Cyber ​​Daming

Chapter 639: Lost Shu in Qingcheng
When the first drop of cold winter rain fell from the sky, Chengdu Prefecture, located in the southwest of the Ming Empire, finally began to wake up.

The lights gradually brightened under the night sky, but they were no longer as dazzling as they used to be.

In the sparse projections, the Taoist master Tuodan from Qingcheng Mountain, who was once as huge as a Dharma image, disappeared.

Even the advertisements put out by the Jiaofangsi showed the girls wearing proper clothes and behaving in a dignified manner, without any hint of seduction.

"The cost of a nightshade is 10,000 yuan for a natural one and 3,000 yuan for a bionic one. A yellow millet dream only requires 100 Ming treasure notes."

The promotional slogan floating next to the new courtesan not only increased in price, but even the huge word "玩" (play) that left the deepest impression on Li Jun became very small and could not be seen clearly without careful observation.

Chengdu Prefecture is still Chengdu Prefecture, but it has changed from being heavily made-up to being elegant and chic.

On the street, dense umbrellas formed a flowing river. Li Jun was in the middle of it, looking up at the familiar yet unfamiliar scene in front of him.

Three days ago, after a long talk with Zhao Qingxia, Li Jun was sure that he would not gain anything if he continued to retreat, so he left the Eastern Branch in Shandong Prefecture.

Zou Sijiu, who had been restless for a long time, insisted on going with him when he heard that he was going to Chengdu Prefecture, saying that he wanted to see the place where Li Gejun started his career.

"Lao Li, is this the chicken and goose area you mentioned before? It's not as chaotic as you said."

Zou Sijiu looked around curiously, and what he saw was a prosperous and peaceful scene. Fully armed Tianfu guards could be seen everywhere in the streets and alleys, holding guns and knives, and scanning the passers-by with vigilant eyes.

"It wasn't like this when I was here."

Li Jun replied casually and walked ahead.

The three main streets in Ji'e District still follow the "two horizontal and one vertical" layout of the past, with Ghost Street as the vertical, and Zuimin Street and Kowloon Street as the horizontal. In addition, there are many tiny side alleys.

Li Jun led Zou Sijiu through it, gradually moving away from the orderly main road.

As the figures of the Tianfu guards disappeared, the "bustle" that Li Jun was familiar with finally reappeared.

Without those bright neon signs, the dim alleys are filled with vendors and the crowds are so crowded that it is almost impossible to pour water into them.

However, this obviously did not cause any obstacles to Li Jun and Zou Sijiu. Wherever they went, the crowd would naturally make way for them.

Zou Sijiu, who came to Ghost Street for the first time, kept looking at the various goods piled up on the ground, and made a clicking sound from time to time.

There was no need to mention common contraband items like mechanical prostheses and brain-powered orifices, but what really surprised him was the large number of wisdom and Tao foundations. Not only were the prices surprisingly cheap, but the quality was generally very good, and it was obvious at a glance that they were not inferior goods that could be imitated by small temples and monasteries.

In the past, this level of Taoism and wisdom would never be found in such a place and could only be seen in the hands of some powerful black market merchants.

Moreover, the entire transaction process will be kept secret to avoid being discovered by the mountain gate and temple where the "goods" belong, thereby causing unnecessary trouble. It will not be like now, where the goods are casually soaked in the jar and picked like cabbage.

In addition, Zou Sijiu also saw a lot of stacked Six Arts chips and military sequence mechanical hearts thrown into freezer boxes.

The quality of these things is slightly worse than those of Buddhism and Taoism, but the price is still much lower than Zou Sijiu's impression. They are no longer the scarce and expensive precious resources they used to be. Ordinary people can grit their teeth and use up a few years of savings to buy a good foundation for entering the order.

This scene gave Zou Sijiu the feeling that it was telling him that the sequence was no longer something high and mighty and untouchable in Chengdu Prefecture, but something that ordinary people could touch and reach with just a step.

"Damn, where on earth do these dealers get all these good stuff?"

Unlike Zou Sijiu who was startled, Li Jun had a frown on his face and looked quite solemn.

