Starting from the imperial palace guards, his clones spread all over the world.

Chapter 587 Complete Admiration
The day's activities around Yan Mountain came to an end.

Mu Shanqing, Han Tong, and others insisted on circling around Yan Mountain again and again, and even climbed to the top of Yan Mountain to verify it in person.

After a long day of work, they were all exhausted.

For martial artists of their level, physical fatigue is minor; the greater fatigue comes from mental exhaustion.

The heavens are round and the earth is square! This was a truth etched into their very bones, as natural as breathing!
It is the cornerstone that underpins their understanding of the world!
However, in just one night, this seemingly indestructible foundation was bombarded by a dark-faced man with a few seemingly simple questions, causing it to teeter on the brink of collapse and eventually crumble completely!
This cognitive upheaval had an impact far exceeding any life-or-death struggle, leaving them feeling disoriented, dizzy, and utterly bewildered.

finally.

They found a reasonably clean inn in a nearby town to stay in.

The food and drinks were served quickly, steaming hot and fragrant.

Several people sat around a square table where the oil lamp flickered, but the atmosphere was unusually somber.

Zhongli Han and Fei Biao were already starving and were eating heartily.

Although they were equally shocked, their minds were relatively simple. After the shock subsided, they chose to accept it, or rather, not to think about it too deeply for the time being.

But for Mushan Qing and Han Tong, it was like chewing wax.

Their chopsticks hung in mid-air, their eyes were vacant, and their thoughts were clearly still deeply immersed in that subversive "sphere" theory.

Kiyama Sei's brows furrowed, her fingertips unconsciously tapping on the rough tabletop, producing a soft tapping sound.

Han Tong stared at a piece of meat in the bowl, as if it were some profound mystery.

The two men simultaneously raised their heads, their gazes once again fixed on Liang Jin and Song Jiang. Their eyes were filled with the burning desire for knowledge that had been thoroughly ignited, as well as a hint of almost obsessive unwillingness.

They are still seeking more irrefutable "ironclad evidence" to finally put them at ease.

Seeing the two of them looking distracted, Liang Jin understood and felt somewhat helpless.

He put down his chopsticks, picked up his rough porcelain wine cup, took a sip, and his voice broke the silence:
"It seems you two still have doubts. Very well, let me give you another example, which may dispel your doubts."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two of them:
"Lunar eclipses, I'm sure you've all seen them, right?"

Mushan Qing and Han Tong nodded subconsciously.

The sight of the bright moon being slowly swallowed by a huge shadow was indeed impressive.

Liang Jin continued:
"In the eyes of the world, a lunar eclipse is a sign of disaster, as it is said to be a 'heavenly dog ​​eating the moon'."

"But you two are both people of exceptional insight, and you should know that this is nonsense."

His tone was firm:
"A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth moves between the Sun and the Moon, its massive size blocking the sunlight from reaching the Moon, causing the Moon to fall into the Earth's shadow and temporarily lose its radiance!"

This explanation was like dropping a new bomb into their confused thoughts!
Kiyama Ao's beautiful eyes widened, and Han Tong gasped in shock!
The earth... stands between the sun and the moon?
This challenges the limits of imagination even more than the idea that "the earth is round"!
It completely overturned the intuitive feeling of "the sky is above and the earth is below"!

The two felt dizzy and disoriented, as if their preconceived notions of the universe were being torn to shreds.

Liang Jin didn't give them much time to process what was happening, and immediately followed up with an even more devastating blow:
"Then, please recall, what was the shape of the edge of the enormous shadow that swallowed the moon during a lunar eclipse?"

He leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing, his voice carrying a power that seemed to cut through illusion:

"Is it always... a clear and smooth arc?!"

He slammed his hand on the table, his voice suddenly rising in pitch:

"Tell me, in this world, besides a gigantic sphere, what else casts a shadow that is so perfect, so enormous, that it covers the entire surface of the moon with a circular edge?!"

hiss--!
Mu Shanqing and Han Tong both gasped in shock!
As if struck by an invisible bolt of lightning, the two men shuddered violently, their faces turning deathly pale instantly!

