Flowers bloom and fall, spring passes and summer comes, new buds on the trees grow old, and the intense summer heat gradually dissipates.
In the blink of an eye, half a year has passed since the Fu Hui in mid-spring. The original legend of the Fu Hui has gradually been forgotten, and new topics have already appeared at the banquets of wealthy people in the world.
July is coming to an end, and the south is still looking forward to the cool breeze of late summer. It is already early autumn in the north, and the northernmost city of Yunzhou, Jichun City, is already immersed in coolness, as if it is the season of crisp autumn air.
This time is actually the best time for Jichun City. People in the city are willing to invite friends to go out for fun, and they can also see tourists from the south to escape the summer heat. In two months, when the white-haired wind blows over the snowfields in the north,
Every house is closed and there are no dogs on the street.
However, after July of this year, there were too many tourists escaping the summer heat, and among them there were too many people with extraordinary status. It seemed that they were not coming to escape the summer heat, but to attend the temple fair in this remote place.
Because there are so many outsiders with spare money, teahouses and restaurants that used to be deserted have become extraordinarily lively. They are packed with guests day and night. The owner of the teahouse has worked hard to prepare tea for a long time and take advantage of the peak season to attract customers.
The storyteller also changed his mouth to new topics.
"By the way, I don't need to tell you that you all know that there is such a situation in Chuncheng now. It is not for the market, not for the Jianghu, but for a hidden sect in the world, Zhuoyu Villa."
On the Huichun Tower in the west of Spring City, a storyteller who seemed to be knowledgeable was talking eloquently. The teahouse was full of people. Most people were eating, drinking and chatting, but half of the people stretched out their ears to listen to his chatter.
"Speaking of Zhuoyu Villa, most of us and the old people in Chuncheng have heard of it. It is said that it is a paradise on Jiugao Mountain, the residence of gods. There are flowers that never fade in the four seasons, and evergreen grass in the eighth season. There are also fairy fruits,
There are countless places like Ruimu, Jiagu, Xianghe and so on. Just close your eyes and imagine that the Cave Heaven and Paradise in your imagination is like Zhuoyu Villa."
As he said this, someone in the audience made a chirping sound, whether it was admiration or ridicule.
"Originally, legends are just legends. Just listen to them. Who among you can see it with your own eyes? Only in the past few days, the news from the mountain has gradually spread, but it is conclusive. Zhuoyu Villa is not only true, but it is also bigger.
Open the mountain gate and hold a grand event called the 'Sword Forging Conference'. Experts from all walks of life are invited, including adults from the imperial court, masters from the martial arts world, hidden sects, and learned masters. The winds, clouds, dragons and tigers are all among them.
Why are you here? To witness the birth of a sword."
"Someone said what kind of sword is this sword? If I knew, would I still be sitting here? I know that a sword can create a swordsman, an unattainable master. Every sword has magical abilities, what?
Moving mountains and seas, flying stars and chasing the moon is not a problem. As for this sword, it may be the most mysterious sword in the world today. Because this is an unborn sword, even the gods don’t know about it.
What is it like? It is hidden deep in the Jiugao Mountain, soaked in the sun and moonlight, and tempered for thousands of times. Once it is made into a sword, it will become a blockbuster."
At this time, an old customer said: "What? The sword-making conference is about to start, and the sword hasn't been made yet? What the hell is that?"
The gentleman smiled and said: "You don't understand this, don't you? This is called a sword-making meeting, not a sword-appreciating meeting. We can't wait until the sword is successfully made and then call people to see it. Okay, everyone is here. You can move a sword out of the warehouse.
Bring the sword and say, "This is what I made. Let's see it." Who knows if you made it yourself or where you bought it? You must have called everyone over when you were about to make the sword and see it with your own eyes.
The sword must be born."
Someone below laughed and said: "Then if the sword-making fails, wouldn't the guests come in vain?"
What he said was a bit offending. The gentleman paused and glanced at it. He found that he was a new face. He was not very old. He was probably someone who had come all the way to join in the fun. He was not sure of his background, and it was not convenient to say more. He said vaguely:
"Actually... it can't be like this. If you don't have a 99% certainty, how can you dare to recruit people? The swordsmith knows it well. Since it's going to be opened, it's going to be successful, but it's just a fool's errand.
.According to the date, the sword-making meeting will be held in nine days, so this sword must be born within ten days."
"Some people may say that we don't know if the sword is successfully made. What's the difference between this kind of thing and listening to a story? I tell you, it's not necessarily true. The so-called divine sword makes the world cry, and the sword furnace opens and the ghosts and gods are frightened. After a few days
Look, the sky and the earth change color, there is lightning and thunder, and there is a sound like a ghost crying, that means the sword has been made successfully."
I heard someone burst out laughing. But there was a seat in the corner. Sitting there were two young men and women. They were both clean and handsome, and well-dressed. They were also unfamiliar faces. It was the girl who laughed out loud.
The gentleman glanced at the girl and felt that although the girl only smiled slightly, there was a clear meaning of ridicule in her expression. He could only pretend not to see it. Customers could not be offended, especially the strangers these days.
A young man who is still young or an old man who cannot walk around. As long as he has a new face, he may be a dragon crossing the river. He has always been able to be vague and vague.
So he made another sharp turn at a right angle of 90 degrees and said: "We can only watch the sword-making conference from a distance, but the sword-making conference is not only a major event at Zhuoyu Villa, we also have a close relationship with Chuncheng. In the past two days, everyone
Has the shopkeeper made money?"
Some people below laughed. In the past two days, heroes from all walks of life have been coming and going, and they have really taken care of various businesses in the city. It can be said that they made half a year's money in just a few days.
