Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 66 Nanyang
Late spring had just passed outside Nanyang City, and early summer rain, carrying the scent of duckweed, began to spread over the outskirts of the city.

However, the rain stopped after a short while.

On the more than four-zhang-wide bluestone official road, Zhou Yi and the Tiankui Sect group had already traveled for most of the day.

If Ying Yu hadn't been injured, they should have been inside the city long ago, given their speed.

"Master Yi, is there a place for you to stay in the city?"

"Of course."

Zhou Yi patted the bundle on his shoulder, "With money as my companion, I can stay anywhere."

“That’s good,” Lü Wuxia said, “but if we’re going to live in Nanyang for a long time, it would be better to have a stable place.”

Zhou Yi said in a serious tone: "At that time, the first person I thought of was you all."

Everyone laughed upon hearing this.

They chatted along the way and learned that this Daoist Yi was actually a person who couldn't stand being restrained.

Although the other party was quite capable, they did not explicitly invite him to join the sect.

The Tiankui Sect has numerous training centers scattered throughout Hannan and Xiangyang, and its total number of followers is easily over ten thousand.

Among the eight major powers in the prefecture, it would easily rank in the top three.

What if I invite someone to join and they refuse? Wouldn't that be embarrassing?

Although we cannot belong to the same faction, we can still become friends.

After the battle with Master Ren, Ying Yu, Lü Wuxia, and the others, though they didn't say it aloud, knew perfectly well that this Taoist's methods were superb.

His skill in acting and speaking cannot be measured by his age.

However, there are many extraordinary people in the world, so there is nothing to be surprised about.

Let's just consider it a serendipitous encounter with a borrowed flag.

At this moment
"Drive~!"

"Drive~!"

A large, vermilion-lacquered carriage drawn by three horses was approaching from the opposite direction on the official road.

A bronze sparrow with outstretched wings stands at the front of the carriage shaft, and the roof of the carriage is covered with a black brocade curtain, with tassels as thick as a thumb hanging from the corners of the curtain.

Zhou Yi stared intently at the three large horses.

Its fur is as black as satin, its neck muscles bulge like small hills, and its mane is specially trimmed, with each hair standing upright like an arrowhead.

There were more than ten riders guarding the front and rear of the carriage.

These twenty riders were all mounted on strong horses, and each of them had steady and powerful breathing; they were all masters of internal martial arts.

The person leading the way had sharp eyes and a composed demeanor.

Zhou Yi glanced at the carriage and, coincidentally, the carriage owner was lifting the curtain.

The two caught a glimpse of each other.

Zhou Yi vaguely saw a stunningly beautiful woman with an elegant aura, nibbling on some fruit. Her beautiful eyes moved from the fruit between her fingers to Zhou Yi.

Seeing him staring straight at her, she couldn't help but glare slightly, then suddenly lowered the curtain.

Pegasus Ranch.

After the carriage left, Ying Yu's voice echoed in Zhou Yi's ears.

This undoubtedly confirms Zhou Yi's guess.

Few powers can afford to treat so many top-quality horses with indifference.

That Pegasus Ranch was a place of immense wealth, comparable to a hidden paradise.

Not only does it have a strategic location with two gorges, but it also has a city wall 15 zhang high on top of that strategic location.

Could that have been Shang Xiuxun just now?
Zhou Yi glanced back in the direction the carriage had disappeared.

That's it, it must be her.

It is indeed quite beautiful, no less so than the Little Phoenix, but why does it look a bit fierce?

It's as if just one more glance would...
It would be as if the cold, aloof, and stunningly beautiful owner of the venue would gouge out their eyes.

Zhou Yi smiled slightly; Little Phoenix was still cuter.

"What is Master Yi looking at?"

"He must want to see that beautiful and charming shop owner."

"Hehe, Master Yi's Dao heart is wavering. If he were to meet Old Master Ren again now, he would probably find it difficult to remain composed."

"Hahaha!"

The Tiankui faction members, having become somewhat familiar with Zhou Yi, started making fun of him.

Zhou Yi looked indifferent: "The world is a fleeting place, and time flies by. I am merely lingering briefly at a rare and beautiful place."

Everyone laughed again after hearing this.

They walked and laughed, making the scene even more lively.

Zhou Yi also learned that the horse caravan under the Pegasus Ranch had recently offended someone.

The main purpose of this trip is to find the Great Dragon Head of Yang Town.

Pegasus Ranch is very special and is valued by many powerful forces. Even the leader of Nanyang cannot afford to be negligent when people from the ranch come to visit.

……

"Deacon Liang."

"exist."

The Pegasus Ranch carriage arrived at the side of the carriage, with Steward Liang leading the way.

A cold, clear voice came from inside the carriage:

Who were those people who passed by just now?

Liang Zhi, the head steward of the ranch, naturally had excellent eyesight: "Judging from their clothing and long, narrow swords, they must be from the Tiankui Dojo."

As for that young Taoist priest, I...

He stammered several times before finally managing to say, "His appearance is too strange."

"Why is it weird?"

The chief deacon said, "I didn't see him carrying any weapons, but he was carrying a yin-yang banner. I took a few more glances at him at first, but I couldn't figure out what he was doing. He seemed more like a man who exorcises evil spirits, catches ghosts, and acts as a medium to exorcise demons."

Inside the carriage.

Upon hearing his words, the young woman pictured the Taoist priest's appearance in her mind.

That's really quite strange.

He's definitely not a respectable person.

