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Chapter 125 Li Guanyi, draw your sword!
Duke Taiping, Li Wanli.

Between twenty and ten years ago, he was one of the most valiant young generals in the world.

When Siming heard the name, his face was moved for the first time and then turned into a sigh. The old man looked at the young man in front of him with a trace of compassion and pity in his eyes. Siming reached out his hand, and the old man touched Li Guanyi's hair and said:
"You, kid... you must have had a hard time these years."

The old man sighed and said, "But why did you come back?"

"Why don't you fly away high up like a bird?"

We have to return to this vortex.

Siming did not continue to ask. The old man's face was no longer smiling or cursing as before. There was only a kind of peace and calmness left by the years. He asked, "Your aunt?"

"Mr. Taiping's parents died young, and he has no brothers."

"The aunt you are talking about should probably be Murong."

Li Guanyi thought of what his aunt said about the white jade pendant given by his uncle. The jade pendant was probably given by his mother. Also, which man would give a Guanyin statue as a token of love? The young man sighed and said:

"My aunt said that beautiful women are always deceiving and asked me to be careful."

Then Siming burst into laughter.

He laughed until his stomach hurt, and said, "So, she is not your aunt. Her grandfather is your mother's grandfather. They grew up together and had a very good relationship. Your mother's parents... your grandparents, died in a strange case in the martial arts world."

"So your mother was raised by her grandfather since she was a child. The Murong family is good at both civil and military affairs. Your mother's martial arts are not good, but she is peerless in calligraphy and painting. She and your father also knew each other since childhood."

Li Guanyi asked, "Old man, how come you know everything?"

The old man was silent for a moment, then said, "It's not that I know everything."

"Instead, everything about Li Wanli, the Duke of Taiping, will be discovered by those who are interested, hoping to find a way to defeat this divine general."

"Such a godly general is invincible on the battlefield. The experience of the past three hundred years of chaos has taught the kings of various countries that the only thing that can really bring down such a general is an arrow shot from behind."

Siming said: "What a pity, what a pity, your mother's grandfather is the genius who has been famous for a hundred years, the peerless genius who pushed the entire Murong family to the top, and the leader of the ten great masters in the martial arts world. It's a pity that he can't come here and can't take you and your aunt away."

Li Guanyi: "Why?"

Siming said: "Because he did something that shocked the world."

"Twelve years ago, during the Jiangnan Eighteen Prefectures Campaign, Murong Longtu of the Murong family blocked the charge of the armored cavalry and became famous throughout the world. He also became the number one master. From then until ten years ago, when the capital caught fire, your 'aunt' took you and fled into hiding."

"She hid it so well, which was good, but also bad."

"Because in the next three days."

"Murong Longtu entered the imperial city with a sword."

"One person fought against many masters of the royal family of Chen State alone."

"He didn't believe in the royal family's reasons or the imperial physician's judgment. He stubbornly believed that since his granddaughter and granddaughter both died in the Chen royal family, there must be something wrong with the emperor of Chen."

"He said his granddaughter, granddaughter-in-law, and grandson-in-law were all dead."

"He is an old man, he doesn't have many years left to live, he doesn't care about the general trend or the truth."

"He wants the emperor to be buried with him, and he wants the whole world to be in mourning."

"He broke off a willow branch from the grave of his granddaughter and used it as a sword to strike in."

"Go in head-on."

"The broken blades of the Xuanbing swords covered the entire Imperial Path."

"After a day and night of fighting, unfortunately, he still failed to break through the defense of an entire country. The willow branch was shattered into powder. Murong Longtu just laughed and cried, then said "Fate" and left with a long roar."

"After he left that day, the Eighteen Prefectures of Jiangnan..."

The old man paused, then said softly, "Leave the State of Chen."

Li Guanyi raised his head and looked at Siming.

The white-haired old man laughed: "Don't underestimate the old guys from previous generations."

"They were once as young as you, and just as high-spirited as you."

"Your heroic bravery is but the roar of a young tiger."

