Super System in the Early Tang Dynasty

The landscapes of Sichuan and Chongqing are renowned for their beauty, surpassing all others in the world.

We traveled up the Three Gorges. At this point, there was no such thing as a "high gorge giving way to a placid lake"; it was all natural beauty!

The mountain peaks on both banks rise in a continuous line, like giant swords pointing towards the sky. The mighty Yangtze River, at this point, is but a mountain stream rushing eastward to the sea, making the people and sails on it appear even smaller. Under the clear blue sky, the normally wide river surface, when one is on it, is reduced to a small patch of sky peeking through the mountains; and those on the boats are all silent and still, afraid of disturbing the boatmen, lest a single mistake lead to capsizing and death!

At this point, even someone as skilled and daring as Li Xingzhi couldn't help but marvel at the perilous nature of the world and its magnificent grandeur.

At night, the half-moon shone over the mountain, illuminating the river. The cries of monkeys on both banks reached their ears, interspersed with the howls of wolves, the roars of tigers, and the shrieks of jackals. Those on the boat who were more timid trembled, their faces ashen.

As the boat progressed, the path narrowed, the water became swifter, and the mountains more treacherous. The jagged rocks along the riverbank jutted out like bared beast teeth, and large stones frequently plunged into the water with a resounding "thump! thump!" as the sound of the water grew increasingly deafening. The waves surged, and the boat seemed to be submerged in the raging torrent, unsure when it would be swallowed by the flood. At this point, even the daring Li Xingzhi, who had been sitting on the gunwale, was pulled into the cabin by Li Shun. Listening to the relentless crashing of the water against the hull, even the seasoned passengers on board showed signs of worry.

Before even seeing the Shu Road, it was already this treacherous!

Upon entering Sichuan, the boatman had changed. The rivers of Sichuan are turbulent, with hidden reefs and towering waves that often swerve and turn sharply. Only experienced boatmen with decades of experience can navigate these waters.

Looking at the scenery on both sides of the river now, all that can be seen are withered pines hanging upside down and rolling stones like thunder; occasionally, a glimpse reveals wooden planks floating between cliffs, with one or two figures walking on them, which is truly terrifying.

From the Yangtze River, it flows into the Fu River and then down to the Ji River. After disembarking, one reaches Brazil. Entering through Zhang Fei's mouth, one arrives at the ancient city.

Li Xingzhi observed the people around him, noting a stark contrast to those in the Central Plains. Though also Han Chinese, they generally sported mustaches, their faces serene and peaceful, their steps slow, suggesting a long period of peace compared to the Central Plains. While lacking the bustling prosperity of the Central Plains, it possessed a greater tranquility and profound depth. The locals spoke softly and gently, approachable yet not overly enthusiastic, creating a pleasant and comfortable atmosphere.

"Brazil is still the same Brazil as before!" Li Shun looked around at everything, unsure whether to feel joy or sorrow, and sighed deeply, his face full of nostalgia.

Li Linzhi, on the other hand, walked along the street, looking at all sorts of things around her with great curiosity and surprise. "Wow—what beautiful brocade!" she exclaimed, while pulling Zhou Rou'er's two little daughters and whispering something to each other.

Li Xingzhi walked over and saw a piece of exquisite brocade with pairs of auspicious beasts and flowing clouds. The colors were bright and rich, soft and beautiful. Compared with the strange and dangerous colors he had seen along the way in the previous few days, it was softer and gentler, making people feel comfortable.

The woman from Shu, seeing the girl's surprise and praise, had a gentle and happy expression on her face. "My handkerchief is nothing special. If you go to Chengdu, young lady, you will be amazed."

Upon hearing the woman's words, Li Xingzhi was reminded of the item "Shu brocade." Looking at the ten shops around him, five or six of them displayed brocade, disguised as cloth clothing shops, and thought to himself: No wonder it is the "Ancient Kingdom of Cancong."

The architecture of Sichuan is built along the mountainside, which is not as orderly and grand as that of the flat plains of the Central Plains, but it has a lot of novelty.

Led by Li Shun, the group entered a large courtyard. The courtyard consisted of only two sections, with the front yard occupying half of the space. Large shelves on both sides gleamed, displaying several large swords and spears, and many more. The various implements gleamed coldly, clearly not just for display in some household, which surprised Li Xing.

“You little monkey, you’re finally back! Ever since that scoundrel took you away, I thought I’d never see you again in this lifetime.” A robust old man with slightly white hair and beard, around fifty or sixty years old, walked out.

Seeing the old man's bright spirit and rosy complexion, Li Shun's face lit up with joy, and he exclaimed excitedly, "Uncle, I'm back!"

