[Fantasy] The Song of the Six Dynasties (Complete) - Part 2

Chapter Four

, Lingfu River, Jingxi County Government Office.

Shen Wanying pulled back the curtain, revealing dozens of wooden boxes filled with coins. More than two million of them were silver coins, with only a small portion being gold coins. Silver coins of the same volume were almost half the weight of gold coins, but each box of 50,000 coins weighed a full 600 jin (approximately 300 kg), and the total weight was over ten tons. It took the people of Zhaonan more than a dozen boats to transport them back.

Cheng Zongyang said with a troubled expression, "Gold coins are so much more convenient! Taking this huge pile of silver coins is a real headache."

Qi Yuan said, "The grain shop has always settled large transactions with gold coins. A sudden large sum of silver coins might arouse suspicion."

Cheng Zongyang sighed, "It seems this money won't be usable in Junzhou."

Cheng Zongyang casually pointed to a box of silver coins and said to Shen Wanying, "This is yours."

Shen Wanying bowed respectfully and said, "Serving the Master is my duty; I dare not accept such a gift."

"I didn't let you take it for free," Cheng Zongyang said. "I'm leaving Junzhou tomorrow. Those Jingxi people are down to just some women and a few children. If they stay here, they'll probably be wiped out before winter. Use this money to buy them some necessities to survive."

"I understand,"

Cheng Zongyang said, sitting down and rubbing his temples. "Where's the account book?"

Qi Yuan handed over the account book, saying, "Through Boss Sun's connections, we bribed six grain inspectors, giving each of them two hundred silver coins."

"Two hundred for two million, what a deal!" Cheng Zongyang laughed. "This time, we owe it all to Boss Sun. Is Huizhi still there?"

"Old Wu and Old Qin are both there. Boss Cheng, don't worry, nothing will happen to Boss Sun. Those who took the money are too busy trying to save their own lives after seeing what happened to Wang Tiande, who would dare say a word?"

Cheng Zongyang laughed. "That's true. I was just worried that something might happen to Boss Sun and I would be letting Brother Yun down, that's why I was so suspicious."

Cheng Zongyang originally planned to sell all 300,000 shi of stored grain to Yunzhou and then burn it all, leaving the Song Kingdom empty-handed. But that grain was something Qin Hui and Qi Yuan had worked so hard to acquire, and burning it would be too painful. The two of them came up with an idea: Sun Yixuan, the Yun family's mole in Yunzhou, would use his connections to bribe several officials who were inspecting the grain.

Apart from the initial dozens of boats that were entirely loaded with grain, the rest of the grain that was moored in the river and hadn't been stored yet was only—on the surface—less than 100,000 shi actually stored. Then, with the fire raging and the raft sinking, there was no way to prove anything.

As for Wang Tiande, he had completely courted death. Cheng Zongyang first lured him in with 5,000 shi of grain, then, with Sun Yixuan's secret guidance, he tricked Wang Tiande into exchanging the grain for inferior grain, mixing it with impurities, and then bribing officials to get the new grain out of the warehouse. He originally wanted to pin the blame on the people of Zhaonan, but unexpectedly, he shot himself in the foot, and the fire exposed his true colors.

Now Wang Tiande is a dead dog, and Cheng Zongyang has no leverage over him; he can talk nonsense in prison without fear. However, Wang Tiande has been operating in Junzhou for many years, and although Sun Yixuan's instigation is not enough evidence for the government to use, Wang Tiande's revenge cannot be ignored. If one or two of Wang Tiande's persistent subordinates keep an eye on Sun Yixuan, or if someone implicates him for bribing officials and falsely reporting the grain entering the warehouse, Cheng Zongyang will regret it deeply. Therefore, Cheng Zongyang spared no effort in sending out his most trusted advisors, Qin Hui and Wu Sangui, to ensure Sun Yixuan's safety at all costs.

It took Cheng Zongyang a full hour to sort out the accounts. He currently had a total of 70,000 shi of grain, of which 60,000 shi were ordered from Hongsheng and Richanghang. The reason for the difference of about 100,000 shi was that when he first lowered grain prices, the major grain merchants in Junzhou, fearing a sharp drop in prices, joined forces to buy 100,000 shi of low-priced grain from him, hoping to control prices.

Unfortunately, the news of the Jiangzhou peace talks intensified, and within a few days, Cheng's grain shop's prices dropped from 800 copper coins per shi to 600, 500, and finally 400 copper coins, almost at the normal price.

Cheng Zongyang estimated that given the current situation, the grain merchants in Junzhou couldn't even bring themselves to hate him. Who could have imagined that the two sides, fighting fiercely, would suddenly negotiate peace? The grain merchants could only vent their resentment on the Song government. But next, they would hate themselves to the core…

In the expenditure section, the grain purchases over the past month had cost a total of 93,000 gold coins. Adding bribes to officials and miscellaneous expenses, the total came to less than 94,000 gold coins. The largest single expense was the several dozen gold coins extorted by Ciyin.

His income, after deducting the 2.3 million silver coins and 20,000 gold coins paid by the Yunzhou government, included 30,000 gold coins for the 60,000 shi of grain ordered by Richang and Hongsheng grain shops, 12,000 gold coins for the 20,000 shi shipped by Qin Hui at its peak, and 800,000 silver coins paid by Yunzhou grain merchants for the joint purchase of 100,000 shi of grain. He also sold over 10,000 shi for 50,000 to 60,000 silver coins, totaling over 220,000 gold coins.

He currently had 10,000 shi of grain left. Even including all expenses such as distributing porridge, he had netted over 120,000 gold coins from this deal.

Cheng Zongyang whistled; this business was practically robbery!

Qi Yuan was dazzled by the sight, and after a long while, he said, "Boss Cheng, if one shop in Junzhou has made this much, how much must the entire Song Kingdom's business be?"

"Don't get your hopes up," Cheng Zongyang pointed to the ledger. "This was stolen! If we hadn't robbed the Junzhou government, we'd be lucky to earn 30,000 gold coins."

"30,000 gold coins!" Qi Yuan exclaimed. "That's 60,000 copper coins! A whole 60 million! Good heavens! You've earned more in one or two months than Fourth Brother has in several lifetimes..."

Cheng Zongyang wrote "Qi Yuan, Wu Zhanwei" on the paper, and then added the number 6,000.

Qi Yuan was completely bewildered. "Boss Cheng, what's this?"

"Your and Wu Dadao's 10% share."

"Boss Cheng, are you serious?"

"Of course I am!" Cheng Zongyang said, "The Yun family provides the money for the grain business, the Panjiang Cheng family operates it, and everyone gets half the profits. This is your 10,000."

Qi Yuan waved his hands repeatedly, "I, Qi Laosi, can't take this money. Boss Cheng, you've put in all the work, how can we take money for nothing?"

"Your work doesn't count as money?" Cheng Zongyang laughed, "You can't get this money now, it's just a number. We'll distribute it to everyone after the shareholders' meeting and the profit-sharing ratio is determined. By the way, Laosi, I haven't told you yet, our Panjiang Cheng family has added a few more shareholders, now it's 20 shares."

Cheng Zongyang explained his share expansion plan to Qi Yuan in detail, and Qi Yuan's face showed a strange expression.

"What's wrong? Is it inappropriate?" Cheng Zongyang apologized. "This matter should have been decided at a shareholders' meeting, but time was too tight, so I had to make the decision myself. If you think it's inappropriate, we can discuss it again."

"No..." Qi Yuan tugged at his beard, "It's like a dream... How did I, a mere errand boy, become a shareholder? On par with those heroes of Xingyue Lake and those young masters of Jiankang?"

"Just pretend you're dreaming! You'll know whether it's real or not at the shareholders' meeting."

"Boss Cheng, let me add something. The men of Xingyue Lake, Master Yun, and the young masters of Jiankang are not the same kind of people. Isn't it a bit inappropriate to put them together? Besides, after this share expansion, you won't have much left."

"Fourth brother, you've hit the nail on the head." Cheng Zongyang said, "Forced relationships don't work out, so I plan to turn the Panjiang Cheng family into a conglomerate, with several subsidiaries, each doing its own thing. Fourth brother, are you interested in taking charge independently?"

"Me?" Qi Yuan rubbed his hands, embarrassed. "I'm afraid that's not feasible."

"I think you're much better than the average shopkeeper." Cheng Zongyang patted Qi Yuan on the shoulder with a smile. "Time to get to work. Go! Lower the price of the grain to three hundred copper coins."

Qi Yuan snapped out of his daze: "Three hundred copper coins! Well, those grain merchants in Yunzhou would love to eat me alive."

"You have to deliver it to them to eat," Cheng Zongyang laughed. "From now on, the purchase price is four hundred copper coins. Unlimited purchases."

Selling cheaply while buying at high prices, Qi Yuan was already used to this leader's methods and readily agreed.

The grapevines in the mountains were still green, but the dilapidated village seemed to have lost all life. Only the mournful cries of the Jingxi people on that day seemed to still echo in the mountains.