"Murong Longtu once told me that he still felt like a teenager. For such a long time, he was just pretending to be a mature patriarch. He still had the courage and will to fight. He could still hold a sword and still remembered the instinct to fight."

"Now, the eighteen states in the south of the Yangtze River belong to the Murong family. They do not belong to the State of Chen or the State of Ying. The cavalry from both sides will be strangled by Murong Longtu if they enter the country. As a mere warrior, he has established himself among the nations and controlled ninety-seven mysterious soldiers."

"People in the martial arts world think he is stupid. He is bound to lose when he fights against two countries alone. Murong Longtu has been fighting all his life and has many hidden injuries. When he dies, the Murong family will become an ant in front of a boulder and be crushed. But some people in the martial arts world think that such heroism and arrogance are worthy of the title of the world's master."

"Loyal and righteous, lawless, Murong Longtu, he has an ambition to dominate the world."

"The State of Chen and the State of Ying both owe blood debts to the Murong family, and the Murong family is unruly. He said that he couldn't kill Emperor Chen because he was old and he didn't bring the ninety-seven black weapons."

"It was not the Emperor Chen who abandoned the Eighteenth State of Chen, but they who abandoned Chen."

"As a mere warrior, he was able to accomplish something that only armies and warlords could accomplish."

"It occupies the most crucial place between the two great powers."

"Murong Longtu is still the sword maniac who traveled all over the world and wiped out all the major sword sects."

The old man sighed, and then said: "But because of this, Murong Longtu is also trapped there. He has to protect the Murong family and the other people who are willing to stay. Once he leaves, the 18th Jiangnan State will be in chaos."

"And your aunt didn't pass on the information because she was probably worried that the information would be intercepted, which would expose herself. I know about her injuries. Is the Dharma image trapped? Is there a master on the other side..."

Li Guanyi stared at Siming and said, "Old man, can you solve this problem?"

Siming laughed and said, "I am Siming, just a Dharma image. I can see the old man with my naked eyes, so how can I not be able to break this seal?"

After a pause, he continued, "But as I said, it requires external assistance."

"There are many materials among them. I can collect them for you, old man, and the Xue family can also get them. But there is one thing that is as rare as mountain marrow and is hard to find."

"Your aunt's Dharma is a phoenix that controls music and other arts. She is not good at fighting. If she wants to be unsealed, she needs a phoenix tree where the phoenix lives."

"This thing is just like the mountain marrow, the fruit dripping from the Qilin's heart blood, and the plants watered by dragon's blood. It is considered to be a top-notch and hard-to-find item."

Li Guanyi breathed a sigh of relief and said, "It's good that it can be solved."

"Grandpa, where can we find this [Feng Qi Wu]?"

Siming stroked his beard and did not answer directly. Instead, he asked with a smile:
"Where did you get your mountain marrow?"

Li Guanyi: "The Queen..."

A gleam of light flashed in his eyes, and he understood something. The old man said:

“No matter how precious a treasure is, it should be in the royal treasury of Chen and Ying. Moreover, the existence of dragons and phoenixes is mostly auspicious and related to royal power. It is natural that they would be collected into the treasury of the royal families of the two countries.”

The royal treasury of the State of Chen and the State of Ying.

Li Guanyi suddenly thought of the upcoming grand sacrifice.

The eldest princess Chen Qingyan said that if he won the martial arts competition in the grand ceremony, he could ascend to the cabinet of the library.

I wonder if I can use this qualification to exchange for a treasure?
Grand Festival Martial Arts Competition...

Siming thought for a moment and said, "However, it is difficult to get this thing out. Apart from these two places, there is only one place in the world that dares to circulate this thing related to the imperial power. I am afraid it is only there."

Li Guanyi said, "Old man, please stop keeping us in suspense."

The old man laughed and said, "You know that the Xue family is one of the three largest merchants in the world, but do you know the other two?" Li Guanyi was puzzled, so the old man said, "The Xue family is the largest merchant in the world, with connections everywhere, but in the end, they are dependent on the imperial family in the open."

“There are some things that cannot be done.”

“There are some things you can do but you can’t admit.”

