Reborn Ouyang Ke: From The Condor Heroes to the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 36 Guest Minister, Luoyang.

Ouyang Ke sat cross-legged on the bed, closing his eyes in meditation.

The Nine Yang True Qi circulated slowly along his meridians. After one cycle, the purple Qi in his dantian was like clouds and mist, filling and surging. This purple Qi was warm but not dry, mellow but not fierce, and was incomparable to when he first practiced this skill. He knew in his heart that he was only one step away from the great mastery of the Nine Yang True Qi—opening up the mysterious gates throughout his body.

This step sounds simple, but it's extremely difficult to do.

He needed a highly skilled master, willing to expend their own vital energy to assist him in breaking through the barrier. He had no shortage of such people around him.

Uncle Ouyang Feng would be the best candidate. However, Uncle is currently thousands of miles away, and he himself is in another world, so this matter cannot be rushed.

About an hour after an incense stick has burned, Ouyang Ke slowly opened his eyes. His gaze was calm, his divine light restrained, showing no sign of anything amiss. He simply exhaled a long breath of turbid air, which shot out straight like a white ribbon, only dissipating three feet away.

The firebird perched on his shoulder, and sensing the movement, it groggily woke up. It first tilted its head to look at Ouyang Ke, then slowly preened its feathers with its beak, looking sleepy.

Ouyang Ke reached out and gently stroked its little head, and the firebird squinted its eyes and rubbed against his palm.

Maids were already waiting outside, with hot water and new clothes prepared. After bathing and changing, Ouyang Ke felt refreshed. Pushing open the door, the steward of the manor was already waiting outside, bowing and saying, "Young Master Ouyang, the head of the household and his wife are waiting in the garden."

Ouyang Ke nodded, lightly tapped his crutches under his armpits, and his figure floated forward.

Passing through a long corridor, a breathtaking view suddenly unfolds before you. A rockery stretches across the courtyard, its craggy rocks exquisitely crafted. At its foot flows a clear spring, its waters gurgling gently, and several koi carp swim gracefully in its depths. Beyond the rockery, a profusion of flowers blooms. Though it is autumn, many flowers still vie for attention, their fragrance wafting through the air. Dewdrops from the morning still cling to the petals, glistening in the sunlight.

Jiang Ba and his wife Zheng Shuming were standing in front of a pavilion when they saw Ouyang Ke arrive. Jiang Ba smiled and asked, "Young Master Ouyang, how did you rest last night?"

Ouyang Ke bowed slightly: "Thank you for your concern, Chief. I had a very good rest last night."

Jiang Ba sized him up, his eyes full of admiration, and nodded, saying, "Young Master Ouyang is indeed a handsome man. May I ask if you are married?"

Ouyang Ke shook his head and said, "I don't have that thought at the moment."

Jiang Ba asked in surprise, "Could it be that you're completely devoted to martial arts?"

Ouyang Ke thought for a moment and said, "That's not entirely true, but I'm not in the mood for it right now. If I meet a woman who truly moves my heart, I won't miss the chance."

Jiang Ba laughed heartily and clapped his hands, saying, "Excellent! Young Master Ouyang is indeed a man of character. In that case, would you be willing to accept the position of Guest Elder of my Great Jiang Alliance?"

Ouyang Ke said, "It is certainly fine to be a guest. However, my purpose in coming to the Central Plains is to experience the local customs and culture. I am afraid I will not be able to stay in one place for long, which may delay the important matters of the chief."

Jiang Ba waved his hand and said, "Young master, you are overthinking it. Our Great Jiang Alliance has invited you to serve as a guest elder, so naturally we will not confine you to one place."

However, if anything difficult happens within the alliance, we will need your assistance, young master.

Ouyang Ke nodded: "Now that I've joined the Great River Alliance, I will do my best."

Jiang Ba was overjoyed and clapped his hands. A maidservant came forward with a wooden tray covered with silk. Jiang Ba lifted the silk to reveal an iron token, about the size of a palm, with a large "Jiang" character engraved in the center, the strokes powerful and vigorous, and the edges decorated with water patterns.

"This is the token of my Great River Alliance's guest elder," Jiang Ba handed over the token, "With this token, young master can mobilize the manpower of branch offices in various places without going through me."

