On the side of an official road that led to the border between Jian Province and Yangzhou, a group of warriors carrying weapons were resting.
In the group, a man in his thirties was standing next to the carriage, talking to a young man sitting in the carriage. There was a smile on his face, and he nodded from time to time with a respectful expression.
The young man with his legs dangling by the side of the carriage spoke and acted casually.
When he talked to others, his tone was calm and indifferent. There was no fluctuation on his face. Sometimes, he lowered his head and fiddled with an old horsewhip. Sometimes, he looked around and occasionally raised his head and smiled.
"Young Master Fang, the small group of bandits just now is nothing. After we leave Jian Province and enter the territory of Qingshan County in Yangzhou, a large group of bandits will appear. We have to be careful from now on…"
The man's smile faded slightly and he looked a little cautious. However, he did not sound too worried.
After all, there were more than 30 rank-in martial artists on their trip. Even if they really met them, they would not be afraid at all.
The young man's eyes lit up when he heard this. It was as if hearing that a large number of bandits were blocking the way was a good thing. He was extremely excited.
"Um…are there really robbers?”
The young man blinked his eyes in disbelief.
"I've been walking with Old Huang and the other two for so many days, but I haven't even seen the shadow of the bandits.”
The young man was suspicious, but he didn't say anything.
" Young Master Fang, don't worry. Although the bandits are rampant in Qingshan County, and there are many mountains among the mountains, we have dozens of experts who have fought their way through step by step. As long as they dare to come, we can guarantee that they will sweep them clean…"
After saying that, he even made a sweeping gesture and split the stone by the roadside into two halves.
This group of people was the First Phoenix's group.
Wang Deye, who was waiting beside him, thought that the young man was worried about the safety of the team, so he immediately assured him confidently.
Seeing the First Phoenix's stunned expression, Wang Deye waved his knife and put it back into the scabbard. There was a smug look on his face.
He didn't know how depressed First Phoenix was.
For the First Phoenix, ever since she left the island, she finally had a chance to have some fun. She could witness the legendary scene of a large number of bandits robbing her. How exciting was that?!
However, just as he was secretly rubbing his fists and preparing to show off his skills, Wang Deye suddenly said," Sweep all the way." He immediately had a headache.
He felt that this matter was most likely hopeless again.
"You're only a Rank-6, but you can sweep through. You also have so many fierce subordinates who look like they're not to be trifled with, and they're at your beck and call.”
The First Phoenix cursed in her heart. She was a little angry.
" These robbers are too unprofessional. At least they should show their faces and howl from afar. That's more like it. What's the point of hiding…"
The First Phoenix's expression was a little unsightly, and she subconsciously rubbed her chin with her fingers.
He was a little curious about these guys who lived in the mountains all day.
"Damn it, you don't do your job all day. You're all staying in your lair and not willing to show your face in public. It's simply outrageous. You have to solve the problem of food and clothing, right?”
Although he did not understand the living conditions of these bandits, he was sure that their living conditions were definitely not good, or even terrible.
The First Phoenix turned her head and scanned the silent forest. She pursed her lips and couldn't help but secretly despise these so-called 'green woods'.
"He really doesn't know how to live. It's too outrageous..."
"In the forest far away from the bustling city, there's not even a ghost to be seen. How can we talk about being carefree and happy? We might as well just eat the tree bark and grass roots. That way, we won't have to harm the passers-by.”The First Phoenix gritted her teeth. She was very dissatisfied with these legendary things.
He had lived in the forest for six years, and he had been bored for six years.
When they left Carefree Island, they had decided that it was best not to have anything to do with mountain life in the future.
He hated staying in the dense forest. It didn't feel as poetic and interesting as the poetry books described.
Instead, it was more like a large prison, deathly silent, gloomy, and filled with killing intent.
The First Phoenix really couldn't figure it out. She didn't understand what was so good about the wild, where there were poisonous insects and mosquitoes everywhere. Wasn't the bustling city more comfortable and stable?
He had hands and feet, but he still specially went to the wild to find excitement. His head was simply stuck in the door and his entire body rotted.
Wang Deye didn't know that the young man was actually going crazy.
The First Phoenix was frowning and her face was a little dark, as if she had something important to settle. She opened her mouth and wanted to say something, but she hesitated. However, he did not dare to interrupt this young master of the Fang family.
Very soon, the young man's furrowed brows relaxed. He raised his head and smiled apologetically at Wang Deye. Then, he opened his mouth and said something that puzzled Wang Deye for a long time.
"What a pity."
The First Phoenix murmured softly. She stood up in disappointment and looked at the official road in front of her. She sighed.
Feeling that they had rested enough, everyone mounted their horses.
The First Phoenix got into the only carriage in the group.
Old Yellow slowly sat on the horse, his arm that was holding the reins gently moved, skillfully turned the horse around, and left with the others…
When the First Phoenix and the others arrived at Qingshan City, it was already the morning of the second day.
After entering the city, the First Phoenix realized that almost everyone here was carrying weapons. It was only after hearing Wang Deye's explanation that she understood the reason.
Green Mountain City was built on the Guniu Mountain Range.
Because of the superior geographical location of Qingshan County, there were only a few roads that could be used by horses within the range of hundreds of miles of mountains.
It was precisely because the merchants traveling from the north to the south had to travel from here, or else they would have to take a few more days to travel.
Because of this, groups of bandits occupied this place and often robbed merchants and passersby.
In order to deal with this situation, many of the residents of the surrounding villages and towns carried weapons with them, which added a bit of coldness and killing intent to them, forming a unique atmosphere that was different from other provinces and counties.