On the totem pole in the village square, the heads of the slaughtered villagers had all been removed, replaced by the almost unrecognizable heads of the murderers. Apart from the local militia, Wang Wenlong's head was hung at the highest point, a hemp rope passing between his eyes and hanging from the top of the pole. The bloodstains on the rope had long since turned black. Still relying on hands? How can it be enjoyable? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video Fan Bingbing's lower body real state molded into a highly realistic vulva shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large particle protrusions, close to the female physiological structure, experience a more realistic feeling... swallowing and spitting, irresistible! Click to enter.

Cheng Zongyang didn't find the Jingxi women's methods of revenge too cruel. If he were in their shoes, he would have easily torn this bastard to pieces.

At that moment, all the surviving Jingxi women, led by Xiang Ya, gathered in the square. They abandoned their beloved white robes and donned warrior's leather armor. Having lost their husbands, brothers, and fathers, they had no choice but to take up bows and spears, becoming the last warriors of their tribe to defend their homeland.

"Respected Merchant Cheng, it is you who have fulfilled your promise, enabling us to hang our enemy's head on the sacred pillar, allowing the souls of our fallen tribesmen to rest in peace," Xiang Ya said. "From this day forward, you are the god we worship, the protector we trust wholeheartedly, and our eternal master."

Cheng Zongyang waved his hand, saying, "Don't misunderstand, I am just a merchant, not a god, much less your master."

Xiang Ya bent her right knee, knelt on one knee, placed one hand on her chest, and bowed deeply. Behind her, all the surviving Jingxi women performed the same gesture, expressing their deepest respect to this foreign merchant.

“In our Jingxi, if a man is killed by an enemy, whoever kills his enemy can inherit his property,” Xiang Ya said. “You not only avenged us, but also saved all our lives. From the moment you handed over the enemy to us, everything we owned belongs to you.”

Cheng Zongyang’s mouth gaped open, and only one thought crossed his mind: I’m doomed! I’ve taken on so many burdens again! Do I have to support them all from now on? Cheng Zongyang

wanted to refuse, but when he met Xiang Ya’s hopeful gaze and Shen Wanying’s adoring eyes, he had no choice but to swallow his words. Anyway, there were less than a hundred people, all women, and they didn’t eat much. If he really wanted to support them, he could probably afford it…

“Leave it to me!” Cheng Zongyang patted his chest and said, “I’ll have someone buy you some supplies to get you through this winter!”

Chapter Five

In the following days, salt, grain, seeds, cloth, ironware… were continuously transported to the villages of Jingxi.

The quantity of other items was not large, but the amount of grain was as much as 100,000 shi (a unit of dry measure). The mammoths tamed by the Jingxi people proved invaluable. These enormous creatures effortlessly carried tons of cargo, traversing mountains and rivers with ease. The rocky terrain that had been a headache for Cheng Zongyang was traversed with effortless grace by these giants.

Later, Cheng Zongyang learned that these mammoths, which the Jingxi people called woolly mammoths, had lived alongside them for countless generations. Mammoths prefer cold and dislike heat, typically inhabiting high-altitude, frigid regions, only descending from the mountains upon hearing a horn.

Otherwise, the unsuspecting villagers wouldn't have been so easily slaughtered by the local militia.

Yi Biao was greatly impressed by these mammoths; he had suggested to his patriarch that bringing them to Jiangzhou would create an invincible force. However, Cheng Zongyang rejected the idea. These Jingxi women had just lost their husbands, fathers, and brothers; he didn't want to force them to leave their homes.

News of the Jiangzhou peace talks reached its peak at the end of the first lunar month. If it were merely a fluctuation in grain prices, the grain merchants of Junzhou could still hold on with their grain. However, what made things worse was that, taking advantage of the Wang Tuanlian case, the Junzhou government uncovered numerous under-the-table transactions where merchants sold inferior grain to the Ever-Normal Granary for exorbitant profits. Magistrate Teng was incorruptible and decisively issued hefty fines to the merchants. Cheng Zongyang knew that Magistrate Teng was also burdened with a deficit from embezzling military funds; if he didn't target these unscrupulous merchants, who else would he target?

This heavy blow struck at the very core of the grain merchants' livelihoods. Previously, with grain prices soaring, everyone had placed heavy bets and stockpiled large quantities of grain. Zhou Mingye of Richang Trading Company had even converted his entire fortune into grain, preparing to make a fortune. Now, with grain prices plummeting, the grain merchants had very little cash left, and might not even be able to pay half of the fines. Everyone wanted to delay, and various intermediaries flocked to the prefectural government office, hoping for a few more days' grace. However, Magistrate Teng, a high-ranking official from the imperial court, showed no respect to these local wealthy merchants. With a single order, several major grain merchants were arrested, severely flogged, and imprisoned.

Now, apart from the well-funded Hongsheng Grain Shop, which was still holding on, other grain merchants and large-scale grain hoarders joined the sell-off to cash out, causing grain prices to plummet to below 300 copper coins per shi (a unit of dry measure). Richang Grain Shop, which had ordered 30,000 shi of grain at 1,000 copper coins per shi, sold it back to Chengji Grain Shop at 400 copper coins per shi before it even left the warehouse. Zhou Mingye's several thousand gold coins earned from Cheng Zongyang were wiped out in an instant.

Chengji Grain Shop's already depleted inventory rapidly increased under Qi Yuan's manipulation. Cheng Zongyang estimated that half of the tradable grain in the surrounding dozen or so prefectures and counties, including Junzhou, was already in his hands.

Therefore, on the very day that all the grain stored in Jingxi County was moved to Jingxi Village, Cheng Zongyang received news of the breakdown of the peace talks.

"During the negotiations just now, Old Dog Xia personally came forward, demanding that I drive out the remnants of Xingyue Lake. The Song Kingdom is willing to compensate Jiangzhou for all its losses, with an amount no less than 20,000 gold coins. Sixth Brother didn't hold back either, overturning the table on the spot." Xiao Yaoyi said with a grin in the water mirror, "There are only two remaining units of the Upper Fourth Army. Even if Jia Shixian had the guts, he wouldn't dare to mobilize them. Now, several garrison troops have been transferred, totaling about 10,000 to 20,000 men. I estimate that Xia

Yeyan's provisions have also been supplied." "Jia Shixian won't shed tears until he sees the coffin!" Cheng Zongyang clicked his tongue, "He's transferred grain from the rear again. Does he want to empty the Song Kingdom's granaries? Isn't he afraid that the Song Kingdom will go bankrupt?"

"I don't know if the Song Kingdom will go bankrupt," Xiao Yaoyi complained, "I'm already broke! Brother Cheng, if you don't hurry up, after this battle, I'll have to beg on the streets."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "Go ask your old man for it."

Xiao Yaoyi looked like he was about to explode. “My dad said money is no problem, he’ll give it to me whenever I get married.”

“You need to worry about getting married? I bet you could beg for food and plenty of people would be willing to pay you.”

Xiao Yaoyi lowered his head somewhat embarrassedly and murmured, “I want to marry Miss Zi…”

Cheng Zongyang shouted, “You little fox! Say that again!”

Xiao Yaoyi clapped his hands and laughed. “You found out in one test! Brother Cheng’s feelings for our Miss Zi are as clear as day, I’m relieved!”

Having been tricked by the little fox, Cheng Zongyang could only rub his nose. "Hey, that brat hasn't caused any trouble these days, has she?"

"Nothing's wrong, Miss Zi's been staying at the inn every day," Xiao Yaoyi couldn't help but touch the back of his neck, "but I've been feeling a chill down my spine these past few days, and my heart's pounding..."

"Hasn't she gone to see Marquis Shang?"

"No. It's just that there's an old errand boy in Marquis Shang's mansion who often goes to the inn. Sometimes we can see strange lights coming from the inn. Fifth Brother and Seventh Brother whispered about it, saying that it looks like he's doing some kind of witchcraft..."

Cheng Zongyang's heart skipped a beat. When it comes to poisons, that old man is undoubtedly a master, but this professional from the Poison Sect has an unusually and unrealistic fanatical interest in witchcraft, astrology, and other traditions of the Witch Sect.

What could an enthusiastic layman possibly accomplish? Just thinking about it made my scalp tingle. It seemed that the brat had a special talent for these strange and unusual things. I just hoped she could keep an eye on the old man and not accidentally create a zombie apocalypse, turning Jiangzhou into a ghost town.

The water mirror dissipated, and Lin Qingpu put away the copper basin and bid farewell to Cheng Zongyang. Cheng Zongyang contacted Yunxiu Peak in Qingzhou and Yuncang Peak in Jiankang daily through Lin Qingpu to check grain prices in various regions. Casting spells several times a day greatly depleted Lin Qingpu's magical power, requiring him to rest for long periods each day.

Cheng Zongyang was most worried that the grain merchants of Qingzhou would massively transport grain to the Song Kingdom, impacting grain prices. Although he had secured an order for one million shi (a unit of dry measure), another order for one million shi had aroused the suspicion of the Qingzhou grain merchants, and the transaction had not yet been completed.

