156: Zheng Xilong
Prefecture City was very large.
Chu Qing thought this city would at most be a little bigger than the county town, with slightly taller walls.
But, standing outside Prefecture City, he discovered:
Just one side of the city wall stretched as far as the eye could see.
The city walls were also very tall, easily as high as a six-story building from his previous life.
On the city walls, there were various watchtowers, brightly lit behind them.
There were also torches, braziers, and other lights illuminating the city walls.
The outer wall was also different from those of the county town.
It was concave.
This was very advantageous for the defenders.
And quite disadvantageous for the attackers.
“No wonder the rebel army failed to capture Prefecture City.”
“With such high city walls, even a master would have to exert considerable effort to scale them.”
Chu Qing ran along the main road and saw the city gate.
The city gate was brightly lit.
People constantly moved in and out.
Gates open at night!
An idea surfaced in Chu Qing's mind.
He strode into the city.
On his shoulder, Madam Shi struggled: “No!”
“Groom, put me down!”
Chu Qing sneered inwardly.
This woman's strength was clearly much greater than his.
If she truly wanted to get down, she could easily break free from his restraint.
But, she deliberately didn't get down, instead asking him to let go?
Wasn't that a joke?
However, he still had to play along.
He gripped Madam Shi’s thigh tightly and said, “No!”
“Today, I will carry a beauty into the city, and let everyone know that you, this actress, are my plaything.”
Madam Shi struggled more fiercely, but her strength was still not great.
She scolded: “Shameless Groom!”
“I am not your plaything!”
Chu Qing ignored her and carried her into the city.
Madam Shi covered her face with one hand, grabbed the man's back with the other, then opened her small mouth and bit tightly onto the man's Gold Robe.
Her long hair fell, obscuring her face.
Her body trembled slightly.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Chu Qing entered the city.
The city gate soldiers, seeing his appearance, immediately showed a strange smile.
One soldier's eyes darted, wanting to stop him.
But his superior slapped him: “Idiot, this man is dressed in fine silk, of extraordinary origin. We just need to greet him with a smile.”
“Don't speak to him!”
The soldier said unwillingly: “What if the woman is being forced?”
His superior sneered: “The woman's silk and satin are even finer than the man's clothes.”
“Her hair is flowing, her jade pendants clinking; she is definitely from a wealthy and powerful family, or even a Noble families Wu Fort.”
“The women from these places know how to have fun.”
“Perhaps she's enjoying it.”
“Oh!”
Madam Shi heard The Crowd's discussion, and a blush appeared on her cold face.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
Chu Qing stepped on the bluestone road, observing his surroundings.
It was his first time in Prefecture City, and he found it quite prosperous.
The main streets were brightly lit.
Every household had lanterns hung.
Some shops were still open, with people coming and going, making it very lively.
“Turn left!”
“Go straight!”
“Turn right!”
Madam Shi murmured softly, guiding the way, heading straight for the Martial Academy.
Suddenly, Chu Qing stopped.
Not long after, he got two candied hawthorns and handed one to Madam Shi: “You eat!”
Madam Shi was stunned for a long time before taking the candied hawthorn.
The candied hawthorn spun, bright red, with a lot of maltose coating it.
She hesitated, then extended her pink tongue to lick it. It was very, very sweet.
They walked on.
Chu Qing saw roasted chestnuts, sugar figurine makers, pastries, and even vendors selling ice and snacks similar to ice cream made from sheep's milk and cow's milk.
Chu Qing felt a sense of déjà vu, as if he had returned to a night market from his previous life.
He frantically bought snacks for Madam Shi.
He didn't care if she could eat them all; he just kept giving them to her.
Madam Shi, clutching a handful of snacks, felt as if she had returned to her childhood.
At that time, she and her father were also like this... They passed through bustling streets.
Chu Qing arrived at a crossroads.
After crossing this intersection and walking a little further, they would reach the Martial Academy.
Prefecture City's Martial Academy was located in the city center.
It was even more prosperous here.
In the bustling crowd, Chu Qing suddenly stopped.
Because:
He felt a bone-chilling killing intent.
This killing intent was not emanating from Madam Shi on his shoulder.
But from a bald young man to his left.
That bald youth, over 1.8 meters tall, stood bare-chested in The Crowd, towering above everyone else.
He stared directly at Chu Qing, his eyes like two blades, trying to pierce his mind.
Chu Qing was puzzled.
Why would a stranger, a Martial Artist, suddenly have killing intent towards him?
No.
This killing intent was not pure enough.
At this moment: a woman walked from the street on his right.
This woman, with long flowing hair and a white dress, held a long sword in her arms.
She seemed to sense something and also stopped.
For a moment:
The Crowd surged, the lights twinkled.
Three people met at the crossroads.
They scrutinized each other, not saying a word.
The bustling crowd subconsciously moved around the three of them.
Soon, this bustling crossroads became much quieter.
Everyone instinctively avoided this area, as if there were floods and fierce beasts there.
The Crowd thinned.
Chu Qing felt the killing intent grow stronger.
He put Madam Shi down, gently patted her backside, and said, “Go to the side!”
Madam Shi glared at him, then obediently moved aside.
The next second:
Chu Qing and the bald youth attacked simultaneously:
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fists and feet collided.
In just an instant, both retreated simultaneously.
Chu Qing's brocade clothes wrinkled, his hair tie exploded, and his hair fell loose.
The bald youth's eye sockets were swollen.
The young woman at the other intersection let out a giggle.
An old man appeared from a corner.
He stared intently at Chu Qing and said, “Young man, you took my Secret Toad Skill. Now it's time to repay it.”
Chu Qing raised an eyebrow, instantly knowing the old man's identity.
He stretched his tendons and bones and laughed: “How do you want me to repay it?”
The old man laughed: “That's simple!”
“You either work for me for a year.”
“Or you die.”
“You choose one.”
Chu Qing shook his head, his tendons and bones cracking loudly: “Old man, what are you? Do you have the right to make me choose?”
The old man's pupils contracted.
This young man... is a bit arrogant!
The bald youth sneered: “Old man, I told you, just beat him to death.”
“Why bother talking to him?”
The old man chuckled coldly.
The atmosphere solidified; the already sparse crowd was now completely gone.
Everyone instinctively avoided this intersection.
At this moment:
Madam Shi tidied her hair, her lotus-like steps light, and walked up to the old man, saying coldly: “You dog, how dare you speak like that?”
“Do you want to die?”
Under the twinkling lights, Madam Shi put her hands behind her head, tidying her hair, completely unafraid of the old man's sneak attack.
And the old man, upon seeing Madam Shi's face, his pupils contracted, and he instinctively retreated a few steps, then said:
“Young Miss Yu Ji!”
“I...”
Madam Shi said coldly: “Get lost!”
The old man cupped his fists, turned around, pulled the confused Zheng Xilong, and returned the way they came.
Madam Shi finished tidying her hair, waved at Chu Qing, and headed straight for the Martial Academy.
On the way, Madam Shi said:
“If I weren't here, would you still dare to confront that old fellow?”
Chu Qing laughed: “He's just an old fellow, what's there to be afraid of?”
“If I can't beat him, can't I at least escape?”
Madam Shi shook her head and said: “It wouldn't be easy to escape!”
“That old fellow is almost entering the Second Limit. If he were to chase you, you probably wouldn't be able to escape.”
Chu Qing nodded and said: “My Golden Bone has reached Perfection. Can I contend with him a bit?”
Madam Shi thought for a moment and said: “As long as he doesn't hit you, you'll be fine.”
Chu Qing...