Chapter 217

Three days have passed since the end of the Luzhou Poetry Society.

Starting a month ago, the four words "Jin Qiu Wu Bi" had been constantly heating up in Bowang City. New faces gradually appeared in the streets and alleys, and more and more Jianghu people carrying sabers and swords tied their horses behind the inns.

Especially in the last ten days, once the Chant-Dan Society opened, people began to discuss who would ultimately get the good fortune. News from various sources emerged one after another, and many people who didn't pay much attention to martial arts began to ask what the "Ascension Pill" was.

But what completely brought the atmosphere to a boil was the Luzhou Poetry Society a few days ago.

Having heard early on that a big shot from the Sword Academy was coming, people were craning their necks waiting for the result. However, the attendees that day said that no one had been confirmed, and who would get the prize would have to wait until the martial competition was revealed.

However, this did not diminish people's enthusiasm in the slightest, because shocking waves had spread from Luzhou to the city, and every piece of news was earth-shattering, making people look forward to the martial competition even more.

First, the unveiling of the geniuses. The Luzhou Poetry Society also served this function—to spread the demeanor of the most popular contestants and warm up for the martial competition.

But even the old folks who had watched many martial competitions had to admit that this was truly the most talented gathering in ten years—the four spots for the semi-finals were definitely not enough; they should have owed the champion to next year.

Second, love, hatred, and separation. The matter of Zhang Junyu from back then was actually brought up again in front of the Police Inspector, and Young Master Shang faced it calmly, but the Hermit Qi Zhaohua testified to it personally! This confrontation between two major sects, mixed with love and hatred, was another heavy piece of news.

In short, for the past three days, people everywhere in the city have been discussing the Luzhou affair. Regarding the martial competition, they were no longer discussing who the champion would be; the most intense debate was about who the four semi-finalists should be.

And this craze has already radiated to the surrounding counties.

Can County.

Master Huang parked the ox cart outside the inn, and a dozen children, covered in dust, tired yet excited, slid down like dumplings.

They set off three days ago and arrived in Can County today. The journey must have been very smooth to have such speed. After receiving Pei Ye's letter at that time, they discussed it and wrote back to the boy, agreeing to arrive at the Prefecture City on the evening of the fifth day of the ninth month. Now, they were a bit early.

The several masters who escorted them also looked relaxed. Now that it was not yet noon, they could have a good meal and rest, and before sunset, they could reach Bowang Prefecture City.

In fact, it wasn't just the children who were getting more and more excited; the smiles on their faces had also increased unconsciously. The earliest of the masters hadn't watched a martial competition for two full years, and the grand occasion he had once seen was becoming clear from his memory bit by bit. At this moment, his mouth kept talking about the scene at that time.

And in this inn, he was by no means the only one talking enthusiastically about the same topic.

In fact, from the moment they arrived in Anxin Town, they had already begun to faintly smell the boiling heat before the martial competition. When they wanted to buy some food for the children, they were told that the shop was closed and the old man had pushed the cart to the city to sell it.

By the time they entered the Can County city, large silk banners had already been hung up. On one side of the city gate, several poems of unknown origin were written, accompanied by portraits, to cheer for the five contestants from Can County.

And at this moment, upon entering this inn, there were even more people like them who were just passing through. There was no need to ask their destination; it was definitely Bowang Prefecture City. Everyone was eating, drinking, and chatting enthusiastically.

Master Huang arranged for the children to sit down one by one, and the group sat quietly waiting for the meal. Once their bodies were idle, the noisy sounds next to them also became clear.

Sure enough, they were talking about the Jin Qiu Wu Bi.

They had walked all the way from the deep mountains, and they knew nothing about the news. That day, Master Huang told Pei Ye that the strong players would come from the three sects and two counties, but in fact, he only knew the name. As for what proud talents each of the three sects had, who the outstanding figures of the two counties were this year, who was better than whom, and who had the greatest hope of winning the championship... they knew nothing about all of this.

Now was the perfect time to sit quietly and listen.

But it seemed that none of the people talking here were well-informed either; they were all outsiders like them. Before entering the Prefecture City, everyone's news was obtained from various places. At this moment, they were just exchanging what they knew, except that no one was as "empty" as they were.

