Chapter 31 (Second Update) Carp Town
Chapter 31 Carp Town
It takes a whole day to get from the dock to the herbal tea shop on the official road between Guangcheng and Licheng. By the time we set off from the dock, it was already afternoon, and we wouldn't have time for dinner.
Although Master He wanted to get to Bazhenlou as soon as possible, his health was not suitable for riding at night. For safety reasons, the group stopped in Carp Town along the way before nightfall.
Carp Town is a notorious beginner's trap.
As the name suggests, anyone new to the martial arts world is likely to fall into a trap here.
However, because the name of Carp Town is associated with the auspicious omen of carp leaping over the dragon gate, many people are still willing to come to Carp Town out of curiosity or to try their luck with the carp.
Especially those in the martial arts world!
Rumor has it that many reclusive martial arts masters reside in Carp Town, and if you are lucky enough, you might even encounter a top-tier master who will bestow upon you a peerless martial arts manual.
Of course, only a naive young man who is new to the world and full of dreams would believe such rumors.
But it is true that more than ten years ago, a great demon Zhao Tong suddenly appeared. It is said that Zhao Tong, who kills without blinking an eye, bought an inconspicuous martial arts manual and a rare treasure called "Fish Slaughtering Knife" in Carp Town. Then, in a few years, he swept through the righteous path of the martial arts world and established the Rakshasa Alliance.
If it weren't for the repeated suppression by the righteous sects of the martial arts world in recent years, the Rakshasa Alliance would have been even more powerful than the Free and Unfettered Sect back then.
Because of Zhao Tong, many newcomers to the martial arts world are still willing to "dig for gold" in Carp Town.
Although everyone criticizes Zhao Tong, everyone wants to be like him.
If one were to actually find a martial arts manual or a precious sword similar to a "fish-slaughtering knife," one can imagine the experiences that would follow in the martial arts world!
Wang Sumo had never been to Carp Town, but she had always wanted to go!
She didn't go to Carp Town to look for martial arts manuals or precious swords; she just wanted to see some lively places!
However, the carriage carrying the Bazhenlou restaurant was too conspicuous. She wanted to go by herself, but the old man was worried about her and said that there was nothing interesting about such a despicable place, and it wasn't safe either.
She wanted the old man to go with her, but there was no one to watch over the Eight Treasures Restaurant.
So I haven't been able to go yet.
While passing through Carp Town, He Ping was discussing with Old Master He whether to stay there when Wang Sumo chimed in, "Why don't we go to Carp Town?"
He Ping remembered the old man's earlier instructions: if you can't find her, go find a place where you can watch the excitement; if there's excitement, you'll definitely find her there!
Sure enough, He Ping couldn't help but laugh.
Master He has not traveled the martial world for a long time. Back when he was still in the martial world, there was no place like Carp Town, nor was there the great demon Zhao Tong, or the Rakshasa Alliance.
Having just left Qingyun Manor, the first thing that piqued their curiosity was this Carp Town. Old Master He was already somewhat interested, and with Wang Sumo's encouragement, the two immediately hit it off.
He Ping: "..."
He Ping crossed his arms, his sword tucked into his elbows, and couldn't help but shake his head with a smile. Then he said to He Lin beside him, "Let's go to Carp Town."
Carp Town?!
Wow~
The third person to be happy!
Alright, the other disciples have already gone off to inquire about the disaster relief grain. This group consists of him, He Lin, the old master, and Miss Wang. All three of them are very happy now, so he has no reason to object.
And so, the two riders and the carriage entered Carp Town in a grand procession.
Because he loved watching the excitement so much, Wang Sumo didn't even sit in the carriage. Instead, he sat with He Lin in the driver's seat, watching the magnificent golden characters of "Carp Town" come into view.
Good heavens!
Just by looking at the plaques in this town, it's clear that it's much more grand and imposing than the surrounding cities of Licheng and Guangcheng.
If you haven't been to many places, or if you come to Carp Town with a special purpose or mood, you should be excited when you see this signboard from afar!
Despite this, He Ping still met with Old Master He, and Wang Sumo and He Lin were extremely excited.
They were even more excited than the tourists and passersby who came to visit and admire the scenery of the town...
He Ping: -_-||
"I love this Carp Town!" Wang Sumo only regretted not coming sooner.
Master He was also very satisfied with choosing Carp Town as his stop after descending the mountain.
He Lin was even more speechless; he couldn't take it all in. This time, descending the mountain seemed to have finally brought him to the legendary big town—this was what a big town should look like!
