Chapter 536 - 299: Tongyao City (Part 2)
Chapter 536: Chapter 299: Tongyao City (Part 2)
If it’s the former, how could he make flames surge with a mere wave?
If it’s the latter, how could he be rolling in this mortal world?
Old Man Sun cursed him for having no foresight, Shopkeeper Zhou dared not argue... only to find that this old fellow was just as blind.
He could only guess and suspect that this expert used a highly advanced martial art, transforming his inner strength into flames, integrating it with saber momentum, so that whether slicing horizontally or vertically, flames followed.
As a result, the two wicked villains were shattered by these flames before they could even approach.
The flames scorched the flesh, emitting the aroma of roasted meat.
Old Man Sun told Shopkeeper Zhou that this was the supreme martial arts, showing that this expert was definitely one of the top masters in the world.
Being able to associate with such a person was surely due to ancestral virtue, like smoke rising from the family grave.
Shopkeeper Zhou might have been skeptical about this in the past, but this journey proved Old Man Sun wasn’t wrong.
This was indeed a rare opportunity!
Moreover, this expert was not pretentious at all.
Though he stayed inside the carriage by day, he always appeared among people at night when camps were set.
He talked and laughed without arrogance, being courteous to everyone.
He even referred to himself as a junior when speaking to Old Man Sun.
Old Man Sun, the big-tailed wolf, was puffing his tail proudly.
They gathered to chat, and Shopkeeper Zhou also thought to join but was worried he might have nothing to say, annoying the expert.
Unexpectedly, the expert was easy to talk to, engaging in idle talk across various topics.
Now, looking back at the carriage, it truly felt like witnessing a true expert.
The expert, sitting in the carriage, seemed bored.
Gentle put down the curtain and heard Wu Qianhuan say:
"Tongyao City is not far now; by tomorrow at the latest, we’ll arrive."
"Niao Shisan seems to be getting more scared..."
Chu Qing nodded. Niao Shisan was timid and cautious. As the surrounding paths grew increasingly familiar, his fear grew more evident.
He had clearly recognized the surrounding path.
Thinking back, this person indeed possessed some skill.
After escaping Tongyao City, he traveled hundreds of miles, ventured into Heaven-Reaching Ridge, and accidentally stumbled into Heaven-Reaching Manor.
This experience could indeed be described as bizarre.
Especially for Niao Shisan, this was likely an unusual encounter.
"In these days, according to Old Man Sun, Li Shengxing has never acquired an evil reputation."
"But the demons and monsters encountered along the way were evidently after Niao Shisan."
Wu Qianhuan looked at Chu Qing:
"Could Li Shengxing be another Shen Juke?"
"To paint a tiger’s skin is easy, but to paint its bones is hard; knowing a person’s face, but not their heart."
Chu Qing chuckled:
"This martial world has men who seem heroic but are in fact vile, quite commonplace."
"I fear Li Shengxing is even worse than Shen Juke."
Shen Juke killed the entire Chen Family for a woman, framing Wuchen.
But based on the name, Niao Shisan, and scattered bits of information, something terrifying undoubtedly occurred in Tongyao City.
But what exactly might have happened?
What role did Li Shengxing play in all this?
These questions would likely remain unanswered until reaching Tongyao City.
At night, their last camp was set.
Shopkeeper Zhou mentioned they would reach Tongyao City by morning, planning to host a banquet in the evening for Chu Qing.
Chu Qing smiled and declined, but Shopkeeper Zhou said:
"Brother Han, don’t refuse. Thanks to your help, our caravan avoided many losses this journey."
"I must express my gratitude."
"Moreover, once in Tongyao City, we should go to ’Celestial Flavor Tower’ to taste the Snow-Melting Fragrant Meat!"
"And savor the ’Drunken Immortal’ for a memorable journey."
"Oh? Is this unique to Tongyao City?"
Chu Qing felt curious.
"Indeed, indeed!"
