diymy Chapter 506 Qing Shi City, Entering the City and Changing to a Horse-Drawn Carriage, Encountering an
Chapter 506 Qing Shi City, Entering the City and Changing to a Horse-Drawn Carriage, Encountering an
Chen Wanqing bit her lip, her fingers clenching and unclenching repeatedly inside her sleeve.
She didn't know if she could handle it, whether she would be disliked, or what awaited her.
Despite her nervousness, she was still very much looking forward to it.
Chen Wanqing recalled Qin Mu's smiling, handsome face, his languid and composed demeanor, and his nonchalant attitude in deciding life and death.
That kind of man is worth her giving herself to.
She took a deep breath and gradually suppressed the surging tension.
Jiang Zhaoyue emerged from behind the tent, carrying a bowl of hot tea.
She walked up to Chen Wanqing, stopped, and looked at her pale, slightly trembling face, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Don't be nervous."
Her voice was soft, carrying a hint of composure and gentleness from someone who had been through it all.
She handed the bowl of hot tea to Chen Wanqing, saying, "Have some tea to warm yourself up."
Chen Wanqing paused for a moment, took the teacup, and took a sip.
The tea soup is mellow and has a faint jasmine fragrance. It glides down your throat with a warm feeling.
Her hands were still trembling slightly, but her heart felt much calmer.
She looked up at Jiang Zhaoyue, nodded vigorously, her voice hoarse but firm. "Mm."
She returned the teacup to Jiang Zhaoyue, straightened her clothes, and strode towards the tent.
Her legs felt a little weak, but her steps were steady, each step firm and solid.
She walked to the tent flap, bent down, and crawled inside.
Inside the tent, candlelight burned quietly in the lampshade, illuminating the room with a dim and warm glow.
Thick felt carpets were laid on the ground, and on top of those carpets was a brocade rug, and on top of that were several brocade quilts, as soft as clouds.
Qin Mu leaned against the innermost side, his eyes closed, his breathing steady and long, like a cat basking in the sun.
Jiang Zhaoyue followed Chen Wanqing in and sat down on the brocade quilt beside her, beginning to loosen her sash.
The movements were slow and gentle, without making a single extra sound.
Yun Suxin stood outside the tent, gazing at the half-open curtain, and sighed softly.
She lowered her eyes and resignedly bent down to crawl inside.
The curtains slowly fell behind her.
A night breeze blew by, causing the curtains to sway gently.
In the distance, the last vestiges of orange-red were being swallowed by deep blue, and the stars began to light up one by one.
In the wilderness, only the rustling of the wind through the grass and the camp tent with its candlelight remained.
.........
The next day, just as dawn was breaking, Chen Wanqing was the first to emerge from the camp.
The morning light shone on her face, illuminating her fair and rosy complexion with exceptional clarity.
Her steps were somewhat unsteady, and with each step she took, her brows would furrow slightly, as if she were enduring something.
She turned around and glanced at the tent.
Her face turned even redder, as red as if it had been tinted with rouge, burning from her cheekbones all the way to her ears.
She bit her lip, turned her head, and walked step by step toward the stream.
The women emerged from their tents one after another.
Jiang Zhaoyue's expression remained unchanged, with a faint smile on her lips, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Yunluan's face was cold and stern. Her hand was on the hilt of her sword, and her gaze swept around as if nothing had happened.
Xu Fenghua had her head down, her face was pale, and there were dark circles under her eyes, clearly indicating that she hadn't slept well all night.
Yun Suxin's expression was calm, like a stagnant pool, showing no ripples.
Han Xin'er walked at the very back, her ears bright red, her head down, not daring to look at anyone.
Qin Mu was the last to leave the camp.
He stretched, his moon-white robe loosely draped over his body, the collar slightly open, revealing a small section of his collarbone.
A smile played on his lips as his gaze swept over the women, lingering for a moment on Chen Wanqing before looking away. "Pack your things, let's continue on our way."
Half an hour later, the group mounted their horses and continued north along the official road.
After traveling for about two hours, the outline of a city appeared ahead on the official road.
The city wall is not high, made of gray-black stone bricks, and covered with moss and vines.
The city gates were wide open, and carriages and horses flowed like water, while pedestrians thronged in and out in an endless stream.
A plaque hangs on the city gate tower, bearing the three large characters "Qingshi City" in bold strokes that gleam with a dark light under the sunlight.
Yunluan rode her horse closer to Qin Mu, her voice cold and clear.
"Young master, this is Qing Shi City. It's one of the largest cities in the southern part of the Northern Territory, with a population of over 100,000. It's a bustling commercial hub. Shall we bypass it?"
Qin Mu reined in the horse, raised his head, and gazed at the city that was getting closer and closer.
