Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 1225 Desolate and Uninhabited
After a day of investigation, I learned that this was a food city built by the Second Prince, and the largest restaurant in the city, "Yu Shi Zhai", was opened by the Second Prince.

It's said that they have all kinds of dishes from both the north and south, but they're ridiculously expensive. Kournikova can't cook anything himself, and he doesn't want to be ripped off.

The street vendors were very enthusiastic, enthusiastically promoting their wares, and the group strolled around leisurely.

As Kournikova walked, she thought to herself that if Ugly Girl and Linglong came out, she would probably have to pay a hefty price.

Kournikova misses her grandma and the others a little. She wonders how they are doing in the little world, whether they have enough food, and whether the ugly girl can eat the food her grandma makes.

Kournikova said to Grandpa Li, "Let's go to Fancheng tomorrow, let's not waste time here."

Grandpa Li said, "Okay, I'll leave tomorrow."

The next day, the group checked out of their rooms, set off in their carriage.

After Kova and the others left Niubei Village, the village chief was now in a dilemma. The whole village was about to be relocated, but Wang Shi did not give the villagers any room for discussion. The next day, the Crown Prince's personal guards were ordered to escort the villagers onto the boat, including grain and seeds.

It was only then that the village chief remembered that the person who started the distillery was Kova. When he ran to Grandpa Li's house, he found that the house was deserted.

The Third Prince was always curious about who made the wine, so he sent people down to the village to inquire. They eventually learned that it was a young man from out of town who not only made the wine but also organized the villagers to raise pigs. Pork is another type of meat, and this young man also taught them how to grow sorghum.

As the prince got to know him better, he realized that this outsider was extraordinary, knowledgeable, and good at changing his life. So the prince specially disembarked and went to Grandpa Li's house.

The Third Prince ordered that this person must be found. At this time, the village chief also panicked and reported to Wang Shi that Kuwa, Grandpa Li's family, and Xiao Ga Tou's family had left overnight and no one knew where they went.

Wang Shi also believed that they needed to find Kournikova, as she was an invaluable talent and that with her around, they could make a fortune wherever they went.

The Third Prince and Wang Shi discussed it and sent their personal guards on horseback to give chase. There was only one road to Red Bull Town, which was a side road. Unfortunately, they miscalculated. Kova and the others did not take that road at all, and the result was inevitable: no news came.

After discussing it further, the two decided that once everyone was on the ship, they would head straight to Red Bull Town and find Kournikova and her group no matter what.

Kournikova and her group were almost at Fancheng. They could see a magnificent city in the distance. When they got closer, they saw that the city walls were at least ten meters high, and there was a moat around the city with a bridge that was at least twenty meters long.

Kournikova had seen the Border Town, but compared to Fancheng, it was just a rural house.

When the group arrived at the city gate, the guards conducted a routine check and asked whether they were temporary residents or permanent residents.

Kournikova asked, "Soldier, is there any difference?"

The captain-like soldier said, "If you're just staying temporarily, I'll give you an identification card and charge you five taels of silver. When you leave, you can return the card and get your silver back. But if you're staying permanently, there's no need for that. Just register and go directly to the local government office to register for check-in. You'll have to pay a security fee for that."

Grandpa Li said, "We need to stay here permanently. My son is here to study at the martial arts academy."

The captain chuckled and said, "Alright, register over here. This martial arts academy isn't for just anyone."

The group registered at the city gate before entering the city. The streets they saw upon entering were completely different from those in Yancheng. A straight avenue led directly to a huge archway. The group didn't wander around aimlessly. Grandpa Li inquired about brokerage firms nearby and learned about Fancheng as well.

Fancheng is divided into an outer city and an inner city. The center of the inner city is the imperial palace. This inner city is not a place that can be entered casually. It is the location of the central hub of the Wu Kingdom, and most of the officials also live in the inner city. The Martial Academy is located on the east side of the inner city, adjacent to the Hanlin Academy.