The old man looked Li Shun up and down before saying, "As expected of a son of the Li family!" Then he asked, "Where is your father? Is he dead?"

Li Shun felt slightly embarrassed upon hearing the old man's words. Although he didn't know the details of what happened back then, he did know a little about it. Otherwise, his father wouldn't have gone all the way to the Western Regions. He simply said, "Father is doing well, but his health prevents him from traveling long distances. He only asked me to come back and visit."

"If he dares to come back, I'll beat him out!" The old man's face flushed, and he was somewhat agitated.

Li Shun stood there, embarrassed and speechless. Just then, he saw Li Xingzhi and quickly pulled him over to introduce him: "Uncle, this is the grandson of Uncle Gao from Chang'an, named Li Xingzhi." As he spoke, he looked at the two young girls beside him, "These two are my nieces-in-law."

The old man sized up Li Xingzhi, frowned slightly, and nodded, his face showing a distant expression, seemingly not very satisfied with his thin body; he didn't even glance at Zhou Rou'er, and only when he saw Li Linzhi did he speak, "This young lady is not bad!" Then he said to Li Xingzhi, "You have found a good wife, don't mistreat her."

After saying this, the old man turned to Li Shun and said, "Little monkey, let me see if you've forgotten your swordsmanship after all these years away." Without waiting for Li Shun to refuse, he took a blunt longsword from the wooden shelf next to him and held it in his hand.

"Uncle, I..."

Before he could finish speaking, the old man interrupted him, "What are you dawdling about?"

Li Shun immediately grabbed a longsword and gripped it tightly, assuming a stance that exuded power. Having traveled all over the country for so many years, he naturally hadn't forgotten the weapon he used for making a living.

"Alright! Behold my sword!"

Watching the two swordsmen exchange blows, their blades clashing and flashing with cold light, Zhou Rou'er felt a chill run down her spine, and her hands, gripping Li Xingzhi's clothes, became sweaty. Li Linzhi, on the other hand, was thrilled, as if she had rediscovered the feeling of wandering the martial world with her grandfather. However, having been taught the true methods of internal energy by Li Xingzhi, she blushed at the flaws in their swordplay and longed to rush forward and offer her some pointers.

Seeing the lively scene, with swords flashing swiftly and ruthlessly, capable of killing even thirty to fifty ordinary bandits, Li Xingzhi secretly applauded. His own skills, of course, couldn't compare. However, the old man quite alarmed Li Xingzhi. After all, in this era, most people were weak and frail by their fifties or sixties, rarely living past seventy. This man, on the other hand, was still wielding a sword.

With a crisp metallic clang, the two stood with their swords drawn.

"Haha, just as I thought, you're still the same little monkey from back then!" He said this as if he would disown Li Shun, his nephew, if his swordsmanship were to falter.

That evening, Li Xingzhi and his entourage stayed at the residence.

As night fell in Brazil, in a grand mansion, a gaunt, pale-faced young man sat in a small hall, looking like a demon in the dim light of the night. He looked at a figure on the floor and asked, "Did you find anything good today?"

"I have seen two stunning beauties, but—" He seemed hesitant in his words, but a strange look appeared on his face hidden in the shadows.

"But what?"

"Those two guests have some connection with that old devil Li Jing," the man explained hastily, as if afraid the young man wouldn't understand. "When Li Jing was young, he made quite a name for himself in the Sichuan and Chongqing region with just a long sword. He also made friends with many swordsmen and mountain heroes. He was quite capable."

"How does he compare to my father?"

"How can a mere commoner compare to the city lord?"

"In that case, call that disciple of Big Monkey and have him get things done for me." As he spoke, the pale-faced, sunken-eyed youth, who looked like a demon, reached out and touched a woman beside him.

The man below bowed and stepped back, a hint of disdain in his eyes; the dim moonlight revealed a scarlet scar. Touching the scar on his face, he chuckled, a laugh like the cry of a ghostly owl in the night.

The young man was the only son of the city lord of Brazil. He was addicted to wine and women, recruited henchmen, and specialized in harassing the wives and daughters of passing merchants for his own amusement.

The land of Bashu is not the Central Plains after all. It is remote and dangerous. Each city lord is a local emperor, who controls his city and is granted titles by the imperial court.

The next day, a misty rain fell. Li Xingzhi and his companions, who had long admired the ancient city and green mountains, couldn't wait any longer. They set off in the cool rain, led by one or two servants, touring the ancient city on the icy bluestone slabs, their hearts pounding with excitement.

This is a genuine ancient city, not one of those 'man-made' ancient towns of later generations. Of the billions of people in later generations, perhaps only Li Xingzhi is fortunate enough to have this. Li Xingzhi thought to himself.

