Chapter 405: Chapter 42 Old Friends Chapter 405: Chapter 42 Old Friends “This morning I saw it clear as day, that monster wave was several fathoms high, aid straight for the Tea Horse Departnt’s fleet, and capsized several ships!”
The teahouse was doing good business, with rchants from the north and south stopping to rest, their bellies swollen from tea. When soone brought up this morning’s event at Jin Kou Port, a buzz of discussion erupted.
“That’s not all, did you not see that Supervisor Chai Xuan, by order of tribute, had his precious horse enter the sea? In the July weather, a bridge of ice rose out of nowhere at sea, allowing the horse to cross over.”
“You’re behind the tis. Don’t you disbelieve what I’m about to reveal, this incident involves the major affairs of Dragon Tiger Mountain and the palace, it’s deep water!.”
The people at one table were discussing fervently when another table chid in.
“How co I heard it was because Supervisor Chai himself committed too many injustices, and the Dragon King appeared to punish him? This must be true! The demon corpse in the Bohai Sea hasn’t been dragged ashore yet, and any passing ship can see it.”
The people at that table were displeased: “Cut it out, our Jiaozhou has always been under the Heavenly Queen Palace; where did this Bohai Sea Dragon King pop up from?”
“How can you say there isn’t one? Mister Tang from Tuhong Square has given at least twenty talks on it.”
“Mister Tang is a storyteller! You believe that? The demon corpse at sea was clearly exterminated by General Li of the officials and Swordsman Cha Xiaodao!”
The people at this table spoke confidently, as if they were discussing sothing commonplace.
The other table, hearing sothing new, waited until they finished, then hesitantly asked, “Brother, where did you hear these things?”
After the man who spoke of the “Battle of General Li and Xiaodao with the Five Immortals on the Bohai Sea” heard this, his eyes darted around, and only after a while did he pat his chest and say, “Isn’t my uncle working in the governnt office? Could his words be false?”
“Oh~”
The people in the teahouse hadn’t finished expressing their admiration when soone threw cold water on the excitent, “Bai Erzhu, stop your boasting! Didn’t you say you went to the theater plays in Shengchang Alley just a few days ago?”
After speaking, he explained to everyone: “What Bai Erzhu is saying is clearly from a few days ago at the Shengchang Alley tea house where a fill-in young master was speaking, and now he even drags his uncle into it!”
Suddenly, the place filled with jeers, and although Bai Erzhu wanted to argue, no one believed him anymore.
The shop assistant by the counter only yawned; in the teahouse, there were plenty who loved to hold forth. He had seen it all before.
The court was full of wise and cunning officials, and these folks dared to judge them freely; as for military and political affairs of the north and south, they spoke as if they were experts.
When ghastly tales arose from deserted graves and mounds, they recounted them as if they were alive; when the Divine Emperor showed reverence for alchemists seeking immortality, they would promptly invoke Peng Zu and Zhang Sanfeng; if there were whispers of young mistresses in secret chambers feeling the stirrings of spring, they would swear they saw it with their own eyes.
They sought to astonish with their words and strived to stand out from the crowd, finding pleasure in their uniqueness, a delight they wouldn’t easily share with others.
But never inquire too deeply. The least dignified outco of such matters is two people arguing until their faces turn red. After all, when they leave the table and the tea cools, who cares what was said? What’s important is to rember to pay for your tea.
It’s just that ordinary folks or those grasping at straws can set off a storm anywhere when carrying the credentials of Li Yan and the Dragon Tiger Flags…
In the bustling southern district of the city.
Li Yan walked closely with Flying Thunder, rubbing shoulders with people in the streets.
Cha Xiaodao had bought toys like sugar figurines and a finely bound storybook for Cao Yongchang, ‘The Legend of the Three Sui Quelling the Demons’ by Luo Guanzhong.
“Ah!”