His gaze fell on the open city gate, on the crowds coming and going, a hint of interest flashing in his eyes. "This city looks lively. Is some kind of event going on inside?"
Yun Luan paused for a moment, then nodded. "Young Master, Qing Shi City holds an Autumn Hunting Festival every year at this time. Various sects and independent cultivators from all walks of life gather here to exchange martial arts skills and experiences. There are also auctions and arena competitions, making it quite lively."
Qin Mu's eyes lit up slightly. "Let's go join the fun. We can also buy a carriage while we're at it. We're tired of riding horses, let's switch things up."
Yunluan clasped her hands and bowed. "Yes."
The group rode their horses toward the city gate.
The guards at the city gate stared wide-eyed when they saw this group of people.
One man and five women; the man was handsome, the women were stunningly beautiful, and each of them possessed an extraordinary air.
The captain of the guards swallowed hard, instinctively wanting to stop and question him, but when he met Qin Mu's smiling eyes, he felt a chill and swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue, stepping aside to let him pass.
He's been standing at this city gate for over a decade; what kind of people hasn't he seen?
But he couldn't see through the person in front of him.
All he knew was that he couldn't afford to mess with this kind of person.
Passing through the city gate, the view suddenly opened up before me.
Qingshi City is more prosperous than I imagined.
The streets are wide, paved with smooth bluestone slabs, and lined with shops on both sides.
The banners of the restaurant fluttered in the wind, and the melodious sounds of traditional Chinese string and wind instruments drifted out from the carved windows of the teahouse.
Pedestrians thronged the streets, including wealthy merchants dressed in silk, scholars waving folding fans, women leading children, and elderly men leaning on canes.
Everyone had a smile on their face; it was a vibrant, genuine, and heartwarming smile.
The most bustling place is the square in the city center.
There was a high platform there, surrounded by flags of various colors, each embroidered with a different emblem—a sword, a knife, a tripod, and clouds.
The area below the platform was packed with people, three or four layers deep, so crowded that it was impossible to move.
The sounds of gongs, drums, cheers, and applause mingled together, like a pot of porridge boiling and bubbling.
Qin Mu reined in his horse, gazing at the high platform with a hint of amusement in his eyes.
"What are you doing?"
Yunluan's gaze fell on the high platform, her voice clear and cold. "Young Master, this is the arena competition of the 'Autumn Hunting Tournament.' Young disciples from various sects and schools compete here, and the winner can receive generous prizes and become famous throughout the world."
Qin Mu nodded, dismounted, and tossed the reins to Yun Luan. "Go take a look."
He strode toward the crowd.
The women quickly dismounted and followed behind him.
Yunluan handed the reins to a servant and quickly followed.
The crowd was dense, shoulder to shoulder, and completely packed.
Wherever Qin Mu went, the crowd would automatically make way for him.
It wasn't because he was fierce or evil, but because he possessed an inexplicable aura, like an invisible knife, forcing people to retreat.
The women followed him in single file and found a good spot below the platform.
On the high platform, two young men are having a martial arts contest.
A man dressed in a light blue outfit, wielding a long sword, displayed swift and deadly swordsmanship, each move aimed at vital points.
The other, dressed in a gray short-sleeved shirt, moved his palms rapidly, creating a whistling wind, each palm strike carrying the force to split mountains and shatter rocks.
Sword light and palm shadows intertwined, true energy surged, and the fight was evenly matched.
Cheers erupted from the audience, one after another, surging like a tide.
Jiang Zhaoyue stood beside Qin Mu, her gaze fixed on the two young men, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Good aptitude, but unfortunately, they still lack some refinement."
Her voice was very soft, and only a few people around her could hear it.
Yunluan gripped her sword hilt, her gaze sharp as a knife. "That swordsman can only last ten more moves at most."
Xu Fenghua stood behind Qin Mu, her head down, not looking at the platform.
Her mind was in turmoil, like a crumpled piece of paper that could not be smoothed out.
She didn't want to look, and she didn't dare to look.
She was afraid that if she looked at it, she would be reminded of things she didn't want to remember.
Yun Suxin stood at the very back, arms crossed, expressionless.
Her gaze fell on the two young men, and her heart was at peace.
In her prime, she could have easily crushed someone of this caliber with a single hand.
But now, she is just a spectator, a spectator who doesn't even have the right to go on stage.
Han Xin'er stood beside Qin Mu, close to him.
Her gaze fell on the high platform, her eyes filled with novelty and excitement.
She had never seen such a scene before, never seen such a thrilling battle.
Her heart was pounding, her face flushed slightly, and her small hands unconsciously gripped Qin Mu's sleeve.
Chen Wanqing stood beside Han Xiner, her gaze also fixed on the high platform, but her mind was elsewhere.