"Old Xue would never touch things like the Phoenix Nest and the Dragon Blood Pearl."

"This thing is too hot for the Xue family."

"There is such a place, where you can do whatever you want without any scruples. As long as you have money, you can get anything. I will take you there today, but you have to remember." Siming looked at the young man in front of him with a face full of desire, and finally sighed and said, "Forget it."

"Come with me."

"Today, let's meet the Lord of Chen, who is under the command of Yin Tianzi of the Netherworld Ghost Market."

………………

Like the Xue family, it is also one of the top chambers of commerce in the world, and it does everything. It is called the Netherworld Ghost Market.

Jiangzhou City was the capital of the State of Chen.

But there are also ghost markets in such places.

Its leader is known as the Night Emperor of all nations. His boldness and ambition reveal his financial resources and skills.

The lord of the ghost market in the capitals of various countries is known as the Marquis of Never Night.

The old man said, "It's called the Netherworld Ghost Market, but it actually has two meanings. One is that there are ghosts in this market. If you buy fake things or things of unknown origin, you will be fooled and see ghosts if you are not careful. The other is that this ghost market is only open late at night and will disperse as soon as the morning light comes."

"However, the place the old man is taking you to is not the ghost market that ordinary people talk about. The ghost market that people in Jiangzhou City are talking about now is just a later expansion around the real Netherworld Ghost Market. It is a latecomer."

"Whatever you're looking at, don't say anything."

Li Guanyi and the old man walked into the ghost market. The old man took out a token and shook it, then went in. Li Guanyi saw many living creatures tied to the trees nearby, and even saw the military's mark on a horse.

Military horse? !
The old man dragged Li Guanyi and walked hurriedly, lowering his voice and saying, "Don't ask. In this ghost market, no one will ask where the goods come from..." Li Guan nodded. He was wearing a hood and walking quickly, but he still paused and shifted his gaze.

It was still tied with ropes, but it was not a horse, but a person.

Boys, girls, old men, children.

They just squatted there, together with the wild beasts, with numb eyes. Only one child was still crying, with an iron chain around his neck.

The young man's steps seemed almost nailed to the ground. He raised his head and looked forward, and saw the sorrow on the face of the old man Sima Ming. His beard trembled. There was something intense in the old man's eyes that Li Guanyi did not understand.

Someone asked about the price.

The man with the goatee promised:
"Ha, you're a good girl! You're innocent, I guarantee it."

"Safe? Definitely safe!"

"Both my parents are gone. Hey, don't worry. Don't ask."

"Look at this, a perfect body, looks so young, just over thirteen years old..."

"It's a good material for a beauty's basin."

The wealthy merchant who came seemed to be an outsider and asked, "What is a beauty basin?"

The goat-bearded man rubbed his hands together and bowed, smiling and saying, "What is a beauty's basin? My lord, there are always times when you are ill and have phlegm in your throat."

"When the time comes, I will spit it out and the beauty will receive it with her lips, hehe..."

Li Guanyi's hand was on the hilt of the sword, and veins on his palm bulged. People were coming and going in an endless stream, all wearing black hooded robes, but he seemed to be trapped in a chaotic river. The old man pulled him and said, "Let's go."

The old man's voice rang out in Li Guanyi's heart:
"What you did was useless."

"If we kill him today, there will be others tomorrow. The chaos in this world is like weeds, and there will be follow-ups. They will do more..."

Li Guanyi wanted to refute, but when he saw the old man's weather-beaten eyes, which were filled with sadness, he suddenly had no way to refute. He was sure that the old man had tried to stop him more than once, but ended up with bad results.

Siming said softly: "Don't forget what you are going to do."

Li Guanyi felt that some of the children raised their heads and looked at him with hope in their eyes, but they did not speak, and did not dare to ask for help.

Li Guanyi had his back to them.

The old man pulled Li Guanyi to the front, and the young man took a step forward and arrived at the real ghost market.

One of the three most powerful merchants in the world, the uncrowned emperor in the secret of all nations.

