Chapter 53: All the Talents Arrive

Shangcai City, the county government office.

"Zhao Taishou, where did you get this information? Is it just hearsay?"

The person who was speaking was tall, with three scars on his brow that looked like a centipede.

It was You Hongda, the former cavalry captain of the Yingyang Army.

That night, a fire broke out in Caihe River, the Taikang rebels attacked the camp, and Yuwen Chengdu's whereabouts were unknown.

Many soldiers and generals were captured, and even some masters of the Tiger and Leopard Camp defected to the Pushan Public Camp under Li Mi.

You Hongda led a team of cavalry to hunt down Zhou Yi. Although he lost him halfway, he survived.

Later, Zhang Xutuo's army arrived.

You Hongda possessed extremely superb martial arts skills and was able to lead troops into battle. He integrated the remnants of the Yingyangfu Army into a new army and at this time became a disciple of Zhang Xutuo.

He was then reinstated from a defeated general to become a cavalry captain under Zhang Xutuo.

Because he was familiar with the situation in Taikang, he was sent by Zhang Xutuo to the front line to suppress Li Mi.

This time, I received an urgent letter from Zhao Tuo, the governor of Huaiyang, and came to help.

He traveled day and night all the way to Shangcai, ready to seek revenge on Li Mi.

In the end, he didn't get anything, let alone any military merit.

Therefore, when speaking to Zhao Tuo at this moment, it was inevitable that there would be some anger in his voice.

The man sitting in the main seat of the county government office was over fifty years old. He held the crescent-shaped armrest in one hand and turned two steel balls with the other hand.

His face was as yellow as if covered with a thick layer of wax.

His hands were incredibly large and covered in calloused skin, and whether he inhaled or exhaled, it was like pulling a bellows.

When talking about masters who are both internal and external masters in Huaiyang County, one cannot avoid the prefect Zhao.

He practiced Toad Skill internally and Taiyue's protective Qi externally. Ordinary warriors couldn't even break through his protective Qi.

This man was violent by nature, and in these chaotic times, he became even more of a bully in Huaiyang.

You Hongda relied on Zhang Xutuo's power to some extent, otherwise he would not dare to speak to him so angrily.

"Captain You, please be patient and wait for my men to bring you the news."

Zhao Tuo's eyes flashed coldly: "I want to change the subject with Captain You."

"oh?"

You Hongda picked up the cup and drank the tea, swallowing the liquid and chewing the tea leaves. "I'd like to hear more about it."

"I heard that you have had many dealings with the Taiping Heavenly Master. Is this true?"

When this is mentioned.

You Hongda immediately spat out the tea leaves in his mouth.

The figure holding the flaming flag appeared in his mind.

Moreover, this figure also met the "Zhou Guanchao" in the Fushi Inn.

He also thought of the great loss he suffered in Yongqiu.

Damn it, this guy is really a disaster!

It's unlucky to meet this person!

You Hongda's heart was filled with alarm, and he began to think of retreating. He looked at Zhao Tuo and asked, "Why, is this Taiping rebel also in Shangcai?"

Zhao Tuo shook his head: "I'm looking for him."

You Hongda understood.

Zhao Tuo was obsessed with martial arts and was probably looking for some absurd and ridiculous Taoist book.

"That traitor has already escaped. How could I possibly know his whereabouts?"

Zhao Tuo showed a hint of regret.

He took out a portrait from his arms and showed it to You Hongda.

"Captain You, I had someone draw this. Can you help me see how much it resembles the Heavenly Master Zhou of Taiping?"

You Hongda glanced at him and sneered, "How can he be so fat? He's much more handsome in real life than you."

Zhao Tuo frowned: "Is he more handsome than this?"

You Hongda said, "Even though he is a big traitor, I don't bother to tell lies."

Zhao Tuo grinned grimly: "It's better to be handsome. It's hard to find someone too ordinary."

Seeing that he looked like he was going crazy, You Hongda couldn't help but shrink his neck. Thinking that they were in the same camp after all, he kindly reminded him:

"Zhao Taishou, I advise you not to look for any Taoist treasure books."

"Li Mi and this guy surnamed Zhou, these two great rebels are in the same group. Even General Zhang said that the so-called Taoist Treasure Book was a rumor spread by Li Mi to instill confidence in Zhou, perhaps in preparation for a future Taiping Dao rebellion."

"Besides, this Zhou guy is like the God of Plague, even more cunning and treacherous than Li Mi. Nothing good will happen if you run into him."

After saying this, he spat out a mouthful of saliva.

Zhao Tuo smiled and shook his head: "I have a principle. If I believe something, I won't believe it no matter what others say unless I have seen it with my own eyes."

It’s none of my business if you don’t believe me. You Hongda is too lazy to pay attention to him.

Um?

He suddenly raised his head and saw someone running hurriedly outside the office.

