Chapter One, The Reckless Qiu Ma (Part One)

Yongzhou is located in the central northern part of the continent, starting from the Fuyushan Mountain range, known as the Arctic of the world, extending west to Heishui, connecting east to Jizhou, looking south towards Jianmu, and traversed by a great river named Huang, which runs horizontally through the territory of Yongzhou.

If someone were to observe the two groups of riders from a high vantage point, they would witness such a street scene

The western city gate closest to the dock has always been bustling, with a continuous flow of pedestrians even in the rain. At this moment, after the rain has stopped for a short while, it begins to appear somewhat crowded

"What strange beasts, those are spirit beasts. Have you heard of the Yunmeng Steed?" Someone at the table by the door scoffed, "The rules in Yujing are the same as in other places; whether human or beast, none are allowed to fly. Didn't you see Lord Yan land outside the city gate?"

Previously, the man who had been mocked turned his eyes slightly and raised his voice, saying: "Everyone, being away from home, what our elderly mothers, virtuous wives, and young children seek is nothing but peace. Therefore, whenever we arrive at a new place, let us remember the four words 'When in Rome, do as the Romans do'"

At this time, the tea house was also bustling with people, some familiar and some not, with sun-kissed skin that clearly indicated they were travelers who had spent many years on the road, engaged in quiet conversation there

Yongzhou Yujing, a bustling port city, is currently in the season of transition between spring and summer

--- "Yongzhou Local Chronicles: Yujing"

The boy in the red coat, although unable to fly within the city, leaps gracefully with each ascent and descent, precisely navigating through the gaps in the crowd like falling snow.

The person from Yangzhou moved slightly, as if he had something more to say, when suddenly his companion beside him reached out and pulled him.

The Jianmu tree stands tall in the capital, a connection between heaven and earth. Its height reaches a hundred ren without branches, its canopy resembling clouds. Its intricate root system extends nine parts to support the nine provinces of the world, situated in the heart of the continent. Historical records state that its mysterious and radiant light remains concentrated and undispersed, neither flourishing nor withering, nor bearing fruit, enduring for three thousand three hundred years to this day

How could that be? They really have the audacity to call my name so loudly, like some insignificant cats and dogs?

The sky after the heavy rain is bright and transparent, as clean as the eyes of a newborn.

The attendant, who was already standing outside the door, was contemplating how to properly set up the stall in front of the door amidst the constant flow of people.

"How can this strange beast run around the city like this?" The speaker's accent sounded like it was from Yangzhou, the easternmost part of the mainland. His tone was slightly higher, causing people at the tables in front and behind to turn their heads and look over.

The shopkeeper quickly glanced outside from the half-opened corner of his eye. Unless someone was blocking the entrance to the tea shed in the small square outside, who could control the situation at the city gate so discreetly?

The person who asked the question was momentarily taken aback, clearly concerned about whether the strange beasts would trample on human lives, rather than being an ignorant country bumpkin who does not even know about the city's no-fly zone

Nowadays, anyone traveling outside must remember to obtain a "peace talisman" upon arriving at a place. This refers to the esteemed and highly revered sects and surnames of immortal practitioners in each city. If one is unaware of this, they may inadvertently offend them, and how can one then seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, or pray for peace and wealth?

As the figure of the arriving person faded into a mere black dot, a group of blue-clad warriors came rushing in from outside the west city gate, all mounted on black-backed brown beasts, showing no intention of slowing down as they charged forward.

The storyteller was not concerned, as he skillfully flipped the metal and wood in his hand, producing a crisp sound, and began to narrate in a captivating manner

However, the team of blue-clad warriors behind did not possess such remarkable abilities. The first half of the long street was traversed with great peril, while the crowd in the latter half received the news late and reacted slowly, resulting in several stalls being overturned and a number of pedestrians knocked down. Fortunately, no one was directly trampled by the ground-dwelling beasts.

The shops on both sides of the West Gate Avenue are filled with customers, the noise of voices is overwhelming, and the attendants are striving to push their way out, holding high the signs that were brought in during the rain, hoping to find a gap to stick them out.

The people in the tea pavilion need not look to guess that the commotion was caused by a horse startling the crowd, most of them showing a look of understanding.

At that moment, faint cries of alarm could be heard from the block ahead. Upon closer listening, there were sounds of heavy objects falling, people running, and the occasional roar of a ground beast.

Suddenly, from an unknown place, someone shouted with a voice like spring thunder: "Master Yan has arrived!"

The storyteller elaborated on the origins of Lord Yan.

This city is quite good; it is not a city of cultivators, nor is there a sect stationed here. Being a major trading hub, there are not many rules, and activities are quite lively. As long as one remembers the four prominent surnames: Tu, Fu, Yan, and Lu, that will suffice

--- "Dao Dian · Di Xing Xun · Yong Zhou"

Unless ... ...

