Six Dynasties Cloud Dragon Chant 18 Author: Nongyu, Longxuan

Six Dynasties Cloud Dragon Chant (18)
Author: Nongyu, Longxuan Word Count: 60758 Links 1-17
Chapter 1
Although he avoided the midday heat, the sun was still scorching. Cheng Zongyang drew his sword and cut off a clump of brambles, tore it off and threw it aside, then straightened up.
The continuous mountain range stretched as far as the eye could see, and its vastness filled his chest as if a surge of energy was surging within him, making him want to roar out loud. From the Southern Wilderness to Canglan, Cheng Zongyang had seen many mountains, but the mountains before him were completely different from those he had seen before. The huge mountain was majestic and rugged, with hard ridges like blades, exposing large areas of rock. The valley was as if it had been cleaved open by an axe, deep and vast. There were many rocks and few trees on the mountain, and most of the vegetation was concentrated in the valley. Although the trees were not as dense as in the Southern Wilderness, they were tall and straight, each one piercing the blue sky, and from a distance, they seemed to be filling the entire valley.
Old Zhu, hands clasped in his hands, said in a condescending tone, "Young Cheng, you've never seen this before, have you? Young man, you lack experience. Unlike me, I've traveled all over the country, I've crossed more bridges than you've walked roads!"
Cheng Zongyang said, "Judging from your tone, you know what mountain this is?"
"Of course!" Old Zhu gestured wildly, "I could tell at a glance that this is a mountain to the north! Look at this mountain... tsk tsk! It's so big... it must be from the Tang Dynasty, the Han Dynasty, or the Qin Dynasty!
In my opinion, we've arrived north of Yunshui, no doubt about it! Absolutely no mistake!"
Cheng Zongyang said with a dark face, "You only mentioned three of the six dynasties, dare you be a little more generous?"
Old Zhu smiled ingratiatingly, "Young Cheng, don't be impatient! There's a village down there, just go ask around and you'll know."
At this moment, a dog barked, and a small dog emerged from the brambles like a torpedo, its tail held high. The fluffy white fur was covered with burrs and thorns, and it excitedly jumped, trying to crawl into its mistress's arms. Little Purple put her hands on her hips and scolded, "You're filthy! Don't come near me!"
Xuexue rolled over with her tail drooping, lying on her back on the mountain road, her belly heaving rapidly, panting heavily with her red tongue lolling out, and turning her head to look at her mistress with a wronged expression.
"You little rascal, don't you know a good dog doesn't block the way?" Cheng Zongyang picked up the little rascal by the ears and threw it onto Old Zhu's back.
Old Zhu ignored it, stretching his neck and sniffing hard, saying, "We made it! We made it! The village is stewing meat... Oh! It's chicken..."
"Old man, your nose is more sensitive than a dog's, you can smell it across a mountain ridge?"
"Go! Go! Hurry!" Old Zhu shouted urgently, "If we're any later, there will only be soup left!"
Old Zhu's feet moved like the wind, and he hurried down the mountain, leaving a trail of dust.
With Old Zhu leading the way in a hurry, the three finally reached the foot of the mountain before sunset. Amidst the roar of the water, a large river rushed out from between the rocks, its channel strewn with stones of all sizes, the rushing water splashing white spray against the reefs. The river, blocked by the mountains, made a bend at its foot, its downstream flow suddenly slowing, carving out a rocky beach on the bank where the village was located. A dike, though not high, was over two zhang wide and appeared extremely sturdy.
Cheng Zongyang had initially thought it was just a small mountain village, but upon closer inspection, he found it bustling with activity, with herds of mules and horses. If it weren't for the dozen or so thatched-roof houses with rammed earth walls, it would have resembled a lively little town.
"Finally arrived after a long journey, I can finally get a good night's sleep tonight..."
"Brother Zhang, you've arrived too!"
"This Brother Zheng is from the Fuping Marquis's family..."
"This one is surnamed Yang, from the Yang family of Sizhitang..."
"Nice to meet you..."
The village was bustling with activity, people exchanging greetings. Amid the noise, a sharp voice rang out, "Place your bets now! Place your bets now!"
A thin, bony boy squatted on the ground, his sleeves rolled up high, one hand pressing down on a ceramic bowl on the table, shouting with spittle flying, "Whether it's a dragon or a snake, we'll find out in one go!"
A group of valiant youths surrounded the table, one of them saying with great bravado, "I'll bet! Big!" He tossed out a money bag, and dozens of silver coins rolled out instantly.
"Alright!" The boy lifted the lid of the earthenware bowl, his face instantly turning extremely ugly. He cursed loudly, pinching his wrist and saying hatefully, "This stinking hand! It deserves to be chopped off!"
"Brother, what a skill!" The surrounding boys cheered, as if they had won a battle.
Cheng Zongyang noticed that the skinny man looked somewhat familiar and couldn't help but take a few more glances. The game they were playing was a dice game of high or low, a simple game of flipping and turning, and they had already played several rounds in a short time. The skinny man won a few small rounds, then lost a big one, and then beat his chest and stomped his feet in frustration. The boys' excitement grew higher and higher, but Cheng Zongyang, as an observer, had a clearer perspective. Although the skinny man had wins and losses, he won more than he lost. However, he won very cautiously, winning a big one and then losing an even bigger one, making the boys think that he was on a winning streak and increasing their excitement. In this way, he won more than a dozen silver coins in a short time, making a small profit without making a fuss.
The skinny boy had lost again and was grimacing when a man burst in, yelling, "High IQ! Aren't you going to eat?! Gamble again! Watch your legs!" The skinny boy quickly jumped off the stool, his face contorted in pain. "Brother Feng, I'm losing right now. Take a break and catch your breath. I'll play one more round and try to win back some money..."
"Win back some money, huh?! Get out of here!" The man grabbed the skinny boy by the ear and dragged him out.
The surrounding youths burst into laughter, their laughter not malicious. They thought the boy, though not very good at gambling, was a straightforward and honest person, and they got along well with him.
Cheng Zongyang was dumbfounded. Although he thought the skinny boy Ma Yuan had called away looked familiar, he never imagined that this skinny boy would be the fat, balloon-like Gao Yanei! Back then, seeing that boy spoiled rotten by Gao Qiu, he simply kicked him out of Lin'an to suffer, but he never expected him to suffer like this! He had become so thin he was unrecognizable; if the fiercely protective Gao Qiu saw him, he'd probably want to devour him alive!
Gao Zhishang and Feng Yuan dragged each other to a secluded spot. Feng Yuan stamped his foot and said, "My dear sir! Get to work! I just turned my back and you sneaked out to gamble."
Gao Zhishang pulled out some coins from his sleeve, grinning, "Brother Feng, this is a token of my respect."
Feng Yuan shook his head vigorously, "I don't want it."
"Brother Feng, this money is what I earned myself, I didn't steal or rob, it's clean."
"You, if you have money, buy yourself some food. Look how thin you are..." Feng Yuan added, "Don't let Grandpa Ha see you!"
A low cough came from behind, and a tall, aged, beast-like old man came out of the thatched hut, saying dryly, "Food money."
Gao Zhishang quickly took out silver coins, which Ha Michi took slowly, saying, "No meat allowed."
Gao Zhishang stood up straight as a stick, "Uncle Ha, don't worry! I won't even drink the soup! All vegetarian! I dare to eat a single bite of meat!" He pulled up his clothes and gestured on his thigh, saying, " "You can break my legs! From here!"
Suddenly someone laughed, "If you keep going higher, they'll be up to your waist."
Feng Yuan was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed incredulously, "Boss Cheng! You... what are you doing here!"
Gao Zhishen turned around abruptly, his face filled with surprise and joy, "Master!"
Cheng Zongyang smiled at Hamichi, "Uncle Ha, you've had a hard time. Did this kid cause you any trouble?"
Hamichi's thin face was expressionless as he said, "He behaved himself after a couple of days. He's been leading the horse and chopping wood along the way, quite obedient."
Feng Yuan suppressed a laugh and said, "The young master was rolling around on the ground for the first two days, yelling that he wanted to go home. Master Ha made him drink a bowl of laxatives, and he had diarrhea for several days before he finally behaved himself."
Hearing his own embarrassing situation, Gao Zhishun didn't care at all and said with a smirk, "That laxative was sweet. After drinking one bowl, I wanted another. Master, you don't know, my poop was all oily those days! White and chubby, weighing at least ten pounds, enough for a mountain person to cook vegetables for two months."
"Damn it... kid, could you be any more disgusting?"
As he spoke, a burly, beast-like man crawled out of the thatched hut, his massive body nearly crushing the doorframe. The blue spots on his face throbbed, revealing a twisted and terrifying smile. He shouted in a rough
voice, "My lord!" Cheng Zongyang's hair stood on end. He roared, "Shut up!" and quickly said, "Old beast, what are you doing in there?"
The blue-faced beast honestly replied, "Watching the chickens." He then pointed at Gao Yanei, "So he won't steal any."
Old Zhu squeezed in, clutching a broken bowl, his eyes blazing with fire. "So it's your own? No wonder it smells so good! Come on! Let me taste it first..." He didn't stand on ceremony and picked up a ladle to ladle out the soup.
Suddenly, the blue-faced beast roared like thunder. Old Zhu's ladle had been a bit too forceful, scooping out the whole chicken.
"Hey! Put it down!"
"Let me see if it's cooked..."
"Let go!"
The two argued loudly inside the house. Cheng Zongyang turned around and said, "How long has it been since we've had meat?"
Xiao Zi laughed, "It seems like a few days."
Feng Yuan said, "Boss Cheng, what happened to you two on the way here? Why is Uncle Zhu so anxious?"
