Starting from Tianlong, Wudu Tianxia

Chapter 111 Heading North

The capital of the Three Wu regions has been prosperous since ancient times.

The riverbank is lined with lush trees, and the surging tides create a magnificent and awe-inspiring spectacle.

Heading north, the Liuhe Pagoda, the Qiantang River, and Yuelun Mountain came into view, a feast for the eyes with their ancient natural beauty. After another eleven or twelve miles, he arrived in Hangzhou.

Noon.

Gao Yuan dismounted to survey the city, his gaze sweeping across Hangzhou's riverside and lakeside landscape.

It took another seven or eight days after we came from Muzhou before we finally arrived here.

The journey from Muzhou to Hangzhou, if traveled by official road, is actually only two or three days.

However, he deliberately chose mountain trails, enjoying the scenery while eliminating bandits and thieves along the way, which inevitably delayed him for a while.

This place is only about 300 li away from Taihu Lake, and it can be reached in two days at most by horseback.

Therefore, he is not in a hurry to travel around.

"Excuse me, please make way!"

Gao Yuan, who was standing at the South Gate of Hangzhou, immediately stepped back upon hearing the shout.

A man and a woman are riding on horseback. The woman is wearing a veiled hat that reaches her waist, obscuring her face.

The man was somewhat thin and had a scholarly air about him.

A van followed behind the two men.

Among the many boxes and carts, besides utensils and miscellaneous items, there was a long box containing a nine-stringed zither.

There were two guards carrying swords in the middle.

Three servants had small blue cloth headscarves, wore straight-collared brocade robes and trousers.

They carried food boxes and followed closely behind the van.

They must be big locals, just back from a spring outing.

These people walk with a steady gait; they are all skilled practitioners.

"Who is that person?"

Someone from the south gate responded, "The young master of the Xu family, that's his senior sister Tao Qingxuan on horseback."

"Both of them were disciples of Master Kang, which is truly enviable."

Gao Yuan, who was well-informed, paused slightly when he heard the name Kang Dajia and glanced at their disappearing figures a few more times.

If I'm not mistaken.

The Kang family mentioned by passersby should refer to Kang Guangling.

After all, his surname is Kang, and there is also evidence of a nine-stringed zither.

Apart from him, I really don't know who else can be called "a master".

I didn't expect him to live in Hangzhou.

"That's all the excitement! Let's go!"

The South Gate of Hangzhou is quite lively.

This place was the most important prefecture in the southeast of the Northern Song Dynasty, with a prominent geographical location and a prosperous economy.

Upon entering for the first time, Gao Yuan was somewhat bewildered.

It was similar to my first trip to Quanzhou.

Although both are economically prosperous prefectures, one faces the maritime port, while the other is rooted in the "paradise on earth" of Jiangnan.

Overall, Hangzhou seems to have the upper hand, and its cultural status is also higher.

As Liu Yong wrote in "Looking at the Tide: The Southeast's Scenic Beauty".

Hangzhou can be described as a place of misty willows and painted bridges, with wind-blown curtains and emerald screens, markets lined with pearls and jewels, and households overflowing with silks and brocades, all vying in extravagance.

Gao Yuan, dressed in white and wielding a sword, with his horse and gourd at the same time, would be quite conspicuous in other places.

But this is Hangzhou, and there are countless wealthy young men or martial arts youths dressed like him, dressed in white and carrying swords.

But nobody really paid much attention to him.

Of course, many young women frequently glanced at him, because he was so handsome.

Some of the bolder women, seeing his curious expression as he looked around, could tell at a glance he wasn't a local and enthusiastically offered to guide him.

But Gao Yuan declined all of them.

Sure enough, no matter the time, good-looking people always get a lot of help!

Gao Yuanxing walked on the bluestone road and saw a constant stream of vehicles and people.

In the canal, the covered boats swayed and rocked by, the boatwomen's soft Wu dialect accompanies the sound of the water, which is soothing to listen to.

Then I saw shops lining both sides of the road, one after another, with silk shops displaying shimmering Hangzhou silk and Huzhou brocade.

He couldn't help but think to himself: Hangzhou is truly a hub for merchants.

After traveling for an hour, the sights were truly dazzling.

