Chapter 372
Chapter 372
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 372
>Chapter Title: Shangjing
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“Clop clop clop.” With the continuous sound of hooves, Li Huowang’s carriage, escorted by the shoulder-pole bearers and wheelbarrows, gradually approached the most majestic and grandest city of Great Liang: Shangjing.
Bai Lingmiao sat brazenly on top of the carriage canopy, tilting her head to gaze at the distant city walls of the ancient capital that had stood for a millennium.
The thick black walls loomed like a range of low mountains. The patches of moss atop them bore witness to Shangjing’s storied past.
“Is this Shangjing? It truly is extraordinary.”
Wang Shimei examined the city before her—the largest in the Four Seas and Eight Wastelands—with keen interest from her perch on the carriage roof.
Li Huowang, who was leading the horse, stood up and lifted her down. He then unwound the ribbon from her wrist and tied it over her eyes.
“It’s too bright during the day. It’ll hurt your eyes.”
This was the headquarters of the Bureau of Celestial Surveillance. If not for acquiring that black spindle by chance, Li Huowang wasn’t sure he’d have dared come here.
Bai Lingmiao grew a bit irritated at his action, but in the end, she didn’t yank the blindfold off.
She scooted her rear over and settled into Li Huowang’s lap. Stretching her arms out straight, she let out a big yawn.
“These two useless eyeballs of mine—I’m going to replace them someday!”
Li Huowang steadied her restless hands and feet with his own.
“Don’t talk nonsense. We’re about to enter the city. Behave yourself.”
As they inched forward with the stream of entering commoners, Li Huowang soon reached the city gate. The guards’ eyes weren’t blind; they could clearly see something off about the coffin-like carriage.
But upon spotting the Bureau of Celestial Surveillance badge in Li Huowang’s hand, they said nothing and waved them through.
Li Huowang felt immense relief at his past decision. Without joining the Bureau of Celestial Surveillance, getting in and out of the city would’ve been a huge hassle.
Once inside Shangjing, the surging crowds stretched all the way to the hazy drum tower in the distance before thinning out.
“Let’s find a place to stay first.”
Li Huowang flicked the reins, and the horse-drawn carriage advanced slowly with the flow.
The red sunset bathed the blue-tiled, red-walled buildings. The sharply upturned eaves, the high-hanging shop signs, the ceaseless traffic of people, carriages, and oxcarts—all underscored Great Liang’s prosperity.
This place looked much like Silverhill, yet anyone could tell the difference.
If forced to sum it up in one word, it was heritage. After all, Shangjing had once been part of Great Qi’s legacy.
As Li Huowang took in Great Liang’s capital, the surrounding crowds suddenly quickened, shoving and squeezing toward the left-hand street. Excitement lit every face, as if they were all anticipating something.
Li Huowang’s carriage followed the throng to a wide-open crossroads. There stood three white pagodas, each several zhang tall. A group of bare-chested young men circled them, bags in hand, eager to go.
Just as Li Huowang wondered what was happening, a dwarf stepped out into the crowd’s view. A large gong strapped to his back made him look comically like a tortoise.
Ignoring the snickers from the onlookers, the dwarf lit three sticks of incense and bowed to the three white pagodas.
“What are the people of Shangjing sacrificing to?”
Li Huowang felt a twinge of curiosity, but in this mad world, nothing seemed too strange.
As he pondered, the dwarf unslung the gong, struck it hard, and bellowed:
“Time to storm the bun mountain!!”
At his shout, the young men with bags charged the pagodas with whoops of excitement.
They climbed with hands and feet, snatching things from the towers and stuffing them into their bags.
“Hm?”
Li Huowang’s pupils contracted as he focused on the white pagodas. Only then did he realize they were entirely made of fist-sized buns stacked atop one another.
As the human tide surged, the bun mountains became writhing masses of flesh. Climbers yanked at each other, piling into human pyramids to block their rivals’ ascents.
All young bloods, the tussle soon turned heated. As the commotion grew, buns rained down like celestial maidens scattering flowers.
Some fell into the hands of spectators below; others mashed into the horse dung and cow pats on the ground.
Mantou, who’d been huddled under the carriage, poked his head out, snatched a rolling white bun, pinned it with his front paws, and devoured it. The bun’s front bore a bold red character for “longevity.”
Looking at the trampled buns on the ground, Bai Lingmiao sneered.
“Heh, Shangjing folk sure know how to live. They waste white steamed buns like this—back home, you couldn’t get them even during New Year’s.”
Li Huowang’s attention was elsewhere.
“Doesn’t that look like three sticks of incense? I think this ritual is meant to honor something.”
“Honor who? Don’t overthink it.”
Li Huowang said nothing more, eyeing the crowd. With a gentle tug on the reins, the carriage veered away, pushing through to continue onward.
The packed streets and unfamiliar terrain meant it wasn’t until sunset that Li Huowang found a suitable inn.
This inn looked upscale, with a stage right in the middle of the lobby to draw in customers.
The diners and tea-drinkers watched with relish; even white-haired Bai Lingmiao entering didn’t draw many glances.
Spotting the newcomers, a waiter with a white towel over his shoulder approached, beaming.
“What can I get for you fine guests?”
“Some seasonal vegetables, and two meat dishes.”
“Right away. Please wait just a moment.”
Once the waiter left, Li Huowang set his two swords on the table and felt much relieved.
“After dinner, you rest here at the inn. I’m going to see Ji Xiang.”
“Why see that old eunuch? Maybe I can help.”
Li Huowang glanced at Bai Lingmiao, sprawled on the table, and patted her head without explanation.
“Fine, fine. You’re the boss, your word is law. No need to consult me on anything.”
Bai Lingmiao turned her head away peevishly.
They fell silent, quietly awaiting their meal.
When the food arrived, Li Huowang poured some for Mantou first, then he and Bai Lingmiao dug in.
Whether from the long journey or the inn’s fine cooking, Li Huowang found himself ravenously hungry for once.
Amid the drawn-out operatic chants, he quickly filled his belly.
Just then, an actor from the stage wove into the crowd, singing and mingling with the guests.
As he circled, he came right up to Li Huowang. Unimpressed by Li Huowang’s apathy, he decided to pull out a showstopper.
Drawing close, he shook his head sharply—his old-man makeup turned instantly to flower-dan, then with a flick of his arm, to young-scholar.
As he basked in anticipated awe, a chill touched his neck. A sword was pressed against it.
Then he saw a savagely twisted face.
“What’s with the face-changing?! Who told you to change faces!”
(End of chapter)