Li Yan sighed while looking at Flying Thunder Horse, “You’re more capable than the two of us combined, going out for a few days and coming back with all the pomp and wealth, even finding followers and a wife, and still willing to return. I have to give you a thumbs up, you black hide have a conscience, and it’s your sense of righteousness that really counts.”
Flying Thunder had lost Yu Yanzhi and a group of tribute horses following it and had its head hung low, looking sowhat dispirited. But after Li Yan spoke, it still neighed loudly, extended its coarse tongue to lick Li Yan’s palm, and then snorted, swinging its tail back and forth.
Cha Xiaodao couldn’t help but ask Li Yan, “I say, even if this horse can understand human nature, why would it let go of a leisurely life and stubbornly follow you instead?”
“Horses live simpler lives than humans, I guess. Besides, it and I have a connection.”
Li Yan briefly recounted to Cha Xiaodao his experiences in Joseon. He ntioned that, at the ti, without anything to rely on, he had fed his warhorses with “Counterfeit Qiongqi Blood” provided by Mo, and Flying Thunder was the descendant of the warhorse he had fed at that ti.
“Counterfeit Qiongqi Blood?”
Cha Xiaodao pondered thoughtfully.
“What is it? Did you rember sothing?”
Li Yan asked.
“I’ve heard people ntion it before. A long ti ago, a Proxy Traveler raised a question. Is there a connection between the inheritances of Proxy Travelers and those legendary creatures? For example, if one day you beco the Proxy Traveler for a Gu Huo Bird, would you ever encounter a Gu Huo Bird that’s indigenous to the fruit? If you do, would there be so kind of connection between you and it? It’s easier to say for the Five-Insect Class, but for Human Immortals, many are known by the nas of ancient people from historical records. How do we explain this?”
Cha Xiaodao answered.
Li Yan also perked up after hearing this and suddenly rembered the Nine-Winged Sudu, “And then?”
“To understand the answer, we first need to find those Yan Fu Heritage nas of the Five Immortals and Five Insects, otherwise it’s just empty talk. But traveling across countless fruits always yields so results. Besides, so inherited creatures haven’t gone extinct even in reality, like the ‘parrot.’ So, the answer to this question must have made so progress. The Counterfeit Qiongqi Blood you used might be a product from exploring this issue.”
Li Yan listened quietly until Cha Xiaodao finished speaking before asking, “Then, who is consciously trying to resolve this issue? Zhan Yuejin or Su Ling?”
Based on Li Yan’s understanding of the personalities of several strong figures within Yan Fu, he felt these two were the most likely to undertake such endeavors.
“I don’t know.”
After a pause, Cha Xiaodao added, “I need to clarify sothing here that you might not be aware of. My guide once told that all known rules and structures of Yan Fu are the results of collective exploration by all Yan Fu travelers, devoting ti and effort. So of it, to this day, is still conjecture. Even the Ten Masters don’t understand many things.”
Li Yan keenly sensed the problem and asked, “Then, do you know who the first Yan Fu traveler was, and who among them is still alive today?”
“It’s Zhao Jianzhong. He’s known to be the earliest Yan Fu traveler. As for his own experiences, he wouldn’t tell others,”
Cha Xiaodao replied without hesitation,
Li Yan sighed after a long mont, “That dead fatty Mo never ntioned any of this to .”
“Normal, I also fished for answers through conversations,”
Cha Xiaodao and Li Yan were chatting as they turned the corner, “When I have the chance, I’ll introduce you to my Proxy Traveler—a great beauty, oh.”
“Sure, will do if the opportunity arises.”
As they spoke, Li Yan and Cha Xiaodao returned to the Dragon King’s Post Station and saw a figure hurriedly running out.
“Uncle, uncle, right after you left, a military household ca looking for you, insisting on seeing Governor Li, saying he was one of your old subordinates.”
The man, holding an axe, had a neck stained with dried sweat, not very tall, was none other than Cao Yongchang.
Reviews
All reviews (0)