Despite the limitations of transportation costs, the grain transported from Qingzhou wouldn't have a significant immediate impact on Junzhou, thousands of miles away. However, if Qingzhou grain merchants dumped their grain at low prices in the Song Dynasty, the Yun family's high-priced stockpiles would be stuck with unsold grain.

As the sun dipped westward, a slender figure passed over his shoulder. Cheng Zongyang turned his head, a hint of embarrassment appearing between his brows. "It's you?"

Xiang Ya knelt on one knee and bowed to him. Cheng Zongyang had corrected this solemn etiquette many times, but every Jingxi person insisted on it, so he had no choice but to go along with it.

At the same time, the Jingxi people insisted on providing him with twelve hours of personal protection every day, including dressing and sleeping with him. Cheng Zongyang's moral compass made this kindness somewhat difficult to accept. But these Jingxi women were not only repaying a debt of gratitude, but also fulfilling a very practical need.

The massacre by the local militia had wiped out all the men in the Jingxi people; if they wanted to continue their race, they could only choose men from outside the tribe. As the benefactor and protector of the Jingxi people, Cheng Zongyang was undoubtedly the best choice.

Compared to the passion and boldness of the Miao women, the women of Jingxi were much more reserved. The first group of women to serve as concubines were all women who had been raped by the local militia. The reason was quite convincing: they had been defiled by demons from the outside world, and only the master of the tribe could wash away their sins and filth.

The women of Jingxi were already of above-average beauty, and after the massacre, the old and weak were eliminated, leaving only beautiful young girls and young women. In particular, the first group of women to serve as concubines were outstanding beauties of the tribe; otherwise, they wouldn't have been chosen by the militia to be raped first.

Cheng Zongyang was somewhat reluctant at first, but later he simply accepted all comers. He finally understood why the Yue people were so shameless—it wasn't that the Yue people were of bad character or had a vulgar style; it was simply that men are inherently susceptible to temptation. Of course, he couldn't bring himself to do something as shameless as disowning his wife afterward.

Holding Xiang Ya's fair body, Cheng Zongyang sighed from the bottom of his heart. He didn't doubt Xiangya's chastity or basic moral principles, but for the continuation of their race, they could throw everything aside. After all, survival and reproduction are the most basic instincts of living beings, and if life has any meaning, this is the only meaning.

Xiangya's fair thighs rested on his waist, sitting intimately in his lap. She gently moved her body, her smooth, snowy buttocks rising and falling, her soft, moist vulva teasing her master's penis.

These past few days, the petite bodies, fair skin, and gentle, considerate actions of the Jingxi women had brought Cheng Zongyang much pleasure. But Cheng Zongyang didn't treat them as his possessions; even in physical intimacy, the feeling was more like the interaction between friends.

Only Xiangya was an exception. First, they had been friends before, and second, he had a certain respect for Ma Lu and Xiangya's act of repaying the money. Xiangya had no choice but to choose him, but he couldn't bear to see Xiangya forced to unite with other strange men for the sake of procreation. Cheng Zongyang felt this wasn't possessiveness, but more of a protective instinct.

Cheng Zongyang stood up and carried Xiang Ya to the bench beside him. The people of Jingxi didn't even have beds; they usually slept directly on the floor. These chairs were bought by Cheng Zongyang from outside the mountains. The treacherous Qin Hui had thoughtfully bought him a bench—of course, the treacherous Qin Hui himself had one. As a charming old man, Qin Hui was second only to himself in popularity in Jingxi.

Xiang Ya's water-like body perfectly embodied the gentleness of Jingxi women. Her smooth, white body swayed on the bench, her breasts heaving, her jade-like body as soft as spring water. It was hard to imagine that such a delicate woman could control an ancient beast.

As the penis entered and exited, a blush gradually appeared on Xiang Ya's cheeks, even the lingering sadness between her brows seemed to fade.

When her master began to ejaculate, Xiang Ya tightly embraced his waist, spreading her legs to allow him to ejaculate deeper.

Cheng Zongyang gently rubbed her brow with his fingers, smoothing away the sorrow between her brows, and comforted her, "Don't be sad anymore."

Xiang Ya nodded. Her master had already avenged his tribe and promised protection, so what was there to worry about?

Cheng Zongyang grinned mischievously. “Ya’er, let’s do it again.”

“No,” Xiang Ya refused, “The sisters in the clan are still waiting to make love with Master.”

“Hey, I’m a person, not a breeding tool.” Cheng Zongyang hugged Xiang Ya’s waist and turned her over. “Let’s change positions, make it more fun!”

Xiang Ya knelt on the chair, her legs spread, her buttocks pulled back; her honey hole, still dripping with semen, was penetrated by his penis, and her body trembled involuntarily. She cried out, “Master…”

“Does it feel different?” Cheng Zongyang nibbled on her earlobe while grinning wickedly. “You are now the female chieftain of Jingxi. I want you, the female chieftain, to use your tender hole to encase Master’s big meat stick, shaking your ass frantically while being fucked until you cry out, so that your clansmen know that their chieftain has also been fucked.”

Cheng Zongyang pressed Xiang Ya’s smooth white body into the chair, his penis thrusting in and out at an extremely fast frequency, forcefully pounding her mature honey hole. Where had Xiang Ya ever received any bedroom arts techniques? As the penis thrust in and out, her reserve crumbled little by little. Her hands gripped the armrests of the chair, her white, tender buttocks deformed like snowballs from the relentless thrusting, her wet, slippery vagina, filled with semen, was being pounded by the thick penis like a writhing flower. Her breasts were held in her master's hands, the nipples hard and erect.

In the midst of intense pleasure, a voice suddenly rang in her ears, "Am I even better than Ma Lu?"

"Yes!" Xiang Ya answered instinctively, then her body stiffened.

Cheng Zongyang sighed inwardly; to break Xiang Ya's mental block, he had to be shameless. He rubbed his face and continued shamelessly, "When Ma Lu fucked you, was he as thick as me? As hard as me? Did he make you feel as good as me?"

"Master..."

Cheng Zongyang thrust his lower abdomen forcefully, his penis penetrating deep into her vagina, pressing against her clitoris.

Xiang Ya shuddered, shaking her head weakly.

“So,” Cheng Zongyang whispered in her ear, “you now have my protection, and your sex life is of higher quality than before. What else do you have to worry about?”

Xiang Ya finally raised her head, tears streaming down her face, and laughed, “Mr. Cheng, you’re a kind-hearted villain.”

“Don’t worry, I will ensure your tribe continues.” Cheng Zongyang stood up, took out a dagger, and lightly sliced his wrist, letting the blood splatter on Xiang Ya’s snow-white body. “I swear by this, with me here, your tribe will never perish.”

The Jingxi people swear by blood, and Cheng Zongyang’s act of adapting to local customs made Xiang Ya completely understand his intentions. She obediently lowered herself, allowing her master to penetrate deeper, and said with full trust, “I believe you, my respected master.”

“Relax your body,” Cheng Zongyang said proudly, “Your master will let you taste a wonderful sensation you’ve never experienced before!”

Xiang Ya obediently relaxed her body, then felt a strange suction force coming from inside her, her entire honey hole seemed to be bound to his swollen penis, every tiny fold of her skirt being intensely rubbed. Within two breaths, Bai Ya trembled and climaxed beneath Cheng Zongyang.

Even after his penis was withdrawn, Xiang Ya's orgasm hadn't subsided. Cheng Zongyang simply pulled her into his arms, one hand on her crotch, stroking her throbbing genitals, the other caressing her entire body.

Xiang Ya trembled as she said, "Master, you haven't ejaculated yet..."

"We'll talk about it later," Cheng Zongyang said with a wicked smile, "I've already had my fun with you anyway."

Xiang Ya blushed and whispered, "Ya'er will help Master wash his body."

"No need."

Cheng Zongyang whistled, and a figure crawled in on all fours. Xiang Ya looked at the woman, the wife of the militia leader, with disgust as she eagerly opened her mouth and took her master's penis into her mouth, carefully licking it with a fawning smile. The

former militia leader's wife had now removed her hairpins and put on a coarse sugar-coated long dress woven from mammoth hair, with a straw rope pierced through her nostrils, looking like a domesticated female beast.

Cheng Zongyang leaned back comfortably in his chair, resting his legs on Meizhu's shoulders, and said to Xiang Ya, "Aren't you going to kill her yet?"

"We'll kill Wang Tuanlian's son, but not her, because those local militia didn't slaughter the women of Jingxi," Xiang Ya said. "And we won't kill Wang Tuanlian's women either."

Cheng Zongyang said, "She's no good. I've sent people to inquire; the sins she's committed over the years aren't enough to warrant ten deaths."

Bai Ya said, "Those murderers spared our lives to sell us into slavery and prostitution, and we spared her life not to let her live an easy life. She's now our Jingxi people's elephant slave and prostitute."

Cheng Zongyang said regretfully, "That's too easy on her." There isn't a single man in Jingxi; Meizhu, this prostitute, is just a figurehead.

