Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 702 March 3rd

Zhu Gaoyang knew it was nonsense the first time Pei Ye uttered it.

But six months later, when Pei Ye said this nonsense for the second time, Zhu Gaoyang began to doubt himself.

He knew that each of the Celestial Hunters had a different personality and that some were destined to be compatible with him... but did the Divine Dragon simply not like long hair?

Zhu Gaoyang looked at the black ball in the boy's arms with some hope, as if expecting it to say something in response, but it just buried its head in the boy's arms.

"Hair... can be trimmed..." Zhu Gaoyang murmured.

But the boy and the cat seemed not to hear them and walked towards the shore.

……

Liuzhen is neither too big nor too small. If it were the hometown of a young man, it would be considered quite prosperous, but it is rather ordinary in the vicinity of Chang'an. To the north, there is a mountain of moderate height, which is covered in warm green at this time of year. To the south, behind the town, flows a small river, a tiny tributary of the Wei River.

If you travel to Chang'an by water, and pass by the Wei River on your way to the capital, you will pass through Liuzhen. Therefore, the town is filled with wine flags and inns, and the roads are wider and smoother than elsewhere. After a long and tiring journey by boat, it's a welcome respite to rest here, see the sights and sounds of the capital region, and enjoy the scenery.

Recently, the town has seen an increasing variety of people from other places, coming from all directions, speaking different accents, carrying knives and swords, and all sorts of different appearances. Many people stay for one night and then leave in a hurry, while some linger, perhaps no longer finding the capital city novel, or perhaps simply unwilling to go in too soon.

"Year after year, the willows turn green, and generation after generation of young men and women, each one so fresh and new."

After taking a refreshing hot bath, Zhu Gaoyang lazily lay by the window on the second floor of the inn, watching the people and horses walking by on the street, chatting and laughing.

"How wonderful! I have high expectations for the vast capital city."

Having spent months among birds, insects, and fish, and living in wild waters and deserted inns, they could finally immerse themselves in the warmth of human habitation. However, entering Willow Town wasn't so easy for the two of them, as their bodies were covered in blood and wounds, and whether they wore their clothes or not, they were likely to elicit screams from passersby.

In the end, it was only after Pei Ye showed the Crane Inspection badge (Zhu Gaoyang was extremely reluctant to be recognized) that he was able to exchange for two sets of clean clothes and enter the inn.

Pei Ye had a towel draped around her neck and was lying beside him, steaming hot.

"Which sect do these people belong to?"

"I don't know. There are so many sects in the world, it would be too much to recognize someone just by glancing at them." Zhu Gaoyang smiled, then suddenly clasped his hands in a fist salute and called out loudly, "Heroes below, are you also going to the Feather Scale Gathering? May I ask which sect you belong to?"

The leading man looked up and returned the greeting, saying, "Greetings from Xu of Xiaoyun Mountain!"

Zhu Gaoyang smiled and said, "I've heard so much about you. Are you staying here for a couple of days? Or are you heading to the capital?"

"It's still early, let's not linger." The man smiled. "There are many younger people, and if they run wild, it's easy to cause trouble. Let's get to the field as soon as possible."

His face was travel-worn, and his words inevitably revealed a hint of helplessness, clearly indicating that he had suffered quite a bit along the way. The few laughing and joking teenagers behind him all stopped, and with the curiosity and restraint appropriate for their age, they all straightened their backs.

"They are all exceptional talents." Zhu Gaoyang clasped his hands in a fist salute again. "Have most of the sects already entered the capital? Has Senior Xu received any news from the journey?"

"Since you've been lingering in Liuzhen, you should be more well-informed than I am," the man chuckled. "I heard that the current generation of the [Knife Demon] from the White Deer Palace just passed through Liuzhen the other day. Did you happen to meet him?"

"Unfortunately, I just checked in yesterday."

"Haha. In short, it's already March, and many have probably arrived by now, and those who haven't should be here soon. I heard that Beihai Prefecture has already entered the capital, and Xu Daoshan should arrive in the next couple of days as well—I heard that someone saw them at the end of the Wei River a couple of days ago."

Who came to Xu Daoshan this year?

"Both of the top two on the Crane and Duck Rankings have arrived." The man clasped his hands in a salute to the empty space, smiled, and turned back to indicate, "Just now, the younger generation was discussing that He Yaoyao."

Behind the man stood a boy and a girl, both around sixteen or seventeen years old. The boy had prominent eyebrows and bright eyes, with slightly dark skin, while the girl had bright eyes and white teeth; they appeared to be the leaders of the current Little Cloud Mountain. They smiled shyly and bowed to the man upstairs.

"Xu Daoshan's Cloud Sword and Yun Lang's Cloud Sword are different."

The young boy and girl were taken aback and looked at the boy next to the handsome man.

The boy looked older and had a serious expression. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to them and said, “I just overheard you talking about… Xu Dao Shan’s clouds are like cranes soaring in the clouds, while Yun Lang’s clouds are like clouds in hand. Therefore, Xu Dao Shan’s sword is elegant and graceful, while Yun Lang’s sword is lofty and serene. It’s the difference between a hermit and an immortal… If I had to say, your own sect’s sword is more like Yun Lang’s.”

