Infinite Puzzle City

Chapter 683 War Breaks Out Outside the Ghost Capital

The next morning, as dawn broke, many people had already left the inn and set off on their journey.

Xiao Ran and his group were no exception, except that the number of people in the team had obviously increased a lot this time, and everyone had changed to horses. Jin Chanzi even changed to a carriage. The tiger demon no longer needed to be a mount, but was upgraded to a cushion. Jin Chanzi leaned against the tiger demon's soft belly, which was extremely comfortable.

Gu Xintang rode on a white horse, which was clearly no ordinary horse. In Wu Man's words, this horse was called Night-Shining Lion, and it was a top-class thoroughbred.

What's even more surprising is that the horse has delicate dragon scales on its body, and when its hooves step on the ground, they leave a wisp of white light that dissipates after a moment.

Xiao Ran was also curious, and only after asking did she learn that Gu Xintang had given a wisp of dragon energy to this horse, which is why the horse turned into this.

"There's only so much dragon energy; are you using it like a money-scattering gift?"

Xiao Ran, supporting another horse, followed beside Gu Xintang and teased him.

Gu Xintang reached out and affectionately stroked the white horse beneath him, then looked up and said helplessly, "After you slew the dragon in the last sword review, I took four parts of the dragon's energy and gave three parts to my father. I thought he would use it himself, but... Hmph, since he doesn't care, why should I care?"

"I'm also very surprised. You're the third-ranked swordsman, how come you can't compete with your good-for-nothing second brother?? You weren't adopted, were you?"

Xiao Ran was merciless with her words, or rather, there was no need for her to be merciful to Gu Xintang.

Their relationship is merely a partnership; when the time comes, neither will hesitate to turn against the other.

Gu Xintang took a deep breath and glanced at Xiao Ran: "So yesterday you publicly slapped my second brother's face just to make an enemy of me and make my second brother unhappy with me?"

"Geniuses are always envied, especially those incompetent fools who hold high positions and are more likely to be envious of others."

Xiao Ran said with a smile.

"If I had known it would be like this, I should have killed you during the sword evaluation."

"You can try it now too."

Just as the two were bickering and getting more and more out of control, Huang Le happened to appear between them on horseback: "Brother Gu, what's the background of those guys who brought the cauldron yesterday? Does that cauldron really contain the luck of the Three Rivers and Five Lakes?"

"They are the Thirteen Mysterious Cauldron Guards under the King of Chu. According to rumors in the martial arts world, they were originally a team of treasure hunters. After being recruited by the King of Chu, they began to collect the luck of the world for him."

After saying this, Gu Xintang looked at Huang Le with a half-smile and said, "Brother Huang, are you interested?"

"Haha, I was just curious."

Huang Le chuckled, thinking to himself, "It's impossible not to be tempted; who wouldn't want to have better luck?"

Just as this thought sprouted in his mind, he heard Xiao Ran say from the side: "It's just fleeting luck, rootless luck. Every bit you use is a bit less. Besides, you used up all this luck today. Who knows if you won't have to pay it back a hundredfold someday? This King of Chu is no benevolent person. If you have the chance... kill him!"

Xiao Ran spoke casually, but anyone could tell that she wasn't joking.

The profession of treasure hunter is not bad in itself. Xiao Ran even asked Lao Ding, a treasure hunter, to help her hunt for treasures.

But Lao Ding is completely different from these people.

Old Ding's treasure hunting involved selecting antiques at the market and picking up treasures from the trash, while this group of people were digging out rare and precious items from the mountains and ancient sites.

In some ways, these people are even more repulsive than the Locust Plague Army.

The locust plague army kills people, and the population will gradually recover after ten or a hundred years. But if the King of Chu and his people target this place, it will be ruined, and it may not change for a hundred or a thousand years. It will only bring disaster to future generations.

Of course, Xiao Ran did not mean to glorify the Locust Plague Army. The Locust Plague Army deserved to die, and the treasure hunters deserved to die even more. The difference between the two was simply that they were locusts and bedbugs.

Their procession was not moving fast; occasionally, one could see figures in civilian clothes riding horses swiftly past in the distance.

These people, all masked, stayed at a distance from the group, neither too close nor too far, and showed no intention of turning back as they followed the group into Yuzhou territory.

Watching the departing figures, Huang Le asked Gu Xintang, "Who were those people?"

"The Grey Pigeons, a team composed of some江湖草草 (Jianghu grasshoppers)."

Gu Xintang scoffed at these good-for-nothings, but despite his disdain, he still waved to one of his men and said, "Go, get some grain, wine, and meat, and give them twelve pieces of ghost money."