Xiang Ya smiled slightly. "She was used by the beast-like servants under the master."

Cheng Zongyang sat up abruptly. "How is that possible?"

His three beast-like servants were completely beast-like. Wu Erlang was already quite a beast, but they were even more beastly. Ordinary human women were completely incompatible with their large-sized instruments.

"She brought it up herself."

Cheng Zongyang said in surprise, "Meizhu, you're amazing!"

Meizhu spat out the penis and whispered, "This lowly slave thought she would be killed by them, so she told them that this lowly slave could make those masters happy..."

Xiang Ya said, "We didn't believe it at first, but then she took the initiative to do it with that blue-faced beast in front of us, and then we believed it."

"You all saw it?"

"Yes. She was afraid we wouldn't trust her, so she took the initiative to do it with the three beast-like servants three times. We were all very curious, so we took turns watching."

"Take off your pants."

Meizhu obsequiously pulled down her pants, spreading her white buttocks in front of her master, revealing her genitals that had been used by the beast-like servants. Compared to those he'd seen before, Meizhu's genitals, aside from being slightly larger, weren't much different.

Cheng Zongyang asked skeptically, "Can it really go in? And you didn't die?"

Meizhu wiggled her buttocks and said, "Master Blue-Faced Beast's penis is the strongest, like an iron pillar when you're fucking him. Master Leopard Head's is the thickest, this lowly slave's lower body is almost split open. Jin Wuzhu..."

Cheng Zongyang had to admire her adaptability. Survival of the fittest, this woman was clearly more accepting of her fate than Wang Tuanlian. He sighed, "Meizhu, your life is saved."

Meizhu gave a charming smile. "Thank you, Master. Master, would you like to see this lowly slave being fucked? Master Jin Wuzhu's penis is the longest, and he doesn't care about this lowly slave, he always fucks this lowly slave until he cries and screams..."

Cheng Zongyang didn't care what Meizhu's feelings were while living in Jingxi Village; he was concerned about becoming an official.

Teng Fu's recommendation had received a formal response from the court. The financially strapped Song court desperately wanted more conscientious and responsible merchants like the young master of Cheng's Grain Shop, who would address the court's urgent needs. Therefore, although the recommendation of a seventh-rank official was somewhat excessive, considering the influence of the "thousand-gold purchase of a horse's bones" incident and, more importantly, out of respect for Teng Fu, the Song emperor approved Teng Fu's memorial. Ultimately, it was a nominal position as a guest minister, a far cry from the absurd act of openly selling titles planned by Grand Tutor Jia, and already showing considerable consideration for the court's reputation.

Cheng Zongyang had little interest in serving as an official in the Song court, but being recommended for an official position meant he had to register at the Ministry of Personnel to verify his identity. With luck, he might even receive a stipend, thus becoming a person of status. He could use this opportunity to leave Yunzhou and head to Lin'an.

Just as Qi Yuan had guessed, the government dealt with Wang Tiande, the local militia leader who had entrenched himself in Junzhou for many years, with swift and decisive action. Officials throughout the prefecture were all terrified, fearing for their lives. Sun Yixuan escaped unscathed, continuing his life as an inconspicuous cloth merchant in the city.

With his worries resolved, Cheng Zongyang began preparing for the journey. Yi Biao was the first to depart; he had already set off for Jiangzhou yesterday to work with Wu Zhanwei to build the foundation of his own direct battalion, and to transport the temporarily unused silver coins to Jiangzhou in batches with the brothers from the Junzhou cart and horse trading company.

Qi Yuan remained in Junzhou to oversee his grain business. Over the past month, he and the grain merchants of Junzhou had developed a deep-seated hatred for each other, and he couldn't be without protection. Therefore, Wu Sangui also stayed behind, both to assist Qi Yuan and protect his safety, and to continue investigating the clues about Abbess Ciyin.

Qin Hui would definitely accompany him; although he had many talented people around him, when it came to the talent for officialdom, no one but the treacherous minister could compare. Lin Qingpu was also indispensable, as he relied on him to maintain contact with various regions. Besides the two of them, Ao Run and Feng Yuan also expressed a desire to go to Lin'an. The Snow Falcon Gang had a branch there, and they wanted to make contact with their brothers to inquire about the whereabouts of their leader, Xue Yanshan.

The journey was naturally undertaken by the Yunzhou Carriage Company, led by Yu Ziyuan, who brought three old brothers from Xingyue Lake. These three had all been wounded in battle and could no longer fight, but their skills remained, making them key members of the Pengyi Society.

In addition to these men were Jin Wuzhu, Qingmian Shou, and Baozi Tou. These guys believed that following Cheng Zongyang would bring them good fortune, and at his command, they ran faster than anyone else, so Cheng Zongyang simply took them along.

After reducing the luggage, four carriages were still used. Qin Hui, Lin Qingpu, Ao Run, Feng Yuan, and he rode in three carriages, while the middle one was filled with gold coins. Jin Wuzhu and his men ran faster and ate more than horses. If it weren't for their astonishing behavior, Cheng Zongyang, who was willing to have these three large animals pull the cart, would probably have been able to manage with just a sheep.

Before leaving, Cheng Zongyang bid farewell to Teng Fu. Teng Fu avoided seeing him, only sending word that he should do good deeds and study the classics, so as not to waste his efforts in recommending talented people for the court. As for the gift money he had given, Teng Fu refused to accept a single penny. Cheng Zongyang felt a mix of emotions, and with a wry smile, he could only give her a zippered leather bag, which could conveniently hold writing brushes, inkstones, paper, and some scrolls, as a small token of his appreciation.

The Zhaonan people's rafts broke through the waters of the Fuling River, one after another disappearing into the moonlight. Shen Wanying leaned against a tree, quietly watching him, when suddenly she tiptoed and pecked Cheng Zongyang on the neck.

Cheng Zongyang, who had maintained his composure, laughed, opened his arms, pulled Shen Wanying into his embrace, and kissed her small mouth. As a free gift from Zhuo Jianren, Cheng Zongyang initially didn't take this Zhao Nan woman seriously. But after several interactions, he gradually discovered her endearing side.

Shen Wanying's respect and trust for him even surpassed that for her master. She never doubted any of his decisions, and even during intimate moments, she was like an obedient student, diligently performing every action he taught her.

Out of respect, she never initiated any intimate gestures, always showing genuine deference and obedience. Even when he deliberately provoked her to orgasm, her reaction was perfectly proper. Yet, it was precisely this that made Cheng Zongyang feel a pang of pity for her.

Their lips parted, Shen Wanying's cheeks flushed slightly. She took a step back, knelt down, and whispered, "Thank you for your guidance, Master. This disciple takes her leave. Please take care, Master."

"Take care on your journey. I'll visit you in Muyu City in a few days."

"This disciple awaits the arrival of the Sect Master in Muyu City."

Chapter Six :

"The southeast is a land of strategic importance, the capital of the Three Wu regions, and Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times—this Qiantang is Lin'an."

Qin Hui said, "Lin'an City is bordered by the Qiantang River to the east and the West Lake, beautiful whether adorned or plain, to the west. In the past, the serpent immortal Bai Suzhen, who once roamed the world, fought a duel with Xu Xian, the Grand Elder of the Taiyi True Sect, at the Broken Bridge. Master Fahai of Jinshan Temple from the Ten Directions Forest intervened to mediate. Bai Suzhen and her sister Xiaoqing were moved by the Master's demeanor and converted to Jinshan Temple, leading to countless beautiful stories... Young Master, are you feeling unwell?"

Cheng Zongyang coughed and said, "Bai Suzhen and the Green Snake converted to Jinshan Temple? Is the flood about to reach Jinshan Temple? Damn! That old monk Fahai is really something!"

Qin Hui revealed an ambiguous smile: "Everyone says that Master Fahai's Buddhist teachings are boundless, but only you, Young Master, have such thoughts..."

"Brother Traitor, you also believe Fahai and Bai Suzhen have an affair?"

Qin Hui asked nonchalantly. "A mere fabrication?"

Cheng Zongyang gave a thumbs-up. "Brother Traitor, you're something else. Go ahead and say it again at Fengbo Pavilion."

"Just parroting others," Qin Hui said. "My 'fabricated' is nothing compared to the bloodshed caused by Grand Tutor Jia's words."

"Brother Qin is too modest. I think Grand Tutor Jia learned it from you,"

Qin Hui laughed. "Grand Tutor Jia even considered selling titles; it shows how truly impoverished the Song Dynasty is."

The entire city of Lin'an, based on the terrain of the Qiantang River and West Lake, forms a rectangle, wider in the north and narrower in the south. The palace city is located to the south, bordering the Qiantang River, while the residential area is to the north. The Qiantang River flows to the east of Lin'an, but the Qiantang Gate is to the west, facing West Lake.

The carriages traveled along the lakeshore, passing Fenglin Temple, Dafo Temple, Zhaoqing Temple, and so on.

Cheng Zongyang wondered, "I heard that Taiyi Zhenzong is the largest sect in the Song Dynasty. How come there are so many temples along the way, but not a single Taoist temple?"