"That old man is like a weasel." Cheng Zongyang took out some coins, "Let's go buy two more chickens."
Feng Yuan shook his head and said, "No, no, there's nothing to buy here. We can't even spend our money. These are wild chickens we just caught on the road."
"There aren't even any chicken sellers? Isn't this a town?"
"This is the mountain hut where the Pi family's servants live. There's usually no one here."
"What's going on? What is this place? What are you doing here?"
"Shouyang Mountain! Boss Cheng, didn't you send us to see..." Feng Yuan lowered his voice, "That business?"
Cheng Zongyang remembered, "Shouyang Mountain? In the Han Kingdom?"
Feng Yuan asked cautiously, "Boss Cheng, is something wrong? I heard you went south, how did you end up here?"
Cheng Zongyang's mind was in turmoil, and he didn't speak for a moment. It was actually Shouyang Mountain? Jian Yuji had said that Yun Ruyao had been sent to Wudu City at the foot of Shouyang Mountain, but that woman's words were far too trustworthy, so he decided to go to Jiankang himself to meet the heads of the Yun family, kowtow and admit his mistakes, and then propose marriage. However, he dared not ignore Shouyang Mountain, which Jian Yuji had mentioned. Taking advantage of the copper mine business that Shi Chao had mentioned, he first sent Feng Yuan and Gao Zhishang over to scout out the way, and then transferred Ao Run to join them. He never expected that the teleportation portal of the Taiquan Ancient Formation would be here.
Cheng Zongyang calmed down. "I went to the Taiquan Ancient Array. Don't ask for details; just tell me about your experience."
"Okay!" Feng Yuan started talking, beginning with leaving Lin'an and going on and on about entering the mountains. Cheng Zongyang had instructed that Gao Zhishang not to ride a horse, to give the kid a good workout. However, everyone's pace was based on Gao Zhishang's speed, and the first half month was miserable. They couldn't even walk ten miles a day. Cheng Zongyang had already circled around Canglan and returned, while they had only been at Shouyang Mountain for a few days.
They had inquired about the copper mine. It was said that the government was arguing with the Pi family, the Marquis of Pingting. The Pi family produced land deeds, claiming that tens of thousands of acres of hillside land on the mountain belonged to the Pi family. But the government also produced laws, stating that the law clearly stipulated that mountains, forests, ponds, and lakes belonged to the emperor, and they wanted to reclaim ownership of the mountain land. The Pi family also claimed to be marquises, and their properties belonged to the Pingting Marquisate, a fiefdom granted by the emperor, meaning even the prefect had no jurisdiction over its affairs. The government, however, argued that the marquisate only had the right to collect taxes; actual management was the government's responsibility, and the marquisate had no right to interfere. This led to a bitter dispute, and as for the copper mine, it was nowhere to be found.
Feng Yuan and Hamichi discussed the matter and decided to put Gao Zhishang (the high-IQ man) in charge of the decision. But Gao Zhishang had no ideas. Forced into a corner, he spent a few days loitering somewhere and learned that the Pi family sent people to the mountains to cut timber every summer during the floods. Besides using it themselves, they would sell the rest locally. The hemlock wood from Shouyang Mountain was a superior material for shipbuilding. The Pi family occupied several valleys and cut tens of thousands of logs annually, attracting merchants and even coastal prefectures to purchase them during the logging season. Gao Zhishang, abandoning the copper mine, suggested that since everyone had come all this way, they shouldn't leave empty-handed. Selling some timber wouldn't be a wasted trip, so they headed into the mountains.
The Pi family had built thatched huts in the mountains for their logging slaves, but now that the slaves were all out logging, the empty huts were left for visiting merchants. Compared to the strong commercial atmosphere of the Jin and Song kingdoms, the Han kingdom was much more simple. Since the huts were empty, they didn't charge a penny, letting the merchants stay for free, but there were no corresponding facilities; the merchants had to bring their own.
Cheng Zongyang specifically instructed that Gao Zhishang wouldn't get any of the money or goods they brought; he had to earn his own food each day. Gao Zhishang was indeed a bachelor. He initially stubbornly resisted for a few days, throwing tantrums and acting unreasonably, but after being given a bowl of laxatives by Hami Chi, he immediately realized he couldn't fight against the powerful beastman. He then obediently led horses and chopped wood every day to earn enough for his food.
Gao Qiu had even abandoned his own son for this adopted son, and upon hearing that he had gone to the Han Kingdom, he was extremely worried.
As a compromise, Cheng Zongyang agreed to let him send people to secretly protect him, but Ha Ye refused. The old beastman, in a fit of temper, beat Fu An and his men away with a beating, and told the unfortunate Gao Zhishang that because he had traveled too slowly, he had even
spent all his return fare, leaving only his capital for business, not a single copper coin to be touched. From now on, not only would he have to earn his own food, but he would also have to pay for the entire group's rations.
Driven to desperation, Gao Zhishang simply gave up and, with the young master's face buried in his pants, tried every possible way to get money. This kid wasn't stupid; although he had gone hungry and full intermittently along the way, he had managed to survive until now.
A chicken was divided into six portions, and each person received a bowl of soup. Although it was far from a feast, it was the most reassuring meal Cheng Zongyang had had in days. Old Zhu got the chicken butt and two chicken feet, and he was happily gnawing on them in the corner.
The Blue-Faced Beast stuffed his share into his mouth, swirled it on his tongue, and spat out the chicken bones like fish bones, smacking his lips with lingering satisfaction. The worst off was High IQ; he didn't even get a taste of chicken soup, just ate cornbread with plain water, and had to listen to the others smacking their lips.
Cheng Zongyang stood up and patted High IQ on the shoulder, "Disciple, come for a walk with your master."
High IQ quickly stuffed the cornbread into his mouth, "Sure! I'm stuffed, this is a good opportunity to digest."
Cheng Zongyang remained silent, leading High IQ along the riverbank until they reached the edge of the village before stopping. Gao Zhishang rolled up his sleeves and wiped them on the stone, saying ingratiatingly, "Master, please sit!"
Cheng Zongyang sized him up in the dim moonlight. "Why are you so thin?"
"Right? I think you look quite handsome." Gao Zhishang grinned. "Uncle Ha said I'm all fat and my blood circulation is poor, so he told me to eat only vegetables and radishes to get rid of the fat."
Cheng Zongyang said, "Uncle, Uncle, you're quite affectionate."
"I call him Grandpa, isn't he a generation above my dad?" Gao Zhishang said, "Calling him Uncle won't hurt my dad finding a brother."
"Alright, kid, you know how to think about your dad now."
Gao Zhishang chuckled a few times. "I was young and ignorant back then, and I always made my dad angry. It wasn't until I came out that I realized how hard it was for my dad to raise me."
"I've learned a lot."
"Of course." Gao Zhishang said, "Master, I have to thank you. If I hadn't come out here, I would still be living a muddled life. I feel like I've grown several years older these past few months. Sometimes when I think about the past, I want to slap myself." Cheng Zongyang laughed and said, "Really?"
"Yes! Of course you will!" Gao Zhishang said, "Let me put it this way, before, silver coins were nothing to me. A casual drink at a brothel would cost several hundred. Now I know that one silver coin can buy a chicken, two catties of meat, five catties of rice, and a small bundle of firewood, enough for a family's daily needs. In Lin'an, you can easily find a decent prostitute for at least a hundred silver coins. But after coming out here, I found out there are cheaper options. You can visit a brothel on the street for a dozen copper coins. And there's Guanpu, which is called gambling here..." "We brothers used to gamble with dice, winning or losing tens of thousands of silver coins in a single night without batting an eye. It wasn't until I got outside that I saw how some people would fight tooth and nail for a few silver coins. Just thinking about it makes my heart tremble."
High IQ rubbed his chest, still shaken. "I was desperate for some money, I was practically blinded by greed. People say a little gambling is harmless, but big gambling makes you rich, so I thought I'd try my luck. But I got caught cheating the first time. If it weren't for Brother Feng, my legs would have been broken."
Cheng Zongyang patted his head. "Kid, you know you were wrong, right?"
"That's right!" the high-IQ man said through gritted teeth. "I learned my lesson. I went out and found a dice seller. I took out all the money I had and bought a few that had been tampered with. Then I practiced every day, while walking and while sleeping. Now I can't say I can roll any number I want, but I'm about 70 or 80 percent sure." He flipped his hand and pulled out a few dice, shouting, "A triple!"
The three dice landed on the ground, spun a few times, and finally landed two sixes and a three.
Although he fell a little short, Gao Zhishang was still smug. "Master, not bad, right?"
Cheng Zongyang felt that his expectations of him were not quite right with reality. "Besides eating, drinking, gambling, and whoring, you have nothing else to do?"
"Yes! Yes! Of course I do!" Gao Zhishang quickly replied, "Every day I lead the horse and chop wood, and I train my muscles and bones as Uncle Ha instructed." He bent his arm. "Look! I'm thin, but all muscle! Oh, Master, you don't know,"
he lowered his voice, "that old man Ha is a pervert! He's addicted to beating me! If I chop even one less piece of wood, he'll catch me and beat me to death!"
"Didn't you not kill him?" Cheng Zongyang scolded, reminding him, "He's doing this for your own good, don't be angry with old man Ha."
Gao Zhishen grinned, "Master, look at what you're saying! I'm sensible now, I know who really cares about me. To be honest, for the first few days, I dreamed of skinning Uncle Ha alive, grinding him into powder, throwing him in the latrine, and then pooping on top of him. After half a month, I found that I had more energy, slept better, and everything tasted delicious. Don't laugh at me, Master, but before, I needed two maids to help me with sex, but now I can walk for miles without getting out of breath. Uncle Ha said I have insufficient qi and blood, and if I don't strengthen my muscles and bones, I'll be ruined, so he forced me to do this and that...