The two were stunned, and the young man's face flushed slightly—just now, he was the one who had been talking at length, and while his fellow disciples were chatting about the distant crane, he had a flash of inspiration and brought up Yun Lang.

Several of his peers stared in astonishment at the young man—it was unusual for someone to correct another person's disciple's sword talk upon first meeting them, but this man's tone was sincere and his expression was calm, and he certainly didn't seem to be making things up.

Although Shenjing is known for its hidden talents, we haven't even seen the city walls yet.

"How...how do you know it's completely different?" The young man's face was red, but he still clasped his hands in a fist. "During the Yu Feng era, He Jiu, the little sword immortal of Xu Dao Mountain, was known as 'Sword Beyond the Clouds.' His sword strikes were mysterious and ethereal, leaving no trace. There are thousands of sword techniques in Yun Lang Mountain, among which there is a technique called 'Sword in the Clouds,' which is also...also a common style."

“What you said in the latter is correct. The Sword in the Clouds is indeed an ethereal sword path. But He Jiu’s sword is neither mysterious nor ethereal.” Pei Ye said seriously, “He Jiu’s sword is meticulous and rigorous in its essence. Outsiders find it ethereal because they cannot understand or see through it. He Jiu’s sword moves are exquisite. Ming Qitian said that the Sword in the Clouds abandons the moves to seek the meaning, which is the inspiration and intuition of the swordsman. These two things are different.”

"..."

The boy was speechless, and his fellow disciples behind him were also stunned. They didn't know when Ming Qitian had said those words.

The man surnamed Xu was also slightly taken aback. He looked at the young man carefully, clasped his hands and said, "Thank you for your guidance, young hero. The younger generation in our sect always have lofty ambitions when it comes to swordsmanship. In fact, they have never experienced the advanced techniques of Xudao Mountain, nor have they ever seen the Yunlang Immortal Sword."

Pei Ye quickly returned the greeting: "I have only tested my sword with two people from both families, so I can only give a general account."

He paused for a moment and then said, "Xiaoyun Mountain's martial arts are very good. This is the first time I've seen such powerful swordsmanship, and it was done by a disciple of Xiaoyun Mountain... Thank you very much."

"...I still don't know your names?"

Several younger people looked up and realized that the boy was actually giving them kind instructions.

"Junior Pei Ye." Pei Ye clasped his hands in a fist salute.

The man next to him smiled and said, "Dragon Lord Dongting, wishing you good health. Greetings."

……

Xiaoyunshan is gone, but Liuzhen continues to welcome and send off new martial arts practitioners. In just one morning, Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang, peering out the window, saw two groups of martial arts sects, not to mention countless scattered swordsmen.

The news of the Eight Rivers changing hands was still circulating in the shadows of the martial arts world, though the two hadn't heard any rumors yet. However, the Feather Scale Trial was undeniably a grand event, and everyone, whether they knew each other or not, could strike up a conversation. Pei Ye had actually been somewhat out of touch with the capital since the New Year, completely unaware of the rumors circulating in the martial arts world over the past few months, so this was a rare opportunity for them to connect. However, they didn't wave or talk to anyone anymore; instead, Zhu Gaoyang told Pei Ye some interesting anecdotes and stories about their respective sects.

As the sun sets, the town becomes visibly more lively.

After all, few people travel at night; most people plan their journey carefully and stop here to rest just before sunset. Pei Ye and Zhu Gaoyang went downstairs for dinner as the lights came on. Steam rose from the air, which had been washed clean by the cold rain. The tables in the hall were almost full, and the aroma of food and wine gradually filled the air.

“Look, those must be disciples of the Taihang Sect.” Zhu Gaoyang pointed with his chopsticks to four men and women sitting in the corner, each carrying a hat and a sword.

"Didn't you say that you can't tell someone's sect just by looking at them?" The two sat down at the last small empty table in the corner, and Pei Ye put the black cat on his lap.

“This one is different.” Zhu Gaoyang smiled. “People say, ‘White Deer in the South, Taihang in the North.’ Taihang is similar to White Deer, both are very fierce and travel all over the world. Now, when they participate in the Feather Scale Trial, they are all gathering in the capital, and there is no main team. If you want to identify them, remember that they especially like to dress in bamboo hats and black veils, and they often carry a sword and a bow. Their archery skills are extraordinary. That is a tradition created by shooting eagles and killing leopards in the Taihang snow mountains.”

"Is this place really on par with the White Deer Palace?"

"Among the Thirty-Three Sword Sects, White Deer Palace is the fifth at the top, and Taihang is the twelfth in the middle, which is considered to be one level below them."

"So this proverb refers to both families together?"

“Yes, that’s why people in the south don’t say that much,” Zhu Gaoyang laughed.

