Chapter 181 The Evil Lieutenant Enters the Mansion! His Arrival is Mighty
Qiongtian Prefecture is under the jurisdiction of Yu Nan Dao, located south of the Great Wu Dynasty and the Southern Heaven Domain.
Starting from Qingning County, we arrived at Qiongtianfu City. It was about 700 li, passing through official roads, mountain paths, and waterways. The strange horse [Baiyun] was very strong, but since we had plenty of time, we traveled at the pace of ordinary horses and beasts.
Fang Chuqingning.
Riding along the smooth official road, a gentle breeze stirred his hair. Li Xian's heart was not in power or wealth; he was solely captivated by "beauty."
The scenery of heaven and earth was all within his sight.
Feeling immensely pleased, he suddenly thought, "If all the beauties in the world could be mine, it wouldn't be so bad."
With a smirk, he shouted several times into the air, expressing his feelings and drawing strange looks from passing merchants. Li Xian smiled awkwardly, grabbed the reins, yelled "Giddy up!" and sped away from the area.
The lady slightly raised her eyes and said lightly, "Making a fuss over nothing." She didn't say much more, but found the young man's righteousness quite charming.
The roadside is lush with vegetation and boasts magnificent and unique scenery.
Towering mountains are everywhere. Majestic and wondrous mountains are even less rare.
Around noon, we passed through Huangyu County.
The county was bustling with pedestrians, and the white horse and black carriage traveling through the town attracted crowds of onlookers. Even the most prominent families in the county rarely possessed such a vehicle.
Li Xian set off early in the morning, and smelling the bustling atmosphere of the city, he felt hungry and asked, "Madam, would you like something to eat?"
Madam Wen said, "You'll have to fend for yourself." She took out a jade box containing jade dew, pale green in color and fragrant with herbs; a single drop would be enough to satisfy hunger for a day. Li Xian stopped the carriage, found a noodle shop, and had a simple meal. Having endured wind and rain, he didn't care for fancy food; as long as he filled his stomach, he would continue his journey.
Heading north, the weather gradually gets colder.
The impoverished land of Tianfu encompassed nine counties and twelve cities, covering a vast territory. The further north one traveled, the more prosperous it became, with rivers converging and waterways facilitating transportation.
The Great Wu Dynasty has many river systems, and these river veins are important resources that martial artists, aristocratic families, and sects will all vie for.
Li Xian went to a distant place and gained some experience: "Compared to this, Qingning County is indeed a barren place. Before, when we went south, although the scenery along the way was magnificent, the people were impoverished, and many were not even clothed. In addition, there was the chaos caused by the Huanglong Army, which made people suffer."
"We are now heading north, passing through a large city. Although there are still more poor than rich people, the overall situation is much better."
They continued in this manner for a day.
They camped out in the countryside that night. Madam Wen slept on the carriage bed, while Li Xian remained vigilant, guarding all sides. In peaceful and stable places where people lived in harmony, demons were less likely to appear. However, they could still be seen occasionally after nightfall. Li Xian kept watch for half the night, then rang the "demon-exorcising bell." The demons retreated and dared not attack again. He could then relax and take time to practice his martial arts.
Proficiency +1
Proficiency +1
[The Fallen Sun and Bloodstained Sword - Level Two]
[Proficiency: 324/24000 (Mastery)]
The next day they continued their journey. Although the scenery along the way was magnificent, they were in a hurry and did not have time to appreciate it properly. Around evening, Madam Wen sat quietly for a long time and suddenly said, "Let's go to Wujiangfang."
Li Xian consulted the map and found that Wujiangfang was located in 'Wulong City,' only about thirty li away. He immediately turned his horse around and headed east. As night fell, he arrived outside Wulong City.
The city gate is a hundred feet high, like a mountain. The three characters "Wulong City" on the plaque are written in a vigorous and unrestrained style, as if it is about to break free from its shackles and soar into the sky.
The city guards blocked the road. The lady handed Li Xian a token, which Li Xian immediately showed. Upon seeing it, the soldiers obediently made way. It turned out that this was not the lady's first visit; she held a high position in the neighborhood, and the token symbolized her status, allowing her to pass through without hindrance or inspection.
"Go straight to Wujiangfang and ask if there are any luxury ships going to the prefectural city," Madam Wen's voice drifted out of the carriage. Soft and melodious, yet with an underlying air of authority.
Wujiangfang.
The great river meanders.
At the alley entrance, dozens of large ships were moored. Li Xian looked up and saw countless people carrying goods like tiny ants. Of all the 360 trades, water transport was the most important.
