https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-173-An-Early-Start-is-a-Good-Start-/12536211/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-175-Original-Characters-Gather-Around-Me/12536213/
Chapter 174: Names that Bring a Sense of Familiarity
Chapter 174: Names that Bring a Sense of Familiarity
Jingzhou, strategically located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, sits west of Hankou, guarding the central stretch of the mighty river. During the Three Kingdoms era, it flourished as a battleground between Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan.
Although the Han River has since changed its course to join the Yangtze, and Hankou's commerce has surpassed that of Jingzhou, Jingzhou remains the last major city on the route west to Shu. Thus, despite a slight decline, it still bustles with activity.
Cloth shops, clothing stores, hat shops, fan pavilions, umbrella stands, and art galleries line the streets, alongside cosmetic shops, jewelers, and gold and jade boutiques. Gambling dens, pleasure houses, and pawnshops add to the vibrant mix.
Every trade and profession is represented in this thriving city.
Clad in a sky-blue silk robe, a white jade belt with cloud patterns hanging at his waist, a water-ink folding fan in his hand, and black silk shoes on his feet, Jiang Feng attracted more than a few admiring glances from the ladies as he stepped out.
He was like a firefly shining in the darkness!
"If I had this face in the modern world, I wouldn't need photo editing. I'd instantly outshine all those pretty boys!"
Jiang Feng fiddled with his fan, surveying the street scene. Peddlers with shoulder poles still roamed the streets, hawking their diverse wares.
It reminded him of the time he traveled south with the Ding siblings.
"How nostalgic! I wonder when I'll be able to go back?" Jiang Feng sighed. He knew that the previous world had been temporarily frozen, but he had no idea what would happen next or what the rules were.
"Not even a rulebook. Thumbs down!" Jiang Feng thought to himself as he arrived at Yunzhong Ju, a renowned restaurant in Jingzhou.
A waiter spotted Jiang Feng and hurried forward to greet him. "Young Master Jiang, it's been a while since we've seen you. Please, take a seat."
The restaurant was known for its Jingzhou fish cakes and winter melon turtle soup, and Jiang Feng had often dined there before. However, he had been a bit busy lately, which was why it had been a while since his last visit.
After spending over an hour at the martial arts training ground, it was now close to noon, so Jiang Feng nodded and followed the waiter upstairs. "The usual, and a pot of Flower Carving wine."
Seated alone at a table, Jiang Feng quickly scanned the second floor and noticed several tables of guests—merchants, scholars, and a few martial artists chatting quietly.
With a surge of inner energy, his hearing became enhanced.
"I heard that the Two Rivers Escort League suffered a big loss in Shandong. They were robbed of their escort funds by the Qilu Five Tigers, and they had to call upon the old hero Li from Jinan to salvage the situation."
"But after that incident, the league's reputation took a hit, and they lost several businesses to the Central Plains escort agencies."
"The Big Three—Wei Yuan, Zhen Yuan, and Ning Yuan—have merged, and Shen Qinghong has taken the position of the chief escort. Jin Daoshi Tie Ruolong miscalculated and left in anger. He's been wandering around Hubei lately."
"I heard that several wealthy families wanted to hire him for protection, but he turned them down. However, he's trying to start his own escort agency, but he can't seem to recruit people or get any business."
"He's got quite the ambition. I heard that Leader Shi is also looking for him. If we run into him and put in a good word with the Yangtze Alliance, we might even get on Leader Shi's good side."
"Wow, the Yangtze Alliance has united dozens of gangs and docks along the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River, from Sichuan and Shu to Xiang and Han. They're really thriving!"
"It's all because of Leader Shi's incredible martial arts and his generous, righteous, and fair personality. All the heroes along the Yangtze admire him."
"It's a shame that Leader Shi, no matter how strong he is, can't enter the lower reaches of the Yangtze."
