The sounds of swords and blades originated from the training ground on Gusu West Street.
At this moment, Jiang Yichen was captivated by the exciting fight on the arena.
There were not many onlookers; most glanced at the arena a few times before going about their own business. In Gusu City, such arena duels were truly too common.
The training ground was the only place in Gusu City where sparring and fighting were permitted. Originally an unwritten rule, it was later formally declared by the Gusu Government.
For the various factions, Gusu City was a safe island for temporary ceasefires, but it was a bit far-fetched to completely ban martial arts on this safe island, so the resulting product was the training ground provided for sparring and duels. After all, in this era where everyone valued martial arts, there were many who felt their martial arts were good and needed a place to show off their tricks, to display their power and prestige.
The training ground was mostly for sparring and duels, meaning they should stop at the right point, must not injure vital points, must not cause serious injury, let alone take a life. However, life-and-death duels also existed; each party would sign a life-and-death contract under the witness of government officials, and then they could fight to the death on the arena.
These rules had been strictly observed for decades. In addition to the official written regulations, it was also because the various factions gave face to each other and mutually restrained one another. Anyone who broke the rules would inevitably be pushed to the center of controversy, wanted by the government, and attacked by all parties.
The training ground was three zhang wide and six zhang long, standing on the water surface. At any one time, about five pairs of opponents could be on the stage for a duel. Usually, two government officials were assigned to be on duty here. Their martial arts were not high, and they only maintained order within their ability. If an accident occurred, they prioritized their own lives. Their role was mostly to witness life-and-death duels or to report accidents to the Purple Xuan Hall.
The sky was still early, and there were only two people sparring on the arena. For passersby who often saw fight scenes, they were already accustomed to it, and only those who were quite bored would stop to watch. Jiang Yichen, however, was a curious baby who had been attracted over; the fight on the stage truly opened his eyes.
On the stage were a young swordsman and a middle-aged swordsman. The swordsman appeared capable and old, while the young swordsman's martial arts seemed slightly inferior, but his momentum was not at a disadvantage at all; instead, it was faintly suppressing the swordsman.
The situation on the field was just like that. The swordsman's fierce and powerful slashes time and again failed to touch, yes, failed to touch the young swordsman even once. And that young swordsman almost never got close to the swordsman, relying entirely on Sword Qi to carry out long-range attacks on the swordsman.
For those who practice sword, once they have achieved success, the most lethal and long-range attack is undoubtedly Sword Qi. However, judging from the fact that he could use Sword Qi so frequently without showing any signs of tiredness, the young swordsman's physical strength and power must not be underestimated. If the guess is correct, he should also have profound Internal Energy to protect himself, otherwise, it would be difficult to appear with ease and calm in such a fight.
The swordsman was a practitioner who focused on physical training, with muscles all over his body, but he was truly willing but unable when facing an enemy he could not touch, and could only constantly rush to close in. With great difficulty, he gathered his strength and used a Cloud Lock move, pulling the swordsman toward him, and slashed down with a roar. However, the swordsman's feet were like greased lightning, quickly pulling away to dodge, causing the swordsman's One Strike to hit nothing.
As time went on, although the swordsman seemed to have higher combat power, the swordsman won with agility, using his own strengths to attack the other's weaknesses. As time passed, the swordsman gradually showed signs of tiredness, and the swordsman finally waited for the opportunity to Counterattack.
Swish, swish, swish! Three consecutive Sword Qi blasts arrived in a rush. The swordsman barely managed to block them, but the tiger's mouth of his hand was numbed by the impact. Unable to hold the blade anymore, he had to admit defeat and concede.
After leaving the training ground, Jiang Yichen's mind was still filled with the scene of the fight just now, yearning for the day when he could also cultivate such profound Internal Energy and strength as the young swordsman.
Sigh, it is better to have fewer distracting thoughts at this time.
Jiang Yichen cleared his mind and clarified today's goal: he must tour the entire Gusu City!
Only by finding key information could he plan his next move. After all, he did not come here to relax. If he did not reach the old man within the specified time, he would have to return home.
Strolling through Gusu City, he experienced the beauty of Jiangnan in early spring. The beauty of Jiangnan is hazy and ancient; it is playing chess leisurely under a tree, drinking wine drunkenly among flowers, and tasting tea calmly in the courtyard. Green water surrounds white walls, red flowers fall on blue tiles, and the winding river sings softly in the morning. Riding a small boat, traveling through small bridges and green water, both banks are mottled with the passage of time and the eternal tenderness of Piao Ling. What a pool of clear water carries is the trace of passing years and the hoarse and old.
"Spiritual mountains and rivers have a paradise, ancient buildings and small towns lean by the window. The sunset's yu hui reflects the willow trees, and I watch the mortal world with a cup of wine." Perhaps this is the best summary of Gusu's cultural landscape.
Time passed unconsciously. Before he knew it, Jiang Yichen stepped into an unknown small alley. A faint fragrance of orchids drifted from the courtyard behind the wall, moistening his heart and spleen.
Although he felt it was a bit rude, curiosity was paramount. After confirming that it was difficult to see passersby in this alley, Jiang Yichen lightly jumped onto the wall and probed his gaze into the courtyard.
