Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 81, "The Chronicles of Peace" (Thanks to the generous patron, Taixu Sword Immortal!)
At noon.

“Brother Zhou, last night I had a nightmare that scared me so much that my back was soaked with sweat.”

Shan Xiongxin put a bream head in his mouth and chewed it, his expression showing no sign of joking.

Zhou Yi laughed and said, "What kind of dream was so scary?"

Shan Xiongxin looked at him:
“I dreamt that you were holding a sword and fighting your way to the imperial city, to the top of the Forbidden City. The sky was filled with raging clouds, thunder dragons crashed down, and blood stained the earth. The scene was like the end of the world.”

Zhou Yi rolled her eyes at him. "There's no need to be afraid."

"This shows that I rule the world and have no rivals. You and I, brothers, can rest easy. My sword will never be used against my brothers and friends."

"no no"

Shan Xiongxin waved the fish in his hand: "I dreamt that I was struck by lightning and my whole body was charred, so I woke up in fright."

"cough cough"

Xia Shu and Yan Qiu, who were listening to the story, almost choked.

Yan Qiu commented: "Brother Shan could go to a teahouse and tell stories."

"It's best not to go," Xia Shu blinked her big eyes. "If customers choke on water, business will suffer."

Shan Xiongxin finished the entire fish: "What are the plans for today?"

"Send a few people to the city to buy daily necessities, and then send a message to the Giant Kun Gang branch. The rest of you will repair the Taoist temple."

They brought over the small treasury hidden on Mount Fuzi, along with Zhou Yi's remaining wealth. Since there weren't many people on the mountain, they wouldn't be able to afford large purchases of valuable items like medicinal herbs, weapons, and horses.

Just enough to make ends meet is enough to keep me lying down for a long time.

The Crow Taoist didn't care about the condition of his own hut. Now that the Taoist temple was in Zhou Yi's hands and he planned to stay there for a long time, he naturally wanted to renovate it.

With these strong and capable people, able to move and carry heavy loads, undertaking some small-scale infrastructure projects is not difficult.

The disciples of Taiping Temple had only worked for one day when people came to pay their respects the next day.

They were from Baihe Village at the foot of the mountain.

Several men carried loads up the mountain, which contained various food and drink utensils.

Lu Degui also brought his granddaughter along to express his gratitude.

Because he likes to eat mulberries, his nickname is Guowa (meaning "fruit baby").

The little girl, still somewhat bewildered, kowtowed to Zhou Yi under Lü Degui's guidance.

It's nothing for the little kid to kowtow; after all, it saved her life.

The old farmer made a gesture as if to bow, but Zhou Yi stopped him.

"Old man, I told you long ago that this wasn't necessary."

Lu Degui hesitated and told several men carrying loads up the mountain to put down eight or nine large bamboo baskets.

"Master Yi, this is everyone's heartfelt sentiment."

Looking at the grains, oils, rice, and flour, Zhou Yi thought of the farmers down the mountain who worked from sunrise to sunset, and then called out to Xia Shu.

The difference between him and the Crow Taoist is that
She's richer than him.

"Brother!"

“Accept the villagers’ goodwill and give them some copper coins back with you.”

"Yes!"

Xia Shu did the accounting, and Yan Qiu counted the money; this little thing was no problem for them.

In the end, it won't let the neighbors suffer any losses.

Lu Degui exclaimed excitedly, "Daoist Master, this...how can this be allowed?!"

"What's wrong with that?"

Zhou Yidao:
"I appreciate your sentiment. I killed those bandits and villains not for any reward. If I relied on this to maintain our relationship, wouldn't that be like charging money for shelter?"

"By the way, next time call me Abbot, not Taoist Priest."

"I'm not even wearing a Taoist robe right now."

Lu Degui nodded repeatedly, and Shan Xiongxin and the others immediately understood, because they had heard about the Black Stone Mortuary.

The abbot is not necessarily a Taoist priest; if someone is called a Taoist priest, they are most likely a Taoist practitioner.

“If the villagers have any leftover daily necessities that they want to exchange for money, and they are not spoiled or rotten, they can bring them up the mountain to sell to us. We will charge them the same prices as in the city, which will save us from having to keep buying from the city.”

Lu Degui listened and repeatedly praised it.

This is tantamount to giving the villagers a bargain again.

He stared at Zhou Yi, deeply moved.

Seeing that Wuzhuang Temple was under renovation, Lü Degui immediately found a few men in the village and discussed the matter with them.

He immediately bid farewell to Zhou Yi.

Just over two hours later, more than a dozen people climbed the mountain together.

"Abbot, since it's being repaired, we're here to help. It's nothing to lend a hand!"

Zhou Yi noticed that all of the dozen or so people were carrying weapons, and his eyes scanned the various parts of Wuzhuang Temple.

Everyone sees things differently.

Lü Degui said, "These are all craftsmen from our village, and they are the most skilled among them."

