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

Chapter 48 Jiangdu, Twin Dragons.

Since Yang Guang ascended the throne, his ambition and love of military exploits led him to launch numerous expeditions beyond the borders. He also indulged in extravagance, constructing numerous palaces and villas, embarking on excursions, and levying excessive taxes, causing immense suffering to the people. Bandits rose up in droves, and local warlords revolted, declaring themselves kings.

The Sui Dynasty had lost the glory it enjoyed at its founding. At that time, the people inherited the legacy of the Qin and Han dynasties, and their customs were fierce. In addition, there were signs of chaos, and martial arts became popular in various places. Even martial arts schools and dojos were very prosperous in the Jiangnan area.

As the sun sets, Yangzhou, which was established as Jiangdu Prefecture by the Sui Dynasty, stands on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. The riverside docks outside the city are filled with boats of all sizes, and lights have been lit in advance, creating an indescribable sense of prosperity mixed with desolation.

A man in white sat upright on horseback, gently stroking the firebird in his palm, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. On the canal not far away, five massive, five-toothed warships formed a dark mass, their masts and sails casting shadows and lights that inspired awe. It was the end of the twelfth year of the Daye era, and the world was in chaos, with people everywhere living in fear. In the Jiangnan region, only the area near Jiangdu remained relatively peaceful.

The elite Xiaoguo Army, which had followed Yang Guang south from Guanzhong, still remained. The rebel armies of Li Zitong and Du Fuwei had repeatedly launched uprisings, but all had been defeated. The large, five-toothed warships on the Grand Canal were a symbol of the Sui court's remaining power. However, time was running out for the Sui court.

The spring breeze blows along the ten-mile road of Yangzhou, but nothing compares to the beauty of the place, even with the beaded curtains rolled up. This wasn't Ouyang Ke's first visit to Yangzhou; in fact, it should be more accurately called Jiangdu now.

He had already appreciated the beauty of Yangzhou during the time of the Condor Heroes. But the magnificence of Jiangdu during the Sui Dynasty, hundreds of years earlier, still broadened his horizons. The city walls, often over twenty zhang high, made Jiangdu second only to the Eastern and Western capitals in grandeur.

Since Emperor Yang Guang commissioned the construction of the Grand Canal, which stretched from Zhuojun in the north to Yuhang in the south, connecting the north and south by waterway, Yangzhou's commerce flourished, attracting a constant stream of wealthy merchants from all over the country. Its prosperity was in no way inferior to that of Chang'an and Luoyang.

After the city gates opened at dawn, merchants, travelers, and farmers rushed in and out. Ships that had arrived the day before unloaded their goods at the docks and were brought into the city at this time, creating a bustling and noisy scene. From Yangzhou, one could travel east down the Yangtze River to the sea to Japan, Ryukyu, and Southeast Asia, making Yangzhou one of the most important transshipment hubs in the country, busier and more busy than any other city.

There are five markets in the city, among which the South Gate Market, facing the Yangtze River, is the most prosperous, with at least dozens of stalls of various sizes offering all kinds of food.

Besides being a transportation hub, Yangzhou has been a renowned red-light district since ancient times. Whether wealthy merchants and their sons, self-proclaimed literary figures, or chivalrous swordsmen, none could be considered true heroes of the pleasure quarters without a visit. Its prominence is unimaginable.

The man in white, with a crutch under his arm, stood quietly on the side of the street, his gaze fixed obliquely ahead.

Among the food stalls near the South Gate, Old Feng's vegetable and meat buns were the most famous. Adding to the appeal was Old Feng's concubine, Zhen Sao, who was in charge of selling the buns and was exceptionally beautiful, making her a natural draw for customers. Many people flocked there early in the morning just to savor a plate of steaming hot vegetable and meat buns.

Two ragged thugs squeezed into the crowd, hunched over, afraid of being noticed by the shopkeeper. One of them whispered, "Eight meat and vegetable buns, Sister Zhen, hello!"

Aunt Zhen was busy, sweating profusely, when suddenly a young boy's head popped out from the crowd. She was slightly taken aback, glanced back at Old Feng and the mean-spirited woman bustling about in the kitchen, then relaxed, feigning a coquettish scolding, "You two rascals, why are you buying steamed buns when you don't have money?"

The tall thug said with a forced smile, "I owe you nothing, I'll definitely pay you back tomorrow."

Aunt Zhen quickly wrapped four buns, hesitated for a moment, then took two more, wrapped them in paper, and stuffed them into his hand, muttering, "This is the last time. Sigh, look what you've gotten yourself into."

Ignoring Zhen's admonition, the two thugs happily squeezed out of the crowd, clutching their steamed buns.