Master Huang and the others listened for a while. It turned out they were talking about a big shot from the Dao-Opening Society who had stopped by the Prefecture City a few days ago to select a Dao student for the Sword Academy.

"Master Huang, what is the Dao-Opening Society?" Zhang Xiaoyan raised his head and asked from the side.

This young child had become quiet and resilient after being traumatized. He insisted on coming along this time, and Master Huang had kept him by his side every step of the way.

The other masters also looked over. They were all newly recruited young masters, and in fact, it was the first time they had heard this fresh term.

"A place that reaches the sky, full of the top geniuses." Master Huang took a sip of tea and gestured toward the west. "You know Tianshan, right? Their disciples have to be selected to enter the Dao-Opening Society."

"Whoa!" The masters were filled with awe, but the children were still half-understanding. Anyway, it was just powerful.

"In our Bowang... who can enter such a place?" The masters couldn't believe it.

"Young Master Qijiao Shang Huaitong!" The table next to them was also talking about this part. "Before this big shot came, the Sword Academy in Shaolong Prefecture City sent a letter specifically, and it was written on it to wish Young Master Shang victory!"

Another person added: "Actually, it was this Young Master Shang who went to Shaolong Prefecture in the spring first. He wasn't admitted, but people remembered him, which is why this Police Inspector came."

"Yes, yes, I heard it was like that too. This Young Master Shang is the number one sword talent in Bowang, and he is the only one in the Life Vein Realm this time. He is truly the unrivaled choice for the championship!"

"I also heard that he is the strongest player this time. Is he from the sect side?"

"The first true disciple of the Seven Serpents Cave."

"Hmm!"

Master Huang also understood. He tilted his head and smiled at Zhang Xiaoyan: "This Young Master Shang is the first true disciple of the number one sect in Bowang, and he can be considered the leader of the young generation in the Jianghu. They mean that this young master has both fame and reality, and is the only candidate for the championship this time."

Another child interrupted: "The only candidate means there is only him!"

Zhang Xiaoyan rolled his eyes: "I understand."

The table next to them was still sighing: "... To have such a person this time, it was truly not a wasted trip."

"Exactly, exactly."

"No, no." But suddenly someone else said in a slow voice, "Your news is a bit outdated."

Everyone looked over immediately: "How is it outdated?"

"It's true that Qijiao Shang Huaitong is the only one in the Life Vein Realm and the choice for the championship, but the 'unrivaled' part was before the poetry society." Although this person was also covered in dust, he was dressed as a scholar and seemed to be a native of the Prefecture City. This was the first time he spoke, and he smiled calmly, "At the Luzhou Poetry Society a few days ago, it was a scene of dragons emerging from the sea."

"Dragons emerging from the sea?"

"Exactly. Qijiao Shang Huaitong is naturally an absolute strong player, but do you know what other masters there are this time besides him?"

Master Huang tilted his head and smiled at the little boy next to him: "Do you know?"

Zhang Xiaoyan raised his head and thought: "Young Master Shang is from the Seven Serpents Cave, so the other two sects should also have powerful people."

Sure enough, someone had already shouted: "Young Master Zhang Mozhu!"

The scholar said: "Exactly! Zhang Mozhu, the successor of the Bai Zhu Pavilion 【Qinghuang】, a five-life realm expert from the sect, a top-notch young master."

Someone laughed: "I know Young Master Zhang loves playing with fans."

"That's true. Whoever has a good fan can probably sell it for a good price to him." The scholar smiled, then paused, "But this year... Young Master Zhang probably won't make it into the top four."

Everyone's eyes widened, especially the old folks who had watched the martial competition—this kind of strength that always took one of the championships in the "three comparisons" in previous years, this time actually couldn't make it into the top four?

Someone had already shouted loudly: "How can there be so many dragons?"

The scholar smiled: "Young Master Zhang is gentle and elegant, his sword is like thin ice, and he should have been a first-class figure. However, among the true disciples of the three sects this year, he can only be ranked at the end—the one who can truly compete with Qijiao Shang Huaitong is Li Piaoqing, the young sect leader of Cuiyu."

