Sword from the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 4: Horse Tracks Left on the Snow (Thanks to the Newspaper Painter, Dameng!)
The third day after the beginning of spring.

It’s a late spring cold snap, and snow is falling again in the Central Plains.

Confucius Mountain was like a white gauze, and the stone steps leading down the mountain were covered with thin ice. When Zhou Yi walked down to the foot of the mountain with a bamboo broom, a cold sun was breaking through the fog on the top of the eastern mountain.

"Spring snow indicates a good harvest, a good omen."

Kaku Wuzi admired the snow and loosened the reins in his hand. The old horse beside him stretched out its neck and nibbled the new green shepherd's purse seedlings in the patches of remaining snow.

Zhou Yi looked at his master with white beard and eyebrows and advised:
"The wind and snow are keeping us here. Master can leave later."

"It's better to do it now than to wait for a day, and it's better to do it today than today," Jiao Wuzi stroked his long beard. "As a master, I'm in the martial arts world and I don't mind traveling far. I'll leave the dojo to you."

The old Taoist priest got on his horse and turned to look at Zhou Yi, "I picked you three up from the dead, and I only protected you because of a little reputation.

remember
When you are in the underworld, your identity is given by yourself."

Zhou Yi bowed and said, "Disciple, I understand."

"Let's go back."

The sound of horse hooves rang out, and Jiao Wuzi smiled carefreely.

I sent my master off to Taiping Dongshan, leaving only horse tracks on the snow.

Soon, Zhou Yi could only see hoof prints in the snow stretching into the distance, and he could no longer find his master's back in the soft morning light.

Carrying a bamboo broom, he went up the mountain with some early messengers.

The fact that Master Taiping went out to visit a friend did not cause any trouble. Zhou Yi practiced internal skills diligently every day and read scriptures. Whenever he had time, he would go to the training room to look through the skills collected in the Taoist temple.

Although they are all external skills and some basic boxing, kicking and stick skills.

But in this world, let alone watching those who practice martial arts in the mountains and lakes, even martial artists who practice lower-level hard skills should not be underestimated.

For example, in the Southern martial arts world, there was a man named Bao Rang, whose Iron Shirt technique was considered only a low-level external skill. However, through decades of diligent practice, he developed a "Horizontal Refining Qi" that was in no way inferior to that of a superior internal Qi master.

He then became a first-class master and was named Hercules.

There are many kinds of kung fu circulating in the world, and with the addition of people who have found new ways, all kinds of masters emerge one after another.

In line with the idea that more skills are better than less, Zhou Yi studies
It was the fifth day of Jiao Wuzi's journey down the mountain.

At noon, a handsome and elegant young Taoist priest stood in front of the gate of Taiping Taoist Temple.

He wore a Hunyuan scarf on his head, a straight yellow Taoist robe, hemp shoes on his feet, and a thunder-struck peach wood sword hung on his back.

If he held a sword in one hand and rang a bell in the other, Zhou Yi felt that he could go to Chechi Kingdom to pray for rain.

His attire is quite similar to that of the immortal Huli when he was praying for rain.

"Brother!"

Yan Qiu and Xia Shu were holding their preaching instruments, jumping for joy.

Zhou Yi nodded, called out to the elderly men guarding the Taoist temple, and led the two children down Fuzi Mountain.

They got on Feng Si's carriage at the foot of the mountain. Feng Si's situation was similar to that of Zhang Cheng, who was guarding the training room. He was also taught by Jiao Wuzi to practice hard skills and was accepted as a Taoist disciple.

In addition to helping drive the carriage on weekdays, he was also responsible for taking care of the vegetable garden at the foot of the mountain with another man from Dongjun, Dou Kui.

"Where's Dou Kui?"

Zhou Yi asked, these two usually go together.

Feng Si said, "Brother, Old Li, who's in charge of picking up vegetables and delivering rice, fell on the icy road the other day and injured his leg. Old Li's daughter is frail and has little strength, so Dou Kui helped take her to town to find a doctor."

Zhou Yi had an impression of Lao Li, who was an honest and timid farmer.

"Is it seriously injured?"

Feng Si sighed, "It's not a big deal, but I'm old and fragile, so it won't be easy to recover."

Zhou Yi felt a little relieved.

Feng Si pulled the old mat at the front of the cart shaft and sat down on it. He hesitated when pulling the reins:

"Brother, should we take the official road or take the smaller route?"

Seeing him hesitate, Zhou Yi asked, "What news have you heard?"

Feng Si sighed, "That Zhang Xutuo is truly formidable. Yesterday, I heard from the people at Gaoyangji Teahouse that Zhi Shilang was defeated by him again. He defeated over 100,000 troops near Zhangqiu.

Zhang Xutuo was trusted by the tyrant emperor and had taken on a job in the Eastern Capital.

It is said that he joined forces with General Yuwen Chengdu of the Yingyang Army to wipe out the remnants of Yang Xuangan and punish the rebel forces in Qi and Lu in the Central Plains.

Feng Si was a little nervous. "The Yingyangfu Army was originally in the Baima area, not far from us. Now they are heading south to Taikang. I don't know where they are now."

Zhou Yi was cautious.

"General Taipai is a master of the Yuwen clan and needs to keep a low profile recently."

Although Taiping Dao belongs to the underworld forces, even Feng Si can feel the crisis.

This title is too special. It is no different from other rebel armies that rose up in rebellion. They are all considered meritorious deeds in the eyes of Sui generals.

However, the Yuwen clan is one of the four major clans. They do not take the initiative to provoke trouble, and I think they do not look down on the trivial things in Fuzishan.