And so, as soon as they entered the town gate of Carp Town, countless enthusiastic local residents surrounded them. "Where are you all from? Are you going to stay in Carp Town tonight? What a coincidence! Our Slaughtering Fish Inn is the largest and most honest inn in Carp Town. We only rip off fish, not our customers!"
"Back then, Zhao Tong stayed at our Fish Slaughtering Inn and rested for a whole night. It was during that night that his Ren and Du meridians were suddenly opened, and his crown chakra was activated! Guess what? Just like that, with a 'whoosh,' he woke up the next day with a flash of inspiration, as if divinely aided, and found that famous fish-slaughtering knife, as well as the fish-slaughtering knife technique!"
He Lin was stunned when he heard the "Wow" sound.
Wang Sumo found it amusing, but it was too lively! There was gossip to hear as soon as he entered the town.
Whether the gossip is true or not is not important!
As long as it's fun!
Wang Sumo listened with her chin resting on her hand. When the other person saw that she was resting her chin on her hand, he immediately spoke with even more enthusiasm.
Master He burst out laughing with joy. His skull had been opened, and this person was still alive to buy a fish-slaughtering knife. Master He found it incredibly amusing!
At this point, He Ping had almost let go of his resentment.
As long as you're happy.
Seeing that the touts at the Slaughtering Fish Inn seemed to have a good effect, or perhaps because the four of them looked like easy targets, touts from other inns also came over one after another.
"We're from Tongtian Inn. Tongtian Inn is the first Jianghu Inn in Carp Town, and it has the most Jianghu people in the entire town. The other inns are just for tourists who come to watch the excitement. What kind of Jianghu atmosphere is that here?"
"Gentlemen, you are all distinguished by your appearance and extraordinary bearing. You must be men of the martial arts world. You should definitely stay at Tongtian Inn. Your neighbors and even the people dining in the lobby are all martial arts practitioners. You can have long and fruitful conversations with them. Gentlemen, you should come to our Tongtian Inn!"
The third one: "Esteemed guests, we are Yunlai Inn. If you frequently travel the martial world, you'll know that Yunlai Inn is more reputable than other inns. We don't advertise those basic, standard features. Yunlai Inn is all about the journey – simple and direct. Three people stay, one person stays free. Dinner is served at the inn, and we provide complimentary dinner and grooming for your horses, as well as cleaning and maintenance of your carriage! We want you to arrive weary from your travels, and leave with your horses refreshed and at ease!"
The fourth one: "Ladies and gentlemen, everyone before us has shown their extraordinary abilities. Our inn never speaks ill of other inns. You only need to look ahead to see for yourselves—do you see it? The tallest building, the most magnificent inn in the entire Carp Town is us—the Prosperous Fortune Inn!"
"Whether you are traveling merchants, wandering knights, or ordinary travelers, everyone who stays at our Prosperity Inn will prosper! As you can see, the bright lights are the choice of most guests, and we're even releasing sky lanterns from the top floor attic! The Prosperity Inn has no tricks, prices are clearly marked~"
After the other party finished speaking, Wang Sumo and the others quickly turned their gazes to look at it, and sure enough, it was eye-catching and conspicuous!
"How about this place?" Wang Sumo suggested.
He Lin agreed, "Great! Great!"
Old Master He didn't care. Just listening to those descriptions of people trying to lure customers made him laugh so hard he couldn't stop. Where he stayed didn't matter; Carp Town was just too interesting.
He Ping was at a loss. "Then let's go to the Fortune Inn."
After He Ping finished speaking, the hawker quickly led the way, "Wealthy Fortune Inn, four guests~"
The others sighed slightly, but were not upset, which shows that such scenes happen every day, many times a day.
There are so many people coming and going to Carp Town. Everyone has their own preferences, and you can make a living at any of their homes!
After Wang Sumo and his group left, the touts returned to the signboard of Carp Town to welcome the next group of customers.
He Lin drove the carriage, following behind He Ping and the old manor lord. Everything around them was new. The Caiyuan Guangjin Inn was located on the main road leading into the town. They walked all the way to the end, but in front of them was an open square with stalls and vendors selling novelties for travelers. It wasn't considered a traffic violation.
With his eyes darting around, He Lin said to Wang Sumo, "The people staying at that Slaughtering Fish Inn are probably just trying their luck, hoping for a good omen; the Tongtian Inn is probably run by people who haven't been in the martial arts world long, who heard about the fame of Carp Town but found it a bit absurd, so they just came to take a look, but are used to being surrounded by martial arts practitioners; the Yunlai Inn is for people looking for cheap prices; and this Caiyuan Guangjin Inn is probably run by people like Miss Wang, business people looking for good fortune!"
