Embers of Sword

Chapter 17 Fengsui Castle

That night.

The convoy stopped again.

The horse had been running for several days since leaving Beijun and was already tired. It dug its four hooves into the ground and was very resistant... No matter how much we whipped it, it would rest and refused to move forward.

“Is this… here?”

Shen Yan, who was worried, reached out to lift the car curtain and looked out. It was pitch black.

"arrive!"

Deng Baiyi stood up, pushed the curtain and left the carriage, exhaled a breath of depression, and said solemnly: "Fengsui City is ahead!"

The convoy rested on a small hill.

If you stand on the top of the mountain and look into the distance, you will find it.

At the end of the long night, a group of flames illuminated the darkness!

It was a huge wall that looked cold and solemn even with a bonfire, and the end was almost invisible. After the Northern County became desolate and its vitality was exhausted, the royal family of Dachu recalled the garrison commander, and countless people wanted to go south. The most preferred choice was Qingzhou, which was adjacent to the Northern County.

It’s a pity that they can leave Beijun but cannot go to Qingzhou.

Fengsui City is like a natural moat.

If you don’t have a pass, you will definitely be blocked!
"Can we...get in?"

Deng Chicheng asked in a low voice, worry written all over his face.

Xie Xuanyi put on a thin shirt and got off the carriage. He looked at the flames rising into the sky in the distance and said calmly, "Actually, the matter of the customs clearance document is not as troublesome as you think."

This pass blocks ordinary people, not practitioners.

Even if you are a Qi Refiner, as long as you reveal your identity... you will not be stopped.

Of course, this Qi-refining practitioner who wants to enter the city must undergo a detailed inspection by Fengsui City to ensure his identity is correct before he will be allowed to pass.

There are frequent monster disasters in Beijun. Fengsui City, as the "iron gate" of the northern border of Dachu, will never allow suspicious people to enter.

Xie Xuanyi turned around and glanced at Jiang Huang who was sleeping soundly in the carriage.

In his memory, the ordinary officer in charge of Fengsui City was probably only at the Qi Control Realm. As long as it was a normal inspection, Jiang Huang would never be exposed.

Those with higher realms usually hide in special mansions in Fengsui City and rarely show their faces...

When you reach a higher level in Qi Control, you will naturally not walk with ordinary people.

A flying sword can fly several miles in a moment!

Although the Dachu royal family recalled the garrison commander, important garrisons like Fengsui City would still send powerful high-level practitioners to silently guard behind the scenes. If a high-level practitioner passed by, it would be their turn to appear. It was simple to say that they would appear. Most of the time, they would just pass a wisp of divine thought to each other, say hello, and ensure that their identities were correct before letting them go.

"I've been to Fengsui Castle before."

"Take out the talismans you drew these days and prove your identity as a Qi Refiner. No one will make things difficult for you."

Xie Xuanyi gave Deng Baiyi a warning, and then walked to the horse that refused to move forward, personally pulled the reins, patted it expressionlessly, and said lightly: "Don't be afraid, it's safe."

The horse, which dared not move forward no matter what, trembled all over, whined, lowered its head obediently, and followed.

The group arrived in front of Fengsui Castle.

Beneath the iron wall, there were densely packed oil lamps burning, and for a moment it seemed as if it were daytime, and the place beneath the iron wall was bustling.

I didn't meet many people along the way.

Because the vast majority of "entrants" were stuck in front of the gate of Fengsui City!

The soldiers guarding the city, wearing copper-scale armor of Da Chu, were checking the "pass documents" one by one. Behind them, there were halberd soldiers holding long halberds horizontally, guarding the city gate. The area in front of the gate was filled with pleading voices.

"My Lord, my Lord... I really can't live any longer. Please be kind and let me go to Qingzhou to seek medical treatment!"

"Sir! I have old people above me and young children below me..."

"My lord! My lord!"

Many people gathered under the high walls of Fengsui City, including many poorly clothed elderly people and children with disheveled hair and dirty faces.

The weather is too cold.

Most of them had frostbite, some had broken legs, some were lame, and from a distance they looked like a group of withered people.

Xie Xuanyi watched this scene in silence.

He had indeed been to Fengsui City, about ten years ago, but it was not like this back then.

The rice harvest is abundant and the wheat ears are plentiful.

This place used to be an important gateway for trade between the north and the south. Many merchants passed through Fengsui City in horse-drawn carriages. When their documents were checked one by one, laughter always echoed above the city gate.

But now, the scene has changed, like purgatory.

There was a faint smell of blood in the air.

"A few years ago, there was famine in Northern County, and coupled with the monster plague, many people died."

Deng Baiyi's eyes were complicated, and she lowered her voice: "I heard that many people wanted to go south, but were stopped. There are many corpses buried under Fengsui City, and they refused to leave, so they dug the soil under the city and ate it."

Digging the soil for food, what are you eating?
it goes without saying.

The Deng family’s convoy was not actually very powerful, but it formed a sharp contrast with the beggars gathered in front of Fengsui City.

Xie Xuanyi walked in front, holding the rope.

On both sides of the road, many eyes were cast toward me——

There were countless refugees, all of them skinny and emaciated, starving to death, but their eyes were extremely ferocious, like those of wild beasts.

Every time the Deng residence’s convoy moved forward one zhang, their eyes would follow suit.

The servants of the Deng Mansion had already taken out their weapons.

"If someone approaches, just do it."