In Kiyama Sei's mind, the image of the bright moon being slowly eroded by a huge, round black shadow during the lunar eclipse appeared clearly!
The curved edge was so clear and so regular!
She had assumed it was some kind of celestial phenomenon or natural formation and never investigated it further.

At this moment, Liang Jin exposed the truth, and all doubts, struggles, and resentment were completely crushed by this irrefutable evidence!

She felt a strong wave of dizziness and had to reach out and grab the edge of the table to steady herself.

The gaze directed at Liang Jin was filled with unprecedented shock and... an almost worshipful awe!

Han Tong, as if all his strength had been drained, slumped into a chair, staring blankly at the beams on the roof.

His prized mechanical skills and understanding of spatial structures appear utterly pale and laughable in the face of this incredible yet logically rigorous chain of evidence.

The crescent-shaped shadow of a lunar eclipse!
This is simply a divine revelation!

He murmured to himself:
"Round...it can only be round...only a sphere...can cast a round shadow...covering the moon..."

The dust of a collapsing worldview seemed to settle at this moment.

His gaze toward Liang Jin was filled with complex awe, as if he were looking at a prophet who had seen through the mysteries of the world.

Looking at the two men's distraught yet enlightened expressions, Liang Jin finally breathed a sigh of relief.

He knew the time was right.

If this continues, I'm afraid someone will really have a mental breakdown.

He picked up his chopsticks with satisfaction and said in a relaxed tone:

"Alright, that makes sense."

"Whether you believe or not is entirely up to you."

"Let's eat, the food's getting cold."

He picked up a piece of roasted pork and ate it with relish, as if his earth-shattering remarks were nothing more than a discussion about the weather.

Zhongli Han and Fei Biao exchanged a glance, both seeing a hint of relief in each other's eyes.

Luckily, my mind isn't that complicated!
Seeing Liang Jin start eating, they immediately abandoned their incomprehensible "grand principles" and threw themselves back into the battle with the food, eating with gusto.

Only the sounds of clinking bowls and chopsticks, chewing, and heavy, disordered breathing from Mushan Qing and Han Tong remained on the dining table.

I do not know how long it has been.

"I understand! I completely understand!"

Han Tong suddenly jumped up from the chair and let out a scream that was almost manic.

He danced with joy, his childlike face flushed red with extreme excitement and relief, all traces of his previous gloom gone!

"Yes! Yes! Yes! The earth must be round!"

"Only in this way will the foot of Yan Mountain disappear! The masts at sea will appear first! And the shadow of the lunar eclipse will be the arc side!"

"Everything makes sense now! Perfect! Absolutely perfect!"

He was so excited that he was incoherent, as if he had solved the ultimate mystery that had troubled him all his life.

Although Mushan Qing did not scream in a fit of rage, her clear and cold eyes shone with an astonishing brightness, as if they contained stars!
She took a long, deep breath, as if trying to inhale the fresh air, which carried the scent of a "sphere," into her lungs.

On her face appeared a look of enlightenment, a calm that came after a great shock. Her gaze toward Liang Jin was filled with pure respect and an indescribable excitement.

however.

Their sudden excitement drew sidelong glances from the other diners and the innkeeper.

The crowd stared at the gesticulating Han Tong and the strangely expressionless Mu Shanqing as if they were madmen, whispering among themselves.

Han Tong didn't care at all. He excitedly grabbed the wine jug on the table, wanting to drink and celebrate, but after shaking it, he found it was empty.

He then noticed that while he and Mushan Qing were immersed in the cognitive storm, the food on the table had already been swept away by Liang Jin, Zhong Lihan, and Fei Biao in a whirlwind!
"Uh……"

Han Tong's excitement got stuck in his throat, and he looked a little embarrassed.

But he quickly composed himself, and the excitement on his face was replaced by an unprecedented solemnity.

He suddenly threw the empty wine jug to the ground with a loud "smack," attracting everyone's attention.

"I am Han Tong!"

He straightened his small body, his voice loud and clear, carrying a solemn air as if he were making a vow:
"Though I am no good person and have killed countless people, I consider myself a man of my word!"

"A promise made is a promise kept, and I will never go back on my word!"

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, and under the complex look in Mu Shanqing's eyes, Han Tong walked up to Zhong Lihan without hesitation, lifted the hem of his robe, and bent his knees—

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three solid, unmistakable thuds landed heavily on the hard floor of the inn!
The sound is clearly audible!