"Most of the Taoist temples are in Lin'an City," Qin Hui said, listing them off as if they were his own treasures. "There are Jingling Palace, Wanshou Temple, Taiyi Palace, Helin Palace, Longxiang Palace, Shangqing Palace, Zongyang Palace, Chongtian Temple... more than ten in total. Among them, Zongyang Palace belongs to Yangjun Sect, Wanshou Temple belongs to Changqing Sect, Longxiang Palace belongs to Ganzhen Sect, Jingling Palace is the ancestral temple of the Song emperor, presided over by Shenxiao Sect, and the other Taiyi, Helin, Chongtian, and Shangqing Temples all belong to Taiyi Zhenzong."

So many Taoist temples and Buddhist temples, it seems that the Ten Directions Monasteries and Taoist sects are vying fiercely for power! Cheng Zongyang suddenly remembered the two scholars from Lin'an he had met in Qingzhou, one of whom, surnamed Liao, had specifically invited him to Lin'an to visit him.

"Where is Yueshengtang?"

Even though Yu Ziyuan had lived in Lin'an for many years, he was stumped by the question. Qin Hui, however, laughed and said, "Yueshengtang is a famous library in Lin'an, and its printed books are said to be the finest of the Six Dynasties. Only a fool would know of such a place; Brother Cao has probably never even heard of it."

Yu Ziyuan laughed self-deprecatingly, "You've hit the nail on the head. The words in the book recognize me, but I don't recognize them."

As they joked, Qin Hui pointed, "Qiantang Gate is just ahead."

Entering the city through Qiantang Gate, the first thing one sees is the endless stream of pedestrians on the street. Even small merchants and vendors are dressed in silk clothes and shoes, a scene of prosperity and abundance. Although the people of Song are rich, the country is poor and weak, which is truly a blessing or a curse for the people of Song.

Yu Ziyuan suddenly whispered outside the carriage, "Young master, we've arrived at Fengbo Pavilion."

Cheng Zongyang was startled. He had heard that Yue Pengju had been assassinated at Fengbo Pavilion, and had always assumed it happened outside the city. He hadn't expected it to be inside the city, and not far from Qiantang Gate. No wonder Du Yuansheng had sold fish by the city gate for fifteen years to guard Yue Pengju's cenotaph.

He could simply yawn and move

on from Yue Pengju's empty grave, but he couldn't leave the other grave unvisited. Wen Chengzong jumped out of the carriage, glanced at Fengbo Pavilion, and then walked towards the back of the pavilion. Although Fengbo Pavilion was located inside the city, it was rarely visited. Perhaps due to the tragedy that had occurred over a decade ago, despite being adjacent to a bustling street, the area around the pavilion was overgrown with weeds, giving it a desolate feel.

Behind the pavilion stood two unmarked graves. Unlike the withered grass covering Fengbo Pavilion, these two graves were clean and tidy, the surrounding weeds carefully removed.

Cheng Zongyang ignored the large tomb directly opposite the pavilion. If that brat were here, he might be interested in fertilizing Yue Fei's grave; but with Yu Ziyuan beside him, if he were to actually urinate on Yue Fei's grave, Yu Ziyuan would probably be the first to fight him.

Although Yu Ziyuan was somewhat puzzled as to why Cheng Zongyang didn't pay respects at Yue Fei's grave, his expression became solemn as he approached the tomb next to it.

Cheng Zongyang lit three incense sticks and placed them in front of the grave, then kowtowed three times earnestly: "Third Brother Xie, I've come to see you."

"Xiao Zi is doing well, we're all doing well. She's in Jiangzhou now, with Boss Meng and the others..."

"They've all invested, and the Xingyue Lake camp also has a share... Our Panjiang Cheng family company just made a little money, and I haven't had a chance to spend it yet..."

"We wiped out one of the Black Demon Sea's hideouts in Qingzhou, avenging you a little... The Xingyue Lake camp has regrouped, Boss Meng, Second Brother Hou, Fourth Brother Si, Fifth Brother Lu, Sixth Brother Cui, Seventh Brother Wang, and Little Fox are all here..."

"We've been fighting fiercely with the Song army in Jiangzhou, and we haven't lost a single battle..."

"Also, I gave your knife to Xie Youdu, Brother Yi, you won't blame me, will you..."

Cheng Zongyang spoke for longer and longer, his nose stinging with tears. If Xie Yi were alive today, given his status, he would very likely replace Xie Youdu and take control of the Northern Army. Even without the Northern Army, with his cultivation and military skills, the Battle of Jiangzhou would have been a completely different affair.

Yu Ziyuan was a former member of the First Battalion and had a deep bond with Xie Yi. He silently arranged the offerings and then gave a standard military salute to the grave of his former commander. Several soldiers driving the carts also came over to pay their respects.

Qin Hui had met Xie Yi once before, so he bowed deeply and recited in a melodious voice, "The mountains are verdant, the rivers are vast, the gentleman's virtue is as high as the mountains and as long as the rivers."

Lin Qingpu had also met Xie Yi in the Southern Wilderness and had a good impression of this gentle man. He bowed along with Qin Hui. Of course, Lin Qingpu did not know that Xie Yi had secretly taken the Spirit Flying Mirror that he was keeping.

Ao Run and Feng Yuan heard that one of the Eight Steeds, Long Ji, was buried here. Firstly, out of respect for Xie Yi's status, and secondly, because they had followed Cheng Tou'er and were considered part of Xingyue Lake, they simply kowtowed to the Xingyue Lake brothers driving the carts.

Cheng Zongyang rubbed his eyes and said to Yu Ziyuan, "It looks like this grave has been re-soiled?"

"Last October, Lieutenant Colonel Si obtained the Mountain Golden Vessel in Qingzhou and buried it in Lieutenant Colonel Xie's grave," Yu Ziyuan said. "Lieutenant Colonel Lu also came that day, and it was the first time I'd ever seen them both cry so bitterly."

Xie Yi was still thinking about the Mountain Grand Competition before his death, and now that Si Mingxin and Lu Jing had obtained the Mountain Golden Vessel, it was as if one of his wishes had been fulfilled. Cheng Zongyang grabbed a handful of soil and added it to Xie Yi's grave, slowly smoothing it out.

"Brother Yi, I'll be staying in Lin'an for a while longer, I'll come to see you another day."

Yu Ziyuan wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't speak. Ao Run, however, couldn't contain himself and whispered, "Boss Cheng, I heard that big grave belongs to Marshal Yue?"

Cheng Zongyang wiped away his tears and said expressionlessly, "It's empty. What's the point of kowtowing to an empty grave when a living person is nowhere to be found? Maybe he's having a good time somewhere right now."

Yu Ziyuan smiled bitterly. Regarding Marshal Yue's fate, the eight officers split into two factions, and it seemed that the newly joined Major Cheng belonged to the faction that didn't believe Marshal Yue was dead.

After leaving Fengbo Pavilion, everyone lost interest in conversation. Yu Ziyuan had already arranged accommodations, and the entourage wound its way through the city towards their lodgings.

"The place we're staying is in Baohefang. It's not a big house, but it's in a good location. Lieutenant Colonel Si and Lieutenant Colonel Lu bought it with the money they earned from doing business. It has nothing to do with Marshal Yue," Yu Ziyuan said. "There are two rivers to the east of Baohefang, commonly known as the Big River and the Small River. To the west is Mingqing Temple, which leads south all the way to Chaotianmen in the palace."

Qin Hui interjected with a smile, "The main road along the Small River is the most prosperous Imperial Street in Lin'an. Not only are there merchants gathered on both sides, but there are also all kinds of entertainment venues. There are hundreds and thousands of entertainment venues inside, with wrestling, sumo, sword swallowing, fire breathing, tightrope walking, illusion, dwarfs, actors... all kinds of singing and dancing performances."

Cheng Zongyang knew that the treacherous minister was trying to reassure him, so he forced a smile and was about to speak when he suddenly exclaimed "Eh!" and stuck his head out of the carriage, staring intently at a carriage that had just passed by.

If he wasn't mistaken, the woman in that carriage was actually Li Shishi! He hadn't stayed long in Junzhou before heading straight to Lin'an, and he hadn't expected Li Shishi to return from Jiangzhou. Cheng Zongyang had maintained contact with Jiangzhou throughout the journey, possessing almost complete knowledge of the Song army's movements, and hadn't heard any news of the Tiger Wing Army withdrawing from Jiangzhou. Why would this military physician suddenly return to Lin'an? Could it be…?

"Follow the carriage ahead!"

Yu Ziyuan silently adjusted the direction and drove after it. The other carriages proceeded along the predetermined route to Baohe Ward.

Qin Hui glanced at the carriage: "It's a hired carriage from a carriage company. Judging by the dust on it, it hasn't traveled far. The people and horses are exhausted; something urgent must have happened! Young master, is there anything unusual?"

