activa-t Chapter 31 First Arrival in Southern Xinjiang
Chapter 31 First Arrival in Southern Xinjiang
After traveling for several days, Li Muyang bought a horse-drawn carriage, hoping that Brother Ma could be put to good use. With Brother Ma leading the way, the people taking turns as the coachmen could have an easier time.
The horse that the nomadic brothers from Tianya Haige gave him was really good. Li Muyang put it into his spirit beast gourd, but it wasn't the kind with a contract. To sign a contract, you need to be at least a spirit beast level. This horse had only just awakened its intelligence.
They could only be kept as ordinary, relatively intelligent animals on Li Muyang's farm.
When we get back, we'll see if there's any chance to help Brother Ma evolve. Raising a pet is always interesting! Otherwise, the cost of raising just spirit beasts and divine beasts is too high!
I mainly like Brother Ma! He's intelligent and understands human nature!
Just like Bai Yuxiu and Feng Ling'er's horses, Li Muyang tried to ride them as well, but their reactions were very weak, which shows that the horse itself has special characteristics! It's even more of a fate that it was able to meet Li Muyang!
It's fate, and Li Muyang doesn't mind raising another horse! Even if it can't evolve, he won't force it; having a mount in this kind of world is a good thing!
After traveling on dirt roads for several days, they switched to waterways. Li Muyang put away the horse-drawn carriage, worried that Brother Ma would be lonely on the gourd farm. He sent the remaining horses in as well, since Brother Ma was so intelligent and could easily be the lead horse!
Along the way, with nothing else to do, Nan Sheng and her daughter Nan Ying recounted their story from back then to everyone.
In short, back then, Nan Ying took Nan Sheng back to their hometown in the southern borderlands to live in seclusion. Having seen the dangers of the martial world, she wanted to stay away from the world, but once you enter the martial world, it's like entering a deep sea. It's easy to get in, but it's not so easy to get out.
First, the Martial Alliance invited Nan Ying to come out of seclusion, but then she was framed by the Insect Valley people. They spread a plague virus to the people of Southern Xinjiang and bewitched the ignorant people of Southern Xinjiang. Nan Ying, who had returned from outside, brought back Tian Yuan. The plague was a punishment sent down by the gods!
They also bribed the Miao chieftain at the time. That old man was afraid of Nan Ying's high reputation in the tribe, so he easily agreed to join forces with outsiders to kill Nan Ying.
With Nan Ying's skills, it wouldn't have been difficult for her to leave, even with Nan Sheng. However, due to the relapse of the Red Sun Blood Poison, she was captured by the people of the Insect Valley. Just when she was about to be publicly burned to death, her friend Liu Ruyan arrived.
It's true that Pavilion Master Liu can't beat Bai Muzhen, but among her peers, she's almost always the only one she can't beat! Dealing with a few Insect Valley members is a piece of cake. After dealing with the enemies and rescuing Nan Ying, she discovers that Nan Ying's heart meridian has been corroded by the Red Sun Blood Poison, and she has lost any chance of being saved.
Before her death, Nan Ying harbored no resentment or blame towards her fellow tribesmen. Having witnessed a wider world, she was acutely aware of their ignorance and folly. That's why, during her seclusion, she wanted to use her remaining time to lead them out of their current corrupt state and guide them towards self-reliance and strength, thus contributing her remaining energy.
Her current predicament is perhaps retribution for her early research on the Red Sun Blood Essence with her teacher. She has harmed so many people, so she has nothing to complain about. The only thing she can't let go of is her child, Nan Sheng.
He entrusted Liu Ruyan to take care of Nan Sheng, and instructed Nan Sheng not to blame her clansmen. He hoped that if Nan Sheng had the opportunity in the future, she could take the remaining clansmen out of the mountains to see a wider world.
After giving her final instructions, Nan Ying closed her eyes.
When she opened her eyes again, Li Muyang was in front of her, and what followed was her experience with Li Muyang.
Nan Sheng continued talking about what happened next.
Following Liu Ruyan, Tianya Haige forcefully took over the Southern Xinjiang region. The original force, Insect Valley, was no match for them at all. Moreover, it grew behind Nan Sheng and was suppressed by the Hundred Flowers Sect, which forced it to withdraw from the Southern Xinjiang region.
Of course, Tianya Haige must have helped. Otherwise, no matter how powerful Nan Sheng was, she could not have established a sect capable of confronting established forces in such a short time.
Yes, Black Leaf and Withered Flower are from Insect Valley! Even Poisonous Absolute of Netherworld is from Insect Valley! None of them are good people! Perhaps this statement is a bit subjective and too absolute, but if you line up the members of Insect Valley and kill every other one, there will definitely be some bastards who escaped the net.
The experiences of Nan Ying and her daughter Nan Sheng perhaps illustrate the true nature of the world; there's no such thing as an easy life, and there's a dark side everywhere! A kind-hearted person is bound to have a hard time!
As they chatted, they arrived in southern Xinjiang and the group went to an inn to rest.
During the meal, everyone ordered a lot of food. The waiter looked at the group and was a little unsure. "I admit there are quite a few of you, but can you really finish all this?"
Young Master Cui waved his hand dismissively: "Stop talking nonsense! Just go for it! Do you think I'd be short of your food money?"
