Chapter 6: First Show of Brilliance

  Young Master Zhou Tianhao of the Zhou family asked butler Liang Xingchu to accompany him on a stroll through the market after providing disaster relief.

  "It's been a long time since you've strolled around the streets of the county town, young master?" asked Housekeeper Old Liang as he accompanied Zhou Tianhao on their walk.

  "Isn't that right? Always studying outside, rarely get to come home. If it weren't for Master's wedding and such a big event, I'm afraid I'd have to wait until after the new year to return." Tian Hao said, "I heard there are wars going on outside, but here it doesn't seem like anything is happening at all."

  "Keep your distance from us." said Liang Xingchu.

  This is the most prosperous commercial street in Mingwu County, with shops lining the streets, people coming and going, and buyers and sellers gathering endlessly. Although it can't be said to be bustling with cars and horses, it's also extraordinarily lively.

  "How much longer can this peace last?" Tian Hao sighed.

  "Yes, the world is in chaos, I hope the war doesn't reach our place!" Liang Guan's family was also full of worries.

  As they walked forward while talking, a noisy sound and a loud cry came from the front. "Tea leaves, this year's new tea, cheap price, can taste before buying! No new tea, no money..." A tea shop was surrounded by many people, who were eager to taste or buy tea...

  "This tea shop is doing a good business!" Tian Hao said as he walked up. The shop owner was in his thirties, of medium height and build, with a square face, clear features, and a short mustache under his nose. He wore a gray felt hat on his head and was busy giving orders to the apprentices while attending to the business. Tian Hao looked up and saw that above the door of the shop hung a rectangular signboard, more than four feet wide and six feet long, with four gilded large characters "Ying Tian Tea House".

  Liang Guanjia followed Tian Hao and walked forward, introducing him: "This tea shop has just opened for a short time. The boss's surname is Wan, named Wan Houliang, and it is said that he came from the south. This person in charge of Zhang Luo's business is the shopkeeper of the tea shop, called Song Zhihao."

  "I said their attire is somewhat different from us northerners?" Tian Hao said quietly.

  "You can't say that, it's actually a bit different." The housekeeper seemed surprised, as if he had seen something.

  "You've also noticed it, let's talk about it." Tian Hao still stared at shopkeeper Song Zhihao.

  "Look, he's wearing a top hat, but you can tell he has short hair, we all have long hair; his mustache is also different from ours, it's clearly been trimmed; and the way he speaks isn't our local accent..." The butler analyzed as he looked.

  "Uncle Liang's analysis is very thorough! Let's go, we should head back home, or Old Master will worry again," Tianhao said, turning around with Butler Liang to head back...

  Back home, only to see a dozen or so servants and maids in the courtyard surrounding something, watching with excitement, occasionally cheering and shouting "add oil". The two of them went up to take a look, and it turned out that several servants were idle and were competing in martial arts in the courtyard. Only to see two servants in the crowd with their shirts off, "holding cucumbers". The two men had their arms wrapped around each other, head to head, bowing their waists, four legs using force to push against the ground... Both sides wanted to quickly knock the other to the ground, one side took a few steps forward and was pushed back by the other. Both sides were sweating profusely, unable to distinguish between victory and defeat. "Good, good..." "Erdunzi, add oil..." "Masan Gun, hold on..." The cheers, applause, and shouts of excitement rose and fell, what a lively scene...

  At this time, a pale-faced and slender fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy sneaked up from behind and lightly poked the two men's armpits with his fingers. Ma San Gun and Er Duanzi, who were "holding cucumbers", couldn't help but feel ticklish and their bodies went soft, "thud" "thud" they fell to the ground, drawing bursts of laughter from the onlookers.

  "Who? Who?"

  "Which little brat is causing trouble?"

  The two of them got up, rubbed their sore buttocks and shouted loudly. Seeing that someone was secretly plotting against them, "You little brat, see if I can spare you today..." They chased after the mischievous young man. The young man ran around the crowd for several laps, getting so tired that he was drenched in sweat, and had no choice but to hide between Tianhao and Liang Guanjia's homes for help.

  "Alright, alright, stop it..." The housekeeper said to the three of them. Ma Sanpao and Er Duanzi had no choice but to stop chasing, Gan Sheng was sulking...

  "Ah Gui, you little scamp, you've ruined someone's good deed! Aren't you going to apologize and make amends?" Tian Hao said with a smile to the young man called Ah Gui.

  "Two brothers, sorry! Don't be angry, I'm also afraid that you two will hurt your bodies after a long time. Besides, what if one of you loses and loses face? Is that right?" Ah Gui is quite reasonable.

  "Watch me take you down!" Ma San Gun muttered, pointing his finger at Aqui...

  As soon as someone saw the young master arrive, he loudly proposed to the crowd: "Welcome the young master to show off his skills, and let us see what he's got, okay?"

  Everyone shouted in unison: "Good!" Then applause burst forth with a loud crackling sound...

  Zhou Tianhao couldn't shirk it off, so he cupped his hands and bowed, "I'm embarrassed!"

  He walked into the crowd, his body slowly turning to the right, his left hand gently lifting the scabbard upwards. In an instant, the Tianlong sword was out of its sheath, its blade already horizontal across his chest, with both palms facing each other as if embracing a sphere. His left hand held the sword and slowly drew it forward in an arc shape. People only felt a chill run down their spines, and they involuntarily took several steps back. Suddenly, the Tianhao long sword was transferred to his right hand, its cold light flashing as it slashed forward. This move was swift and unpredictable, causing everyone to involuntarily cry out in surprise. In an instant, the precious sword rapidly spun around, creating multiple white light circles before people's eyes - large and small, straight and slanted, flickering non-stop. Thousands of light circles surged forth like waves, slowly but relentlessly approaching. As people retreated a step, the light circles advanced another step, forcing everyone to retreat seven or eight steps in an instant. Gradually, the sword spun faster and faster, like a whirlwind sweeping up flower petals from the ground, leaving behind a faint floral scent in the air... It was truly "a sword like a white snake spitting out its letter, piercing through the wind with a hiss; like a swimming dragon darting back and forth, moving freely in all directions. Sometimes it was light and agile as a swallow, rising up with a pointed tip; sometimes it was sudden and swift as lightning, causing leaves to fall in profusion."