Although it's tiring, I know he's doing it for my own good."
Cheng Zongyang took out a chocolate bar from his sleeve, "Eat this."
"What is this? Mmm! Mmm... Delicious!" The high-IQ wolfed down the chocolate, smacking his lips happily. After a while, he said, "This bite is heavenly."
Cheng Zongyang couldn't bear to see this and took out another piece. "Here you go."
The high-IQ sniffed it with the tip of his nose and then carefully put it away.
"Why aren't you eating?"
"My dad's never eaten this before, I'm saving this piece for him."
Cheng Zongyang looked at him in shock. "Kid, you've finally come to your senses? You know how to be filial to your father?"
This time, Gao Zhishang didn't grin. He lowered his head and said after a while, "One day, we passed through a town and came across a family where the man had just died. They had nothing, so they had to sell their child for a burial. The child was only six or seven years old, and he was being led away by a rope, crying all the way..." He took a few breaths. "I was thinking then, what if that child met a godfather like my dad?"
He looked at Cheng Zongyang expectantly. "Master, do you think it's possible?"
Cheng Zongyang was silent for a long time before changing the subject. "Let's get down to business. What do you think about the copper mine?"
Gao Zhishang wiped his eyes and said, "I've thought about this. We still need to rely on the government." "
This place is the fiefdom of the Marquis of Pingting. The government can't easily interfere, can they?"
"I met a group of young men in the city, all well-known wandering knights in the area. They say the prefecture is getting a new governor, and they're planning to give the new one a hard time."
"What does this have to do with the copper mine?"
"These knights hunt by day and rob travelers at night, but they rely on the power of the Pi family, so no one in the prefecture dares to offend them. They've heard the new governor is strict in enforcing the law, which makes them wary, so they want to accuse him of rampant banditry within their territory to get him dismissed and punished. But in my opinion, it's better if they don't commit any crimes. Once they do, not only will the Pi family be unable to protect them, but they might even offend the entire Pi family. If things escalate, the Pi family will definitely be the ones to suffer."
"So you're betting on the new governor?"
"That's right! Pijialong is a local powerful family with close ties to the major clans in the prefecture. If the new prefect offends these local powerful families too much, he'll definitely need to rely on outside merchants.
That'll be an opportunity for our Cheng Clan Chamber of Commerce." Gao Zhishen, who used to be so fat his face had lost all definition, now looked increasingly familiar to Cheng Zongyang. Could this kid be Gao Qiu's son? Where did this clueless playboy get such a talent for political intrigue?
"I told you, you're in charge here. Just go for it." Cheng Zongyang took out his money pouch. "You need money to make friends with those wandering knights. Here's some gold coins for you."
"No need," Gao Zhishang said with a grin. "If I really lose money to them, they'll look down on me. Those knights are men of their word, brave and courageous. I'll just wait and see when they make their move."
Cheng Zongyang had his own plans for the Shouyang Mountain copper mine, but seeing Gao Zhishang's confidence, he smiled and said, "Alright, I'll watch what you do."
Gao Zhishang said sincerely, "Master, thank you."
"Kid, you already said that."
"I was thanking you for what happened earlier, but this time I'm thanking Master for giving me this opportunity." Gao Zhishang said, "My godfather is really good to me, afraid I'll be exposed to the wind and rain; Master is good to me because he dares to let me take charge. Master, I really admire you. You didn't even blink at such a big thing, not afraid at all that I'll handle things well."
"I'm telling you now, if you mess this up, get back to Lin'an immediately and never come out again.
Kid, feeling the pressure?"
Gao Zhishang smiled bitterly, "I really do..." He puffed out his chest and shouted, "Don't worry, Master, I will never let you down!"
The village was crowded and noisy, so Cheng Zongyang didn't bring out his egg-shaped hut and spent the night in a thatched hut with Feng Yuan and the others. Just as dawn broke, someone ran through the village, shouting, "Release the trees! Be careful!" while banging on a wooden clapper.
Accompanied by the deafening sound of the clapper, a group of people came down from the mountains. They were all servants of the Pi family, dressed in coarse cloth, their shoulder muscles deformed and developed like bulging balls of flesh. These people carried hooks and ropes, and squatted down behind the dike to wait.
The village merchants also came out, watching from a distance.
A deep rumble came from upstream, followed by a log, thicker than a man, leaping from the rocks and flying several meters into the air before crashing into the water, splashing everywhere. Carrying the momentum from its descent, the log slammed downstream towards the crescent-shaped dam. The stone dam crashed with a deafening roar, sending a shower of rubble flying; the immense impact even made the ground tremble slightly.
The servants immediately used hooks to grab the logs and, using the current, quickly dragged them to the rocky beach downstream. Then, they tied ropes to the logs and pulled them to an open area on the bank.
One after another, massive logs continued to pound down the dam, their trunks all over three meters long and weighing over a thousand pounds, like countless battering rams striking the stone dam. At first, Cheng Zongyang had wondered why the dam was so wide; now he realized that if it hadn't been so sturdy, it would have collapsed long ago from the relentless onslaught of these giant logs.
The servants, all seasoned loggers, swiftly swung their hooks during lulls in the cascading logs, dragging ever-increasing amounts of timber downstream. Another group tied ropes to the trees, pulling the trunks like boat trackers. They bent over, their bodies almost touching the ground, the ropes digging deep into their shoulder muscles, chanting low calls as they dragged the trunks ashore.
A middle-aged man, resembling a minor official, held a ledger, noting the length and size of the timber while directing his servants to move it to different locations; the longest and largest logs were piled closest to the riverbank, decreasing in size as they moved further in.
The most skilled were the craftsmen who sorted the timber with hooks, needing to precisely hook the trunk the instant it struck the embankment and bounced off. Too early, and the trunk, propelled by the upstream force, would send both man and hook flying; too late, and the trunk would lose momentum, floating against the embankment, requiring ten times the effort to drag it back. Sometimes four or five trees drift downstream at a time. Preventing them from colliding and finding the right angle to cast the hook requires precise eyesight and skill.
Trees drifting downstream have their roots in front and their tops behind, maximizing the impact area and reducing the risk of slippage during dragging. As more and more trunks drift downstream, the craftsmen move faster and faster. The massive trunks, carrying a thunderous force, collide and tumble back and forth in the small bay. They are shirtless, soaked to the bone by the waves, but each one is quick and agile, their hooks never missing a target. Amidst the surging water, the violent giants, once hooked, immediately become docile, like whales being pulled ashore by bamboo poles. The better the skill, the more the trunk's own momentum can be used to make the timber slide as far as possible on the rocky beach, saving the dragging companions effort.
Cheng Zongyang had originally planned to leave at dawn to meet Ao Run in the city, but he found himself lost in thought. Although it was just lumberjacks using the river to transport timber, the rushing giant logs, accompanied by waves crashing against the embankment, possessed the imposing force of a thousand troops. The lumberjacks, like warriors wielding spears, stood firm against the impact of the giant logs, firmly guarding the embankment beneath their feet, their skillful techniques breathtaking.
Suddenly, an unexpected event occurred: two hemlock logs flew down from upstream, collided in mid-air, and one of them suddenly stood upright. Its roots struck the embankment, and the massive trunk violently leaped over the embankment and flew onto the bank. A lumberjack, unable to dodge in time, was swept away by the tree, the trunk sliding several feet across the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust, almost crashing into a thatched hut.
A few cries rang out from among the craftsmen hooking the timber: "Heiwa! Heiwa! Hook tight! Don't let go!"
"Don't run around! Hold on! Hold on!" The timber was constantly drifting down, and any delay would cause it to pile up below the dam. Once the dam was filled with trees, the timber drifting down would be thrown back, with unpredictable consequences. Therefore, no matter how anxious the craftsmen were, they could only stay on the dam and wait to
collect their quota for the day. The onlookers gasped in shock. When the dust settled, they found the craftsman trapped under a tree, his form unrecognizable, with only a stream of muddy blood flowing out. The minor official shook his head, "Someone died on the first day of logging this year, what bad luck." He then took out a bamboo slip and carved a few lines.
The crowd screamed again. The craftsman was still holding the hook, which had been flung out when the tree trunk struck him, piercing through the chest of a bystander. The merchant didn't even utter a sound before he was dead.
Several teenagers burst forth, stripping the merchant naked before anyone could react, then snatching his belongings and riding off out of the village.
The minor official stamped his foot and cursed, "You scoundrel! You even steal from the dead! Have you no conscience?!"
The teenager who had gambled with the high-IQ man the night before shouted, "If Heaven gives something and you don't take it, you'll suffer the consequences! This is a windfall from heaven; the quickest to act should claim it!" Before he finished speaking, the group of teenagers had already rushed into the forest, leaving behind only a string of unrestrained laughter.
The merchants finally realized what had happened and angrily surrounded the minor official, demanding an explanation. The minor official remained expressionless, simply recording the events as they were, ignoring the demands of the crowd.
Cheng Zongyang said, "This clerk doesn't look like a government official."
Feng Yuan replied, "He's an official appointed by the marquisate itself; he's actually a retainer of the Pi family."
After asking around, Cheng Zongyang learned that the kings and marquises of the Han state could appoint their own officials and manage their own fiefdoms. Compared to the titles in the Song state, their power was immense, which explained why marquises were so highly valued in the early Han dynasty.
Cheng Zongyang had no interest in watching any further. Their timber purchase was just a pretext, and he had no desire to observe the transaction. He gave Feng Yuan a few instructions and then hurried to Wudu.
Chapter Two.