"It's not just that, there will be many more influences in the future. That person said that the sword-making conference is ultimately a matter for the swordsmiths and swordsmen. What does it have to do with me? It's hard to make some money today.
Okay, why are you talking about it later? But I said that this sword-making conference concerns everyone in Jichun City. It is not a matter of heaven, but a matter of people around you. If you can't understand this truth, let me tell you——
This has to start with our monarchs."
As the gentleman was getting excited, someone laughed loudly: "Sir, you said this yesterday."
The gentleman was stunned and said, "Did I say that?"
The people below shouted: "I told you!"
"I've been talking about it for several days!"
"You start talking about this section from the beginning every day. Isn't this just irritating?"
The gentleman showed no embarrassment and said, "Oh, I forgot. What did I say before?"
He is a long-standing gentleman, and there are many regular customers who have been listening to him for many years. They also cheered him up and joked with each other:
"You said that Zhuoyu Villa has become famous for making swords, and it will become a center in Yunzhou in the future. Many people seeking swords will come to Jichun City for food and accommodation, and they will benefit from the business in the city!"
The gentleman said: "Yes, yes, I said so."
"You said that Spring City has become an important town. Registering in front of the king will definitely have policy benefits, such as building roads and so on."
"Yeah--"
"You also said that the price of surgical instruments will be reduced in the future so that everyone can afford them and every household will have a share."
"That's right——"
"You also said that Zhuoyu Villa is going to open its doors to accept apprentices. We can all be talisman sword masters and swordsmen——"
"I didn't say that!" The gentleman quickly stopped and explained, "My dear fellow, how can I guarantee for someone else's swordsmith? No matter how many apprentices they accept, they can't all be talisman swordsmiths. However,
Ah, first come first, first come first. If your child is qualified, it is true that he will have a chance..."
Amid the roar of laughter, someone said sadly: "The sword-making convention is the target of public criticism, and it will probably not be held."
…
The laughter stopped suddenly, and the atmosphere suddenly became stiff, as if someone threw a large piece of ice into the hot water, which instantly stopped the boiling water and turned the huge tea house into a pool of stagnant water.
The gentleman immediately turned pale and said hoarsely: "Who? Who said that? I didn't say it, I never said such a thing! Whoever said it is the one who will stand up."
He could pretend that he didn't hear what someone said just now, but the words he said were as sharp as a bayonet seeing red, and there was no way around it. If he tried to pass it off again, it would be as if he agreed.
I heard someone say calmly: "Well, you didn't say it, I did. I stood up, what do you want to do?"
A man stood up from the crowd. He was dressed in black and had a bamboo hat on his head. The veil was lowered to cover most of his face. Looking at his average stature, he couldn't tell whether he was male or female. He couldn't tell the male or female from his voice.
It stands to reason that such a person is very eye-catching and can be easily seen wherever he is. However, he was sitting in the crowd without anyone noticing, as if he appeared out of nowhere. It wasn't until he stood up that several people next to him burst into action.
Like avoiding snakes and scorpions.
The man slowly stepped forward and walked all the way to the gentleman. The gentleman couldn't control his fear and got up to hide. The man naturally sat on the chair in the middle.
"It's me who said that the sword-making conference can't be held."
"Why? People in the world don't like him."
"Talk about it in a small way, doesn't Xue Xianyun himself know how many evils he committed back then? How many enemies he made back then, which one of these enemies is willing to make things easier for him now?"
"Like a master, there must be a disciple. His disciple caused trouble outside and acted domineeringly in the Jianzhou Conference. He even made enemies with the bandits in Lingzhou, and the rest of his enemies, whether overt or covert, are too many to count."
"Oh, there is also a certain force that I cannot name, which has long been eyeing Zhuoyu Villa. Their force is extremely powerful, and they are determined to retaliate. Will they let this opportunity pass?"
"Talk about the big picture, Yunzhou should not produce swordsmiths. There is a court above, and the swordsmiths in the world are not as powerful as the world. Those who join the world are all under the four major controls of the court, and Yunzhou must stand on its own.
Doesn't this violate a taboo? Gao Yuanhou was originally like a local emperor, with civil affairs, the army, and taxation all being a unified entity, which was no different from a separatist regime! Now he has to hold even forged swords in his hands. Can the court allow it?
"
"There are other princes, who doesn't have ambitions? If given the chance, who would watch Yunzhou grow bigger? Who wouldn't be happy to see the sword-making conference destroyed?"
He spoke unhurriedly and seemed to have no emotion. Everyone couldn't see his expression clearly, but they all thought he was sneering.
"The abilities of Zhuoyu Villa are not small. The imperial court, warlords, rebels, robbers, swordsmiths, swordsmen, warriors, are there any other forces that they have not offended? The whole world is so hostile to them, they are really talented.
"There are so many enemies who forge swords secretly and just pay off after they succeed. They dare to hold a sword-making meeting in an open and honest manner. It is really stupid. They call people here before the sword is made."
"It's so hot that it rots a pig's head. Although a sword is not easy to be destroyed, as long as it is not born, it is not a sword. It can be stillborn. It is said that a thousand people can point it out and die without a cure. How can a sword survive so many curses?
What? Each of these ten days may be the day of its death. Let me put it down. In the end, Xue’s dream of making swords will definitely come to nothing.”
"As for you, you are just like ants, so don't have any sweet dreams of glory. Just stay in Jichun City for these ten days and live an ignoble existence. I'll end it here, so you can take care of yourself."
After saying that, everyone's eyes were dazzled, and his figure was like a shadow, disappearing from nowhere.