But Hangzhou is extremely large, with streets and alleys everywhere, and he didn't know where to go for a while.

After some consideration, Gao Yuan realized he had two options.

First, we'll rest for a day, then continue north, waiting in Suzhou for our prey.

However, this method is highly dependent on luck; if the Murong family and the people of Mantuo Manor do not show up...

He'll have to keep waiting.

The second option was to stay in Hangzhou and search for Kang Guangling.

As the original novel states, Old Kang is Abi's master, and he should have connections with the Murong family.

Using him as a link, they first made contact with the Murong family, and then took the opportunity to go to Mantuo Manor.

This seems better than going directly to Suzhou without any prior knowledge!

If that's the case, should I go and acknowledge Old Kang as my relative?

Gao Yuan smiled mischievously, thinking it would be better to stay in Hangzhou.

Having made this decision in mind, he stopped wandering around aimlessly.

I looked up at the sun, then looked around, preparing to first satisfy my hunger.

Arriving at a three-story restaurant, Gao Yuan lifted the bamboo curtain and sat down by the window on the second floor at the beckoning of the waiter.

We've ordered our food and are waiting.

Gao Yuan couldn't help but start looking around again. Having just arrived in Hangzhou, he found everything very new and exciting.

On the large stage on the first floor of the restaurant, several elegantly dressed women softly hummed Jiangnan folk songs, their voices gentle and sweet, like spring water soaked in honey.

Just as I was looking at it with great interest, someone gently tapped me on the shoulder.

Looking back, I saw a vendor in a short brown shirt, with a smile on his face, clutching a few palm-sized books.

"Young master, are you from out of town? Take a look at this! It's a unique treasure of Hangzhou, guaranteed to broaden your horizons."

Gao Yuan was taken aback.

But then the vendor slyly slipped a booklet into his sleeve: "Young master, only fifty coins, a very cheap deal."

It's probably some kind of storybook or picture book.

Gao Yuan was about to flip through it.

suddenly.

A commotion arose downstairs.

Gao Yuan, drawn by the excitement, turned his gaze away.

He dropped the copper coins and, without even glancing at the book, put it into his pocket.

The vendor happily accepted the money and continued looking for his next customer.

A moment later, looking south, the noise on the street grew louder and louder.

"Get out of my way! All of you, get out of my way!"

Two men in grey robes stormed into the street, while a handsome young man fled for his life.

The fleeing person seemed to be unskilled in martial arts, constantly bumping into pedestrians and stalls, staggering all the way.

The two behind him were clearly skilled in martial arts, and it seemed they were about to be caught up.

In a panic, the young man suddenly collapsed in front of a noodle stall, grabbed a noodle-cutting knife from the counter, and turned around to chop at it.

With a clang.

One more gray-robed man emerged from the pursuit, roared, and a long silver iron rod suddenly extended, precisely parrying the knife.

In an instant, many eyes were focused on the three of them.

Many martial arts practitioners gathered on the street, but not one of them stepped forward to stop them.

Firstly, they didn't know the situation, and secondly, judging from the gray-robed man's movements, he must be skilled in martial arts and didn't seem like someone to be trifled with.

If you get involved without understanding the whole story, you should think twice about whether you have the ability to back it up.

The young man was not skilled in martial arts, and with just one move, the gray-robed man knocked the noodle knife out of his hand.

But he still refused to surrender, and in desperation, he picked up a bamboo pole from the ground and waved it around wildly a few times.

The gray-robed man sneered, dodged to the side, and thrust out his iron rod in a reverse motion.

With a dull thud, the young man was struck squarely in the chest by an iron rod. He immediately felt a sweet taste in his throat and spat out a mouthful of blood!

"ah!"

A girl on the street witnessed a bloody scene and covered her eyes in fright, but couldn't help peeking through her fingers.

Seeing the young man stagger to his feet, seemingly out of danger, he quietly breathed a sigh of relief.

The bamboo pole fell to the ground, and the young man had nothing left to rely on.

The gray-robed man who was with him seized the opportunity to step forward, skillfully subdued the young man, and then took out a thick rope and put it around his neck.

They actually grabbed the person like an animal!

......