The scenes from last night were still replaying in her mind, every detail as clear as if etched into her brain.
Her face was burning hot, so red it looked like it was about to bleed.
She bit her lip, lowered her head, and dared not look at anyone.
On the stage, the young man wielding the sword was finally defeated.
He was sent flying by a single palm strike, crashing off the platform and spitting out a mouthful of blood.
The audience erupted in uproar; some cheered, some sighed, and some shook their heads.
The young man in gray stood on the high platform, clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, and remained calm, as if he had only done something insignificant.
"Who else?" His voice wasn't loud, but it reached the ears of everyone present clearly.
The audience was silent for a moment, then erupted in cheers again.
Some were eager to try, some hesitated, and some whispered among themselves.
Qin Mu looked at the young man in gray, smiled, and said, "Interesting."
Jiang Zhaoyue turned her head to look at him, a hint of curiosity in her eyes. "Young Master, would you like to go up and give it a try?"
Qin Mu shook his head, his gaze fixed on the high platform, his voice soft. "No rush. Let's take another look."
As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd.
The crowd automatically parted to both sides, making way.
Several men dressed in brocade robes stepped out from the crowd. The leader was a young man in his thirties with a handsome face and an air of arrogance between his brows.
A long sword hung at his waist, its scabbard inlaid with gems that gleamed brilliantly in the sunlight.
Several martial artists in tight-fitting clothes followed behind him, each with a calm and composed demeanor, clearly experts.
Yunluan's gaze suddenly sharpened, and her hand rested on the hilt of her sword. "People from the Northern Border."
Qin Mu's gaze fell on the young man's face, and the smile on his lips deepened. "Oh?"
The young man walked to the foot of the platform, stopped, looked up at the gray-clad young man on the platform, and his lips curled up slightly with a hint of disdain.
"With such meager skills, you dare to embarrass yourself in Qing Shi City?"
His voice wasn't loud, but it was sharp and sarcastic, like a knife that pierced the gray-clad young man's ears.
The young man in gray's expression changed abruptly, his fists clenching. "What did you say?"
The young man smiled, flipped himself onto the platform, and moved with agility and efficiency, without any unnecessary movements.
He stood on the high platform, hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, his voice booming.
"I am Zhao Wuji, a guest retainer of the Northern Kingdom's Palace. Today, I passed through Qing Shi City and saw you all sparring here. I'm itching to learn a few moves myself. I wonder which hero would be so kind as to grace me with their presence?"
The audience immediately fell silent.
The words "Guest Retainer of the Northern Royal Palace" were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake.
Everyone's expression changed, showing a mixture of awe, apprehension, curiosity, and disdain.
But no one dared to go on stage.
The Northern Kingdom's Palace was Xu Longxiang's territory.
Offending the Northern Kingdom means you might not even know how you died in this northern land.
Zhao Wuji waited a few moments, and seeing that no one went up on stage, the disdainful smile on his lips deepened.
"What? In this vast Qing Shi City, not a single person dares to step onto the stage?"
The audience remained silent; no one spoke.
Some people lowered their heads, some turned their faces away, and some clenched their fists, but no one took that step.
Qin Mu looked at Zhao Wuji on the high platform, the smile still lingering on his lips.
He turned to look at Yun Luan, his voice soft. "How many moves do you think he can last against you?"
Yunluan removed her hand from the sword hilt, her gaze falling on the young man's face, her voice cold. "Three moves."
Qin Mu smiled, withdrew his gaze, and looked at Xu Fenghua and Jiang Zhaoyue beside him, asking, "Do you recognize him?"
Jiang Zhaoyue shook her head and said, "Replying to Young Master, I don't know her. She's probably new to the Northern Territory."
Xu Fenghua also shook her head and said, "I have never seen it."
Qin Mu nodded, smiled, and said thoughtfully, "Interesting. It seems Xu Longxiang has recruited quite a few retainers recently."
Upon hearing this, Xu Fenghua's heart sank slightly.
What does Your Majesty mean by saying that?
She had a vague sense of unease.
At the same time, he was secretly annoyed that his younger brother had recruited this retainer, which was far too arrogant and domineering, a disgrace to the North.
Why does my brother accept just anyone?
But then she thought that perhaps her younger brother had been bullied too badly by Qin Mu, which was why he recruited just anyone.
Thinking of this, Xu Fenghua felt a pang of heartache again.
This further strengthened her resolve to help her younger brother!
Zhao Wuji stood on the high platform and waited for a long time, but no one came up.
His brows furrowed slightly, and a hint of impatience flashed in his eyes.
Just as he was about to say something more provocative, a voice rang out from the crowd, neither too loud nor too soft, but clearly reaching everyone's ears.
"I'll do it."