Three days later
Many cities.
The hunting hawk, which had been flying non-stop for three days, finally slowly descended. When Yun Xian jumped off the colorful pavilion on its back, it rubbed her face gently with the feathers on its neck.
Mu Qing disembarked from the last hunting hawk and hurriedly stuffed some dried meat into the mouths of the two hard-working spirit beasts. He looked up and said, "We're finally here."
There was a sense of exhaustion in his tone.
Yun Xian and Qiao Lingshan also looked up.
In front of him was an ancient city fortress so huge that it almost blocked out the sun. At the east and west ends, there were even centuries-old guard towers. Although the bricks were old and the moss was peeling off, and there were no weapons on them anymore, their deterrent power had not diminished but increased.
Just at the city gate, there were two hidden auras of the out-of-body stage, lazily circulating among the crowd.
Qiao Lingshan had never seen such a grand building before. She was shocked and amazed, but she didn't want to show her weakness and embarrass Jiange, so she held back her voice. At the same time, she heard Yun Xian's voice.
"Wow!" She stretched and said happily, "There are so many people!"
Qiao Lingshan: “…”
The zither practitioner Feng Ye rushed over breathlessly, holding his zither bag, "Wait, wait for me..."
The Qinfang was really unwilling to give face. Mu Qing went to lobby for a long time but failed to get the leader to allocate one more person. The biggest concession they made was to let Feng Ye take away one of the seven Qins in the sect. He said it was a very powerful magic weapon - not only was it not easy to get tired when playing, it was also long-lasting, the sound was very beautiful, and it could even make it rain.
Haha, that’s awesome!
"Have you brought everything?" Mu Qing had last been to Zhongcheng twenty years ago, and at the moment, he was feeling very upset. He took a deep breath and raised his hand to signal the three-person team to follow. "Let's go. Keep the certificates in your hands, and be careful not to let anyone steal them."
Zhongcheng, located in the center of the Four Realms, was blessed with a unique location. Hundreds of years ago, the four realms fought over it repeatedly, shedding blood, sweat, and spit, but ultimately, they could not determine who it belonged to. Later, the Xiantian Goddess could no longer bear this and decreed that this ancient city be separated, naming it Zhongcheng—literally, the City of the People.
Yun Xian actually felt that this name was a bit casual, and she thought other people would think so too, but no one said it, so she didn't say it either.
After generations of evolution, the races and sects within the cities have become so complex and diverse that they are almost innumerable. If a child of a major clan goes out to buy a sword, he will encounter three enemies. However, corresponding order and constraints have also evolved. There is a pitiful little order in the chaos:
First, you can seek revenge, but the harm will not come to your descendants, and the vengeance will not be passed on to your descendants. Once the revenge is taken, that’s it.
Second, everyone is equal, all monsters are equal, all demons are equal, all humans and demons are equal, racial discrimination is prohibited, and eating each other is prohibited.
Third, if you have money, the above two points will be invalid.
So with Jimo Shu's background, she can walk sideways here. Even if the Demon Cult is a public enemy in any world, everyone in the city is used to it. Who cares if you are a demon or not? What does it have to do with me?
Yun Xian followed a big-tailed wolf demon and slowly walked into the pass. She handed her pass contract to the guard. The guard's red eyes swept across her face, looked her up and down, and finally stopped at her collar.
"Are you a swordsman from the Eastern Realm?" the guard sighed hoarsely, "Well, it's been a while."
"Are there few sword cultivators?" Yun Xianluo spoke to him generously, "It shouldn't be."
"You can't say there aren't many. It's just that many lesser-known sword cultivators, in order to support their swords, would learn some side jobs, such as fortune-telling, divination, playing the piano, dancing... whatever." The guard stared at her and swallowed his saliva as he spoke, as if he thought Yun Xian was delicious. "But later on, they probably realized that it's easier to improve doing anything than being a sword cultivator, so they all changed careers."
He pressed his fingerprint on Yun Xian's contract, handed it over along with a small piece of paper, and sniffed laboriously: "If you also need a side job, I just happen to be short of someone here."
Yun Xian followed the crowd and walked in. In the bright sunlight, he saw the piece of paper with the words written on it:
[Eye Pianpianxiang is looking for a chef with superb knife skills - our slogan is, no one is bullied! ]
Yun Xian: “…”
At least cover it up!