Ouyang Ke took the token; it felt heavy and cool to the touch. He cupped his hands and said, "Thank you, Chief."

Jiang Ba laughed and said, "What are you thanking me for? From today onwards, we are family."

Zheng Shuming, who had been standing to the side with a smile, suddenly spoke up, her voice gentle: "What are Young Master Ouyang's plans next?"

Ouyang Ke pondered for a moment and said, "I have heard that Luoyang is a magnificent city in the world, and I would like to go and experience it for myself."

Jiang Ba nodded and said, "Luoyang is known as the Eastern Capital and is considered one of the two most famous cities in the world, along with Chang'an. You should go and take a look."

Zheng Shuming glanced at Jiang Ba and said, "However, there might be something I need your help with a month from now."

Jiang Ba's expression changed slightly, as if he didn't want her to bring up the matter at this moment. Ouyang Ke noticed this and asked calmly, "What is it?"

Ignoring Jiang Ba's meaningful glance, Zheng Shuming slowly said, "Young master, having lived in the Western Regions for so long, have you ever heard of the name Ba Feng Han?"

Ouyang Ke's brows twitched slightly, a rare look of surprise on his face: "Is it Ba Feng Han, the one who killed Martial Venerable Bi Xuan's beloved disciple?"

Zheng Shuming nodded: "It is indeed this person. More than a month ago, this person attacked without cause and seriously injured my brothers from the Dajiang Alliance."

Various factions along the river sent people to confront him, but none could defeat him. A few days ago, our Great River Alliance made a pact with him to settle the score in a month.

"I see." Ouyang Ke nodded and said, "This man is already quite famous in the Western Regions. It is said that his parents were killed by bandits when he was young, and he later became a bandit leader, renowned on the grasslands for his stealth and tracking skills. Later, for some unknown reason, he became enemies with the disciple of the Martial Venerable Bi Xuan, and was hunted down by Yan Huifeng. He narrowly escaped death several times, but in the end, he turned the tables and killed Yan Huifeng, who had mastered Bi Xuan's true teachings. This story is widely circulated in the Western Regions desert, making him arguably the most famous rising star among the younger generation of the grasslands."

Jiang Ba and Zheng Shuming exchanged a glance, their expressions becoming more serious.

Ouyang Ke changed the subject, saying calmly, "However, I've wanted to meet this person for a long time, but I haven't had the chance. Don't worry, Chief and Madam, leave this matter to me."

A hint of joy flashed in Zheng Shuming's eyes, and Jiang Ba's brows relaxed, though his expression remained somewhat grave. He hesitated, then simply nodded.

Zheng Shuming smiled and said, "In that case, I'll have to trouble Young Master Ouyang."

Ouyang Ke said, "Madam, you are too kind. Now that I have joined the Great River Alliance, I naturally cannot stand idly by when it comes to its affairs."

He had his own plans. Although his legs were not yet fully healed, he was already a master in the world of Condor Heroes, second only to the Five Great Masters. Although Ba Feng Han was renowned, he had not yet met the Twin Dragons, and his martial arts were far from their peak. If even Ba Feng Han at this moment did not have the courage to fight, then he might as well not practice martial arts at all.

Moreover, since arriving in the Tang Dynasty, he had not encountered a worthy opponent. Ba Feng Han was a suitable testing ground. This battle would be a good opportunity to assess his current martial arts skills and determine his place in the martial arts world of the Tang Dynasty.

Ouyang Ke stayed in Xiangyang for another day. Jiang Ba and Zheng Shuming introduced him to many experts from the Great River Alliance, including the leader of the Qingjiang Sect, an elder of the Cangwu Sect, and a leader of the Jiangnan Society. Initially, these people were somewhat dismissive of Ouyang Ke because of his young age and physical disability. However, after Ouyang Ke demonstrated his skills and Jiang Ba recounted his victory over Leader Chen in three moves, they abandoned their underestimation and came forward to pay their respects.

The next morning, Ouyang Ke bid farewell to the two and set off north for Luoyang.

Xiangyang and Luoyang are not far apart; an ordinary person could reach them in five or six days on a fast horse. Jiang Ba specially arranged a fast boat to travel downstream along the Han River, then upstream along the Dan River, and finally by land. Although this route took a few more days than crossing mountains and valleys, the Jiang Alliance was a powerful force on the river, and with flags flying along the way, they had no obstacles and the journey was relatively smooth.