"Now, now, the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze are where all the riches and power lie. It's filled with wealthy merchants, martial arts families, and mind-boggling interests. Not even Shi Yangtian, let alone Yanan Tian, could meddle in those affairs."
Yanan Tian!
There was something about those three words that made the chatting martial artists fall silent for a moment. They continued speaking in hushed tones, their voices so soft that even Jiang Feng, with his enhanced hearing, couldn't make out what they were saying.
But Jiang Feng didn't mind. While he was curious about the state of the world in the twenty years before the main storyline, he wasn't in a rush to learn everything at once. Instead, he found the names mentioned by the martial artists earlier to be quite familiar.
Yanan Tian aside, Shi Yangtian was most likely the old man Shi, entrusted by Master Shi Xi of Emei to accompany Little Fish on his journey. Shen Qinghong had also appeared twice at the beginning of the story, known for his exceptional light work and hidden weapon skills—"Flying Flowers Filling the Sky, Landing Silently."
As for Jin Daoshi Tie Ruolong, he only appeared in the background of the story and met his end in the chaotic battle where Little Fish tried to save himself by scattering jewels.
"The current chief escort of the Two Rivers Escort League shouldn't be Zhao Quanhai, the 'Copper Fist and Iron Palm that Shake the Central Plains,' right?"
The mere mention of Zhao Quanhai's nickname made Jiang Feng want to laugh. Considering his performance in the original story, he couldn't fathom how this man had become the chief escort of the Two Rivers Escort League. "Could the northern martial world in this world be that weak?"
After all, in the world of "The Sentimental Swordsman and the Cold-Hearted Sword," the essence of the martial arts world lay in the north! Master Tianji, Shangguan Jinhong, Li Xunhuan, Guo Songyang, Bai Tianwu, A Fei, Jing Wuming... they were all northerners.
In the world of "The Proud Twins," the Yihua Palace sisters, Yanan Tian, Lu Zhongyuan, Jiang Biehe, the Murong family, and others were all southerners. The few northerners who appeared, like Zhao Quanhai, Huangji Master, and Liu Yurou, were minor characters.
In comparison, "The Legend of Chu Liuxiang" and "The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng" were much more balanced, featuring both the vast desert and Bat Island. The stories took place in Beijing, witnessing the climax of the Purple Forbidden Battle, and in the Jianghan region, where the Phantom Mountain Villa was thwarted.
But...
Why are you comparing a single story to someone else's series? It's not a fair comparison!
Jiang Feng: ╮(￣▽￣)
╭
"Young Master! Young Master!"
As Jiang Feng was eating, a young servant in a blue robe rushed upstairs and approached him. He was one of the Jiang family servants. "Young Masters Chen and Mei have come to visit. The head steward asked me to come and find you."
The Jiang family occupied several acres of land and employed dozens of martial artists, not to mention the numerous servants and maids. Of course, Jiang Qin wasn't the only one.
The head steward mentioned by the young servant was an elderly man who had accompanied Jiang Feng's father on his business trips in the past. His name was Jiang Ping, and it was thanks to his watchful eye that the Jiang family's business had managed to maintain its current scale.
Jiang Feng was reminded of You Ji, the old steward of the Jianzhong Cangan Sword Villa in Jinzhong. Indeed, having an elderly advisor was like having a treasure.
As for Young Masters Chen and Mei...
One was Chen Jing, the second young master of the Chen family in Hankou, and the other was Mei Hangsong, the third young master of the Mei family in Yueyang. Both were talented and well-versed in both literature and martial arts, and they had become friends with Jiang Feng during his travels along the Yangtze River after he started practicing martial arts.
When Jiang Feng arrived home, he saw that Chen Jing and Mei Hangsong had already come out to greet him in the main hall.
"Brother Chen! Brother Mei! What brings you two to Jingzhou? Please forgive me for not receiving you earlier," Jiang Feng said with a smile, his graceful words carrying a refreshing charm.
(End of Chapter)
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