Chapter 225: Received the "Sword Hiding Technique"
Chapter 225: Received the "Sword Hiding Technique"
No matter how powerful a gang is, it is nothing more than "common people" in the eyes of the government.
The Sun and Moon Sect occupied a city alone and obtained the tacit approval of the Ming court, making it a unique sect in the Central Plains underworld.
All the ambitious people in the Orthodox Church throughout the ages have made conquering the Black Wood Cliff their ultimate goal, which secretly includes the intention of replacing the Demon Cult.
Ever since the Eastern Sect Leader neglected his religious affairs and the old and new parties indulged in internal fighting, no one has been interested in managing Pingding City. It has been allowed to develop freely and turned into a big dyeing factory with no laws and only respect for power. People of all kinds come in and out, and the atmosphere is foul.
………………
There are apricot blossoms on the street and a light drizzle.
Most of the shops along the way were closed, with the occasional hawker selling pulp from a cart, and few pedestrians passing by.
“Good luck and good fortune!”
“No disaster or disease!”
"Evil evil spirits ward off Yi!"
……
The young woman's skirt did not drag on the ground, and her voice was soft and gentle, with the Jiangnan style of Wu dialect. It was obvious that she was not from the north.
She was holding an oil-paper umbrella with colorful sachets hanging from the ribs.
When passing by the door, turn the umbrella handle and the sachet will slowly turn.
However, such a clever idea is not welcomed in this city full of swords and sabers.
"Slower!"
"If the plaque is hung correctly, wealth and fortune will be prosperous."
Qiu Ping'an stood in front of the building, watching the two people hang up the new custom-made plaque.
"Jiuzhou Pavilion?"
"I don't know what the adults were thinking. Giving it such a difficult-to-pronounce name, I'm afraid the business won't be good."
He felt that business would not be good, and it was not entirely because of the name of the building.
The most prosperous area of Pingding City is in the southeast, where there are Qianhong Tower, Sihai Teahouse, and the residences of high-ranking members of the Divine Religion. However, the northwest market is poor and not many people live there.
"Want to start a business here? It's extremely difficult!"
This long street of apricot blossoms is especially close to Qingmingfang, which specializes in selling coffins, paper money, and incense. Ordinary people in the world think it is unlucky and would rather take a detour than pass by this place.
“The only advantage is that it’s cheap.”
"But what's the use of being cheap?"
Qiu Ping'an looked at the restaurant that he bought for three thousand taels of silver and could not help shaking his head. Originally the owner also ran a restaurant, but he could not bear the losses any more, so he hung up the transfer sign early and waited for someone to take over.
"Boss, business is booming!"
Qiu Pingan was staring at the plaque and said casually, "The store will officially open in three days. You're here too early."
The man laughed and said, "I will definitely come back to show my support then. Today I have come specially to see your deputy hall master Zhang."
"Who are you?"
Qiu Ping'an looked back and was immediately shocked when he saw the person coming.
The man was wearing coarse cloth, had a half-white face, a big beard, small but bright eyes, and a straight-blade long sword hanging from his waist. He was standing under the eaves across the street. He was of medium build, but looked very heroic.
"To...to the left?"
"You are Qiu Ping'an."
Xiang Wentian walked over with a smile, holding a dozen sachets in his hands, each with auspicious words embroidered on it. Qiu Pingan hurriedly bowed and saluted, feeling honored to hear the other party call out his name.
"Xiang Zuoshi still remembers me?"
"Qiu Ping'an, pray for peace, this name sounds auspicious."
Xiang Wentian came from a humble background, but fought his way up to become the Messenger of Light. He has a very good reputation and popularity in the sect, and is also highly skilled in martial arts and has a strong sense of righteousness. He is the kind of person who can lead a charge in wartime, and who loves his brothers more than gold in normal times.
After the Eastern Sect Leader succeeded to the throne, he promoted him in public but demoted him in secret and put him on the shelf. Xiang Wentian not only became a banner of the old members of the Ren family, but also secretly won the sympathy of many followers of the sect.