The other three also quickly verified the customs deed and met up inside the city gate. They walked along a yellow mud road, turned a corner, crossed a bridge, and finally stepped over a threshold. The moment the gate opened, they saw a huge arch bridge. People rushed in, and the bustling shouts and laughter filled the air:
"Look here, look here! Best front-row seats for watching the Four-Way War! First come, first served!"
"An ink-and-wash portrait of Eastern Supervisor Su Chi! It can be hung or laid flat, and it's 60% like the real person. Ladies and gentlemen, wouldn't you like one?"
"The most authentic demonic snack in all the cities, elm bark, half a tael a box! One or two or three boxes!"
"Penguin meat, penguin meat, the kind that hasn't turned into a monster!"
"Warriors, please take a look at our Babao Tower. Only when you live and eat comfortably can you perform well~"
The bustle inside the city was even greater than at the city gates. Everywhere were eager vendors, nearly knocking Yun Xian's heels off his shoes, and some were ready to fight. One group was fighting in the front, the chaos was unbearable to watch, while another group was watching from the back, cracking sunflower seeds in perfect harmony. Some even cheered, hoping for chaos: "That's right! Pull his tail and break it! I've been fed up with this vixen for a long time!"
Feng Ye was innocently splashed with blood in the face, and was almost frightened to death on the spot.
These cities are indeed extraordinary, just as the rumors say, extremely wild.
Mu Qing struggled to lead the crowd across the arch bridge and explained, "During the once-in-a-decade Four-way War, it's the busiest time for all the cities. How could these desperate criminals miss the opportunity... Remember, save your money; it can save your life in a critical moment."
Yun Xian and Qiao Lingshan were each given two thousand taels, which they kept in their storage rings.
The entire city was shaped like a fortress, divided into three inner and outer circles. The outermost circle, where the four were walking, was a hodgepodge of people, and if you weren't careful, you could emerge with nothing but your underpants. The inner circle led to the administrative area, home to legitimate businesses and elite soldiers stationed there. Security was slightly better, and group fights generally resulted in fewer than ten deaths. Further inward lay the residences of the war participants and the secret realm of the war.
Mu Qing could only be sent here in the end. He didn't have an identity card and couldn't enter.
"It's going to be dark soon, you guys should go in quickly."
Mu Qing stopped and looked at the three people.
Under the slightly dim sky, Yun Xian stood in the middle, her high-tied jet-black hair was blown by the wind and gently hung beside the corners of her slightly parted lips. In this strange and chaotic place, her still childish face was calm and relaxed, without any sign of nervousness.
Contrary to her expression, her fingertips were touching the hilt of the sword at her waist intentionally or unintentionally, and the veins on the back of her fair hand were faintly visible.
Qiao Lingshan frowned and pursed her lips tightly. She had been silent since she came in. She must be still adapting.
Feng Ye... Feng Ye seems to still be fainting at the thought of blood. ...By the way, you've come to the Four Directions War and you're still fainting at the thought of blood, do you want to live? What on earth do you usually do at the Qinfang?
Perhaps the three of them themselves did not realize that the leader had already been chosen.
As expected of the Sect Leader's daughter, no, maybe I should change my title to Young Sect Leader from now on. Mu Qing sighed and pulled her thoughts back to where they were. After all, whether she could come back alive was uncertain. In the end, she decided not to put more pressure on the three of them. She just patted Yun Xian on the shoulder and said, "Do a good job."
"Don't worry." Yun Xian rarely stopped smiling, and even used a respectful word: "Thank you for your hard work, you can go back now."
"..." Before Mu Qing left, he left behind a few words so soft that they were almost inaudible.
"Be careful of the Sword Sect. Never, ever clash with them unless necessary."
"Don't conflict with them?"
The three of them stepped into the innermost circle. Sure enough, the number of pedestrians on the road suddenly decreased, and it even seemed a bit desolate in the dusk. Qiao Lingshan frowned, still pondering Mu Qing's words, "But the Four-way War will definitely be against the Northern Realm. How can there not be a conflict?"
"W-what?" Feng Ye had just recovered from his dizziness and nearly fainted again: "Fight against the Northern Realm? Are you crazy?"
