SFS Chapter 34 The Great River Alliance
Chapter 34 The Great River Alliance
Chapter 34 The Great River Alliance (Tang Dynasty Chapter)
A light drizzle was falling from the sky, and the road was muddy and slippery, making it difficult to walk.
A white-clad man with crutches under his arms and a bright red bird perched on his shoulder looked at the town in the distance with a hint of bewilderment in his eyes.
The drizzle continued, but the man in white stood quietly in the rain, holding two crutches. After a long time, his white clothes remained dry. This scene caught the attention of the local villagers passing by, who couldn't help but look on in astonishment.
With a low, guttural cry, the firebird on the white-robed man's shoulder seemed to be asking a question as well.
It turns out that after Ouyang Ke and the Firebird woke up after trying to infuse their inner energy into the jade pendant, they found themselves by a deserted riverbank. After some questioning, they learned that they were now in the twelfth year of the Daye era.
The current emperor of the Sui Dynasty is none other than Emperor Yang of Sui, Yang Guang, who is well-known to later generations.
Even though Ouyang Ke was a man of great experience, he was momentarily at a loss.
The Southern Song Dynasty and the Sui Dynasty were separated by a thousand years. This jade pendant could actually take him back a thousand years. Thinking of this, Ouyang Ke reached out and touched his waist. He saw that the faint sunlight shone on the jade pendant, and the character "潮" (tide) seemed to come alive, with water ripples flowing, as if there were thousands of waves surging.
The firebird tilted its head and looked at Ouyang Ke's palm, seemingly puzzled by Ouyang Ke's sorrow, and let out a few low cries.
Upon seeing this, Ouyang Ke laughed and said, "Little fellow, haven't you seen this thing before?"
However, when he raised his right palm, the firebird had already landed in his palm, and the jade pendant with the character "潮" on it seemed to pass through the firebird's small body as if it were air.
Upon seeing this, Ouyang Ke was slightly stunned. He subconsciously picked up the jade pendant and approached the firebird, but the result was the same as before.
The jade pendant was clearly a solid object when in one's hand, but it would turn into an illusion the instant it came into contact with the firebird.
"this----"
Ouyang Ke was startled upon seeing this, but then he quickly realized that the jade pendant must have been bound to him after he infused it with his true energy.
Although this explanation is somewhat outrageous, it is currently the only one that can be considered reasonable.
Furthermore, since this item could bring him to this point a thousand years ago, it could surely also bring him back to the Southern Song Dynasty a thousand years later, which put his mind at ease once again.
Even the firebird, its closest companion, has difficulty touching this thing, which means that others also have difficulty touching its existence.
From this perspective, it would be difficult for anyone to take this jade pendant from his hands.
Ouyang Ke smiled slightly, but there was a hint of helplessness in his smile. The next moment, he looked up into the distance and saw the faint outline of a large city in the distance.
After letting out a long sigh, he swung forward gracefully, using his crutches under his arms.
Because his accompanying horse, a green steed, was left behind in the Southern Song Dynasty, Ouyang Ke currently has no horse to ride on and can only rely on his light-footed skills.
Ouyang Ke walked swiftly through the rain, and after about two hours, he finally reached the official road to Xiangyang, joining the other travelers on their way there.
Passersby couldn't help but turn their heads when they saw Ouyang Ke walking with the speed of the wind despite having crutches under his arm.
Suddenly, the sound of hooves thundered, and more than ten burly men rode up, startling pedestrians who quickly made way for them. After they passed, the men began to curse loudly.
Ouyang Ke frowned slightly and stepped aside, moving to the side of the road.
The bearded man rode past him, glanced at him, snorted, and rode away. More than ten riders followed closely behind, splashing mud and water onto pedestrians on the roadside.
Once the group had gone, someone dared to mutter under their breath, "What kind of trash are they! So what if they're from the Han River Gang?"
"Shh! Keep your voice down!" The person next to him quickly pulled him back, lowering his voice, "Are you out of your mind? Those are the elite of the Han River Gang. If you anger them, you might lose your head!"