Cheng Zongyang revealed Li Shishi's identity, then said coldly, "I suspect there are people from the Guangming Temple in Lin'an. She saw the corpse poison of the Marquis of Shang in Jiangzhou and came back specifically to find the antidote."

Qin Hui's expression shifted slightly. After all, he had served under the Marquis of Shang, and upon hearing that someone wanted to deal with his former master, he immediately harbored murderous intent.

The bluestone slabs of the street were marked with half-foot-deep ruts, and all vehicles traveling in the same direction followed these ruts. The carriage ahead moved hurriedly, seemingly unaware that it was being followed.

The carriage crossed the Zhong'an Bridge over the small river and the Yan Bridge over the large river, then sped northward without stopping. Half an hour later, it arrived at Qinjiaofang and finally stopped in front of a security escort agency.

A woman stepped out of the carriage; her face was as beautiful as jade, and she was dressed in white, pure as snow—it was Li Shishi. The security guards at the door seemed very familiar with her, rising and bowing with clasped hands. Li Shishi nodded slightly and hurried into the agency.

Cheng Zongyang looked at the plaque above the agency's door that read "Weiyuan." Could this be the Guangming Guantang's outpost in Lin'an?

"Weiyuan Escort Agency, headed by Li Yinchen, has six escorts and over forty porters. It ranks in the middle among the dozen or so escort agencies in Lin'an," Qin Hui said, holding up the intelligence report he had gathered. "Headed Escort Li's martial arts skills aren't great, but he's good at building relationships, and the agency's business isn't bad. However, I heard they lost a shipment before the New Year, injuring several people, and they haven't settled it yet." "

What are disciples of the Guangming Temple doing at an escort agency? Does Weiyuan Escort Agency have some secret dealings with the Guangming Temple?"

"Yes. But not secretly, but openly," Qin Hui said. "Headed Escort Li has only one daughter, named Li Shishi. Four years ago, she became a disciple of the Guangming Temple, serving as an outer disciple."

"Damn! So she went home?"

"It's said that Headed Escort Li's wife was unwell, and Miss Shishi specifically asked for leave to return from the army."

Cheng Zongyang was both amused and annoyed. He had been suspicious, thinking the Guangming Temple had finally given up and was going to attack Jiangzhou, but it turned out she was only concerned with family matters.

Cheng Zongyang put the matter out of his mind. "Let's leave her for now. By the way, I have to report to the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow. Huizhi, what do you think I should write as my place of origin?"

Qin Hui asked, "Where is your original place of origin, young master?"

Cheng Zongyang chuckled, "Panjiang Cheng Clan, of course it's Panjiang."

"Panjiang it is then," Qin Hui nodded, "Anyway, the officials of the Song State's Ministry of Personnel don't have the ability to check in Panjiang."

Ao Run and Ma Yuan went to the Snow Falcon Regiment's branch office to meet with the brothers in the regiment. Lin Qingpu, having endured a bumpy journey, rested quietly in his room. The three barbarian beastmen frightened many children along the way, so Cheng Zongyang had to buy a large cart on the way, stuffing Jin Wuzhu and Leopard Head inside, leaving the somewhat human-like Blue-Faced Beast to follow beside them.

Cheng Zongyang summoned Qin Hui, Yu Ziyuan, and the Blue-Faced Beast: "Let's go! Let's go check out the Wu Mu Prince's mansion! Jin Wuzhu, Leopard Head! Keep an eye on those boxes; if you scratch even a little bit of the lacquer, you'll be charged!"

Jin Wuzhu snorted twice, but thankfully didn't argue.

The three barbarian beastmen were all quite skilled, especially Jin Wuzhu, who could fight Wu Erlang for hundreds of rounds. Although Wu Erlang hadn't used the Nine Yang Divine Skill, Jin Wuzhu's strength was evident. Leopard Head and the Blue-Faced Beast were nearly as strong as Ao Run, so leaving them to guard the gold coins he had brought was enough to keep him at ease.

The people of Lin'an were wealthy, and Cheng Zongyang took off his usual cloak and put on a fox fur coat worth several coins, over which he wore a crimson silk robe, with a sachet and jade pendant hanging from his waist, looking every bit the wealthy young master.

Qin Hui and Yu Ziyuan were dressed as scholars, clearly just hangers-on. Only the Blue-Faced Beast was nearly two heads taller than them, and wore a huge bamboo hat, its gait resembling a thick, dark cloud that shrouded those below in darkness.

If Cheng Zongyang's imposing manner was merely a display of wealth, having a beastman bodyguard signified extraordinary riches. In Lin'an, it wasn't difficult for wealthy people to buy a beastman, but acquiring a tamed one was no easy feat.

The Wu Mu Prince's Mansion was located east of Ji Family Bridge, only two or three li from Fengbo Pavilion. The mansion occupied almost an entire ward; in Lin'an, where land was incredibly valuable, its sheer size was astounding. It was said that the Song emperor had several times considered demolishing the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion, converting it into a residential area or a Taoist temple, but all attempts ultimately failed. Even the emperor acted with such reluctance, hence, no matter how exorbitant land prices were in Lin'an, no one dared to covet that piece of land.

Cheng Zongyang and his companions, disguised as casual shoppers, strolled over. They noticed the main gate and side gates of the Prince's mansion were sealed, indicating they hadn't been opened for some time; the writing on the seals had faded with age.

Cheng Zongyang slowed his pace, carefully examining the mansion. Although sealed, the eaves and corners of the pavilions and towers within were still visible through the walls, their imposing presence a stark contrast to their former grandeur. Due to years of neglect, many roof tiles were missing, and waist-high weeds grew on the roofs, along with bird droppings, adding a touch of decay and desolation to the once opulent atmosphere.

Cheng Zongyang circled the Wu Mu Prince's mansion, familiarizing himself with the layout of the buildings, planning to visit it sometime at night when he felt like it—perhaps he might find clues left by that birdman. Cheng Zongyang didn't believe that the arrogant Yue birdman would leave without a trace.

Besides becoming an official and making a fortune, the first thing he did upon arriving in Lin'an was to do business. Yun Xiufeng arrived in Lin'an half a month earlier than him, but he didn't expect Cheng Zongyang to arrive so quickly. He had to leave temporarily to handle a fine iron business deal, and the two agreed to meet in the city after the matter was completed. In addition, there was a rendezvous with the unknown undercover agent at Xingyue Lake. Yu Ziyuan had lived in Lin'an for many years and knew the place well. As soon as Cheng Zongyang mentioned it, he led everyone to Mingqing Temple.

Although it was also a bustling metropolis, compared with Qingzhou and Jiankang, Lin'an had a more leisurely atmosphere among its citizens. The people on the street were not as hurried as in Qingzhou, and there was a more affluent air than in Jiankang. Many of the shops on both sides of the road were pen shops, paper shops, bookstores, and music stores, which had a literary atmosphere.

Mingqing Temple was another lively scene. The temple was near the northwest corner gate of the Wumu Prince's Mansion, only a few hundred steps away. The incense in the temple was very strong, and a string of stalls in front of the gate sold incense and vegetarian offerings.

Qin Hui squatted in front of a stall, haggling with the old man selling incense for a long time before finally buying a few boxes. He then smiled and handed them to the head of the family: "This incense is quite good—someone's following us."

Cheng Zongyang calmly took the incense. He was so engrossed in looking at the surrounding scenery that he hadn't noticed the tail following them. "When did they start following us?"

"They've been following us since we came from the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion," Qin Hui said. "Perhaps we've been watching for too long, and they've been spotted by spies."

Cheng Zongyang was somewhat curious. Yue Niaoren had been dead for over ten years, yet someone was still stalking him near the Wu Mu Prince's residence? He casually glanced behind him: "Which one?"

"What a fine man!" Qin Hui exclaimed first, then opened his palm, revealing a bronze mirror in his hand.

The leader was indeed a hero! That thought immediately popped into Cheng Zongyang's mind upon seeing him. The man was eight feet tall, with three long tufts of beard under his chin, broad shoulders, a straight back, and a dignified appearance. He wore a blue gauze turban, a single-layered green robe with floral patterns, a silver belt with double-tailed tortoise-shell patterns, and boots with claw-shaped toes. Although he was stalking, every step he took was rooted to the spot, as steady as Mount Tai, exuding an air of noble bearing.

"What a pity!" Cheng Zongyang said, "It's such a waste to put such a fine man in a surveillance position. Brother Qin Hui, it's like sending you to sell grain—a waste of his talent."

Qin Hui laughed, "My lord has misplaced his favor; I am ashamed."

Cheng Zongyang laughed, "I originally wanted to give you this position, but if you don't want it, that's fine too. Hey, look at that guy's demeanor; he seems like a soldier. Old Cao, you've dealt with the Song army before, do you recognize him?"

Yu Ziyuan whispered, "He's from the Imperial City Guard."