After filling their stomachs, one of them said, "I wonder if there will be many easy targets today. It would be best to find one who is well-dressed, single, and burdened with worries, so we can repay Sister Zhen's favor as soon as possible." The Sister Zhen they were referring to was someone whose family owed money, and whose father, being greedy, had sold her to Old Feng, the owner of the steamed bun shop, as a concubine. These two poor young men had no money for food and relied entirely on Sister Zhen's secret charity on credit, always worried about being discovered by Old Feng and his wicked wife.

The two men's eyes flickered, and they looked ahead, just in time to spot a man in white with a crutch under his arm, standing quietly at a street corner not far away.

The two exchanged a glance. The slightly taller boy hesitated, while the shorter boy, sensing his hesitation, whispered, "Don't be so kind again. Although this person has a leg ailment, he is dressed in fine clothes and is clearly not someone who worries about daily meals."

The slightly taller boy nodded: "Okay! Once we have the money, we must pay back Sister Zhen's debt first."

Having made up their minds, the two pretended to be nonchalant and quietly approached the man in white. The man in white seemed to be gazing into the distance when he suddenly sensed someone approaching from behind. A slight smile appeared on his lips, as if he had expected it.

As he bumped into him, the short boy reached into his pocket. Touching the bulging money pouch, a look of delight flashed in his eyes—but the next moment, his right wrist was firmly gripped. The short boy's heart tightened, and he immediately struggled to run away, but the man in white merely held his pulse point, sending in a wisp of true energy. Instantly, his entire body went numb, and he was unable to move.

The taller boy, seeing his companion captured, wanted to rush to his rescue. The shorter boy, realizing the gravity of the situation and that they had chosen the wrong person, immediately shouted, "Don't worry about me, Xiaoling, run!"

"Leave?" A mocking smile appeared on the white-clad man's lips.

The tall young man hesitated for a moment, then knelt down before the man in white, clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Young master, we were blind to your greatness. Please be merciful and spare Xiao Zhong. Whatever you command, I am willing to do!"

Seeing this, the playful smile on the white-robed man's lips gradually faded, and after a moment he said, "You two little fellows really do have a deep brotherly bond."

As he spoke, he suddenly let go of her hand.

The other end of the alley was a dead end, rarely frequented by anyone. The two thugs who had just failed nervously glanced at the man in white not far away.

They hadn't been able to see the other person's face clearly in the rush, but now that they were closer, they realized that he had a face like jade, lips like painted cinnabar, sword-like eyebrows and starry eyes, and was exceptionally handsome. Even though he had difficulty moving around with crutches under his arm, he still exuded an air of composure they had never seen before. The two were just small-time thugs under the Bamboo Flower Gang, and the most important "figure" they had ever seen was Boss Yan.

But the white-clad man in front of them was not old. Just by standing there, he exuded an imposing aura that made it hard to breathe. He was clearly a real big shot, far superior to a gangster leader like Boss Yan who was all bark and no bite.

The man in white silently scrutinized the two for a long time. Under his gaze, the slightly taller boy had a pleasing appearance, with long, shrewd eyes—

Ling had a straight, high nose bridge, a broad forehead, and a sunny smile on her lips. If it weren't for the oily face, tattered clothes, and the bruised and swollen face and lips from being beaten earlier, her appearance would be quite striking. Now, however, one would hardly dare to compliment her.

The other boy was half an inch shorter than him, with broad shoulders and a rather burly build. Although he lacked his companion's handsome features, he had a square face and large ears, and his profile exuded a strong, masculine charm. His nonchalant demeanor was very captivating, and his deep, intelligent eyes were in no way inferior to the other boy's.

The firebird poked its head out from the white-robed man's shoulder, curiously examining the two dirty boys. It tilted its head, made a "coo" sound, and then withdrew.

The man in white finally spoke: "So you two are Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling?"

The two men were taken aback. Kou Zhong was the first to recover, sensing no blame in the white-robed man's tone, and quickly said, "I am Kou Zhong, and this is Ziling. We brothers offended you just now, sir, please forgive us!"

"Young Master?" The man in white was both amused and exasperated, a faint smile playing on his lips. "You little brat, you can't speak properly but you insist on spouting off. What Young Master? You're completely clueless."

Kou Zhong hurriedly said, "Brother is right!" He was more unrestrained and bold than Xu Ziling. Seeing that the man in white meant no harm, he took the opportunity to address him as "Brother" in a familiar manner.

The man in white merely glanced at him, offering no intervention, and said calmly, "I think you two are somewhat capable. But are you really going to spend your whole lives hiding in Yangzhou, stealing chickens and dogs?"

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's expressions changed slightly upon hearing this—the newcomer's words struck a chord with them. They exchanged a glance, and Kou Zhong, mimicking Yan Laoda's manner, clasped his hands in a fist salute to the man in white, saying, "Please enlighten me, elder brother!" Xu Ziling also cupped his hands, his expression becoming solemn though he didn't speak. They had long since decided not to waste any more time here.