Ao Run was currently in Wudu. They needed to maintain constant contact with the merchant guild while outside. Of the five, Hami Chi and the Blue-Faced Beast were barbarian beastmen, unsuitable for solo action; Feng Yuan was a mage, physically weak and intellectually challenged. Ao Run had to remain in the city to relay messages and appease Fu An and the others. Fu An had brought ten reliable Imperial Guards to protect the young master, and although they had been driven away, none dared return. Staying in Wudu was a way to be closer to the high-IQ figure, and also to give the Grand Commandant an explanation. Whether they would be of any use was up to fate.
Cheng Zongyang had lost contact with Lin'an since entering Canglan. Although he had encountered Feng Yuan, the Great Mage Feng knew little about the situation in Lin'an. Ao Run possessed the Dragon Eye Jade refined by Lin Qingpu, enabling him to actively contact Lin Qingpu. Cheng Zongyang also had this, but it became ineffective upon entering Canglan, possibly due to radiation.
Cheng Zongyang's immediate priority was to re-establish contact with Lin'an, send a message to the branch office in Yiling, instructing them to go to Canglan to meet Mo Rulin and the others, and also inform Wu Er and Little Fox of his whereabouts so they wouldn't wait in vain.
Wudu was located at the foot of Shouyang Mountain. Cheng Zongyang borrowed horses from Feng Yuan and, with Old Man Zhu and Little Purple, traveled swiftly, arriving in the city just past noon.
Wudu's city walls were magnificent, its area comparable to the famous cities of the Six Dynasties, but lacking the elaborate decorations and exquisite curves of the past. The eaves of government buildings were generally large, but rarely featured flowing, flying eaves; instead, simple, straight lines pressed heavily against the beams. Circular roof tiles, painted with various cloud, bird, animal, insect, flower, and text patterns, hung beneath the eaves; below were massive wooden pillars, their surfaces painted entirely, solemn and steady.
Compared to Lin'an, where land was incredibly valuable, Wudu was much more spacious, with large tracts of wasteland within the city, making it appear sparsely populated. The road was mostly filled with oxcarts, the surface paved with yellow earth and marked with deep ruts. Whether pedestrians or young men galloping on horseback, most carried swords and knives, demonstrating the fierce and martial spirit of the people.
Ao Run didn't stay at an inn; instead, Fu An and the others rented a house together. The houses in Han Kingdom were much more ordinary, mostly with rammed earth walls, smoothed and whitewashed, and thatched roofs, with a few occasionally having tiles.
When Cheng Zongyang arrived, several men were carrying bundles of thatch and mud to repair the roof. Ao Run squatted under a large locust tree, biting his fingers and holding his breath.
Cheng Zongyang asked, puzzled, "What are you doing?"
"Don't make noise, don't make noise! I'm almost remembering this word..." Ao Run slapped his forehead, racking his brains, then suddenly stood up abruptly, "Boss Cheng! Is that you? How come we didn't hear from you at all?"
Cheng Zongyang took the wooden slip from his hand. It had several lines of ink-written clerical script on it. "What's this?"
"The village head gave it to me. He said the government ordered all newcomers to fill out a form with their name, place of origin, and address. One copy is to be hung outside the door, and the other to be given to the government."
"Then fill it out."
Ao Run stammered, then lowered his head sheepishly and whispered, "I can't read..."
"Then what are you doing, fussing over this? Where's Fu An?"
A man jumped down from the roof and laughed, "Steward Fu is drunk and hasn't woken up yet."
Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Drinking so early in the morning?"
"Last night! Last night!" Ao Run quickly said, "Yesterday was Brother Fu's birthday, and we brothers hosted a feast. We got carried away and drank too much."
The man clasped his hands in a salute to Cheng Zongyang, "This humble servant is Liu Zhao, Left Commander of the Imperial Guard. This must be Master Cheng?"
Hearing "Master," Cheng Zongyang imagined himself as a swaying, pot-bellied country gentleman in an octagonal hat, and quickly replied, "When you're traveling, why bother with such formalities? If Commander Liu thinks highly of me, let's address each other as brothers."
Liu Zhao Relaxing, he laughed, "No wonder Brother Ao always praises Boss Cheng, saying he's a true man, without a trace of airs."
Cheng Zongyang chuckled, "We're brothers, no need to be so polite. Old Ao, take the pen, I'll fill it out. Did you all bring your travel permits?"
Gao Qiu, sending people out privately, certainly wouldn't use the Imperial Guard's name. Even Fu An and the others used the name of the Cheng Clan Merchant Guild. Each person had a travel permit, stating their identity and origin, and there were even several blank documents stamped with the official seal of the Song Dynasty, equivalent to officially recognized ID cards.
Cheng Zongyang quickly filled out the travel permits. Fu An was the guild's steward, Feng Yuan was the accountant, Ao Run and the others were porters and guards in the business, and the two barbarian beastmen were the guild's laborers.
Seeing that he had been assigned the title of stable boy, Old Man Zhu was displeased. "I travel all over the country, and everywhere I go, people have to call me stable boy. Little Cheng, change it, change it!" "
How about '弼马温' (Bima Wen, a lowly official in charge of horses)?" Cheng Zongyang said, changing it to stable boy. He only started using a brush in the Six Dynasties period. As his skills deepened, his brushstrokes became more and more fluid and skillful. Although he had never copied any rubbings, he was already quite good at it.
After finishing copying, he had someone deliver it to the village head's office. Ao Run then said, "Boss Cheng, what brings you here? I just contacted the Chamber of Commerce last night, and they said you were in Yiling."
Cheng Zongyang put down his brush. "Can you contact Qingpu? There are a few things I need to tell you."
Ao Run said, "Boss Cheng, this way."
Although it was a thatched hut, it was clean and tidy inside, clearly a specially prepared quiet room. Ao Run took out a jade tablet. "Mr. Lin instructed that as long as a message is received from the jade tablet, a spell will be cast to make contact within half an hour."
Cheng Zongyang nodded, sat down cross-legged, and said, "I came directly from the Taiquan Ancient Formation." He stopped Ao Run's questioning, "Don't make this public."
Ao Run sighed, "That's amazing! How did you do that?"
Cheng Zongyang said, "I wish I knew."
Ao Run hurriedly said, "Boss Cheng, it's just in time that you're here. There's something I've been worrying about how to tell you."
"What is it?"
"I saw people from the Yun family outside the city."
Cheng Zongyang's expression changed, and he sat up straight.
"I've been in Jiankang for so long, and although I haven't even entered the Yun family mansion, I recognize most of the people coming and going. That man is a guard of the Yun family. I saw him at the city gate the day before yesterday, and I was wondering why he was in Wudu. Then I thought, could it be that the Yun family also has a residence here?"
Cheng Zongyang's heart was pounding. "I'm not mistaken, am I?"
"No! I followed them quietly and saw a carriage. Although it didn't have any banners, I recognized several of the people accompanying it. They were guards of Sixth Master Yun." It
was definitely the right decision to transfer Ao Run to Wudu. Cheng Zongyang asked, "Do you know where they are going?"
Ao Run said, "I didn't dare to follow too closely. I watched them enter a large mansion outside the city from a distance. I inquired and found out that it's a property of the Yun family."
At this moment, a glint of light flashed in the room. Cheng Zongyang said, "We'll talk about this later. Make some preparations, and I'll go with you."
Ao Run agreed and left the quiet room. The water mirror had taken shape, and in its slightly shimmering light, it revealed a face that was serene yet tinged with shyness.
Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but laugh. Around him were rough and boisterous men like Wu Zhanwei and Ao Run; outsiders like Qi Yuan and Xu Junfang, who could speak to anyone, regardless of their background; a wise and unassuming man like Qiu Shaojun, detached from worldly affairs; fierce figures like Meng Feiqing and Wu Erlang; shrewd and calculating schemers like Qin Huizhi and Gao Qiu; a romantic figure like the young marquis; and a shameless old man like Zhu Laotou. Only Lin Yupu seemed like the boy next door, blushing occasionally even though he was now at the core of the group.
Upon seeing the head of the family, Lin Yupu was so excited that the water mirror shook wildly, almost interrupting the spell. He quickly calmed himself, and another person appeared in the mirror—Qin Huizhi.
Qin Hui bowed in greeting and said calmly, "Patriarch." Although his tone was flat, he couldn't hide the hint of satisfaction in his voice.
Cheng Zongyang smiled and said, "Hello, Huizhi. It's been a long time. You're still as charming as ever." Qin Huizhi said, "Since the patriarch entered Canglan, there has been no news of him. I didn't expect him to go to Wudu. I wonder how the young marquis and the others are?"
"The message I sent today is about this matter." Cheng Zongyang knew that Lin Qingpu's Water Mirror Technique couldn't last long, so he briefly explained the agreement he had reached with Mo Rulin and the others, and then said, "You immediately send someone to Canglan to hand over to Xu Junfang. If his injuries allow, bring him here as soon as possible. Tell the young marquis that I'm out of danger and that Xiao Zi is here too. Tell him to rest assured."
Qin Huizhi noted this down and then said, "Half a month ago, I sent someone to Yiling to look for the young master."
Cheng Zongyang frowned and asked, "What happened?"
"Since the beginning of summer, grain prices have soared. Many grain shops have come to exchange paper money to raise funds to cope with the grain prices. At that time, the gold coins in the treasury were almost exhausted. Fortunately, Changbo sent a sum of gold coins, which solved the immediate problem." "
Where did Wu Sangui get the money?"
"It's the proceeds from the sale of cement in Jiangzhou," Qin Huizhi said. "Jiangzhou currently produces 150,000 shi of cement per month. After deducting its own consumption, it sells nearly 90,000 shi each month, generating a profit of 50,000 gold coins." He paused, lowering his voice, and added, "Last month, a porterage in Qingzhou transported 50,000 shi in one go, using Black Demon Sea's vouchers."
