noveldepot Chapter 39 Suzhou City
Chapter 39 Suzhou City
After Lanruo Temple, Sheng Wansong and An Lan continued their journey south, enjoying the scenery and exploring hidden gems along the way, living a carefree and leisurely life.
They didn't encounter anything major on the journey, just trivial matters like feuds in the martial arts world and wandering ghosts.
Truly, green mountains and clear waters accompany me on my journey, and a light breeze and gentle clouds bring me a good mood.
As the journey continued for a month, the roads gradually widened, and the number of people who had been rarely seen along the way gradually increased, with carriages and horses passing by from time to time.
In just half a day, I saw more pedestrians than I had in the entire previous month.
Looking into the distance, a magnificent city gradually came into view.
When you arrive in Suzhou, you'll see houses lining the rivers. Ancient palaces are few and far between, but waterways and small bridges abound. Night markets sell water chestnuts and lotus roots, and spring boats carry fine silks and brocades. I know the moon is sleepless, and homesickness is sung in the fishermen's songs.
Suzhou, an ancient city, has a thousand years of history. Living by the water, it is shrouded in mist and rain.
Since the time of the King of Wu, it has witnessed countless events and stood for thousands of years, still incredibly prosperous.
The prosperity of Suzhou surpasses that of Chu Xiang, and is worlds apart from that of Guo Bei County, like heaven and earth.
The Sword Appraisal Conference is about to begin, but unlike the Chu Xiang Heroes' Gathering, only those with a formal invitation are qualified to board a boat to enter the Famous Sword Manor for the Sword Appraisal Conference, so not many busybodies have come to join in the fun.
"Master, the Sword Appraisal Tournament is still a month away. What should we do?"
Sheng Wansong smiled slightly, opened the paper fan he had bought from the roadside and gently waved it, "Naturally, it's about traveling and enjoying the scenery, living a carefree and elegant life."
The fan depicts mountains and water, with a beautiful woman washing her hair by the flowing water in an ink painting. A voice comes from inside the fan: "I have longed for Suzhou for a long time in my life, but I never thought that I would only have the chance to see the scenery of Suzhou after I die."
After Lanruo Temple, Sheng Wansong asked Nie Xiaoqian whether she wanted to be reincarnated or travel with him for the time being.
Nie Xiaoqian believed that death is a continuation of life. After reincarnation, a person completely forgets their past life, which is equivalent to Nie Xiaoqian being completely dead.
But she was not yet ready to say goodbye to this world.
Wherever you go, the first thing to solve is where to settle down.
Unlike the dilapidated state of Guobei County, the inns in Gusu City were luxurious and grand, with three-story buildings.
Sheng Wansong booked a top-class room, equivalent to a presidential suite in later times, and put his luggage in it.
As for where he, a farmer's son, got the money from.
In Guobei County, nine out of ten houses were empty. Sheng Wansong saw that there was a lot of silver money that no one wanted, so he picked some up.
Of course, it was carried on Yan Chixiaqian's back.
After placing her belongings in the guest room, An Lan gazed at the large bed, her eyes revealing a look of anticipation and longing.
It's not simply about missing the comfort of sleeping in a big bed.
Rather, she hadn't warmed her master's bed in a long time.
Since leaving Chu Xiang, Guan Lin has been causing trouble in Taoyuan Village, and when she was away from home, she had to endure the elements and had no bed to sleep in.
After finally arriving in Guobei County, they didn't stay at the inn at all, but went straight to Lanruo Temple.
Two months later, Anlan almost forgot the temperature of the bed and the unique scent inside.
Tonight, she can finally continue her work.
Sheng Wansong, however, did not pay much attention to the child's complicated thoughts.
"Let's go, come with me to explore this ancient water town."
In Suzhou, streets and alleys crisscross, rivers flow with crystal-clear water, and the stone slabs underfoot are worn smooth and shiny by the passage of time.