A few days later, Luoyang was in sight.

Luoyang, perched on the south bank of the Yellow River, is bordered by the Mangshan Mountains to the north, the Luo River to the south, Hulao Pass to the east, and Hangu Pass to the west. Surrounded by mountains, the Luoyang Plain lies in the center, bisected by the Yi, Luo, and Jian rivers. This strategically important military location is also renowned for its beautiful scenery, fertile soil, moderate climate, and convenient water transport. Throughout history, eight dynasties—Xia, Shang, Eastern Zhou, Eastern Han, Cao Wei, Western Jin, Northern Wei, and Sui—have established their capitals here. The saying, "Heyang, the place where the dynasty established its rule, resides in the Central Plains and responds to all directions," is no exaggeration.

After ascending the throne, Yang Guang selected a new capital site in Luoyang and established a new capital. The new imperial city was located between the Zhou Dynasty capital and the old Han and Wei capitals, extending east beyond the Chan River, south across the Luo River, west to the Jian River, and north to the Mang Mountain. The city's circumference exceeded fifty li, making it magnificent and imposing. He also used Luoyang as the center to construct the Grand Canal, which stretched south to Hangzhou and north to Zhuojun, connecting the five major river systems of the Hai River, Yellow River, Huai River, Yangtze River, and Qiantang River. From then on, Luoyang became the central hub of transportation and commerce throughout the land.

Although the world is now in chaos, with various rebel armies rising up, the Luoyang area remains relatively stable and prosperous. Ordinary bandits and rioters dare not act recklessly here, and there is no sign of a chaotic world.

The carriage rumbled along, and Ouyang Ke lifted the curtain, gazing through the window at this magnificent city.

The city wall of Xiangyang, already over ten zhang high, had astonished him. But the city wall of Luoyang before him was over thirty zhang high, towering majestically and imposingly. People below it seemed like ants gazing up at a giant mountain. It was noon, and the city gates were wide open, with pedestrians and merchants coming and going in an orderly fashion.

The south gate alone had three gates: the central gate was called Jianguo Gate, the left gate was called Baihu Gate, and the right gate was called Changxia Gate. They were all magnificent in design and had deep archways. Armored soldiers stood tall on the gate towers, and banners fluttered in the wind.

The carriage passed through the city gate, and a breathtaking view suddenly appeared before them. A wide avenue, known as "Tianjie," stretched straight out from north to south, seemingly endless, perhaps seven or eight li long. The avenue was lined with various trees, including cherry, pomegranate, elm, and willow. In the center was the imperial road used by the emperor for his processions. At this time of year, between spring and summer, the peach blossoms and willows were in full bloom, creating a picturesque and breathtaking scene.

Shops lined both sides of the main road, their wine and tea flags fluttering in the wind. Between the neighborhoods, roads branched off and intersected with the ten main streets running through the city gates, all in perfect order. The streets were bustling with people: wealthy merchants in fine clothes, commoners in coarse cloth, wandering knights with swords and knives, and peddlers carrying their wares.

Ouyang Ke shook his head and exclaimed, "Luoyang truly deserves its reputation as a magnificent city."

Seeing his high spirits, the driver laughed and said, "Young master, you may not know this, but Luoyang has two unique features that you should know."

Ouyang Ke became interested and asked him for advice.

The man pointed ahead and said, "Young master, please look."

Ouyang Ke looked in the direction he was pointing and saw a sailboat passing by the Luo River hidden beneath the houses. From their angle, they could see the sail moving and the hull disappearing into the streets and alleys, like a boat sailing on land, a truly spectacular sight.

Ouyang Kexin said with delight, "I've seen many water towns in Jiangnan, where rivers and lakes flow through the city, which isn't particularly unusual. However, few are as wide, deep, and straight as the Luo River, giving Luoyang a unique, orderly, and harmonious atmosphere. The scale of this city is naturally incomparable to that of a small water town. What is another characteristic?"

As dawn broke, the streets gradually filled with people and vehicles. From time to time, squads of soldiers in bright armor marched past on the imperial road, conducting their morning drills. The clanging of their armor and their synchronized steps added a touch of solemnity to this beautiful imperial city.

