Chongming Xianzong

Chapter 188 Fire Dragon Taoist
Duan Anle was honest and simple, and he was not the type to keep people in suspense, so he did not keep his two junior brothers in suspense. As soon as they met, he told them the news directly: "I was in a teahouse on the way back, and I heard two casual cultivators sitting around saying that a brothel was going to open in our Chongming Market."

The newly built Chongming Market actually has no affiliation with the Chongming Sect, but whenever Duan Anle mentions it, he still habitually mentions the word "us".

"Didn't our family used to be an agent of Linghe Market?" Pei Que stopped talking halfway.

He suddenly remembered that Dai Yuanjiang was killed in the last beast attack by the Sanxiang Sect. Some gossipers even said that the widow Ma, who once depended on Dai Yuanjiang, had to live in Chongming Market because she had hooked up with her master Kang Dabao.
Since Linghe Market and Dai Yuanjiang are no longer around, the original rules between Chongming Zong and Linghe Market prohibiting people from entering brothels and gambling houses are naturally invalid.

Not to mention, the current Chongming Market is actually supervised by a commissioner sent by the provincial court. Now that the officials are involved, there are no restrictions on what can and cannot be done in the market.

According to the information that Kang Dazhang himself had heard, Chongmingfang City was going to build not only a brothel, but also a gambling house and a smoking den.
According to what the accountant surnamed Deng said privately, if there is a business that can make a lot of money from spirit stones, then he will accept any offer.

The accountant named Deng, who was sent by the provincial court to take charge, looked young and innocent. At first, he acted as if he didn't care about worldly affairs, which made Master Kang think that he was a young man from a wealthy family who was ignorant of mundane affairs.

It was not until later that Kang Dabao learned that all the brothels, gambling houses and gondolas that were to be built in Chongmingfang City were arranged by him.

After making inquiries from many sources, Master Kang also learned that this accountant surnamed Deng was not only a fellow villager who had followed Fei Nanying all the way from Yingzhou to Yunjiaozhou, but was also a direct disciple of Sima Gang, the fake Sima.

Qinghan Courtyard opposite Chongming Sect is Fei Shuhe's villa. Several people in charge in the nearby Chongming Market are also from the Fei family. Even the Chongming Sect headed by Kang Da is nominally a sect controlled by the Fei family's eldest son-in-law.

With the continued growth of the influence of these three places, it is only a matter of time before the Fei family gradually encroaches on Pingrong County, takes it over for their own use, and even makes it impenetrable.

It’s not that Pingrong County, a remote place, has much appeal to the Fei family. It’s just the habit of their big families.

Their capital is sufficient, so they are happy to make a few moves in some seemingly insignificant places. If they make money, everyone will be happy, and if they lose money, there is no need to feel sorry.

If the chess piece grows strong enough, it might even receive some unexpected rewards, which would be a great thing.

However, these things are still too far away from these young monks.

Pei Que and He Yuanbin didn't care about these things. The word "brothel" in Duan Anle's words made their eyes light up. It's normal for young people to have some aspirations for certain places.

"Tsk, the world is going downhill. I never thought the provincial government would build such a filthy place in our Chongming Market." Pei Que had a strange expression on his face. He coughed first, and then spoke seriously.

"That's right, that's right. We will definitely not go." He Yuanbing was very young, just about twelve years old, but he was also at the age when he was most curious about matters between men and women, so he swallowed his saliva and followed suit.

Duan Anle just nodded. He was honest and straightforward, but not stupid. He could tell that the two junior brothers were not sincere. But so what? He himself wanted to go into the brothel to have a look.
The three of them talked for a while, and Kang Rongquan, who had just assigned homework to Yuan Changsheng, also came over.

This little fat guy didn't come here specifically for the training test. Among his peers, he and Duan Anle were the best. He came here because he heard the news that Duan Anle had returned, and he came here specifically to play with him.

Ye Pingshui, who had just tidied up the equipment room for Yuan Jin, passed by here. Seeing how lively it was, he came over to chat.

Because his family had experienced several major changes, Ye Pingshui, who had just joined the sect, acted very cautiously. He was a taciturn person who didn't even dare to speak loudly among his fellow disciples.

Fortunately, there are no evil people who bully the weak in Chongming Sect, and the atmosphere is good. The current eldest disciple Han Yundao is a warm-hearted person who is very responsible as a senior brother. He personally helped Ye Pingshui adapt for a long time.

As a result, the latter's temper improved a lot, and he dared to get along normally with his fellow apprentices. The lively gathering of the fellow apprentices did not last long before it was interrupted by the arrival of Ye Zhengwen, the foreign affairs elder.

"What about those people in the brothels? Their cultivation has been very effective, right? They all have a chance to build their foundation, right?!"

