The First Sword of the Universe

Chapter 349 The Lively and Chaotic Lin'an
"Master, this disciple will be returning now!"

As Guo Jing bid farewell, the courtyard fell silent.

Xu Xingchen stood in the courtyard, watching his apprentice's figure disappear into the woods.

Turning my head, I looked at the red sunset on the western horizon, its face already resting on the mountaintop.

A gentle breeze blows, the trees sway, and the rustling sound is incessant.

An unprecedented sense of loneliness and alienation welled up in my heart!

"It's really strange. With my cultivation of inner strength, how could I feel lonely and alienated?"

Xu Xingchen was somewhat puzzled, then a thought struck her, and her eyes dimmed.

He turned around and went back into the house.

After eating some leftovers from lunch and drinking a bowl of porridge, I went to the study.

His study was very simple, with only a bookcase, a desk, and a chair, and nothing else of any significant size.

He took a stack of white papers from the bookshelf behind him and sat down at his desk.

Pour water and grind ink.
Pick up the brush and dip it in ink.

He began to write neat and fine regular script characters on the white paper.

He didn't extinguish the candle until late at night and went back to his room to sleep.

The second night was the same.
Then came the third night, the fourth night, and the fifth night.
The fifth day of August.

The sky was overcast with dark clouds, and a light drizzle was falling from the sky.

Xu Xingchen, along with the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan and Guo Jing, set off from Jiaxing towards Lin'an.

All of them were wearing straw raincoats and bamboo hats.

This kind of outfit is more rainproof than carrying an umbrella.

Halfway there, they discovered that they weren't the only ones traveling; many other martial arts practitioners were also dressed similarly and braving the rain.

Those people walked in pairs or small groups, discussing with great interest the grand event that was about to unfold in Lin'an City.

"On the night of the full moon, atop the imperial palace; heroes vie for supremacy, vying for the title of number one under heaven!"

During this period, these four sentences, sixteen characters in total, spread like wildfire throughout the land, creating an unprecedented buzz.

All the scholars and officials in the country believed that this grand gathering was a rebellious act of treason and deceiving the emperor.

But for those in the martial arts world, this was an exhilarating, unparalleled event that challenged imperial power and allowed them to prove themselves.

The martial arts world and the imperial court, which were originally two worlds that coexisted without conflict, have experienced countless conflicts because of this grand event.

If it weren't for the fact that some people still have reason, the whole world would probably be in chaos.

The closer you get to Lin'an City, the more martial arts figures you'll find carrying knives, swords, and other weapons.

Halfway there, Xu Xingchen parted ways with the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan and Guo Jing.

Xu Xingchen's actions this time are earth-shattering and unprecedented, destined to become the focus of attention for everyone in the world.

Before entering Lin'an City, we must separate from the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan to avoid causing them trouble in the future.

The sky was hazy and the light was dim.

Xu Xingchen arrived at the city gate of Lin'an City amidst the misty rain of dusk.

The soldiers guarding the city gate were all clad in armor, wielding sharp halberds and spears. Their auras were heavy, their faces cold and stern, and their eyes sharp and piercing.

They would check ordinary people entering and leaving the city gates, but they were much more lax in checking those who carried knives and swords.

They merely went through the motions before waving them off.

Xu Xingchen glanced at them a few times as she passed by.

They noticed that these people carried a faint aura of battlefield brutality.

Clearly, these were veteran soldiers, hastily dispatched by the Song Dynasty emperor from the frontier.

It was evening at this time.

This should be a time for migrant workers to return home for dinner and then prepare to rest.

But as soon as you enter the city, a lively and prosperous atmosphere hits you.

The slight coolness brought by the misty rain falling from the sky was quickly dispelled by the impact.

On the wide streets
Figures wearing straw raincoats and bamboo hats came and went.

Some people shouted loudly, while others called out to their friends.

Some people even climbed onto the rooftops of the houses on both sides, moving up and down and crisscrossing the landscape.

Shops on both sides.
Restaurants and eateries were already packed with people.

Teahouses and tea stalls were also bustling with activity.

Even some general stores such as grain and oil shops, cosmetics shops, clothing shops, and pharmacies were packed with bustling crowds.

Xu Xingchen looked at the shops in surprise and found that although the original signs were still hanging, the interiors had been simply renovated and furnished with several tables and chairs.

A complete transformation.
They turned into a variety of temporary restaurants.

Listening carefully to the conversations of the martial arts figures around him, Xu Xingchen realized that these shops had been unable to continue operating due to the influence of outside martial arts figures.

They had no choice but to switch careers and temporarily start businesses in the restaurant industry.

As a result, their business flourished, and they made a fortune.

With the Song Dynasty court and some righteous people in the martial arts world working together to maintain order, it prevented some powerful bandits from running rampant and doing whatever they wanted.

Wow! Wow! Wow!
The sound of orderly footsteps approached as rows of heavily armored Song Dynasty soldiers patrolled the streets. Their faces showed weariness, vigilance, and anger towards the martial arts practitioners around them.