Even with Xie Xuanyi present, everyone was still very nervous.

Deng Baiyi, who was holding a talisman in her hand, was no exception.

These people... are all desperadoes, and no one wants to have a conflict with these guys.

"Miss Shen, have you thought it through?" Xie Xuanyi was not in a hurry at all and walked slowly on purpose.

There were so many refugees in Fengsui City that Shen Yan stayed in the carriage and did not show up.

She really couldn't make a decision about the Qingyuan Pill.

What she was worried about was that if she agreed to Xie Zhen, then after Xu You returned the elixir, she would have actually used up a favor. Would this old friend of her father still be willing to help the Shen family revive Lingluo Mountain?
She asked pitifully, "Master Xie is a kind man. If I don't agree, will I be thrown out of the car?"

"A gentleman should be kind and compassionate to women."

Xie Xuanyi said: "Although I am not a gentleman, I will not throw you off the bus... If there is no reward, then I am really powerless to help you enter the customs. I can only ask Miss Shen to get off the bus and find another way."

"..."

There was a sudden silence in the carriage.

Deng Baiyi tried hard to hold back her laughter, and the way she looked at Xie Xuanyi changed.

When Xie Xuanyi pulled Shen Yan into the car, Deng Baiyi was puzzled, wondering how this guy could be so kind. She didn't think that he was a good person before!

Now that we have sent someone to the Fengsui City Garrison, our true intentions have been fully exposed.

She finally waited for the scene she wanted to see.

"it is good."

After some hesitation, Shen Yan's gnashing voice came from the carriage: "Mr. Xie, if you have the ability to send me to Tai'an City, then Shen will definitely get three Qingyuan Pills for you!"

"Not three."

Xie Xuanyi shook his head and said, "Now it's five."

Shen Yan was dumbfounded: "???"

"I told Miss Shen a long time ago that this matter needs to be decided early."

Xie Xuanyi said calmly: "The current price is different from before."

Shen Yan had never seen such a "shameless" person.

She said angrily, "Xie Zhen, are you really a gentleman? What if you continue to raise the price after I agree to it?"

"I told you it wasn't."

Xie Xuanyi said self-deprecatingly: "You are right, but I have no choice. If you don't believe me, you can get off now."

Shen Yan completely stopped.

After a moment, a faint sigh was heard in the carriage: "Five, just five. I promise you, no more is possible."

"make a deal."

Xie Xuanyi said expressionlessly: "I guarantee that you can meet Xu You, the deputy city lord of Tai'an City."

The deal was done and Xie Xuanyi quickened his pace.

An invisible air spread out——

Those refugees who were wandering in front of the gate of Fengsui City and silently surrounding the convoy felt an indescribable strong pressure!

The young man in white clothes who was walking with the horse seemed to have an invisible area emanating from his body!
This aura made them feel afraid!

The pairs of scarlet eyes dimmed and they retreated again.

The last section of the road was very peaceful.

The towering iron wall of Fengsui Pass exudes a chill.

"Who is coming?"

A rough and majestic voice exploded in the sky.

Xie Xuanyi raised his head, his eyes passed over the two Bronze Scale Guards who came forward to check his identity, and went straight to the top of the city wall.

A tall figure suddenly appeared there, with his hands pressed on the stone wall where the beacon lamps were placed. Just by leaning forward slightly, he gave people a great sense of oppression.

The lights flickered, dazzling, but they could not illuminate the face of the huge figure.

"Sir, we are cultivators from the Northern County who have come south."

Xie Xuanyi spoke politely, bowed slightly and saluted.

The tall officer leaned on his elbows and looked at Xie Xuanyi. He could not sense the vitality of the latter and asked calmly, "You are quite impressive, but you are only at the Qi Refining Stage?"

Xie Xuanyi also smiled and said: "Realm is not that important."

A look.

Deng Baiyi quickly handed over the talisman she had drawn.

Xie Xuanyi did not take it, but waved his sleeves.

Wow!
A strong wind suddenly blew, and the countless talismans handed over by Deng Baiyi did not fall into Xie Xuanyi's hands, but flew away with the wind with a casual flick of his sleeve!

Thousands of strands of heaven and earth energy gathered in front of the city gate, sending dozens of talismans to the top of the city. The tall officer whose face was hidden in the dim light did not say a word, but stretched out his broad arms, like catching a fish, and with his five fingers slightly hooked, he grabbed a talisman from the storm.

Rub it with your fingers.

"Oh?"

The officer who took the talisman looked more serious: "The Taoist's 'One Qi Talisman'... Are you from the Taoist sect?"

Taoist sect... Deng Baiyi, who had remained silent from beginning to end, blinked her beautiful eyes at this moment.

Although I never asked about my identity.

But in her heart, "Xie Zhen" should be a practitioner from Dasui Sword Palace!
"Yes. This trip is to bring the disciples back to Zhongzhou on behalf of the Taoist sect."

Xie Xuanyi did not deny it.

He waved his sleeves again, and countless talismans rolled up by his vital energy fell down. Except for the one snatched away by the tall officer, all the other talismans were neatly stacked in Deng Baiyi's hands without a single talisman left.

"Interesting. There haven't been any Taoist monks here for a long time. Do you guys go out too? It seems like this girl is a good candidate."

The resident officer laughed and teased. This time, his laughter sounded completely different from before, and it was a little more friendly.

　"z."

　　
　
(End of this chapter)