"You actually gave them money back??" Xiao Ran looked at these people. To him, they were nothing more than bandits, even worse than the third-rate thugs in the martial arts world.

Gu Xintang's methods actually made him bow down to these people.

"It is said that their leader occasionally obtained a treasure that allows them to move between reality and illusion, appearing and disappearing without a trace. If you make a move, they will leave immediately. Even if you are powerful, you probably won't be able to catch them. But if they target you, you will have to be on guard against their sneak attacks at all times, which is not worth it."

"baby!"

Xiao Ran's heart skipped a beat. She guessed that the so-called treasure was probably another item that had been modified from the Imperial Seal of the State.

I really don't know how many things Huang Chao used to stamp with the Imperial Seal of the State.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ran was about to ask Gu Xintang what other treasures the other rebel kings had when...

A group of red-clad cavalrymen swiftly approached from afar; there were only five or six of them.

"It's the Prince of Jin's red-armored cavalry!"

Seeing the group approaching rapidly, everyone immediately became alert.

Their red robes were as red as blood, and their hooves thundered like lightning.

In the distance, billowing dust appeared, and a troop of lightly armored cavalry arrived before them in an instant.

The young man in the lead wore a red-tasseled helmet, and the jade pendant at his waist was clearly engraved with the character "Jin" in cloud patterns.

"Whoa—" The cavalry leader reined in his horse, and the chestnut horse under his horse reared up, stopping precisely three steps away from Gu Xintang's white horse.

The man removed his helmet, revealing a young face with a grotesque scar across his left eyebrow. He bowed to Gu Xintang and said, "Brother Gu, it's been a long time."

"Oh, it's you."

Gu Xintang recognized the newcomers, nodded, and looked at the red-armored cavalry in front of him, laughing, "What are you trying to do?"

"Haha, Brother Gu, don't misunderstand. We got separated from the group, and it's not safe on the road, so we want to follow Brother Gu's group."

He finished speaking with a smile on his face: "Brother Gu, you won't abandon us, will you?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Xintang had no choice but to nod and agree: "Even if we disregard the Prince of Jin, we should at least consider your father's feelings and follow the group."

After finishing speaking, Gu Xintang introduced to Xiao Ran: "This kid is called Xue Tao. He is the descendant of a famous general and has some connections with our family. Don't underestimate him because of his young age. His spear skills are already considered top-notch in the martial arts world."

Xue Tao rode forward on his horse and bowed to Xiao Ran, saying, "I am Xue Tao, and I have yet to ask how to address you, elder brother."

"Xiao Xingbang".

Xiao Ran nodded slightly, knowing full well that this person was probably sent by the Prince of Jin specifically to assess the strength of their group.

Since Gu Xintang didn't object, why would Xiao Ran have any objections?

However, Xiao Ran had clearly oversimplified the matter.

Before their group had gone far, several more people rushed over. They exchanged pleasantries with Gu Xintang, talking about their old friendship with the Qiankun Alliance.

What could Gu Xintang say? He could only nod and let these people join.

He then complained to Xiao Ran, "Sigh, I'm starting to regret bringing you guys in."

"Deserve it!"

Xiao Ran rolled her eyes. This was all Gu Xintang's fault for revealing Wu Man's identity at the inn.

The title of "Top Sword Critic" is enough to attract a lot of attention.

Soon, Gu Xintang's team was forced to grow much larger.

The procession was filled with laughter and song as people rode their horses, but there were also tense moments with men drawing their swords and glaring at each other.

Gu Xintang is very troubled, but that's just how the martial arts world is.

Personal relationships always come first, and most of the people who follow him have had good relationships with the Qiankun Alliance to some extent.

Even if some of them have joined other forces, Gu Xintang cannot deny the favor they owe each other.

Since you value this favor, you can't send them away.

This led to their team growing longer and longer, and some itinerant errand runners also joined in.

These people were not heading to Chang'an, but rather to Ruzhou.

However, a long queue isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Xiao Ran noticed an old craftsman carrying a load on a shoulder pole in the group; he was a comb maker.

He looks to be over sixty years old, but he is in good spirits.

He walks briskly with his load on his shoulders, and he'll even comb hair for anyone who needs it, free of charge.

Xiao Ran had originally just been quietly observing the master craftsman's skills from the crowd.

Unexpectedly, the master craftsman's skills were far more amazing than Xiao Ran had imagined. Everyone whose hair had been combed by him felt refreshed and invigorated.

Some people even experienced a turnaround in luck.

Seeing this, Xiao Ran didn't stand on ceremony and went directly to the master craftsman's side to humbly ask for his advice.

The master craftsman didn't recognize Xiao Ran, but seeing that Xiao Ran was sincere, he was happy to teach her the art of hairdressing.