Black Demon Sea is quite wealthy! The agreement signed with Jian Yuji stipulated that Black Demon Sea's annual agency share would be guaranteed at a minimum of 200,000 shi, with a maximum of one million shi. They thought they'd be lucky to even guarantee the minimum, but they transported 50,000 shi in one go.
At this rate, Jiangzhou's annual cement production, after deducting its own consumption, wouldn't even cover their share.
"I've already sent people to investigate that porterage firm, and we'll get back to you soon."
"No need to investigate. Since Jian Yuji dares to use this porterage firm, she's not afraid of being investigated." Cheng Zongyang focused his attention on the issue he was most concerned about, "Is the price of grain rising sharply?"
Qin Huizhi said, "Many places suffered from severe drought this spring, and it's said that even Qingzhou will have a poor harvest. The market trading volume is only 20% of what it used to be."
Wang Maohong had entrusted him to stockpile grain to help Jin State overcome the famine, but now, before the summer harvest, grain prices have already skyrocketed, and the situation is very bad. Cheng Zongyang pondered for a moment and ordered, "Send me the situation from various places as soon as possible."
"Yes." Qin Huizhi didn't dare to delay at all and added, "Another matter is that I just received news that three immortal masters from the Shenxiao Sect have emerged from seclusion and gone to Jiangzhou to build a Taoist temple for the Song Emperor."
With the intervention of the Taiyi Zhenzong sect, Jiangzhou and the Song Kingdom reached a private agreement: Jiangzhou would provide the site for the Song emperor to build a Taoist temple, thus saving face for the Song Kingdom. Unexpectedly, the Shenxiao sect intervened, planting a spy right in his heartland. Cheng Zongyang was utterly disgusted by this news, yet unable to retaliate.
So, let's all keep busy! Cheng Zongyang said, "Send people to the Taiyi Zhenzong and the Suofan Temple in Tang State, saying that the people of Jiangzhou are devout Buddhists and Taoists, and invite them to build temples and Taoist monasteries in Jiangzhou. All the land will be given away for free. If cement is needed for building the temples, it will be half price! The locations should all be outside the city, the farther away from the river, the better." Qin Huizhi hesitated and said, "This may not be a good thing in the long run. Please think
it over carefully, Master." "We'll talk about the future later. Let's get through this hurdle first." Cheng Zongyang said, "The Shenxiao Sect may not be afraid to make a move. Tell Elder Meng to be more careful."
"Understood."
Cheng Zongyang glanced at Lin Qingpu, who was practicing his internal energy. "How is the situation in Lin'an? Get to the point."
"The Wumu Prince's Mansion has begun reconstruction, but due to tight funds, it is only being slowed down. All the money shops have opened, and merchants are coming to exchange money. Although the amount is not much, it is still a small help. Regarding the grain in Jin State, Qi Yuan sent a letter, which I had someone deliver." Qin Huizhi smiled slightly. "Miss Yan'er and Aunt Lan are all well." "I'm just worried about you, young master, and I keep asking when you'll be back."
Cheng Zongyang felt a warmth in his heart and smiled, "I brought her a gift, brother, and yours too. I won't be returning to Lin'an for now, send someone over."
"Yes." After Qin Huizhi finished speaking, Lin Qingpu's spell came to an end, and the water mirror gradually disappeared.
Cheng Zongyang got up and paced a few steps. Qin Huizhi's abilities were beyond doubt, and although there were many affairs in Lin'an, he could probably handle them. Looking at the situation afterward, it became clearer that only a minority of the Song Kingdom insisted on using force against Jiangzhou. Jia Shixian was essentially tricked by the entire Song Kingdom, with even the Song ruler pushing things along to weaken Jia Shixian's power in the army.
Now, Jiangzhou had no external threats and was in a period of rapid development. With Meng Laoda in charge, the Shenxiao Sect couldn't cause any more trouble. The only thing to worry about was the grain. Jin Kingdom had a poor harvest, Song Kingdom had a poor harvest, and even Qingzhou had a poor harvest. Once a famine occurred, internal strife would likely follow. During the Six Dynasties period, the average yield per mu was only one or two shi (a unit of dry measure), and even the best fields yielded only four shi per mu, which translates to only four or five hundred jin (another unit of dry measure), less than a third of what it was in later generations. It's a pity he didn't have the ability to turn lead into gold , to casually change all the rice seeds.
Cheng Zongyang pushed open the door and came
out. "Old Ao! Prepare the horses!" Ao Run responded and led the horses out. "Woof! Woof!" A dog barked at this moment; it was Xiao Zi who had water drawn and put Xue Xue in a wooden tub for a bath. Xue Xue's two little paws clung to the edge of the tub, trying hard to jump out, but her legs were too short, and she couldn't climb out after struggling for a long time. Cheng Zongyang went over and hugged Xiao Zi, whispering in her ear, "Yao'er might be here; I'll go check." Xiao Zi handed him a piece of rope. "Here." "What for?" Xiao Zi laughed, "If the Yun family refuses, we can just tie up your Yao'er and bring her here." "What a joke!" Cheng Zongyang threw the rope aside, sighing inwardly. He knew the real trouble was yet to come. "Stay home and wait for me, don't wander off." Cheng Zongyang raised his voice and said, "Going out to hunt rabbits, anyone coming?" Old Zhu rushed out, "Me! Me!" Cheng Zongyang and Ao Run rode out of the city, and not far to the east, they saw a large river. Ao Run hadn't been idle in Wudu either, and had already scouted out the situation in the city. He pointed out, "This is the Wuyang River, which flows down from Shouyang Mountain. The trees felled on the mountain are tied into rafts and then lowered into this river. In another month, when the logging season arrives, the rafts in the river will be lined up one after another, covering half the river's surface." Cheng Zongyang pointed to both banks of the Wuyang River, "Aren't these the fiefdoms of the Pi family?" "The riverbanks need to be embanked and silted up, which one family can't handle alone. Therefore, the riverbed and the land within a hundred paces of the banks belong to the government." Cheng Zongyang had seen the scene of fishing for driftwood in the mountains, and at the time he wondered why they didn't just put the trees directly downstream, but instead risked dragging them to the shore. Only now do I realize that the river channel leading out of the mountains belongs to the government. If it is not bundled into rafts and sold as goods, it will become drifting, ownerless items if placed downstream. Cheng Zongyang said, "The Han state certainly distinguishes between public and private matters." Ao Run said, "Even I, Ao, don't understand the intricacies of this, but I heard a young retainer of the Marquis of Pingting complaining that while being enfeoffed as a marquis is glorious, the marquisate is granted by the emperor, and a single act of disrespect can lead to the expulsion of the state. For a more secure option, it's better to have a local powerful family recommend someone for the civil service examination; that way, wealth and status can be preserved." Cheng Zongyang said, "Even powerful families are afraid of ruin! Don't even mention the prefect; they can't afford to offend even the county magistrate." Old Zhu chuckled, "That's why local powerful families are all vying to be recommended for the civil service examination!" "Old man, you seem quite familiar with these things?" "Of course!" Old Zhu stroked his beard and said, "I was recommended for the civil service examination before." Cheng Zongyang smiled and asked, "Did you succeed?" Old Zhu replied without blushing, "Just a little bit, very little bit." "I even considered becoming emperor; I was just a little short." "Oh my, young Cheng, you did that too?" "You call yourself an emperor?" Old Zhu chuckled. "You're almost there." Cheng Zongyang ignored him. "Old Ao, are we there yet?" Ao Run asked, raising his riding whip. "It's just past this grove!" A moment later, Cheng Zongyang stared at the building before him, his face filled with shock. "Old Ao, is this the mansion you were talking about?" Ao Run said confidently, "That's right! This is it!" "Nonsense! Who builds a mansion like this?" Ahead was a moat nearly three zhang wide, only half-filled with water. The exposed edge of the moat was at least a person's height, and rows of sharpened wooden stakes could be vaguely seen underwater. Behind the moat was a high wall five hundred paces long, with a watchtower built every hundred paces, connected by walkways. At each of the four corners was a watchtower over ten zhang high, and in front of the gate was a drawbridge suspended by iron chains as thick as a child's arm. "Is this a house? It's like a city!" Ao Run scratched his head. "Houses in the countryside of Han are all like this." "This is called a fortified village!" Old Zhu said excitedly, "Local magnates in Han all like to build these kinds of houses. See the granary? It can hold at least 100,000 shi of grain! Inside are mountains of gold, silver, and silk...tsk tsk! I'm telling you, young Cheng, if you conquer one, you'll be rich!" "Are you crazy!" Cheng Zongyang shouted, staring blankly for a long time, then muttered, "The cement agency rights for Han must not be given to one company, the market is too big... Damn! This fortified village alone can sell 100,000 shi!" Ao Run gave a thumbs up, "No wonder it's Boss Cheng! He sees business in everything! I, Old Ao, would never have thought of this. Boss Cheng, I made the right choice following you!" "Are you trying to flatter me?" Ao Run said angrily, "Boss Cheng! You can curse me, but you can't insult me! Old Ao may be illiterate, but I have backbone! Would I do something like flattering someone? I'm speaking from the bottom of my heart!" "Don't shout! Someone's here!" Several figures appeared vaguely on the wall, seemingly looking this way. Ao Run said, "Boss Cheng, I'll go say hello." Cheng Zongyang stopped him, "No need, I'll go myself."

Old Zhu blinked and said, "What? What? Didn't we agree to catch rabbits to eat?"