Not to mention the Sword Sect, even the less trouble-making Body Forging Sect wasn't easy to deal with. The members of the Body Forging Sect all practiced beast transformation techniques, and when they went crazy, they didn't recognize any relatives, and they were still thinking of joining in a fight. How many lives would they waste?
Qiao Lingshan hadn't been able to stand him for a long time, but Qiao Lingshan didn't have many people she could stand. "Didn't you come here knowing about this? You didn't really think we were here for fun, did you?"
Feng Ye's face was filled with sorrow: "Our leader didn't say anything..."
Could he have been deceived?
"Stop arguing." Yun Xian reached out to stop him, and with a hiss, he touched his chin and thought, "He must be talking about the free time a week before the Four-way War."
The week before the war was a time for all sects to prepare. They waited for supervisors to arrive, observed fluctuations in the secret realm, and debugged projection stones. During this week, the poor could set up stalls and take on quests to earn some spirit stones, while the wealthy could go to the auction house to buy magic weapons and place bounties, thereby increasing their strength in the secret realm.
However, it's important to note that the Four-Way War is open to all cities, and four overseers have been appointed. To balance the pros and cons of their own sects and their reputations, some people, even when pretending, must act respectably, and there's no way they can be completely unrestrained. However, during the period before the war begins, everything must follow the rules of the cities. If he truly wants to kill someone, it'll be difficult to evade him, and that would be a huge problem.
Yun Xian thought back to the contents of the storybook and said thoughtfully, "Let's put the badge away first."
Qiao Lingshan subconsciously took off the badge, but then felt something was wrong: "Why should I listen to you?"
"The two thousand taels given by the Sixth Elder are also here with me." Yun Xianxiao stroked her head and said, "Hurry up. If you don't want to pack up and sleep under the bridge tonight, then be good and don't stand there."
Feng Ye didn't hesitate at all, and even asked with a strong desire to survive: "Should I take it off too?"
Yun Xian: "It doesn't matter whether I pick it or not. Everyone knows that the first thing to do when a war starts is to fight Qin Xiu."
Feng Ye: “?”
Yun Xian comforted him: "Or you can find a skilled hand, and then you can become the second best."
Feng Ye: “…”
Even though I'm telling the truth, why does my heart hurt so much...
Qiao Lingshan wondered why this guy had started this again. He had been so serious during the sect competition until just now. She had thought Yun Xian had finally reformed!
Yun Xian saw through her thoughts at a glance: "I was cautious before because I didn't want to worry the elders."
Qiao Lingshan lowered her head to pick the fruits, muttering as she did so: "You still remember the elders..."
She makes her father, the Sixth Elder, so angry every day.
As they spoke, the group headed towards their assigned residences. The road was filled with disciples from various sects, all rushing to participate in the Four-Way War. They wore uniform robes, and though they looked hurried, they were not chaotic, their every move and every word being perfectly orderly.
Some people noticed them, but there were only a few of them, and they were accompanied by a useless musician, so it was useless to look at them.
Yun Xian just strolled to his destination.
In front of him was a simple attic where everyone was queuing up. Yun Xian immediately saw the order to stop fighting hanging on the vermilion wall - no violence is allowed upon entering the building, otherwise you will be killed without mercy.
The token faintly exudes the pressure of a powerful person in the fusion stage.
At the front was a young man in a brown shirt and leather armor. He slammed the deed in his hand on the counter and said to the gleaming proprietress, "Give me the sign."
He carried a scimitar on his back, which was not wrapped in cloth. The blade exuded a blood-red luster. Just like him, he looked violent and difficult to approach.
"So it's Master Liu from the Sword Sect. He's truly majestic and extraordinary!" The proprietress smiled kindly and quickly handed over a few jade tokens. "It's just a hundred steps ahead. If you need anything, just come to me."
The young man must have heard too many compliments in his life; he looked annoyed and didn't even bother to respond. He took the jade token and left. A large group of Sword Sect disciples followed him out, each clad in armor and armed with swords. Yun Xian counted them and found fifteen of them already.
Not counting the disciples of the Body-Building Sect, Mu Qing said that it was "that young lady" who led the team, and they came with even more force.
