Why do I have so many masters?-Chapter 227 - 128 City Gate (12)

At a time when Wang Anfeng was completely helpless about the matter of "Yi Nanping," the entire Fufeng County City was buzzing with excitement due to the news released by Great Qin. In the tea houses and restaurants, among every ten people from Jianghu, seven or eight were discussing the matter enthusiastically, as lively as a scene that not even the cold autumn wind could extinguish.

Even at a simple food stall in the chill of autumn, a dozen children, not yet of age to attend Academy, sat huddled together with their hands supporting their cheeks and their eyes wide open. They watched as an aged teacher loudly clapped the startling wooden block, glanced around, struck a pose, and only then, with his voice raised, began to speak:

"Today, we will not talk about literary men and beautiful women, the beauty of spring and autumn, nor will we discuss nobles, generals, the joy of roaming the Jianghu. Today, we discuss only the proclamation that was just posted, only the Jianghu hero Yi Nanping."

"It is said that a hero is not afraid of death but fears failing to achieve his goal. If achieved, he refuses to hide his name. I’m no thief to skulk by night, by day I boldly slay corrupt officials, hastily passers-by pale at the sight. This hero’s heart is like a whale in the sea. The whale surfaces, cutting through the vast ocean, splitting the waves into two. Lessening sea by parting sea, a hero schemes, and none can gauge how a three-foot iron sword can slay two bandits."

After finishing his opening song, the elder clapped the startling wooden block again and said:

"To trace the source of this matter, we must go back to the beginning of this year…"

Although the storyteller was old, his voice was loud enough that bystanders could hear him clearly; from time to time, people paused to listen to his eloquent narration that vividly brought the heroic deeds of Yi Nanping to life, as if he had witnessed them firsthand with his own eyes.

Though bystanders knew he was just conjuring tales, he captured their attention so fully that at exciting points, they couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

As they were getting absorbed in the tale, steady footsteps approached. Turning around, they saw a Great Qin patrol officer with a weapon, walking past as usual, without attracting much attention, just making way for him before turning back to delve deeper into the stories of characters adventuring through Jianghu.

Patrol Officer Wu Xiong walked by without stopping, accompanied by his subordinates. Although the old man’s story equated Great Qin officials to roadside robbers, calling them both bandits, he didn’t seem to care much, nor did he react excessively.

In the numerous schools of thought among novelists who roamed the streets, mocking the current regime was common, and Great Qin’s officials, although internally fuming and itching with annoyance, were used to it. What could they really do about it?

Could they imprison a storyteller?

At most, like the current Prime Minister, they could only write poems to counter the storytellers’ taunts. Unfortunately, although the Prime Minister’s rank was unparalleled and he was adept in military strategies and governing, his poetry was as tasteless as chewing wax, a thoroughly lamentable performance.

He lost miserably.

Wu Xiong’s mind wandered, but due to recent events, he dared not let his thoughts drift too far and promptly reined them in. Currently, the storm in Fufeng County City had not yet passed; if it weren’t for the keeper of the Fufeng archive intervening yesterday, stopping the knife that had flown out from a house, he would have been killed instantly.

From afar, the elderly narrator’s voice reached a critical moment, detailing how Yi Nanping encountered the martially formidable Wuxin from the Legalist school. It was like a clash of titans meeting their equals, and although Wuxin was highly skilled, Yi Nanping, motivated by righteousness, did not back down and surprisingly did not lose outright.

As the fight went on and Yi Nanping fell off a cliff in a critical error, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. He met a reclusive grandmaster who passed on peerless martial arts skills to him. This allowed him to reappear yesterday and, with a single move, cleanly kill a master of White Tiger Hall who had reached the Fourth Rank Realm, leaving no survivors.

Spectators, including children and pedestrians, exclaimed in surprise. Wu Xiong could not help but sneer internally, firmly concluding that the old man was merely a common storyteller and not a hidden master novelist from among the commoners. He solely lacked knowledge in martial arts, which enabled him to utter such ignorant statements.

From the Ninth Rank Realm to the Upper Third Rank Grandmaster, even for a prodigy blessed by heaven with endless bizarre adventures, it is impossible to achieve without a decade or so of effort. In just a few short months, even if Yi Nanping had managed to escape with his life under Wuxin’s pursuit, he would at most have reached the Eighth Rank Realm, not even close to touching the edge of the Dragon Gate, let alone the realm of the Upper Third Rank Grandmaster.

He shook his head, deciding not to think further, and continued walking several more streets until he was about to hand over duties to another patrol team. As he passed by a courtyard, he suddenly smelled a strong scent of medicine. He frowned slightly but was not suspicious, assuming that someone in the courtyard was suffering from a sudden illness.

He then remembered that night when despite a massacre happening in the town, people, compelled by their livelihoods, had no choice but to set up stalls at night. If Wang Anfeng hadn’t happened to pass by unintentionally, they probably would have been killed by an assassin.

With this thought, he merely sighed deeply and turned away from the street.

Inside the main house of the mansion.

A young man about twenty-five or twenty-six years old sat cross-legged on the bed. He had a handsome face, dressed in a sky-blue scholar’s robe and wore a black jade pendant at his waist, looking elegant and dashing, yet his right arm was not made of flesh but finely patterned wood.

