Volume 2 Chapter 62: Getting Acquainted

  Traversing through time and space, arriving in such a strange and fantastical world, Chen Jianchen couldn't help but be cautious and meticulous in his words and actions, always thinking deeply before acting.

  According to current understanding, the entire Tianyun dynasty is declining, while the Taoist sect has been steadily developing. Perhaps in the emperor's view, the current situation has lost a certain balance, so he wants to play a trick.

  This is a very normal thing.

  It's not that the emperor is afraid of the Taoist sect rebelling and threatening his ruling position. In fact, from ancient times to the present, the teachings of Taoism and Buddhism have never been mainstream, nor are they the royal way.

  It's hard for two families to enter at once. The real inheritors are basically as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns, very scarce in number.

  Two come in, but the cultivation is more difficult. The Taoist has six major realms: Open, Yin Shen, Golden Elixir, Yuan Ying, Fa Xiang, and Human Immortal; while Buddhism has nine turns of realm: First turn - ordinary body, Second turn - skin body, Third turn - flesh body, Fourth turn - bone body, Fifth turn - heart body, Sixth turn - essence body, Seventh turn - Dharma body, Eighth turn - true body, Ninth turn - golden body.

  Unless they have cultivated to the highest realm, Taoist immortals or Buddhist nine-turn golden bodies, both have a common weakness, which is fear of blood and gas!

  Everyone has blood and energy. The stronger the body, the more abundant the spirit, the purer the faith, the more vigorous the blood and energy will be.

  In humans, the most vigorous and robust people are undoubtedly soldiers - disciplined, having gone through the baptism of blood on the battlefield.

  Soldiers are the foundation of a dynasty's rule and the source of its greatest power.

  The Tianyun Dynasty, which has been established for nearly a thousand years, has an elite team under its command with a large number of up to 100,000 people, called the "Black Shirt Guard". These Black Shirt Guards are characterized by their distinctive attire, wearing embroidered black bamboo clothes.

  A cluster of straight bamboos embroidered on the sleeves, with a clear logo; while the overall color of the clothes is as black as ink, so dark that it gives people a sense of oppression like a mountain at first glance.

  Each black shirt guard is carefully selected and tempered through countless trials, their hands stained with the blood of the unknown, exuding a fierce killing aura that soars to the sky.

  Every person is like a burning torch, and the gods and ghosts are afraid to approach. Whether it's the Taoist or Buddhist disciples, those with lower cultivation levels dare not come out to cast spells when facing the Black Guards. If they do, their souls will likely be reduced to ashes before they even get close.

  So with such a powerful army guarding him, the emperor was completely fearless. He played tricks only out of some kind of political necessity.

  It seems that this newly enthroned Zhengming Emperor is not simple.

  ……

  At this time, Wang Fu proposed: "Liu Xian, today is a fine day with gentle breeze and warm sunshine. Let's go out for a walk. You always stay in the house, aren't you afraid of getting bored to death?"

  Chen Jianchen thought for a moment and agreed, pocketed some copper coins, and left the door with Wang Fu.

  It's been some time since he settled in Jiangzhou City, but he hasn't really gone out and about, observing things. Now is a good opportunity to do so.

  But when Chen Jianchen expressed this idea, Wang Fu's head shook like a rattle drum, repeatedly denying it and saying: "What's good about Jiangzhou City? Isn't it just streets, houses, and people? Let's go to the Bird-Raising Pavilion instead, and then take a look at Mr. Zhuge."

  Looking at his excited appearance, I'm afraid going to see Mr. Zhuge is fake, and "bird-walking" is the real intention.

  Chen Jianchen knew that Zhuge Wòlóng had already left, as he had said when sending him "Shítóu Mèng Jì" the day before that he would set out the next day and continue to drift around the four seas. At his age, thinking about it was unavoidable and made one worried. However, everyone has their own thoughts and aspirations, but it's not good to interfere with or change them.

  Wang Fu saw that Chen Jianchen was unwilling to go, and continued to persuade him: "Lü Xian, I know you have concerns, but going to the Bird-Raising Pavilion will be fun, there are many interesting things to see, it's not as dirty as you think. For example, at the Bird-Raising Pavilion, there is a young woman named Lu Gongnü, who is only 14 years old, with a beautiful and elegant appearance, skilled in music, chess, painting, and calligraphy, extremely talented, and what's even more unbelievable is that she also masters a needle acupuncture technique, her skills are truly divine."

  Chen Jianchen said calmly: "If she is so excellent, would she go to a brothel to be a prostitute?"

  What they call a "chaste courtesan" sounds nice, but it means selling one's art, not one's body. However, once certain powerful figures take a liking to them, they have no room for refusal.

  Wang Fu replied, "I heard that this Lu Gong's daughter was originally from a wealthy family, but the family declined and her parents passed away early. The family property was all occupied by local tyrants. She, a weak and small woman, could not fight back and had to flee to the Bird Tower."

  Chen Jianchen nodded.

  Wang Fuchui urged, "Liu Xian, are you going or not? I heard that today Lu Gong's daughter will come out and play a piece of 'Bao Qu', this is a rare opportunity, usually can't be sought even with money."

  Chen Jianchen smiled faintly and said, "I'm not very used to it, you'd better go yourself."

  Upon hearing this, Wang felt somewhat disappointed, but he didn't say anything else and took his leave to hurry over. Meanwhile, Chen Jianchen began strolling around the Jiangzhou Prefecture City without any particular purpose, simply looking left and right to get a feel for the city's layout and local customs.

  Hey, isn't that the whiskered guy from the drifting boat that day?

  Just as Chen Jianchen was looking around expectantly, he suddenly saw a wine shop across the street, where a tall and majestic man was drinking alone.

  That day, while going for a spring outing, Chen Jianchen happened to see a boat drifting down the river, with a man standing at the bow, who had an extraordinary air about him, with whiskers like iron, giving him a very deep impression, but unfortunately they didn't get to meet, which he deeply regretted. Unexpectedly, he ran into him here, and immediately made up his mind, quickly walking over.

  A man sat alone at a table, with only one ordinary dish on it, but two large jars of good wine were placed in front of him. His attire was no different from that day, and the huge sword scabbard was tightly strapped to his back, giving off a somewhat murderous aura of "the sword is present when the man is present".

  Chen Jianchen walked over, cupped his hands: "I am Chen Jianchen, may I invite you to a drink?"

  The man raised his head and glanced at him coldly, saying: "My family has never drunk with strangers."

  Chen Jianchen chuckled and sat down with a relaxed air: "Once you're born, twice you're familiar."

  His words caused Hanzi to raise an eyebrow, carefully sizing up Chen Jianchen before responding in a still stiff tone: "Judging from your attire, you should be a scholar, why are you so rude?"

  Chen Jianchen, however, called the waiter over and ordered several dishes with a smile, saying: "A reader is also human. I see that you have the appearance of a hero, and I suddenly feel a desire to get to know you. Although it's not an easy opportunity, even if you didn't invite me, my heart can be understood."

  The man smiled and said: "Young master is straightforward and doesn't bother with etiquette and social norms."

  Chen Jianchen said seriously: "The more etiquette is emphasized, the more it will appear hypocritical, which is not what we advocates of reading people uphold."

  The man finally burst out laughing, seemingly acknowledging Chen Jianchen's "pick-up" behavior, and said with a clear voice: "My surname is Yan, from Qin, and my name is Chi Xia."