
a man over forty years old. He had originally served in Meng Laoda's direct battalion. As one of the oldest
soldiers in the Xingyue Lake camp, Jiang Anshi was already married with children. After the Battle of Jiangzhou, he was sent to Luodu to oversee the Pengyi Society's operations.

Jiang Anshi tapped his heels together and raised his hand in a military salute, "Colonel Cheng!"

Cheng Zongyang, who had come directly to the door, was somewhat surprised, "You recognize me?"

Jiang Anshi smiled, "I've heard about you from the brothers in the camp. But I didn't expect Colonel Cheng to come so quickly."

"Was it Chen Qiao who told you? He's quick with his news."

Jiang Anshi said solemnly, "The Pengyi Society's Luodu branch has a total of seven people, four outside and three inside. According to
Colonel Meng's orders, from today onwards, they will all obey Colonel Cheng's command."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother haven't been promoted yet, how did I become a colonel?"

Jiang Anshi said, "Colonel Cheng may not know yet, but last month, the reorganization of the Xingyue Lake Camp was completed
. The newly formed Xingyue Lake Camp consists of three regiments and nine battalions. Colonel Cheng is the commander of the first regiment, and
the battalion , Du Yuansheng, Zang Xiu, and Wu Sangui, have all been promoted to major. Therefore, Regiment Commander Cheng and Regiment Commander Hou
have been promoted to colonel." With

the reorganization of the Xingyue Lake Camp, Cheng Zongyang took over Xie Yi and Xiao Yaoyi's old troops and established his own
direct battalion. Si Mingxin, Lu Jing, and Meng Feiqing's direct battalions were merged into the Third Regiment, with Meng Feiqing as the regimental commander. However, all three
handed over their troops to Yue Shuang, allowing her to take command of the army. Si Mingxin and Lu Jingteng's departure for Luodu was
actually a disguised retirement, a way to extricate themselves from military affairs and remain behind the scenes as pawns. Currently, the strongest fighting force in the Xingyue Lake camp
is Hou Xuan's Second Regiment, with Cui Mao and Wang Tao both stationed there. If a real battle were to break out, Cheng Zongyang estimated that even if his
First Regiment and Yue Shuang's Third Regiment joined forces, they would still be no match for the Second Regiment.

The victory in the Battle of Jiangzhou... [The rest of the text appears to be unrelated and possibly machine-generated gibberish.]

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Six Dynasties Cloud Dragon's Chant (Physical Cover, Volume 20) Author: Nongyu & Longxuan

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