Chapter 2, Same Name

After hiding in, I discovered a set of clothes, which I remembered I had left behind just in case. At this moment, it was just what I needed, so I hurriedly changed into them

Ten gold pieces refer to ten ingots of Yuan gold, which are about the size of a cat's paw. These ingots are produced by the Jixia Academy, which oversees cultivation throughout the world. They contain a small amount of spiritual material, making them difficult to replicate, and the Jixia Academy strictly prohibits imitation by various states. Yuan gold can be used to purchase spiritual materials from the academy and to pay tribute to the Zhou Emperor in Luoyi. While there are many currencies among the feudal states, Yuan gold is the only one that circulates throughout the world.

It is highly likely that he is being hunted down in the neighborhood, and with the escape route already cut off, Wu Sheng decisively left

As for the east, it is a vast expanse of farmland within the city of Yingdu, open and unobstructed, with no place to hide

To the north lies the district where the nobility and scholars reside. Without even mentioning the numerous hidden cultivators and masters, those tall walls, each resembling a fortress, are certainly not something I could scale at present.

Having a dog is troublesome, Wu Sheng silently exclaimed "It's tough", and in his anxiety, he could only place his hopes in the water of the pond

Returning to beneath the bridge, Wu Sheng shivered from the cold, yet he dared not make too much noise, nor did he have the courage to start a fire. He could only take off his clothes, wring them out, and hang them to dry on the bridge pier

In a state of aimless wandering and with no other options, I could only seek refuge under a stone bridge in the northeast of the abandoned garden. Two days ago, when Wu Sheng entered the garden, it was during the autumn rain, and it was under this very stone bridge that he took shelter from the rain.

To the west lies an orchard, the ownership of which is unknown, whether it belongs to the sovereign or some nobleman. This is the second escape route. However, upon rushing over to take a look, there were also shadows of people flitting about in the forest, making this path impassable

The original hemp clothing was buried in a nearby pit—who knows how I made it back from the upper garden, and whether anyone saw me on the way; changing into a different outfit is a more prudent choice

Having hastily finished packing, upon returning to beneath the bridge, I could already hear the shouts of the guards from Yingdu as they stormed into the White Dragon Pool searching, along with the sound of barking dogs

While still feeling apprehensive, someone among the guards stepped onto the waves and approached the pool

Publicly displaying severed noses and parading with chopped-off feet are mild in comparison to castration and human wax figures, which send shivers down one's spine at the mere thought of them

Setting aside the reasons for the incident, the most important thing now is how to save my life. Having caused such a great disaster by assassinating the minister Zhao Yuan of the State of Chu, it is obvious that the capital Yingdu will undoubtedly be searching for me everywhere.

Master, this is a master!

By the light of the two torches against the wall, I carefully examined the wooden sign, which indeed displayed a notice for the capture of an assassin. The target of the manhunt was Wu Sheng, with a bounty of ten gold pieces.

Although the White Dragon Pool is a desolate garden, this wooden pavilion stands prominently by the poolside, making it quite conspicuous. The people of Chu would not enter the White Dragon Pool unless they had to, but once they do, they are sure to find this place.

In the night, Wu Sheng gathered his courage and sneaked to the southern garden wall, observing for a long time. He noticed that the guards searching the Guorenfang had already withdrawn, and every household had closed their doors to rest, creating a serene atmosphere. Thus, he climbed over the wall and jumped out.

Bare and constantly moving under the bridge, still unable to withstand the autumn chill and hunger

As Wu Sheng glanced at the portrait engraved on the wooden plaque, he blinked and suddenly smiled

The cultivator who stepped on the water and walked on the floating leaves carefully examined the surface of the water, while Wu Sheng slowly moved behind a patch of reeds, trying to conceal his figure

The wooden box containing the lush green pothos was also buried in the pit. If one were to be caught, having this thing on them would be a source of trouble. Despite the deep reluctance, it could only be buried at this moment, with a marker left at the spot, waiting for a future opportunity to retrieve it.

Wu Sheng quickly got up and walked south along the overgrown path—south of Bailong Pond is the Guorenfang of Yingdu.