The master craftsman initially thought that Xiao Ran, being an outsider, couldn't possibly learn much in such a short time.

Unexpectedly, Xiao Ran's talent in hairdressing was so extraordinary that even the master craftsman was amazed.

All the skills and techniques only need to be demonstrated once, and Xiao Ran can operate them with ease, even achieving better results than I can.

This made the master craftsman question his life. Unwilling to admit defeat, the master craftsman used his secret skills to learn how to use his family's secrets, but Xiao Ran still learned it after just one look.

The old master was completely convinced and exclaimed that Xiao Ran was the patriarch who knelt on the ground to serve him food.

"Luoyang is just ahead, and Ruzhou is up ahead. Brothers heading to Ruzhou, just keep going up!" The group arrived at a three-way intersection.

One road leads towards Luoyang; once past Luoyang, one can enter Ruzhou.

It is a well-known paradise on earth; at least for now, there is no place safer than Ruzhou.

The other road leads west, towards Chang'an.

“Young man, are you really going to Chang’an? That place is too dangerous. Why don’t you come with me to Ruzhou? With your skills, you won’t have to worry about not having food to eat.”

Before leaving, the old master held Xiao Ran's hand and said something with reluctance.

After all, it was a craft passed down through generations, and the master craftsman had finally found a good apprentice. He really didn't want to see Xiao Ran go to his death.

"Hey, it's not that exaggerated. Look at all these experts around here. I'll just go and take a look. If I can't beat them, I'll leave."

Xiao Ran said with a smile, and at the same time, she didn't hesitate to put a string of ghost money into the old master's arms.

"Oh dear, this!!"

Sensing the unusual weight in his pocket, the old master's expression changed, but Xiao Ran reached out and pressed his hand down: "You taught me a lot of skills, so you're practically my master. This is my way of showing my respect to you. The road ahead is difficult, and I can't follow you. Master, please take care."

Upon hearing Xiao Ran's words, the old master's eyes reddened, and he wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeve.

Back in the day, he was a renowned hair comb maker in the city, with unparalleled skill in making hair combs. Countless people came to ask him to be their apprentice, but he refused to teach them.

In these chaotic times, there's no way to pass on the tradition. I never expected to find such a good disciple. Even if he's only half a master, I'll accept him.

He patted Xiao Ran's hand: "Take care!"

After saying this, he bent down, picked up the carrying pole, and walked away.

"I never expected that you would find a master here."

Wu Man leaned over and teased.

Xiao Ran wasn't upset about it; instead, looking at the old man's back as he carried the shoulder pole, she suddenly felt a pang of unease.

Seeing that Xiao Ran didn't speak, Wu Man noticed that Xiao Ran's mood was off, and quickly corrected her attitude: "Um, I was just joking, don't take it seriously."

"No, I just miss home."

Having been away for so long, Xiao Ran suddenly felt homesick. She hadn't been back for so long and didn't know what the outside world had become, let alone whether her grandfather and the others had already set off.

Xiao Ran stood there watching for a while before taking out a piece of ghost money, folding it into a paper figure, and stuffing it into the tree hole.

If Omeprazole and the others manage to get here, this information should be their final reminder.

Whether they can safely enter Ruzhou is not Xiao Ran's concern.

In the blink of an eye, more than half of the people in the line had already left.

Among them were even people who were originally sent by other forces to monitor Gu Xintang. These people left decisively without any hesitation.

After all, once you pass Luoyang, you'll reach the peaceful land of Ruzhou, where you can live a comfortable life. Who would want to risk their life for you?

This reduced the already long queue to two-thirds, and the queue's speed increased dramatically.

As the group got closer to Chang'an, Xiao Ran saw many other groups along the way.

"Brother Gu, thank you so much this time. If we have the chance in the future, let's get together and have a good drink."

Seeing that she could already see the Prince of Jin's entourage, Xue Tao knew she couldn't linger any longer. She took the initiative to clasp her hands in farewell to Gu Xintang and then hurriedly left with her entourage.

People from other factions also left one after another, since Chang'an was just ahead, and there was no point in continuing to follow.

After everyone left, the group shrank considerably.

However, at this moment, everyone noticed a drunkard lying on the back of the carriage, showing no intention of leaving.

Seeing this, Gu Xintang looked the drunkard up and down, frowned, and gave a look to the people around him.

Seeing this, the group immediately understood and prepared to throw the drunkard out.

Unexpectedly, before they even encountered the drunkard, he had already sobered up. Seeing that those who had been with him had all left, he immediately realized what was happening. Looking up, he saw that several members of the Qiankun Alliance had already surrounded them.

So he quickly raised his hand and said, "Don't do anything, I'll walk by myself, I'll walk by myself."