Shopkeeper Zhou laughed and said:
"To be honest, I’ve never tried it but have long heard and yearned for it."
"It’s said the Snow-Melting Fragrant Meat undergoes three soaks, three roasts, three steams, then is cooked in broth for eight hours, finally ready."
"Once served, the moment the casserole lid is lifted, the aroma spreads widely, inevitably making everyone salivate."
"The taste is said to be exquisite, melting in the mouth, tender to the extreme."
"Some even claim it’s the world’s top fragrant meat!"
As Shopkeeper Zhou spoke, he almost drooled, quickly wiping it off with his sleeve.
Chu Qing was a bit surprised, world’s top fragrant meat?
While not very knowledgeable about such things, he knew that fragrant meat meant dog meat.
He heard it was seldom eaten, though Chu Qing wasn’t interested in dog meat in his past lives.
Despite not being a dog lover, he wasn’t keen to try.
But listening to Shopkeeper Zhou stirred some curiosity.
Even Old Man Sun nodded repeatedly:
"I’ve heard of this as well, with claims that no dog can leave Tongyao City."
"Whether true, I’m unsure..."
"It’s true."
Shopkeeper Zhou said:
"This is curious; only the fragrant meat in Tongyao City is the most authentic and delicious."
"Once outside Tongyao City, its taste changes."
"And in Tongyao City, Celestial Flavor Tower is the best!"
"Visiting this place means you must not miss it."
Chu Qing laughed softly. Unable to refuse the kind invitation, he agreed.
Without much dialogue, they arrived at Tongyao City the next day.
This is the largest city within a hundred miles of Heaven-Reaching Ridge, geographically belonging to Liaoyuan Mansion of the Three Mansions, Three Schools, and Three Sects.
The Three Mansions primarily refer to the three major families.
Liaoyuan Mansion belongs to the Ouyang Family, Star Split Mansion to the Han Family, and Celestial Sound Mansion to the Liu Family.
These three families have expanded their power to the peak, equaling sects with their might, leaving a profound mark on the Lingbei region.
The City Lord of Tongyao City is a master from the Ouyang family branch of Liaoyuan Mansion.
As they entered the city, a fragrant aroma wafted through.
Chu Qing and others glanced through the window, noticing that the streets were filled with stalls selling dog meat...
The signs outside either displayed ’Liu Family Fragrant Meat’ or ’Li Family Fragrant Meat’, with the proprietors warmly inviting passersby to try the meat, all bustling with activity.
Chu Qing noticed that each dog meat stall had a stove at the entrance, with a large pot of broth simmering.
The white broth bubbled, emitting fragrance, with cooked meat and bones rolling in the pot.
The carriage went on, but then they heard the clanking of shackles.
Pulling back the curtain revealed a group leading a crowd of shackled men and women.
These people, hunched over, appeared weak, their hands and feet bruised and bleeding from prolonged wear, looking pitiful.
Chu Qing’s brow furrowed, knowing this was a group of slaves.
Previously, Old Man Sun mentioned that both Liaoyuan Mansion and Star Split Mansion freely trade slaves, even Star Split Mansion has a dedicated slave capture team targeting the homeless to catch and sell at low prices to slave traders, who then resell them.
This matter isn’t secretive, it’s openly allowed in Liaoyuan Mansion and Star Split Mansion.
However, the other Three Schools and Three Sects handle slave trading differently with varying penalties.
Celestial Sound Mansion is the strictest, punishing those who dare to trade slaves within its borders with execution by dismemberment.
Though Old Man Sun says, the profit from this trade is so lucrative that many risk everything, operating in secret.
Some even infiltrate Celestial Sound Mansion and the other Three Schools and Three Sects to secretly capture and sell in Liaoyuan Mansion and Star Split Mansion.
In this respect, it contrasts sharply with the situation in South Ridge.
Finally, the group settled at ’Donglai Inn’, while Chu Qing directly went with Gentle and Wu Qianhuan to visit the residence of Knife King Li Shengxing.