Chapter 104: An Old Friend in Changjing
In the fourth year of Mingde, at the end of the first month...
Donghe County was less than a hundred li from Changjing City, but spring rain had been falling continuously for three days.
Song You had also stayed here for three days. Since descending the mountain, Song You’s favorite pastime in the cities had been listening to storytelling.
Next to the inn was a teahouse where storytellers performed. Listening to stories was a good deal—one could hear many things, true or false. For just a few wen, one could spend half the day there, chatting with the storyteller in between. This was particularly suited for Song You, whose funds were running low.
The storyteller on the stage was narrating, “In the world of martial arts, the three greatest sects with the highest skills and the most fame are, first and foremost, the Yunhe Sect from Changjing.
“In Yizhou, with its myriad martial sects, the Xishan Sect stands out as a leader. The sect is renowned for its sword and blade techniques, and is also recognized as one of the three great sects. In the northern regions, plagued by constant strife, the Changqiang Sect remains steadfast with countless disciples and is considered another of the great sects.”
The teahouse was relatively elegant, built by the river. Song You had taken a seat by the window, sipping tea and listening to the stories while gazing outside.
The rain was light and finer than hair, yet dense, creating a sandblasted effect on the originally mirror-like river surface.
The storyteller’s voice drifted in as he drank a cup of tea, and that was how he spent an entire afternoon.