Wang Sumo looked at him in surprise, "How could that be?"
He Lin asked curiously, "Isn't that right?"
Wang Sumo pointed to a spot not far ahead, and He Lin looked in that direction. Wang Sumo exclaimed, "See that? The tallest building in town. What does that mean?"
He Lin shook his head. "No, I don't know."
Wang Sumo sighed softly, "It means we can see a lot of excitement from afar, and see it all!"
He Lin: "..."
"Huh? That's right, Miss Wang loves watching a good show! How can we possibly miss such a lively place like Carp Town?"
As they approached an open square, more and more people began to gather. He Ping and the old man dismounted and led their horses at the front, clearing a path.
Wang Sumo remarked, "It is indeed more lively at night than Licheng and Guangcheng."
At least in Licheng and Guangcheng, there are only drumming, acrobatics, and fireworks during festivals or special occasions, but in Liyu Town, there should be something every day.
He Lin couldn't take his eyes off the carriage, so Wang Sumo turned him around and said, "Focus on driving the carriage. We'll come out and take a look in a bit."
He Lin only realized what was happening at that moment, and almost rushed towards the vendor's stall.
In short, this section wasn't easy to travel, but we made it through and arrived directly at the inn. A servant there led the carriage to the back garden to rest. The so-called "fixed price" meant that the horses had specific rules about where they rested, how much grass they ate, and what kind of water they drank, and services such as carriage cleaning and tidying were also available.
He Ping spoke with the innkeeper and then requested three superior rooms. The old master and Miss Wang would each have one, while he and He Lin would be on night duty, so they would need one room that wasn't too far away.
After everything was arranged, the shopkeeper looked at Old Master He, He Ping, and He Lin again and said with a smile, "You like Qingyun Manor? I understand, this is the same style as Qingyun Manor! It's really well-made! We also have some here, on the second floor, from various sects, with huge discounts for those in-store, but the material isn't as good as yours, hehe~"
Before the stunned Grandpa He and He Lin could speak, He Ping first cupped his hands and said, "Thank you."
"You're welcome, come on in." The innkeeper smiled and waved his hand, calling over the inn's waiter.
When the innkeeper's waiter approached, he asked curiously, "Does the old man also like Qingyun Manor?"
They were all wearing clothes from Qingyun Manor.
He Ping nodded with a smile.
The innkeeper couldn't help but nod, and soon, the inn's waiter came and led them upstairs.
The upper rooms are all on the fourth floor. In a small town like this, a five-story inn is built, which is something many larger towns can't even accommodate, which shows how many people come to Carp Town every day.
I wonder if Zhao Tong, who single-handedly made Carp Town famous, has ever been to Carp Town. If he has, what would he think?
Anyway, after putting her things away, Wang Sumo went up to the top floor attic to overlook the night view; He Lin tidied up the room, not daring to be careless with Miss Wang's belongings, and a bamboo basket of pet fish also came back with her.
Ah Da, Ah Er...
He Lin had almost figured it out, but he felt that Miss Wang didn't seem to be able to tell the difference very well.
I don't know if it's really a pet fish or not. It's all so confusing and gives me a headache. I'll just stop thinking about it. Anyway, it's a pet fish now.
Although Carp Town cannot compare to a truly large city, it is a town built entirely on legends of the martial arts world, and it is quite prosperous; it is also a pilgrimage site for many novice martial arts practitioners.
After all, who wouldn't hope to stumble upon a treasure and then rise smoothly to the top?
On the upper floor, many people were overlooking the night view of Carp Town and the surrounding area; many others were releasing sky lanterns to pray for blessings.
When Wang Sumo went up to the pavilion, he was suddenly disappointed. He found that Carp Town was not a big place at all. The most dazzling place in the whole town at night was this Caiyuan Guangjin Inn, which made the surrounding places look ordinary.
Looking into the distance, the mountains were dark because it was night, and there was no bustling traffic nearby. The brightest spot was the square in front of the inn, where all sorts of acrobatic performances were held, adding a lively atmosphere.
But around dusk, you can see the distant mountains like eyebrows, and the afterglow of the setting sun, which should still be very beautiful; they arrived a little late.
No wonder so many people are releasing sky lanterns. Since we've come all this way, and the scenery is somewhat disappointing, we can't leave empty-handed, so we release a sky lantern to pray for blessings!