Cheng Zongyang spurred his horse to the moat, then jumped off and called out, "Junior Cheng Zongyang has come to pay a visit to Sixth Master Yun."
There was a commotion on the wall, then the drawbridge creaked down, and a guard rode out, cupping his hands and saying, "Indeed, it is Young Master Cheng!"
Cheng Zongyang asked in surprise, "You know me?"
The guard smiled and said, "I saw you once in Lin'an, Young Master. I saw you from afar just now and have already sent someone to inform Third Master."
Cheng Zongyang was delighted. "Brother Yun is here too?"
A dry cough came from afar. Cheng Zongyang looked up and saw Yun Cangfeng standing with his hands behind his back in the doorway. Before he could approach, Yun Cangfeng said sternly, "If Brother Cheng is here to speak on behalf of the young marquis, then please leave." He
immediately gave Cheng Zongyang a hard time, and Cheng Zongyang said with a wry smile, "Brother Yun, please don't be angry. My visit this time has nothing to do with the young marquis." Upon
hearing this, Yun Cangfeng's expression darkened further. He flicked his sleeve and strode away, completely ignoring Cheng Zongyang.
Cheng Zongyang was filled with regret. It was all his fault for using the little fox as a scapegoat. The Yun family still believed it was Xiao Yaoyi's doing. If he had come to speak on behalf of the young marquis, he certainly wouldn't have been treated well. Seeing the young marquis acting as if nothing had happened after such an incident, the Yun family was even more furious.
Cheng Zongyang took his backpack from beside the saddle, hurried a few steps to catch up with Yun Cangfeng, and said with a smile, "Brother Yun, it's been so long! I've missed you every day."
"Hmph! Young Master, you think you can look down on the Yun family just because of your status? Do you think we're easy to bully?"
"Brother Yun, calm down. Let me explain..."
"What's there to explain!" Yun Cangfeng's anger hadn't subsided. "There's a saying that family scandals shouldn't be aired in public, but I'm not afraid for you to know. The Xiao family has done such a heartless thing. If the young marquis doesn't come and kowtow to admit his mistake, my Yun family will never rest until the Lanling Xiao clan is finished!" Cheng Zongyang thought to himself: "I'm here now, aren't I? If he just wants to kowtow and admit his mistake, I'll do it right away." Although this was Yao'er's initiative, he couldn't say anything, he could only say it was his fault. Heaven and earth bear witness! Who would have thought Yao'er would be pregnant?
Cheng Zongyang smiled obsequiously and said, "Brother Yun, you've traveled the world and seen countless rare treasures. I've acquired a few good items this time and would like to ask you to take a look."
Yun Cangfeng frowned and said, "You really didn't come for the young marquis?"
Cheng Zongyang forced a smile and said, "Really not."
Yun Cangfeng stomped his foot and said angrily, "I'm so angry! Someone! Bring Sixth Brother here! Our Yun family will not rest until we destroy the Xiao family!"
"Brother Yun, wait! Let's check the things first!"
Yun Cangfeng roared a few times, then suddenly lowered his voice, "What exactly does that Xiao fellow mean? Our Yun family has its pride too, if this drags on any longer we'll have to turn against him."
"Brother Yun, don't worry, I'm here to resolve this matter," Cheng Zongyang said, "I'll make sure everyone is satisfied no matter what."
"How are you going to resolve it? That Xiao fellow is a coward..."
Before Yun Cangfeng could finish speaking, a guard rushed in, "Third Master, Sixth Master requests your presence."
Yun Cangfeng didn't have time to say more, "I'm going to see Sixth Master, you wait here."
Chapter 3
Yun Cangfeng left quickly, and Cheng Zongyang had no choice but to wait in the hall. Unexpectedly, he waited for two whole hours, and even after drinking a bowl of tea until it lost its flavor, no one came. Cheng Zongyang hadn't even eaten lunch, and was already starving, but what he was more anxious about was Yun Ruyao. Yao had miscarried out of wedlock, and even though the Yun family's brothers doted on her, they couldn't escape giving her a scolding. Her health was already weak, and with the added threat of the cold poison, how had she managed to endure these past few days?
Knowing she was currently inside the fortress, so close, Cheng Zongyang couldn't sit still any longer and got up to walk around. Eight guards outside, sixteen eyes fixed on him, made Cheng Zongyang hesitant to openly approach Yun Ruyao. That wouldn't be an apology, but a long journey to slap the faces of the Yun family patriarchs. No matter how anxious Cheng Zongyang was, he could only wait, not daring to complain. At most, he could only pace around the doorway, eagerly hoping that Brother Yun would show mercy and summon him.
The fortress had only one main road, with rows of houses neatly arranged on both sides, large enough to accommodate over a thousand households. Near the fortress walls were vegetable gardens, fishponds, and sheds for raising poultry and horses, comparable to a small city. If any trouble arose, the fortress gates could be closed, allowing for complete self-sufficiency; even a siege of a year or two could be sustained.
Night had fallen. Ao Run had come twice, but they were at a loss, staring at each other helplessly. Cheng Zongyang quietly asked, "Old Ao, did you deliver the letter I asked you to give to Master Yun?"
"I was chased away like a dog the moment I arrived. I didn't even see Master Yun. Boss Cheng, you said only Master Yun could open it himself. I dared not have anyone deliver it on my behalf."
Cheng Zongyang knew that Yun Cangfeng hadn't seen the letter, otherwise he wouldn't still be in the dark. He sighed, "He reaps what he sows! Alright, you can go back now. Let Old Zhu stay."
Ao Run said worriedly, "Is he capable? What if... we can still break out."
"Break out my ass! Look how high this wall is. Once the door is closed, not even a fly can get out." Cheng Zongyang said, "Don't worry, at worst I'll get a scolding, maybe a beating, but they won't drag me out and chop me up." Wouldn't that make Yao a widow?
The Yun family didn't keep him waiting until dawn. As soon as Ao Run left, someone came to invite Cheng Zongyang inside.
Several tree-shaped oil lamps were lit in the hall, and a newly cast Boshan incense burner beside them emitted fragrant smoke. Yun Xiufeng sat leaning against a low table, his expression cold and aloof; Yun Cangfeng's face was as dark as if about to rain, glaring at him fiercely before helplessly rolling his eyes.
Cheng Zongyang knew perfectly well that these two from the Yun family had probably guessed the truth from his words after discussing for so long.
He hesitated whether to kneel before his brother-in-law to show his sincerity, but Yun Xiufeng spoke first, saying calmly, "I heard that Young Master Cheng has acquired some fine items?"
"Indeed," Cheng Zongyang replied, forcing a smile. "The first item is a lamp."
He opened his backpack, took out a slender object, and spun it slightly from below, casting a clear silver glow from its top, making all the other oil lamps in the hall pale in comparison.
Cheng Zongyang held the lamp in his hand and said, "This lamp is smokeless and odorless, radiates light, and requires no lamp oil, making it durable. With
this lamp in hand, writing documents and reading books at night will be much more convenient."
Yun Xiufeng smiled disdainfully, "Bring the luminous pearls."
A short while later, a group of servants filed in, each carrying a brocade box. A dozen servants stood in a row, opening the boxes one by one. In an instant, more than a dozen different pearls shone brightly, bathing the entire hall in a clear, pearly glow.
Each of these luminous pearls was worth a fortune; the fact that a dozen or so were casually produced at the banquet truly demonstrated the Yun family's wealth. However, the luminous pearls were still somewhat dim compared to light bulbs. Cheng Zongyang remained silent, slowly turning the knob.
The lamp in his hand grew brighter and brighter until the entire hall was as bright as day, completely overshadowing the luminous pearls.
Cheng Zongyang showed no smugness, simply placing the lamp obediently on the corner of the table before saying, "The second item is a house."
He took out an egg-shaped object, gently twisted it, and the shell snapped open with a crack. Before everyone's eyes, a gray house instantly appeared in the hall.
Whether Yun Xiufeng and Yun Cangfeng were genuine or not, their eyes, originally as cold and sharp as knives, were moved by the sight of a house appearing out of thin air in his hand.
This was exactly the effect Cheng Zongyang wanted. He placed the enormous egg-shaped house over an oil lamp, and the wick dipped slightly but didn't go out. Although the outer shell of the egg-shaped house was made of metal, its density was clearly less than that of air. The house, which occupied half of the hall, was as light as a feather, floating on the lamp flame.
Cheng Zongyang released his grip and cupped his hands, saying, "Sixth Master, Third Master, please look. This house is not only as light as a feather, but it is also impervious to wind, water, and fire. Even ordinary swords and knives won't damage it. Inside, there is a hall and two rooms, each with tables and chairs, enough to accommodate more than ten people."
Cheng Zongyang opened the door, revealing the interior structure. "Moreover, outside light can penetrate, but inside light cannot escape." As he spoke, Cheng Zongyang shook the house, and the flame of the oil lamp could be faintly seen below. Then he placed the lamp inside, but no light could be seen from the outside.
"The mechanism is inside the house; it can be retracted with a gentle touch." Cheng Zongyang placed the light house on the ground, found the eggshell inside, and gently twisted it. The house, stronger than steel, flowed into the shell like water, then clicked shut, restoring itself to an inconspicuous egg-shaped object.
Yun Xiufeng and Yun Cangfeng leaned forward, their eyes fixed on the egg-shaped house in his hand. Cheng Zongyang respectfully placed the egg-shaped house on the table in front of Yun Cangfeng, saying, "Brother Yun enjoys traveling, and having this egg-shaped house by your side should provide some convenience."
Yun Cangfeng coughed and was about to speak when Yun Xiufeng coldly said, "What an eye-opener! Is there anything else?"