The man in white glanced at the two men for a moment, then took out a gold ingot from his pocket and casually tossed it to Kou Zhong.

Kou Zhong hurriedly caught the gold, a glint of joy flashing in his eyes, but he wasn't blinded by this incredible stroke of luck. He quickly said, "Brother, isn't this too much? Xiao Ling and I just want—"

Before he could finish speaking, the man in white said casually, "You two should use this gold to pay off your debts and improve your meals while you're at it." His tone was nonchalant, as if the gold ingot was not worth mentioning at all.

Kou Zhong's mouth dropped open, and Xu Ziling beside him was also stunned. The two brothers had been petty thieves in Yangzhou for years, and every day Boss Yan would exploit them, taking most of their earnings. Today, their attempt to pickpocket failed, yet the boss didn't hold a grudge and rewarded them with a gold ingot.

This is gold! The two men were stunned, realizing that even their eldest brother Yan had never seen such a large sum of money before.

Xu Ziling glanced at Kou Zhong and cautiously asked, "Xiao Zhong and I are of low martial arts skill. May I ask what your orders are, Brother?"

Kou Zhong snapped out of his daze and hurriedly said, "That's right! Brother, our martial arts skills are weak—"

"Are you scared?" the man in white asked calmly.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were immediately taken aback.

The man in white ignored them and continued, "Opportunities in this world are rare. Think it over carefully. If you've made up your minds, come find me here at midnight three days from now." With that, he said no more and turned to leave slowly.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling wanted to give chase, but the white-clad man simply tapped the ground with his crutches, and as if shrinking the distance, he disappeared into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

The two men looked at each other in shock. They then realized that the man in white must be a master comparable to Shi Long, the "Number One Master in Hangzhou."

Kou Zhong excitedly grabbed Xu Ziling's sleeve: "Xiao Ling, did you see that? Our luck has come!"

Xu Ziling was deeply shocked by the skill of shrinking the distance between people, but he still shook his head and poured cold water on it: "That person's martial arts are superb. What do we have that would make us worthy of respect?" He paused, recalling a sentence he had overheard from Master Bai's lecture: "There must be something fishy about things that are not normal. I'm afraid the two of us might lose our lives because of this."

Kou Zhong shook his head, put his arm around Xu Ziling's shoulder, and said with dissatisfaction, "Xiao Ling, you're underestimating us, the Twin Dragons of Yangzhou! Can't we just be talented enough to be valued? Besides, don't you always say 'even thieves have their code of honor'? Now that an opportunity is finally presented to you, are you really willing to give it up?"

Xu Ziling remained silent. Both of their parents and families had been killed by bandits while fleeing the war, leaving them orphans. The two boys met by chance, hit it off immediately, and became inseparable, their bond stronger than brothers. Kou Zhong was seventeen, and Xu Ziling had just turned sixteen; through thick and thin, they had never been apart.

Seeing his hesitation, Kou Zhong slapped his thigh and said, "Xiao Ling, I've made up my mind! Even if it means death, I won't give up this opportunity. By the way, didn't you say you didn't want to see that treacherous old thief Yan again? Let's seize this opportunity, learn some martial arts, and then we can live a carefree life!"

Xu Ziling looked at Kou Zhong's eager expression and sighed inwardly. He knew that once this brother made up his mind, not even nine oxen could pull him back.

He himself was unwilling to spend his entire life stealing chickens and dogs in Yangzhou and being looked down upon by others.

"That's what brothers are for," Xu Ziling finally smiled. "Even if I die, I can't abandon you."

Kou Zhong was overjoyed upon hearing this, and he hugged Xu Ziling tightly, patting him on the back forcefully: "Good brother, for life! We, the Twin Dragons of Yangzhou, will surely turn misfortune into good fortune and make a name for ourselves in the martial world!"

They looked at each other and smiled, their eyes welling up with tears. Only they knew the hardships and humiliations they had endured over the years, relying on each other for survival. Now, a door seemed to be slowly opening before them.

Kou Zhong carefully hid the gold in his pocket and whispered, "Let's go find a place to spend this gold first, so that Boss Yan and his gang don't get their eyes on it."

Xu Ziling nodded, and the two of them walked side by side into the alley, their figures gradually disappearing into the twilight.

Not far away, a man in white stood on a stone bridge, a crutch under his arm, his robes fluttering. The firebird had flown back from afar, perched on his shoulder, tilted its head and looked in the direction where the two boys had disappeared, letting out a soft "coo" as if to remind him of something.

The newcomer reached out and stroked the firebird's feathers, a faint smile appearing on his lips.

"Oh, you've found a friend in Shilong, that's great!"

As he spoke, his gaze drifted back towards the twin dragons, and he said softly, "I hope they won't disappoint me!"

As the sun set, it cast his shadow long and thin. In the distance, on the canal, the lights of the five-toothed warships twinkled, their reflections shimmering on the water like countless points of golden light.