"... Hasn't the Cuiyu Jianmen been failing these years?"

"Isn't this Miss Li just over sixteen?"

"I only heard that this true disciple is like a bird, very beautiful."

"That's very strange. What's beautiful about a bird?"

"That's because you haven't seen a beautiful bird."

The scholar coughed lightly and smiled: "Young Li Li Zhangmen Li is indeed elegant and beautiful, but when you meet her, everyone, don't call her 'Miss Li'?"

"Why?"

"Then what should we call her?"

"Like me, call her Young Li Li Zhangmen." The scholar bowed, his expression solemn as he lowered his voice, "Just at the end of the eighth month, this seventeen-year-old Young Li Li Zhangmen joined hands with Bai Zhu and beheaded four cave masters of the Seven Serpents in one night, including 【Three-Armed Serpent】 Meng Chuyuan."

There was silence all around for a moment.

The noise on the street penetrated the door, but there wasn't even the sound of chewing at the tables.

"This... is a bigger deal than the martial competition, right?" The scholar picked up his cup and smiled.

"This... how is this possible?" Everyone was stunned, "Doesn't that mean Bowang is going to change?"

"Exactly. Maybe in another half a year, the Jianghu of Bowang will be ruled by those in green clothes." The scholar said, "Don't worry about me lying to you about this. You'll know as soon as you enter the Prefecture City—actually, I guess in another day, this news will spread to Can County."

"..."

"The so-called collapse of a great building, turning the tide. This Young Li Li Zhangmen is only seventeen, already has five-life realm cultivation, the 'Yellow Jade' in hand, and her spirit, character, and means are all dragons among men. This is what is called being able to compete with Qijiao Shang Huaitong." The scholar sighed, "Moreover, it is said that the Cuiyu Li Li Zhangmen has already handed over the affairs to her, and she is truly in power. Therefore, I advise everyone, if you are lucky enough to meet her, if you don't have that status, it's best not to mention the word 'Miss', and you should respectfully call her Young Li Li Zhangmen."

Everyone nodded repeatedly to thank him, their expressions still in shock.

Li Piaoqing, this name originally represented the decline of the sect and immaturity in their hearts, but now this figure had suddenly grown tall, even covering half the sky of the Bowang Jianghu—the young girl in a green dress wore a lost-jade sword at her waist, played with the beautiful and sharp tail feathers of a kingfisher in her hand, and cast a faint glance downward.

Someone murmured with emotion: "It really is dragons emerging from the sea."

"Moreover, it is said that at the Luzhou Poetry Society, the Police Inspector personally asked the Young Li Li Zhangmen—are you interested in the Sword Academy?" The scholar added with deep meaning before finishing the story of this figure.

Then he said: "Besides the three sects, everyone think about it, what other strong dragons are there?"

"... That would be Zheng Shou of Xu Gu."

"Yes, I heard they are two four-life realm experts. It was said that they might not be able to make it into the top four, but according to what you said, brother, it seems like even the top eight is a struggle."

The scholar smiled: "As long as their luck isn't too bad, these two should have no problem with the top eight. However, what I want to say next are the masters above these two."

Everyone looked at each other: "Who else could there be? A dragon crossing the river?"

"Yang Yan. Have you heard this name?"

No one had heard of it.

The scholar sighed with a smile: "I heard it for the first time that day too. This person took the quota of the Dingyun Trading Firm, and the trend in the Prefecture City is that he might take the top four spot of Young Master Zhang Mozhu."

"Who is this person?"

"A fifteen-year-old saber user."

"Fifteen years old?!"

Zhang Xiaoyan, who had been listening intently on the side, also widened his eyes—only three years older than him. He really wanted to see this brother.

In fact, the children's noise had long since stopped. Every figure mentioned above, every child yearned for them—the first true disciple who was peerless in the sword path, the fan-wielding young master with a gentle face and short blades like snow, the young sect leader who stood with a kingfisher on her shoulder and ruled the Jianghu... The Fenghuai place of farming and hunting didn't have these images; these were all legendary figures from storybooks!

And while this expectation was generated, an irrepressible excitement and agitation welled up—because everyone clearly knew that this wish would be satisfied at the martial competition!