The waiter shrugged helplessly and obediently went to serve the food to everyone. It would be foolish not to do business! He was just worried about wasting food! As for not being able to pay? That's calculated differently!
Afterwards, under the waiter's bewildered gaze, the group devoured all the dishes in front of them in no time!
Mom! I've finally met a real competitive eater today! They can really eat!
The main force among them was surprisingly the well-behaved Yu Xiu, who looked like a lady from a respectable family.
Everyone was used to it and had known each other for a while. They all knew how exaggerated Bai Yuxiu's appetite was. The first time they went to eat at the inn with Yuxiu, the girl's appetite really shocked Feng Ling'er!
Does this mean the Bai family never feeds Yuxiu properly? Look how hungry the child is!
Even Li Muyang couldn't understand where Bai Yuxiu's little belly was going! She ate so much food, yet her stomach didn't even twitch! Hmm! She's definitely referring to her belly! Don't get the wrong idea!
Or is it that seemingly gentle and virtuous young ladies from well-to-do families all secretly harbor an alien stomach?
But... Li Muyang's gaze quietly fell on Yu Xiu's small breasts. Well, they were better than the tomboy Feng Ling'er! However, Ling'er's appearance might be due to her chest being covered with a cloth, so her actual size should be larger.
Ahem! In short, Bai Yuxiu doesn't seem like someone with a big appetite! After all, that real gluttonous girl in a certain ninja world is the second biggest eater in the world!
"Brother Li, what are you looking at?" Feng Ling'er suddenly asked meaningfully. She had noticed Li Muyang's somewhat smirking gaze earlier, at least that's what she thought! Including the way he looked around at her... Hmph!
No evil can escape the gaze of the Wind Hero!
While Li Muyang was still contemplating life, he reflexively asked, "I'm wondering, where exactly did Yuxiu put all that nutrition?"
Feeling that her words were somewhat offensive, she quickly added, "Does the Wuxiang Gong (Formless Skill) increase appetite? Is that why Yuxiu's internal strength is deeper than that of ordinary people?"
Everyone fell silent for a moment, and Bai Yuxiu blushed, "No, that's not it! It's just that the chef here is very good!"
"Hmm, it's not bad. I'll let you try my cooking when I have the chance!" Li Muyang chimed in, but his cooking skills were just so-so. The development of this world was a bit strange. The time period was similar to the Song Dynasty, but the dynasty was a fictional one that did not exist in history, called the Great Qian Dynasty.
Gunpowder was already available, but ingredients and seasonings were still very scarce. As a result, the chef's skill level was limited by the availability of materials. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly amazing either, and the taste was rather bland.
At this moment, the waiter came over and said to Young Master Cui, "Sir, could you please settle your bill first?"
Young Master Cui smiled and gestured for Mo Yun to produce the silver notes, then waved his hand magnanimously, saying, "Take these to the bank and exchange them for silver! Keep the change!"
To everyone's surprise, the waiter complained with a displeased look, "Our shop is at least fifty miles from the nearest money exchange in town! You want me to go that far to exchange money? Are you kidding me? What if your banknotes are fake?"
Young Master Cui's confident smile froze instantly—he was embarrassed! He had overlooked how remote Southern Xinjiang was! Money exchanges weren't widespread yet! They didn't accept banknotes! Then he glanced at the inn's kitchen helper, who exuded a philosophical air and had unfriendly eyes… ugh!
He had already realized very clearly that his rudimentary skills were nothing! Against these burly men, he would be doubled off in no time!
Nan Sheng and Feng Ling'er were both looking at Young Master Cui with meaningful expressions, eagerly anticipating how he would break the deadlock. Bai Yuxiu, on the other hand, looked at Li Muyang with a sense of helplessness and embarrassment, clearly not wanting to see Young Master Cui suffer a setback and begging the all-powerful Brother Li for help. What to do?
What else could he do? Li Muyang looked at Nan Ying, who nodded and said, "Young master, you can handle it." Only then did Li Muyang take out a gold bar and hand it to the waiter: "Excuse me, sir, we're new here and don't know much about the area. This should be enough to pay for it, right?"
The waiter's eyes lit up at the sight of the gold bars! He accepted them with a beaming smile, his attitude becoming much more attentive! He flattered Li Muyang, saying, "This young master is truly generous! Please wait a moment! This is worth far more than silver notes! It's not easy for us to get change! Is there still time tomorrow?"
"It's alright, we'll probably be staying for a while longer." Li Muyang waved his hand dismissively. As for not needing to look anymore? That was impossible!
After being taught by Nan Ying, Li Muyang finally realized just how valuable his little gold bar was! This gold bar was a standard 500g, but it was equivalent to 5 RMB in modern terms! Given the economic conditions of that era and the extremely high purity of the gold bar itself, its value should be even higher!
This meal costs at most a few hundred yuan, and you're offering a small gold bar and saying keep the change?
It just goes to show you don't know the cost of living until you've read enough novels! No wonder Li Muyang asked Nan Ying's opinion before paying; even though he wasn't short of money, he couldn't be this extravagant! The reason he was targeted by the Azure Dragon Society was because Li Muyang didn't understand the purchasing power of gold bars!