The road veered off course, the rain intensified, and with his paper umbrella open, Li Xingzhi, if not for the towering mountains, would truly believe he was on the road to Jiangnan…

Life doesn't always grant our wishes. Even the heavens would be jealous of someone as carefree and leisurely as Li Xingzhi. Just as the group was in high spirits, suddenly, several people blocked their path from both the front and back.

Li Renjia, who was leading the group on a sightseeing tour, noticed the unfriendly visitors and placed his hand on his longsword. "What brings you here, gentlemen? This is my master, Li Jing, the eldest son of the Li family..." He was about to mention his master's name when he was interrupted—

"Li Jing? Today we've come to see members of the Li family." A burly man with a scarred face shouted. His expression was ferocious, as if he had some deep-seated grudge against the Li family. He paid no attention to the past few days, only looking at the two women standing in the crowd, and sneered, "These are the people Ah Lang wants."

Li Renjia and the others drew their longswords. He said softly to Li Xingzhi, "The visitors are hostile. Young man, find a chance to leave. Quickly go and tell the master about this."

Li Xingzhi didn't answer, standing aside and observing the situation. He was somewhat interested in the swordplay of Li Renjia and the others; judging from their appearance, they had clearly seen blood. Li Linzhi, however, was eager to try it herself.

"Want to leave?" A hunched-over, thin young man stepped out from behind the group, his steps nimble, like a mountain ape.

"Ape form? What is this giant monkey to you?" Li Renjia exclaimed in surprise.

"He is my master."

This person is called 'Little Monkey Ma', and he is Big Monkey's apprentice.

Upon hearing this, Li Renjia turned pale, thinking that there was probably no chance of survival today. He was worried about his family, wondering who was plotting against them. Without saying much, he nodded to the others, took charge of the front, and led the others, swords drawn, to rush back with Li Xingzhi and the others.

The weapons clashed, the metal clanging incessantly. The longswords vibrated violently, and in moments, the leading men clutched their right arms, staggering backward. Blood splattered from their right arms, staining them crimson!

"waste!"

Ma Xiaohou cursed and jumped forward. The Li family members' swordplay was fierce, and the young man couldn't get close for a while. He jumped left and right, just like a monkey, making sure the swords couldn't touch him.

Watching the fight, Li Xingzhi observed Ma Xiaohou leaping and landing with remarkable agility, seemingly conserving his strength. Meanwhile, the Li family members wielded their swords with incredible speed, each strike delivered with full force, leaving them drenched in sweat and fearing they could not sustain the fight for long.

Unable to gain the upper hand, Ma Xiaohou grew increasingly frustrated, and the group found an opening, tearing his clothes with a sword. He dodged several more blows with a quick flip, looking utterly disheveled. Both shocked and enraged, he exclaimed, "Well done, Li Jing of the Green Edge Sword! Truly extraordinary! Today I'll teach you all to taste my 'Monkey King' move!"

Having said that, Ma Xiaohou lowered his back, grinned, and bared his teeth, resembling an angry monkey—and he actually bore a striking resemblance. He bent his leg, leaped, and with a whoosh, closed in on the group. The monkey gripped the sword blade, gave a powerful shake, and two longswords clattered to the ground. Then, repeating the same method, the remaining sword fell to the ground, leaving the three men empty-handed, their faces pale, standing frozen in place.

On the other side, Li Renjia's situation was also extremely urgent. If it weren't for the scarred man playing cat and mouse, he would probably already be beheaded.

As Ma Xiaohou was grinning and smugly showing off, suddenly, a whooshing sound rang out, and a long whip lashed out at his face, leaving him nowhere to dodge and forcing him to retreat repeatedly. At that moment, a girl in red, wielding a long whip, appeared from behind the group.

Upon seeing Li Linzhi, Ma Xiaohou, who was initially furious, revealed a somewhat unpleasant smile. "So you're a little beauty. I quite like your looks. Once the young city lord no longer wants you, I'll take you for myself, how about that?"

"Oh? I like someone like you too." The girl's smile was wide open, and she started mimicking the matchmaker's words, making Li Xingzhi feel sorry for the monkey.

Hearing the girl say this, Ma Xiaohou thought she was truly sincere and was about to say something when he suddenly felt a chill and sensed a great threat approaching. Just as he was about to dodge, a sharp pain shot through his bones. He then discovered that, without him noticing, the girl was holding a long whip and was silently striking him.

It was Li Xingzhi who taught her the 'Shadowless Whip'!

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I've written two chapters, a little short, please forgive me. Goodnight everyone!