Chapter 2, The Fish Stall at Baima River (1)

With each thrust of the sword, it was as if Chu Tian were a sugarcane in a juicer, suddenly breaking out in a large patch of sweat

The White Python River stretches for a thousand miles, with goose feathers sinking into the water. Only thirty miles south of Yaozhou City, at the confluence where the White Python River merges with the Great Dragon River, this once fierce and unruly river seems to have exhausted all its strength, becoming calm and tranquil here, with a serene and beautiful stretch of over a hundred miles of azure water.

In the southern part of Yanzhou City, the unruly white python River spews forth white foam, creating countless whirlpools of various sizes. It leaps and crashes through the vast wilderness of a hundred thousand mountains, roaring hoarsely as if mad, traversing the mountains with wild abandon

Having devoured a large portion of thick soup and over 5 pounds of cornmeal pancakes in a whirlwind manner, Chu Tian finally raised his head to ask the two men: "Where are A Gou and A Que? I didn't hear them come back last night?"

A faint roar of a tiger echoed within his chest, and the air around Chu Tian suddenly surged, causing the yellow sand beneath his feet to sweep outward in a rush, forming a clear circle with a diameter of over ten zhang on the ground.

Ah, Lao Luotou, have your two arms stopped hurting these days? How did you manage to mend the fishing net? Well, I still have a bottle of tiger bone-infused Zhaifeng liquor over there, you can go and get it yourself later

Three thousand five hundred and ninety-nine ... ... three thousand six hundred! With an excruciatingly slow thrust of a sword, Chu Tian's body stiffened for a moment. He suddenly opened his mouth, and a stream of white vapor shot out like an arrow, reaching seven or eight zhang away. In the morning breeze, it lingered for three breaths before gradually dissipating

With a flip of his palm, the bronze eight-sided sword was firmly secured to a leather armguard on his right arm. Chu Tian walked over to the square well in the corner of the training ground, drew a bucket of water, and poured it vigorously over his head.

Shaking his head vigorously, Chu Tian gritted his teeth, striving to forget the terrifying images lingering in his mind from last night's dream: the dripping blood, the broken body, a sharp flash of a knife descending upon him, and the one-armed man with a square, purple face full of righteousness, continuously grinning at him.

Chutian dried the water stains on her body, picked up a set of blue cloth long gown hanging by the square well and put it on, tied a pink embroidered hydrangea on her hair bun, and grinned as she looked at her reflection in the well water.

Along the way, many people, upon seeing Chu Tian and his group, hurriedly bowed and greeted from a distance, repeatedly calling out "Chu Dangtou".

Before dawn, the silhouette of sails was already visible at the mouth of the White Python River. The fishermen from the three fish restaurants along the river rose early, rowing their own or rented fishing boats out onto the river, busily working with large nets, small nets, big hooks, and small hooks.

Seventeen or eighteen muscular men, capable of riding horses on their arms and standing on their fists, each towering over eight feet, around nine feet tall, with faces full of bulk and scars, clearly not the kind of good people, strode out of the courtyard behind Chu Tian, wielding the same iron-wooden club, marching confidently and vigorously along the bluestone-paved road towards the fish market dock

The side door of the training ground opened, and several burly men with thick arms and legs, their faces full of flesh, entered wearing blue cloth uniforms that exposed their chests, revealing a tuft of black hair. They carried brooms and long-handled sieves as they walked in. They nodded slightly to Chu Tian and silently began to tidy up the training ground, sweeping the yellow sand, which was covered in footprints and sweat stains, until it was as smooth as a polished stone.

At the fish market dock by the shore, the stewards from the mansions of dignitaries and nobles in Dazhou City, as well as the buyers from various restaurants and taverns, all donned in luxurious silks and satins, pretentiously sat in the teahouse sipping coarse tea, idly passing the time

Drops of sweat continuously slid down the bronze-colored skin, falling with a patter onto the ground, leaving a clearly visible ring of sweat stains on the training ground paved with yellow sand, which quickly dried in the morning breeze

Countless fishermen squatted at the bow of the boat, holding bowls of the sea, drinking the fish soup that their wives had just prepared in large gulps, greeting acquaintances in a hearty and boisterous manner. In the distance on the river, amidst the sounds of "ei nai," the silhouettes of sails quickly approached, as more fishermen returned home.

He glanced at Chu Tian with difficulty. A burly man, filled with a hint of envy and a touch of helplessness, suddenly lowered his voice by three tones and said: "Didn’t Widow Tian leave the door open for Brother Que last night?"

Two burly men carried over a large pot, filled to the brim with a fragrant fish soup made from the local specialty, small silver fish from the White Python River. The edge of the pot was adorned with a dozen cornmeal pancakes, half of which had soaked up the fish soup and were crisped to perfection by the iron pot, releasing a sweet aroma. Just after finishing his morning class, Chu Tian suddenly sniffed the air, sat down on the edge of the square well, and began to eat heartily.

At dawn, the river surface between the three fish farms was crowded with fishing boats returning home, heavily laden with their catch

Two men bowed slightly to Chu Tian and then replied: "Brother Dog sent a message back last night. He found a den of large gray wolves in the mountains and is currently figuring out how to tame them. He is not expected to return for three to five days."

Lowering his head, Chu Tian cleaned up the pot of fish soup until not a drop remained, patted his belly, stood up, casually took a ironwood staff from the weapon rack in the training ground, and strode out with it resting on his shoulder

Chutian smiled narcissistically at his reflection: "Quite handsome! Unfortunately, my complexion is not fair enough, no wonder I always have to spend money every time I go to listen to the qin."

Before Zhong Dagou could stand up, two burly men from behind Chu Tian had already approached him, and a large foot, resembling a bear's paw, stomped heavily on his back. Zhong Dagou screamed hoarsely, his hands clawing and scrambling on the ground as he let out a loud wail.

The Chu Tian smiled warmly and greeted passersby, occasionally waving to them.

In a large three-entry mansion on the edge of the fish market, Chu Tian, drenched in sweat, was wearing a pair of cowhide trousers. He was gasping for breath, taking peculiar steps, with his left palm moving in an odd manner at his side, while his right hand gripped a two-and-a-half-foot-long bronze eight-sided sword, which was exceptionally heavy and adorned with ancient colors. He thrust the sword out slowly, one thrust at a time.

Chutian was momentarily taken aback, the pink embroidered ball flower on her hairpin swayed slightly, and she suddenly sighed towards the sky

It has been almost eighteen years, what on earth is this

"You big dog that came in, do you dare to come back? A few days ago, your mother almost starved to death at home! Don't run, catch this guy for me. I told you last time, if you go to the gambling city again, I will break your legs!"

Countless fishing boats are clustered together, yet not a single boat has come ashore

Hey, Aunt Qian, are you drying fish? Why haven't I seen my big sister from home? By the way, that young fellow Zhao who works at the oil mill in Yizhou City is exceptionally honest and reliable, doesn't gamble or visit brothels, and is very family-oriented. Shall I mediate a reconciliation between the two families tomorrow?

A middle-aged man with a weasel-like appearance suddenly emerged from a narrow alley and, upon unexpectedly seeing Chu Tian, was so startled that he shivered all over and turned to flee. In his haste, he slipped and fell to the ground with a loud thud, landing in a half-dead state.

The eyebrows are like swords, the face is square, and several scars of varying lengths on the slightly dark skin have erased the last trace of youthfulness