Chapter 22 Along the Road (Part 2)
Three days later at noon, the caravan arrived at Shanyang, and the pier was full of boats.
The caravan began to rest, replenish and sell supplies along the way, so it would stay in Shanyang for a few days.
Zhang Xuanning therefore said: "I'll go out and take a look."
"Mr. Zhang, please meet us the day after tomorrow morning at the latest, otherwise we will not wait for you and delay our journey." said the steward.
Zhang Xuanning nodded in agreement and put the gold away. Five kilograms of gold was also heavy.
The city has unique scenery, with rivers crisscrossing and a rare stone arch bridge built over the river. The main street is lined with shops with front-storey and back-houses. The stores are spacious, with skylights for lighting, and are filled with all kinds of goods and handicrafts. It is very prosperous.
This world is so prosperous that we don't have to worry too much about economic issues. The key is how to rule it. Martial arts have left an indelible mark on this world.
Zhang Xuanning turned and left, and suddenly, a person attracted him.
This man was just coming out of a brothel. He was tall, straight, and well-proportioned, with a handsome appearance. He was dressed in Confucian clothes and waving a folding fan in his hand. He was extremely dashing, unrestrained and free.
His expression was gentle, his eyes were mild, but his smile was filled with a hint of pride, a temperament that seemed easy to get close to, yet always seemed to keep an insurmountable distance from other people, making him exceptional.
Almost at the same time, this person also looked over and saw Zhang Xuanning. He was stunned for a moment, then came up and said, "Hello, friend."
"I don't deserve it. Who are you?" Zhang Xuanning asked while bowing, but he already understood something in his heart.
"I'm Hou Xibai. When I suddenly saw you, I felt a little familiar. You really look like one of my predecessors. But when I took a closer look, I realized I had made a mistake." The young man stepped forward and saluted.
"I'm Zhang Xuanning, nice to meet Brother Hou." Xiaoqiang's fate was really amazing. Even when he went out on the street, he would meet these legendary strong men. He muttered in his heart, but still saluted.
"Ah, it's Zhang Xuanning, the poet who has recently made his name known to the world. I've heard of your fame for a long time and have been looking forward to meeting you. I didn't expect that I could fulfill my wish here!" Hou Xibai was truly surprised when he heard this. He immediately bowed to the ground and said, "Brother Zhang, you are a young man, but you have written such a poem that will be remembered for thousands of years. You are truly a great man. Do you know how many noble men are looking forward to meeting you as their guest?"
"I'm a wanted criminal by the government. What are you talking about as a distinguished guest of a wealthy family?" Zhang Xuanning said, waving his hands quickly.
"What's a wanted criminal? You don't know yet, right? The last time I met Li's son Shimin, he also praised your poem highly. Even my elders, after reading your poem, remained silent for a long time. Later, they told me that this poem was like a storm, falling from the sky, rushing thousands of miles. Such a magnificent sentiment is deeply embedded in the bones, and it is definitely not something that can be achieved by being hypocritical. Just based on Brother Zhang's name, which noble family would not welcome you as a guest? What are you afraid of being wanted? Killing a few soldiers and civilians, what's the big deal?" Hou Xibai smiled disapprovingly: "It is my great honor to meet Brother Zhang today. Do you know that my elders told me that if I can comprehend this poem, I will be able to reach the peak of our martial arts and surpass the sages of all generations. Brother Zhang and I are really half-teachers!"
Seeing his admiring expression, Zhang Xuanning was speechless and could only say, "Brother Hou , this is not the place to talk, right?"
"That's right. I was indeed too reckless. Brother Zhang, please come inside and let's have a long talk." Hou Xibai was stunned and bowed deeply. Then he grabbed Zhang Xuanning with one hand and pulled him into the brothel, as if he was afraid that he would suddenly disappear.
Although he knew that Hou Xibai was not a rabbit that could be either male or female or a bisexual, Zhang Xuanning still felt creeped out . This kind of pulling action was really not something this modern person was used to!