"Han Tong is blind. Let bygones be bygones!"

"Those three kowtows are an apology!"

He raised his head, his forehead already bearing a red mark, but his eyes were exceptionally clear and open.

Seeing this, Fei Biao immediately put down the half-eaten chicken leg, wiped his greasy mouth, and stood up in a muffled voice:
"I, Fei Biao, am slow-witted and don't work well!"

"But I know that even Han Tong, that cunning fellow, was completely convinced by Song Yingxiong's reasoning, so this reasoning is definitely more real than gold!"

"I'm willing to accept the consequences of my bet!"

After saying that, he walked up to Zhongli Han, his huge body suddenly kneeling down, and he also kowtowed three times with a "thump, thump, thump".

The force was so great that the floor seemed to shake.

Looking at the scene before him, Zhongli Han's gaze towards Liang Jin was not only filled with shock, but also with deep awe!
He never imagined that someone in this world could use words and reason, rather than swords and force, to completely subdue someone as arrogant as Han Tong, forcing him to willingly kowtow and admit his mistakes!
This power was more terrifying than any peerless martial art he knew!
Zhongli Han took a deep breath, stood up abruptly, and spoke in a booming voice:

"Fine! I, Zhongli Han, am not the kind of person who goes back on his word!"

"Hero Song, with his profound wisdom, dispelled my doubts and won over my anger!"

"Since I made that promise first, I hereby swear an oath today!"

He glanced around at everyone, his gaze finally settling on Han Tong and Fei Biao, and clasped his hands in a deep voice, saying:

"From this moment on, all past grievances between me, Zhongli Han, and Han Tong and Fei Biao, are wiped away and erased!"

"If I break this oath, may I be condemned to this cup!"

Before he finished speaking, he grabbed an empty wine glass from the table, and with a "crack," crushed it to pieces!
Porcelain shards of powder fell softly from between his fingers.

After saying that, he strode forward, stretched out his large, fan-like hands, and forcefully helped Han Tong and Fei Biao, who were kneeling on the ground, to their feet.

The three men looked at each other, their former murderous intent and resentment not completely dissipated.

But that relentless, mortal conflict has been resolved by the strange "sphere" agreement and Liang Jin's profound wisdom.

"Bring me the wine!"

Zhongli Han roared.

The shopkeeper hurriedly brought over a jar of new wine.

Zhongli Han broke the mud seal, poured three large bowls of strong liquor, and handed one to Han Tong and one to Fei Biao, while also taking a bowl for himself.

"Drink this bowl of wine, and all past events will flow away like water!"

His voice was bold and resonant.

"Damn it!" Han Tong shrieked.

"Damn it!" Fei Biao echoed in a deep voice.

The three of them tilted their heads back and drank the strong liquor in their bowls in one gulp!

The spicy liquor went down my throat, as if burning away the last trace of resentment.

Liang Jin looked at this scene of turning hostility into friendship and a smile of satisfaction appeared on his face.

He beckoned to the trembling shopkeeper:

"Shopkeeper, bring another table of good dishes, and more meat! These two friends didn't get to eat earlier."

He pointed to Mushan Qing and Han Tong.

The new dishes were served quickly, steaming hot.

While gesturing for Mushan Qing and Han Tong to start eating, Liang Jin asked seemingly casually:

"I plan to set off back to Yanshan Village tomorrow."

"What are your plans next?"

These words immediately created a slightly more relaxed atmosphere, which had been somewhat eased by the resolution of past grievances, and the situation suddenly became delicate again.

The people around the table had different expressions, and they all seemed to be hiding something.

After a short silence.

"Pfft!"

A muffled sound!
It was Zhongli Han, who was as tall and imposing as a mountain, who suddenly left his seat, walked a few steps to Liang Jin, and knelt down on one knee without hesitation!
He clasped his hands together, bowed his head deeply, and spoke in a loud and powerful voice, carrying an undeniable resolve:

"Hero Song!"

Zhongli Han raised his head, his gaze burning like a blazing flame, staring directly at Liang Jin:

Zhongli Han has spent half his life wandering the martial world. In his early years, he only learned martial arts to compete and gain a false reputation!

