Chapter 5: Murong of Jiangnan
As soon as Jian Wushuang finished speaking, a cacophony of sounds came from the city gate. Jian Wushuang and Qiu Tian exchanged a glance and then moved forward, eager to see what was happening.
My young lady has no interest in this matter, Young Master Ye, please conduct yourself with dignity! Upon hearing the sarcastic remarks from Ye Chong, the old man felt a surge of anger.
Ye Chong, however, did not care about what the shopkeeper said and walked straight towards the private room on the second floor. However, as he passed by a table of guests, he suddenly stopped in his tracks and looked down at a young girl among them. This girl was dressed in white, with a pair of large, beautiful eyes, her skin as fair as jade, and her delicate face made one unable to resist the urge to take a bite; she was indeed a beauty with considerable charm. At this moment, the girl was looking at Ye Chong with a face full of anger. This girl was dressed in white, with a pair of large, beautiful eyes, her skin as fair as jade, and her delicate face made one unable to resist the urge to take a bite; she was indeed a beauty with considerable charm. At this moment, the girl was looking at Ye Chong with a face full of anger.
Jian Wushuang and Qiu Tian were also seated in the hall, drinking wine while listening to the noisy clamor around them, amidst which there were quite a few real-time updates.
Qiu Tian also nodded
Ye Zhong felt quite displeased when he saw the old man interrupting. He looked down on him and said, "I merely wish to befriend this young lady; as for the old man, I have no interest in him."
It turns out that in the city of Fallen Leaves, there is an unwritten rule: during every festival, all the citizens of Fallen Leaves must pay tribute to Fallen Leaf Valley, as it controls all the taxes of the city. Therefore, the quality of the tribute directly correlates with the amount of taxes one’s family has paid over the year. If one is fortunate and the offerings are highly satisfactory to Fallen Leaf Valley, it is possible to be exempted from taxes for an entire year. This leads to a situation where, during every holiday, people must brainstorm to think of what good items to present. Especially on the birthday of the esteemed Leaf Sage, it becomes a matter of utmost importance.
Ye Zhong, seeing the old man so oblivious to reality, coldly laughed and said: "Alright, alright, alright. In all my years, no one has dared to speak to me like this. Today, whether you want to be friends or not, you must be friends!"
At dusk, the lazy rays of the setting sun cast their glow upon the city gate of Fallen Leaf City. The ebb and flow of the crowd makes this modest gate surprisingly lively, while disciples of the Fallen Leaf Valley stand guard, each exuding an air of arrogance.
The few guards remained in their original positions, eerily unable to move after the young man withdrew, each one frozen in place, their eyes revealing a hint of fear
"I speak to several brothers, I am Fushoulù. We are a merchant convoy transporting medicinal materials, not here to cause trouble. Please be accommodating and let us in." Fushoulù said to a person who appeared to be the leader.
I haven't thought it through yet. Every year when Old Master Ye celebrates his birthday, I feel overwhelmed, not knowing what would be appropriate to give as a gift. If things go poorly, I might end up having to pay more taxes this year, the thin man said with a worried expression
Jian Wushuang nodded and said, "How can one allow others to sleep soundly beside the bed? Moreover, it is not surprising for a domineering force like the Falling Leaf Valley to possess a city."
A gasp echoed through the hall as many people inhaled sharply. There are indeed few who would dare to act against the Ye family in Falling Leaf City, and today they have encountered someone who is not afraid of death. Everyone turned their gaze towards the elderly man who had made the move, their eyes reflecting a hint of pity, as it seemed that these three would find it difficult to escape today
Young Master! Young Master! Those seven or eight guards hurried over to check on Ye Chong's injuries. They knew that due to their inadequate protection, Ye Chong had been harmed, and the punishment upon their return would undoubtedly be severe. However, the old man had acted too swiftly, leaving these guards no time to react; such skill was beyond their capabilities.
It is not that easy; these divine weapons are mostly hidden away by some experts. Where am I supposed to find them? Am I looking for death?
"If I cannot escape, then I shall kill you first!" the young man said coldly
The shopkeeper spoke while quickly making his way towards Young Master Ye Chong
With no other choice, they could only brace themselves and move forward. Several guards shouted as they charged towards the three elders. Suddenly, a shadow flashed by, weaving between the guards. The shadow's hands flew up and down, continuously tapping on the guards' bodies, its form shifting in an unpredictable manner. Remarkably, none of the guards managed to touch even a corner of the shadow's clothing. With a turn of its body, the shadow spun back to stand behind the elder, revealing itself to be the young man from the same table.
The Dragon-Subduing Finger indeed exhibits unpredictable transformations! Jian Wushuang remarked with a sigh and a smile. Qiu Tian's eyes also revealed a hint of seriousness
Hunyuan Palm! The Murong family of Jiangnan! Qiu Tian, upon seeing this, turned to Jian Wushuang and said. Jian Wushuang nodded, remaining silent
As he was speaking, a group of people entered through the door. At the forefront was a young gentleman, holding a folding fan and dressed in a blue robe, who appeared quite elegant from a distance. However, his unsteady gait and slightly pale complexion revealed that he was certainly someone who had long indulged in wine and pleasure. Following him were seven or eight burly men, each striding with the confidence of a dragon or tiger, clearly skilled in external martial arts. As soon as this group entered the main door, they immediately attracted numerous gazes.