"Hey guys, hurry up and be gentle. These things are the big boss's treasures. If you break even a tiny inch of them, you'll lose your life."
The obese and greasy foreman, brandishing a long whip and spouting a set of rhetoric, bore a striking resemblance to Luo Fang, the servant in charge of menial tasks.
Li Xian said, "Madam, there are too many people here. I'll find a quiet place to stop first. You can rest in the carriage while I go to the manager of Wujiangfang to ask for a boat." The lady remained silent, which was taken as tacit agreement.
There was a beautiful lake in Wulong City, surrounded by lush willow trees. Li Xian parked the carriage nearby, lifted a corner of the curtain, and saw his wife resting with her eyes closed. He whispered, "Madam, I'm going."
Madam Wen nodded almost imperceptibly, without raising her eyebrows.
After settling the carriage and patting the white horse, he fastened his token and entered Wujiang Ward. After some inquiries, he found the manager in charge of transportation and asked about shipping arrangements.
The steward took the token and examined it closely. Transport tokens were divided into different grades; this one, blue with a gold interior, was a top-grade token, its owner either wealthy or noble. His expression changed, and he dared not be careless. He immediately sent someone to inquire about the shipping schedule and led Li Xian to sit down properly.
Not long after.
The steward approached and said apologetically, "Young master, please wait another day, or... if you would be so kind as to take a slightly lesser class boat, I will arrange it for you immediately."
"If you are willing to wait, I will arrange a good room for you first, and then have three or five beautiful concubines serve you well. You can enjoy listening to music, seeking pleasure, and watching music as you please. I guarantee you will never be bored."
"I see..." Li Xian didn't give an answer and went back to ask his wife for her opinion.
Madam Wen had anticipated this, saying, "Since there is no luxurious ship, we cannot force it. Let's just wait one more day."
Li Xian drove the carriage to Wujiangfang. He informed the steward of the decision, who hurriedly arranged rooms. Li Xian then returned to the carriage and helped his wife down.
Li Xian asked, "Madam, does the Wujiangfang know of your reputation? They treat you with such respect."
Madam Wen said, "I also have a business in the prefectural city, which requires me to deal with Wujiang Ward. Over time, our interests have become closely intertwined, so they naturally treat me with courtesy. As for my name, it's not written on my face, so how would they know?"
As the two were walking, several graceful women approached. The manager had an obsequious expression. Madam Wen glanced at them and immediately understood the situation, her brows furrowing slightly: "Tell these people to disperse."
The steward, in a flustered state, immediately dismissed the women. He had just mentioned, "Having beautiful concubines to serve you will never be boring," and the young master had not refused. He silently kept this in mind, little did he know that there was a wife above the young master.
Madam Wen said softly, "Raise your hand." Li Xian did as she was told. Madam Wen flicked her sleeve, and a soft sword inside sliced through his skin, leaving a bloody mark on Li Xian's palm. The pain was excruciating, and he involuntarily pulled away.
Li Xian thought to himself, "Is Madam angry that I found a beautiful concubine to serve me? I had no idea this steward would be so accommodating. I didn't even agree to it. This is truly an undeserved disaster."
Madam Wen remained calm and composed, showing no sign of anger. How could she care about such a common woman? She had just been thinking, "This young man is full of vigor and passion, and his desires are hard to control. That's precisely why I need to constantly give him a nudge. I must keep his desires and passions firmly in my grasp. If I want you to be aroused, you must be aroused; if I want you to be moved, you must be moved."
The two then settled down in Wujiangfang. Before long, dawn broke, and a red sun rose above the river, its rays illuminating the water and making it shimmer.
Countless ships set sail.
The two lived in a riverside pavilion, a hundred feet high, offering panoramic views. Looking down, Li Xian saw that the layers of buildings and eaves completely obscured the dense crowd of boatmen and civilians, leaving only the magnificent scenery.
A day passed. A magnificent ship docked at the port. The ship was thirty-three zhang tall, entirely reddish-gold in color, and made of special wood. The entire hull was carved with dragon patterns.
Its appearance is incomparably luxurious, beyond words. It is as if all the craftsmanship in the world has been applied to it.
Seeing a bronze cauldron standing on the roof of the ship, Li Xian asked, "Madam, why is there a bronze cauldron on the roof of the ship?"