"The Han River Gang?"
Ouyang Ke's heart skipped a beat. He gracefully landed beside the speaker, cupped his hands, and said, "Brother, may I ask if those heroes we just heard were from the Han River Gang of Xiangyang City?"
The man was startled, but breathed a sigh of relief upon recognizing the young man in white. He said, "Indeed. Young master, you're from out of town, aren't you? The Han River Gang is the largest gang in Xiangyang. Their leader, Qian Duguan, is known as 'Double Blades.' He can shake the city with a stomp of his foot. Those men from earlier were a patrol from the Han River Gang; they're very fierce!"
"Thank you." Ouyang Ke smiled slightly, and with a movement, he had already floated more than two zhang away.
The man stared blankly at his retreating figure for a long while before snapping out of his daze and muttering, "This man—his kung fu is truly superb."
At the same time, Ouyang Ke's mind raced, realizing that he had entered the world of Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty.
My mind was filled with thoughts. I must know that the strength of the martial arts world in the Tang Dynasty far surpasses that of The Condor Heroes. What's even more remarkable is that the martial arts world in the Tang Dynasty already has a lifelong goal for martial arts practitioners: "Breaking through the void".
Although the protagonists, the Twin Dragons, and others in the first generation of the Tang Dynasty did not have a precedent of successfully breaking through the void, Xiang Yutian, the former "Evil Emperor" of the Demonic Sect, faked his death and escaped from the world, but in fact, he successfully broke through the void and left.
In the legends of the borderlands a hundred years ago, both "Celestial Master" Sun En and "Desolate Sword" Yan Fei had successfully broken through the void and gone. In the end, Yan Fei also managed to break through the void together with his two beloved wives.
Even in the trilogy about the prosperous Tang Dynasty that followed, Empress Wu Zetian successfully shattered the void and departed within the Qianling Mausoleum.
Not to mention Chuan Ying, the great hero who, in front of tens of thousands of Mongol soldiers, broke through the void and left alone on horseback, and Ling Donglai, the grandmaster who sat in seclusion in the Ten Deadly Passes for nine years before finally ascending to immortality.
These are examples of people who successfully broke through the void and left.
Thinking of this, Ouyang Ke couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. He knew that ever since he had achieved some success in cultivating the Nine Yang Divine Skill, he had felt that the world of Condor Heroes was too small, and he was afraid that he would never be able to explore the limits of martial arts until his death.
Now, his unexpected arrival in the martial arts world of the Tang Dynasty has given him the opportunity to fulfill his wishes.
A smile involuntarily appeared on Ouyang Ke's lips, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his whole demeanor seemed to gain an extra touch of domineering aura as he tilted his head back, enjoying the comfortable feeling of the drizzle.
About an hour later, Ouyang Ke had climbed a small hill. Xiangyang City appeared in the distant misty rain, with an indescribable sense of desolation and loneliness, as if foreshadowing the coming chaos.
After much effort, Ouyang Ke finally arrived at the gates of Xiangyang City.
Compared to Xiangyang, a major military town during the Song Dynasty, the Xiangyang before us is even more majestic and magnificent. From a distance, its city walls are more than ten feet high!
The city wall, over ten zhang high, rises abruptly from the ground, its blue bricks and gray tiles stretching endlessly. If Xiangyang had possessed such grandeur when the Mongol army invaded the south, how could it not have been defended?
When Ouyang Ke arrived at the city gate, he saw a large crowd gathered outside, yet no one could resist the urge to leave; they remained firmly inside.
A queue was formed outside the door.
Since Yang Guang launched his third attack on Goguryeo, the Sui Dynasty had been engulfed in war, with bandits and rebel armies running rampant. As one of the key hubs connecting the north and south, Xiangyang City was naturally on high alert, with constant checks on passing merchants and pedestrians.
Ouyang Ke naturally didn't have any travel documents, but he remained calm.
When it was his turn, the city guards reached out to stop him: "Travel permit."