The expression on the young man’s face grew more serene as if his practice of martial arts had reached a state of total forgetfulness.

Just then, a crisp sound of clanging weapons emerged in the room, grim and piercing, causing his body to tremble suddenly, his breath became disordered, and pain was visible on his face, yet there was no trace of paleness. After struggling for a moment, he couldn’t help but cough up a mouthful of fresh blood, his martial power dispersed, and his whole being once again became weak.

After catching his breath for a moment, the young man supported himself with one hand on the bed and sat up, looking at the blood on the ground. His expression changed, and he finally sighed leisurely:

"The essence of the East Sea forms the moon; the energy of the Western Peaks solidifies into gold. Advancing brings the vision of daylight; retreating, all creatures are overshadowed."

"Impressive!"

"Truly befitting a general who has fought and crawled through battlefields, just the might of one arrow, this Military Family’s fierce aura is almost irremovable... If we were to face each other in combat, he could take my life within a single move."

In his voice, there was full admiration. After speaking, another fit of violent coughing ensued, shaking his slightly trembling body, his face growing increasingly pale. Yesterday in the city, he hadn’t expected to be remotely attacked by an arrow from Yu Wenze. After recuperating overnight and having consumed numerous elixirs, the results were minimal, almost useless.

If he had not had the foresight to purchase property in this city years ago, he would probably have been killed by Jianghu masters alerted to his movements the moment he left the city.

Xia Changqing, having changed his face, coughed twice, self-mockery appearing on his face. He placed his right hand on his knee, gently tapped his finger, and murmured:

"The world bustles, all for profit, the world hustles, all for gain."

After all, it involved the fragmented chapters of "Heavenly Inquiry."

It was said to encompass all the transformations of martial arts in the world and was referred to as the essence.

Throughout history, those who achieved fame and success, those who dominated an era, all had various connections with these seven chapters of Heavenly Inquiry. The Mi Family master, despite being in the royal court and facing great calamity, was one nobody dared to touch without weighing their own capacity, and while White Tiger Hall was hard to find, the only viable target in the city was him.

Especially since he had just been severely injured by Yu Wenze in one strike—was this not the best opportunity to act?

Thinking it over, Xia Changqing supported himself with that strange long saber, got up from the bed, took two steps forward, and pushed open the window to look at the sky outside, observing the clear, azure expanse. Even though he had fallen into such a plight, his expression remained calm, far from the rashness of yesterday.

This time, the strategy had utterly failed.

He had overlooked Wang Anfeng, his inner breath was disrupted by the loss of an arm due to Yu Wenze, and any slight movement was beyond even an immortal’s help to mend.

And White Tiger Hall died at the hands of the military experts, which he had anticipated; however, he had not foreseen that it would happen so quickly, and even the last hidden player had died at Yi Nanping’s hands, suggesting that "Heavenly Inquiry" must have been seized.

He never believed in coincidences.

Such a disastrous defeat must have been due to some crucial information being noticed by others, and then by a master skilled in the same craft who deduced his own strategy. Judging from the quick response of the Military Family, this behind-the-scenes master must have substantial connections with them.

With this thought in mind, Xia Changqing leisurely sighed and said,

"Yi Nanping, Wang Anfeng."

"In this game of chess, I have lost, and it is a pity I could not meet the person behind the scenes..."

If everything were laid out clearly, this strategy wouldn’t have been a big deal.

But to be able to conjecture one’s thoughts and plans from nothing amidst a flurry of chaotic information, and to strike at a critical moment causing everything to collapse, such a master, even as an adversary, how could one not admire? Not being able to see their true face, how can one not feel regret?

Just now, because his inner strength was disrupted during recuperation, Xia Changqing took several elixirs to forcefully suppress his injuries. He stowed the strange long saber into the guqin case beside him, slinging it onto his back, and wore a deer leather glove on his mechanically replaced right hand.

The Fourth Rank jade pendant around his waist flowed with a radiant light, suppressing his Aura. This near Fourth Rank master, just like a scholar who did not practice martial arts, slowly walked out of this courtyard.

"Mr. Zhang, are you heading out on a long journey?"

"Not really, just some minor matters to attend to outside."

The neighbors saw him coming out and greeted him; he courteously responded, slung the guqin case on his back, led a chestnut horse, and walked towards the gate of Fufeng County City.

............…

Meanwhile, inside Fufeng Academy.

Wang Anfeng dusted off the dirt and leaves from his body, suppressed the aimlessness in his heart, and said,

"How did you come to know of this news?!"

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I didn’t even go out yesterday...

Could you have been deceived?

Su Wenchang looked at him helplessly and said,

"Everyone knows, with so many things happening in the city, such big news was bound to be announced through posters..."

"You have been here for almost a year now, you should pay some attention to what’s going on around us, right?"

Wang Anfeng nodded, Su Wenchang waved his hands, mentioned that he still had to spread this great news to everyone in the academy and was about to leave, but just then, Wang Anfeng suddenly asked,

"Where exactly is the announcement posted... "

Su Wenchang stopped, turned around, and said,

"At the city gate..."

PS: First update