The Legend of the Condor Heroes: I became one of the Five Great Masters by drawing cards

Chapter 88 Disgraceful to politeness
"He only went there to confirm whether Aunt Yang was really alive. He only stayed for a few days before finding an opportunity to escape."

"escape?"

Guo Jing looked puzzled. He had always been loyal, righteous and filial, so how could he guess what Yang Kang was thinking?

"If nothing unexpected happens, he must have wanted to pass the news to Wanyan Honglie. He just happened to mention the incident of Wanyan Honglie stealing the book, so Taoist Qiu and the others also rushed here."

"This Lin'an City has gathered so many masters at once. You wouldn't see one in decades. It's much more lively than the Beggars' Clan Conference."

Hong Qigong stroked the stubble under his chin, and his previous depressed mood disappeared.

Gu Pingan glanced at him and said with a smile, "A bunch of masters are fighting outside, and you, the Seventh Lord, are happily enjoying your side dishes in the imperial kitchen. Isn't that a happy thing?"

"Delicious food to accompany the wine, and the old poisonous creature playing with monkeys to go with it, not bad, not bad!" Hong Qigong said, his heart full of longing. "What you said makes this old beggar want to stay in the palace tonight."

Mu Nianci quickly dissuaded him: "Seventh Master, you are injured and tired from the long journey. You should take a good rest for a day. It won't be too late to go tomorrow night."

Huang Rong asked curiously, "Sister Mu, aren't you afraid that Wanyan Honglie and the others will break into the palace tonight?"

"I was worried about missing them, but Brother Ping An said they chose this spot on purpose. I walked around and looked around near the palace, and then I understood."

"Sister, please stop keeping me in suspense!"

Seeing that she couldn't wait to clarify her doubts, Gu Nianci couldn't help but smile indulgently.

"The Song Dynasty Imperial Palace is located directly south of Lin'an City. Outside the city walls is the dense forest of Jade Emperor Mountain. When Wanyan Honglie and his men emerge from the palace, they won't run towards the crowded north city. They can only head south."

Guo Jing had never understood these calculations and was completely confused by what he heard.

"Niujia Village is right at the foot of Yuhuang Mountain. It's right after you exit the forest. It's not far from the imperial palace and is sparsely populated. It's perfect for them to take a break and check things out."

"So that's it!" Huang Rong immediately understood such a simple truth and couldn't help but praise, "Sister Mu, you are so smart!"

Mu Nianci blushed and waved her hands repeatedly because of the praise.

Normally, Guo Jing would chime in at this moment, but today he just stood there in a daze, not saying a word.

"Niujia Village" he muttered to himself thoughtfully.

Huang Rong was puzzled: "Is there something wrong with this place?"

Gu Ping'an nodded gently: "Brother Guo, you heard it right, this is your hometown."

When Guo Jing left here, he was still in his mother's womb. This was his first time returning to his hometown. Thinking of how his father was murdered by a villain here, his heart was filled with emotion and his eyes flickered.

Huang Rong noticed his emotional fluctuations and quickly stepped forward to hold his hand.

"Isn't this better?" Gu Ping'an said, "Once we capture Wanyan Honglie, we'll take him to your parents' former residence and kill him with your own hands to comfort your father's spirit in heaven."

"Brother Gu is right!" Guo Jing nodded heavily, clenching his fists. "We must not let him escape this time!"

"That's right!" Huang Rong immediately encouraged him, "Let's rest up tonight and wait for him in the palace tomorrow. No matter if he's a poisonous person or not, no one can save his life!"

The Old Boy had covered his ears just now and had refused to let go until now. No matter how Silly Girl pestered him, he just kept shaking his head and ignored her.

Gu Ping'an stepped forward, pulled his hands apart, and asked, "Let's go to Lin'an City tomorrow to see if we can run into Taoist Qiu and the others. Do you want to go?"

The Old Boy, having just heard them say they were going to look for Emperor Duan, refused to listen and insisted on staying here and not going anywhere. Little did he know that this was exactly what Gu Ping'an wanted. As long as he stayed at the tavern and guarded it, he wouldn't have to worry about Hong Qigong getting into any danger.

Everyone slept well that night and went into the city early the next morning to look for Qiu Chuji and others.

In the southeast, the city of the Three Wus, Qiantang has been prosperous since ancient times.

Lin'an has been an important city in the south since the Qin and Han Dynasties. It has been passed down from generation to generation by prominent families. After the Southern Song Dynasty moved its capital here, it became a gathering place for culture and business, and was extremely bustling.

As soon as the four of them entered the Houchao Gate, they looked up and saw that the street was crowded with people and vendors of all sizes were coming and going.

Even though they were accustomed to the splendor of Jiangnan, they still felt that the capital was more prosperous.

"Snow-soaked beans, pear juice, and perilla drink paired with sweet bean candy will quench your thirst, cool you down, and soothe your heart. If you're passing by, buy a bowl and try it!"

It was the height of summer, and the sun was particularly scorching today. Peddlers carrying baskets passed by, their melodious cries filling their ears.

This vendor was really smart. He used bamboo joints as thick as his wrist to make cups and carefully polished the edges to remove burrs. Although it took some effort, it saved money and added a bit of bamboo fragrance to the syrup.

As we walked further, several people were holding a cup of sugar water in their hands.

They passed the palace gate and headed north, but all they saw were scholars talking big, and rarely did they see people like them.

Most of these people were dressed in brocade clothes and held folding fans in their hands. Occasionally, there were some people wearing swords, but the hilts of the swords were decorated with pearls and jade, which clearly showed that they were just ornaments.

It was not yet noon, but many restaurants in the city were already full. The guests were all dressed like scholars, drinking and chatting.

As the four people passed by the window, a voice came from there.

"Nonsense! This poem by Mr. Fanchuan is clearly meant to warn people against indulging in pleasure. It's such a work of concern for the country and the people, yet you're using the line 'Backyard Flower' as a topic for drunken banter. It's simply, simply, disrespectful!"

Gu Ping'an looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young scholar standing at a small table by the window, pointing at a large table of people next to him, his body trembling slightly.

This person seemed to want to curse that group of people, but he didn't know the common words to curse. After trying for a long time, he could only say "insulting".

Guo Jing also heard his indignant tone and curiously asked Huang Rong, "What do these 'Fanchuan hermit' and 'Hou Ting Hua' that this scholar mentioned mean?"

"I've heard from my father that this Fanchuan layman was a poet from the late Tang Dynasty named 'Du Mu'. This 'Hou Ting Hua' refers to a piece of music composed by the last emperor of the Southern Chen Dynasty. But I don't understand how those people could use it as a topic of conversation."

Huang Rong was an unmarried girl. Although she had a wide range of knowledge, she only had a vague understanding of ordinary matters between men and women. How could she understand the other absurd meaning of this word?

"We're drinking and talking about poetry, why would you want to point fingers? Are you asking for a beating?"

While the two men were asking and answering each other, a fight broke out in the tavern.

The scholar who started to curse was no match for seven or eight people. In the chaos, he was punched in the eye, lifted up sideways, and thrown out through the door.

The waiter and the shopkeeper wanted to stop them at first, but when they saw the appearance of the man in the lead, they immediately shrank back like quails and dared not say a word.

Seeing the scholar being thrown out, Gu Ping'an flashed to the door and gently supported the scholar on the back.

　I've been sitting on the high-speed train for most of the day, so it's not easy to write. The next chapter may be late, I'm trying to catch up.

　　(See my IP)

　　
　
(End of this chapter)