Chapter 377 Drinking, sex and wealth
Chapter 377 Drinking, sex and wealth
"The lonely smoke is straight in the desert, and the sun sets over the long river."
Gao Yanan couldn't help but recite the poem of Wang Wei, the poet, when she saw the scenery in front of her. In the past, she didn't know what the lonely smoke and the setting sun looked like.
When I saw the scenery before my eyes, I felt that no words could describe it more aptly than these two lines by the poet.
She was even grateful to her master for forcing her to memorize the book in the past, otherwise, when she saw this scene today, she would not have felt such a strange emotion in her heart.
Xu Qing smiled and said, "As the ancients said, reading ten thousand books is like traveling ten thousand miles."
Without reading thousands of books, the fun of traveling thousands of miles will be greatly reduced.
Scenery is not only about color, but also about culture.
Without the accumulation of thousands of books, traveling is like eating meat. Although the meat is excellent, it is just meat. Without the skillful cooking, it is just food and is not delicious enough.
Of course, in another era, when people traveled, most of them just wanted to go from a place they were bored of to another place that others were bored of.
This is good, but it’s not interesting enough.
Fortunately, life is meant to be experienced, and going out for a walk is never a bad thing.
Zhang Junbao could only smile silently beside him, because he didn't read much.
Along the way, Xu Qing had ridiculed him several times.
So Junbao made up his mind that after returning, he must read the Taoist Canon and then test Brother Xu.
snort!
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Lanzhou is surrounded by mountains to the north and south, and the Yellow River runs through the city from the east to the west.
It is the most prosperous place in the northwest and also the place where the wealth of the Middle-earth outside the territory gathers.
Many big businessmen who made their fortunes in the desert gathered here.
And now these big businessmen all obey the orders of Jamuka, the King of the Desert.
Without Jamuka's protection, even though they were Seljuq merchants doing business with the imperial court, the safety of their goods could not be guaranteed on the road to the Western Regions.
On the contrary, if you get the blessing of the King of Desert, you can travel to the Western Regions or even further west without any obstacles.
You can even know where the oases and water sources are in the vast Gobi Desert.
This information is more precious than gold in the desert.
Real power lies in how much benefit you can bring to the people around you.
Only in this way can power be consolidated.
As for wealth, it is nothing more than the reward for gaining power.
Without power, no matter how great your wealth is, it cannot be guaranteed.
This is true throughout history, both in China and abroad.
Jamukha was powerful enough to be well-informed.
Before Xu Qing and the other two arrived at Zhamuhe's villa, someone came to greet them.
They are the Canglang Guards under Jamukha.
"Are you three distinguished guests from Guanzhong?" The leader of the Canglang Guard took off his iron mask, revealing a face covered with scars, and spoke in a voice like a broken gong.
He raised the gilded token in his hand and said, "The Khan has prepared a welcoming banquet. Please follow me."
Xu Qing and Zhang Junbao looked at each other.
It seems that the King of the Desert could never forget the failure of his ancestor in the battle with Temujin for the title of Mongol Khan.
So he asked his subordinates to call him the Great Khan.
Afterwards, the three followed the leader of the Canglang Guard to the villa.
First, cross the triple suspension bridge.
After crossing the suspension bridge, I saw Jamukha’s villa like a giant beast squatting on the bank of the Yellow River.
The white marble steps seem to lead directly to the nine-story gate. The flying eaves and brackets are inlaid with rubies from the Western Regions, flowing in the twilight like clouds.
Gao Yanan stepped on the Persian carpet that was three inches thick and looked at the exquisite reliefs on the columns on both sides - there were both blue dragons and white tigers from the Central Plains and flying musicians from the Western Regions. The style was strange yet harmonious.
Suddenly, there was a smell of sandalwood, and a servant in a black brocade robe appeared silently.
Zhang Junbao's pupils shrank suddenly. The man's sleeves did not flutter when he walked, and his feet did not leave any traces on the carpet. What was even more surprising was the faint golden lines on his neck. It was clearly the color of his skin dyed by the iron shirt that had been practiced to perfection and filled with qi and blood.
"Please come in, three of you." When the servant spoke, his voice was as gentle as a woman's.
Zhang Junbao was shocked to find that the other party was actually a eunuch.
The servant pushed open the carved wooden door, and the gilded palace lanterns immediately illuminated the hall as bright as day. In the center, on the sandalwood throne, Jamukha leaned against a leopard skin cushion, holding a turquoise-studded wine cup in his left hand and stroking the soft fur of a Persian cat with his right hand.
"The Huashan Qingfeng female swordsman, and two Taoist priests." When Zhamuhe stood up, his leather boots crushed the light and shadows on the ground. "It is rumored in the martial arts world that the three of you fought against many heroes in Shuangqi Town and won the Black Iron Order. Seeing you today, it is true that your reputation is well-deserved."
