Chapter 1005: Gathering together ()

As the "Eradication of Traitors Conference" draws closer, Luoyang City becomes more and more lively.

Walking in the bustling streets of Luoyang, you can see groups of people holding swords and knives everywhere. In contrast, the people of Luoyang seem to have "disappeared from the face of the earth." It seems that they have reached a tacit understanding in their subconscious that if it is not necessary, they should stay indoors as much as possible to avoid crossing paths with those bloodthirsty and moody desperados.

However, where some people worry, others are happy. Although ordinary people do not like these "heroes", the merchants in Luoyang City welcome guests from all directions with drums and gongs, because they see business opportunities in them and are all working hard to make a fortune.

Almost overnight, dozens of new inns appeared in Luoyang City. As the "Extermination of Traitors Conference" approached, more and more people from the underworld poured into Luoyang City, and the number of new inns also increased day by day.

These "new inns" were not built temporarily, but were private houses that wealthy businessmen paid a large sum of money to rent temporarily from the people in the city.

They built a large number of thatched huts outside the city for the people to temporarily live in, and used the money that ordinary people could not earn in five or even ten years of hard work as bait to make them willingly rent out their houses.

After all, the "Anti-Traitor Conference" lasted only half a month in total. To endure fifteen days of grievance in exchange for several years of "harvest" is simply a pie in the sky for the working people. Why not do it?
More importantly, by renting their houses to wealthy merchants, the common people do not have to worry about not getting paid, nor do they have to worry about conflicts with those vicious gangsters. It can be said that "seeking profit and avoiding harm" and "ensuring income regardless of drought or flood" are the most popular "means of making a living" for ordinary people.

The first business in the Song Dynasty, Dongshan Chamber of Commerce, took advantage of human laziness, greed and cowardice to find a new way and discover such a clever business opportunity.

Since Dongshan was the most famous, the most powerful, and the most generous merchant, 70% to 80% of the newly emerging "homestays" in Luoyang were owned by them. The remaining "corners" with remote locations and dilapidated courtyards were abandoned by them, leaving room for other merchants.

During this period, most of the martial arts people who entered Luoyang City consciously attached themselves to the forces they relied on, and gathered in the four cities of east, south, west and north.

The people gathered together have some friendship, but it does not mean that they share life and death, they are just closer than others.

Compared to the numerous passers-by in the martial arts world, there are very few people who are truly qualified to live in the Xianwang Mansion. Led by Wudang, mainly Shaolin, Kunlun, Kongtong and Shuzhong Tangmen.

Most of those who gathered in the North City were outlaws and second- and third-rate local forces. Among them, the Sanyi Gang living in Danfeng Garden was the most famous.

Gathered in East City were southern heroes headed by Jin Jianwu, including Jiangnan Lu Mansion, Emei, and Qingcheng.

Gathered in West City are the Jueqing Valley, Longxiang Mountain and the Xiangxi Teng Clan.

Of course, more low-ranking gangs and wandering knights did not receive the heroic invitation from the leader of the martial arts world. They came here just to join in the fun, and could not find any power to cling to, so they could only scatter in various corners of Luoyang City.

It is worth mentioning that the "cluster division" of Luoyang City today coincides with Luo Tianjin's "clan division" in the past. Except for the Xiangxi Teng Clan and the Sanyi Gang, the "Earth Sect" and the "Xuan Sect" seem to be consciously opposed. The most obvious difference is... except for the Xiangxi Teng Clan, all the other "Earth Sects" live in the Xianwang Mansion.

Undoubtedly, the several major sects currently living in the Xianwang Mansion are the most powerful. Especially the Wudang Sect, which is not only the initiator of this "Anti-Traitor Conference", but also the caller of heroes from all over the world, and the judge who holds the power of the martial arts world. In addition, the Shaolin, Kunlun, Kongtong, and Tang Sects are deterring from the side, and they are definitely not comparable to those "scattered soldiers" and "rabble" outside.

The Luoyang City today may appear calm on the surface, but in fact, undercurrents have long been surging.

Xunzhen and Qingfeng both know very well that this "Anti-Traitor Conference" may seem like the final judgment of Liu Xunyi by the Central Plains martial arts world, but in fact it is a life-and-death contest between the new and old forces in the martial arts world.

Therefore, while all the people were looking forward to the "Anti-Traitor Conference" with great enthusiasm, Xunzhen and Qingfeng were also busy preparing their plans, fearing the slightest mistake, especially... the key links in the plan.

Time flies, and in a blink of an eye it is already the second day of May, less than three days away from the much-anti-traitor conference.

In the evening, Yun Jianping, who had been wandering in the downtown of Luoyang for a day, returned to a private house in Xicheng District carrying large and small bags, accompanied by Li Haitang, Chang Wuhui and the "Eight Pretty Ladies in White and Green Clothes".

Luoyang's spring scenery with colorful flowers and green willows and bustling markets with hustle and bustle of people and people broadened Yun Jianping's horizons and made her linger there.

Since they set foot in Luoyang, Yun Zhuiyue, Xiao Zhirou and Teng Sanshi have stayed indoors for three consecutive days. On the contrary, young disciples such as Yun Jianping, Li Haitang and Chang Wuhui go out early and come back late every day, and they can't wait to wander around the streets and alleys of Luoyang City.

Interestingly, every time Yun Jianping went out, she would return with a full load, with her room filled with all kinds of strange and weird gadgets.

