Chapter 33: Having a Boat Like a Mountain (Part 2)

  Xiao Ziyang walked into the cabin, which was quite spacious and divided into two rooms; both inner and outer rooms had beds, tables, chairs and other furniture, only the inner room was larger and more luxurious and comfortable, presumably the outer room was for the personal attendants to live in.

  After finishing the cabin, Xiao Ziyang came to the side of the ship and walked towards the bow. The whole ship was busy, and at the bow, Zhao Dapeng, the helmsman, who looked like an iron tower, shouted loudly, directing the sailors to prepare for departure.

  Underfoot a flash, the ship slowly sailed away from the harbor.

  The passengers all rushed up onto the deck.

  Standing on the deck of the Shun Hao, which was seven or eight zhang above the ground, looking at those low-rise buildings that were gradually moving away, Xiao Ziyang suddenly felt a sense of being able to see all the mountains and hills.

  The boat slowly sailed into the vast Baiyuan Lake, and the passengers all got up and moved around. The merchants gathered together to exchange name cards, while the scholars also introduced themselves to each other.

  Xiao Ziyang leaned on the ship's rail with both hands, looking at the horizon in front of him, appearing somewhat lonely and isolated.

  Before he knew it, it was noon. After exercising for a whole morning, Xiao Ziyang's body was drenched in sweat and his stomach was growling with hunger. He took a cold shower in the bathtub and planned to go to the Ship Head Hall to make an offering to the restless Five Organs Temple.

  Xiao Ziyang had just walked out the door. The door of the neighboring house also happened to open at this time. This neighbor looked up and saw Xiao Ziyang, hesitated for a moment, then returned with a kind smile. This was the first kind smile Xiao Ziyang had seen since boarding the ship. The man was tall and slender, with a refined face, born with a good complexion, making people feel good about him.

  "This brother is going to have a meal." Xiao Ziyang replied with a smile, clasped his fists and asked.

  "It is so, under Tongtang Cliff, I don't know your esteemed surname and great name."

  "I dare not, under the humble roof, Brother Tang, the journey is long and arduous, why not share a cup of wine together?"

  "Exactly what I meant, thank you."

  The two came to the front hall, ordered wine and dishes, and gradually became familiar with each other as they clinked cups together.

  "Unexpectedly, the cook on this ship is actually quite skilled."

  Tang Zheng asked: "Brother Chen, is this your first time on a large dragon ship?"

  "Not bad, Brother Tang, why did you ask this?"

  "Brother Chen doesn't know, taking this large dragon boat from the easternmost part of Jiucheng Plain in Yicheng to the mouth of the Jiuqu River in Jin'an, the capital city, the fare is 50 taels, plus food and expenses along the way, each cabin can earn about 100 taels of silver per trip. A round trip is equivalent to 10,000 taels of white silver. This large dragon boat transports so many goods, but the profit per trip is only around 20,000 taels, transporting goods not only hard work but also risks; carrying passengers earns easy money and stable profits, so the ship owners are also very concerned about this. The cooks on the boat are all famous chefs searched from various places." Tang Zheng explained with a smile.

  Xiao Ziyang burst out laughing and said: "So that's how it is, Chen has underestimated me."

  "I don't know where Brother Chen is headed this time?"

  "I heard that Qingyang Temple on Mount Qingyang outside Xiang'an City is recently recruiting outer door disciples, I want to go and try my luck."

  "Oh, really? Qingyang Temple is actually the fourth-ranked sect among the top ten sects of Western Liang, a thousand-year-old sect. If they were to recruit outer disciples, wouldn't it have been spread far and wide by now? How come I've never heard of it?"

  "To be honest with you, Brother Tang, one of my father's old friends from his younger days is now doing odd jobs at the Qingyang Temple. He sent a message back home recently to tell my father about this, but I don't know if it's true or false."

