Chapter 944: A Narrow Encounter (Part 2) [Requesting Monthly Tickets]

"Ahhh, I remember now!"

The caravan guards slapped their thighs and shouted.

"It's Nishimiya Ball!"

"Bullshit, what Xigongqiu? It's called Gongxiqiu!"

These caravan guards were all retired soldiers. Some were too old, while others had hidden injuries that made them unsuitable for continued combat. In addition, with the military reforms planned in Shentang, they chose to retire after much consideration. Some had relatives at home, so they took their subsidies and returned to their ancestral homes to get married and have children. Others were all alone and didn't care where they were, so they chose to become caravan guards.

Kangguo treated its veterans quite well.

The royal court has a special agency that collects intelligence on these veterans and introduces them to suitable jobs. Serving as guards for caravans offers higher pay, but also carries greater risks. Working as post station clerks in various locations provides lower pay, but is more stable and safer.

Besides these, there are other possible destinations.

The most sought-after jobs are in the departments under the Ministry of Industry.

Therefore, these guards had seen Gong Xi Chou before, or more accurately, they had seen Gong Xi Chou's martial spirit totem on the battlefield, and they had an impression of it.

"...His name isn't Qiu, is it Qiu?"

"No, no, I can't be mistaken..."

The group argued without reaching a consensus, but the caravan leader spoke up: "...Well, what it's called isn't important, what's important is that the Gongxi Ball you're talking about is really going to be played!"

The guards fell silent for a moment, exchanged glances, and, relying on the tacit understanding developed from years of fighting side by side, divided their tasks. One of them conjured a warhorse on the spot: "You all protect the caravan's goods. This place isn't far from Jinli County; I'll be right back!"

Gongxi Chou held the honorary title of Grand General in Kang State.

Although they held no real power, the fact that the Grand General, who had been granted a title, had met with misfortune in this area required reporting to the local military governor's office. They knew their own limitations; even getting close would be difficult, and a single aftershock could severely injure them all, let alone help Gongxi Chou escape. The only thing they could do was report to the local military governor's office as quickly as possible; perhaps they could still make it in time.

The postmaster immediately spoke up to stop them upon seeing the direction.

"Don't take this road!"

Judging by this commotion, the official road ahead is about to be in trouble.

If the guards rush over rashly, they might even lose their lives.

"Innkeeper, please show me the way."

Taking the official road is the shortest and fastest route; taking a detour would waste countless hours. The guards were anxious, and before the postmaster could give directions, a young man in red stepped out from among the wandering knights. Though called a young man, he was actually the physique of a youth, but his clear eyes, red lips, and white teeth subtly lowered his age, making him appear younger at first glance.

"What did you say his name was, brave man?"

The guard wanted to yell at him to get out of the way and stop causing trouble, but the moment he met those eyes, all his anxiety vanished, and he calmly said, "His name is Gong Xiqiu."

He spoke with certainty and unwavering resolve.

Little did they know that the young man in plain clothes and the person next to him had a twitch at the corner of their mouths.

Gongxi Chou has lost his true name!

The young man in the tight-fitting clothes looked up at the harpy eagle in the distance, its sharp claws retracting and digging deep into the giant python's body, tearing off a large chunk of flesh. Scales flew everywhere, and the twitching of muscles could still be vaguely seen. The giant python didn't give up easily; instead, it leaped forward, attempting to coil around the harpy eagle's neck, but the eagle flapped its wings and narrowly missed, scattering several blood-stained black feathers. Meanwhile, two streams of martial energy, one green and one black, used the bodies of the two giant beasts as a battlefield, occasionally unleashing terrifying explosions.

"Gongxi ball, Gongxi..."

The young man in the tight-fitting clothes muttered twice.

Then, he turned to his companion and asked for confirmation, "Uncle Lin, is this the clansman who has been separated from us?"

He had known of Gong Xichou's existence for a long time.

Fang Yan and Chao Lian had mentioned it to him.

But at that time, he was still too young to understand, so even though Gong Xichou was a member of his clan, it meant nothing to him. Even his teacher, Ji Moyu, didn't care, so why should he? Now that his teacher had achieved enlightenment, Gong Xichou had become the only remaining member of his clan.

Anything that is associated with the word "unique" acquires a special meaning, and one cannot simply stand by and watch.

Uncle Lin nodded: "Yes."

I never expected to run into them here.

Fang Yan looked at the distant battlefield, thinking more comprehensively: "Shao Bai, Gong Xi Chou is a warlike man. We don't know if he's encountered an enemy or is just sparring with someone. If we rashly intervene, we might do more harm than good. The most important thing is this formation..."

Originally, only Gong Xichou was being attacked.

In the past, the two boys in their athletic outfits would get beaten up together.