Cheng Zongyang remained silent, then took out a pen-shaped object. "This is a self-defense item. Which brother... never mind, let's use livestock! Please bring my horse."
"No need," Yun Xiufeng said coldly. "Lei Qi."
A man emerged from behind the screen. He was not tall, but his physique was extremely solid, and his aura was restrained and deep. His cultivation level was clearly no less than the sixth level of the Tongyou realm. The sixth level of cultivation was extremely rare in the Six Dynasties, but with the Yun family's wealth, hiring one was not difficult.
"My name is Lei Qi, and I practice external martial arts." He tore open his shirt, revealing a scar on his chest. "Someone once tried to assassinate the patriarch with a short sword made of coral iron, but I blocked it with my body."
What kind of monster is this? Cheng Zongyang couldn't help but ask, "It couldn't even penetrate coral iron?"
"A short sword made of coral iron can pierce even three layers of iron armor. No matter how strong my bones are, I naturally couldn't withstand it, but the short sword penetrated only an inch before I clamped it down with my muscles." Lei Qi said indifferently, "That assassin never managed to pull the short sword out before he died."
Cheng Zongyang understood. This meant that what he held was less than a palm's length, so there was no need to show off any divine weapon.
"This defensive item is different from other weapons; it has no blade," Cheng Zongyang said with a troubled expression. "Even if you have martial arts skills, it's best not to touch it. This thing... is far too dangerous."
Lei Qi smiled arrogantly, patted his chest with his palm, making a metallic clanging sound. "Please!"
"No," Cheng Zongyang shook his head. "It's too close to the heart; it might kill someone."
Lei Qi gave a thumbs up. "If Young Master can kill me with one strike, I will only praise you: Young Master Cheng is a hero!"
Cheng Zongyang looked at his fingers and suddenly said, "Please, Brother Eleven, raise your hand."
"Does Young Master think my weakness is under my armpit?" Lei Qi revealed a playful expression, raising his arm without a care. "Young Master Cheng, please try."
"And please, Brother Lei, extend your little finger."
Although Lei Qi was puzzled, he still extended his little finger as instructed. Cheng Zongyang picked up the small object and extended it towards his fingertip. Several low laughs came from the hall; everyone felt that this Young Master Cheng was being somewhat pretentious.
Lei Qi laughed heartily, "Young Master, would you like to test the depth of my cultivation first?" Before his laughter subsided, the object lightly touched his fingertips like a dragonfly skimming the water, and his laughter abruptly stopped. Lei Qi's smile froze on his face, and then he fell straight backward.
The guards around him rushed over, looking at Lei Qi in astonishment, and then someone shouted, "Hair! Look at his hair!"
Lei Qi's hair, which had been tied up on his head, had come undone, and each strand stood on end, emitting a burnt smell. He was foaming at the mouth, his limbs were twitching slightly, and his crotch was visibly wet, making him look extremely miserable.
A sharp-eyed person immediately shouted, "It's thunder magic! This thing is sealed with thunder magic!"
Everyone looked at the thin, long object in Cheng Zongyang's hand with a hint of awe. With Lei Qi's cultivation level, to be knocked unconscious by that thing just by being touched on his little finger, even if it contained thunder magic, it was no ordinary thunder magic.
Cheng Zongyang held the small stun gun above his head, bowed to Yun Xiufeng, and then respectfully placed it on the table in front of him.
Yun Xiufeng remained expressionless and said calmly, "Indeed, a fine item."
"These were specially found by my younger brother and delivered to your residence," Cheng Zongyang secretly breathed a sigh of relief, "as a betrothal gift for Miss Ruyao."
"Shut up!" Yun Xiufeng said sternly, "Get out!"
The servants and guards around him silently withdrew from the hall and closed the door. Yun Xiufeng personally bolted the door, then took out a jade pendant and gently shattered it. An invisible array enveloped the hall, isolating it from sound and light.
Yun Xiufeng said coldly, "Young Master Cheng, did you do this?"
Cheng Zongyang said with a face full of shame, "It was all because I acted impulsively..."
Yun Xiufeng slammed the table and said, "You, surnamed Cheng! Why did you impersonate someone else after doing this! Tell me! Did you use sweet words to deceive my little sister!"
"It's all a misunderstanding! I was just joking, but it turned into a joke! Don't draw your sword, Sixth Brother!"
Yun Xiufeng chopped off half of the corner of the table with his sword and said sternly, "You clearly knew about this, so why did you wait until now to shamelessly come to our door?"
Yun Cangfeng smoothed things over and said, "Young Master Cheng must have put in a lot of effort to find these treasures."
The Third Master had already given him a way out, so Cheng Zongyang quickly climbed up, "That's right! I know my sins are grave, and ordinary betrothal gifts are not enough to atone for them. Therefore, I traveled all the way to the Taiquan Ancient Formation and went through many hardships to find these items, which I then presented to your residence."
"The Taiquan Ancient Formation?" Yun Xiufeng shouted angrily, "You surnamed Cheng! Do you want my little sister to be a widow before she's even married?"
Cheng Zongyang hurriedly said, "My heart is as clear as day, I will never take risks again."
With a clang, Yun Xiufeng threw down his longsword and said irritably, "If you want to die, go ahead and die, but don't drag my little sister down with you."
Cheng Zongyang finally felt relieved and smiled, "Sixth Brother, don't worry, I won't let Ruyao down." Yun Cangfeng then said, "What's done is done, the die is cast, there's nothing more to say. But you haven't said a word for so long, you're too inconsiderate!"
Cheng Zongyang smiled bitterly, "I sent someone with a letter to see First and Second Brothers a long time ago, but that useless thing didn't even get through the door."
Yun Xiufeng and Yun Cangfeng exchanged a glance, both feeling somewhat embarrassed. Yun Cangfeng said, "Let's not talk about the past. Since you've met Ruyao, you probably know that she's different from the rest of the Yun family. Firstly, she's frail and sickly, and secondly, her status is somewhat..."
Cheng Zongyang said sincerely, "In any case, I will not let Miss Ruyao down."
Yun Xiufeng's expression softened slightly. He raised his cup, took a sip, and said, "In that case, forget about these betrothal gifts.
Our Yun family's properties in Song will serve as Ruyao's dowry, and we will also purchase a garden for Ruyao in Lin'an."
Cheng Zongyang knew that the Jin and Song dynasties had a custom of generous dowries, but he didn't expect it to be this extravagant. This dowry wasn't just a matter of tens of thousands of gold coins; it was spread across dozens of large and
small businesses throughout the Song kingdom. If the little fox knew the dowry was so lavish, he would probably fight tooth and nail to marry Yun Ruyao. "Isn't buying a house the groom's responsibility?" Cheng Zongyang said casually. "I have some property in Lin'an, enough for Miss Ruyao to settle down."
"Ruyao is frail and quiet. Your Wumu Prince's Mansion is located in the bustling city. How can that work?" Yun Xiufeng said. "Find a suitable garden by West Lake. Hmm, if you want to settle in the Han kingdom, this fortified village can be your dowry."
"No need, no need. I can buy the garden myself. The dowry doesn't need to be that much."
He was joking. The dowry was more than his own property! Regardless of the customs of the Jin and Song dynasties, he really couldn't accept this. People who didn't know better would think he was marrying into the Yun family.
Yun Xiufeng retorted angrily, "How can that be? Ruyao is marrying you as your principal wife. How can her dowry be too small!"
Cheng Zongyang's heart skipped a beat; the biggest trouble had arrived.
Yun Xiufeng's eyes were sharp. Seeing Cheng Zongyang's expression change slightly, his eyes swept over him. He slowly put down his teacup and asked, "What is it?"
Cheng Zongyang's biggest worry wasn't how to marry Yun Ruyao, but how to settle her after marriage. Given the Yun family's doting on this little sister, if he suggested taking her as a concubine, the Yun family elders would dare to kill him on the spot. But what if Yun Ruyao became his principal wife? What about Yue Shuang? What about Xiao Zi? If Yue Shuang became a concubine, not only would Yue Shuang be willing, but the Eight Steeds of Xingyue Lake wouldn't let him off the hook! There were three brothers from the Yun family, and seven fierce men from Xingyue Lake!
And then there was that brat. The only one Xiao Zi might not bully was Yue Shuang. If he married both sisters as principal wives, he'd have to deal with two powerful families, and they might be able to manage to get along. Add Yun Ruyao... his head would be three times bigger than three heads.
Cheng Zongyang forced a smile and said, "Miss Ruyao will naturally be the principal wife after we get married, but I also have a wife who is not yet married..."
With a bang, Yun Xiufeng smashed the teacup to pieces and said with a flick of his sleeve, "Show him out!"
Yun Cangfeng's face was also extremely ugly, but he still saw Cheng Zongyang out of the fortress. When they reached the door, he uttered a single word, "Who?"
Cheng Zongyang said guiltily, "Yue Shuang... and Miss Zi..."
"Beast!" Yun Cangfeng turned and left with a fury that weighed more than three hundred pounds. Before the door was closed, a sharp shout suddenly came from inside: "What? It's that bastard! Get out of the way! Let this grandma kill him!"
Damn it! Yun Danliu!
Cheng Zongyang wasn't afraid of her, but if she caught him in this situation, no matter how hard he beat her, it would be in vain. So without saying a word, he whipped his horse hard, making the mount run away with the saddle empty, and then plunged into the forest.
The wooden drawbridge creaked with the sound of hooves, and a fiery red horse galloped out. Yun Danliu, carrying a large sword in one hand and a torch in the other, shone it on the hoofprints and gave chase.
Cheng Zongyang rubbed his chest; this girl was far too violent. Why was she chasing her own uncle with such a large sword?