Ouyang Ke looked up at him; his eyes were clear as water, calm and undisturbed.
The two soldiers met his gaze for a moment, then suddenly felt a wave of dizziness, and their hands involuntarily withdrew.
"Go on," the soldier said blankly.
Ouyang Ke smiled slightly and entered the city with his cane. The firebird perched on his shoulder, glanced back at the soldier, and cooed softly. It turned out that he had just used the Soul Transfer Technique from the Nine Yin Manual to successfully enter Xiangyang City without anyone noticing.
As soon as he stepped inside, Ouyang Ke was taken aback.
Because of its high walls, thick gate towers, and imposing bell and drum towers, Xiangyang left a deep impression on anyone who entered the city.
Stepping onto the main street connecting the north and south city gates at the moment when the lanterns are just coming on, the archways and pavilions that stand across the street seem endless, with shops lining both sides. The long street is ancient and simple, with houses lined up one after another. People and vehicles come and go on the road, creating a peaceful and bustling scene that makes one forget the dangers of war outside.
Although it was dusk, the streets were still bustling with traffic and activity.
Vendors selling candied hawthorns weaved through the crowd, storytellers struck their gavels in the teahouse, and girls sang melodiously on the pipa in front of the restaurant.
It presents a picture of peace and prosperity.
Who would have thought that beneath this glitz and glamour, turbulent undercurrents were brewing?
Ouyang Ke walked slowly along the long street. After walking a short distance, he saw a group of people gathered at the street corner ahead, and he could vaguely hear voices coming from them.
"Gentlemen! Our Great River Alliance is eager to find talented individuals. Anyone with a skill is welcome to come and try! If you can surpass my brothers, you will be treated as an honored guest!"
A middle-aged man's voice rang out from the crowd, full of energy.
Ouyang Ke paused, glancing sideways.
In front of a restaurant on the street corner, a simple wooden platform stood. Seven or eight burly men in tight-fitting clothes stood on the platform, each with broad shoulders and thick waists, their skin as sharp as eagles. Below the platform was a long table, behind which sat a shrewd-looking man with a mustache, shouting orders at the top of his lungs.
Meanwhile, at the window on the second floor of the restaurant, a group of armed men in blue were staring coldly at them, their eyes full of hostility.
Two groups of people, one on the stage and the other upstairs, hadn't made a move yet, but the tension was already palpable.
Ouyang Ke raised an eyebrow slightly.
He recognized the blue-clad men on the stage as the same group of knights who had recently sped along the official road.
As for the Great River Alliance, they were the dominant waterway powers in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, with influence extending from Jiangling to Jiujiang. Their territory was on the river, and they rarely ventured inland.
Now, however, he has gone to Xiangyang City to recruit soldiers, which naturally creates a rift with the Han River Gang.
Others may not know the identity of Qian Duguan, the leader of the Hanshui Gang, but he knows that the other party is a disciple of the Yin Gui Sect of the Demonic Cult and is secretly expanding the power of the Yin Gui Sect.
Although the Great River Alliance is a powerful force on the Yangtze River and rarely ventures into land-based businesses, why would it risk offending the Han River Gang by directly entering Xiangyang City today?
Ouyang Ke suddenly seemed to understand something. Although the world was about to descend into chaos, it was not like the future. Although the Han River Gang was a local tyrant in Xiangyang, it had not yet united with the local wealthy gentry and gangs to control the city. It was understandable that the Great River Alliance was involved.
Thinking of this, Ouyang Ke's brows twitched slightly, and he had already slipped into the crowd.
The shrewd man below the stage was getting anxious. He had been setting up his stall there for several days, but no one dared to step forward.
It wasn't that their Great River Alliance wasn't well-known, but rather that he was hampered by the intimidating gazes of the blue-clad men guarding the second floor. He knew the reason, but he couldn't directly confront them, so he could only worry inwardly.
But if things don't go well, wouldn't he be seen as a good-for-nothing in the eyes of the chief?
Just as he was getting anxious, his vision suddenly blurred and a figure in white landed in front of the stage.