Even if it was just to watch from afar for a few glances!

"Exactly, only fifteen years old, but his cultivation is already at the five-life realm. At the poetry society, it was the Police Inspector who personally pointed him out to be tested."

"..."

Everyone originally thought that the Sword Academy's attention to Bowang was a luck encountered once in ten years, and Qijiao Shang Huaitong, who received this favor, was already beyond his peers, in the blue clouds.

But now it seems that although Qijiao Shang Huaitong still ranks first with the six-life realm, he is indeed not the only one standing out. There are still Li Piaoqing and Yang Yan who can enter the eyes of the Sword Academy. This year's Bowang is truly full of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

Everyone in their hearts counted these names and remembered them one by one. Someone had already shouted "Hey": "Young Master Shang, Young Li Li Zhangmen Li, Young Master Yang, Young Master Zhang... You said Young Master Zhang might not be in the top four, so who is the last one in the top four?"

"Exactly, there is one more, who is also a figure who emerged at the Luzhou Poetry Society." The scholar said, "In the Prefecture City now, this person's popularity is only second to Young Master Shang, and the two can be said to be tit-for-tat."

"You just said Young Li Li Zhangmen Li and Young Master Shang were tit-for-tat."

"Hey~ what I just said was about the sect. The grievances between Cuiyu and Seven Serpents have a long history. As the person who revitalized Cuiyu, Young Li Li Zhangmen Li is naturally not giving an inch to Qijiao Shang Huaitong." The scholar said, "Here, I'm just talking about people."

"People?"

"Exactly, it's two people who practice the sword." The scholar said, "The brother just now said that Young Master Shang is the only one in the six-life realm, the choice for the championship, unrivaled, and the number one sword talent. I accept the first two titles, but I say his last two claims are outdated news, right?"

"Yes, yes, yes, yes."

"The two people mentioned before, Yang and Li, were to refute the word 'unrivaled'. And the person I want to talk about now is to refute the 'number one sword talent'."

"... The Sword Academy personally issued a letter, and someone can still challenge Qijiao Shang Huaitong's status? —Who is this person?"

"A seventeen-year-old boy in the four-life realm."

"Four-life realm?!" Everyone was confused, "What right does a four-life realm expert have to be tit-for-tat with Young Master Shang."

"At the Luzhou Poetry Society." The scholar held up two fingers, "He defeated two five-life realm experts with two swords."

"..."

"These two five-life realm experts are 【Repairing Fish】 Zhang Huan and 【Mountain-Breaking Scholar】 Yu Yingcai."

"... Damn! Who?!"

"And in a test set by the Police Inspector, this person also suppressed the whole scene, and steadily suppressed Qijiao Shang Huaitong." The scholar said, "Many people say that he just lost out because he is young and his cultivation is slightly lower. Otherwise, who is the number one in Bowang is really unknown."

"In the Prefecture City now, although people are still inclined to believe that he is not enough to surpass Qijiao Shang Huaitong, he has steadily suppressed Young Master Zhang Mozhu and is already the most stable top four." The scholar said, "Moreover, a topic that is currently being argued most fiercely in the Prefecture City is about the superiority of the 'sword' itself, and who is better between this person and Young Master Shang."

Everyone listened blankly, still feeling a bit illusory: "How did such a person suddenly pop up? Is he also a dragon crossing the river from somewhere?"

"That's not it." The scholar smiled and drank his wine, "This person is a native of our Bowang, took the quota of Fenghuai County, and is recorded as Pei Ye."

——

After Master Huang and the others finished eating and resting, they got on the ox cart, and the children's chatter still couldn't stop at all.

They asked over and over again if that was Brother Pei just now, if Brother Pei was really that powerful, when they could see Brother Pei... and those who considered themselves smart, claiming they had long known Brother Pei was so powerful, were being surrounded and denounced by others.

In fact, not only the children, but the other masters and even Master Huang himself had a sense of unreality.

Coming to the Prefecture City this time, one was to bring these children to see the world, and the other was to cheer for that bigger child, so he wouldn't be lonely and nervous.