The brokers warmly welcomed Grandpa Li and his party. Upon hearing that they intended to settle there, they became incredibly enthusiastic, recounting the houses in the outer city with great familiarity.

After careful selection, Grandpa Li found two adjacent houses in the outer city of Dongwai. Both houses had three rooms and a courtyard. Grandpa Li considered that they were closer to the east gate of the inner city and also closer to the martial arts academy.

The broker took the group to see the house, which was quite nice, though it lacked some furniture. Little Ga scoffed, thinking, "What do you mean, 'lacking furniture'?" They then found the landlord, completed the paperwork, and moved in that same day.

When the shop assistant saw the 10,000 taels of silver notes belonging to Grandpa Li, he was stunned. Two rooms for only 800 taels of silver? This old man is really rich.

Grandpa Li looked at the shop assistant, pulled him aside, took out a fifty-tael banknote from the newly exchanged banknotes, stuffed it into the shop assistant's hand, and said, "Consider this your hard work fee, but there's something I'd like to ask you."

The waiter was overjoyed upon hearing this, quickly pocketed the money, and said, "Please give me your orders, sir."

"My children want to get into a martial arts academy. Do you have any ideas? Of course, they all have martial arts training and a solid foundation," Grandpa Li said softly.

The man looked at Kova and the others and said, "Generally, students recommended by various states are admitted to martial arts academies. Of course, there is also a martial arts tournament every year, which is next month. If you can make it into the top 100, you can directly enter the martial arts academy."

The shop assistant hesitated for a moment. Grandpa Li, seeing that the shop assistant wanted a bribe, quickly stuffed another ten taels of silver into his hand. The shop assistant pretended to refuse a few times, but then accepted it and whispered to Grandpa Li, "Every year, tens of thousands of people sign up. If it's a martial arts competition, they'll be exhausted. I know a way to get into the martial arts academy, but it requires a certain fee."

Grandpa Li quickly said, "Just tell me."

"Actually, every teacher at the martial arts academy has a recommendation quota for admission. There's a teacher surnamed Li who has a few quotas, but he asks for a thousand taels per person, so his quota hasn't been filled yet," the shopkeeper said.

Grandpa Li quickly said, "Could you help me contact this Teacher Li and tell him I need three spots?"

Kova quickly stopped them, saying, "Grandpa Li, you two, I have important business to attend to and won't be staying in Fancheng for long."

Grandpa Li was taken aback, thought for a moment and said, "Okay, just two spots. Thank you for your help. I will definitely repay you handsomely afterward."

The man agreed, saying he would bring Teacher Li tomorrow, and then left happily.

The group tidied up the house briefly and then went out to eat. They hadn't prepared anything at home, so they couldn't cook.

After finishing their meal, Dashan, Xiaogatou, and Grandpa Li looked at Kova, waiting for her to give them an explanation.

Kournikova looked at the group and said, "Grandpa, thank you and the mountains for saving me, but I'm not from here. I have to go home. I have my grandma and sister at home."

Grandpa Li wasn't surprised at all. He said, "Sigh, you're not really from here. Are you helping us like this just to repay our life-saving kindness?"

Kova smiled and said, "Dashan, Xiaogatou, and Ershazi are all my brothers. It's only right that I help my brothers. I will never forget their life-saving grace. How can I repay them so easily?"

"Then why don't you come to the martial arts academy with us? We can go with you to find Grandma," Xiao Gatou said stubbornly.

Kournikova was silent for a moment, then said to the group, "Do you know where you are? Do you know what's above martial arts?"

With a flick of her wrist, a spirit stone appeared in her hand. She asked the others, "Do you know what this is?"

The group stared at Kournikova in astonishment. Kournikova said, "Let me tell you what it looks like."

Kournikova slowly began to speak of what she knew, recounting the events of the Thirty-Three Heavens in detail.

The group listened in shock. After they finished, they all fell silent, still somewhat unable to process what was happening. But when Kova activated the Natural Scripture, absorbed spiritual energy, and the spirit stone instantly turned to powder, they believed it.

(End of this chapter)