Chapter 36 Entering the City

  "Adults, they're here!"

  A small soldier-like man rode a horse hastily from outside and arrived at the city gate, dismounted and saluted.

  Lin'an County is the most prosperous county in Yangzhou, with a high city wall that is five zhang high. Ordinary Jianghu people, unless they are top-notch light kung fu masters, can't climb over it at all.

  At this moment, under the city wall, there was a military officer-like person lying on that big bamboo chair to enjoy the cool. This person, as it turned out, was still an acquaintance of Tang An's. No mistake, this military officer-like person was none other than Liu Wuyong, the Ninth City Patrol Officer who came to maintain order when Tang An killed a hundred people with one sword.

  It was just that Lord Liu had a bad day, although the Hu Bao army didn't bother him, but he calculated that Qin Qing would absolutely not let him go. So he decided to slip away and return home. Before his superiors came to invite him for tea, without saying a word, he packed up his valuables, took his silver notes, and left Beijing overnight, rushing straight to Yangzhou.

  He had originally planned to open a large brothel in Yangzhou, not only to make money but also to satisfy his own desires. Unfortunately, Yangzhou was different from other places. Since ten years ago, all the brothels had to hang the sign of the Quan Tian Jiao and be controlled by them, otherwise they would not be allowed to open! Other businessmen could intervene a bit if they wanted to. The moat at the city gate was big enough to throw corpses into.

  Liu Wuyong looked at his own body and thought that if he were to throw himself into the river, it would only make a splash. After a few days, he would be eaten by the fish and shrimp in the river, leaving no bones behind! So, he gathered all his belongings and went to find the governor of Yangzhou. The governor didn't say much, but handed him a seal and sent him to a city gate, saying that within three years, this city gate would belong to him. In other words, for these three years, except for completing the assigned quota of taxes, all the rest could go into his own pocket.

  Liu Wuyong was now comfortably lying on a bamboo chair, calculating how many days it would take for him to earn back his capital. He had grown tired of these aimless wandering days. Looking at Yangzhou, under the governance of Jun Tian, although it couldn't be said that doors weren't closed at night and things weren't picked up from the streets, at least there hadn't been any outrageously unjust incidents. As for the second-generation rich, officials, and powerful families deceiving people, every place in the world was the same, not just Yangzhou. So, he thought, why not settle down in Yangzhou? Just as he was thinking about marrying a wife and enjoying life as a wealthy man, the little soldier who delivered messages let out a loud shout, interrupting his beautiful dream and suddenly pulling Liu Wuyong back to reality.

  Today, there is a big task, the superior has ordered to kill people in Lin'an City. This morning, the city was in chaos, and all the families living in the north of the city were driven to the south. If there are manors outside the city belonging to the powerful families, most of them have also gone out of the city. Today, the superior has passed down an order from the Left Envoy, to kill people inside the city! Those big households originally refused to leave, shouting and saying that if they want to kill people, can't they do it outside the city? Bringing them into the city to kill, are you all idiots with brain diseases? But the leading military officer only said one sentence "The Left Envoy has an order", and those families didn't dare make a sound!

  Ming Ruogu, in the eyes of ordinary disciples of Jun Tian Sect, is a god-like figure. His words are always followed by actions. If someone dares to obstruct him, they will be beheaded within three moments! Although he is crazy, he is highly intelligent and almost magical. Under his leadership, Jun Tian Sect has risen from nothing to occupy an entire state, rivaling the thousand-year-old great sect of Shu Mountain!

  Liu Wuyong was suddenly yelled at by that little soldier, for no reason, and his heart immediately tensed up. He suddenly remembered that he had received an order today to escort a group of people into the city. The leader of that group seemed to be called Tianjian Tang An!

  "Tianjian Tang An? Is this name very famous? I've been hearing it a lot lately?"

  Liu Wuyong touched his own occipital bone and felt that this name had been a bit too popular lately.

  When a name suddenly becomes too popular, it disrupts the balance and will inevitably incur heavenly jealousy. Now, Zuo Shi has ordered the elite disciples of the White Tiger Hall, Green Dragon Hall, and Iron Eagle Hall to intercept and kill Tang An in Lin'an County.

  "Low-key is the way to go. Otherwise, the faster you rise, the faster you die." Liu Wuyong curled his lips, in fact, his martial arts skills were not bad either, among humans, he was also a top-notch expert. Unfortunately, he had always believed that safety comes first and being high-profile was a sin. So, people like him could live for a long time. Unfortunately, living this way was too boring!

  Liu Wuyong waved his hand at the soldier who came to report, and then let another hand go to inform the elite disciples of Jun Tian Jiao who were hiding in that quiet place.