The shopkeeper, guarding the tea stove, closed his eyes in meditation, seemingly oblivious to everything around him. The sounds that filled the air—whether they were expressions of concern for the people, veiled sarcasm, pointed remarks, or performers seeking a venue to showcase their talents—did not even cause him to flutter his eyelids.

At this moment, the young man in plain clothes stood up and walked to sit down at the storyteller's table

--- "Dao Dian · Yuan Dao Xun · Du Guang"

Cities on the mainland are equipped with protective talisman arrays against magical creatures, and neither cultivators nor extraordinary beasts are allowed to fly within the city limits; this is common knowledge. Even those exalted beings, such as true immortals and venerables, would not intentionally break the rules

The storyteller possesses eloquence, and the local customs and traditions are narrated in an engaging and captivating manner. When it comes to real people and events, however, one cannot avoid a historical narrative style. Yet, the flamboyant and unrestrained Lord Yan, who frequents courtesans, keeps dancing girls, and enjoys luxurious clothing and fine food, embodies a lifestyle that can only be interpreted as that of a dandy.

In front of the shopkeeper, more than ten large bowls filled with barley tea were arranged, alongside a small basket containing copper coins, allowing guests to help themselves to water and toss in their money. He was not prepared to open his eyes until the bowls were emptied.

In this fleeting moment of pause, one can vaguely discern a young rider clad in a flowing red robe, the sleeves billowing as if they were flames rising. Beneath him, the fur of a spirit beast is as white as freshly fallen snow, dense and fine like mist, appearing from a distance as if clouds are rising and the sunset is glowing.

The crowd was taken aback, realizing that this was a storyteller. Some began to toss copper coins into the bowl, calling for a segment of the tale, while others, with their hands tied, refrained from giving money but eagerly stretched their ears to listen.

It is unclear when, but in the tea pavilion, apart from the storyteller, only a young scholar in plain clothes remained in the corner. This is somewhat strange, as most tea patrons only stay for the duration of a cup of tea, and the guests in front have mostly left. However, it is now close to noon, which is typically a peak time for foot traffic, and there should be a continuous influx of new customers.

This sentence immediately elicited a wave of tacit laughter.

On the small square by the city gate, there is a tea shop that can only accommodate five square tables and a dozen benches, yet the business is thriving. Most of the customers are travelers from afar who have just disembarked from the dock; enjoying a cup of tea and resting their feet after a long journey is a delightful experience. Those who are new to the area can also take the opportunity to inquire about the local customs and culture.

Suddenly, a person on horseback shot out like an arrow released from a bow, covering a distance of at least ten zhang in the blink of an eye, racing towards the main road into the city

On the entire street, whether it be shopkeepers, customers, or passersby, all came to a halt simultaneously, as if a droplet had been cast upon the water's surface, causing the originally bustling flow of people to part in the middle, surging and rolling towards both sides

Outside the West City Gate, a beam of red light, accompanied by white clouds, descended from the sky. As it touched the ground, a sound like clear thunder from hooves resonated, causing the nearby city tower to sway slightly. Could it be a spirit beast capable of flying through the air?

Compared to Yan Kaitiang himself and his youthful age, this title seems somewhat mature, which is indeed due to his status as the master of the renowned craftsman house "Tiangong Kaiwu" in Yongzhou. The former master has passed away, thus Yan Kaitiang holds great power at a young age. He is known as one of the "Four Young Masters of Yujing" alongside Tu Yuyong, the second son of the Tu family, Fu Mingxuan, the eldest son of the Fu family, and Lu Li, the host of the Yujing Chamber of Commerce in Jingu Garden.

Yujing, situated at the southernmost end of the Yushan Mountain range, is built upon the Yujin Mountain. This city was established 1,700 years ago, initially serving as a small town for jade workers, jade craftsmen, and jade merchants to rest. Due to the production of the precious jade known as "Yaojin," which is a superior material for refining tools, it gradually prospered. However, several hundred years ago, the jade veins began to deplete, leading to the city's decline from its peak. Nevertheless, leveraging its advantageous geographical location at the confluence of the Heishui and Huanghe rivers, it focused on developing freight and trade, thus regaining its prosperity. Several hundred years ago, the jade veins began to deplete, leading to the city's decline from its peak. Nevertheless, leveraging its advantageous geographical location at the confluence of the Heishui and Huanghe rivers, it focused on developing freight and trade, thus regaining its prosperity

Is something significant about to happen?

The person smiled gently as they opened the package on the table. Inside were two palm-sized square pieces of gold stone wood, a black folding fan with gold edges and no inscriptions, and finally, a small bowl inscribed with the words "Wealth comes from the mouth"

Suddenly, the shopkeeper jolted awake; he had not fully opened his eyes, merely lifting his eyelids to peek outside through a narrow slit.

The shopkeeper seems to have made up his mind not to open his eyes, treating it as if he were asleep.

"It is rare to see you, my brother. Which city does not have a few ... cough cough ... notable figures?"

Some people, intrigued, continued the conversation by asking: "What local customs does Yujing have?"