Businessmen are into these things, but those who roam the world don't really believe in them. Releasing sky lanterns here is less appealing than browsing for weapons at street vendors.
Neither Master He nor Wang Sumo were particularly interested, so they went down the pavilion with He Ping. They ran into He Lin, who had just come out. He Lin was a little annoyed when he saw them coming down, wishing he could have been faster.
Wang Sumo patted He Qingque's head and said, "We'll go downstairs and ask where there's good food. You go upstairs first and see me downstairs in a bit."
He Qingque immediately beamed with joy and rushed up to the top floor pavilion.
The shopkeeper downstairs enthusiastically recommended his restaurant's food and drinks. Seeing that they really wanted to go out for a walk, he then suggested, "You can go to Bazhenlou."
Eight, the Eight Treasures Pavilion?
He Ping is in a real bind. First it was Yunlai Inn, then Bazhenlou Restaurant. This Carp Town is completely out of control.
Even Wang Sumo himself didn't expect this.
The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Look, just go out and walk east. The whole street is lined with Bazhenlou. It's not far. You'll be there in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea."
Wang Sumo: (⊙o⊙)…
Not only Wang Sumo, but also Master He, He Ping, and He Lin, who had just come downstairs, were stunned—this trip was absolutely necessary!
Although the shopkeeper had been laying the groundwork for a long time, the Eight Treasures Pavilion was a recent phenomenon. After all, the Eight Treasures Pavilion had been very popular in the martial arts world lately, and whatever was popular in the martial arts world would naturally become popular in Carp Town! The street where the Eight Treasures Pavilion was located was now the most popular street in Carp Town; but when the group stood on the street and looked into the distance, the whole street was full of signs that read "Eight Treasures Pavilion," "Eight Perfections Pavilion," and "Eight True Pavilion," which still stunned Wang Sumo and the others.
"Miss, ladies, are you here for a meal? This is the famous Bazhenlou Restaurant!" The young man greeted customers skillfully at the door of the restaurant closest to the street.
Judging from the few people walking towards us, they were definitely not short of money. As soon as they arrived on the street, they looked around and stopped to look at the loudest commotion. They couldn't take it all in. They were definitely people who liked excitement!
"Our place is the liveliest place to eat!" the young man said enthusiastically.
He Lin's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets, and He Ping's eyes were wide open; the counterfeit had come right up to the real deal.
Wang Sumo, however, found it novel and interesting, "Isn't the Eight Treasures Pavilion a horse-drawn carriage?"
Master He also looked at the other party.
"Oh, so you ladies are also traveling the world? My apologies for not recognizing you!" The young man's face changed faster than flipping through a book; he was not only quick-witted but also adept at ingratiating himself. "To be honest, the carriage is the main branch, and this is a branch!"
He Lin/He Ping/Old Master He: (｀Д)!!
Wang Sumo: (⊙o⊙)…
How come the head office didn't know there were so many branches?
Seeing their expressions, the young man quickly explained, "Think about it, these carriages run around everywhere, and you can't catch up even if you want to! Look at how many martial arts masters come to our main store to freeload a meal? There's nothing we can do; some people follow us for months on end and still can't get a meal! But our branch is different! Our branch is right here, it doesn't run away, so you can come anytime you want and enjoy delicious food anytime."
He Lin/Master He/Wang Sumo:(⊙o⊙)…
That seems to make sense.
He Ping: -_-||
What a load of nonsense.
The young man continued, "Besides, so many merchants and travelers come to our main store because of its reputation, but they're not江湖人士 (jianghu figures, people of the martial arts world). Why would they chase after a carriage all the time when they have nothing else to do? Wouldn't it be killing two birds with one stone to open a branch here?"
Wang Sumo: (#￣▽￣#)
It seemed as if they were about to be persuaded by the other party.
But Wang Sumo pointed to the restaurant's signboard, wine banner, and signboard. They were clearly the same restaurant, but they were labeled "Bazhenlou," "Bazhenlou," and "Bazhenglou" respectively.
"Not only are the characters different, but the pronunciations are different too!" Wang Sumo noticed the key point.
Old Master He and He Lin almost burst out laughing.
He Ping had a headache.
The young man had a good attitude and wasn't annoyed. He quickly smiled and said, "When you're traveling around, the dialects are different in different places, and the pronunciation is different too~"
Wang Sumo and the others stared wide-eyed: "..."
Just then, another group of guests turned onto this street, and another waiter shoved them inside, shouting, "Welcome, esteemed guests, to Bazhenlou!"
Good heavens!
It's already at the Eight Trigrams Tower!