  Liu Wuyong finished all these things and patted his butt to get up, preparing to go forward and take a look at what kind of person Tianjian Tang An was.

  But he stood together, looking at the originally bustling and prosperous Lin'an City, which was now quiet and somewhat eerie. He always felt a kind of creepy feeling in his heart.

  "Later on, a lot of people will definitely die... Forget it, anyway it's not me who's going to die! Whoever wants to die can go ahead!"

  ……

  In the depths of Lin'an City, there was a luxurious mansion. This mansion was originally the villa of Gao Lao Ban, the first salt merchant in Yangzhou, but later it was bought by Lan Fa Wang to show respect to Zuo Shi. Unexpectedly, just two days ago, mysteriously, this house had changed hands again.

  And now, on the plaque outside this mansion, are written in bold letters the two words "Tang Fu"!

  Half of Lin'an City's streets are empty, with a storm approaching, but at this moment, inside the Tang Mansion, lanterns are lit and decorations are put up, it's extremely lively!

  Mr. Tang wore a large blue robe with the character for "good fortune" embroidered on it, and he puffed out his chest as he paced back and forth in the main hall, his facial flesh appearing even thicker than it had ten years before, to the point where even his double chin couldn't quiver anymore.

  Tang's mother sat opposite Tang's father, her face filled with worry. "Tian Ge, they said An Er is coming back. But why won't they let us leave the city to pick him up? I don't know what's going on, but my heart has been racing all day and I just can't calm down. I feel like something is about to happen."

  Tang's mother had a worried look on her face, and as she spoke, she glanced outside. As soon as she looked out, she suddenly saw that the originally clear sky had turned dark with thick clouds covering the earth, so black and heavy that it seemed to swallow Lin'an City whole! The wind and rain had only stopped for less than half a day, and now they were coming again!

  Tang Fu's eyebrows furrowed deeply as he listened to the words, and he stopped abruptly in front of the table, slapping it loudly. Suddenly, an idea struck him, and he exclaimed, "They're using us, husband and wife, as bait to lure my son back home, and then they'll get rid of us quickly!"

  Tang's mother heard this and thought about the attitude of those people, how could she not understand? Her face suddenly turned white, and she trembled with fear, saying: "If it's really like this, what will become of my husband and me?"

  Tang's mother finished speaking, her face twisted for a moment before she made up her mind. A hint of ferocity flashed across her face as she said, "No one can threaten my An Er! Not even if they threaten me with my own life! I absolutely won't permit it! If it really comes to that point, Tian Ge, we'll just be husband and wife in the next life!"

  Tang Fu listened, but shook his head and said: "Do you think they would let my son know? At this time, I'm afraid my son has already entered the city and is rushing towards us. However, it doesn't matter, our family was originally supposed to die ten years ago, these years have passed, if not for Yue Yi's efforts in withstanding the pressure from above. Our family would have been like the Yue family in southeastern Fuzhou, where everyone died, their bodies were incomplete, and they were abandoned in the wilderness without even a burial ground."

  These ten years, our husband and wife's life has been okay, not great but stable, better than the days when we had to hide from east to west. Your younger brother, actually, it's also very tough for him. After all these years, I've come to understand that what happened back then wasn't his fault. Really.

  If it were someone else, we would have become wandering ghosts long ago.

  Now our son has grown up. At the age of sixteen, he is famous in Jianghu, and even the head of a sect of Mount Shu Swordsmen died under his sword. I, Tang Tianjing, have such an excellent son, what more can I ask for?

  Today is a good day for our family to reunite, and we should be happy. Thinking too much is also useless.”

  Tang Fu said, his face calm once again, and turned to ask Tang Mu: "By the way, have you told the kitchen to prepare? Osmanthus fish, braised pork belly, and Buddha jumps over the wall... those are An's favorite dishes. It's been ten years... my son is finally coming home today! I wonder if that rascal is bringing his daughter-in-law back with him? He did say so back then..."

  ……

  Outside the Tang Mansion, densely packed, surrounded by disciples of the Quan Tian Sect.

  These disciples look no different in their attire. However, upon closer inspection, it can be discovered that the symbolic decorations on their armor are all unique! Qinglong, Baihu, Tieying, the elite disciples of the three halls, are now standing guard at the entrance of the Tang Manor, waiting for a chance to strike!

  Their faces showed no fear as they stood upright in front of the Tang Mansion!

  Their eyes gleamed with a fierce murderous intent, and in their view, this place would soon become a hellish realm of suffering!

  But who would be Ashura?

  They?

  Still...

  ……

  Tang An's group had a very large target, on the open plain, several miles away it could be seen.

