Chapter 395 - Registered Disciple
Lord Jin, the strongest among the eight rebellious lords of the Northern Song Dynasty, was killed in his best Glory Army camp when he was married to the Countess Huanzhu, which was spread quickly throughout the two empires of the Western Qin and Southern Chu.
As for the powers of all parties, the news shocked them.
Zhao Chen was one of the most powerful and scheming among the eight lords, whom was considered the one with the largest chance to win the throne. However, the situation changed suddenly. No one expected for him to die.
He was killed by an unknown little Taoist priest named Zhang Sanfeng.
When first hearing the news, many people thought it was a joke.
But after more and more people confirmed it, the situation became weird.
Huang Youlong announced his closed-door training, and the major citadels of the Heavenly 36 Waterside Citadels also closed their gates, as if they were to face a strong enemy. Huang Youlong was a well-known Semi-Sage, one of the top five strongest men in the North Song Heaven Ranking; he was cringing like a rat.
As to the “Iron Spear Sect”, “Wind Thunder Sect”, “Mountain School”, “Heaven Center Chamber” and other super-major sects that belonged to Lord Jin, they announced their closure. The situation in Jianghu and the royal politics in the Northern Song Dynasty became confusing.
But one thing that could finally be firm was that Lord Jin was really dead.
A dead person had no value.
All parties no longer cared about Zhao Chen. Instead, they cared about the new owner of the Glory Army, the other 700,000 soldiers of the Sixth Route Army that once belonged to Lord Jin, and the territory which covered a million square kilometers, and the population, minerals and the other resources above it...
This was a big piece of cake, and everyone wanted a bite.
Especially in the Northern Song Dynasty, the rebellious lords and some local officials who hid their antipathy before, including the Northern Dynasty Central court, they wanted to compete for a share.
Of course, Zhang Sanfeng’s name became well known overnight.
Under the eyes of thousands of troops and many experts, he could easily kill Lord Jin. Such a person, even if previously unknown, could shock the world.
Many people were asking about Zhang Sanfeng’s information.
At the time, Li Mu, who was renamed ‘Zhang Sanfeng,’ rode a white crane to Lin’an City.
Because the political situation was critical, Lin’an City was strictly defended. However, with Lord Virtuous the Eighth, it was easy to break through the defensive circles. In the afternoon, Li Mu, Qingfeng, Yuan Hou, Husky and others were arranged to live in Lord Virtuous the Eighth’s palace.
After asking Wang Shiyu to treat Li Mu well, Lord Virtuous the Eighth and Zhao Ji hurriedly entered the court to visit the Emperor of the Northern Song Dynasty and discuss the state countermeasures after Lord Jin’s death.
“Would you like to take a look around the streets?” Wang Shiyu said proudly.
“Okay, okay. Sister Wang can take the lead,” Husky responded first, and drooled.
Li Mu was speechless when it came to that stupid dog.
On the way, Li Mu learned that the reason why Husky was willing to be a mount for Wang Shiyu was that she promised that when they arrived at Lin’an City, she would let that stupid dog eat all the food in the city, which was quite ridiculous. If the wolf queens knew that, they might decide to divorce.
Li Mu felt that since it arrived on the alien planet and gained the mysterious magic power, it completely released itself.
However, it was okay to stroll around.
Wang Shiyu was dressed as a man, Yuan Hou pushed Qingfeng’s wheelchair and accompanied Li Mu out of the palace gate.
General Husky followed behind.
The guards who originally tried to follow them were discouraged by a trusted guard of Lord Virtuous the Eighth.
That guard returned with Lord Virtuous the Eighth on a white crane. Naturally, he knew how terrifying Li Mu’s strength was. Lord Jin was killed despite the protection of a strong army; the Countess was the safest with him.
The capital Lin’an was a water city with numerous lakes, waterways and mountain peaks. Of course, the land was also quite broad, divided into several regions. The Lord Virtuous the Eighth’s Palace was relatively located in the central core, a picturesque area with many high-end consumer places.
They took a boat along the waterway to enjoy the scenery close to the river. Time passed quickly.
“To eat delicious food is to go to those small food restaurants hidden in the lanes. There may not be delicious food in those magnificent ones,” Wang Shiyu directly told them about her shopping idea.
General Husky took it for granted.
“I agree with her. A dog food store is quite proper.”
