Chapter 60: Standing Tall Alone, Clashing With The Heroes Of The World!
Great Yin Dynasty before?!
After seeing off Yang Erhu and Yang Jinbao, watching the two enter Xingqing Prefecture territory, Hong Yuan stood before a small graveyard, still pondering that sentence in his mind.
What was there before the Great Yin Dynasty?
It seemed like there was nothing.
He hadn’t paid much attention before, but Yang Jinbao’s one sentence had touched him, making Hong Yuan suddenly realize.
In this world, it seemed there were no dynasties before the Great Yin Dynasty.
Even from his many years of reading memories, the history before the Great Yin Dynasty was a blank slate, with scant records merely describing it as a barbaric, chaotic dark age, where heaven and earth lacked unified order.
It was only until Yin Taizu rose with the Mandate of Heaven, sweeping away the hordes of evil and cleansing heaven and earth, that the world became clearly divided between pure and turbid.
The Great Yin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty in this world.
And the only imperial dynasty.
Perhaps, to achieve the vision of the emperor’s seat rotating and it being my family’s turn this year, completely overturning this old era would be far more difficult than anticipated.
Hong Yuan pondered for a moment, then suddenly smiled.
Thinking about these things now was still too distant; the main goal at present was to test his skills in the Jianghu.
Taking the Life-Snatching Throat-Locking Spear in hand, Hong Yuan turned and strode away, the swift river wind blowing and billowing his robes, flapping loudly.
Hong Yuan suddenly recalled a line from a certain movie.
‘Now with no more ties, though homeless, I stand tall alone, contending against the heroes of the world.’
During the days escorting the Yang brothers, Hong Yuan hadn’t paid much attention to the movements of the Guo Family, Hua Family, Grain Transport Gang, or other forces, but he figured their counterattack had already come down.
And this was exactly in line with Hong Yuan’s expectations.
The stronger the counterattack, the more masters, the better it would allow him to progress faster, thereby promoting the growth of his Root Bone and Comprehension.
As for whether there was risk?
Of course there was.
But was there any absolutely safe place in this world?
“I stand tall alone, contending against the heroes of the world!”
Hong Yuan recited this line, stomped his foot fiercely, and his figure leaped up, dashing toward the nearby Official Road.
For him, the ultimate goal was naturally to open【Great Year Blessed Land】, take residence within, and from then on enjoy the heavenly fortune of living as long as the Blessed Land, but before that, living brilliantly and splendidly was also extremely important.
To put it bluntly, everything in the Blessed Land was unknown; the present was what he should seize.
This place was named Qingping County.
In the county town, atop the Full Fortune Restaurant.
Hong Yuan stood by the window, having ordered a table of fine wine and dishes, taking a couple bites of food and a sip of wine, feeling quite contented.
Especially when pouring and drinking alone, while also listening to the lively chatter, it made his mood even more pleasant.
Approaching noon, the restaurant wasn’t packed but had seven or eight tables seated, with merchants and travelers, local county tyrants, and mostly Jianghu guests wearing sabers and swords.
Several tables of guests were quite lively, all as excited as if it were New Year, and regardless of their professions, they were all eagerly discussing the same thing.
“Tsk! That kid called ‘Hong Yuan’ still hasn’t been found? With so many people wanting his head, I reckon he’s hidden away long ago.”
“What? Boss Liu, you’ve got ideas too? Want to get in on it and claim that one hundred thousand taels bounty?”
A table dressed as merchants ate meat and drank wine, and with the alcohol flowing, they spoke loudly.
Boss Liu was a plump middle-aged man who waved his hands hurriedly: “One hundred thousand taels of silver! In all these years, have you ever heard of such a big payout? Who wouldn’t be tempted? But old Liu knows his limits; I wouldn’t dare provoke that kind of fierce god.”
He chuckled again: “But if I happened to run into that guy on the road, I could run an errand and pass a message, and maybe claim a handsome reward.”
“You say, where exactly is that Hong Yuan hiding?”
A silk merchant twirling his goatee snorted lightly: “If I were him, I’d flee as far as possible and never return to Linjiang Prefecture again. Hmm! Linjiang Prefecture borders three prefectures, and this Qingping County is right next to Xingqing Prefecture. If that guy chose to flee toward Xingqing Prefecture, he might just pass through here…”
This remark sparked even more intense discussion.
