Chapter 220 - 162: Uncle
Sword City.
A unique city.
Because of the Divine Sword Sect, because of Lu Changfeng, Sword City became a city within a country for Daliang.
One could also say that Daliang had given the local people of Jiangnan Prefecture a final sanctuary.
Sword City now housed far too many people.
It was practically overflowing.
To cope with the massive influx of people, the Inner City charged an exorbitant entry fee for each visit, with an additional fee required for every day spent inside.
Normally, in other cities, the management of the Outer City was extremely lax.
But in today’s Sword City, even entering the Outer City required a hefty fee!
Beyond the Outer City, a sea of crudely built houses stretched as far as the eye could see.
It was even more extreme than the refugee camps that once surrounded the Capital City.
「Early morning.」
The waterways outside Sword City were packed with boats.
A boat bearing the emblem of the Saint Demon Sect was forced to squeeze in among them.
Iron Head navigated the waterway toward Sword City. After waiting in a long queue, he finally docked at a pier in the Outer City.
"Lord Demon Sect, the docking fee at this pier is too outrageous. I’ll leave the pier for now. Just find me at the inn next to the pier before you depart."
Lu Changfeng nodded slightly, woke up Xu Fan who was still feigning sleep, and led his three grand-disciples off the boat.
The Sword Discussion Conference in Sword City was set to begin in three days, and many swordsmen with longswords at their sides could be seen coming and going on the streets.
The swordsmen all wore hurried expressions. The Sword Discussion Conference was being held in the Inner City, and credentials were very difficult for ordinary people to obtain.
It was said that on the black market, a single admission ticket for the Sword Discussion Conference was being scalped for several dozen taels of silver.
Lin Erfeng complained in the Saint Demon Sect’s chat group: ’The Divine Sword Sect really has a knack for making money!’
Naturally, Lu Changfeng’s group of five didn’t need to scramble to buy any admission tickets.
The Saint Demon Sect had spies stationed in Sword City who had already arranged lodging and the necessary credentials for Lu Changfeng’s party to attend the Sword Discussion Conference.
Lu Changfeng’s group of five had just disembarked.
An ordinary-looking, middle-aged man approached them.
"Greetings, my Lord Demon Sect and Lord Demon General."
"Here are the credentials I’ve prepared. In truth, with your status as representatives of the Saint Demon Sect, these were very easy to obtain. I am simply the one delivering them."
Lu Changfeng nodded slightly, took the five credentials, and distributed them to the other four.
"I’ve booked your rooms at the Lucky Inn in the Inner City. You two lords just need to go there with your party and give your names to check in!"
"There are too many prying eyes here, so I’ll take my leave!" The middle-aged man turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Lu Changfeng was extremely satisfied. These spies, stationed throughout Song Country and even over in Daliang Country, were all arranged by Lin Erfeng. At most, a few Demon Generals and Demon Sect Lords from the Holy City would occasionally lend a hand.
Nowadays, in the Saint Demon Sect’s chat group, Lin Erfeng would share important intelligence gathered by these spies every day.
For instance, who Lu Changfeng had dueled that day and whether he had won or lost.
Or changes in the high command of the Daliang Army.
Or tax reforms being implemented in territories governed by the Profound Nether Sect.
In short, the Saint Demon Sect’s intelligence network was now extremely vast.
Lu Changfeng was very pleased that they had achieved so much in such a short time.
Lin Erfeng truly was a great talent. Lu Changfeng’s decision to bring Lin Erfeng to his side back in Rong City had been an extremely wise one.
With the Sword Discussion Conference still three days away, Xu Fan was anxious to get to the inn and feign sleep to maintain his Spirit Body state.
Therefore, Lu Changfeng’s group of five headed straight for the Lucky Inn in the Inner City, navigating the shoulder-to-shoulder crowds.
Using their credentials, Lu Changfeng’s group of five entered Sword City’s Inner City without needing to pay the entry fee.
Somewhat to Lu Changfeng’s surprise, the flow of people in Sword City’s Inner City was much lighter. Although it was still crowded, the numbers were within an acceptable range, making it feel like a place where people actually lived.
The Lucky Inn was already fully booked, but after Wei He and the other two went forward and gave their names, the Shopkeeper showed the group of five to their rooms.
