Chapter 8, The Proud Daughter of Heaven

Long Ying began to understand why Wu Zetian's realm was as stable as a rock, for she was indeed a benevolent emperor, which added to her admiration for her. Anyone who visited Luoyang would have to acknowledge that Wu Zetian governed the world in an orderly manner, with remarkable achievements. There was a stark contrast between the common people and the court; within the palace, everyone lived in fear, while the citizens enjoyed peace and prosperity. What kind of country was this

According to Xiang Yutian, one can only immerse oneself in the perilous situation of life and death, whether fighting alone or against many with few, to advance into the realm of the demonic seed. Your weapon is not merely your own strength, but the entire environment. This is the tactic of the unity of man and demon. Through continuous combat, the demonic seed is gradually released. When the demonic seed is fully stimulated, transforming into a demon, at that moment, the distinction between man and demonic seed will vanish, referred to as minor achievement

Thus, the Luhe District has become a hub for merchants and travelers, with inns, restaurants, guesthouses, banks, and mule and horse shops lined up in succession. The two markets on the north and south banks of the Luo River are connected by the Tianjin Bridge, creating a vibrant atmosphere in Luoyang, characterized by "day and night clamor, with lights never extinguished." On the secondary streets, brothels are numerous, with more than sixty small and large pawn shops, a scene unprecedented in its grandeur.

Seeing his relaxed demeanor, Long Ying secretly praised him as the worthy second-in-command of the imperial army, capable of withstanding storms. He asked, "What kind of fellow is the internal offering?"

The young general immediately prepared his horse, summoned his brothers, and galloped towards the capital, a joyous occasion in life

He then cheerfully said: "We are the light of Lord Daoying, only then do we have the opportunity to feast and indulge, and of course, the bill will be paid by the treasurer"

They were represented by the Imperial Ceremonial Office, and of course, Dongjia Restaurant gave them due respect, especially since the guests were regarded as state guests by Wu Zetian. They did not dare to be negligent and arranged for them to go to the third floor, which was only accessible to those of certain qualifications and had private rooms.

First came two large plates piled high with steaming buns, resembling small mountains, followed by an array of snacks and delicacies that instantly filled the table. Everyone let go of their inhibitions and indulged in a hearty feast.

Ling Yu glanced at him in surprise, for it was not until this moment that he heard the footsteps, and said: "Bring them in, do not let them burst out the door"

The dragon eagle sat at the bow of the ship, gazing around. The vast Luo River was filled with gusts of wind under the gradually brightening sky. On one side stood the magnificent imperial city, while on the other were the lively residential quarters bustling with people and vehicles. One could not help but feel cheerful, experiencing a great sense of liberation from the confines of a prison, enjoying a carefree and leisurely existence

The guard, Xiao Zeng, sneered: "A brat is just a brat!"

Willows are densely planted along the riverbank, beside which stretches a bustling long street filled with a constant flow of vehicles. The houses stand like a forest, and pedestrians are as numerous as fish in water, showcasing the vibrant and prosperous scene of the capital city before one's eyes

Luoyang is also a trading hub for local products from all directions and rare treasures from across the seas. Items such as silk, ginseng, bezoar, deer hides, and rhinoceros horns from abroad can only fetch good prices here

Although the Dragon Eagle could not yet see the enemy, he was fully aware of the enemy's situation, leaving no details overlooked. His entire body's meridians were surging with energy; if not released, it would be more arduous than a series of fierce battles. At this moment, he had no lingering concerns in his heart and was eagerly hoping to ascertain just how formidable he had become.

The Tianjin Bridge was in sight, and three boats slowly approached the dock. People leaped onto the shore as if performing, while Ling Yu pulled his subordinates aside for a private discussion. Long Ying sensed that something unusual was happening. Indeed, after Ling Yu returned, he leaned in close to whisper as they ascended Chang Street: "Our brothers have discovered that someone from the inner court is lurking outside the palace gate, clearly targeting Master Ying. They have been following us for quite a while, so there might be a good show to watch soon."

The Guardian of the Rowing: "Reporting to Lord Eagle, that is the residence of someone who can afford silver, the most renowned brothel in the capital, the Qinglou Fanghua Pavilion. The owner, Nie Fanghua, was once a famous courtesan in her prime. She later married the leader of the Luoyang Gang, but fortunately, he passed away early, allowing her to return to the brothel. Otherwise, there would not be such a fine establishment today"

Another guard, Xiao Jia, indignantly said: "Regardless of whether that little Buddha has three heads and six arms, how can they come to bully us like this, chief! We must show some response!"