Siming took out a token made of white jade, and the nonchalant look on the servant's face froze. With this white jade-level token, he quickly brought Li Guanyi and Siming up.

Li Guanyi paid attention to what was happening outside the building, but said:

"Master, why are they so respectful to you?"

Siming said: "This ghost market in the underworld is different from the ghost markets outside that are formed spontaneously. Ordinary people are not allowed to enter. You need to have a VIP badge. There are five grades: wood, stone, silver, gold, and jade, corresponding to the five levels of dukes and marquises of various countries."

“Mine is of the highest level.”

Li Guanyi said: "You are so generous."

Siming smiled proudly and said, "I can't help it. When the ghost market first opened, I was the first customer. The original Ye Tianzi was about the same age as you are now when he met me. In the end, he died before me."

Li Guan was stunned. He heard a hint of melancholy and sadness in these words.

Soon, Jiangzhou Buyehou ran out, bowed and said with a big smile: "So you are my distinguished guest. I didn't know you were coming. I am sorry for not welcoming you in person."

The old man didn't say anything and directly asked for [Feng Qiwu].

Buyehou was stunned and said, "Yes, there is, but it's not here. Just a year ago, the Fengqiwu in Jiangzhou was bought by a wealthy merchant from Ying State. He said that the son of an old friend had a phoenix image, and he wanted to use it as a congratulations. I'm afraid it has been used."

Li Guanyi immediately thought of Li Zhaowen and lowered his eyes.

He said, "No, is it?"

Buyehou said: "Yes."

Li Guanyi pointed down and said, "These shops have nothing to do with you?"

Buyehou nodded happily. The old man suddenly understood something. He saw Li Guanyi took out a gold coin and put it on the table. Buyehou was surprised. He closed the gold folding fan in his hand, pointed at the gold coin, and said with a smile: "Little brother, you haven't bought anything yet, why are you giving me money?"

“It’s compensation.”

"Oh?"

Buyehou was surprised. When he saw the young man turn around, he turned around and directly broke through the closed carved window. Broken wood debris flew everywhere, and the young man's temples flew up. He put his right hand on the hilt of the sword and jumped down from the third floor. Siming heard what Li Guanyi said:

"Thank you, senior. Please go find my colleagues Ye Buyi and Zhou Liuying."

The young man looked over there. The wealthy merchant said he wanted to test the goods, so he pulled up the area with silk cloth to cover it. He was selecting the children as if they were selecting goods, but the people around him turned a blind eye. The dark side of the world had become so rotten that even Sima Ming was in pain and sorrow.

Li Guanyi felt very uncomfortable. He should have drawn his sword earlier, but he was afraid.

He was afraid that if he made a big fuss, he would lose the chance to get what his aunt needed from the ghost market and mess up his own affairs, so he did not draw his sword. He walked away from the eager gazes of the children. Only now, when he was sure that Feng Qiwu was not in the ghost market, did he jump down.

In fact, he was no different from those people. He thought of Qian Zheng, the first deserter he killed, his experience, and the black market for buying and selling human beings mentioned by Zhao Dabing.

And when Li Guanyi realized this.

A strong disgust and resentment towards himself arose in his heart.

But he also knew that this was who he was.

'Yaoguang, I'm sorry, I'm not the hero you long for.'

The young man thought as he fell to the ground. He held the sword and rushed forward. The sword came out of the scabbard and slashed horizontally, tearing the cloth and also chopping the goateed man's neck. The young man's eyes were wide open and his strength exploded under such emotion, and his head was cut off.

The scream was short and the smell of blood was overwhelming.

He kicked the rich businessman who had untied his belt away, turned around, held the sword, lifted up his battle robe, and covered the girl whose clothes were torn, then looked at the ghost market man who suddenly stopped moving and stared at him.

I'm just an ordinary person with some conscience.

That's it.

I'm not the hero you claim I am.

The young man raised his sword and looked ahead. He stood in front of these people. Facing the 'people' in front of him, he held the sword horizontally, his brows as fiery as fire, and said:

"Golden Guard, Li Guanyi!"

(End of this chapter)