The two ordered four steamed buns, two plates of stir-fried dishes, and a bowl of bone broth. While waiting for the food, Zhu Gaoyang pointed out two Taoist disciples, three Diancang disciples, and a group of six from a small sect in the southwest to the young man—the latter two were sitting very close to them.

There were many martial arts practitioners in the hall, but they all spoke in secret. They all used their internal energy to transmit their voices, so if you heard someone talking at a table and then suddenly the voices stopped, it meant they were just whispering. People were used to it and didn't pay much attention.

However, the friends of Diancang do not seem to have this awareness. Just as the rumors say, they are bold and unrestrained, drinking and laughing as if no one else is around.

“You can travel along the Wei River, but I’m traveling on the Lao River. It’s a vast stretch of water, a hundred miles long. I asked every fishing village, and there wasn’t a single person willing to take a boat.” One of them laughed, “That’s truly unbelievable.”

"Isn't that a ban imposed by their local water gangs?"

"I'm just surprised that these river gangs have such authority. With a single command, not a single boat can be seen on the river," the leader continued. "And I don't even know what they're doing."

“I’ve vaguely heard some news—not about floods, but about all the docks across the entire Eight Rivers region making moves at the same time,” another person said. “...The atmosphere on the Eight Rivers region has been quite strange these past few days; we really don’t know what they’re up to.”

"You're talking nonsense. The floodwaters have spread for nearly a thousand miles. You're saying there's been action on all of them?"

"I heard it from someone else, why would I scare you?"

The first man frowned, turned around, stood up, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and shouted loudly, "Friends from Taihang over there, do you know anything about the news as you pass through Bashui?"

The four people from Taihang exchanged glances. Three of them remained silent, while one of them clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Are you friends from Diancang? The Eight Rivers are currently hosting a 'Feast for the Water Lord,' and all boats are prohibited from sailing. We don't know much else."

After speaking, he lowered his head, seemingly unwilling to say anything more.

"What are you thinking...you want to boil in salt water? Boil what? Friend, please explain yourself!"

A calmer voice rang out from the other side: "Friend, the eight-hundred-mile waterway is under a seven-day ban on all ships. The word is law, don't you understand? What can you possibly ask?"

Diancang sobered up a bit, shook his head, and muttered, "Yes, why such a big commotion... right when the feather scales are about to open? Aren't they afraid of attracting the attention of the world?"

"Within eight hundred li of the capital, they can seal off the waters just like that. What are they afraid of?" The Taoist disciple clasped his hands in greeting. "There's no news of this happening in the Eight Rivers Jianghu right now. You can find out by asking the local gang members. The banquet for the Water Lord is to celebrate the ascension of a 'Water Sovereign.' As for who this Water Sovereign is... friends, just enjoy the show and don't delve too deeply... the water is a thousand feet deep, and there's a risk of slipping and falling."

Diancang shook his head: "What major events are happening in Shenjing right now? Besides the Feather Scale Trial, it's..."

He sobered up a bit.

“It’s the blood test for the unicorn,” Zhu Gaoyang added with a smile.

Diancang glanced at him, clasped his hands in a salute, and said nothing.

No one spoke in the lobby anymore.

The ritual for determining the crown prince of the Tang Dynasty was beyond reproach and required no further discussion. All discussions concerning this candidate were the most serious and confidential topics, only suitable for private conversations among the leaders of their respective factions, as every single detail determined countless important matters.

Everyone stared up at them without blinking, but no one spoke a word.

"Let's talk about the martial world here." It was a disciple from Taihang who spoke up, "The Feather Ranking is about to be updated, are there any heroes here who are listed on the Duck Ranking?"

Everyone in the hall laughed. The man from Diancang said, "If you go to the inn in Shenjing and ask around, you might be able to catch it. The people staying here now are all slow-moving."

Zhu Gaoyang smiled and said to Pei Ye, "Speaking of which, I actually moved up a few places on the Crane Ranking."

Pei Ye was taken aback. He knew that the Crane Ranking update in early April was called the "Pre-Test Register," which meant the rankings that were finalized before the Feather Scale Test. The Feather Scale Test would then be conducted based on this, and the Crane Ranking would naturally be updated as well... But he didn't understand why the man had moved up.

"Did you spend money?"

“Ji Changyun, Linghuqu, Zhang Mengqiu. At least three are dead. I’m currently ranked 293rd.” Zhu Gaoyang counted on his fingers. “Try harder and see if you can get me into the top 290.”

"..."

Pei Ye was too lazy to pay him any attention. Just then, the waiter called out from behind the counter, "Dear heroes! The March national newspaper has just been published, and Yu Lin has occupied quite a lot of space. If you want to know about the major events in the martial arts world, why not take a copy?"

The Diancang disciple raised his hand: "I almost forgot, bring one quickly!"

The waiter smiled and said, "It's not easy to collect this, so please accept this gift of thirty coins."

"Sure thing, give it to me!"

Pei Ye was about to raise his hand as well, but then paused and peered towards the table next to him: "...Can we share a copy?"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhu Gaoyang pressed his forehead and pushed him back.

(End of this chapter)