Shops and vendors lined both sides of the road, their dazzling array of goods filling the air with the shouts of shopkeepers.
Although Anlan had complicated thoughts, she was still a child after all. She was drawn to the aroma wafting from the food stalls, looking here and there, but she didn't want to trouble her master for her own taste buds.
"Young Master Sheng, even Sister Anlan is drooling."
Nie Xiaoqian's voice rang in his ears. Even though she hadn't reminded him, Sheng Wansong had already noticed An Lan's condition.
He took Anlan's hand and stopped in front of a small stall.
The stall owner was a kind-faced old woman. Seeing the two approach, she quickly greeted them with a smile, "What would you like to eat, sirs?"
"None of us are from Suzhou. Grandma, could you please introduce us?"
Saying that makes you easy to get ripped off.
But ill-gotten gains are spent without a second thought.
Moreover, if someone really overcharges and tries to rip you off, Sheng Wansong wouldn't mind letting him experience the fury of thunder.
The old woman smiled and said, "Sir, don't be so honest at other stalls."
After saying that, she took out two steaming hot osmanthus cakes from under the steamer.
"This honey osmanthus cake is our shop's signature dish; you can't find it anywhere else. It only costs five coins a piece."
As soon as the steamer was opened, a wonderful aroma filled the air, making one's mouth water.
Sheng Wansong handed a piece of pastry to An Lan, and then ate one himself on the street.
Before leaving, Sheng Wansong asked the shopkeeper to wrap him in oil paper again.
As a ghost, Xiaoqian cannot directly eat human delicacies; she must offer them to others in order to taste the food.
"Thank you, young master."
The two of them carried cakes and ate them as they walked.
Along the way, the food I ate kept changing, and I accumulated a lot more oil paper packets.
Having collected some snacks, Sheng Wansong spent a few copper coins and asked an honest child by the roadside to deliver them to the inn for him.
After eating their fill, the two walked to the riverbank and boarded a covered boat.
With the boatman's help, the small boat swayed gently, and the bustling scenery on both banks flowed before our eyes.
After the small boat had traveled some distance, Sheng Wansong suddenly noticed that the left bank of the river was decorated with lanterns and colorful ribbons.
Another arena was set up, with a large "囍" (double happiness) character hanging behind it.
"Boatman, is there some joyous occasion on the shore?"
The boatman, rowing with his oars, replied, "This is the Lin family head holding a martial arts contest to find a husband for his only daughter."
"The Lin family?"
Seeing that Sheng Wansong was unaware, the boatman chuckled and said, "Young master is not a江湖人 (jianghu person, meaning someone from the martial arts world), hence this lack of knowledge."
"The Lin Family Fortress is a well-known martial arts force in Jiangnan, second only to the six major sects such as the Famous Sword Manor."
"Lin Beiwang, the master of Lin Family Fortress, has mastered the family's unique sword and finger techniques to perfection, guarding the area and is recognized as a top master in the martial arts world."
A top-tier master.
In the martial arts world, martial artists are divided into different levels based on their strength.
From bottom to top, there are roughly five levels: third-rate, second-rate, first-rate, top-tier, and grandmaster.
Top-tier masters are rare in the martial arts world, and the threshold for them is to open up the Ren and Du meridians, so that the internal energy can circulate naturally.
The masters that Sheng Wansong had seen, such as Gui Jianchou, Zhang San, Mo Xuan, and An Lan, were all at this level.
If we only consider martial arts skills, Yan Chixia would also be included in this category.
This Lin family lord's martial arts skills surpass those of the others.
"How many days are left until the martial arts contest to choose a husband?"
The boatman thought for a moment and replied, "I heard it will be three days from now."
Sheng Wansong smiled upon hearing this, "Then I've come at just the right time."
Regardless of what kind of Miss Lin is, it's only natural to want to join in the fun.
In this ancient world without the internet, if you don't join in the fun, there's not much entertainment to be had.