After speaking, she walked to the front of the group, bowed to Gu Xintang, and then ran quickly to the side with a smile.

"This drunkard is no ordinary person."

Inside the carriage, Jin Chanzi stretched and said, "He smells of dirt all over. He's probably a tomb raider. The fact that he dared to follow me to this place means he's no pushover."

"Who cares? Let's get on with our own things."

The old demon Qinghai said dismissively, not taking the drunkard seriously at all. He had already carefully examined the drunkard and found him to be of mediocre strength, no different from an ordinary person. He wondered what had gotten into him to dare to come here.

The group didn't take the drunkard seriously and continued on their way.

By nightfall, the city of Chang'an could be seen in the distance.

As Xiao Ran sat on his warhorse, his eyes blazing, he could see the city standing tall on the land in the distance, and his heart couldn't help but feel heavy.

When I last came to Chang'an, the weather was fine and sunny, and the lights in the distance looked like stars.

It hadn't been long since he last visited Chang'an, and everything had changed.

The crumbling city wall lay on the ground, like a dead ancient beast, emitting a nauseating stench of decay.

The entire city of Chang'an was shrouded in a scarlet mist, like a festering cinnabar birthmark, and the faces of wronged souls would occasionally surface in the bright red water of the moat.

Many wind chimes hung above the door, but when people got closer to take a look, they were not wind chimes at all, but rather dried-out heads, densely packed on top.

As the cool breeze blew, the chilling screams could be heard from afar.

Huang Le swallowed hard, feeling goosebumps rise all over his body.

"What a tragedy!"

Jin Chanzi rarely showed a serious expression; even he had never seen such a desolate place.

"The resentment is too strong, and all living beings are doomed!" Dai Long took out a compass from his spatial storage. He raised the compass, and the pointer on it became wildly erratic.

This was the first time he encountered this situation.

Unlike the others, Xiao Ran looked around and released her mental energy, trying to scan the situation around Chang'an City.

The Ghost Locust used vines to weave the layout of Chang'an, seemingly trying to remind itself of something.

However, he was severely injured by that golden arrow, which prevented him from conveying the information to himself.

However, he had also noted down a lot of information. Now, by comparing the remaining information with the Chang'an city in front of him, he indeed noticed some differences.

"A curse or spell??"

However, although she could see quite a lot, what shocked Xiao Ran was that the vast city of Chang'an had actually been cursed.

Moreover, it wasn't just ordinary witchcraft; it was a technique I'd never seen before.

"Could it be that after Huang Chao became a celestial being, he diligently studied witchcraft?"

Xiao Ran couldn't help but feel confused, as she couldn't understand the situation in front of her for the time being.

In Chang'an, many camps sprang up from the ground.

These camps were located about three miles from Chang'an City, and belonged entirely to the various forces that had come this time.

When Xiao Ran and the others arrived, many people were already waiting for them.

Earlier, outside the inn, the civil official under the Prince of Jin hurriedly came to Gu Xintang, handed him a name card, and then left in a hurry.

"Let's go, there's a meeting over there, it seems like getting into Chang'an won't be so easy."

Gu Xintang turned to look at Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran nodded and said to Wu Man, "You two find a place to settle down first, I'll go see what's going on."

Dai Long leaned close to Xiao Ran and said, "Be careful in everything. If things go wrong, we'll be there to provide support."

"Don't worry, there may be many people in this world who can kill me, but there are probably not many who can trap me."

Xiao Ran was confident in this much.

Even if he were to face Huang Chao, with his current strength, if he couldn't defeat him and wanted to leave, Huang Chao would definitely not be able to stop him.

However, when Xiao Ran followed Gu Xintang to a tent, she suddenly sensed that something was wrong.

Before even entering, one could feel a strong killing intent emanating from within.

A cold snort came from inside the tent: "Damn it, it's you who destroyed my Yin Soldiers, seized my commander's flag, and ruined my grand plan!!"

As the words fell, a large, jet-black hand suddenly flew out from inside the tent. Its palm was open, and a sinister and domineering purple light flashed in its center. It slapped towards Xiao Ran without any mercy.

A gigantic black hand, accompanied by a chilling wind, swept in. Xiao Ran's pupils suddenly contracted as the [Decapitation Blade] appeared in his hand.

The greatsword was swung up, and a rolling gust of cold wind turned the surroundings into darkness. Countless sword shadows struck the giant hand, producing a piercing roar.

Xiao Ran stared coldly at the tent, where an old man in a white robe was chanting incantations, and a black shadow appeared behind him.

When Xiao Ran saw the shadow, she felt that the shadow's aura was very familiar. After carefully sensing it, she suddenly realized something: "So it was him!"

(End of this chapter)