The man continued, "Another feature is that outside the western wall of the outer city, the Western Garden was set up according to the natural environment, extending west to Xin'an, north to Mangshan, and south to the Yique Mountains, with a circumference of more than two hundred li, comparable to the Shanglin Garden of Emperor Wu of Han in ancient times. The outer city and the Western Garden are connected, making Luoyang even more magnificent."

Ouyang Ke nodded, about to speak, when he suddenly saw a carriage stopped ahead. Several servants were pacing anxiously beside it, and one of them was calling out loudly, "Is there a doctor nearby? Is there a doctor nearby?"

The coachman also noticed it and whispered, "Young master, that carriage ahead belongs to the Sha family of Luoyang."

"The Sha family of Luoyang?" Ouyang Ke asked.

The man lowered his voice: "Young master, you have been in the Western Regions for a long time and may not know this. The Sha family is the richest family in Luoyang, and it is said that they are related by marriage to the Dugu family, one of the four great clans."

"The Dugu Clan?" Ouyang Ke's heart skipped a beat.

He was naturally aware of the Dugu clan's status in the martial arts world of the Tang Dynasty. It was one of the four great clans, alongside the Yuwen, Li, and Song clans, with deeply entrenched power; even the imperial court had to show them some respect. It was no wonder the Sha family could wield such influence in Luoyang, given their marriage alliance with the Dugu clan.

Beside the carriage ahead, a servant leader in his forties was sweating profusely, anxiously ordering his men, "Quick! Go fetch a doctor! Go now!"

Ouyang Ke said to the driver, "I have some medical knowledge, please pull the cart over here."

The man responded and drove forward.

Hearing the commotion behind him, the head servant turned around and saw the newcomer. Just as he was about to lash out, the coachman preemptively said, "This young master has some medical knowledge; perhaps he can help."

The head servant's eyes lit up, and he quickly cupped his hands and said, "My name is Sha Fu. If you, young master, know medicine, please lend a helping hand as soon as possible."

My young master suddenly started experiencing chills and fever, and became delirious!

As he spoke, his gaze swept over Ouyang Ke. Seeing that the young man, though carrying a crutch under his arm, was dressed in pristine white, with a face as handsome as jade and an elegant demeanor, he immediately believed him to some extent.

Ouyang Ke said, "You all step aside first."

Shafu quickly turned to the side and lifted a corner of the carriage curtain.

Ouyang Ke lightly tapped his crutches under his armpits, and his figure gracefully landed beside the carriage. The firebird perched on his shoulder, curiously peering into the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing a thick brocade cushion inside. A three- or four-year-old child was curled up inside, his face flushed, eyes tightly closed, forehead covered in cold sweat, and lips pale blue. His body trembled in waves, his teeth clenched, and he occasionally let out a muffled groan.

Beside the boy sat a young woman, about twenty years old, with beautiful features, but her face was streaked with tears. She held the child tightly in her arms, her eyes filled with fear and helplessness. When she saw someone approaching, she looked up, a glimmer of hope flashing in her eyes.

Beside him, a pretty maid was bowing and wiping the sweat from the child's head with a hot towel.

Sha Fu, who was standing nearby, quickly said, "Young Madam, this young master has some medical knowledge!"

The young mistress's beautiful eyes lit up, revealing an expectant look. She bowed and said, "I would be grateful if you could lend a hand, young master. My son—alas—"

'

Her voice was gentle and soft, perfectly matching her graceful demeanor. Especially now, with a hint of sadness in her voice, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, who could not feel pity for her?

Ouyang Ke's gaze shifted slightly, landing on the child in her arms. The child, who looked to be about three or four years old, was lying with his eyes closed. His handsome face was frighteningly pale, and his breathing was short and rapid, making him look incredibly pitiful.

The young mistress's beautiful eyes gleamed with tears as she lowered her head and said, "This morning, when Xiaozhu was serving Jin'er, Jin'er was just like this!"

Her maid, Xiaozhu, immediately burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably, seemingly overly emotional.

Ouyang Ke glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, seemingly noticing something, but remained calm and said, "Madam, please be patient. Allow me to circulate my qi and investigate!"

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