The man subconsciously looked up, and when he saw who it was, he was stunned.
The man had crutches tucked under his arms, dressed in pristine white, with a face as handsome as jade, lips like painted cinnabar, and striking features—exceptionally handsome. Even with his leg injury, his imposing presence commanded respect.
He quickly stood up, forcing a smile: "Young master, are you perhaps interested in—"
"My name is Ouyang Ke," the man in white said calmly, his voice not loud, but clearly reaching the ears of everyone present. "I've heard that your esteemed gang is eager to recruit talent. I wonder if I might be willing to give my try?"
The man was taken aback, his gaze sweeping over the man's crutches. Realizing his lapse in composure, he quickly said, "Young Master Ouyang, our leader has stipulated that this recruitment is divided into three tiers. If you can defeat one person on the stage, you'll become an ordinary member; if you can defeat three, you'll become a minor leader; if you can defeat five—"
Before the man could finish speaking, Ouyang Ke gently pointed his crutch into the air with his left hand.
The tap of the staff was extremely light, as light as brushing a fallen leaf off a shoulder, or casually parting a spider web. The signboard hanging in front of the restaurant two feet away remained completely still, not even disturbed by the slightest breeze.
The man paused, about to speak.
Suddenly, a soft "hiss" sound was heard, as faint as a mosquito's buzz, yet it clearly reached the ears of everyone present.
A round hole was suddenly added to the sign.
The edges are so neat, as if they were cut with a sharp blade, without a single rough edge.
Around the cave entrance, the last stroke of the character "酒" (wine) was cut off, and the ink at the cut was still fresh, as if that stroke was originally written there.
The cane never touched the stigmata.
There was a moment of silence in the room.
A burly man in a tight-fitting outfit by the platform subconsciously touched his chest and swallowed. Several men in blue shirts at the second-floor window changed their expressions slightly; the leader's teacup hovered at his lips, untouched for a long while.
The shrewd man stared blankly at the round hole, his Adam's apple bobbing.
He could naturally see that this move required extremely deep skill, but even within the Great River Alliance, very few people could do it.
This young master Ouyang looks to be no more than twenty years old, yet he already possesses such skill; it is truly unbelievable.
He raised his head, and when he looked at the man in white in front of him again, his eyes had completely changed.
Ouyang Ke put away his cane, his expression indifferent, as if he had only done a trivial matter. The firebird perched on his shoulder, tilting its head to look at the hole, seemingly unsurprised.
Since he mastered the first three volumes of the Nine Yang Divine Skill, and also consumed the gallbladder of the Bodhi snake, his internal strength had far surpassed that of the Five Great Masters of his age. Naturally, he could easily project his true energy several feet around his body.
"Young Master—Young Master,"
The shrewd man swallowed hard, his voice trembling, "You already possess the strength of a Grand General of the Great River Alliance! I wonder if you, young master, would be willing to accept this position?"
Ouyang Ke said calmly, "Please lead the way."
"Yes, yes, yes!" The man quickly turned around and shouted to a burly man behind him, "Liu San! Quickly prepare the carriage! Take Young Master Ouyang to meet the boss!"
A carriage emerged from the alley, pulled by two white horses, quite impressive. Ouyang Ke leaped into the carriage with a swift movement. The firebird followed closely behind, transforming into a streak of red light and disappearing inside.
The carriage rumbled along the long street, gradually disappearing into the twilight.
On the second floor of the restaurant, a man in blue stared at the departing carriage with a gloomy expression. He beckoned, and someone beside him stepped forward.
After whispering to each other, the man hurried towards the Han River Gang's headquarters in the city.
P.S.: This is my first 10,000-word update!
I'm a bit tired, to be honest. I don't have many drafts saved up, so this is all live code.
As mentioned in the synopsis of the Tang Dynasty arc, simply rehashing the Legend of the Condor Heroes would be a bit monotonous, so it's included in the outline. Of course, the Legend of the Condor Heroes plot will continue to be included.