The ability to be repaired has been restored, yet the vital energy throughout the body has been nearly completely lost, as if one has never practiced cultivation at all, which is rather disappointing

It turns out this fellow is also named Wu Sheng, it seems that sharing the same name is a necessary condition for wearing it

There are drainage holes at the bridge piers on both sides of the stone bridge, forming internal openings that are not visible from the outside

Wu Sheng directly entered the water, wading into the deeper parts. When he was about seven or eight zhang away from the shore, only his head was above the surface. He did not dare to venture further into the depths, as the muddy bottom beneath his feet was sticky, and the danger of going deeper was significant

Wu Sheng, filled with anxiety, hid underwater. After a long while, he slowly emerged. The White Dragon Pool had long returned to silence, and the guards had left.

Upon reaching the wall, I heard a cacophony of sounds from outside. Through the empty window in the wall, I could faintly see soldiers moving about in various places within the neighborhood, and there were also people hanging notices on the white wall.

The monk searched back and forth on the water's surface, pacing around the pool for an unknown number of laps, and only after a full half an hour did he give up

Examining one's own cultivation, this body is in perfect condition, showing no signs of injury. Is it because of one's own crossing that it has been restored

The guards quickly found the stone bridge again; fortunately, they had left, otherwise they would have become fish in a barrel

Before long, the White Dragon Pool became lively, with numerous guards searching around the garden. Guided by several hunting dogs, the guards quickly found the place where Wu Sheng had buried his clothes. Remembering the green philodendron in the wooden box, Wu Sheng felt an immense pain in his heart

Even more terrifying is the memory of a colleague who failed in an assassination attempt against a military officer in the State of Jin. After being captured, he was placed inside an empty bronze bull, which was then set on fire from below. The screams of agony emerged from the nostrils of the bronze bull, resembling the lowing of a cow

In Ying, there are four neighborhoods inhabited by the citizens of the state, specifically the citizens of the Chu state. They occupy the fourth rank, below the ruling class, high officials, and scholars, and are considered proper citizens. Their status is significantly higher than that of the uncivilized and slaves, making them the cornerstone of the state

Bailong Pond was once the residence of the powerful Ruo'ao family in the State of Chu. After the Ruo'ao family was exterminated, it fell into disrepair and has remained unkempt, filled with duckweed, weeds, and reeds.

Upon realizing this, Wu Sheng was immediately drenched in cold sweat; he could no longer stay in this pavilion

In the State of Chu, the commonly used currency was the ant-nose coin, with one thousand coins exchangeable for one yǐn of gold, and ten gold pieces constituted a substantial sum. When I first started my career, the price for taking on a job was merely three hundred coins.

Just as I was about to make my escape, I noticed the workshop wall in the alley that was adorned with notices. After a moment of hesitation, I mustered my courage and approached it.

The memories of the past have been inherited in fragments. As a former assassin, Wu Sheng certainly knows what kind of treatment his peers would face if they were captured

The Guoren Fang is distinct from the neighborhoods inhabited by the nobility and scholars, as it is more populous, with numerous houses and courtyards, creating a rather chaotic appearance that makes it easier to hide. Two days ago, Wu Sheng entered Yingdu and specifically surveyed this area, selecting it as a route for his escape.

Suddenly inspired, he broke a reed and stuffed it into his mouth, so that at a critical moment, he could sink into the water

Suddenly, a tempting aroma wafted into my nose. I looked up and saw a string of dried meat hanging from the eaves. Unable to resist my hunger, I stood on my tiptoes and plucked a string down.

The White Dragon Pool is not particularly large, yet it is not small either, with a water surface area of approximately over 100 acres, and it is covered with duckweed, lotus leaves, and reeds. As long as one does not surface, it is difficult to be discovered. Unfortunately, this is a stagnant pool, relying solely on rainwater for replenishment; otherwise, Wu Sheng would have long sought an exit to leave.

Upon seeing this, Wu Sheng immediately crouched down, submerging himself in the water, relying solely on the reeds to breathe.

What is this thing drawn? Who is this?

Although Wu Sheng's cultivation has been completely reset, his vision remains intact. Those who are capable of walking on water at least possess the realm of Spirit Refinement. Even when his cultivation was at its peak, dealing with such individuals would not have been easy.

Stealthily lurking to the nearest household, the courtyard wall was low, and with a flip, I entered. I reached out to take the clothes hanging on the bamboo pole and put them on, finally feeling a bit of warmth