Madam Wen looked at it and said, "This ship is named Bronze Cauldron, and it was originally built for alchemy. As I told you before, you need to establish momentum before alchemy. Some people establish momentum by building tall buildings, while others establish momentum by building tall towers. This ship establishes momentum by building a ship. When refining the pills, the ship needs to sail into the deep sea to collect deep-sea water vapor and refine precious and rare pills."
"Once the elixir is refined and no longer needed, it is used as a luxury ship to transport goods."
Li Xian thought to himself, "This world is truly wondrous; I've learned so much."
"Sir, cabin number A on the ship has been arranged for you. If there is nothing else, please board. Of course, if there is an emergency, the ship will wait for you for two hours."
The steward arrived with a respectful address. He already knew that Li Xian was not the lord; the powerful one was the beautiful lady. But he couldn't blame himself for misjudging him; Li Xian was handsome and had an extraordinary bearing, far surpassing even the most aristocratic young masters. Li Xian acknowledged this, exchanged pleasantries with the steward, and saw him off.
Li Xian asked, "Madam, when do we board the ship? Can this ship go directly to the prefectural city?"
Madam Wen said, "The seven rivers of the prefecture city converge here, and this Wujiang River flows into the prefecture city, so it can naturally reach the prefecture city directly."
The two boarded a luxury ship, which was situated at an exceptionally high altitude. Boarding required climbing a "ladder to the clouds," symbolizing continuous advancement and soaring into the heavens. During the journey, Li Xian looked down and saw countless envious glances.
"Madam, please walk slowly," Li Xian said gently, offering her assistance. Madam Wen nodded, feeling inexplicably pleased and enjoying this meticulous care. They entered the cabin and settled into the top-tier first-class room.
As evening fell, the luxury boat sailed along the Wujiang River. The river was wide and the current was swift. As it went deeper into the river, the banks became invisible, and it seemed as if it were the sea.
A red stage was erected on the ship's deck. Dancers worked tirelessly, taking turns to perform and play music, their movements captivating.
The passengers on the luxury ship were all wealthy and powerful. Those heading to the capital city all had connections and influential figures. If someone took a fancy to a dancer, they would simply take her away, and after a night of pleasure, no one would say a word.
Li Xian sat on the terrace, watching this extravagant scene. The boat traveled for three days. On the second day, a strange sight appeared on the Wujiang River: countless "peng fish" swam out of the riverbed, leaped out of the water, and soared upwards.
Flying in the sky, it blots out the sun.
Li Xian possesses the special ability to "hear thunder," allowing him to sense when thunder is about to strike the river. These fish have a peculiar habit: whenever there is a thunderstorm, they collectively leap out of the river.
On the third day.
At dawn, the river was shrouded in mist, and a village could be faintly seen amidst the clouds.
The wonders and strange events of the world are countless. Even the lady herself hadn't encountered this, and couldn't fathom its meaning. She did recall a legend: the Wujiang River is imbued with mythical significance; once, a Lady of the Wujiang River jumped into the river and died, transforming into the spirits of the river.
There are also legends that the Wujiang River is a tributary of the River Styx, flowing into the human world, and thus often communicates with the underworld, where one can see strange sights on the other side of the underworld... Such things may or may not be true.
But once the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) had passed, the mist on the river dissipated. Li Xian looked into the distance and saw a forest of pavilions and colorful cranes soaring in the air... a magnificent sight he had never seen before.
We've arrived at the prefectural city.
"Could this be considered an incursion into the city by a rogue officer?" Li Xian wondered to himself.
The boat docked at the alley entrance. Li Xian first led Bai Yun off the large boat. Then he returned to the boat and helped his wife off.
The city boasts 360 towering buildings, housing the Cao, Lin, Yuwen, and Hong families, as well as 360 other trades, including fishing, firewood, and jade trades—a scene of unprecedented prosperity.
As soon as the two appeared, onlookers couldn't help but gather around. The woman was elegant and graceful, while the man was young and handsome.
Such a combination is truly rare.
As the two walked along the street, the people of the prefecture all turned to look at them, discussing the matter animatedly.
Unbeknownst to everyone, the handsome young man being praised at this moment was none other than the vicious lieutenant Li Xian, whom they had previously cursed and hated.
Madam Wen gazed intently, remembering that she had also been in the prefectural city at this time last year.
She was keeping a close eye on Taozi, a member of a prominent family in the prefecture.
Madam Wen suddenly chuckled, her voice carrying a tone of admonition, demand, and command, and said softly, "Little Fairy, this time you're coming back, you need to stir up some trouble for me."
"Otherwise, I will punish you."
(End of this chapter)
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