"Upon hearing that the abbot had taken great care of the villagers, everyone was filled with enthusiasm and said they wanted to help."

"Not bad!"

A sharp-eyed veteran craftsman responded:
"I am a master carpenter, having built houses for decades. I am proficient in beams, columns, brackets, purlins, and all kinds of structural elements."

A short man with messy hair next to him said, "I'm a fine carpenter. I can make doors, windows, partitions, furniture, coffered ceilings, and screens with great care."

The burly man, holding a chisel in one hand and a hammer in the other, said:
“I am a stonemason. I made the stone lions and stone tablets at the entrance of the Nanyang government office. In terms of carving and engraving skills, no one in this county dares to say that they can do it better than me.”

“If the abbot gives me a large stone, it would be a small matter for him to carve out a dragon for me.”

Carved dragon?

Suddenly, a sentence popped into Zhou Yi's mind: "You have really caused me great suffering."

At this moment, a middle-aged man carrying a wooden bucket and brush stepped forward and touched the pillar of the Taoist temple:
"I am a lacquer craftsman, and I can make one type of hemp and five types of ash."

"If the abbot needs it, he can also paint some azurite and lacquer the fairy maidens' blessings and longevity on it."

Several others were earthworkers, bricklayers, and wallpaperers.
"Indeed, this is a place of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. Thank you all for your help, masters."

Zhou Yi did not refuse, thinking to himself that if it took too long, he would settle their wages later.

I only wanted to do a renovation, but now look what happened.

You've encountered a professional team.

Now we have no choice but to upgrade Wuzhuang Temple.

The Annals of Taiping:
"In the summer of the ninth year of the Daye era, Zhou Tianshi moved to Nanyang Prefecture. He then rebuilt the Wuzhuang Temple, expanded its original structure, inscribed the Ode to the Great Immortal Maiden on it, and planted fruit trees to celebrate the occasion."

……

Half a month later, Nanyang was hit by heavy rain.

A sudden downpour, driven by a fierce wind, poured down upon Wolonggang. Dark clouds rolled in, producing thunder and lightning that roared across the sky, creating a muffled sound across the earth.

With everyone's combined efforts, Wuzhuang Temple has been completely transformed.

In addition to the statue of Lao Tzu, there is now a smaller statue of the Yellow Emperor in the main hall.

"I said when I was at Mount Fuzi that once the crisis was over, I would select people from the registered monks to enter the sect's records, appoint them as Grand Protectors, and guard the Taiping Temple to ensure peace in the region."

“My master has not returned from his travels, so I will fulfill my promise.”

After Zhou Yi finished speaking, he turned his head away from facing Elder Huang.

"boom!"

A bolt of lightning flashed across Zhou Yi's pupils.

Besides Xia Shu, Yan Qiu, and Shan Xiongxin, there were twenty-one burly men.

There were twenty-three students in the class, and two of them were killed by the Liang King's men.

These twenty-one people all came from Fuzi Mountain.

Zhou Yi was pleased that everyone was present. All twenty-one people were trained using the external martial arts method.

Although he had honed his skills for many years, he was still lacking in refinement and had not been able to comprehend the external martial arts on his own.

so.
They were far inferior to masters like Zhao Tuo, who had mastered the Taiyue Protective Qi.

External martial arts training involves enduring hardship and suffering, requiring immense perseverance.

However, there are also advantages.
Even if one lacks natural talent, years of experience can hone one's skills for navigating the world of martial arts. Once one cultivates their inner energy, they can gain some renown.

However, if you encounter a suitable method for cultivating internal energy, you won't have to suffer through the process yourself.

There will be a short period of rapid progress in training.

Zhou Yi's gaze swept over the group of burly men, and he only pointed out three names.

"Zhang Cheng, Feng Si, Dou Kui."

"exist!"

They said in unison.

Zhou Yi said calmly, "The three of you have been promoted to Grand Protectors of our sect this time."

The three were overjoyed upon hearing this, and together they clasped their hands in thanks, saying, "Thank you, Master!"

Zhou Yi then glanced at the others: "The rest of you, don't be anxious. You've all come all this way, how can I pretend not to see you?"

"Even if I don't become a member of the Taibao, I can still learn a profound method of cultivating internal energy."

"Let's call it 'The Fire of Peace'!"

Upon hearing this, all the burly men were excited.

This "Overlord Fire Qi" is a unique skill passed down by the Great Emperor, a supreme martial art, but it was not available to the Taiping Dao.

To adapt to the local environment, a name change is naturally necessary.

Zhou Yi and Shan Xiongxin exchanged a glance, and then Shan Xiongxin stepped forward.

Old Dan is skilled in both internal and external techniques; he had already seen the Overlord Fire Qi long ago.

After all, it is the Great Emperor's Dharma, the secret teaching of Overlord Valley, which is not comparable to ordinary martial arts practitioners.