The guards nodded in agreement, all eager to try their hand at it, itching to get started

Everyone looks at me, yet no one can guess who is so inconsiderate as to disturb them at this moment

Ling Yu said cheerfully: "You can stay in the palace gardens and enjoy the dishes prepared by the imperial kitchen, but it lacks liveliness. Does Lord Eagle enjoy a lively atmosphere? Within the imperial city, there are the Four-Sided Tower, the Eight-Direction Pavilion, and the Imperial City Pavilion; you can choose any one of them without regret"

The door to the compartment finally opened

Another characteristic of Luoyang is the multi-tiered buildings, among which the Dongjia Restaurant stands out as a grand three-story structure. After numerous expansions and renovations, it exudes an antique charm and elegance, making it a favored spot for poets and literary figures. Due to the frequent visits of the young master Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, it is regarded as a must-visit place among the people of the martial world. From morning till night, the seats are always occupied, and those without connections will find it impossible to casually secure a table without waiting.

A burst of long laughter echoed outside the door, then the laughter abruptly ceased, returning to silence, as if the people outside had suddenly vanished

A warm feeling surged within Long Ying, everything outside the palace city had changed, and everyone around seemed to have returned to their true selves, liberated from the strict regulations of the palace, full of life and flesh

The speedboat turned from one tributary into another, and after making two more turns, Long Ying was already dazzled and unable to distinguish directions, yet he deeply enjoyed the experience. Since childhood, his social circle had been narrow, often leaving him alone in the Holy Emperor's residence, not to mention the five years in the desolate valley. Now, all of a sudden, he had so many companions, and being in the most prosperous metropolis of the Central Plains naturally brought about a different feeling, making him somewhat reluctant to leave.

Everyone returned to their seats, still in high spirits

Long Ying was greatly astonished, wondering how Ling Yu could endure such humiliation. He then thought that Ling Yu must have some reservations about a certain little Buddha. However, he had no such concerns himself; on the contrary, he welcomed anyone who came to seek him out. Now that he had already formed a bond with the demonic seed, he only needed to urge the demon. With a hearty laugh, he said: "If your little Buddha wants to see me, let him come up and meet me. I will immediately show him what true friendship is."

In a light-hearted conversation, the crowd crossed the long street, heading towards the magnificent building of the "Dongjia Restaurant" that was prominently displayed.

Long Ying originally had no such intention, but upon hearing this, he was moved and thought of borrowing silver from the fat old man, smiling as he said, "Perhaps I have a way"

The most prosperous area of Luoyang is concentrated along both banks of the Luo River, collectively referred to as the Luohe District

Everyone in the room was filled with rage; this statement was clearly a sarcastic mockery, subtly insinuating that Long Ying was Wu Zhao's male favorite, hence referring to him as a "brave man." It also implied that using a cup to block an arrow was an exaggeration and a distortion of the truth. The more it was said, the more unbearable it became, especially when combined with that annoying tone, which was truly the height of insult.

Ling Yu saw him lost in thought and mistakenly believed that he was preoccupied with the Fanghua Pavilion. He apologetically said, "The young officers of the Fanghua Pavilion truly cannot be of assistance, as we have no means and do not dare to approach the esteemed officials in charge of the treasury who are meticulous to the point of leaving no room for error."

Ling Yu casually said: "Of course, I have already selected a few brothers who are quite capable; they can accompany Eagle Master into the dragon's den and tiger's lair."

Dragon Eagle Path: "May I take a boat?"

***

The Dragon Eagle inquired: "Whose residence is this"

As Ling Yu and the others shouted in alarm, the fierce battle outside in the corridor had already fully commenced

As Ling Yu was about to send someone to open the door, a deliberately affected, somewhat effeminate voice spoke in an exaggeratedly flattering tone: "Oh, Dragon Eagle Warrior! Everyone in our Xingjin Buddhist Hall, from the little Buddha to the servants who tidy up, holds you in great admiration. Especially your remarkable skill of blocking arrows with a small cup while being surrounded by admirers is truly impressive, making all the men eager to catch a glimpse of your esteemed presence, while the women are left with hearts racing like deer. Our little Buddha is hosting a banquet on the second floor, eagerly awaiting your esteemed arrival, hoping that the warrior will grace us with your presence so that we may become friends."

The dragon eagle felt a chill run down its spine, not expecting to be regarded as a rival by the male favorites. Unsure whether to be angry or amused, it said lightly: "Are you afraid of causing trouble, Deputy Commander?"

The Great Zhou Dynasty upheld the policies of Emperor Taizong and implemented a ban on gambling. As a result, there were only private gambling dens in Luoyang, with no public gambling halls. Those who indulged in this vice had no choice but to secretly visit these private dens to try their luck when their gambling cravings arose. Wu Zetian turned a blind eye to this, knowing that since ancient times, the two major vices of prostitution and gambling have always been difficult to eradicate.

Ling Yu revealed two rows of neatly aligned snow-white teeth and smiled, saying: "The lineup arranged by the young general today is precisely for dealing with tough battles. The best part is that it is sanctioned by the imperial decree, so no matter how chaotic it gets, it will not be a problem. Everything depends on Lord Eagle."

