pertwk Page 391
Page 391
"It's hard to believe that you've never actually left Beijing and never seen the outside world since you were a child."
Hua Manlou exclaimed in disbelief, "It seems you've been well protected."
"Protect?" Chu Yang was taken aback for a moment, then laughed loudly, "It's just a caged bird!"
"In the past, the greatest resistance I could make was to leave a few more piles of bird droppings in the birdcage to disgust the people who cleaned it."
Hua Manlou pondered for a moment and said, "I didn't realize that Brother Chu also has his own worries."
“It used to be, but it isn’t anymore.” Chu Yang shook his head and smiled, “From the moment I stepped out of the cage, nothing can hold my heart back anymore.”
Lu Xiaofeng raised his glass and laughed loudly, "Then I wish Young Master Chu freedom from this day forward!"
Li Gexiao stood up with a complicated expression, raised his glass with Chu Yang, and nodded.
Hua Manlou also silently got up.
The four of them drank together.
"To be honest, I'm quite touched. I didn't expect that the two of you would come straight to me after leaving the capital. If it weren't for you, I probably wouldn't have escaped this calamity. Looking at it this way, I, Lu Xiaofeng, am really popular."
Lu Xiaofeng started praising himself with a grin again.
"Over the years, I've indulged in a life of extravagance and debauchery, and most of the friends I've made are just fair-weather friends. There are very few people I can truly talk to, but you, Lu Xiaofeng, are definitely one of them."
Chu Yang lowered his head, stroking the wine glass with a look of nostalgia on his face.
Hua Manlou smiled slightly and said, "Brother Chu, could you include me? From today onwards, we should be considered friends, right?"
Chu Yang nodded and said, "Of course, although we have different views on things, it doesn't stop me from appreciating your character. This world needs people like you."
Hua Manlou wore a thoughtful expression.
Lu Xiaofeng asked curiously, "Where do you plan to go next?"
Chu Yang said, "This journey was just a spur-of-the-moment thing, with no particular destination. I was just doing it as I pleased, but my enthusiasm is waning now."
Lu Xiaofeng seemed to understand Chu Yang's thoughts and said, "It was supposed to be a pleasant outing, but as soon as I stepped out of the house, I saw beggars all over the streets. Although their poverty has nothing to do with me, I felt bad listening to their begging, so I lost my mood for the outing."
Chu Yang's lips curled up. "Your analogy is quite interesting."
Lu Xiaofeng, speaking with the air of someone who's been there, said, "I have to give you a piece of advice: human strength has its limits. It's already good enough if we can help those in need when we see injustice on the road. Don't try to connect the peace and happiness of everyone in the world with your own."
"You don't have that ability. Even if you did, doing this would only exhaust you to death. You might as well be like me and live a more carefree life."
Li Ge slammed his fist on the table and laughed loudly: "Lu Xiaofeng, who loves to meddle in other people's business the most, actually teaches others not to meddle and says you are carefree. I have never seen you carefree. You really love to talk nonsense."
Hua Manlou also laughed.
Lu Xiaofeng's face flushed red, and he angrily said, "Drunkard, we've been friends for years, and you're going to ruin my friendship like this?"
Li Ge smiled and shook his head, saying, "The main problem is that what you said is too outrageous. Also, your experience is not suitable for you, young master. Some people can choose to live a carefree life like you, while others are born without a choice."
"They are born with the fate of humanity on their shoulders; there is no escaping it, and they will eventually have to face it."
At this point, Li Gexiao stared solemnly at Chu Yang and said earnestly, "You have seen a lot of the world along the way. I know you don't want to be trapped in a cage anymore and want to be as free and unrestrained as Lu Xiaofeng described."
"But if you really give up everything, the world will never have a chance to get out of its current situation."
"The one who is dreaming in the arms of a woman will not care about the lives of the common people outside."
Chu Yang did not answer and put down his wine glass.
Silently, I walked to the window and looked out at the bustling traffic and people outside the restaurant.
He truly had no interest in the throne. After being trapped in the capital for so many years, he had finally gained true freedom, and to make him go back would be an immense cruelty.
The more Lu Xiaofeng listened, the more uneasy he felt. Coupled with some previous events, strange thoughts began to pop into his mind.
Just as he was hesitating about how to start the conversation, a loud shout suddenly came from outside.
"Urgent report!"
"Qi Family Army has ambushed Wanglong City in the East China Sea!"
"Japanese pirates and a powerful demon joined forces to set up a formation to surround Qi Family Army!"
"The great sea monster is about to lead its army to attack Jinling City!"
"General Qi has ordered that all forces be mobilized to defend Jinling City to the death!"
"Nanjing City must not be breached!"
"Once Jinling City falls, our human race will have no more cities along the coast to stop the great demon from entering the heart of the Central Plains!"
A soldier covered in blood rode a horse also covered in blood, shouting at the top of his lungs as he charged straight toward the government office.
Before they even reached their destination, the soldier seemed to suddenly lose all his strength, fell off his horse, and crashed heavily to the ground, his breathing becoming weak.
The common people and street vendors spontaneously brought out medicine from their houses to treat the wounded soldier, and no one was disgusted by his filth.