In the past, Yun Zhuiyue still had some restrictions on Yun Jianping. Now, under the protection of Xiao Zhirou and Teng Sanshi... especially under the doting of Teng Sanshi who almost "grants every request", the inexperienced Yun Jianping has endless wishes, endless gold and silver, and endless love. The feeling of happiness of being "held in the palm of someone's hand" all the time is something she has never experienced in Longxiang Mountain, and it makes her cherish this hard-earned family relationship even more.

"Grandpa, come and look at this dress!"

As soon as she entered the courtyard, Yun Jianping couldn't wait to shout out loud, and walked quickly towards the room, carefully holding a long green silk gown in her hands.

In the room, Xiao Zhirou, Yun Zhuiyue and Teng Sanshi were sitting around the table, talking to each other, as if they were discussing something.
"squeak!"

With a slight knock, the door opened to the left and right, and the excited Yun Jianping, the awkward Li Haitang, and Chang Wuhui appeared in front of Xiao Zhirou and the other two. "Ping'er, you are making trouble again!" Yun Zhuiyue scolded in a deep voice, "Why didn't you knock? The rules I taught you..."

"What rules does my granddaughter have to follow?" Teng Sanshi suddenly stood up and walked towards the embarrassed Yun Jianping, while solemnly helping her out. "Didn't you see that Ping'er was holding something? She doesn't have a third hand, so what could she use to knock on the door?"

"Foster father, Ping'er is no longer a child, you can't spoil her too much..."

"Who said it wasn't?" Teng Sanshi glared at him unhappily, "In my heart, not to mention Ping'er is an ignorant child, you and Rou'er are also children. What's more, she is a girl, what's wrong with being spoiled?"

"This……"

"My dear granddaughter, what are you holding in your arms?" Teng Sanshi looked at the bewildered Yun Jianping lovingly, ignoring the reactions of Yun Zhuiyue and Xiao Zhirou, "Is it a gift for grandpa?"

"This is a piece of clothing I picked out for Grandpa." Yun Jianping handed the long gown to Teng Sanshi, looked at Yun Zhuiyue with fear, and stuck out her tongue awkwardly, "I wonder if Grandpa likes it?"

"I like it! Grandpa likes whatever Ping'er gives him!" Teng Sanshi nodded in response, and took off his coat without thinking, and put on his long coat. Even though the style and color of the long coat did not match his outfit, Teng Sanshi still pulled his sleeves with great interest and opened his arms with satisfaction, "It looks good! It looks good! Grandpa hasn't worn such beautiful clothes for many years. Ping'er really has good taste."

After saying that, Teng Sanshi turned around and asked Xiao Zhirou and Yun Zhuiyue as if to show off: "How is it? Do I look more energetic after wearing this dress?"

"The color is too bright, it looks a bit unreliable on godfather." Yun Zhuiyue replied faintly, "Ping'er, go change into something..."

"What do you know?" Teng Sanshi interrupted Yun Zhuiyue's suggestion impatiently, "It's useless to ask you. You can't tell the difference between beauty and ugliness at all."

After saying this, Teng Sanshi danced in front of Yun Jianping like a child wearing new clothes. Yun Jianping's funny appearance swept away her depression and she laughed. At the same time, Li Haitang, Chang Wuhui and others were shocked and laughed.

The closeness between grandparents and grandchildren and the joy of family life are enough to make people calm in the face of adversity. The mature and steady Teng Sanshi abandoned his manners and returned to his original nature. How many people will envy this scene?

"Ping'er, where did you go today?" Xiao Zhirou asked curiously, "What interesting things happened?"

"We went to the North City today," Yun Jianping replied with little interest, "but no matter where we went or who we met, the first thing they mentioned was the 'Eradication of Traitors' Conference'."

"Oh?" Yun Zhuiyue's eyes moved and he asked suspiciously, "What are they talking about?"

"I heard from them that... ever since Liu Xunyi was captured by the people in the Xianwang Mansion, he has been locked up in a dark dungeon and has been beaten day and night..."

"Snapped!"

Before Yun Jianping finished speaking, Xiao Zhirou's body trembled suddenly, followed by a crisp sound, and the teacup in her hand shattered, scaring everyone present.

"mother……"

"Ping'er!" Teng Sanshi blocked Yun Jianping's sight and smiled nonchalantly, "You must be tired and hungry after playing all day. Grandpa has asked people to prepare food. They are all your favorites. Go!"

"My mother, she..."

"It's okay for the mother, go and have dinner! Wuhui, Haitang...you go with Ping'er."

"Yes!"

Hearing Xiao Zhirou's instructions, Li Haitang and Chang Wuhui hurried forward and whispered to Yun Jianping, who was still skeptical, to leave the room with her.

The moment Yun Jianping and others walked out of the room, the smile on Teng Sanshi's face disappeared instantly, and was replaced by a deep sense of grief and indignation.

"Ping'er and his companions have been wandering around Luoyang City for three days with great fanfare, successfully diverting the attention of various forces. During this period, I secretly sent people to find out the situation in Luoyang City, and the spies planted by Qingfeng and Ling Xiaoxiao were also "dug out" one by one by Tang Xuan, Si Wudao and others. Now, as long as we use a little trick, we can easily avoid all troubles and go straight to Huanglong. Xunyi's situation is worrying. The longer we delay, the more he will suffer. In my opinion... there is no need to wait until the "Eradication of Traitors Conference", we should act early, attack them when they are unprepared, and take them by surprise. Gather the best forces, rush into the Xianwang Mansion in one fell swoop, and rescue Xunyi at all costs!"

……

(End of this chapter)