In the eyes of the disciples, the ferocious-looking giant elder Ye Zhengwen was a fierce elder whose reputation was no less than Jiang Qing. After hearing his scolding, the disciples all lowered their heads obediently and stopped talking.

After sending away the group of youngsters, Ye Zhengwen's brows were still furrowed, and it was obvious that there was still something that worried him.

He rushed all the way to the courtyard of the headmaster Kang Da, sent out a communication talisman, and after a few breaths, the door opened without wind. Ye Zhengwen stepped in, and the headmaster Kang Da had already left the cloud room and was sitting at the chess table waiting for him.

Kang Dabao finally succeeded in entering into a state of meditation. He wanted to calm down and practice peacefully for a while. His expression was somewhat helpless. He looked at Ye Zhengwen and sighed, "Junior Brother Ye, why are you so anxious?"

The chilly spring breeze mixed with a drizzle of rain, but it still couldn't blow away the sadness between Ye Zhengwen's brows. He only heard him say in a hoarse voice: "Do you know who is the foundation-building person who is coming to Chongming Market?"

Kang Dabao rarely saw Ye Zhengwen like this. To him, Ye Zhengwen was always a joker and had no respect for him. It was rare for him to look so miserable. So he replied seriously, "It was said that a casual cultivator recruited by the state government would come to build his foundation. His name is Huolong Daoist."

Before Kang Dazhang finished speaking, Ye Zhengwen interrupted him, "You know him."

"Do I recognize him? I don't recognize him. I heard that this senior has been practicing in Puzhou in the past few years. He is not well-known in Yunjiaozhou, and I have never heard of him in the past. I only know that the letter from the provincial court also said that when he comes, he will just stay in the market and all affairs will be handled as usual."

"Do you still remember who gave you the scar on the back of your neck?!"

"Boom!" As soon as Ye Zhengwen finished speaking, a loud thunder sounded in the sky. Upon hearing the sound, Sect Leader Kang also stood up with a solemn expression. The horrible scar on the back of his neck began to swell and ache.

"That time at Jiang's Business, it was him!" Memories flooded Kang Dabao's mind.

That year, he had just prepared the tuition fee for Yuan Jin to become Master Qi's apprentice. Jiang Qing also asked the old man of the Ming family to look after it, and he also used his connections to find a person who had a say in the Jiang family's business.

Almost all of the little fortune he had saved by helping a few good friends was invested in that big deal with the Jiang Family Business, but he did not expect to be ambushed by black bandits.

If the old man had not left him enough life-saving items that were strong enough, Kang Dabao would have died without a doubt, not to mention that he could have saved Ye Zhengwen. At that time, the sword light of the foundation-building master was at least five feet away from him, and it could easily cut through the second-level Gengjin round shield talisman left by the old man. If Kang Dabao had reacted later, even with the protection of the second-level talisman, he would have ended up with his head and body separated.

Even though so many years have passed, Master Kang still feels a lingering fear when he thinks about it now.

The Jiang Family Trading Company was one of the largest caravans in Yunjiao Province. However, after this battle, the Jiang family, which had lost two of its leaders in the foundation-building stage and a large number of Qi-training backbones, became completely destitute. They ended up being eaten up by several small clans under their jurisdiction who colluded with foreign enemies.

Some of the Jiang family members who were lucky enough to survive could only do what Jiang Xing did when he went to join the fellow practitioners' association. They had to escape to various remote places with all their skills in order to survive.

The black bandits were wiped out by the joint efforts of various parties. Although this group of bandits did not suffer serious damage due to their erratic whereabouts, they were still a threat in Yunjiaozhou for a while.

However, since the provincial government moved into Yunjiao Prefecture, bandits like the Black Ghost Bandits have received special attention from the two Simas, Fei and Gun. In the notice on the elimination of bandits at the end of the 425th year of Qianfeng, the names of the Black Ghost Bandits were listed among them.

Now that I think about it, if Taoist Fire Dragon is really the one who almost killed Master Kang back then as Ye Zhengwen said, then he is not a casual cultivator recruited by the state court, but a bandit who was recruited.

"How we are going to get along in the future is really a difficult problem." Kang Dabao and Ye Zhengwen were both silent. At this time, the thunder in the sky gradually subsided, just like before.

Unlike Sect Master Kang and Elder Ye who still had fresh memories of Taoist Fire Dragon, this somewhat mediocre old foundation-building cultivator could no longer remember the two Qi-cultivating monks who had escaped from his hands.

He has been a thief for dozens or even hundreds of years. Even the supplies for buying spiritual objects for foundation building were mostly obtained by looting. Murder and arson are also commonplace for him.

Up to now, Taoist Huolong has lost count of how many mortals have died at his hands, so he would not take the two young Qigong practitioners from those days to heart.