If so many martial arts figures hadn't suddenly gathered in Lin'an City, these soldiers wouldn't be working non-stop all day long, with their rest time reduced to the bare minimum, let alone enjoying the pleasures of leisure and entertainment they used to have.
How could they not hate?
We visited several guesthouses, and they were all packed with people.

The owner actually pushed the tables together in the lobby to create a dormitory-style space, which he then sold to those wandering martial arts practitioners who had nowhere else to go.

The rooms upstairs, which were originally for one or two people, have all been converted into large communal sleeping areas.
Despite the meager conditions, the martial arts practitioners who stayed there, aside from grumbling a few times, were still quite content.

What is this little bit of suffering compared to the grand event that is destined to make them famous in three days?
As Xu Xingchen walked out of an inn, he sighed and thought to himself, "Lin'an City these days is just like a 5A scenic spot during holidays—it's packed with people, a sea of ​​heads, no scenery to be seen."

At a wide intersection, he saw a tall arena rising from the ground.

It is about ten feet high and seven or eight feet wide.

It was built with sturdy wooden stakes and thick wooden planks.

At the edge of the arena, scarlet and dark black hues had seeped into the wood grain.

That's the color of congealed blood!

Even in the dim light and continuous drizzle of dusk.

People were still shouting and fighting in the ring.

The surrounding streets, second-floor balconies, and rooftops were filled with martial arts figures.

They either silently and coldly watched the ring.

Or they raise their arms and cheer loudly.

Of course, there were also people there who made sarcastic remarks and hurled profanities at someone in the ring.

A variety of expressions followed.

Xu Xingchen glanced at the battle on the arena, then turned and left to continue searching for a place to live.

Unfortunately, every house was full of people.

Xu Xingchen walked down the street again from a secluded inn.

Looking up at the misty drizzle falling from the sky, I felt a mix of amusement and exasperation.

"There are still three days until the Mid-Autumn Festival. Am I going to be unable to find a place to stay?"

"Let me think, where will the Seven Heroes of Jiangnan and Guo Jing stay after they arrive?"

"It seems they contacted their friends in the martial arts world who had settled in Lin'an quite early on. They're probably staying at one of their homes."

Just as Xu Xingchen was thinking this, several martial arts figures knocked on the door of a private residence.

When the owner of the house opened the door, he threw out a bag of loose silver and said loudly, "Old man, this is the rent for your three-day stay!"

Then, amidst the old man's overjoyed compliments, he strode inside.

"Okay! These guesthouses are already getting some guests."

"I just don't know if these people will bully ordinary people or cause trouble unreasonably."

As he pondered this, he continued walking down the street, now completely dark.

At this time of day, there are not many people still walking on the streets.

They were all newcomers who couldn't find a place to live.

Finally, they had no choice but to scramble up to the rooftop and sit together in small groups.

He was cursing and swearing as he prepared to spend the night like that.

Xu Xingchen looked up at the groups of martial arts practitioners gathered here and there on the rooftop and shook his head.

"You people are even more fanatical than those fans in the first life who couldn't buy tickets and could only gather outside the stadium to listen to their favorite stars sing inside."

"However, there are only three days left. These people should be able to hold on!"

Walked a distance again
Suddenly, a series of loud shouts came from the rooftop ahead.

"Don't let that thief get away!"

"Our Beggars' Sect leader has long issued strict orders for all disciples to come to Lin'an to assist the officials in maintaining order and preventing any lawless or reckless behavior."

"You dare to disregard our gang leader's orders, harassing the people at will and indiscriminately killing innocents. Today, you'll spare your life!"

Xu Xingchen looked up.
On the rooftops in the distance, a dozen or so figures were leaping and bounding rapidly, rushing toward this side.

The dozen or so figures chasing behind were dressed in tattered, patched clothes, carrying various cloth bags on their backs and holding dog-beating sticks in their hands.

With each leap and bound, the pursuit was swift.

The man who was fleeing ahead was truly skilled in light-footed martial arts, leaping and bounding across the rooftops, leading the Beggar Clan disciples behind him like a dog on a leash.

"This fellow really doesn't respect Senior Hong at all."

"Let's all work together and take him down!"

"Make a move! Make a move! We cannot allow ourselves to tarnish the reputation of the martial arts world in the eyes of the Emperor of our Great Song Dynasty!"

The group of martial arts practitioners gathered on the surrounding rooftops shouted and leaped up to join the pursuit.

The person being chased possessed truly remarkable lightness skills, leaping and bounding away from the encirclement of the crowd time and time again.

His arrogant laughter echoed in the nearby night sky.

"Hahaha, a bunch of good-for-nothings, you think you can catch me, your grandpa?"

"Unless the Nine-Fingered Beggar comes in person."

"Otherwise, you can forget about catching Grandpa."

(End of this chapter)