Everyone understood that the soldiers' wounds were for their sake.
pity……
The injuries were too severe; the soldiers were barely breathing and were on the verge of death.
Some people began to cry softly, and the crying seemed to be contagious, as more and more people gathered around the dying soldier.
"Defend Jinling City to the death..."
Just as the colors in the soldier's eyes were turning pale, someone held his hand tightly, and a warm current flowed into his body.
Chu Yang, clutching his blood-soaked hand, glanced back at Li Gexiao in the restaurant.
It's like saying...
it is good!
I want this world!
…………
Magistrate Xu, who had just fallen asleep drunk, rushed out of the yamen with his men before he was even properly dressed.
"Quickly order the county magistrate to close the city gates!"
"Quick!"
"Immediately send a message to the capital by fast horses; we need a large number of reinforcements!"
"Damn it! How did the demon race manage to attack?!"
"That guy surnamed Qi is really useless..."
Before Magistrate Xu could finish speaking, a hand suddenly reached out and slapped him hard across the face, making him almost faint.
The advisor grabbed Magistrate Xu from behind, completely blocking his view, and exclaimed urgently, "Who dares to assault an official of the imperial court! Aren't they afraid of being beheaded?!"
After regaining his senses, Magistrate Xu covered his mouth and looked closely. He realized that the person who had hit him was none other than the Imperial Guard who had just been hosting a banquet at the restaurant.
"You, surnamed Chu, how dare you hit me? Are you drunk and causing a scene in front of this county magistrate?!"
"Even if you are a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, I will arrest you today. Assaulting an official of the imperial court is a serious crime! As a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you are breaking the law knowingly, and your crime is doubled!"
Chu Yang looked at him coldly, "General Qi is fighting a bloody battle on the front lines. As the county magistrate, you not only fail to appease the people's emotions, but also speak rudely to Qi's army. Shouldn't you fight back?"
Enraged by the loss of his authority and the reprimand he had received, Magistrate Xu roared, "What are you all standing there for? Take him down right now!"
The constables, armed with fire and water sticks, surrounded Chu Yang.
Because the south was constantly plagued by demons and monsters, the number of government officials in each town was much greater than in the north. In an important hub like Jinling City, not counting the army, there were thousands of government officials alone.
The yamen runners are all martial artists; thousands of them formed a battle formation to surround and attack. Tell me, which top-tier martial arts master in the Jianghu could win?
Not to mention a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
This is why Magistrate Xu is so arrogant.
In this small territory of Nanjing, with Qi Jiguang's army absent, he was truly the local tyrant!
Without a second thought, Li Gexiao, Lu Xiaofeng, and Hua Manlou flew down from the restaurant and landed in front of Chu Yang to protect him.
“This isn’t the capital, so nobody’s going to give you face, Young Master Chu. That slap was way too hard,” Lu Xiaofeng complained. Then, he changed the subject and laughed heartily, “Well done, it was really satisfying. I’ve been in Jinling City for many days and I’ve long been fed up with the magistrate’s behavior.”
"Taking advantage of General Qi's absence from the city, this scoundrel dared to relax the defenses. Including the county magistrate, a group of people were secretly accepting bribes at the city gates. Those with high status could enter the city without being checked. This is outrageous!"
When Magistrate Xu heard Lu Xiaofeng expose his affair in public, he immediately became agitated and shouted, "Lu Xiaofeng, don't think that just because you solved a case you can spout nonsense and slander me here!"
Lu Xiaofeng chuckled, "Whether it's slander or not, don't you know in your heart?"
Even the usually amiable Hua Manlou couldn't help but turn cold and say, "Magistrate Xu, although my Hua family is wealthy, we know there are ways to make money. We can earn some money, but we can't take a single penny of it. Jinling City is the southern gateway, protecting the Central Plains from the great sea monsters. How can you act like this?"
"If the imperial court finds out about this, they will surely exterminate your entire family!"
The phrase "extermination of nine generations" had a huge impact on Magistrate Xu. He probably knew that his own affairs would not end well if they were exposed, so his face turned red, and he pointed at Hua Manlou and cursed loudly in shock and anger.
"So what if you are the young master of the Hua family in Jiangnan? Even if you offend the Hua family, I will not let you leave Jinling City today!"
A large number of yamen runners had surrounded Chu Yang and his companions in layers, pushing the onlookers outside so they couldn't hear their conversation, only vaguely hearing Magistrate Xu's shouts and curses.
As more and more officials arrived, the people knew that something big was about to happen, and they gradually retreated to a distance, fearing that they would be implicated.
"I felt uncomfortable the moment I saw you, you corrupt official. I didn't expect that after all these years of not being a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, my judgment hasn't deteriorated."
Li Gexiao drew his embroidered spring knife and pointed it at Magistrate Xu, cursing him.
"You're not Jinyiwei?" Magistrate Xu was stunned for a moment, then his whole body trembled with excitement. He laughed wildly, "Impersonating Jinyiwei is a serious crime. If I kill you all today, I will not only be innocent, but I will also be credited. It's truly heaven's help!"