At this time, Taoist Fire Dragon was sitting on the cushion opposite to Fei Nan'an. After he surrendered to the provincial court, it was rare for him to be summoned by such an important figure. Therefore, he was cautious and only dared to lie halfway on the cushion.

Sima Fei was still sitting there calculating, with no intention of speaking to Taoist Huolong.

This was Fei Sima's unique habit when he summoned people. He seemed to have endless accounts to settle, and he was always fiddling with his bright golden abacus. Therefore, his subordinates gradually figured out a rule: the sooner Fei Sima stopped his abacus and talked to you, the more he thought highly of you.

Fire Dragon Taoist was obviously not very valuable in Fei Sima's eyes. After thinking for a long time, the latter finally raised his eyelids and glanced at Fire Dragon Taoist. There was no warmth in his words: "I haven't seen Taoist friend for a long time. I hope you are well."

It was just a simple greeting, but Taoist Huolong felt very uncomfortable. He immediately stood up and bowed, "Sima, you spared my life back then. I will never forget it!"

Although they were both practicing foundation-building, Taoist Huolong treated Sima Fei like a junior and looked very respectful.

This was all because the "Big Crocodile Pushing the Mountain" move that Fei Sima used when he was clearing out the black ghost bandits was too fierce. There were five foundation-building warriors on the black ghost bandit's side, but after that move, only the Fire Dragon Taoist was still able to breathe.

It's not that Taoist Fire Dragon is very powerful, but that he is lucky. Sima Fei took a quick glance and felt that the other four were more annoying, so he chose him to be his tongue.

Before this, Taoist Fire Dragon was always proud of his fire-based Taoist magic. After all, among people of the same level, his fighting skills were quite sharp, at least far from being comparable to those fakes like Jia Wenzhe who died in the battle of Qigong.

Otherwise, he would not have the courage to give himself such an presumptuous Taoist name as "Fire Dragon Taoist".

But when he saw Sima Fei take action, he finally understood why people often said "Qingye Foundation Building is not Foundation Building". Because in front of the two Simas, he was really as fragile as a porcelain doll.

The Taoist Fire Dragon, who always looked down upon the world from a narrow perspective, had seen the true God, so he should lower his attitude a little, in order to have a good ending in the next few decades. Now was not the free and easy life of the mountain king in the past, he had to live under someone else's roof and depend on others for his life.

"You're too polite, fellow Taoist." Seeing that Taoist Huolong was so humble, Fei Sima just responded indifferently.

After finishing the polite words, Fei Sima changed the subject and continued, "With your humble ability, I have searched many places to find you a job. Do your best and don't embarrass yourself."

"I will definitely work hard and live up to Sima's expectations!" Taoist Huolong promised.

"I don't have any expectations of you," Sima Fei shook his head. "You just need to guard the gates of the market, and don't let the Sanxiang Sect and other scoundrels slap our state again. Although the place was chosen by the Earl, it is not yet ready. I can't spare any manpower for the time being. You should be more diligent and be careful not to cause any trouble."

"I understand. When I get there, I will bring a few market leaders to guard the gate." Taoist Huolong quickly agreed and took the order.

"You are wrong. Feng En, the left chief accountant of the market town, is the long-time head of the Anshan Gun family. Deng Baichuan, the right chief accountant, was born in Yingzhou and is a direct disciple of Gun Shilu. Xu Yingshi, the acting lieutenant of the city, is a descendant of the Xu family of Dai County and a Yuanying descendant. Kang Dabao, the city lieutenant, is the legitimate son-in-law of my Fei family."

Sima Fei first pointed out the backgrounds of all the people in charge of Chongming Market, and then paused, "When you get there, you only need to keep the market safe. At other times, follow their arrangements."

Taoist Huolong listened with his head down, and he understood. It turned out that he, a true cultivator of the foundation-building stage, could not even be a manager in a rural place like Pingrong County, and had to serve as a pawn for several yamen officials.

"You are really rebelling against Tiangang!" Taoist Huolong was very depressed, but he did not dare to show it. Although he was angry in his heart, he looked very calm, not daring to say a word of complaint, and nodded his head.

"Yes, I understand."

"Well, especially the city lieutenant Kang Dabao, you have to do your job well under him. Not only because he is the legitimate son-in-law of my Fei family, but also because of some things, even our uncle has some impression of him. You must not offend him. His elders are not easy to mess with. Be careful not to be chopped by him and lose your life."

At this time, Sima Fei said something indifferently again, and stopped looking at Taoist Huolong. The sound of abacus was heard again in the study.

Taoist Huolong left the door, and before he left, he was still thinking: "Since Sima thinks so highly of Kang Dabao, I must not offend him!"

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(End of this chapter)