Reminded by Yu Ziyuan, Cheng Zongyang noticed the man's waist tag. The Imperial City Guard… Cheng Zongyang remembered somewhat awkwardly that Meng Laoda had specifically warned him to be wary of the Imperial City Guard before he left. He was so lucky; he was spotted by them as soon as he entered Lin'an. Now that things had come to this, there was nothing more to say; he could only blame himself for being too careless. Fortunately, they only noticed him lingering around the Wu Mu Prince's residence and didn't know his identity, so there was still a chance to salvage the situation.

Cheng Zongyang, displaying his wealth and arrogance, pointed to the old man's incense shop and said, "This incense is excellent! I'll take it all! Old beast, carry it on your back!"

The blue-faced beast bent down, scooped up several hundred packets of incense from the stall, and slung them over his shoulder. Qin Hui took out his money pouch and tossed in several dozen silver coins.

Having bought such a large pile of incense, Cheng Zongyang bowed to every Buddha statue he encountered, from the Four Heavenly Kings, Maitreya Buddha, Weituo statue, Guanyin Hall... all the way to the Great Buddha Hall.

Mingqing Temple was a grand temple, and the monks there were as discerning as the prime minister's doorman. They immediately recognized the young master's demeanor as that of a nouveau riche eager to be exploited. A monk promptly approached and said in a friendly tone, "Greetings, benefactor. Your esteemed presence brings honor to our humble temple..."

Cheng Zongyang turned and asked in a thick, earthy accent, "What did he say?"

Qin Hui coughed, "He said that since you, young master, have come to offer incense, this... is quite something."

Cheng Zongyang pointed at the monk and said, "You monk, you just don't speak properly."

The monk's face flushed red, and before he could speak, another monk pulled him away. This monk, in his thirties, spoke with a thick, earthy accent: "Young master, you have good judgment! What's a monk doing here? Don't you think so?"

Cheng Zongyang, his belly protruding, said, "Well said! A reward is due!"

Seeing his attendant casually hand out a few silver coins as a reward, the surrounding monks' eyes immediately turned red.

"Young master, have you come to the temple seeking wealth or inquiring about your future? My master is a highly accomplished monk! He was bestowed with a robe by the Emperor! He knows five hundred years into the past and five hundred years into the future!"

"My senior brother is a master of physiognomy! He can predict fate by weighing bones, and his predictions are always spot on!"

Another monk squeezed in: "Look! Look! Young master, your forehead is full and your jaw is wide and square! You need no further explanation! You will have wealth if you seek it, and official position if you seek it! Alas, it's just that the scar on your forehead ruins your fortune, but don't worry! This humble monk has a way to break it, ensuring your safety for three lifetimes!"

Seeing this group of monks who were even more mercenary than ordinary people, Cheng Zongyang suddenly thought of Ciyin. Judging from that thieving nun's manner, could she be from Mingqing Temple? Such mercenary temples are rare, but on the bright side, this temple probably has nothing to do with the Ten Directions Forest. He didn't want to provoke a group of monks and nuns who had a grudge against Yue Niaoren to come out and shout for war.

A group of monks argued for a long time, while the man keeping watch remained patient, standing at a distance without uttering a word. Cheng Zongyang glanced at him, then pointed to the monk who had just received the reward: "You're the one!"

"Young master has good taste!" the guest monk praised first, then smiled and said, "My name is Mingxin, meaning 'enlightenment leads to enlightenment.' Is this your first time here, young master? This way please! Let me tell you about our Mingqing Temple—it is the most famous temple in Lin'an, with five halls, seven pavilions, and nine renowned gardens, its facilities are first-class..."

Qin Hui smiled and asked, "I wonder which master resides here?"

Mingxin's expression was slightly embarrassed, clearly having been touched on a sore spot by the treacherous minister.

Cheng Zongyang waved his hand dismissively and said, "What do you need a master for? These buildings aren't enough for you! A tall building and a big hall, with lots of people coming, is a good temple! A master is just a bit of filling in a steamed bun, you get the same bite whether he's there or not!"

"Insightful!" Mingxin gave a thumbs up, "Young master's wisdom is as thick as my arm—"

The man was still following behind, and Cheng Zongyang was thinking about how to shake him off while casually replying to Mingxin.

Mingxin asked, "I wonder why you've come to the temple, young master..."

Cheng Zongyang laughed heartily, "To become an official and make a fortune."

"Oh dear! My apologies, I didn't know you were an official."

"Becoming an official is a small matter, making a fortune is a big matter." Cheng Zongyang said, "I just arrived in Lin'an and was thinking of finding a business to do. I happened to see a large house that was empty. I said, why are you people from Lin'an so bad at doing business? Where I'm from, every piece of land is used for real estate development. Why is this piece of land still empty? So I walked and walked, and wow, this land is really not small! As I walked, I came to the temple. I thought I should light incense and ask, but who should I ask? The bodhisattvas are in charge of giving away children, making a fortune, and becoming an official. I've never heard of anyone in charge of real estate. Well then! I'll just go around and around. Surely I'll bump into someone in charge among this large group of Buddhas..."

Cheng Zongyang's rambling made Yu Ziyuan unable to hold back his laughter. He turned his head and coughed violently. Qin Hui smiled and nodded slightly, as if the patriarch's words were the teachings of a sage.

Mingxin's smile, though forced, was at least a forced one, displaying good professionalism. "Amitabha, benefactor, this... ah... which..." He wanted to flatter, but couldn't find the right words, finally blurting out, "Good!"

Cheng Zongyang didn't hesitate, replying, "Reward!"

Mingxin immediately felt his efforts hadn't been in vain, his face beaming as he said, "This way, benefactor!"

The man who had been tailing them looked utterly fooled. He had followed them from the Great Buddha Hall to the Medicine Buddha Hall, finally unable to contain himself, stamping his foot and turning to leave.

Cheng Zongyang breathed a sigh of relief, finally getting rid of the man. He estimated his report would state: "On February 17th, a group of four out-of-town businessmen were seen loitering around the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion. Investigation revealed they were out-of-town real estate developers planning to demolish the Wu Mu Prince's Mansion." The End.

Mingxin fawned over Cheng Zongyang, who then spouted nonsense, claiming that if they were going to demolish the mansion, they would tear it down entirely, compensate the owner, and then build villas on the east side, each with thirty feet of land, five or six stories high, which would yield several times the profit. The north side would be shops, creating a top-tier urban commercial district. The south side would be a theater, aiming to become the entertainment center of Lin'an and even the entire Song Dynasty.

Mingxin asked, "Does the young master plan to build an inn or an academy on the west side?" "

Outsider! Outsider!" Cheng Zongyang said, "The southwest side will be a 'hot bathhouse'! Imagine, the west side is next to your temple, after chanting scriptures every day, covered in sweat, going to the bathhouse to get scented soap and 'crunch crunch' wash! Then finding two girls to massage your backs and loosen your bones… that feeling! Heh!"

Mingxin prided himself on his ability to talk the dead back to life, but Cheng Zongyang's words stirred his imagination, filling him with longing.

Cheng Zongyang was about to check the prayer list when he suddenly stopped. Yu Ziyuan showed no unusual reaction, but Qin Hui's expression shifted slightly, and he turned to look north. Their eyes met, Cheng Zongyang nodded slightly, and started walking north.

Mingxin snapped out of her daze and quickly said, "Benefactor! This way please! You can't go that way!"

Cheng Zongyang waved his hand, and Qin Hui pulled out a handful of silver coins. Mingxin immediately said, "This humble monk will lead the way for you, young master!"

"Is there anywhere in this temple that you can't go?"

"Young master, that's the temple's vegetable garden. It's filthy and there's nothing to see..." Mingxin explained carefully to the benefactor as they walked.

Cheng Zongyang had a faint smile on his face, but his hand reached into his fox fur coat and pressed down on the coral dagger.

Mingxin's skill lay entirely in his words, while Yu Ziyuan's cultivation was insufficient; when the ground trembled slightly just now, both he and Qin Hui immediately sensed it. It wasn't an earthquake, but someone using footwork. The power of that person's kick was definitely no less than that of Wu Erlang from that day. The same thought crossed their minds: fighting someone in the temple, could it be Ciyin?

The vegetable garden of Mingqing Temple was located behind the temple, covering an area of several dozen acres. Along the street was a low wall, inside which were planted dozens of locust and willow trees, and a group of men could be seen gathered under the trees in the distance.

Upon seeing the group, Mingxin hesitated, whispering, "Those are all city ruffians and scoundrels. They steal vegetables from the garden all day long, and even several of my senior brothers have been injured by them. It wasn't until a wandering monk came to visit the garden before the New Year that things improved, but they've come again today."

If ruffians and scoundrels all had this level of skill, Wu Er would probably have a hard time making it in the ruffian circle if he came to Lin'an.

Approaching, he noticed that the ruffians were all standing far apart in a circle. In the center stood a man and a woman. The man was a large, fat monk with a shaved head and scars, revealing a shiny scalp. He was tall and stout, with a thick beard like a hedgehog. If it weren't for his drab gray monk's robes and the string of prayer beads around his neck, he would look like a butcher wielding a knife.

Opposite him was a beautiful young nun, dressed in blue and wearing a nun's cap. In terms of size, the nun was probably only a third the size of the monk, yet the two were locked in a fierce battle, exchanging blows and palm strikes.

