The Star River Era! The Dimensional Freedom Demon

After being discharged from the hospital, Ji Chen wore a straw hat to cover his bald head and followed Instructor Chen closely.

Keep your head, lose your hair; keep your hair, lose your head.

This was during the peak of the Daqing Dynasty's rule, and the enforcement of the hair-shaving edict had become extremely strict.

If Ji Chen's act of shaving his head is discovered, the government, whose nerves have been provoked, will surely issue a severe warrant for his arrest and suppression.

However, Ji Chen's heavily disguised attire made him hardly noticeable today.

On the still-sunny streets, swordsmen and masked figures could be seen everywhere.

Under the intimidation of these ruthless江湖客 (jianghu ke, martial arts masters), the street thugs and ruffians who used to run rampant on the streets hid like mice before a cat.

"Are all of these people from our White Sun Sect?"

Ji Chen was a little curious.

"Not entirely, there are also some of our friends in the state capital."

"Oh, they can also participate in our Dharma assembly?"

"Why not?" Instructor Chen's eyes flickered as he considered whether to tell Ji Chen the truth.

As his gaze swept over the straw hat on Ji Chen's head, Instructor Chen felt certain.

"They are all helpful to us in accomplishing great things. We welcome all friends."

event.....

Rebellion, is it?

Ji Chen muttered to himself, while a perfectly measured look of shock appeared on his face.

"Hmm..."

Instructor Chen nodded in satisfaction, giving this as a heads-up to prevent the promising young man from being unable to accept it later.

Their destination was a slum in the outer city of Changjiang County.

There were many small gangs and factions there, and a large number of poor people who had lost their land lived there.

These people, who have no foundation and go hungry nine times out of three days, are naturally a good place for the White Sun Sect to spread its doctrines.

They only need two or three steamed buns, and an egg every ten days or so, and many believers will surrender.

Furthermore, the Changjiang County government looked down on this place, and its supervision was weak, so the Baiyang Sect of Yuezhou Prefecture chose this place as the location for its Dharma assembly.

Slums.

The Baiyang Sect has a strong appeal among the people, and the once chaotic civilian district has now achieved an order comparable to that of the prefectural city.

Every household has a red lantern hanging at their door, and talismans passed down by the White Sun Sect masters are also hung above the door.

The long talismans, devoid of any supernatural power and meant to deceive the common people, fluttered in the wind, accompanied by the incense smoke that permeated the streets, instantly creating a strange yet solemn atmosphere.

As a result, both cautious ordinary people and lawless gangsters have toned down their tempers here.

"This is how environment influences mindset."

Ji Chen seemed to be deep in thought.

Just like the imperial palace, with its bright tiles and red walls, numerous restrictions, and deep gates, it was all designed to create a sense of mystery and "unpredictable imperial power."

When Ji Chen visited the imperial palace in his previous life, he gained a profound understanding of how the environment can influence one's psychology as he passed through numerous palace gates and entered the Hall of Supreme Harmony.

Just as Ji Chen was surveying the slums, a muscular man standing on a rooftop was also looking him over.

"He must be the one with Protector Chen."

"That's right, it was this lucky kid who stole your core disciple position. So, Shunwu, do you see anything unusual about him?"

The man in the corner said with a hint of provocation.

"Ha! A complete waste. His steps are unsteady, his body is stiff. He's a piece of trash who hasn't even entered the gate of martial arts. I don't know what got into Master Lu that made him take such a guy as his disciple!"

Provoked by others, Zhang Shunwu blurted out his grievances almost without thinking.

He wasn't oblivious to the man's provocation from behind, but he didn't care.

He's just a piece of trash, so what if he said it? It's no big deal. Even if it were Protector Chen, he would say it without hesitation.

"I never thought that after all our arguing, this person would actually benefit. Don't tell me you, Liang Bao, didn't have any thoughts on this."

Although Zhang Shunwu himself was happy to be provoked, he couldn't let Liang Bao get away with it, so he made a sarcastic remark.

Sure enough, Liang Bao's face behind him darkened at a visible speed.

"Hmph! I'll make him look really bad today."

Liang Bao defined the nature of the matter.

He kicked it angrily, and the bluestone beneath his feet instantly shattered into small pebbles.

……

The ritual procedures and various items of the Dharma assembly were reviewed in a flowing stream.

These activities that used to showcase sectarianism are now just an appetizer.

The important thing is...

Inside the simple stone house.

The image of the Eternal Mother appears both sorrowful and joyful, residing in a high hall.

The red-lacquered octagonal tables below were packed full of people, with heroes from all walks of life and various levels of managers and protectors of the Baiyang Sect setting up tables arbitrarily, without regard to seating arrangements.

The food on the table was steaming hot.

The long table was laden with roasted whole lamb and braised beef shank, and the coarse earthenware wine jars were stacked higher than a person, the aroma of wine mixed with the smell of meat wafting up to the roof.

Many of the men, who had been drinking, started spouting nonsense, which sparked a lively conversation among the crowd, and a series of hearty laughs erupted from the table.

"You bald scoundrel, you've wasted all those years of studying! All you can do is spout this nonsense!"

"Hahaha!"

Outside, it was sweltering, but inside the stone house's basement, the situation was completely different.

"Hey! As expected of a major sect that's spread all over Kyushu, they start something as soon as they say they'll start."

Finally, the silence that had been silenced by Instructor Chen's question, "We are about to rise up, how will you position yourselves?" was broken.

A burly man with long arms and large, thick hands, and a thick beard, straightened up.

"Everyone says the Heaven and Earth Society produces many heroes, but it seems that when it comes to heroic spirit, it has to be your White Sun Sect!"

Since Prince Zhen, Li Sucun, there has never been a figure in the land of Kyushu who could shake the heavens and the earth.

Wu Yinghuan, the "Ape Fist" master, never expected that the White Sun Sect, which had suffered repeated defeats throughout history, would dare to launch an attack during the current dynasty's golden age. He was filled with righteous indignation.

"If you dare to do it, I dare to accept it. I, Wu Yinghuan, will take the blame!"

Wu Yinghuan originally had a happy and fulfilling family. His mother was virtuous, his father was strong, and the family also had more than ten acres of poor land. Who wouldn't envy them?

However, twenty years ago, the Chu region unexpectedly experienced a severe drought, causing many farmers and landlords to lose their harvests and cry out in despair.

The nobles in the city had become addicted to gambling and lost a lot of money. The crops on the dry land could not make up for the losses, so they had no choice but to sell the land.

But the land is the golden goose upon which these Manchus depend for their well-being. To ask them to give up this golden goose that lays eggs, and to rely on the "support silver" issued by the imperial court to make a living in the future, is that not like cutting off their own flesh?

So, this powerful figure who owed gambling debts set his sights on the wealthy farmers and small landlords in the vicinity.

Wu Yinghuan's nightmare began.

First, the father was accused of resisting the government and imprisoned. Then, the family's land was found to have been obtained through the "mortgage sale of banner land". Not only was he required to return the land to the powerful and wealthy, but he was also fined 100 taels of silver.

Upon hearing the news after his release from prison, Wu's father was so angered that he fell ill and became bedridden. Wu's mother was so frightened that she died the very night she learned that the farmland had been confiscated.

Therefore, Wu Yinghuan of "Ape Fist" hated Qingting, who was in power as a Manchu, to the core.

Of course, this is also why the Baiyang Sect invited him.