What dogs liked to eat was naturally gourmet. The theory was impeccable.
So they left the central area and wandered in some alleys of Lin’an City.
Sure enough, she really found a lot of delicious dishes. Not to mention the three huskies, even Yuan Hou, Li Mu and the cold looking Qing Feng; all of them ate a lot.
Originally, Li Mu planned to quickly sneak into the Taiyi Palace to see those relics after arriving in Lin’an City, but now he didn’t care about it. His mouth made him choose to follow Wang Shiyu and continue to eat.
Wang Shiyu was obviously very familiar with the low-end areas.
“Next, I’ll take you to eat beggar’s chicken. Hee hee, it’s undoubtedly among the four best foods in Lin’an City.” Wang Shiyu led them to a street in a slum.
The area was beautiful and peaceful, and the pedestrians were dressed in various styles. There were many poor, ragged, yellow-faced people, especially many refugees. Due to the rebellion of the eight lords, countless poor people were forced to leave their homes to escape the war, so even in Lin’an City, exiles were inevitably there.
The roadside was full of beggars.
“Master, master, please give me something to eat. My sister is starving...”
“I’m selling myself to bury my father!”
“Woo, mom, I’m hungry...”
Different people cried about roughly the same things.
As Li Mu saw that scene, he felt distressed.
Something which he could have only seen in books or TV shows was really appearing in front of him, he... clearly saw that a kind of numbness and despair was spreading around.
People in troubled times were as trivial as ants.
“Here is the place where the beggar gang gives out food. Elder Lu is a very kind person, so these refugees are allowed to eat here, but... after all, it is useless.” Wang Shiyu sighed.
Beggar Gang?
Li Mu was shocked.
He and Qing Feng glanced at each other with a flash of joy in their eyes.
According to the blind Taoist priest, Zuo Luyi, who had kidnapped Ming Yue was one of the elders of the beggar gang in the Northern Song Dynasty. It was the only clue they had about Mingyue’s whereabouts. Li Mu originally thought it was difficult for him to contact the Beggar Gang, but Wang Shiyu turned out to be a friend of its elder.
That was all right.
Following Wang Shiyu’s lead, Li Mu soon visited Lu Changfu, the subsidiary elder, who was thin, black-skinned, gray-haired and in ragged clothing. He looked no different from the hungry skinny old beggars on the roadside, but Li Mu could see that the old beggar had a level-one Celestial Being cultivation.
That surprised Li Mu.
The Beggar Gang was indeed the first one in the Northern Song Dynasty, since a subsidiary elder had such strength.
But why was Zuo Luyi, who called himself one of the elders of the beggar gang, so weak?
“Brother Lu, this is my friend. I came to taste the beggar chicken you made this time. Hee hee, I don’t know if there’s any chance,” Wang Shiyu friendly told him.
“It turns out to be the Countess.” After Lu Changfu recognized Wang Shiyu, he joked first and then smiled bitterly, “It is not the right time today. Something happened to our gang. Tonight, I’m going to convene a full gang conference, so I’m afraid that I can only do it for you next time.”
“A Beggar Gang Conference?” Wang Shiyu was surprised. “I heard that the conference was only held once every five years. I remember that you went to the conference last year. Why will it be held this year?”
Lu Changfu smiled bitterly, “Our Grand Master was assassinated the day before yesterday. Today, enemies came and some traitors were found... Hey, there’s nothing more to say. It is a shame. Countess, why don’t you come back tomorrow? If I don’t die tonight, I will make the best meal for you tomorrow... This friend, I’m really sorry.”
The latter sentence was for Li Mu.
“Elder Lu, it doesn’t matter.” Li Mu pondered how to ask about the information regarding Zuo Luyi.
Wang Shiyu said in shock, “For such a thing to happen... Senior Holy Beggar was assassinated. Who could kill him? Brother Lu, what does it mean to be alive after tonight? Are you going to fight against them to the death?”
Lu said, “He’s a devil... Countess had better know less about things in Jianghu. I might have to fight against those rebellious villains tonight.”
Wang Shiyu said, “How could this be? Brother Lu, as a registered disciple in the Beggar Gang, I can’t just ignore it. Tonight, I have to help.”
As soon as Li Mu heard that, he felt curious. Why Wang Shiyu was a registered disciple?