As a former gangster in Chengdu, he was naturally very familiar with what was happening on the streets.

In his eyes, these Tao foundations, wisdom roots, six arts chips, and military sequence mechanical hearts displayed on the street stalls were just living corpses.

The fact that the black market prices have been pushed down to such a low point proves that many people must have died in these sequences during this period.

Moreover, what he saw was only the tip of the iceberg of black market transactions in the entire southwest region. A single leaf could tell the coming of the year. The secret conflicts in the entire empire were probably far more intense than he had imagined.

In addition, Li Jun also discovered something unusual: the purchasing desire of the customers around him was not very strong.

The whole long alley was obviously crowded with people, but most of them seemed to be there just to join in the fun. They would squat down to rummage around and pick up things, and would get up and leave before the stall owners even offered their prices.

It seems that in the eyes of these people, entering the order now is not a good thing.

"Boss, boss, please stay."

A vendor suddenly jumped up, ignoring Li Jun in a tight suit, and stood in front of Zou Sijiu in a suit and leather shoes. He bowed and said with a flattering smile, "If I'm not mistaken, boss, this is your first time in the chicken and goose area, right?"

Zou Sijiu glanced at Li Jun, cleared his throat and asked, "How did you figure that out?"

"Businessmen here rely on these two eyes. Although my eyesight is not good here, I am a well-known honest man with blind eyes, but I can't help but feel that you have an extraordinary temperament, just like Haoyu in the fireflies, which is out of place in the ghost street. I can't help but see clearly."

"This mouth really knows how to speak."

Zou Sijiu laughed and asked, "What do you mean by stopping me?
"Look at your attire, boss. I'm sure you just came back from some foreign barbaric land, right?"

Zou Sijiu looked down at his clothes and said "hmm" indifferently.

"Those places are a bit backward, but I heard that there is gold everywhere. I see that you are one of those people who have connections and made a lot of money from the barbarians. You look so noble, wow, it's really intimidating!"

The shifty vendor continued to flatter Zou Sijiu with all his might.

"what do you want to say in the end?"

"What I want to say is that although there are many opportunities to make money in foreign countries, they are dangerous places where evil spirits and heretics are rampant, and it is not easy to make money."

The vendor said humbly, "Sir, if you are interested, my stall has everything you need. The goods are of high quality and low price. I guarantee that every penny you spend will be worth it."

"So that's what you meant."

Zou Sijiu pretended to be surprised and pointed at the stalls around him: "But I think the things they sell are pretty good, and the prices are not expensive. Why should I buy from you?"

"You don't know this. The things they sell would have been rare and popular goods a few years ago. But the world is different now. What you see are just junk sold to ordinary people. How can they be worthy of your status as a boss?"

"Is this still tattered?"

Zou Sijiu exclaimed, and the shock on his face was portrayed vividly.

"Your Excellency, you must have just returned to the Empire not long ago. It seems that you are still not familiar with the current situation in the Empire."

The vendor lowered his voice, "The world is not peaceful now. First, our empire's Prime Minister Zhang announced the numerous crimes of Longhu Mountain and demanded that the contemporary Zhang Tianshi come to Beijing to apologize. As a result, this person turned around and declared that he was the Great Protector of the Nation and would follow the will of the late emperor to purge the emperor and kill the slanderous ministers. The two sides have been exchanging sharp words for a while, and now they have completely torn their faces and are directly confronting each other!"

"Isn't it normal for these two families to quarrel? I often heard about this kind of thing when I left the empire, but I never saw either family actually fight?"

Zou Sijiu's eyes were full of innocence, and he pretended not to notice the disdain and contempt that flashed across the vendor's eyes.

"Things are different now. This time we are serious."

The vendor explained, "You know about Qingcheng Mountain in Chengdu, right? It's one of the 'Four Mountains and One Palace' of the Daoist Order, and it dominates the southwest of the empire. Even officials in various prefectures and counties have to rely on the Daoists to survive. But not long ago, Qingcheng Mountain suddenly announced that it would relocate its mountain gate, and called on all its disciples and believers to go to Longhu Mountain together."

"Relocation? How is that possible?"