"Later, although I gained some fame, I felt increasingly empty and lost, wondering what else I could do with all this strength besides fighting and killing!"

His voice lowered, filled with deep pain:
"Until this severe drought struck Changzhou!" "I saw it with my own eyes... starving corpses on the roads, people exchanging their own children to eat! The government was incompetent, yet corrupt officials continued their relentless exploitation! Behind the red gates, meat and wine rotted, while on the roads lay frozen corpses!"

"My heart is breaking; I wish I could smash this cannibalistic world with the giant bell in my hand!"

"But...we are outnumbered and outmatched, full of enthusiasm but not knowing where to begin!"

His gaze hardened again, filled with admiration for Liang Jin:

"Until I heard of your righteous deeds! You seized the government granaries, distributed relief grain, and saved the people from suffering! You punished the powerful and wicked, and acted on behalf of Heaven!"

"Your deeds are like a beacon in the darkness! They have shown me the way! They have shown me where to put my martial arts skills!"

He clasped his hands in a deep fist salute, his voice resolute:
"Hero Song! I, Zhongli Han, admire your character and your righteous deeds! I humbly request that you take me in!"

"Let me follow you and do my part for the suffering people of Changzhou! I will brave mountains of knives and seas of fire, even unto death!"

"If you will not abandon me, Zhongli Han is willing to be a vanguard for the heroes of the Song Dynasty!"

These words were sincere, heartfelt, and resounding!

He vividly portrayed his lifelong confusion, his compassion for the disaster victims, his admiration for Liang Jin, and his determination to follow him!

A barely perceptible glint flashed in Liang Jin's eyes.

This is exactly the result he had been working so hard to achieve!
He immediately stood up and reached out to help Zhongli Han up, his face filled with deep fear:
"Brother Zhong! Please rise! You've made me too kind!"

"What I did was simply following my heart and doing what little I could. How could I possibly accept such a great gift from Brother Zhong? I certainly wouldn't dare to talk about 'taking me in'!"

Zhongli Han remained rooted to the spot, completely unmoved.

Instead, he raised his head, his eyes gleaming with the straightforwardness and stubbornness of a man of the martial world:
"Hero Song! Don't refuse!"

"We're all江湖儿女 (people of the martial arts world), let's be straightforward! Just give us a straight answer!"

His tone was resolute:
"If you think highly of me, Zhongli Han, and believe that my strength can still be of use, then my life is yours from this day forward! I will brave water and fire without batting an eye!"

"If you find me, Zhong Lihan, to be crude and unmanageable, I will turn around and leave immediately without a word of complaint, and I would not dare to linger!"

His words carried a hint of tragic determination, as if he were making a desperate gamble.

A look of helplessness mixed with emotion crossed Liang Jin's face. He forcefully helped Zhong Lihan up, his voice steady and powerful:
"Brother Zhong, you flatter me!"

“Song Jiang is nothing but a commoner, how could he possibly look down on a man as upright and honorable as Brother Zhong?”

"Brother Zhong has the well-being of the people in his heart and is willing to do his best for them; this is truly righteous!"

"How could Song Jiang possibly obstruct us?"

He patted Zhong Lihan's strong arm and solemnly promised:
"Brother Zhong, if you don't mind the simplicity of Yanshan Village, please come back with me tomorrow!"

"We brothers are united, and we will fight with all our might to save the suffering people of Changzhou!"

Zhongli shook the tiger, his eyes gleaming, his excitement overflowing.

"Thank you, Hero Song!"

"No...it's Brother Song!"

"Please call me by my name from now on, elder brother!"

He did not sit back down after he got up.

Instead, like the most loyal guard, he naturally stood behind Liang Jin, his back straight, the giant bell gently resting at his feet, his posture respectful and firm.

Liang Jin looked at him and nodded with an appreciative expression.

Liang Jin's gaze then fell on Mu Shanqing, Han Tong, and Fei Biao.

Han Tong had been holding back for a while and wanted to speak several times.

But when his gaze fell on Mushan Qing, he forced himself to suppress the impulse, and just stared intently at Liang Jin.

The three of them were led by Kiyama Ao.

Before Mushan Qing could speak, it was naturally not Han Tong's turn to speak.