Several guards hurriedly followed on horseback, clearly worried about Yun Danliu. A moment later, a commotion erupted from the doorway, and Old Man Zhu was seen being dragged out by the collar and thrown out like trash, his backside kicked several times.
Old Zhu scrambled into the woods, and as soon as he saw Cheng Zongyang, he complained, "Little Cheng, didn't you say you wanted to eat rabbit?
What happened? Ouch... my back..."
Cheng Zongyang said, "Don't worry about your back, we don't even have a horse anymore." He looked at his feet, "Alright, let's walk back."
Old Zhu clasped his hands together, blinked at him, "What's all this fuss about?"
Cheng Zongyang was silent for a long time, then said, "Old man, how many wives do you think I should marry, without distinguishing between principal wives and concubines, all the same age, is that alright?"
Cheng Zongyang walked ahead, not noticing the slight change in Old Zhu's expression, his hunched back slowly straightening. He stopped chuckling, and under the moonlight, his cloudy eyes became as deep and unfathomable as cold stars. After a long silence, he said, "No."
"So absolute? Really no way?"
"Wishful thinking."
Cheng Zongyang turned his head and said, "What use are you! You're so old, and you can't even come up with a solution!"
Old Zhu sneered, "Don't think you're just a commoner, half-official, half-merchant. Even the emperor only has one empress. The so-called 'three palaces, six courtyards, and seventy-two concubines' are nothing but concubines. So many people fight tooth and nail, even to the death and extermination of their families, for the position of empress—all for the title of principal wife!"
"Hey, old man, I'm really not used to you talking so seriously." Cheng Zongyang asked worriedly, "Are you alright?"
Old Zhu sighed deeply, seemingly filled with boundless resentment.
Cheng Zongyang was puzzled. Just as he was about to speak, his ears twitched; he faintly heard the sound of horses' hooves in the distance.
Oh no! Yun'er has probably caught up with the empty horse and realized she'd been tricked! Ignoring what illness Old Zhu was suffering from, Cheng Zongyang immediately took off running.
Unfamiliar with the area, he could only listen to the sound of hooves and try to dodge in the opposite direction. The forest grew denser, the hoofbeats receding into the distance. He had just breathed a sigh of relief when he heard a sharp whoosh—an arrow shot towards him. Under the moonlight, a young man sat high on a tree branch, his eyes like an eagle's, his bow drawn taut, the arrow pointed at Cheng Zongyang's head. Then several other young men, wielding knives and clubs, surrounded the two men with ill intent.
The boy in the tree sneered, "You've got some nerve, daring to walk alone at night! Hand over all your money! I, Yi Zong, will spare your life!"
Old Zhu immediately bent over like a shrimp, "Hero! Hero! I'm just a farmer, I've never even seen what money looks like since I was a kid!"
A boy slapped him on the head, "Behave yourself!" He rudely searched Old Zhu.
"Damn it! Not a single penny, and your pockets are full of holes!"
"Get out of the way!" Yi Zong jumped down from the tree and searched him again, spitting in Old Zhu's face, "You're so poor, how dare you go out like this?"
Old Zhu bowed and scraped, "I won't do it again, I won't do it again!"
Yi Zong kicked him in the buttocks, "Get lost! You poor wretch!" Old Zhu quickly rolled to the side.
Cheng Zongyang conscientiously took out a money pouch. "My lords, it's fate that we've met. Take this money and buy some wine."
Yi Zong frowned and said, "Why are you speaking in such a low voice? Are you thieves?"
You're the thieves, aren't you? Cheng Zongyang cursed inwardly: If I weren't afraid of attracting Yun'er's attention with my loud voice, I would have beaten you to a pulp!
Yi Zong weighed the money pouch in his hand and stared at Cheng Zongyang, saying, "Take out what's in your waistband too, and be quick about it! Otherwise, we brothers will give you a quick death!"
Cheng Zongyang wore his waist pouch close to his body, and it was completely invisible from the outside. Unexpectedly, this kid had a sharp eye and noticed something was amiss.
He absolutely couldn't give them his waist pouch; if they saw what was inside, it would be a disaster. Cheng Zongyang reached into his sleeve and grasped the coral dagger. There were more than a dozen of these youths, but few had any cultivation; the strongest had only reached the third level.
Although his dantian contained a yin-yang symbol that could explode at any moment, dealing with them wouldn't be difficult. The problem was that he was an outsider, while these teenagers were local bullies. If he made a move, he would either have to kill them all or risk endless trouble if even one of them escaped...
Hesitating for a moment would be too late to act. A cold voice said, "He's mine. Once I kill him with one stroke, you can take him however you want."
Cheng Zongyang really wanted to turn around and give Yun the middle finger. They were robbing her, and she was trying to kill him? How did the Yun family raise such a violent woman?
Yi Zong's eyes lit up. "A beauty!"
Several whistles came from the crowd. "This girl is really hot!"
"Look at those long legs..."
"Waist and butt! Tsk tsk!"
"Those fair and tender hands...wait, what's she holding?"
"A cleaver?"
"Is that real? It's that big!"
"Hey! That girl raised it!"
"Get out of the way!" A sudden scream erupted from the crowd. "Oh my god!"
"Legs! Legs!"
"Ah! Ah! Ah..."
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the group of boys were lying on the ground, like a bunch of field mice whose den had been raided, writhing and rolling on the ground, screaming incessantly. Fortunately, Yun Danliu used the back of his blade, and the boys were only injured by the blows. A few unlucky ones had their foreheads smashed open, bleeding profusely, but none of the injuries were fatal.
Yi Zong was the unluckiest; he was struck in the face by the back of the blade, leaving a bloody gash from his brow bone to below his nose, but he showed no panic, stubbornly declaring, "Go ahead and kill me! If I, Yi Zong, don't even blink, I'm not a hero!"
Cheng Zongyang then noticed that although the boys were crying out in pain and rolling around, none of them begged for mercy, showing far more bravado than the local thugs of Lin'an.
Yun Danliu ignored them, staring intently at Cheng Zongyang, his hand gripping the blade taut, ready to strike at any moment.
Cheng Zongyang stretched out his neck, "Go ahead and kill me! Let your aunt be a widow!"
Without hesitation, Yun Danliu flicked his wrist, and the long blade slashed down like lightning.
Cheng Zongyang hurriedly leaned back to dodge, shouting, "Damn it! You really want to cut me?"
Yun Danliu said hatefully, "A despicable person like you wants to marry my aunt? Dream on! Even if my aunt never marries, our Yun family can afford to support her! I'll kill you with one stroke and be done with it!"
Cheng Zongyang raised his sleeve to block, and with a clang, his sleeve was sliced open by the blade, revealing a flash of cold light.
"Yun girl! Don't think I'm afraid of you!" Cheng Zongyang said while blocking, "My relationship with your aunt is an adult matter, what are you, a little girl, meddling in?"
Yun Danliu gritted her teeth and said, "Who are you calling a little girl? You, surnamed Cheng, a despicable person like you has disgraced our Yun family!"
Cheng Zongyang secretly felt that things were going badly. He hadn't expected that the biggest opponent of this marriage would be Yun Danliu. This girl was determined to kill him so that he wouldn't really marry Yun Ruyao, and she wouldn't leave any room for mercy. With his current cultivation level, it's hard to say who would win if Yun Danliu really went all out. What's more, he could only use two or three tenths of his strength, and he couldn't hurt her. It was like fighting her with his hands and feet tied, and it seemed like he was headed for death.
Cheng Zongyang leaped behind a tree, reached to his waist, opened his pouch, and pulled out a bundle of things. Yun Danliu's crescent blade struck like a dragon, then she cried out, "You—!"
Cheng Zongyang struck a pose, a thin, moon-white shirt tucked between his fingers, ready to be flung out at any moment. He sternly said, "Yun girl! Put the blade away! Or I'll throw it at those guys outside!"
Yun Danliu's pretty face flushed red. "You little scoundrel!"
"A bet's a bet, what's with all this talk of 'big man' and 'little man'? If you think one isn't enough, I have another one here, guaranteed to be authentic... How about we let the heroes of Han open their eyes?"
Yun Danliu shrieked, "You dare!"
Cheng Zongyang roared even louder than her, "Put the blade away now! I'll count to three! One…"
Yun Danliu sheathed her blade and darted away like a whirlwind, saying, "Cheng! When you're alone one day, I'll chop you into mincemeat, or I'm not Yun!"
The forest path was winding, dark, and deep, with countless dangers seemingly lurking in the shadows.
Old Zhu looked up at the sky. "Little Cheng, are you sure you're alright?"
"Don't worry, it's absolutely safe. I guarantee Yun'er won't dare chase after us again."
Cheng Zongyang held a tree branch with a white woman's undergarment hanging from it, fluttering like a battle flag in the night wind. Cheng Zongyang secretly rejoiced, thankful for his foresight in winning Yun Danliu's undergarment in the bet. If he had thrown the undergarment at those boys earlier, given Yun'er's temper, she would most likely have killed him first and then committed suicide.
Finally seeing the city gate, Cheng Zongyang quickly put away the undergarment. He had been forcing a smile, but now he couldn't hold back any longer and said with a grim face, "Let's go."
Old Zhu frowned, suddenly reached out and took his pulse, then slapped him on the chest. Cheng Zongyang felt as if the air in his lungs had been emptied by the blow, let out a long breath, and collapsed limply to the ground.
"Foolish boy, recklessly using your true energy, don't you want to die even faster?"
Old Zhu grabbed Cheng Zongyang's sash and leaped onto the city wall, disappearing into the city in a few bounds.

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Six Dynasties Cloud Dragon Chant 18 Author: Nongyu, Longxuan

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