Zou Sijiu's heart moved, and he sneered, "Qingcheng Mountain has been rooted in the southwest of the empire for hundreds or thousands of years. You just give up the territory and go to Longhu Mountain to rely on others for support?"

"We don't believe it either, but it's the truth."

The vendor said, "And on the day when Qingcheng Mountain was moving, I was dreaming at home. Before I could even take off my pants, I suddenly felt the ground shaking, and I quickly ran out the door using my hands and feet. Guess what happened?"

"The earth dragon turned over?"

"No."

The vendor said with lingering fear: "It was noon at that time. The bright sunny sky suddenly turned dark. The stars were so bright that it was blinding. Thunder fell like rain, crackling towards the Qingcheng Mountain. It lasted for probably two or three hours before the sky brightened again."

"It is said that Qingcheng Mountain was besieged that day, and even the top of the mountain was flattened by lightning. Not to mention the dead, the corpses were scattered all over the mountain from the foot to the top. It was a horrible sight."

The vendor pointed to the goods on the stall next to him and said, "The things you see now were all taken from dead people. Otherwise, how could there be so many of them and the prices be so cheap? But they came from shady places and are very unlucky. If you use them on yourself, you will bring bad luck."

Zou Sijiu curled his lips and covered his mouth and nose in disgust, as if he smelled the choking smell of blood.

"So I dared to stop you today because I couldn't bear to see you get cheated. You don't know that all the vendors in Ghost Street are vicious and cruel, and they like to cheat wealthy bosses from other places like you who are unaware of the situation. I am different. If you really want to buy, I have some good things in my hands. They are absolutely clean and the price is good. I guarantee you will be satisfied." The vendor looked around cautiously and laughed softly, "Besides, it is convenient for me to settle accounts here. I accept the imperial court's treasure notes and the immortal yuan of Longhu Mountain. Even the Chu coupons of Honghu are fine, there is just a small conversion difference. It depends on your convenience. I am fine with it."

Zou Sijiu's face showed a belated alertness at this moment: "Why should I believe you?"

"I am a villain who is sincere and blind. I can't deceive anyone at all."

The vendor quickly forced a sincere smile and blinked his eyes: "Look at my eyes, how blind and pure they are. If my elders hadn't always taught me to do business with integrity, how could I have revealed so much information to you, my Lord?"

"That's true."

Zou Sijiu and Li Jun looked at each other and continued to ask, "Then do you know who surrounded Qingcheng Mountain?"

"This little guy doesn't know."

The vendor rubbed his hands together and said, "And this is not something we should be concerned about. The key point now is that you are sincere in buying goods and I am sincere in selling goods. Don't you agree?"

"Ah, that's okay."

Zou Sijiu took out a crumpled banknote from his trouser pocket and handed it to the other party.

"You're selling good news, take it."

"Boss, what do you mean?"

The smile on the vendor's face suddenly froze, "What I'm selling is not news, and this is just a small amount of money."

"It's too little, but this is all I have."

Zou Sijiu tilted his head and smiled, "How about this, I'll give you two nights of sweet dreams, and we'll be even, how about that?"

"Song Meng, who do you think you are, Duke of Zhou?"

The vendor spat with disdain, and the mischievous looks from his colleagues around him made him feel even more ashamed.

"I thought I had scooped up a fat sheep, but it turned out to be a naked ass covered in a barbarian's skin. I was embarrassed for nothing."

"I'm handsome in a unique way, and you're just a country bumpkin who knows nothing."

Zou Sijiu's eyes narrowed. Having lived in Chongqing Prefecture for several years, he spoke with a standard Sichuan accent.

"Hey, I didn't expect he's a local."

The vendor laughed in anger: "I'm telling you clearly, you're in big trouble today. Either take out all the money you have, or I'll personally send you back to your poor place, picking cotton like those Kunlun slaves!"

"Lao Li, you fellow villagers are really filthy when you curse at people."

Zou Sijiu turned and looked at Li Jun, and the vendor followed his gaze.

"What kind of person are you?"

The vendor looked up and down at Li Jun's clothes and said, "Do you know where this place is? I advise you not to try to stand out. Get out of here if you know what's best for you!"