The First Phoenix observed for a while and realized that there were more rank-ranked martial artists on the streets than in Guanghan County. She secretly sighed at the ferocity of the people here, and the martial spirit was much stronger than in other counties.
Everyone found a restaurant in the city to have lunch. They also ordered the waiters to prepare some meat and wine for the journey.
The First Phoenix found a clean table and sat down. Wang Deye was accompanied by a young man who looked like a scholar.
The man looked weak, but he was carrying an ancient short sword. The sheath was completely black, and there was nothing special about it on the surface. It even seemed a little broken.
However, when First Phoenix saw the short sword, she felt that it was not simple.
With his perception as a Rank-4 martial artist, he could faintly sense the coldness that the black sword emitted. It was not as inconspicuous as it looked on the outside.
However, it was only a little curious. The First Phoenix quickly turned its attention to the owner of the short sword.
According to Wang Deye's introduction, this scholar dressed up as Liu Qi was his right-hand man. After failing the imperial examination, he hardened his heart and burned all the literature and books in his family. Zi carried his sword and left his hometown to travel far away. After grinding many places, he followed him to pass the days.
Hearing that Liu Qi was a scholar, First Phoenix sized him up.
He used his internal strength to check, and the result surprised him.
He hadn't expected that this unremarkable scholar was actually a pretty good expert. Just like Wang Deye, he had already entered the Sixth Stage Realm.
Among the thirty people who followed him, his martial arts skills were the best.
The First Phoenix raised her glass first, smiling warmly.""So it's Big Brother Liu. This meeting is fate. Let's not talk about anything else. Let's have a drink first.”
Liu Qi clearly did not expect the youth in front of him to be so fierce.
Before he could speak, he was already clamoring to have a toast. He was not as gentle and refined as he had expected. Instead, his every move was more like a reckless person like them.
However, although he was a little surprised, Liu Qi still stood up with a smile and happily bumped into the First Phoenix.
After a glass of wine, Liu Qi clearly felt that their relationship had become much closer.
"It's still easier to get close to such a young master of the Fang family!”
Liu Qi pondered in his heart. He originally thought that the Eldest Young Master from the Fang family in Feng Province should not be an easy person to get along with.
He was even prepared to be ignored.
Unexpectedly, the first meeting had a good start.
The scene was not as serious as he had imagined. On the contrary, the process was rather relaxed and pleasant.
Since they had already drunk, the two of them could be considered to know each other.
Coupled with Liu Qi's eloquence, without the slightest bit of the sour and conservative temperament of a scholar, it didn't take long for the few of them to start talking.
"Big Brother Liu, speaking of which, you can be considered a scholar. Based on your experience, do you think that the life of a scholar is more relaxed and elegant, or the life of a martial artist is more refreshing and comfortable?”
The First Phoenix was very curious about Liu Qi's experience. After a few words, she could not help but ask.
"Young Master Ying, there is no such thing as good or bad between these two lives. It just depends on which one is more suitable for you. As long as you live a happy and fulfilling life, the rest doesn't matter.”
Liu Qi chuckled and explained.
Ha!
The First Phoenix scoffed at these words and didn't think much of it. However, she still nodded on the surface and didn't say anything.
In his opinion, Liu Qi's words were the same as not saying anything.
"What do you mean by 'suitable'? This thing couldn't be seen or touched. It was really a little illusory and ethereal, and it always gave people a very deep feeling.”
"I don't understand. What's there to say? It's better to be direct.”
"You can either make do with it or don't play so many tricks and continue to be muddleheaded. Otherwise, he could just smash through the south wall and go to hell.”
The Great Feng Dynasty had a vast territory, and correspondingly, it needed more talents. Those who studied martial arts and literature could directly enter the dynasty's power level.
For example, there were specially organized imperial examinations and recommendations from ministers.
In order to better select talents, the dynasty had even set up an organization to specially select people who recommended themselves.
This organization was known as the " Jiji Mansion," and was divided into " Jiji for Civil Affairs " and " Jiji for Martial Arts." There were government offices in each state and county, which meant that they hoped that people could seize the opportunity and display their talents to their hearts 'content.
The First Phoenix secretly despised Liu Qi's words. The main reason was that First Phoenix was practicing the Footloose Technique, and he had been influenced by the preaching he had received since he was young.
In the past, First Phoenix had always faced a life and death crisis. He had been injured time and time again, and had fainted time and time again... These were all things that he did not like.
Time and time again, he gritted his teeth and endured the night's dismissal orders. Every time, he would lie on the sand as if he was relieved, almost on the verge of collapse.
If he took another step forward, he would be in the abyss of despair, a hellish death zone.
Naturally, this wasn't anything to be happy about.
After a few glasses of wine, he lost interest in continuing. After a brief discussion, he left the city according to the established route.
Not long after they left the north gate of the city, mountains surrounded the First Phoenix. They were green and rolled continuously, surging forward as if they were rippling into the sky.
Looking at the dense and steep mountain forest, the wisps of white fog that spread in all directions, and the quiet and winding road, the First Phoenix smiled. Her eyes narrowed into a line, and she felt a little nostalgic and excited.
Although he did not like the stressful life in the jungle, he had spent six years in a row. The habits he had developed over the years could not be changed in just a few days.
He had an indescribable feeling about these cold and quiet forests.
It seemed intimate, familiar, and repulsive…
The First Phoenix gently squeezed the horse's belly and sped up to catch up.
Then, a large group of people charged forward.
Finally, Old Yellow, who was trailing behind them, slowly left.
……
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