Forget about taking the smaller path. Firstly, the forest path is difficult to walk on, and secondly, it's easy to encounter thieves. If we get delayed on the way, it will affect today's birthday banquet and rituals.

"Let's take the official road, it's okay," Zhou Yi looked at the sky and responded calmly.

Feng Si then urged his horse on.

When the carriage reached the north of Yongqiu, the Yang'ou city tower came into view.

The city wall is less than two meters high, so it is just a small city.

After all, the city walls of Chang'an, Luoyang and Jiangdu are all over thirty feet high, which is really huge.

Even with the superb lightness skills of the Western Turkic commander Yun, he couldn't easily cross it.

The carriage passed under the two words "Yang'ou" on the top of the city wall.

Xia Shu lifted the curtain wider, and the two little Taoist boys looked out. There were many believers in the Taiping Taoist Temple, but there was little of the city's urban atmosphere.

As we entered the city, we heard a continuous "ding-dong" sound.

Sparks flew from the blacksmith shop at the street corner. Two strong men were swinging hammers with their bare chests, and the iron on the anvil was burning red.

The two men's rhythmic ironwork resonated with the failed art students.

Zhou Yi seemed to hear it from the sound of iron hammering
As brave as the wind. Well, a man of the world as brave as the wind.

The inn nearby was bustling with activity.

There were many martial artists wearing weapons, drinking together in the teahouse on the first floor, bragging about their experiences in the north and south.

On the second floor, facing south, two young students were gazing at the willow buds outside the window in a trance. I could vaguely hear them muttering about "Emperor Wen" and talking about "the rise and fall of the world."

There are many shops on the street, and there are many people and horses on the road. Feng Si has slowed down his car.

Zhou Yi was lost in thought as he stared at the worldly affairs.

This is also the magic of Master Huang's world. No matter how fierce the fighting outside is, most cities remain unaffected, and their prosperity is beyond what historical records have recorded.

"Yu~!"

Feng Si suddenly reined in his horse.

An old man dressed as a butler walked in front of the carriage, followed by several capable guards, all wearing black military robes, with their sleeves tied with ropes and weapons hanging from their waists.

Just by looking at their figures, you can tell they are martial artists.

There was a man standing next to the butler, dressed in luxurious clothes. He was a young nobleman.

The old butler looked at the flag on the carriage and took a step forward.

"Excuse me, is this the carriage from the Taiping Dojo?"

Feng Si from the outside world replied, "That's right."

The old housekeeper immediately put on a smile and said, "My old master ordered me to wait here to welcome the Heavenly Master to Cao's mansion."

Xia Shu said, "Please lead the way, Master."

Zhou Yi met the old butler and nodded to each other.

The Cao family was a wealthy family in Yang'e. During the reign of Emperor Wen, a relative of the Cao family served as a Palace Attendant in the Ministry of Personnel.

Normally speaking, with such a background, even if the family is involved with many underworld forces, it should be careful about its reputation and should not invite people from the Taiping Dao.

The problem was that when Yang Guang came to power, this Grand Chamberlain in Cao's mansion had already been beheaded.

A group of guards from Cao's mansion cleared the way and led Feng Si's carriage forward.

The noble young man said nothing and walked at the front of the team with the old butler.

"Butler Sun, who is in the carriage?" asked the young master of the Cao family.

Seeing that he was a little unhappy, the old housekeeper gently reminded him:

"This man's name is Zhou Yi, and he's a disciple of the Taiping Dao's Jiao Wuzi Tianshi. Erlang Jun, you've been practicing in the Three Qins for years, so naturally you don't know his name."

The young man snorted, "Grandfather shouldn't have invited the Taiping Daoists at this time."

The old housekeeper lowered his voice: "This matter involves many people. Empress Liang's people have sent people to the mansion. Erlangjun needs to ask the old master."

"Empress Liang's people?" Cao Chengyun snorted and shook his head in disdain. "The only one who can catch the eye of our sect leader is Mi Gong."

"I only regret that Yang Xuangan is not a man who can accomplish anything"

……

Thanks to Biebi, Hua Jie, the newspaper painter, Fu Sheng Yan Huo Man, Shen Yan Feng, Shang Xia Bu Qiu Suo, Bai Yi Yi, Yu Yuan Ri Mu, Lan Niang, and Dai Dai Di Jian Dai! Thank you all for your kindness~!! Sorry for the expense!! ('-'*ゞ

Thanks to Xinghai Chenfei for the 10000 points reward! Thank you very much!
Thanks to diuchebaoshuai for the 2000 points reward!

Thanks to senior sister A Zongai for the reward of 1666 points!

Thanks to the Second Battalion Commander Italian Artillery for the 1500-point reward!

Thanks to readers YYG, Yinzhu Nianbing, Dongli Bajiu Hunwanhou, Jiushuzhifeng, L Sad Corn and Pork Ribs Soup, and Shuangyue Wufeng for the 500-point reward!

Thanks to Earthling 1988 for the 400-point reward!

Thanks to Wu Liuqi, Gu Gao Xiu Yi Ren, Lazy Sheep King No. 2, and Gu Yi Yi Fu for the 100-point reward!

Thanks to Yueyuanyu, Chuhe Riyuwu, China is rising, Tsutsui Ayame, Flame Star 1, Shuhai Milu, Meng Wanyan, Pilot 1314, Digital Brother Book Friend 20201213180845233, and Gongsun Shendu for their rewards!

Thank you all for your valuable monthly tickets and recommendation tickets~~!!
('-'*ゞ



(End of this chapter)