In the courtyard of blue bricks and white stones, in an inconspicuous and secluded corner, several orchids were exhaling the breath of early morning. Jiang Yichen, who usually did not like to touch flowers and grass, was actually captivated by them. Just as he was about to appreciate them slowly, he was interrupted by a light and delicate sound of footsteps. A woman appeared in the courtyard, seemingly coming to look after those orchids. Soon, she detected the line of sight from a stranger and immediately looked toward the wall.
Instantly, Jiang Yichen was stunned. Too late to hide, he wanted to explain that he was only attracted by the fragrance of flowers to admire them, but he could not open his mouth. His face turned red instantly, and the scene was very awkward.
After a while, Jiang Yichen regained his courage. After all, he should explain clearly to her. Just as he was about to speak, he felt a chilling Killing intent from the front. The woman was still standing in the same place without moving, but the Killing intent released from her eyes was truly enough to kill several Jiang Yichens.
The woman did not know that Jiang Yichen's staring was not out of rudeness, but out of being stunned.
A moment later, Jiang Yichen was finally awakened by the Killing intent, and only then did he discover that this woman's figure was so similar to the woman he met at Yunbo Inn when he went out in the morning. Her clothing was also the same, only she was not wearing a veil on her face. The important thing was that this woman was really beautiful.
The woman was elegant and refined, naturally exuding a light and spiritual air. Her breath was like a secluded orchid, and her beautiful eyebrows were faintly furrowed. Even with anger, she looked so lovely.
Suddenly, Jiang Yichen finally realized that staring at a woman like this was very rude and offensive. The red face that had finally cooled down turned red with shame again in the blink of an eye. His gaze left the woman as if fleeing, his body fell off the wall, his back pressed against the wall, and he looked around to see if he had been discovered by others, panicking and at a loss.
Jiang Yichen no longer had the courage, phew, no longer had the guts to check if the woman was still there. He identified a direction and rushed out of the alley that made his heart flutter, returning to the bustling crowd of Gusu.
He thought he had escaped this flowery Nightmare, but unconsciously, Jiang Yichen had arrived in front of the Yichun Courtesan House, which was full of flowers, red, and wine.
Lost and absent-minded, Jiang Yichen, who was walking on the street, was suddenly pulled into the Yichun Courtesan House by someone.
"Hehe, young brother, looking at your complexion, it seems like you are just beginning to understand love. Come in and drink with Older Sister, let Older Sister guide you, hee hee." A woman wearing a thin cicada-wing shirt with a plump figure was flirting with the tender chick she had just snatched from the street. She calculated in her heart that being able to entertain such a little piece of fresh meat would not only allow her to have a taste, but if she could also scrape some oil and water from him, it would truly be a wonderful business. Thinking of this, she could not help but laugh out loud.
At this moment, Jiang Yichen, who was being pulled inside by her hand, awakened as if from a dream. His cheeks flushed red, he completely lost his composure, and his body did not listen to him, following her step by step into the Yichun Courtesan House.
The Yichun Courtesan House was the only red-light district in the Inner City of Gusu, occupying most of the northeast corner of Gusu City, and its scale was self-evident. The facilities inside and various ways of entertainment were also dazzling, and the most important thing was that the girls here were all beautiful and talented, enough to make people linger and forget to return.
The Yichun Courtesan House had a large number of girls, but most of them sold their art and not their bodies. The Top Courtesan Qingchen was as elegant as a green lotus, as otherworldly as a fairy. A little makeup made her look like a beauty who could topple a country. A tune on the Konghou plucked at the heartstrings, and a tune on the long flute soothed the spirit. Many scholars and poets put down their status and stepped into the Yichun Courtesan House just to listen to that heavenly sound.
Below Qingchen were the Top Eight courtesans: Yingchun, Banxia, Jianqiu, Rendong, Ruolan, Ruoxun, Ruoxuan, and Ruowei. They were all peerless in beauty, each leading the way, and could also attract many elegant Gentlemen to be happy and forget to return. Thus, the remaining girls did not need to be described. Therefore, even though it was still morning, like the bustling crowd on the street, the Yichun Courtesan House was already bustling with noise. Merchants, high officials, noblemen, rich young masters, etc., who did not come here to seek flowers and ask for willows and spend their days happily?
The place Jiang Yichen was brought into was not the magnificent and luxurious elegant area, but the big mixed area where fish and dragons were mixed and ordinary people were the majority. Along the way, he heard unbearable foul language and disgusting, vulgar behavior. With great difficulty, he raised his eyes and actually saw a lecherous old scholar wearing gold and silver, lecherously placing his hands on the chest of a girl in red.
Even though Jiang Yichen had not experienced the affairs between men and women, seeing this scene made him blush with shame. In broad daylight, there were actually such people who did not follow the rules, failing to act with the dignity of an elder, and this girl had truly gone astray.
"Good, good! Hehehe!" The old scholar's face was red, but it was definitely not from shame, but from the burning of lust.
The speaker had no intention, but the listener was shocked!
The old scholar's actions and words echoed repeatedly in Jiang Yichen's mind, a scene that seemed familiar!
2017.7.26 Second major revision!
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