The crowd was excited, spittle flying, the restaurant sounding like a hundred or eighty ducks quacking chaotically, extremely noisy.
Hong Yuan had pretty much figured it out.
The Guo Family, Hua Family, Grain Transport Gang, and other forces had made a huge move, offering a sky-high bounty of one hundred thousand taels for his head.
Heavy rewards bring brave men, let alone one hundred thousand taels?
It immediately shook Linjiang Prefecture, with countless Jianghu people mobilizing, trying to take down this ‘super big order’ that could bring them wealth and glory for life!
Suddenly, the conversation at the neighboring table of guests in rugged attire with sabers and swords at their sides quieted down, and they kept glancing toward Hong Yuan.
Finally, a burly man with a saber at his waist and a full beard couldn’t hold back, strode over to Hong Yuan’s table, plopped down right across from him, and stared at him with wide eyes.
Hong Yuan smiled: “This… if you want a cup of wine, please help yourself.”
“Who needs your cup of wine.” The bearded man stared straight at Hong Yuan, then suddenly slapped a piece of paper he was clutching onto the table and said loudly: “I recognize you.”
Hong Yuan glanced at it and saw it was a Bounty Order, with a drawing of none other than himself.
Given that this world had Martial Arts, and Martial Artists had precise control over their muscles and strength, this portrait resembled his own appearance and demeanor by seven or eight parts.
As the bearded man’s words landed, the other tables fell silent, especially the Jianghu people, whose gazes turned over, with several pulling out identical Bounty Orders to compare, their eyes filled with shock and doubt.
Hong Yuan smiled: “You think I look like that one hundred thousand taels of silver too? Sigh! If I really were that guy, wouldn’t you be walking to your death by coming up like this?”
The bearded man paused, then snorted coldly: “So what if he just killed a few young masters, profligate young masters at that? What’s the big deal?”
“That nonsense about one man routing hundreds of people, pfft! What heavenly book bullshit, only fit to fool a three-year-old kid.”
In fact, the Guo Family, Hua Family, and other forces really wanted to conceal Hong Yuan’s combat prowess to attract more Jianghu people to hunt him, but too many people had witnessed the battle at Moon Embracing Garden.
It couldn’t be hidden at all.
Fortunately, with so many mouths talking, the rumors became all sorts of versions, buzzing wildly with every side having its say, and no one knew what to believe.
In the end, the only thing believable was the one hundred thousand taels of silver.
Moreover, ninety-nine percent of Jianghu people shared the bearded man’s mindset: one man single-handedly defeating hundreds of sturdy fighters? What nonsense?
For ordinary Jianghu people, with limited experience, one person holding off dozens was already a remarkable Great Master.
“Your Excellency has keen insight; how should I address you?” Hong Yuan raised his cup.
The bearded man also figured the guy just looked similar; if it were really him, knowing countless people were hunting him, would he dare swagger in to eat meat and drink wine?
“No problem, this old man’s name is Cheng Gang, Jianghu folks call me ‘Guo San Dao’.” The bearded man laughed heartily and asked in return: “You kid with your slick pretty face, I don’t like the look of you. How about I, Guo San Dao, give your face three slashes, so you don’t get mistaken for someone else and chopped up for nothing.”
“Right, what’s your name?”
“My surname is Hong, single name Yuan!” Hong Yuan downed a cup of wine and said with a smile.
“Hong… Hong Yuan?!” Cheng Gang muttered it once, then suddenly exclaimed: “You said, what’s your name?”
Hong Yuan smiled without speaking, not answering.
And this name plunged the entire restaurant into a momentary silence, where a pin drop could be heard.
Crash!
Suddenly, a neighboring table was flipped over with a bang, the sounds of Weapons being drawn from sheaths rang out one after another, and a tall, handsome man around thirty years old was the first to draw his sword and leap up, thrusting it toward Hong Yuan’s back.
“I knew early on this kid was suspicious; sure enough… sure enough, it’s the real deal.”
Cheng Gang’s reaction wasn’t slow either; after a moment of shock, he grabbed his waist saber, which flashed into his hand, slashing down through the air toward Hong Yuan’s head.
“This one hundred thousand taels of silver is mine; who dares rob Guo San Dao?!”