"Cough cough... you bunch of bastards, daring to hurt me, I will ensure that you cannot leave this Fallen Leaf City," Ye Chong reprimanded angrily
Oh! Young Master Ye has graced us with his presence. It is regrettable that I did not come out to welcome you properly, please forgive me! Please forgive me! The speaker is the innkeeper of this establishment, a lean middle-aged man in his forties, with two thin mustaches that complement his small eyes, presenting a typical appearance of a cunning merchant
Hmph! The old man let out a cold snort, and with a speed like lightning, struck towards Ye Chong's chest with a palm. Ye Chong's reaction was not slow either, as he raised his hand to block. However, the old man swiftly redirected the force of his palm, striking towards Ye Chong's blocking right arm. Before Ye Chong could react, the old man pushed forward, delivering a solid palm strike to Ye Chong's chest. Ye Chong let out a muffled groan and was sent flying, crashing into several tables and chairs, landing in a disheveled manner while continuously spitting out fresh blood. All of this transpired in the blink of an eye. Ye Chong let out a muffled groan and was sent flying, crashing into several tables and chairs, landing in a disheveled manner while continuously spitting out fresh blood. All of this transpired in the blink of an eye
Waste! A bunch of waste! Cough cough..." Ye Zhong was cursing loudly, occasionally coughing up blood from his mouth, clearly indicating that the old man's palm strike just now was not light.
"Hurry, leave that woman for me, kill the other two!" At this moment, Ye Chong still did not forget about the woman, truly thinking that he was blinded by desire.
Hmph! This young lady let out a light snort and did not pay any attention to Ye Chong
At the city gate, a merchant convoy was stopped by disciples from the Falling Leaves Valley. The convoy consisted of seven or eight men, all of whom were male. Except for a short, stout middle-aged man dressed in satin, the others were all clad in coarse linen garments, clearly subordinates of this short, stout man. At this moment, the short, stout middle-aged man was bowing and pleading for something.
Qiu Tiandao: "Host, this is Luoye City. It seems that this place is entirely within the territory of Luoye Valley."
Oh dear! Gentlemen, let us speak calmly and avoid any violence; it would be unwise to harm our relationship. The shopkeeper, sensing the situation was turning sour, hurried out to mediate.
It turns out that Ye Xian is about to celebrate a grand birthday, no wonder Luoye City has been so lively these past few days said Jian Wushuang with a sip of wine and a smile
As soon as the words were spoken, another young person at the same table suddenly stood up with a hostile expression, glaring at Ye Chong
Old Master Ye has always had a fondness for exquisite weapons; go and procure a fine weapon for him
After saying this, several burly men following him burst into laughter. Many in the hall who knew Ye Zhong were aware of his domineering nature, so they did not speak up, merely watching everything quietly.
Ye Chong first smiled and said, "I am Ye Chong, the Valley Master of Falling Leaf Valley, and Ye Xian is my esteemed grandfather. May I ask for your name, Miss?"
"It seems that there are quite a few experts in this Fallen Leaf City," said Qiu Tiandao
After entering the city, Jian Wushuang and Qiu Tian found a place to stay called "Falling Leaves Inn." This inn is considered the most well-informed place in the bustling streets of Falling Leaves City, where many individuals from the martial world come to gather local news.
Only then did an elderly man standing beside the young lady rise and coldly say to Ye Chong: "So it is Young Master Ye, my apologies. May I ask what Young Master Ye intends?"
... ... ''
"You dog!" Qiu Tian scoffed disdainfully. Jian Wushuang smiled and waved, leading Qiu Tian into the city. The two of them, due to their understated attire, were not hindered.
He spoke while clasping his hands together. However, the lustful gleam in his eyes completely betrayed him, making him even more detestable to others
Ah, indeed! The blessings of fortune, longevity, and prosperity quickly nodded in agreement, and then, with a wave of the hand, led the caravan into the city.
After speaking, Ye Chong unexpectedly reached out to pull the girl in white, who, in a moment of panic, hurriedly dodged, clearly indicating that she did not possess any martial arts skills
The hall fell into silence once again, and no one expected that Ye Chong would actually kick the iron plate this time. The gazes directed at the three individuals shifted from pity to wariness.
A few guards smiled wryly and clicked their tongues; they were well aware that this old man was not like the usual individuals. He would strike without hesitation, clearly indicating that he was a master.
The leader-like figure glanced left and right at the guards beside him, then said with a wicked smile: "Just because you say it isn't, doesn't mean it isn't. How am I supposed to know? You have to provide some proof to us brothers, right? Otherwise, if you say we can enter, do you think others will really believe that my Falling Leaf Valley is just a vegetable market?"
Outside the city gate, Jian Wushuang and Qiu Tian stood quietly, observing the bustling crowd.
I said to the thin man, "This time, Old Master Ye is celebrating his 80th birthday. What good gift do you plan to give?" A chubby man with grease all over his mouth, stuffing a chicken leg into his mouth, spoke to the thin man who was busy serving himself some dishes.
"Indeed, we shall observe the changes quietly." Jian Wushuang also recognized this issue and nodded in agreement
The leader deliberately emphasized the words "Fallen Leaf Valley," with a strong undertone of threat
The practice of relying on powerful connections has existed since ancient times. Clearly, this Fu Shou Lu is quite adept at it. I saw him, with a beaming smile, lean his corpulent body towards the leading guard, and then discreetly hand over a package. The leading guard accepted it without hesitation, weighed it in his hands, and upon feeling its considerable weight, smiled broadly and said: "I see that you, Boss Fu, are also a proper businessman. Go on in, go on in, and don't cause any trouble in the city"