Only Long Ying and Ling Yu remained seated in their original positions

Long Ying, with a silent smile, said: "The way I make friends, I fear you, a fake monk, cannot bear it."

The Dragon Eagle still wanted to persuade him, while the little horse stared out the window at the Tianjin Bridge with shining eyes, exclaiming joyfully: "My little witch is coming!"

Ling Yusu said: "Our five major military divisions in the capital are the Flying Cavalry, the Left and Right Feather Forest Armies, the Left and Right Imperial Guards, the City Defense Army, and the Garrison Army. All are bound by the military order of 'not disturbing the people.' Anyone who dares to violate this heavenly decree will face demotion at best, and execution at worst. As for matters of the Jianghu, they can be resolved privately by our own means."

The Luo River serves as the "heart vein" of Luoyang, with countless docks of various sizes, among which the Luohe Dock and Xintan Dock are the most prominent. The latter can accommodate over 1,000 merchant ships, making the Luo River area the most prosperous goods distribution center in the country. The court has established a customs tax office here, and Empress Wu Zetian is determined to promote reforms, reduce tariffs, and simplify procedures, which has stimulated trade to an unprecedented level of activity

Seven or eight riders appeared on the Tianjin Bridge, urging their horses to gallop swiftly, passing by vehicles as they raced towards the direction of the tavern. The leader among them was a young girl in colorful attire, strikingly beautiful and captivating. Following closely behind her were six or seven young gentlemen, clearly the offspring of the powerful and wealthy, dressed in fine garments and full of vigor, like stars surrounding the moon, they quickly vanished from sight, trailing the little enchantress.

Ling Yu laughed and scolded, "Xiao Ma gets excited at the mention of brothels, but the place he frequents is merely a slightly better version of a rundown establishment. Alas! This kid loves to cause trouble; just the day before yesterday, he got into a conflict with the Yellow River Gang over a trivial matter, and I had to step in to settle it for him. I really want to give him a good beating or assign him to guard the main gate, but I can't help but resent the fact that he is from my hometown, and his parents have entrusted me with his care.

A resonant and forceful voice disdainfully called from outside the door: "What is everyone so nervous about, my little Buddha is merely here to pay a visit, to greet Brother Long, and see how he intends to befriend me!"

Three speedboats set out from the dock of Shangyang Palace, accompanied by eight individuals, all dressed in civilian attire. Each one was young and spirited, resembling a group of brash ruffians, yet they showed respect towards Long Ying, clearly impressed and convinced by his display of skill at Liqi Pavilion. For martial artists, only those with exceptional prowess can earn their respect

Another person laughed and said, "Not even a hundred years less will do."

A knock is heard at the door

Casually asking: "Will the court not intervene in such matters occurring outside the palace?"

Ling Yu scolded, "What do you understand? Bravery without strategy is useless. Unlike Lord Eagle, who possesses both wisdom and courage. Now, whether they come up or not, it is all under my control. Do you understand?"

With a gesture from Ling Yu, the guards stood up one after another, dispersing to their respective strategic positions in the side rooms, ready to launch a counterattack should the enemy invade. Those who could serve as the imperial guards of Wu Zetian had all been meticulously selected, battle-hardened, and well-trained. Such tough battles in the martial world were hardly a concern for them

As soon as he finished speaking, he darted from the table to the little Buddha's side like a wisp of smoke, and Ling Yu, who was beside him, could not see how he completed the series of actions such as leaving the chair and standing up.

The sound of footsteps entered the ears, among which one person's footsteps were particularly heavy, masking the sounds of the other more than ten people. Long Ying smiled and said: "Little Buddha is here!"

Ling Yu smiled and said: "Eagle Master, do not blame us, this little beauty is indeed captivating, she is the daughter of the national elder Di Renjie, outshining the entire city. She loves to challenge others to duels, and there are quite a few who have genuinely lost to her, but there are certainly many more who have feigned defeat."

The young Buddha's expression changed slightly; he was indeed remarkable. He stepped aside, and without a moment's hesitation, the Dragon Eagle charged out the door.

Long Ying said with delight: "I have an unreasonable request. When they come knocking later, let me handle them myself"

Long Ying inquired, "Is it possible to go outside the palace? I have not yet had the opportunity to explore the city of Luoyang"

No one is interested in the so-called Great Buddha or Little Buddha anymore, including Ling Yu, as everyone eagerly rushes to the two lattice windows in the room to look down.