In everyone's hearts, Fenghuai was a small, earthy place, and the contestants who came out had always been nameless companions who fell before the top sixteen. Their attitude toward the martial competition was more of a spectator's mentality to watch the fun, and then to see the world of the Prefecture City, so there was really no nervous sense of substitution.

Participate a little, have fun, and that's it.

And now they were suddenly told that their own child could make it into the top four?!

Pei Ye.

Master Huang grabbed the scholar and asked, and it was this name. There wouldn't be a second Pei Ye in Fenghuai.

The group whipped the oxen and headed toward the Prefecture City, unable to wait to see the boy and see what he had experienced during these days.

The Can County city was already on the plain, and the road to the Prefecture City was a main road. Before the sky turned yellow, dozens of miles had already passed.

The majestic city appeared in their field of vision, and the children were already screaming in succession.

However, Master Huang did not answer their strange questions as usual, but looked ahead with a solemn expression—in front of the city gate, on the left and right sides of the official road, people in green clothes and white clothes were standing on both sides of the road, with eight or nine carriages parked behind them, looking at the passing pedestrians.

These two types of clothing existed in Master Huang's memory; they were the sect uniforms of the Cuiyu Jianmen and the Bai Zhu Pavilion.

The things he heard in the inn just now flooded his heart—Cuiyu and Bai Zhu joined hands to kill the four cave masters of Seven Serpents, Seven Serpents was severely damaged, Cuiyu rose to power, and at this moment, the Bowang Jianghu was surging with dark tides. What he saw before him was mostly related to this.

There were about ten or twenty people, green like willow and white like cotton, with quite a scene of "no strangers allowed". Having just achieved a great victory sufficient to reverse the situation, the disciples of the two sects were all high-spirited, standing casually in front of the main gate of Bowang Prefecture City and chatting. Everyone passing by couldn't help but carefully notice their expressions.

The small martial arts hall in Fenghuai was far from the Jianghu, and even further from these rulers of the Jianghu. He didn't know their purpose, only hoping that his group had nothing worthy of their attention.

Of course, there definitely wouldn't be.

Master Huang smiled secretly, held two silver taels in his hand, looked back to restrain the children's behavior of pointing and talking with envy, and drove the ox forward.

However, things went against his wishes. He clearly saw several disciples freeze after seeing them, then whispered to each other, and one of them went to the back.

Master Huang frowned, his eyes following the direction, and saw that behind these disciples, under the shade of the willows, several young people with more relaxed and outstanding postures were gathered together, standing or sitting, with the grace of cranes and the spirit of plum blossoms, possessing their own demeanor.

Standing most prominently was a black-haired young master. He was slender, dressed in white, chatting leisurely with the person beside him with a warm smile, playing with a jade-inlaid folding fan in his hand.

At just one glance, Master Huang guessed that this was the face of the Bai Zhu Pavilion, Young Master Zhang Mozhu.

This true disciple was also here?

Then he looked at the person chatting beside him and was stunned again. He saw a green satin skirt, eyebrows flying like small wings, and a young girl standing leaning against a tree, a strange and beautiful green long sword leaning on the ground, with a faint smile on her lips. This agile and clear temperament was also recognizable at a glance—it was absolutely the Young Li Li Zhangmen mentioned in the Can County inn, the person who stirred up the situation in the Bowang Jianghu today.

Unlike the chatting of others, although the young girl was answering, her eyes had actually been looking in the direction of the road. At this moment, when Master Huang looked over, the young girl also looked over at the same time.

Then she also froze and kicked the ground beside her feet lightly. A boy in a deep green robe was sitting cross-legged there, his black hair tied up simply and cleanly, his robe and figure fitting and well-proportioned, and at first glance, he had a clear and bright temperament.

He was laughing loudly with another boy in black.

At this moment, being kicked on the waist and back by the young girl, he lowered his head and said something, then he suddenly sprang up and tilted his head to look over.

In just an instant, the boy's face bloomed with a surprised smile, meeting Master Huang's stunned eyes.

The children on the ox cart behind had already screamed one after another: "Ah! Brother Pei Ye!"

About 6000 words, I think that's about it (

Still owe 33 chapters

(End of chapter)