Even for an old man, it is very useful.

Leave professional matters to professionals.

The Overlord Fire Qi can be passed down; one only needs to retain the external method for easy alchemy.

There are medicines for internal use and external bathing, clearly categorized, which is the second secret of the Gangfa method.

"This method of practicing Qigong was taught to the disciples of this sect by Shan Xiongxin. He was appointed as the head instructor of the sect's Grand Protector and the Dharma King of the sect. The Dharma King was recorded as a Spirit Official by the Daoist Records and was also known as the Red-Haired Spirit Official."

That day, Shan Xiongxin set fire to the Yingyang Prefecture army camp, and his hair was on fire.

Therefore, he had red hair.

This is a memory he cherishes both deeply and vividly, and he commemorates it here.

Zhou Yi and Shan Xiongxin had discussed this beforehand, and Zhou Yi stepped forward to take the manual, saying, "As you command, Master!"

"Those who didn't make it into the Grand Protector this time shouldn't be discouraged. We'll select people every year for the first five years. We don't care about those who come later. As long as you come with me from Fuzi Mountain and cultivate your Qi, you'll definitely be admitted to the Daoist sect."

"I hope you will not slack off in the future and will keep your original aspirations."

"Yes!"

With such an arrangement, no one could say anything more.

After this matter was settled, Zhou Yi dispelled the somewhat solemn atmosphere in the main hall.

He waved his hand, signaling everyone to sit down.

He began to explain in detail to everyone the major powers in Nanyang, telling them everything he knew.

Living off one's savings is not a viable strategy.

Ding Dashanren's martial arts skills are extremely powerful, but his consumption of medicinal herbs is enormous. With the current financial resources of Taiping Dao, it is simply impossible to support so many people.

Then there must be income.

The Cao family and the Ren family can connect to do upstream and downstream medicinal herb business. Zhou Yi is more familiar with the Cao family. The Ren family only needs to make connections and provide convenience to contact the mountain owners and leaders who sell medicine in the surrounding area.

This business can be successfully established.

Some people from Taipingdao naturally had to go into the city to handle their business.

Of course, this is just the beginning.

Zhou Yi wanted to pull off a big heist, but he didn't have the strength to do so right now.

After giving a general account of what happened in Nanyang City, Zhou Yi handed the stage over to Shan Xiongxin, who would then instruct him on the methods of practicing Qigong.

Xia Shu and Yan Qiu were handling various important matters related to numbers.

Of course, they also had Mr. Zong, a warehouse manager from Fuzishan, working with them.

Everyone was busy, and Zhou Yi didn't care how heavy the rain was.

He was wearing a straw raincoat and went straight from Wolonggang to Meiwu Lane.
Inside the teahouse at the Giant Kun Gang's branch headquarters, Old Chen served a cup of hot tea.

Zhou Yi noticed his gloomy expression: "What unexpected events have occurred within the city?"

"Hasn't the Celestial Master noticed anything different about Nanyang today?"

Zhou Yi thought for a moment: "Have additional personnel been deployed to check the city gates?"

"This is just one of them."

Chen Laomou said, "Recently, many members of the eight major forces in Nanyang have died, and a group of strange people who have gone mad have appeared. The leader of Yang Town has already begun to investigate."

"This is very strange. Even the men I sent out have died!"

He clutched his chest, feeling very distressed.

Where did you die?

"It's located southwest of the county seat. I plan to send someone to investigate there again."

Zhou Yi immediately interrupted: "Don't go and get yourself killed."

"What does 'Celestial Master' mean?" Old Chen frowned.

“There’s a mortuary in the southwest. Don’t send anyone there. If they start targeting you, your branch will be gone.”

Zhou Yi took a sip of tea: "The next time I want to find you, it will probably be by the time we meet again, by the time we are gone."

"If you're unlucky, your entire gang will be wiped out."

"what!"

Old Chen gasped: "Just what kind of person is he?"

"They are those old monsters from the demonic sects who are about your age, but look only in their early twenties, and..."

"They're probably all from the same family."

Zhou Yi shook his head. If Chen Laomou was curious and wanted to try the Blackstone Mortuary instance, he would definitely turn around and leave.

Perhaps Yang Zhen could send a large force to surround them.

However, without the suppression of an absolute master, it is simply impossible to keep these old monsters.

Thinking of the emperor's zombie jump and the ghostly steps of the women in palace attire, Zhou Yi didn't want to deal with them for the time being.

"Thank you."

Old Chen wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "To be honest, I thought there was some secret over there, and I was preparing to send more people."

Seemingly terrified, he drank several cups of tea before he could calm down.

Then he changed the subject to business: "Master, you need to do something extremely important right now."

"what's up?"

Old Master Chen said solemnly, "Please invite the Celestial Master to visit a brothel."

……

……

P.S.: Over 10,000 words, awesome, Ye! ('-'*ゞ)

(End of this chapter)