The Northern Realm also won the championship in the previous session. They took the opportunity to discuss a lot of benefits, giving priority to this and that. Now they are ready to go and are full of ambition. Naturally, they will come as many as possible.
Only after they all left did Yun Xian step forward.
Qiao Lingshan and Feng Ye followed her closely, like two chicks just learning to walk.
"Eastern Realm, Jiange Qinfang." Yun Xian handed over the deed. The proprietress raised her eyelids and looked the three of them up and down with lightning speed. She uttered an ambiguous sound from her nose, "Eastern Realm... Oh?"
Just these three brats? Not even one of the leaders from the previous session? Are you kidding her? Are all those old idiots in the East Realm dead or do they just want to die?
The proprietress didn't move, leaning against the table.
If the enemy doesn't move, I won't move either. Yun Xian also doesn't move, still with a friendly smile on his face: "?"
The proprietress tapped the countertop twice with her slender fingers to urge them on.
Qiao Lingshan and Feng Ye looked confused.
The proprietress frowned and asked, "What are you waiting for?"
"?" Yun Xian said honestly, "I'm waiting for you."
“…………”
A moment later, the group walked out of the attic, their wife's face strangely grim, and headed in the direction she'd indicated. They walked twenty steps forward, then east, to the intersection, then east again. As they continued to the outskirts, the nearby buildings became increasingly bizarre, and the three of them vaguely sensed something.
"Just now... those people from the Sword Sect don't live in this direction, right?"
Before Qiao Lingshan finished her words, Yun Xian waved the shabby and tattered wooden sign in front of the door. The wooden door, which was probably older than the combined ages of the three people, suddenly opened, revealing a dead and desolate scene inside.
It had been who knows how long no one had lived in this yard. There was nothing but dust, the wooden tables were dulled by the stain, the well was almost dry, and at the bottom was a piece of white underwear belonging to someone unknown. The three of them stood stiffly at the door for a moment, and were surprised to see some cute little animals.
The mice and bats gathered together, and the spiders and geckos were in high spirits, making the three of them look like outsiders who disturbed their sweet dreams.
Feng Ye's lips trembled: "Okay, so good, so dirty..."
He suspected that there was no place to put a piano in this damn place!
"The spiritual energy is too thin. It's completely useless for cultivation." Qiao Lingshan kicked the rat family away and pushed the door handle open through her sleeve. The room was completely empty. There wasn't even a dining table. Just a cold, hard stone platform. It looked like if I stayed here for a few more days, I would become an immortal without any cultivation. "Is this really a place for people to live?"
The Sword Sect over there lives in a magnificent house, and the sound of stringed instruments can be heard from across the street.
On their side, the only sound was the creaking of the door leaking air.
As she spoke, she and Feng Ye looked at Yun Xian at the same time.
The two of them stared at each other intently.
"...I understand. This is really too much. It's not the lack of benefits that's worrying, but the inequality. How can we treat people differently?" Yun Xian hugged Qiao Lingshan confidently, his eyes as bright as stars, full of justice and determination: "I, Yun Xian, cannot tolerate any sand in my eyes. I hate to see such things in my life. I must seek justice!"
Then they returned in a rage, getting lost three times along the way.
As luck would have it, there was another line in front of the attic. The experts lined up in two rows in front of the table, like cabbages, tightly protecting the person in the front. Amidst the sea of heads and clothing, one could vaguely make out the man, dressed in a lush green robe and a jade crown, looking like a refined scholar. It wasn't a particularly hot day, and he was still leisurely waving a folding fan.
Judging from the lavish display of wealth, this person is most likely the skilled medical practitioner that Yun Xian was just muttering about.
The gleam in the proprietress's eyes almost condensed into nine-day divine thunder. Before she could utter any compliments, the skilled hand spoke in a soft voice and placed a storage ring on the table with a "thump".
"Same old rules." He said slowly, "Five thousand taels for the best house, not next to the people from the northern border. Those animals are so noisy."
The boss lady: “Okay!”
Yun Xian: “…”
Qiao Lingshan: “…”
Feng Ye: “…”
There was a suffocating silence.
Yun Xian: "Actually, there's an old saying that goes, 'When God wants to give a man a great responsibility, he must first make his heart and mind suffer and his muscles and bones work hard...'"
Qiao Lingshan jumped up: "I knew it!!"
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