  Tang Zheng was taken aback, and hastily cupped his hands together in respect: "So that's how it is. I'm truly sorry for the disrespect, Brother Chen actually has such a deep connection with Qingyang Temple. This time, I must definitely pay my respects at its gate, don't forget about me, little brother."

  Xiao Ziyang was shocked in his heart. This Qingyang Pavilion actually had such great prestige, and even a miscellaneous servant's relationship could make people look at him with admiration?

  In fact, this so-called Qingyangguan's miscellaneous role relationship is just an excuse he made up casually.

  Xiao Ziyang was just a porter from a remote mountainous area, and in the martial arts world, he was an undisputed grassroots person. The top ten sects of Xiliang were the upper echelons of the Xiliang martial arts world, and his understanding of them was very limited.

  "I'm just a humble servant at Qingyang Temple, why would Brother Tang think so highly of me?" asked Xiao Ziyang tentatively.

  Tang Zheng looked at Xiao Ziyang with a strange expression, "Brother Chen has relatives working in Qingyang Temple, doesn't he know the origin of this Qingyang Temple?"

  Xiao Ziyang feigned a bitter smile, "Tang brother doesn't know, my father has always wanted me to take the imperial exam. Since I was young, I've been locked at home reading books. Alas, I'm not cut out for it, so this time, with my father's spirits low and cold, he sent me out to Xiang'an to try my luck. As for Qingyang Temple, I only heard about it from my father just before I left, all I know is that it's one of the top ten martial arts schools in Western Liang, but its specific origins are unknown to me."

  Tang Zheng glanced at Xiao Ziyang's robust physique and revealed a hint of a smile, "No wonder, if Brother Chen had said any of the last four sects in the top ten rankings earlier, not to mention that Lin uncle is just a miscellaneous servant, even if he were an outer sect disciple, I wouldn't have stood up respectfully."

  "The top ten sects of the Western Xia country change their names every few decades, but the top six sects have never changed. It is said that these sects have dominated Western Xia for over a thousand years."

  Tang Zheng took a sip of wine and continued: "In fact, these six major sects do not have much influence on the martial arts world. If it weren't for the extremely high-level martial arts being passed down within the sects, one might say that they are more like merchant guilds than martial arts sects. These sects dominate various provinces, with millions of acres of fertile land under their control, and engage in businesses such as medicinal herbs, precious stones, and jade artifacts. Some even openly mine for minerals without the court's knowledge or permission."

  Xiao Ziyang took a deep breath of cold air, "Privately opening mines, such a thing exists, the imperial court doesn't know or ask, how is this possible? Isn't this similar to rebellion?"

  Tang Zheng looked around and saw that no one could hear him, so he leaned in and said in a low voice: "So many people suspect that the six major sects are actually representatives of the legendary Xian Shi Sect in the mortal world. If not, how would the imperial court tolerate them? As far as I know, it's not just this dynasty, but also the previous one. These six sects have lasted for thousands of years without perishing. Without the support of the legendary immortal Xian people, how could they have achieved that?"

  Immortal Master, it's really Immortal Master! Xiao Ziyang's face couldn't help but reveal an excited expression. "Tang brother, have you ever seen an Immortal Master? Do you know where to find the traces of an Immortal Master?"

  Tang Zheng looked at Xiao Ziyang's excited face, shook his head and smiled: "There are countless rumors about the immortal master, but no one has ever heard of anyone who has actually seen the immortal master. I'm just a martial artist, how could I have the good fortune to see the immortal master?"

  Xiao Ziyang was about to ask carefully, but found that Tang Zheng suddenly stared at the side behind him, his eyes shining brightly.

  Xiao Ziyang turned around and saw a maid-like girl directing several servants, who were about to take away several food boxes. It seemed that the county official living in the upper cabin upstairs had sent his servant to pick up lunch.

  Although that maid is dressed in a style suitable for a servant, the fabric of her clothes is quite luxurious. Judging from her arrogant and domineering attitude, she must be highly favored.