"These scent bags are exquisitely crafted. You can hang them in the building as a lucky charm."
Qiu Ping'an took the sachet and expressed his gratitude.
At this time, Zhang Yu walked out of the building with a smile on his face.
"Brothers in the sect all say that Xiang Zuoshi is generous and heroic. This greeting gift is a bit unworthy of his reputation."
He saw Xiang Wentian standing on the street without a roof over his head. A drizzle fell from the sky, and the rain disappeared quietly when it was three inches away from him. His coarse cloth clothes were not wet at all, as if there was an invisible air around his body that separated him.
Xiang Wentian smiled and said, "The woman selling sachets lives in Baizhifang. Her husband was originally a master of incense in the Divine Religion. Eight years ago, when they raided the Hengshan Sect, Mr. Mo Da of 'Xiaoxiang Night Rain' used the Huifeng Luoyan sword technique to cut off both of his legs at the knees. He was lucky to survive, but he can only live out the rest of his life in poverty and illness."
Zhang Yu looked at the pile of sachets in Qiu Ping'an's hand, picked out the one with the inscription "Protect from disasters", and chuckled, "After the store opens, let her be the accountant and sell sachets in the building. Since she's a neighbor, I'll help her if I can."
"My subordinate understands."
Qiu Ping'an nodded and took note of this.
Zhang Yu knew that Xiang Wentian must have something to ask him.
The two of them went up to the third floor of Jiuzhou Pavilion. There was a low square table by the window. They leaned on the railing and looked out. The sky was gray and misty. Beyond the city wall, the mountains in the distance were like thick ink, painted on the earth. Yan and Ji have been tragic and unyielding since ancient times, as if they are the spirit of this land, nourishing all the people.
Nearby, in the dark alley of Baizhifang, the young woman who sold sachets walked more lightly. She carried half a bag of millet, walked and rested, and returned to her own courtyard.
Xiang Wentian nodded and said, "I bought a few sachets from her, but it can only solve the problem temporarily. What Brother Zhang did is a long-term plan. In comparison, I don't know how much smarter he is. Only a great talent like Brother Zhang can go to the capital to kill the traitor Yang Fengming of the Divine Religion."
Zhang Yu seemed not to hear the awkward compliments and just chuckled.
“It’s easy to promise long-term plans.”
"It's difficult to solve the problem temporarily."
"Besides, if the immediate emergency is not resolved, who can wait for the long-term plan?"
Xiang Wentian heard the deeper meaning in the words.
Even if Miss Ren is a long-term plan, she cannot solve the immediate problem of the Eastern Sect Leader.
In the Divine Religion, except for Xiang Wentian and Wu Lianjiang who have close ties with the Ren family and are almost of the same blood, most of the followers are still in awe of Dongfang Bubai's martial arts and prestige.
This statement also showed Zhang Yu's attitude. Regardless of whether Yang Fengming told the secret or not, he would not risk being cut off from the Eastern Sect Leader by telling him.
Xiang Wentian knew that if he said any more words, he would only bring trouble upon himself.
"Anyway, thank you Brother Zhang for your help and for saving Miss Ren."
Zhang Yu smiled and said, "Miss Ren is a Saint Lady. Any disciple of the Divine Religion would do the same."
Xiang Wentian took something out of his sleeve and said, "This sword manual was given to Brother Zhang by Miss Ren. I want to express my gratitude to her."
Fifteen or sixteen sheets of yellowed kraft paper are tied together with hemp ropes. The seal characters and patterns on them seem to be written with a kind of tree lacquer mixed with metal powder. After countless years, they are still extremely clear, as if the words were originally grown on the cowhide.
"Is this the art of hiding the sword?"
Zhang Yu remembered that in the misty pine forest, Ren Yingying performed a sword move that was far beyond his strength. Since then, he had been interested in this martial art. He originally thought that she was going to regret it, but he didn't expect that she would actually perform it.
Looking at the front page, there are eighteen words at the beginning...
"Don't use your skills when you are skilled, and don't use your magic lightly. Use the sword to decide life and death, and use your hands to show your thunder!"
(End of this chapter)