The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 313 - 202: Han Kun Again

Chapter 313: Chapter 202: Han Kun Again

At sunset, the sky was like a tapestry of brocade.

The river was dyed a golden-red, glinting with waves, as if countless carps were jumping.

Yunyang Prefecture, since its construction began during the Great Xuan dynasty, had been around for a hundred years. Positioned from north to south, backed by mountains and waters, where the Han River, the Dan River, and the Du River converged, it was a vital hub for north-south water and land routes.

By way of the Du River, one could reach Ba Shu, through the Dan River one could enter Shang Luo, and from the Han River, one could go up to Han Zhong or down to Jing Xiang—truly a crossroads of six provinces.

Li Yan and the others took a boat from the Dan River, and the first sight upon rounding the side was the West River dock.

On the river, boats of various sizes shuttled back and forth.

There were merchant ships as well as passenger boats. On the dock, ship workers bustled like ants, some unloading cargo while others were setting sail. In the glow of the evening sun, the river’s silhouette was chaotic and busy.

At this moment, the ship worker Han had sobered up quite a bit, regretting his earlier behavior.

This bald man, Sha Lifei, was a killer from the pugilistic world who didn’t blink at murder, and that Magician could employ Gu Poison.

He had been arm-in-arm with them, even boasting...

Indeed, drinking leads to trouble!

He dared not talk much now, and once ashore, as soon as Li Yan and the others stepped onto the dock, he pushed off with a bamboo pole and turned to flee.

Several hundred meters from the shore, he noticed a small pile of scattered silver in the cabin, his eyes lit up, and he quickly picked it up and bit it.

Then, he gave a thumbs up towards the shore.

"Generous!"

...

Yunyang Prefecture’s West River dock was very orderly, with stone platforms for cargo ships to dock and move goods, and stairs extending into the river for passenger boats and pedestrians.

On the stone steps, many people either stood or lay waiting.

Whenever a passenger boat approached, they would get up and flock to those who seemed wealthy, bowing and scraping.

These were city porters, looking to earn a meal by carrying luggage and were very familiar with the city’s conditions.

Many, speaking with a Ba Shu accent and carrying clubs, offered lower rates than others.

As soon as Li Yan and his companions stepped onto the stairs, although they felt these people were troublesome, a crowd gathered around, eager to offer help with the luggage.

The porters could endure hardship, and one speaking with a Ba Shu accent said straightforwardly, "Gentlemen, feed us a meal, and we guarantee to deliver your things."

"If you trust others, you might be lured into an inn and be fleeced..."

A local Han man immediately glared and scolded, "What nonsense are you barbarians spouting? Do you understand the rules!"

"Damn it, what’s all the shouting about!"

There were many porters, and both sides were on the verge of fighting.

"Hey, hey, hey~ let’s not flare up."

Sha Lifei quickly waved his hand, "We brothers carry little, we can handle it ourselves, no need for your great effort."

He was an old fox in the pugilistic world, and he sensed something was off.

The dock had always been a gathering place for the Three Religions and Nine Sects, mixed with dragons and snakes, but there were usually rules.

Even when deceiving, territories had to be divided.

However, the current situation was clearly a dispute between two groups over the dock, and if they disagreed, they might just start fighting.

"Humph!"

"Be careful!"

Hearing there was no work, the two groups glared at each other and dispersed, but not without throwing harsh words at each other as they left.

"Ts, ts, ts..." Watching the groups leave, Sha Lifei murmured, "Looks like the Cao Gang is in a bad situation."

The dock had always been under the Cao Gang’s control, and even if outsiders came to snatch business, they wouldn’t dare to act recklessly without the Cao Gang’s arbitration for territorial divisions.

However, it was a different story now.

It indicated a rapid decline in the Cao Gang’s control.

"No need to worry."

Li Yan shook his head slightly, "Let’s first rest in the city, wait for Lv San’s arrest warrant to be revoked, get our Daoist certificate sorted, and then immediately leave for Yichang."

Saying this, he led the group towards the city gate.

Their appearance was somewhat conspicuous, easily drawing attention.

It had its advantages and disadvantages; at least the street thieves from the Rong family would avoid them, and beggars wouldn’t approach so casually.

But the old hands of the pugilistic world were all sharp-eyed and venomous. Just from the dock to the city gate, they already felt many eyes watching.

Li Yan too was indifferent, leading his group directly into the city.

Yunyang could not compare with Chang’an, but its scale was significant, with more than seventy streets and alleys, each crossroads marked with a Land God Temple, also housing the "Taishan Rock Daring."

Along the streets, shops were lined up, from grain, oil, and fabric to sundries and rouge, from stationery to taverns and tea houses, everything available.

By this time, it was evening, and the city, with its high and low buildings, appeared huddled together under dim light, the shops had already lit their candles.

"Rice Flower Tea here..."

"Sour paste noodles, Sanhe Soup..."

On the bluestone street, the crowd bustled, the sound of vendors unceasing, steam billowing, and various fragrances assaulting the senses.

Yunyang Prefecture had become Divine State’s first special district, although built specifically to manage the people of Jing Chu Mountain, it also displayed a unique prosperity.

Chang’an was profound, but for the taste of human life, it couldn’t match Yunyang.

The streets here were not spacious, with a mix of north and south characteristics, where one could see Han people in rough cloth robes and also Tu Clan people with black headscarves.

Accents from various places converged, some even incomprehensible.

People from the pugilistic world, who traveled everywhere, usually needed to pay respects at the dock first.

Nomadic beggars from the east seeking those from the west, begging without permission, would be beaten to death...

Wandering performers from the pugilistic world needed to find the local Chang Chun Association, and only after their approval could they perform...