Each step the fat monk took left a half-foot-deep crater. The nun, moving like a butterfly flitting among flowers, possessed excellent agility, but she couldn't break through the monk's fists, only able to circle around him.

The little nun, furious, shouted as she fought, "Bad monk! Pay me back my 'flowers'!"

"Hey nun, stop talking nonsense! I've never seen your 'flowers'!"

the monk yelled, but his face was flushed, revealing his deep unease.

Mingxin covered her mouth with one hand, whispering disdainfully in Cheng Zongyang's ear, "A monk who doesn't meditate and chant scriptures but insists on throwing punches and sticks deserves to be in the vegetable garden piling manure."

The two suddenly separated; the nun had torn off half of the fat monk's sleeve, indicating he had lost a move.

"Again!" the monk shouted, grabbing a staff as thick as a child's arm. He then tore off his shirt, rolling it around his waist to reveal a torso covered in tattoos.

The monk was robust, but his tattoos were incredibly detailed, the designs unique. From his chest to his back, they were adorned with clusters of fragrant flowers, like a tapestry of brocade.

Qin Hui blurted out, "What a flowery monk!"

Yu Ziyuan, however, wore a strange expression: "This... could it be... too much of a coincidence..."

Cheng Zongyang stared intently at the large monk, subconsciously asking, "Who is he?"

"His tattoos are eight parts similar to what Captain Zang described. He must be Company Commander Zang's senior brother, the Flowery Monk!"

Lu Zhishen? Zang Xiu's senior brother? What kind of world is this!

"And where's the nun? Explain yourself. They should be uprooting the willow tree right now, so why is a little nun suddenly appearing?"

Mingxin exclaimed, "Oh dear! This humble monk recognizes her. Isn't that the little nun Yang Liu from the Fuxin Nunnery?"

Cheng Zongyang's face darkened. "Your nun has the Dharma name Yang Liu?"

"Young master, you don't know—" Mingxin said, while smiling and spreading out her palm.

Cheng Zongyang said coldly, "Explain yourself before you pay!"

Mingxin readily replied, "According to the rules of Foxin Nunnery, nuns are formally ordained at the age of sixteen and receive their Dharma name before the Buddha. This young nun hasn't shaved her head yet; she only has a nickname, Yangliu."

Mingxin added another piece of information as a bonus: "That monk's secular surname is Lu, and his Dharma name is Zhishen. He's a real scoundrel. Because he has tattoos on his body, everyone calls him the Flower Monk. He loves wine and meat, is brave and fierce, and when he's drunk, he acts crazy. He can't stay in the temple, so he comes to the vegetable garden... Oh my Buddha!

This is a sacred Buddhist place; who is cooking this pot of meat soup?!" With a "bang," someone flicked Mingxin's bald head on the forehead. A ruffian grabbed his collar and shouted, "Open your dog eyes and look carefully! This is radish, this is tofu, where is this meat soup?"

Mingxin nodded hurriedly.

"Here, this piece of tofu is for you!"

The ruffian shoved a piece of dog meat into Mingxin's mouth, and Mingxin bit down with a bitter face. With this piece of meat in her stomach, she couldn't go and complain anymore.

Cheng Zongyang watched with a smile, showing no intention of intervening.

"Huahua!" the little nun shrieked, leaping over, only to see a dog skin by the pot.

Lu Zhishen, who had just insisted he hadn't seen it, was now caught red-handed, his old face instantly turning bright red. He spread his legs, gripped his staff, and with a shake of his arms, the staff, as thick as a child's arm, vibrated with a "hum," then roared, his voice booming, managing to cover up his embarrassment.

The little nun's eyes immediately reddened, and she drew her long sword, crying out, "Bad monk! Give me your life!"

Lu Zhishen's staff immediately gained the upper hand. The young nun had only gained a slight advantage in their earlier exchange; her true cultivation was far inferior to Lu Zhishen's. After only ten or so moves, she was forced to the brink of defeat. With a swift movement, she leaped onto a willow tree, her sword flashing like countless stars as she hurtled towards Lu Zhishen.

The surrounding ruffians cheered loudly, shouting, "Master! Give this little nun a piece of your mind!"

"Master eating the dog meat from your nunnery is an honor!"

"What kind of dog does a monk keep? She deserves to be eaten!"

Lu Zhishen's staff moved with increasing ease, his body enveloped in a dark, golden shadow from the staff's handle. Suddenly, with a thunderous crack, he swung his staff, striking the young nun's sword light like swatting a fly. The young nun's body trembled violently, her sword shattering into pieces.

"Good!" a shout came from outside the wall.

Cheng Zongyang looked up and saw the man who had been staring at him earlier, who had somehow come to watch the commotion. He stood outside the wall, watching Lu Zhishen's moves with the same elation and excitement as a drunkard seeing fine wine or a martial arts fanatic meeting a kindred spirit.

The young nun's longsword was destroyed, and her movements slowed, making it impossible for her to weave among the willow trees. She retreated to a willow tree so large it would take one person to encircle it, gritting her teeth as she threw down the broken sword and branches as projectiles.

"Bad monk! Bad monk! Bad monk!"

Her strength was lacking, but her aim was excellent; soon Lu Zhishen's bald head had been struck several times, his forehead thumping loudly.

Lu Zhishen roared in anger, "Little nun! You've already lost, are you trying to cheat me?!"

"You ate my flower pet, I'll beat you to death!"

Lu Zhishen said shamelessly, "You nun! There's a saying that men shouldn't keep cats and women shouldn't keep dogs! I've killed that spotted dog, so you can cultivate in peace. If you don't stop, I'll climb up and take you down!"

Lu Zhishen's agility was mediocre; he leaped several times but couldn't catch the little nun, instead being hit hard by her at close range. He wanted to climb up, but the willow tree was just turning green, its branches swaying like smoke. The little nun could barely stand on the tree; adding Lu Zhishen to the mix would be impossible.

After all that commotion, Lu Zhishen, aside from getting a few more blows to the head, hadn't even managed to touch the little nun's clothes. Lu Zhishen circled the tree, cursing, and the little nun argued back.

Cheng Zongyang shouted, "Hey, you fat monk, why are you so stubborn? Why don't you just pull the tree out?"

Lu Zhishen slapped his forehead, "Great plan!"

The surrounding ruffians' mouths gaped open, and the little nun in the tree was dumbfounded. Lu Zhishen bent over, opened his arms, and hugged the weeping willow tree, then shoved his shoulder against the trunk. His shoulder muscles bulged, rising high like steel, and with a loud shout, the ground around the roots suddenly swelled, and the sound of roots snapping echoed from the soil.

The surrounding ruffians forgot to cheer, and even Qin Hui, who had been relaxed, became serious. Mingxin, with a piece of dog meat in her mouth, dared not spit it out or swallow it, but now, engrossed in watching, her throat moved, and a large piece of fatty dog meat slid into her stomach.

The young nun turned pale and, before she could escape, the willow tree beneath her was uprooted. She slipped and fell from the tree.

The monk, having fought for so long, finally caught her and immediately grabbed her, laughing, "I've even uprooted willows growing on the ground, let alone a little willow like you!" Then he shouted, "Do you submit?!"

The young nun, held captive, couldn't break free and suddenly burst into tears.

Now it was the monk's turn to be dumbfounded. He frantically released her, bowing and scraping, repeatedly apologizing.

"So what if you're from Mount Wutai?" the little nun sobbed. "You owe me my flowers! You owe me my sword!"

Lu Zhishen retorted angrily, "In martial arts duels, life and death are determined by fate. Why would I need a sword?"

"Waaah..."

"Let me tell you straight! I have no money, but I'll give you my life!"

"Waaah..."

"Crying won't help! I really have no money!"

"Waaah..."

"Oh, stop crying! Stop crying! I'll give you the sword—you guys! Give me the money!"

Although the surrounding ruffians were unwilling, the monk couldn't back down, so they all rummaged through their sleeves and scraped together a handful of coins to compensate Yang Liu. The little nun, with tears in her eyes, packed up the dog skin, took the bare sword hilt, and walked away, sobbing.

"Great monk, what incredible strength!" The man who had been fighting outside the wall leaped over the low wall and strode over, clasping his hands in greeting, "I am Lin Chong, instructor of the 800,000 Imperial Guards! I just saw how well you wielded your fists and weapons, great monk, and have come to pay my respects!"

Lu Zhishen's eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, "Hero! I am Lu Zhishen, the Flower Monk!"

The two hit it off immediately, exchanging pleasantries, leaving Cheng Zongyang and the others standing to the side. Cheng Zongyang wasn't angry, but looked at the two thoughtfully; Qin Hui, thinking that his patriarch was interested in making acquaintances, straightened his clothes and was about to speak when Cheng Zongyang stopped him.

"It's not time yet, let's go."

The group returned to the temple, and Cheng Zongyang stopped burning incense, looked around the prayer list, then rewarded Mingxin before returning to his residence.

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