togophonebook Chapter 18 Qingzhou
Chapter 18 Qingzhou
The carriage traveled at a leisurely pace on the official road for three days.
Leaving Qingyang, the scenery along the way gradually changes. The mountains become gentler, farmland is crisscrossed with paths, and villages and towns become noticeably more densely populated.
The road was bustling with carriages and pedestrians, and the number of martial arts practitioners carrying knives and swords increased, with many of them exuding a fierce aura.
Chen Xuan spent most of his time in the carriage with his eyes closed, regulating his breathing. The internal energy of the Yi Jin Jing was constantly replenishing, slowly nourishing the last bit of stagnation in his meridians that was entangled with the Netherworld Evil Qi.
Su Wan sat quietly opposite, sometimes flipping through the book "A Study of Strange Herbs in Southern Xinjiang", and sometimes gazing absently at the passing scenery through the gap in the carriage curtain.
The coachman, Chen He, was a clever young man. Knowing that his young master was no ordinary man, he drove with exceptional steadiness, only asking for directions when necessary, and rarely saying a word.
At noon that day, the carriage stopped at a roadside teahouse for a quick bite.
The teahouse was simple, but business was good; most of the seven or eight tables were occupied. Guests from all over the country chatted animatedly, their various accents mingling together.
Chen Xuan and Su Wan chose a table on the side and sat down, ordering two bowls of vegetarian noodles and a pot of tea.
"...If you ask me, Master Guo of the Four Seas Escort Agency really has a lot of influence at this Qingzhou Sword Appraisal Tournament! I heard that not only will all the important figures from Qingzhou be here, but people from neighboring Yunzhou and Leizhou are also coming!"
At the next table, several men in tight-fitting clothes were chatting animatedly, their voices loud and clear.
"That's right! The Four Seas Escort Agency has collected or escorted several precious swords and sabers in recent years. This sword appraisal event is also a way to showcase their expertise and discerning eye."
"Chief镖师 Guo has held the sixth position on the Qingzhou Heroes List for decades. He is highly respected and everyone gives him face. However, the main event this time will probably be the contest between the younger generation."
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"Hey, haven't you heard? Bai Yu, the 'Flowing Cloud Sword' from the Qingyun Sect, and Xue Bing, the 'Jade-Faced Asura' from the Tingyu Tower, have both arrived in Qingzhou!"
"These two are ranked twenty-eighth and thirty-fifth on our Qingzhou Heroes List, respectively. To achieve such rankings at such a young age, they both have a good chance of making it onto the Eastern Region Grandmaster List in the future!"
"Speaking of newcomers, have you heard? In Qingyang, a ruthless person emerged recently named Chen Xuan. He's very young, and I heard he wiped out no fewer than a hundred people in one night, including some well-known experts!"
"The newly released Qingzhou Heroes Ranking by the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion has placed him at number ninety-three!"
"Ninety-three? That's not low! He might even show up at the sword-tasting competition. That'll be quite a spectacle!"
Chen Xuan silently ate his noodles, seemingly oblivious to the discussions that reached his ears.
Su Wan raised her eyes slightly, glanced at him, and seeing that he looked calm, she lowered her head and ate in small bites.
Chen He, on the other hand, felt proud listening to others discussing his young master, and unconsciously straightened his back a little.
"The Heroes' List..." a man said in a low voice, "I have a distant cousin who works as a镖局 (escort agency) and he said that it seems that Master Guo's purpose in holding this sword appraisal event is not just to make a name for himself."
"A while ago, the escort agency seemed to have run into some tricky trouble. They lost a large shipment in Yunzhou, and the scene was very strange. Old Master Guo probably wants to take this opportunity to recruit some capable people to investigate that matter."
"Is that so? Tsk, if even Old Master Guo finds this troublesome, it must be something special. Never mind, these are things we shouldn't get involved in. Let's drink..."
Chen Xuan put down his chopsticks, picked up the rough porcelain teacup, and took a sip. The tea was bitter, yet invigorating. Yunzhou… the lost dart… His fingertips unconsciously brushed against the warm jade pendant at his waist.
"Young Master," Su Wan said softly, interrupting Chen Xuan's thoughts, "the noodles are getting cold."
Chen Xuan glanced at her, nodded, and finished the rest of his noodles.
After a short rest, the carriage continued its journey. The afternoon sun was shining brightly, casting dappled patterns of light through the curtains inside the carriage.
"Miss Su, do you have any further thoughts on that 'Former Dynasty Herb Garden'?" Chen Xuan suddenly asked. The journey was dull; talking about something serious was better than remaining silent.
Upon hearing this, Su Wan put down her book, pondered for a moment, and said, "When my father mentioned this name in his notes, he was vague, only saying, 'It is suspected to be a secret place of the previous dynasty, where many strange plants grow, but its traces are elusive.'"
"Wan'er has been pondering this repeatedly these past few days. If such a place truly exists, the herbs and plants growing there are likely not of ordinary medicinal properties. The concepts of principal, assistant, adjuvant, and guide herbs, as well as their warming, cooling, and tonifying properties, recorded in ordinary medical books may not be entirely applicable."
"Among them, some may be mutually antagonistic yet produce miraculous effects, while others may be extremely potent yet cure stubborn diseases... and even," she paused, her voice becoming softer, "there may be things that can move meridians and change qi and blood, almost like legendary substances."
She looked at Chen Xuan, her gaze clear yet filled with the inquiry of a healer: "The 'Marrow-Corroding Poison' and the Netherworld Aura that you were afflicted with are both cold and vicious substances, yet they were neutralized by your internal energy. Your internal cultivation method is extremely yang and pure, likely the nemesis of such poisons."
"If the 'Hundred Herbs Garden' is indeed, as my father speculated, a secret place of the previous dynasty, it may contain strange objects of extreme nature, perhaps even related to your inner strength. Investigating this place may be of some help to your martial arts."
Chen Xuan nodded slightly. Su Wan's analysis was clear and logical, not only focusing on finding an antidote for her father but also considering its potential help to his martial arts and the investigation. This thoughtfulness and comprehensiveness warmed his heart.
"Once you arrive in Qingzhou, Miss Su, where would you like to consult the classics?"
"There is a branch of 'Huichuntang' in Qingzhou City, which is quite large and has a rich collection of books. In addition, I heard that the library of Qingzhou Prefectural School is also open to those with a recommendation, so it might be worth a try."
Su Wan clearly had a plan in mind. "However, it may not be easy to find records that may involve secrets of the previous dynasty. We need to act according to circumstances."
"It's alright, I'll go with you then," Chen Xuan said. He wasn't comfortable letting Su Wan investigate these potentially sensitive matters alone.
Su Wan smiled slightly and gave a soft "Mmm".
After another day of travel, the terrain became increasingly open. In the distance, a gray-black outline appeared on the horizon, and as the carriage moved forward, the outline became clearer and higher—it was a magnificent city.
The city wall, built of blue bricks, was several meters high and stretched to both sides, seemingly without end. Banners fluttered atop the wall, and armored soldiers patrolled.
The massive city gate was wide open, with three gates. The middle gate was the widest, wide enough for several carriages to pass side by side. At that moment, a long stream of carriages and people was slowly passing through.
Above the city gate, two large, bold characters gleamed in the sunlight—Qingzhou.