Li Jun glanced at the crowd gathered around him, his eyes full of nostalgia, and said with a half-smile: "It seems that Ghost Street is still the Ghost Street I am familiar with."

"You're pretending."

The vendor's eyes narrowed, and before he could finish his mocking words, he suddenly felt a terrifying aura like a flood or a beast.

In an instant, the entire alley was filled with people kneeling in fear.

Chengdu Prefecture, prefectural government office.

The square table that used to be placed in the yard was moved under the eaves. The rain hit the green tiles and water fell along the eaves.

There was soup boiling in a copper pot, and the aroma was everywhere.

Pei Xingjian sat alone on a chair, facing the open main entrance of the government office, with his hands tucked into his sleeves and his eyes slightly closed, as if he was dozing off.

"Eating hot pot again? Master Pei, don't you get tired of it?"

"It's good to have something to eat. You've just had a few days of good life, and you're picking it up already?"

Pei Xingjian slowly raised his head and looked at Li Jun and Zou Sijiu who strode in. His eyes were calm, as if he was waiting for them.

Li Jun sat down confidently. He was not at all surprised that the other party seemed to have known about his visit to the city even though he had not contacted them in advance.

If he didn't have this ability, then it wouldn't be Qingcheng Mountain that was moving, but him, Pei Xingjian.

"It's a rare opportunity for you to come back. Why don't you come directly to the government office to find me? Instead, why do you go to bully those poor black market dealers?"

"I didn't bully them. To be precise, we are the victims."

While the two were talking, Zou Sijiu didn't hesitate to pick up the chopsticks and started eating.

Pei Xingjian glanced at the rapidly decreasing amount of dishes on the table, frowned and asked, "Should we eat first, or talk first?"

"He eats, and we talk."

Li Jun smiled and said, "But if you feel bad, Mr. Pei, we can eat first and talk later."

"Forget it, the host follows the guest's wishes, you have the final say."

Pei Xingjian sighed, and seemingly casually took a plate of fresh tripe away from in front of Zou Sijiu, and placed three wine cups in the vacated space.

"Li Jun, you took the initiative to come to me this time. What do you want to discuss with me?"

Li Jun got straight to the point: "I want to know what Prime Minister Zhang is going to do next?"

Pei Xingjian's hand, which was pouring wine, suddenly stopped, and a few drops of water spilled out of the cup.

"It's rare that you would take the initiative to care about this kind of thing?"

"It's impossible to stay out of it anyway, so instead of waiting to be dragged into it, it's better to make plans early."

Li Jun picked up the wine cups and placed them in front of the three people while speaking.

"That's right, but you shouldn't ask me this question. Zhang Fengyue and I have never gotten along well. Don't you know that?"

Li Jun picked up the wine cup and drank it all. "Of course I know. I thought so before entering the city, so I originally just planned to come here to have a meal and see if there is anything I can do for you, Mr. Pei, to repay the favor of the land. But after hearing the news of the evacuation of Qingcheng Mountain, I suddenly don't think so anymore."

"The Qingcheng Mountain incident has nothing to do with me. I am a gentleman who studies etiquette, but I cannot defeat Liang Gongming, that bully."

"That's true. However, under such circumstances, Master Pei, you can still stay in Chengdu Prefecture, so it must be related."

Pei Xingjian stared at Li Jun who was sitting opposite him, and suddenly laughed, "When did a warrior like you start playing with your brain?"

"It's cooked. You have to eat this first."

Zou Sijiu's voice suddenly interrupted, and he was seen using a colander to scoop up the pig brain from the bottom of the pot.

"Otherwise it won't taste good if it's overcooked."

The voice stopped abruptly, and Pei Xingjian looked at the two of them with interest.

"Wouldn't it be better to stay in the East Courtyard and watch the show? With your current strength, if you are really determined not to go into the water, who can pull you?"

"Mr. Pei, you should know my style of doing things. I can't even eat if I don't get my revenge."

Li Jun smiled and said, "I came here this time just to find out. Are you guys cooking a pot of pig brains, or are you really planning to eat dragon liver and tiger meat?"

(End of this chapter)