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Chapter 73: Touring the Jiangnan Region
Chapter 73: Touring the Jiangnan Region
After their meeting, You Longsheng and Huang Fei agreed to meet for lunch the next day at Linxiange.
On their way back, the Ding siblings gave You Longsheng strange looks.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" You Longsheng shrugged.
Ding Chengfeng sighed, "I truly feel that there's a lot I can learn from Brother You. I wouldn't have dreamed that in such a situation, Brother You would be able to turn an enemy into a friend, like you did with Huang Fei."
Ding Baiyun also stared at You Longsheng, as if she wanted to crack open his head and take a look inside. "What were you thinking at the time? Did you already plan to do business with Yang Dahuz or the Gold and Silver Group?"
"How could I possibly handle Yang Dahuz's business?" You Longsheng asked. "The Wu and Yue regions are also famous for their ironware. Don't forget about Ou Yezi from the Spring and Autumn period and the Longquan swords that are renowned throughout the world. They all originated from Jiangnan."
"So, was it a spur-of-the-moment decision then?"
"Of course, it was impulsive!" You Longsheng said, "But thinking about it now, it's not a bad idea. The Gold and Silver Group doesn't have a monopoly on the business, and if I don't take the opportunity, someone else will. Why shouldn't I earn that money?"
Ding Chengfeng shook his head in awe. "I admire you!"
"Don't admire me," You Longsheng also shook his head. "Zang Jian Manor doesn't have enough manpower to handle such a large business. Your Ding family will also need to pitch in and help."
This wasn't You Longsheng asking for help from Ding Chengfeng.
Instead, it was You Longsheng inviting Ding Chengfeng to make money together!
While the Ding family couldn't produce fine weapons, they had no problem with ordinary ironware and specialty products from the North. With the Gold and Silver Group's route opening up the south, wealth would surely flow their way.
So, the three of them changed their clothes and went to Linxiange for lunch with Huang Fei. The atmosphere was much better this time.
The Gold and Silver Group was domineering in their expansion, but as long as they didn't infringe upon the territories and interests of the orthodox sects, they could coexist peacefully. Purely cooperating in business was not an issue.
Thus, You Longsheng and Ding Chengfeng discussed several collaborations with Huang Fei. Once they returned to He Shuo, they could get started.
...
"Aren't you afraid that you're just feeding the Gold and Silver Group, and they'll eventually unite the rivers and lakes, monopolizing the martial world?" Ding Baiyun asked.
At this time, the three of them had already left Yangzhou and were on their way to Suzhou and Hangzhou.
Ding Chengfeng and You Longsheng shook their heads together.
"Shangguan Jinhong is a hero, but he's not a reckless brute," You Longsheng said.
"The last one who wanted to unite the martial world was the Demon Sect." Ding Chengfeng said, "Back then, the Demon Lord shook the martial world with his 'Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Great Sorrowful Chant' and the Ten Great Demon Techniques. He was at least as good as Shangguan Jinhong, if not better. And the Demon Sect had even more experts than the Gold and Silver Group does today."
"But the Demon Sect was still defeated by the Central Plains martial world. Now, not only do they have many branches, but they've also almost become like rats crossing the street, everyone shouting and cursing at them."
You Longsheng continued, "The Demon Sect is a bit of an old example. More recently, there was Happy King. Remember how powerful he was, and how many experts died in the Battle of Hengshan? But did he end up monopolizing the martial world? Even with his unmatched martial arts, he could only hide in the Western Regions."
"He killed so many experts, but the remaining experts in the martial world only grew in number, and they all became his mortal enemies." Ding Chengfeng said, "No one can stand against the whole world."
"Shangguan Jinhong is a smart man. You can tell from the way the Gold and Silver Group has developed," You Longsheng said.
"But he's taking a domineering approach, and he's very straightforward. I don't think he'll be able to maintain his position for long," Ding Chengfeng said thoughtfully.
She had changed her ways and resorted to scheming and plotting instead of direct confrontation. Unfortunately, she still met her end at Ye Kai's hands, and the Gold and Silver Group's revival was cut short once again, after which they faded into obscurity.
Both Li Xunhuan and Ye Kai were solitary figures; they could only eliminate the main culprits, and the rest of the group's downfall was due to internal strife and attacks from various other forces.
"It doesn't matter," You Longsheng said nonchalantly. "As long as they're still around, we can keep making money off them. It's easy money."
At this time, local protectionism was rampant, and the cost of doing business in other regions was much higher than in later generations.
Ding Chengfeng shook his head with a wry smile. In the distance, he spotted several horses approaching at full speed. He raised his hand in greeting and laughed, "It's Nangong Qi and Nangong Qiu!"
...
There isn't much to tell about what happened next.
With the Nangong family as their hosts, there were, of course, no unexpected incidents. The group spent a month touring the Jiangnan region, witnessing the tidal bore in Qiantang, admiring the gardens of Suzhou, feasting on hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake, and savoring the delights of Dongpo pork and West Lake vinegar fish.
As members of the martial world, they also paid visits to several renowned martial arts families and sects in the region.
They encountered extraordinary skills and talents at every turn, including the Yandang Sect, the Huangshan Manor, the Thunderclap Hall of Jiangnan, the Lu Mountain Sword Sect, the Divine Sword Villa, Qixing Pond, and the various temples of Mount Jiuhua—all famous clans and sects whose names resounded throughout the land. You Longsheng's eyes were opened to a whole new world of martial arts.
Of course, You Longsheng also demonstrated his own skills, and the name of the You Long Swordmaster began to spread throughout the Jiangnan martial world.
The only regret of their journey was the disruption of their planned cruise on the Qinhuai River by Ding Baiyun, who had joined forces with the Nangong sisters, Nangong Feng and Nangong Qian.
Even as they crossed the Yangtze River and prepared to take the Hunan-Guangdong route back north, You Longsheng was still reminiscing.
"The Qinhuai River, home to the most renowned courtesans of Jiangnan. They are said to be as beautiful as jade, with hands as soft as cotton. What a pity, what a pity."
Ding Baiyun, feeling carefree, sat at the bow of the ship and said, "There's nothing to regret. Isn't enjoying the scenery and delicacies of Jiangnan more pleasurable than having your bones scraped by a steel knife?"
You Longsheng fell silent.
"Besides," Ding Baiyun continued, her eyes shifting to You Longsheng, "aren't you and my brother friends?"
You Longsheng nodded. "Of course."
"Then shouldn't you share in his joys and sorrows?" she asked further.
You Longsheng understood what she was getting at.
"My brother is a family man now," Ding Baiyun said, glancing at Ding Chengfeng. "It wouldn't be appropriate for him to visit such places. Naturally, you should stand by his side through thick and thin." She narrowed her eyes at Ding Chengfeng. "Right?"
Ding Chengfeng nodded with a bitter smile. "You're right."
At this point, even the easygoing Ding Chengfeng could tell that his little sister had developed a soft spot for You Longsheng. It wasn't that their trip to the Qinhuai River had dragged You Longsheng down; it was the other way around—You Longsheng had dragged them into his mess! But Ding Baiyun held her head high, and she had made it clear that any man she set her sights on could only love her and no one else.
You Longsheng, on the other hand, seemed to be quite the ladies' man. He had been with Lin Xian'er and then Blue Scorpion. If not for Ding Baiyun keeping a close eye on him, he might have fallen for one of Yuxiao Daoren's disciples.
One was his friend, and the other was his sister.
What a headache...
(End of Chapter)
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