Knowing that Mu Shanqing was proud, Liang Jin looked at her and spoke gently:

"Miss Mu, may I ask what brings you to Changzhou this time?"

"If there is anything you need Song Jiang to do, please feel free to speak up."

Mushan Qing's martial arts skills are very high, reaching the third rank.

A master at the peak of the third rank would be a great help if recruited!
Mushan Qing met Liang Jin's gaze, a complex emotion flashing deep within his cool eyes.

She nodded slightly, her voice still calm, but less distant:

"To be honest, Mr. Song."

"Mu's trip south to Changzhou was for two reasons, one of which was to search for a person's whereabouts."

"Secondly... we also need to wait at Yanshan Village for news of another old friend."

She paused, then looked at Liang Jin with a frank expression:

"It's quite a coincidence, I was just about to go to Yanshan Village."

"If you don't mind the trouble, sir, would it be possible... for us to travel together?"

She did not elaborate on the details, but the intentions of her companions were clear.

Liang Jin was secretly delighted, but a genuine smile appeared on his face:

"It is an honor for Song Jiang to travel with Miss Mu! How can this be considered an intrusion?"

"We hit it off immediately and should get to know each other better."

Upon hearing the last sentence, two extremely faint blushes appeared on Mushan Qing's usually calm and composed face.

Like plum blossoms blooming in the snow, they gained a touch of beauty under the dim light of the oil lamp.

She turned her head slightly to avoid Liang Jin's open gaze.

Liang Jin felt slightly surprised.

Kiyama is not young anymore, so why is his skin still so thin?
at this time.

Seeing that Mu Shanqing had made his stance clear, Han Tong could no longer contain himself and immediately jumped off his chair, saying urgently:
"Hero Song! I...I still have countless questions to ask you about this world and about mechanical arts! Please allow me to accompany you!"

His gaze toward Liang Jin was filled with a fervent thirst for knowledge and boundless admiration for the wise man.

Fei Biao quickly put down the bone he had just finished gnawing on and said in a deep voice:
"me too!"

Liang Jin laughed loudly, his heroic spirit soaring to the heavens:
"Very well! It is my good fortune that you heroes think highly of me and are willing to travel with me! Why talk about 'permission'?"

"We share the same ideals and should join hands! We'll set off back to the mountain early tomorrow morning!"

……

Changzhou City.

night.

Overcast.

Countless torches flickered and burned in the biting night wind, their leaping light illuminating an area near the city gate in a dim and ghostly manner.

All the officials in Changzhou, from the prefect to the head constables, stood with their hands at their sides, silent as cicadas in winter, not daring to breathe.

The air was thick with tension and oppression.

At the very front of the line stood two people side by side.

The man on the left, with a deathly pale face as if powdered, smooth and beardless, was none other than Yan Zi'an, the fourth head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau.

His eyes were sinister, like those of a venomous snake.

Cen Ruifeng and Shen Wanshi, who looked distressed, stood like shadows behind him.

The man on the right was tall and slender with a handsome face. He wore a well-tailored black outfit with three eagles poised for flight embroidered in gold thread on his shoulders. He exuded a calm and authoritative aura.

He is none other than Qin Feng, one of the Four Great Constables of the Six Doors!
As night deepens and the dew grows heavier, the chill seeps into the bones.

The two men stood like two cold stone sculptures in the shadows of the city gate, their gazes piercing the darkness and looking into the distance where the official road stretched out.

Clearly, they were waiting for an extremely important person.

Waiting is boring.

Qin Feng slightly turned his head to look at Yan Zi'an, whose aura was cold and sinister beside him. A faint smile appeared on his lips. His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the other's ears:

"Lord Yan, it seems... you weren't quite able to fully display your talents today in that 'City of the Wrongfully Dead'?"

Qin Feng's tone carried a hint of amusement:
"I heard that Lord Yan was killed instantly by a giant arrow that came from who-knows-where, just like yesterday?"

"They couldn't even set foot in the so-called central hall plaza?"

The sarcasm in his words, like tiny ice needles, pierced Yan Zi'an with pinpoint accuracy.

The Six Doors and the Investigation Bureau have always been at odds, and their open and covert struggles have never stopped.