Long Ying thought of the magic催, and with great enthusiasm declared: "Let us first heal our stomachs before anything else"

Ling Yu spoke with a hint of disdain: "The inner offerings are the 'favored men of the emperor's harem.' The Gathering of Immortals is their territory, led by the two brothers Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, who are the most favored by the emperor. Their arrogance grows day by day, and they have always acted tyrannically within the palace, yet they still lack the courage to confront our Flying Cavalry Imperial Army. It is said that they harbor great resentment towards Lord Eagle for the emperor's attentive hospitality, so it would not be surprising if they caused trouble under some pretext. The saying goes, 'Those who come are not good, and those who are good do not come.' If they dare to provoke us today, there will surely be strong allies to support them. If Lord Eagle fears trouble, we can immediately return to Shangyang Palace"

Long Ying exclaimed, "Is it really unnecessary to seek the Emperor's approval?"

The dragon eagle's curiosity was piqued as it gazed out the window

Ling Yu was very pleased to see the beautiful view of Tianjin Bridge from the side room. He beckoned Long Ying to sit in the best spot for the view, and the dishes ordered by the ceremonial officer were served to them in a continuous stream.

The speedboat turned right, entering a tributary, heading south. The entire landscape seemed to change suddenly. Although it was a tributary, it remained very wide, and even with the frequent passage of boats, the waterway traffic remained smooth

Little Horse exclaimed with great joy: "It is all thanks to Master Eagle's support; I never expected that I would finally see this day."

Ling Yu slapped his forehead and exclaimed, "I forgot that Lord Eagle is here for sightseeing. Boating is a must-do activity for all tourists. Come! Let us go to the dock outside the main palace gate."

At around twenty years of age, Ling Yu is tall and slender, giving off an impression of robust strength akin to that of bronze skin and iron bones. His speech and demeanor are filled with the flavor of the rivers and lakes, resembling more of a roguish wanderer than a deputy commander in the Imperial Guard. With dark skin and white teeth, he appears ordinary at first glance, but when he smiles, he looks quite charming, exuding a laid-back nonchalance that easily endears him to others. After exchanging a few casual remarks, he inquired: "Where does Lord Long prefer to have breakfast? I heard that since arriving in the capital yesterday afternoon, Lord Long has not eaten anything."

On the contrary, Long Ying felt a slight tension, as this was his first proactive strike. The demonic species cannot be described using any martial arts or mental techniques; rather, it is an extraordinary power and intuitive insight that transcends any martial arts. There are no techniques, no established methods, and it is not confined to the use of any weapons.

A person stands at the door, while others disperse to the sides

Long Ying casually asked, "What good places are there?"

Ling Yu said in a deep voice: "No matter who you are, if I hear another word from you, I guarantee you will regret being born"

Long Ying was greatly astonished, but after calming down and thinking, he realized that he could not escape at this moment, for he still saw a glimmer of hope here. If he were to go outside and Wu Zhao were to make a public announcement, he would become a public enemy, and at that point, what joy would there be in living

Ling Yu sat in the boat, with the royal guards rowing behind him, gazing eastward as they glided away, leaving the Shangyang Palace behind.

Little Horse crossed his arms, feigning an exaggerated expression of being entranced, and dreamily said: "If I could truly be captivated by her, I would willingly sacrifice ten years of my life."

On the left side, a garden appears, with glimpses of pavilions and towers, presenting an exquisite scenery

The crowd voiced their opposition in unison, and public sentiment ran high

Ling Yu was afraid that he would not understand the situation, and said: "This little Buddha has some influence in the divine realm. His master is Yang She Leng, one of the four disciples of the monk king Fa Ming. He himself comes from a wealthy family and has opened a Buddhist hall near Xingjin Bridge, practicing the Joyful Zen. He is closely associated with the Zhang brothers and is even more afraid that troublemakers might include the subordinates of the Zhang brothers. Otherwise, knowing that we are strong and powerful, how could they dare to openly provoke us?"

Ling Yu proposed: "First, we will take a boat ride on the river. After Lord Eagle has enjoyed the beautiful scenery of the capital, we will dine at the most famous Dongjia Restaurant. Finding a seat is not easy, but fortunately, the Imperial Ceremonial Office has made proper arrangements for us."

The footsteps faded away, indeed not daring to make a sound.

***

Long Ying walked aimlessly along the corridor and encountered the palace eunuchs, greeting them with respect. The calls of "Master Ying" echoed around him, and suddenly, the title "Master Ying" became his exclusive designation, though he did not know how it came to be. Exhausted, Long Ying kept returning the greetings, while Ling Yu, on the other hand, acted with great arrogance, appearing to see and hear nothing.

A young and handsome monk dressed in a yellow robe stood outside the door, his hands clasped together, his eyes gleaming with a sinister light, not even glancing at Ling Yu, but fixating fiercely on Long Ying

Ling Yu said softly: "How dare the young general act on his own accord? The Emperor has decreed that wherever Lord Eagle wishes to go, he may go, and even if he leaves the Divine Capital, he must not be hindered"