Chao Lian put his hand to his forehead to avoid the glaring sunlight so he could see more clearly: "Gong Xi Chou's opponent is not very old either. Every move he makes is aimed at Gong Xi Chou's vital points. He is here to take his life. It can't be a friendly spar. Tsk, back then, Gong Xi Chou suppressed us brothers all by himself. Now he has ended up in such a miserable state. The Northwest Continent has been quite lively these past few years."

I've never heard of anyone being able to rival Gongxi Chou before.

As for Shen Youli?

She doesn't count.

After all, Gong Xichou is still considered human, and his path of growth is traceable, while Shen Jun is completely beyond the comprehension of normal people.

Shao Chong, standing to the side, pouted, looking rather unhappy.

Chao Lian asked him with concern, "What's wrong, Thirteen?"

Shao Chong crossed his arms and rubbed them together: "I don't know why, but seeing that snake made me feel uncomfortable. I felt pain all over my body."

Chao Lian: "..."

Although Thirteen has lost his previous memories, his body still remembers the experience of being almost killed by Gong Xichou, which explains why he feels uncomfortable.

Shao Chong licked his lips: "Twelfth Brother."

Chao Lian responded, "What's wrong?"

Shao Chong seemed to be savoring the memory: "Let's have snake soup tonight."

Chao Lian: "..."

The young man in the tight-fitting clothes conjured a weapon in his hand and said to Fang Yan, "It's alright, I'll go ask him if he needs my help."

If he didn't want it, he would just watch from the sidelines.

The next instant, the young man soared into the sky, leaving a streak of crimson light in his wake. Chao Lian and Fang Yan exchanged glances and prepared to watch the battle up close. Back then, how arrogant and domineering Gong Xi Chou was! He acted like a big shot wherever he went; it was rare to see him act like a subservient grandson. His good shows were few and far between; every performance was a precious one.

Uncle Lin was the only one who had never met Gong Xichou.

He had no interest in watching the other person get beaten up.

But Shao Chong, that mischievous kid, would carry him and then speed away.

The strong wind blowing in his face made ripples appear on Uncle Lin's face: "Did I say I wanted to go watch the excitement?"

The roar was left unsaid.

Because as soon as I opened my mouth, I was forced to swallow a mouthful of wind.

Both Gong Xichou and Gong Cheng sensed several unfamiliar auras approaching. The difference was that Gong Xichou couldn't spare the attention to deal with them, while Gong Cheng could be distracted, but he didn't care. They guessed it was some martial arts experts from nearby who had come to join the fun.

This kind of thing happens from time to time.

Observing two martial arts masters sparring up close can be enlightening; even someone with a bit of aptitude might learn something, and perhaps this is the perfect opportunity to break through a bottleneck. However, some excitements shouldn't be joined in blindly.

Once caught in the crossfire, will they lose their lives?

Those people died in vain, and have no one to blame but themselves.

No one expected that the unfamiliar martial artist, who was supposed to be watching, would not keep his distance and instead charge headfirst at them.

Gong Cheng and Gong Xiqiu withdrew at the same time.

It wasn't that he was afraid of hurting anyone, but rather that the newcomer had also made a move, forcibly intervening between the two and disrupting the original balance. Gong Xichou was able to catch his breath, while Gong Cheng squinted, his gaze piercing through the shockwaves generated by the clash of martial energy, barely managing to make out the other person's general appearance before questioning, "What are you doing—"

It stopped abruptly the moment the person turned to look.

The newcomer was dressed in a striking crimson outfit, which made her already fair skin appear even more delicate and radiant, and her features were more defined and striking than those of an average person. Her long, jet-black hair was tied up with an exquisite crown, and several small braids were interspersed among the strands that fell down.

His forehead was full and his eyes were as black as lacquer.

The corners of her lips seem to have a naturally upward curve.

Despite his fiery and flamboyant appearance, his temperament is reserved and gentle, like a sword adorned with luxurious jewels. Never underestimate him because of his looks; who knows if a deadly weapon lies hidden within its sheath!

None of these things concerned Gong Cheng.

What he cared about was the boy's appearance.

This person's appearance looks very familiar.

Just then, Gong Xichou, standing some distance behind the boy, also adjusted his breathing and fiercely wiped away the blood streaming down his face. The wound was close to his eye; if it had been any further off, his right eye might have been lost. Gong Xichou had injured both eyes years ago, and Gong Cheng had noticed during their fight that Gong Xichou would always freeze for a moment when attacking in a certain direction.

In a duel between experts, the worst thing is to lose control of one's focus.

Gong Cheng quickly seized the opportunity, and Gong Xichou also took the opportunity to launch a close-range counterattack, leaving a deep wound on Gong Cheng's chest that exposed the bone. Unfortunately, the wound was not fatal, and with his powerful regenerative abilities, it had long since healed.

"Are you also a member of the Gongxi clan?"

Gong Cheng's eyes never left the boy's face.

It was stated in an affirmative tone.

The boy asked him, "Are you sparring?"

Gong Cheng: "..."