The last time the police sent people to Changzhou on official business, they were deliberately made difficult by Qin Feng, leaving them humiliated.

Although they are now forced to join forces due to the Silver Cart case, Qin Feng clearly has no intention of letting go of any opportunity to strike at the other side.

Yan Zi'an abruptly turned his head, his deep, icy eyes fixed on Qin Feng, his voice like a cold wind sweeping across the frozen surface:
"How...how did you know?!"

His experience in the City of the Wrongfully Dead was the greatest shock and humiliation in his heart. Now that Qin Feng had exposed it to him in public, his killing intent surged instantly!
Despite facing Yan Zi'an's predatory gaze, Qin Feng remained unfazed, merely offering a faint smile that appeared somewhat eerie in the flickering firelight.
"Lord Yan, please calm down."

"I arrived in Changzhou some time earlier than you, sir, and naturally know more about some of the... 'strange and unusual things' about this place."

He paused, then explained slowly and deliberately:
"That 'City of the Wrongfully Dead' quietly appeared in Changzhou several months ago. Like an invisible vortex, it forcibly pulls the consciousness of martial artists who match a certain 'trait' into it."

"At first, there seemed to be only a strange being inside wearing a cold, metallic mask, whom the martial artists had to fight. Later... the place became more and more lively, so-called 'rewards' appeared, and there was even a wooden puppet called the 'tooth man' that could trade with the martial artists..."

"As for the changes that followed, I'm sure Lord Yan, who experienced them firsthand, knows them better than I do."

He gave Yan Zi'an a meaningful look:
"To be honest, Lord Yan, the Six Doors also planted some spies in that City of the Wrongfully Dead."

"I received the news when you were first drawn into it, my lord."

This is a blatant display of the Six Doors' intelligence capabilities, and also a warning to Yan Zi'an.

Yan Zian's face became even more unpleasant, as if it had been coated with a layer of chalk.

He originally thought that his inexplicable entry into the City of the Dead in Jinxi City last night was just an accident.

But who would have thought that he would mysteriously enter that city of the unjustly dead again today.

If he doesn't figure out this City of the Wrongfully Dead, who knows if he'll be dragged into it again in the future?

This instantly overwhelmed his unease and curiosity, making him feel more at ease than he felt anger at being mocked.

He suppressed his turbulent emotions and asked in a hoarse voice:
"What...what exactly is this City of the Unjustly Dead?!"

This is the question he most urgently wants to know the answer to right now.

Qin Feng slowly shook his head; the golden eagle on his dark-colored outfit reflected a cold, hard luster in the firelight.
"What is it? This humble official...does not know either."

He readily acknowledged the unknown aspects of his situation.

This answer clearly failed to satisfy Yan Zi'an, instead provoking even greater anger and contempt in him.

He snorted coldly:
"Hmph! A renowned constable of the Six Doors, holding sway over this region, yet he can't even uncover such a bizarre matter right under his nose? He's nothing special!"

The police station made no attempt to hide their contempt for the Six Doors.

Despite Yan Zi'an's mockery, Qin Feng remained unperturbed.

He maintained that enigmatic calm, his gaze returning to the deep darkness, as if talking to himself, or perhaps throwing out an even more startling bait:
"However, some things are certain."

His voice, like a ghostly whisper, pierced Yan Zi'an's ears:

"Firstly, the City of the Unjustly Dead is not a real city. It is more like a strange cage that imprisons consciousness, soul, or spirit. Only martial artists who meet certain 'qualities' can be captured and dragged in."

"Secondly, 'dying' in that city does not actually harm the physical body in reality. It's as if... it's just an overly realistic nightmare. What's even stranger is that no matter how long you feel you've spent in that city, in reality, it's often just a fleeting moment."

He paused slightly, as if carefully choosing his words, before revealing the most crucial information:
"Thirdly... and most importantly... this kind of strange place is by no means unique to Changzhou!"

Yan Zian was surprised to hear this.

He couldn't help but ask:

"Besides Changzhou, are there other places like this eerie place? Where are they located?"

Qin Feng slowly turned his head, his entire face hidden in the shadow of the city gate, only his sharp, hawk-like eyes gleaming with a cold light in the darkness.

He looked at Yan Zi'an and replied:

"Capital."

(End of this chapter)