His eyes swept across the three people like an eagle, and finally stopped at the sword on Gao Yanan's waist. "I heard that Miss Gao's 'Qingfeng Sword' has drunk the blood of thirty-three bandits?"
Gao Yanan touched the hilt of the sword with his fingertips and said in a cold voice: "Mr. Zhamuhe is well-informed."
"In this desert, information is lifeline." Jamukha laughed so loudly that the copper bells on the beams buzzed.
He waved his hand to signal the servant to pour the wine. The amber wine flowed in the luminous cup. "I heard that the two Taoist priests wanted a desert map and a guide. I believe they also know the rules of Jamukha."
Xu Qing said calmly, "Mr. Zhamuhe, do you want the Black Iron Order?"
"The Black Iron Order is just a piece of scrap metal. What's really valuable is the secret behind it." Zhamuhe suddenly threw the wine glass to the ground. As the fragments flew, the Persian cat screamed miserably. He strode to Xu Qing, and the pressure rising from his body made the air stagnate. "It is said that holding the Black Iron Order can meet the Condor Hero. It is widely said in the martial arts world that the supreme master of the martial arts world, the sword that slays dragons, commands the world and no one dares to disobey. If Yitian doesn't come out, who can compete with him? Now that I have obtained the Dragon Slaying Sword, I am planning to find the Condor Hero and ask him the secret of the sword. So, please give me the Black Iron Order first, Taoist priests."
He didn't know when a precious sword appeared in his hand. It was so cold and chilling that when he swung it, it seemed to break the air and make people tremble with fear.
The knife flashed directly at Xu Qing and the other two.
Zhang Junbao took a half step forward and said, "Zhamuhe, we will not give you this black iron order."
How could he possibly give this black iron order to Jamukha? Jamukha laughed loudly, shaking the entire hall. The screen behind him collapsed with a loud bang, revealing a hidden crossbow, with the black arrow pointing directly at the throats of the three people.
"If you do business on my turf, you have to follow my rules!"
Gao Yanan drew his sword from its sheath, and the green light flashed like lightning.
Xu Qing held out his hand to stop her, smiling and saying, "We are here to be guests, not to seek revenge. Mr. Jamukha, why don't you try a gentler approach and let's have a competition. According to the rules of Jianghu, the loser listens to the winner."
When Zhamuhe saw Xu Qing's gentle gaze, he felt an indescribable fear.
He had a blank expression on his face. "Then give Master Xu some face."
He clapped his hands, and a group of dancers came out from the back of the hall. The leading woman had a veil covering her face and a graceful figure. "This girl, Yue Nu, was bought from a Persian merchant. She is an expert in disguise and can imitate anyone's appearance and voice. If you three can beat her, I will give you a map and a guide."
Yue Nu walked lightly into the hall. She waved her jade hand and her veil fell off. Everyone exclaimed - it was Gao Yanan's face!
There is not the slightest difference in the expression on his face or in his demeanor in his gestures.
"This is the Thousand Illusions Technique of the Western Regions." Xu Qing whispered, "Those who are affected by this technique will lose themselves in the illusion and will never wake up."
Gao Yanan clenched his sword tightly, with the tip of the sword pointed directly at "the other self": "Come on, let me see how capable you are!"
As Yue Nu danced, purple smoke suddenly rose in the hall. Gao Yanan felt dizzy, and the scene in front of her changed instantly - she was back to the top of Mount Hua, and her master was smiling and waving at her. "Yanan, you are finally back..." The master's voice was still gentle, but it made Gao Yanan's hair stand on end. She swung her sword suddenly, and the sword light split the illusion, but she saw Yue Nu standing in the distance, with a mocking smile on her face.
"Be careful!" Zhang Junbao suddenly threw out two coins, which flew through the air and hit Yue Nu's shoulder points. Yue Nu's body swayed, and her illusion technique was broken. Gao Yanan took the opportunity to bully her forward and put the tip of the sword against her throat: "Break!"
The purple smoke dissipated, and Yue Nu returned to her original appearance, panting: "What a powerful swordsmanship..."
Jamukha clapped his hands and laughed: "It's great! The Qingfeng sword technique is indeed well-deserved."
He waved his hand, and the servant immediately brought a sheepskin map. "This is a detailed desert map that I have treasured for many years. It marks all the oases, water sources, and the range of activities of the sand bandits. As for the guide..." He looked at the leader of the Canglang Guard who had been silent in the corner, "Let Batu accompany the three of you."
Xu Qing took the map and said, "Thank you, Mr. Jamukha."
Zhang Junbao and Gao Yanan looked at each other in bewilderment. They felt that in this competition, Zhamuha was making too much of a joke by readily handing over the map to the guide.
There may be fraud involved.
But Xu Qing obviously had no intention of refusing.
Seeing Xu Qing like this, Zhang Junbao and Gao Yanan did not object.