Moreover, not only the signboard, but also the wine banners and signs all flipped over with a "whoosh," and all of them became—the Eight Trigrams Tower!
He Lin/He Ping/Master He/Wang Sumo: (｀Д)!!
The young man said cheerfully, "Miss, ladies, you can have whichever 'true' character you want. Our branch has them all. If we don't have one, or if you mind, we can have someone write one right away. We can change the wine banner, the signboard, and the plaque all at once, right?"
He Lin/He Ping/Master He/Wang Sumo: ⊙△⊙
"Gentlemen, I think we shouldn't wait any longer. Let's just flip to whatever we find! Flip the word!" the young man shouted.
The restaurant staff immediately responded in unison, "Coming right up!"
Then, with a "whoosh," the signboard, wine banner, and signboard were all changed, and the words "Bazhenglou" appeared prominently. The young man shouted as he skillfully pushed the four people into the restaurant, "Bazhenglou welcomes all guests~ Please come in!"
None of them expected this to happen, so they were all somehow dragged into it by him!
Good heavens!
Is this how you solicit customers? What's the difference between this and the Rakshasa Alliance?!
But since we were already here, we decided to take a look, only to find a completely different world inside.
Wang Sumo always enjoyed watching a spectacle, and the "Bazheng Building" was indeed bustling with activity.
The building has two floors. The first floor is very spacious and almost full of diners, so the guests who just entered are all heading to the second floor.
He Lin glanced at it briefly, chuckled, and then quickly muttered to Wang Sumo, "Your branch's prices are really high!"
Wang Sumo pushed his head away, "Your branch!"
He Lin smiled.
Many of the diners on the first floor must have come here because of its reputation. They had heard of Bazhenlou, but only knew a little about it, and just wanted to try some local dishes.
The chefs here fully utilize the imagination of "Jianghu cuisine" from the very beginning with the names of the dishes—"Magnificent as Mountains and Rivers" (stir-fried pork kidneys), "Loyal and Courageous" (stir-fried lamb liver), "Flying Over Eaves and Walls" (braised chicken wings and chicken feet platter)...
He Lin murmured, "This name sounds like something out of a gangster restaurant; no wonder it can fool these people."
Wang Sumo: (⊙o⊙)…
Wang Sumo: "How about I make some changes too? Next time, I'll stir-fry a dish called 'Loyalty and Righteousness' for the old master?"
He Lin: Σ(⊙▽⊙"a
He Lin: "Then let's make lamb liver instead..."
Nearby, a diner frowned and said, "It's not that it's bad, but it's not that good either."
"Eat up, that's all. It's a bit pricey, but the portions are generous, enough to fill you up."
The other table, however, seemed to be enjoying their meal very much.
The group watched the excitement as they went up to the second floor.
Once we got to the second floor, we found it was even more lively.
"Please have a seat, esteemed guests." The waiter on the second floor was more perceptive; as soon as they appeared, he arranged for them to sit down nearby.
"Nearest" means there is a platform in the middle of the second floor.
The person standing in the center of the platform looked like a storyteller, but he wasn't a storyteller.
The man held a small bottle in his hand, his eyebrows dancing with excitement. "Special wound medicine, an essential for travelers and merchants roaming the martial world. Everyone knows Qingyun Manor, right? This is an improved version of Qingyun Manor's wound medicine, even more precious than the original. Today, I'm fortunate to share it with you all, so I'll only charge five taels of silver per bottle. Don't think it's expensive. What is this? This is a life-saving medicine! What's most important when roaming the martial world? Life!"
Master He was stunned: Σ(⊙▽⊙"a
The storyteller continued, "Although this is a specially made wound medicine, it also has another use—as a condiment."
Wang Sumo was stunned: Σ(⊙▽⊙"a
"This seasoning is simple. You can put any dish in it, shake it, and it'll be flavorful. So, although this is a wound medicine, it can also be used as a seasoning when things taste bland. Otherwise, how could our Bazhenlou be so popular throughout the martial arts world? It's a unique recipe! Just shake it like this when you eat noodles, and it'll be guaranteed to be delicious! How much does a bowl of noodles cost at the restaurant! This bottle can last a long time, and if you encounter danger, it's a life-saving wound medicine!"
"Give me a pack!"
"Give me a pack!!"
[Author's Note]
Essential for navigating the world of gangsters, for swindling and cheating! [Thumbs up][Thumbs up]
There are also red envelopes for the first 100 readers of this chapter. They will be distributed together at noon tomorrow. Have a great weekend! See you tomorrow!
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