"What are some famous Taoist temples near Nanyang?" Liang Zhi was taken aback: "Does the head of the temple want to investigate his background?"

"No, I was just asking casually."

"Oh, I've heard there are quite a few Taoist temples, but most of them are abandoned. As for the famous ones, I can't name any."

Liang Zhi tentatively asked, "If the owner is interested, I'll have someone from the caravan inquire about it."

"Forget it, go back."

……

It's three o'clock in time.

Zhou Yi looked ahead and saw a great city stretching across the land, with interconnected city walls, gate towers, and other structures, all sturdy and majestic.

That city wall was at least thirteen or fourteen zhang high.

He was shocked by what he saw; even with just a glimpse, he could already imagine the grandeur of the Eastern Capital.

The turbulent waters in the northern part of Nanyang were the most dangerous, so the rapids were used as a moat, which was built around the outer wall to form a city moat.

The roadside trees were lush and green. Zhou Yi, an outsider, followed Ying Yu and the others into the area.

Just as they said, there were people checking people at the city gate.

Business travelers are queuing to enter the city.

"Master Yi, this way."

Zhou Yi followed the Tiankui Sect members through the side gate. The burly man guarding the city greeted them and let them pass.

But unexpectedly, they had just entered the city gate.

Someone blocked their way. The man looked like a noble young master, about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, and dressed very flamboyantly.

This person has long, narrow eyes, and those narrow eyes reveal a sinister and ruthless nature.

"Wait a minute!"

He reached out to stop them, saying, "Brother Ying, you should at least give us a heads-up before bringing people into the city."

Lü Wuxia interrupted:

"What a joke! Even if Yang Dalongtou were here, he wouldn't stop us from bringing our friends into the city. What right do you have to block our way?"

The three Tiankui Sect disciples continued forward without stopping.

The person blocking the way immediately stepped aside, and said with a fake smile:

"Don't be angry, I was just joking with you all. Brother Ying's energy seems weak, as if you're injured?"

"Hmph, let's go, ignore him."

Miss Lü turned and left, taking the lead.

Ying Yu and the others did the same, escorting Zhou Yi directly into the city.

"Who was that just now?" Zhou Yi looked back at the city gate.

“He’s deliberately trying to disgust people,” a member of the Tiankui Sect surnamed Zhang said with a look of disgust. “His name is Luo Rongtai, the son of the leader of the Tuanjiang Sect. He’s ruthless and treacherous.”

The Tuanjiang Sect is one of the three sects of Nanyang and belongs to the eight major forces. In terms of strength, it should not be as strong as the Tiankui Sect.

"Why are they the ones guarding the city gate?"

“You’re new here, so you naturally don’t understand the rules of Nanyang County,” Lü Wuxia said, getting straight to the point. “The county is mainly divided into two parts: finance and defense. Finance is controlled by the big boss.”

"As for defense, it rotates monthly, and this month it happens to be the Tuanjiang faction."

"So you're right to come with us; this Luo fellow is the worst at making things difficult for people."

Zhou Yi then asked, "Will he label me as a member of the Tiankui Sect?"

"That's for sure. Is Master Yi afraid?"

Another junior sister joked, then quickly became serious: "Actually, it's fine. As long as we follow the rules of the city, he won't dare to do anything reckless."

"Try not to mess with the Tuanjiang faction and the Yangxing Society. They're not on good terms with us. The Luo family used to be very arrogant, but now that they've teamed up, they dare to provoke us."

Zhou Yi astutely grasped the key point: "Doesn't Yang Dalong care?"

"We've always managed it."

Zhou Yi thought to himself, "That's alright."

But then he heard Lü Wuxia mutter a complaint under her breath:
"But the big boss is always stern in words but lenient in methods. Most of the time he just talks to a few people in charge and doesn't take any drastic measures."

"Junior sister, you shouldn't speak carelessly."

Ying Yu shook his head: "Master often says that the big boss has many concerns. This is not a matter for just one or two families. There are so many people and so many forces inside and outside the city. It cannot be governed by simple harsh methods."

"and"

"Upstream Champion City also has Zhu Can eyeing it covetously, and the big boss has done a good job."

Lu Wuxia snorted and turned her head away unhappily; she had heard this excuse many times before.

My senior brother said so, and so did my father.

but,

She always felt that the head of the household was too kind and generous, even...
Somewhat weak.

The Tuanjiang faction and the Yangxing Society gradually tested each other, which is why they have revealed their true colors today.

As I pondered this, my steps quickened.

Ying Yu sighed helplessly as he watched his junior sister's retreating figure and told two fellow disciples to chase after her.

"Master Yi, you can go to the Yuelai Inn in the city. The innkeeper knows you are from our Tiankui Sect, so he will charge you less for lodging."

Ying Yu was in a hurry to catch up with his junior sister, so he spoke a third faster, "After I recover from my injuries for three days, I will go to the inn to find you and help you find the person who received the letter."

"Thank you."

"You are Welcome."

The two bowed to each other, and Ying Yu led his men to quickly chase after them.

The city of Nanyang was much larger and more prosperous than Zhou Yi had imagined, far exceeding his understanding of Nanyang.

but
It would be impossible to support so many powerful forces without some kind of outrageous prosperity.

Looking around at the rows of houses, seeing the long street lined with shops and stalls, and hearing the endless stream of vehicles and people.
Zhou Yi couldn't help but smile.

At this moment, he also blended into the hustle and bustle of the city.
……

……

……

PS: Awesome Ye, 6000~~('-'*ゞ)

(End of this chapter)