They thought that Xu Qing must have his own intentions.
After Batu, the leader of the Canglang Guard, sent the three people out of the villa.
...
...
In the hall, Zhamuhe looked at "Moon Slave" and said, "If we hand over the map so easily and let Batu be their guide, they will definitely be suspicious."
Yue Nu: "Even the Khan doesn't know what my master is planning. No matter how smart they are, they can't guess it. Besides, Taoist Xu is going to enter the desert, so he won't refuse."
Jamukha: "Now that the people have left, what is your master planning?"
Yue Nu: "Let's not talk about this for now. My master had a brief romance with the Stone Guanyin of the Great Desert, but later they had disagreements and have fought several times in the past few years. Now the Huashan School's Yuquanyuan has asked Taoist Xu to go to the Great Desert to retrieve the Xiyi Sword Technique that was lost in the Yuquanyuan. He will definitely meet the Stone Guanyin. My master thinks this is an opportunity to deal with the Stone Guanyin."
Even Jamukha felt a chill when he heard the three words "Stone Guanyin".
In fact, this person is a famous female devil in the martial arts world in recent years. In her hands, few people are left alive.
In terms of martial arts skills, she is among the top five women in the martial arts world today.
Yue Nu's master really doesn't care about food or drink, even the female devil Shi Guanyin can eat her.
Zhamuhe: "I don't care about the grudge between your master and Shi Guanyin. Anyway, I have helped him this time. I hope he will not break his promise and send the Sword of Heavenly Sword to me as soon as possible."
Yue Nu smiled sweetly: "My master is the richest man in the world, the Sword of Heavenly Sword is nothing to him. Even if it is a better weapon than the Sword of Heavenly Sword, my master can also produce it."
Jamukha's eyes turned cold: "I only want the Heavenly Sword."
Yue Nu: "It seems that the Khan really believed the rumors and thought that the Heavenly Sword and the Dragon Sabre contained the secret to ruling the world."
Jamukha: "Whether it is available or not, I will definitely get it first."
Yue Nu: "Even if he gets the sword, it will not be easy for the Khan to get the Black Iron Order. You have seen it today. Gao Yanan's swordsmanship alone is not ordinary. Not to mention the unfathomable martial arts of the two Taoists Xu and Zhang. To be honest, when Taoist Xu looked at me just now, I felt like I was naked. If he said a word, I couldn't even think of resisting. In terms of mental strength, apart from Ba Siba and Meng Chixing, I can't think of anyone else who can be compared with him."
Zhamuhe: "Even you said so, it seems that my feeling just now is correct. Who is this man? The current Chongyang Palace can't support a great god like him."
Yue Nu: "Chongyang Palace has always been mysterious. My master met another unknown Taoist priest who claimed to be from Chongyang Palace a few days ago. At that time, the other three emissaries did not even have the courage to attack him."
"You, the Four Emissaries of Wine, Sex, Money and Furious, are considered top-notch in martial arts compared to the Five Scattered Men of the Ming Cult. What kind of Taoist priest is so powerful?"
The Ming Cult is the most powerful force in the Western Regions today, and its reputation is even greater than that of the White Camel Villa that dominated the Western Regions in the past.
"My master said that there is no Taoist priest in Chongyang Palace who has such a high level of cultivation. Even Wang Chongyang in the past was not so terrifying. Fortunately, the Taoist priest only asked my master for a jar of wine and did not really attack. But my master admitted that if he had attacked at that time, his chances of winning would have been less than 10%."
"Why are there so many masters in this world?" Zhamuhe felt that the world was becoming more and more confusing.
The Mongols unified the world, but instead of bringing peace to the country, the situation became increasingly turbulent.
This is also an opportunity for Jamukha to restore the glory of his ancestors.
One day, he will finally be able to tell the world that Temujin's descendants do not have the blood of the Golden Family, but he, Jamukha, does.
In fact, Jamukha and Temujin were both from the same tribe, but Temujin's ancestors had Han blood and were not pure Mongolians at all.
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...
"Master, Zhamuhe has already sent a map and a guide to Taoist Xu. This man is indeed very scary." Yue Nu saw a middle-aged man in his early thirties on a hillside dozens of miles away from Zhamuhe's villa.
He has a handsome face, regular features and deep, bright eyes, as if they contain endless wisdom and experience.
Under the moonlight, this person's eyebrows were thick and stylish, adding a bit of extraordinary demeanor. His black hair was neatly tied up without a trace of disorder, making him look particularly energetic.
“Chongyang Palace is indeed the authentic martial arts palace in the world. I just didn’t expect that such an outstanding figure would appear in this generation. Fortunately, his appearance is not a bad thing, otherwise I would still be intoxicated in the dream of dominating the world.” The corners of his mouth rose slightly with a hint of a mysterious smile.
(End of this chapter)