"Prefect, Captain You, there's news!"

Zhao Tuo jumped up from the high chair.

He rushed over and grabbed the urgent letter sent by the spy.

"Hahaha!"

Then he laughed three times, his face full of cruelty: "Quickly order all the masters of the prefectural governor's mansion to assemble!"

"Yes!" The man took the order and left.

"Captain You, please prepare the troops and horses!"

“…”

On the bank of the Ru River, in the dim afterglow of the sunset, a strange man with a hooked nose, deep eyes and a crown on his head appeared in the shadow of a mulberry tree.

The Shangcai city wall in the setting sun exudes an ancient and vicissitudes of life.

Emperor Ding suppressed his anger at the destruction of his secret nest.

But it's just suppressed.

If this anger is not released, I will not be able to practice in peace.

Following the scattered traces left that night, I came all the way to the Ru River, and then the traces disappeared.

Those two people must have left by boat.

In the lower reaches of this section of the Ru River is Shangcai City.

Emperor Ding had sufficient reason to believe that the two men would pass through this city.

They were a man and a woman, both dressed in white.

A chaotic sound of people roaring and horses neighing could be heard in Shangcai City.

Emperor Ding heard it, but he was not afraid!

Facing the forest of spears and halberds wielded by military masters, although he could not resist head-on, it was easy to run away.

Finding a wall covered with grass, Emperor Ding took a zombie step and easily entered the city.

…

After leaving Shangcai, Zhou Yi did not stop all the way, first distanced himself from the trouble behind him.

In just one day, he traveled from Shangcai to Wufang.

It is about five hundred miles away from Nanyang.

After spending a night in the small town of Wufang, I set out early the next morning on the winding ancient road with my shirt wet with morning dew.

At the end of the Si hour, I encountered a few thieves with knives blocking my way on the road.

These thieves watched along the road for a long time, and finally came across a lone traveler who looked easy to bully.

Prepare to open a business and rob money.

Who would have thought that the mission would fail miserably and hit a wall?

One by one they were knocked to the ground and thrown into the river.

Near noon, Zhou Yi went to the mountainside to get some spring water and used it with dry food to treat his stomach and intestines.

There is a small pavilion beside the low hill. Its four pillars are mottled and it is very old.

A wild peach tree grows sideways, shedding its red petals.

Zhou Yi was in high spirits and came to the pavilion to rest, meditate, and practice his internal skills.

He was still practicing the Twelve Meridians, but after listening to Dugu Feng's words, he went straight to practice the Heart Meridian of Hand Shaoyin.

The heart belongs to fire, so using the water from Yongquan to practice this meridian should be extremely dangerous.

However, theories are sometimes just theories.

When applied to different people, it is two different things in practice.

Practicing the Shaoyin Heart Meridian is actually not much different from practicing the Lung Meridian and Liver Meridian before.

Firstly, it’s because his true energy is special.

Secondly, some of the inner demons that arose from practicing the Heart Sutra were firmly suppressed by Zhuangzi's Human World and The Eternal Zen of the Heart.

Two hours later, Zhou Yi stood up from his meditation.

"The progress of practicing this Shaoyin Heart Sutra is still very fast."

"According to the common martial arts training methods described by Little Phoenix, the Twelve Meridians correspond to various unique martial arts. If all twelve meridians are mastered, can they encompass everything and understand the strengths of each school?"

Zhou Yi smiled and felt that he was a little greedy.

After stretching my muscles for a while, I felt relaxed all over and continued moving forward.

This time he took a deep breath and used his lightness skills to catch up with the distance he had fallen behind.

It was getting dark and we were about to reach Huai'an County.

After Huai'an, you will reach Nanyang.

As dusk fell, the outlines of the distant mountains and forests were shattered in the dense mist.

Zhou Yi wanted to find a village to rest, so he quickened his pace.

After crossing a low hill, the road below the mountain gradually becomes flat.

When I reached the foot of the mountain, I heard a dull humming sound.

That was the sound of the wheels of the oxcart covered in red mud rubbing against the stone surface.

There was a person sitting on the bare wooden frame at the back of the ox cart.

He was a middle-aged man who looked quite down and out.

He wore a faded green turban and a moon-white gown that had been washed to a grayish hue, with patches on the elbows, and a dark brown lining underneath.

A half-rolled book was spread out on his knees.

The other half of the torn book seemed to be hanging on the horns of the yellow cow.

Looks like a down-and-out scholar

…

Thanks to Shuwen327 for the 5,000-point reward! Thank you so much!

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Thanks to Tingyunzuoguanfenqi and Digital Brother 1661348144405368832 for the 500-point reward!

Thanks to Jiangzuo Duan Buyi, Wuhu Mengmao, and Mechanical Siege Lion for the 100-point reward!

Thanks to the little bookworm from the Yang family for the reward!

(End of this chapter)