As soon as I entered the door, I saw a woman smiling and saying, "What's up, Master Bai? What's up?"
"Hmph, quickly go to the highest banquet. It is my great honor to meet Brother Zhang today. Do you understand?" Hou Xibai snorted coldly and said.
It was rare to see his impatient look, and the woman was immediately shocked, knowing that the guest he was attracting was really extraordinary. She immediately agreed and hurried to make arrangements.
The first time I entered a brothel, I realized that the brothels in this world were not simple. It was a garden-style courtyard with winding corridors, creating a deep and profound scenery. An artificial clear stream meandered, making the place more elegant and breathtaking.
The two walked along, turning left and right, and saw a two-story red building, which was very exquisite. Just as they entered, they saw a maid coming to greet them, opening the door, and inviting them upstairs.
The room was cleverly decorated, with a sense of leisure and naturalness, and divided by a screen. Tea and snacks were already on the table, and a maid came forward to pull the table open. Just as he sat down and served tea, Hou Xibai sighed and said, "Don't you see that the water of the Yellow River comes from the sky, rushes to the sea and never returns. Don't you see the white hair in the mirror in the hall, which was black in the morning and turned into snow in the evening. When you are happy in life, you should enjoy it to the fullest, and don't let the golden cup face the moon in vain. I was born with talents that will be useful, and I will get them back even if I spend all my money."
After a pause, he continued, "Brother Zhang, you know that when I first heard this sentence, I was so sad that I burst into tears. I felt that every word was like a pearl, and it touched my heart. My cultivation, which had been stagnant, achieved a breakthrough overnight. I really benefited a lot."
He added: "My elders also told me that the first line of the poem is about the Yellow River, which flows eastward and cannot turn back. The second line is about the white hair, which is about the passing of time, which never stops day and night. This poem must be a perfect example of writing. It cannot be learned by hard work, nor can it be achieved by instinct. It has the charm of ancient times, and I almost think it was written by an immortal. I really admire it."
"Writing is a natural gift, it's the result of a master's hand. I just had a momentary inspiration, it would be difficult for me to do it again." Zhang Xuanning said he didn't dare.
"The writing is natural and the work is done by a master. Brother Zhang is really talented!"
Hou Xibai listened and subconsciously opened the fan. The fan was very large, and painted with full-length portraits of nearly ten beauties, which were lifelike and reflected directly into his eyes.
At this moment, a flash of lightning passed through Zhang Xuanning's mind. He pondered for a moment, and while taking another sip of tea, he suddenly understood everything.
The disciples of the Huajian School are all handsome and elegant young men, who are ruthless towards the affectionate ones, and they see all the flowers without being touched by a single one. It can be said that they regard the world as a romantic place.
However, to reach such a height, one must have extraordinary talent. Li Bai's poem is romantic and unrestrained, and its heroic spirit yet also reveals a sense of otherworldliness, which fits the essence of the Huajian School and even elevates it to the height of indulging in the world. No wonder he was so excited.
The predecessor he was talking about was Shi Zhixuan. Shi Zhixuan was the successor of the Huajian School of the previous generation. No wonder his insights were so profound!
If there were more poems like this, the Huajian School would be able to truly break free from its original constraints and reach a level where it could compete with the Tianmoce and even the Cihang Jingzhai.
To others it may be just a poem, but to the Huajian School, it is almost comparable to the Buddhist disciples' response to the Fifth Patriarch's words "There is no Bodhi tree, nor is there a mirror stand. Originally there is nothing, where can dust gather?" It was like an epiphany for the disciples of the Huajian School, allowing them to gain sudden enlightenment and make rapid progress.
No wonder Hou Xibai is so enthusiastic.
For a moment, Zhang Xuanning took a deep breath.
Life is like a dream. While chatting and laughing, you can overturn the order of the demon sect and create history. Is this the fate of those who go against the will of heaven?