Although it had been a long journey, the conditions on the passenger boat had been good.
Wei He and the other two felt no fatigue at all. After asking Lu Changfeng for permission, they went out for a stroll in the Inner City.
Lu Changfeng wasn’t worried about his three grand-disciples running into danger; after all, one of them was his Clone.
Xu Fan chose to remain in the inn for secluded cultivation, conserving his energy for the Sword Discussion Conference in three days.
Lu Changfeng, feeling bored and with time on his hands, also left the inn to wander around the Inner City.
Sword City had gathered a large number of old acquaintances from Jiangnan Prefecture, so there was a good chance of running into someone he knew.
Sure enough, just as he turned a street corner...
...someone called out Lu Changfeng’s name: "Lu Changfeng!"
The one who had called out to stop Lu Changfeng was a beautiful woman.
Lu Changfeng took a closer look and was surprised to see it was the former Saintess of the Taihong Association, Hong Xiangxiang!
Hong Xiangxiang was dressed in the tight-fitting attire of a Martial Artist, which exquisitely outlined her voluptuous figure. Beside her stood a small boy about seven or eight years old.
’That must be Zhao Xingtian’s son, Zhao Xiaoxing.’
Lu Changfeng did a quick calculation. Hong Xiangxiang and Zhao Xingtian had married in the year he turned nineteen.
Lu Changfeng was twenty-six this year, which would make Zhao Xiaoxing just about seven years old.
"Aren’t you a Demon Sect Lord in the Saint Demon Sect? What are you doing in Sword City?"
"Oh, I know! You’re here for the Sword Discussion Conference!"
Hong Xiangxiang led the little boy over to Lu Changfeng and spoke with conviction.
"Xiaoxing, hurry and say ’uncle’!"
"Uncle," Zhao Xiaoxing said obediently.
Lu Changfeng patted the little boy’s head and subconsciously opened Zhao Xiaoxing’s interface.
Name: Zhao Xiaoxing
Root Bone: Upper A
Talent: [Sword Vein]
Lu Changfeng was slightly taken aback. This Zhao Xiaoxing’s Root Bone and Talent were exactly the same as his father’s.
"This child... his Talent is quite good," Lu Changfeng said slowly.
Hong Xiangxiang pursed her lips. "His Root Bone is alright, but his Martial Arts Talent is ridiculously bad. I’ve been teaching him Palm Technique for years, and he can’t even grasp the basics."
Lu Changfeng was taken aback. "His father’s specialty was Swordsmanship. Why aren’t you teaching him Swordsmanship?"
Upon hearing this, Hong Xiangxiang’s face filled with disgust. "I don’t want him to have anything to do with his father!"
"That guy, Zhao Xingtian... where did he go?" Lu Changfeng asked with a frown.
Hong Xiangxiang’s eyes reddened slightly. "You’re asking me? I’d like to ask you the same thing."
"Ever since Xiaoxing was born, that man has never once shown his face."
"At first I thought he was just busy. But then it was one year, then three, and now it’s been a full seven years!"
"Even during the Daliang invasion, not a single word of inquiry ever came from him!"
"I’ve given up all hope for him."
Lu Changfeng let out a soft sigh. ’Hong Xiangxiang resents Zhao Xingtian now, but back when she was living it up in Jiangzhou, did she ever imagine things would end up like this?’
"The child is innocent. Don’t waste his Talent. Let him try practicing the sword."
Lu Changfeng still spoke up.
Hearing his words, a conflicted look appeared in Hong Xiangxiang’s eyes. She knew, of course, that the man before her was once the number one Sword Dao genius in Jiangnan Prefecture, and even in the entire Song Country.
If even he said Zhao Xiaoxing had Sword Dao Talent, then it was most likely true.
Before, she could still deceive herself with the excuse that Zhao Xiaoxing might not have inherited his father’s Sword Dao Talent.
But now...
"I won’t teach him Swordsmanship, and I’m not good at it anyway. Why don’t you, Changfeng, take Zhao Xiaoxing as your disciple? You’re the greatest in the Sword Dao. If you’re willing to take Xiaoxing as your Disciple, I’ll do anything..."