The boy had his back to Gong Xi Chou, so Gong Xi Chou couldn't see his face, but that didn't stop him from rolling his eyes at the stupid question: "Which eye of yours saw this as a sparring match? Kid, don't waste your life staying here. Go somewhere cool!"

Gong Xichou's voice was fierce.

He was in a bad mood, but another reason was that he didn't want innocent people to die. Despite his current disheveled appearance, Gong Xichou still had ways to escape. He wanted to find out as much as possible about Gong Cheng's background; knowing your enemy is half the battle, and you'll have a better chance of winning in future encounters. Who knew that someone so arrogant would suddenly appear?

As for the boy's attire?

Gong Xichou didn't really think much about it.

As far as he knew, Xu Quan, a young man from the Xu family, had secretly spearheaded a group called the "Gong Xi Chou Conservation Association." Coupled with the fact that certain aristocratic families had inexplicably gone astray, Gong Xi Chou's style of dress had become all the rage. Among the martial artists in Kang Kingdom, four or five out of ten liked to wear several braids. The young man before him was probably also a trendsetter.

Gong Cheng responded by striking out with a palm strike.

They aimed straight at the face of the young man in his tight-fitting clothes.

Before the young man in the martial arts outfit could react, Gong Xichou struck with his weapon. With Gong Cheng's current strength, his palm was impervious to blades and spears, and could also shatter metal and jade. The sharp edge of the serpent halberd couldn't pierce Gong Cheng's palm, but it was enough to deflect the attack.

Gongxi Chou grabbed the young man in the tight-fitting clothes and pulled him behind him without turning around, holding his serpent halberd horizontally in front of him: "Why make things difficult for a passerby? Or have you gone mad with qi, asking everyone you meet if they are from the Gongxi clan? There aren't that many people!"

I was really unlucky to run into him.

Gong Cheng was incredibly lucky to have met him.

Haha, you've already hit me once, and you want to hit me a second time?

Gong Cheng looked at him as if he were a fool, or rather, he thought Gong Xichou regarded him as a fool: "Passerby? Heh, Gong Xichou, do you think I'm as blind as you?"

Can you really say these two faces are unrelated when placed side by side?

Gong Xiqiu found Gong Cheng's behavior utterly baffling.

At this moment, the young man in the martial attire stepped forward. The instant Gong Xichou saw his face, his pupils contracted sharply, and he instantly understood why Gong Cheng suspected the young man was also a member of the Gongxi clan. The reason was simple: the young man's appearance bore a striking resemblance to his own!

A thought raced through my mind.

He hallucinated hearing gongs, drums, and firecrackers.

Nephew! Nephew! Nephew! Nephew...

This person is definitely my nephew!

Gong Xiqiu felt his blood boiling, and he even forgot about his pain. Seeing this, Gong Cheng knew that his guess was true.

The young man in his sporty outfit said, "I am indeed from the Gongxi clan."

Gong Xichou's hallucinations grew louder, his heart pounded like a drum, and his lips were dry. He had a thousand words to say to his nephew.

At this moment, the eldest nephew said, "Since you are not sparring but seeking revenge, we cannot tolerate you killing my clansmen."

Gong Xiqiu snapped out of his daze, his gaze resolute.

Grabbing his nephew's shoulder, he said in a deep voice, "Nephew, step back. This man can't take my life. I was just playing around with him. Go wait somewhere else, and we'll catch up later, okay?"

The young man in the sporty outfit looked at him blankly: "Second Uncle?"

Fang Yan, Chao Lian, and Uncle Lin, who were watching the spectacle, were also dumbfounded. They knew the two were from the same clan, but they didn't know they were related in this way. The Fang brothers looked at Uncle Lin for confirmation, and Shao Chong asked in a low voice, "Is this really true?"

Although Uncle Lin had not yet answered, just by looking at the two men's appearances, the three of them felt that it was true, that they were actually uncle and nephew!

Uncle Lin was momentarily stunned.

He then said, "When we went to the Gongxi clan's ancestral lands back then, we didn't find any family genealogy records. We only saw burning life lamps in a forbidden area... Ji Moyu said that the placement of life lamps is also significant. Gongxi Chou's life lamp and Shao Bai's life lamp are very close to each other... They might really be uncle and nephew..."

Nevertheless, Uncle Lin always felt that something was wrong.

I can't remember it for the time being.

Chao Lian and Fang Yan sighed softly, "What a coincidence..."

It's truly wonderful.

Fortunately, they were nearby and came over; otherwise, Gong Xichou would have been seriously injured even if he hadn't died today. Now that the uncle and nephew have joined forces against Gong Cheng, even if they can't defeat him, they won't let the other side gain much advantage. At least, their lives are completely safe.

If that's not enough, aren't there still them?

Uncle Lin and Fang Yan are both literary scholars.

Their conversation was not concealed and naturally reached the ears of the three on the battlefield. Ji Moqiu's eyes were momentarily dazed and confused.

"You, are you really my second uncle?"

|ω`)

(End of this chapter)