Eternal Saber-Chapter 396 - 3: School of Tea Ceremony

Chen Tang, dressed in coarse cloth and carrying a bow and arrow, indeed looked no different from a hunter.

Moreover, in terms of hunting, he was quite skilled and wouldn’t appear timid.

"Cousin?"

Ah Li was startled upon hearing this term of address.

He hadn’t treated me as a maid.

"Cousin?"

A glimmer of light flickered in Ah Li’s eyes.

She seemed to have found a family member.

Although, it was only a fabrication.

"Brother Chen, let’s part ways here. If fate allows, we shall meet in the Jianghu again."

Ye Yushi bid farewell to Chen Tang.

"Take care along the way."

Chen Tang chuckled, "Fate or not, I know where your sect is. If I can’t get by in Jianghu, I’ll come and join you."

"Alright."

Ye Yushi smiled slightly.

The poignant atmosphere of parting was completely dispelled by Chen Tang’s words.

Somehow, hearing Chen Tang’s words, Ye Yushi felt much more at ease.

Under Chen Tang’s gaze, Ye Yushi reached the ferry not far away and boarded another ferry heading west along the river.

Soon, the boat sailed away, disappearing from sight.

The Ba Mountain Sword Sect was located in Yizhou, at the far west of Nanxia, making boat travel the most convenient.

Chen Tang led Ah Li around the area.

The Pingjing Port appeared much busier than the port on the Hermit Continent, with bustling markets along the shore, showcasing a dazzling array of aquatic products.

Looking around, even before entering the city, one could see tea houses and taverns along the road, with many merchants and armed Jianghu heroes chatting and laughing inside, creating a lively and bustling scene.

Within this microcosm, one can gain some understanding.

Compared to Qian Country, Nanxia was evidently more prosperous and vibrant.

Chen Tang, with Ah Li, didn’t walk far before his gaze swept over a teahouse not far away.

It was merely a few open-sided thatched huts, but inside sat many people, mostly Jianghu travelers resting there.

While drinking tea and nibbling on snacks, they were engaged in lively discussions, with various weapons laid out on the tables.

Such a scene was almost never seen in Qian Country.

What surprised Chen Tang was that inside this teahouse, several attendants moving between the tables carried trays stacked with over a dozen cups of tea without spilling a drop, clearly possessing some skills!

"Interesting."

Chen Tang murmured to himself.

Unexpectedly, in such a humble roadside teahouse, the attendants were at the Entry Level.

At this moment, Old Lu emerged from somewhere, looked around, and took out two passage documents from his bosom, quickly stuffing them into Chen Tang’s hand.

"Young Master, it’s all taken care of."

Old Lu said.

Then, following Chen Tang’s gaze, he smiled and said, "Young Master Chen, don’t underestimate this teahouse."

"Oh, is there a backstory?"

Chen Tang asked curiously.

Old Lu said, "Behind this teahouse is one of the major gangs in the Jianghu of Nanxia, the Tea Dao Sect, with its main base in Yuezhou. However, the Tea Dao Sect’s business extends throughout the Six States of Nanxia, making it one of the largest gangs there."

"Any tea shop with a special mark on its signboard is a property of the Tea Dao Sect."

"The attendants, errand boys, and even the chefs in the back kitchen are often adept in the Postnatal Realm."

In Nanxia, the division of martial arts realms is similar to that in Qian Country, only without grades.

Stages like Rebirth, Bone Transformation, Yijin, and Bone Marrow Cutting are collectively known as the Postnatal Realm in Nanxia.

The subsequent Inner Core Realm, Opening the Apertures Realm, Meridian Passage Realm, Innate Realm, and Divine Illumination Realm remain the same.

This has much to do with the cultural differences between the two regions.

In Qian Country, the power of the Court predominates, exerting absolute control over the Jianghu.

Therefore, martial arts realms are divided according to the grades of court officials.

In Nanxia, however, it is quite the opposite.

"Young Master, take care. I’ll be off to enjoy myself in the city first."

Old Lu excused himself and couldn’t wait to head into the city by carriage for some indulgence.

"Hungry?"

Chen Tang glanced back at Ah Li and asked, "Shall we find a place and have a proper meal?"

Ah Li looked bitter.

For the past half year, Chen Tang had asked her the most, "Hungry, eh?"

What followed was a frenzy of feeding.

Although the food was delicious, after eating like this for six months, her figure had somewhat changed shape.

Chen Tang intended to head to another tavern, order several pounds of top-quality beef, and indulge in a big feast with good wine.

But as he passed by the teahouse, he overheard a conversation among some Jianghu people inside, causing his steps to pause.

"Have you heard? The ’Unrivaled Woman’ Female Knight Ye’s long-lost daughter was found recently."

"It wasn’t easy. Over the years, the Shen Family had been searching for the whereabouts of Female Knight Ye’s child without results. Many impostors tried to infiltrate the Shen Family, pretending to be her children, only to be driven away by the Shen Family."

"Is it confirmed this time?"

"Certainly, can Female Knight Ye misrecognize her daughter?"

Ming Yue Wanderer had mentioned this to Chen Tang once before, and Chen Tang instinctively listened.

The Female Knight Ye they spoke of should be Ye Taoyuan.

Ming Yue Wanderer had expressed admiration in his words when speaking of Ye Taoyuan.

"Speaking of which, the battle in Huiji City back in the day was incredibly fierce. Who would have thought that Shen Ningzhi, the Commander of Huiji, acted so recklessly? Knowing the enemy was invading, he still didn’t prepare for defense, believing in the Profound Celestial Immortal Venerable, and even wanted to summon ghost soldiers to help, resulting in..."

"Hmph!"

A man with a broad face, full beard, and a few prominent scars on his face suddenly snorted coldly, "This isn’t the Commander’s fault; he was misled by treacherous advisors."

"Oh?"

Everyone asked, "How do you say so, brother?"

The scar-faced man replied solemnly, "The reason the Commander believed in the Profound Celestial Immortal Venerable was due to the deceit of Shen Guobao, a court sycophant. As a fellow member of the Shen Family, he lowered his guard and met a tragic fate."

When ’Shen Guobao’ was mentioned, the teahouse atmosphere changed dramatically, falling silent instantly.

He is currently a prominent court favorite, one of the Prime Minister’s most powerful aides, holding the rank of Minister of the Secretariat and Central Guard, commanding the garrison outside the Capital City, and wielding great power.

Although the Jianghu of Nanxia occupies an extraordinary position, openly discussing court officials in such a manner still crosses a line.

In the teahouse, at the neighboring table, four people in Jianghu attire, looking travel-worn, sat watching.

Upon hearing the scar-faced man’s words, their expressions grew cold, eyes turning icy.

One of them sneered, "These are just hearsay rumors. How could you know so much about it?"

The scar-faced man pointed to his scar, replying in a deep voice, "Because I was in Huiji City back then. In the siege battle, I nearly lost my life. This scar was left from that time."

The people in the teahouse listened with solemn respect.

Someone asked, "May I ask for the hero’s name?"

"I dare not claim that title."

The scar-faced man cupped his hands and said, "I am Blazing Flame Frenzy Saber, Luo Shixian."

"So it’s Master Luo, much admired, much admired!"

A chorus of praise arose from those around him.