  Just then, Tang An's eyes flickered and he suddenly pulled the reins. Because dozens of people were rushing towards him, and the leader was Zheng Biao, whom Tang An had sent to protect his parents. Tang An furrowed his brow and looked at Zheng Biao.

  Zheng Biao is a very cautious person, and he has come this time without bringing back Tang An's parents. Tang An had already guessed eight-tenths of it - it must be that the Quan Tian Sect had moved his parents away before they arrived in Yangzhou, and even sent people to strictly monitor them, leaving Zheng Biao no room for maneuver!

  Zheng Biao dismounted his horse and knelt on the ground as soon as he saw Tang An, with a look of shame on his face. "Lord, I have failed in my mission, please punish me! When we went to pick up Master and Madam, Jun Tian Jiao had already moved them into the city, and also dispatched many skilled fighters to roam outside. Once we approached, we would be discovered! I was truly powerless."

  Tang An didn't say a word, his eyebrows jumped and a cold smile appeared on his face. He had already guessed that the Tian Jiao Sect was going to use his parents as bait, forcing him to enter the city!

  It's been ten years. His parents are right in front of him, and Tang An certainly won't give up the road home just because of that little bit of threat!

  He sat high on his horse, pointing with his whip at Lin'an City in the distance, saying: "Lin'an City, I'll go in alone, you all stay here!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers under his command suddenly made a commotion and blocked Tang An's path, not allowing him to proceed. Mu Hongyu, however, gripped the reins tightly, ready to follow Tang An into the city at any moment. Xiao Xie, on the other hand, slowly clenched her small spirit bead in her palm, pouting her mouth and rolling her big eyes wildly, as if she had thought of some wicked idea, and then snickered slyly.

  At this time, Tang An was about to abandon his 800 subordinates on this side. Suddenly, someone from the Tiger and Leopard Army stepped forward, blocked Tang An, and said sternly: "We, the soldiers of the Tiger and Leopard Army, are all brave warriors in the world, not cowards who fear death! Your Excellency is underestimating us! Brothers, we are fierce warriors, wherever our long guns point, there is no one who dares to escape! Today, let's show your Excellency how we, the Tigers and Leopards, will capture those bandits from the Quan Tian Sect as a snack for you..."

  He let out a roar, and the rest of the tiger and leopard riders shouted in response, waving their long spears.

  A glint of cold light on the tip of the spear.

  Cold light shines on iron armor!

  Tang An's eyes scanned the scene, and he burst out laughing. With such brave warriors by his side, even if Lin'an County was a tiger's lair or a dragon's den, Tang An would still stir up some trouble!

  "Follow me into the city, lads!"

  The sound of horseshoes echoed loudly, suddenly bursting forth like a muffled thunderclap.

  The earth began to tremble beneath their hooves!

  ……

  Under the city of Lin'an, Liu Yongwu had already seen a dense black mass rushing towards him in the distance. Among the group of knights, the leader was a young man wearing purple clothes. This young man, Liu Yongwu only felt familiar, he furrowed his brow, trying to remember where he had seen him before.

  ...Tang Anna's cold and stern face appeared in Liu Yongwu's line of sight, instantly, a similarly cold and determined face flashed through Liu Yongwu's mind.

  This young man is just like that youth who, on the day of the Tiger and Leopard Brigade's martial arts registration, killed a hundred people with one sword, his heart stopping but his hand not stopping.

  Liu Yongwu took a closer look and suddenly saw clearly. He only felt his whole body tremble with cold.

  Because he remembered!

  "It's actually him, my god... How did I run into this jinx again?! Is it because Liu was destined to clash with him in his past life that he's specifically here to cause me trouble in this life? I couldn't stay in Yanjing City because of this little jinx, and now Grandfather has even fled to Yangzhou, but how did this jinx follow us here?"

  Up till now, Liu Yongwu had no choice but to grit his teeth and take on the responsibility.

  He was about to say something like "General, you must be tired", when his subordinates had already prepared a banquet in the city, with words of welcome and hospitality. Although Lin'an Prefecture is under the control of the Quan Tian Sect, at least nominally they are still officials of the imperial court.

  Unfortunately, Tang An only gave him a cold glance and said, "Get out of the way!" Liu Yongwu's words that had been bottled up for half a day were directly blocked in his mouth.

  Tang An brandished his whip and Snow Lion had already entered Lin'an City!

  Behind him, eight hundred tiger and leopard soldiers' horses hooves thundered, Liu Wuyong only felt that the ground under his feet at the city gate seemed to be shaking, almost unable to stand steady!

  The heavenly sword has entered the city!

  July 7th, Lin'an, there's blood!