In the southwest of Song Province, north of the Yao River, there was an endless stretch of lofty mountains known as the Huaichuan in ancient times. It was mountainous, dangerous, and inconvenient. It was the border between Qin Province and Song Province.
The combination of many negative conditions led to the underdevelopment of the economy. After all, transportation was inconvenient and everything was difficult to do. But at the same time, the barren hills and turbulent rivers produced unruly people. The harsh environment led to fierce folk customs. Every year, in the nearby villages, there would be collective activities such as fighting over the right to use water.
In such a poor place, the taxes collected every year were few and many people died due to fighting. The poor and fierce people were the most troublesome thing for the local officials. If you couldn't collect taxes, the annual assessment would be a low grade. If you forced the tax collection, it might incite a rebellion among the people. The country bumpkins would carry manure forks and hoes and fight with the tax officials. If things didn't go well, you might lose your job.
Therefore, just like how there were always one or two worst positions in prison for the most unpopular prisoners, the Huaichuan County was prepared for the most unpopular county magistrate in Song Province.
Although the Huaichuan County was poor now, it used to be prosperous. During the Great War of Tianyuan, the imperial court needed an endless source of soldiers and the whole country was recruiting soldiers. The Huaichuan County was barren and full of unruly people who didn't fear death. With a little training, they were like a pack of howling wolves. Therefore, it became a delicious cake in the eyes of the Song Province's military officials.
At that time, the high-ranking officials would come today and ask about the weather tomorrow. The surrounding villages were filled with a touching atmosphere of the officials and the people being united as a family. The local officials made wishes with all their might, summarizing the life trajectory of joining the army to serve the country, achieve great merits, and reach the pinnacle of life to marry the daughter of a rich family. Who knew how many fools they coaxed never returned. After the war ended, they left and didn't care about anything anymore.
After all, it was quite embarrassing. After decades of war, who knew how many young people had left the Huaichuan County, but there wasn't a single rank four military official. The officials of Song Province weren't afraid of burning the bridge after crossing it.
In less than two years, the Huaichuan County quickly became deserted. Barren hills and turbulent rivers produced unruly people. Everyone was like before, doing what they should do.
However, that was in the past. Now, things had changed.
It had been a long time since Huaichuan was bustling with activity. However, the people who came this time were not the lords who had come to recruit soldiers, but some martial artists who had brought their weapons.
Monks and nuns, men and women, old and young, sabers, spears, swords, halberds, all kinds of black-clothed people, cloaked people, monks, immortals, fiendish fiends, extraordinary bearings, all kinds of strange weapons, all kinds of ugly things gathered in one place. All kinds of "I've heard so much about you" and "I'm glad to meet you" never stopped.
The people cupped their fists and bowed, hugging each other warmly, chatting and laughing as they bowed in a dignified manner. They were all martial artists of all kinds. It was very impressive, very dignified, and very impressive. This group of foreign martial artists had pulled up the morality and politeness index of Huaichuan by fifty points out of thin air. The simple people of Huaichuan who usually only knew how to say "f * ck your mother", "f * ck your ancestors", and "f * ck your mother", were all stunned.
Those who did not know better would think that there was a martial arts convention here.
But just like how once a simple place had a business opportunity and became a so-called tourist attraction, the leisure of the locals would be gone forever. What followed was a sharp decline in public security and the booming development of the tertiary industry. Many shrewd businessmen followed the martial arts army into Huai Chuan, wanting to take advantage of this once-in-a-century business opportunity to make a fortune. As for the brothel girls who came from the nearby counties, they were laughing so hard that they could not close their legs.
"Yes, yes, this is very martial arts."
Sun Lang obtained great satisfaction from the magnificent scenery in front of him. It must be known that he had been fighting for the past six years, and the last two years he had been mainly wandering around abroad. He had no chance to experience the original taste of Jianghu. Now he could finally personally experience it and get what he wanted. For someone who once had a martial arts dream, it was really a very good experience.
Just like how an otaku had always hoped to go to the 2D dimension, his childhood dream had finally come true.
This made him happy and sad at the same time, because if a childhood dream was only realized when he grew up, could it still be called a dream?
When he was young, he liked to play with marbles and always longed for a lot of marbles. But when he grew up, he could easily buy a house full of marbles, but that joy was gone … because he had changed. He had grown up.
And the Sun Lang who had realized his martial arts dream and seen the martial arts scene with his own eyes was no longer the Sun Lang of the past. Even if he got what he wanted, he had long changed. He was no longer the same person as before.
Why did he say that? Because …
"I say, Sister, what is the most important thing in the new era of business?
It's packaging and marketing. What is packaging?
The big peaches you pick in the mountains are juicy and sweet. If you take them to the market and buy them, they will only cost one copper coin. But if you put them on the desk of a high-ranking official and say that they are famous peaches of immortality, their wealth will increase by a thousand times. "
"You are thinking, using you as an example, you are also in the flesh business, but you want to attract customers on the street. But the so-called famous prostitute only needs to sit upstairs, play a song, or write a poem, and a group of officials and rich people will climb up. A hundred taels of silver, they can only play a tea party together, they can't even do anything." Sun Lang said earnestly. "What is the difference?
You are also smooth, you dress up diligently, and your appearance is not bad. How did you get to this point?
What is the difference?
It's not anything else, it's marketing, it's packaging. "
He pointed to the endless stream of people and said, "Packaging, you have to find the right medicine for the disease. The rich people like the cultured famous prostitutes, the fat otakus like the two-dimensional young ladies who cosplay. These Jianghu people, of course, like the noble and charming chivalrous women.
You have to package, package into a chivalrous woman, not to sell, but to find love. You … "
Before he could finish, the gorgeously dressed young lady across from him impatiently said, "Young man, why are you being so uncouth? Why are you spouting these unintelligible truths?
You Jianghu people are all strange. The monk I picked up last time had to recite scriptures before going to bed. After being touched by me, didn't he still throw Buddha behind the wall? "
After saying that, she stretched out her delicate hand and touched Sun Zhengrong's lower body.
Sun Lang was startled and stepped back. "Hey, hey, hey, what are you doing? Are you sexually harassing me?"
The young lady's expression also changed. She spat, "You are also lecherous but have no guts. You only know how to talk happily. You are wasting my time."
She was swift and decisive. She turned around and left, completely ignoring the earnest teachings of Sun Zhengrong, who came from modern society and was well-versed in business techniques.
Sun Lang was stunned. He subconsciously stretched out his hand and wanted to stop the young lady. But the next moment, he put down his hand with slight regret and smacked his lips. "You really don't know what's good for you."
Indeed, people have changed. When he was young, the Sun Lang who was obsessed with the world of martial arts, who dreamed of being chivalrous, who could create eighteen dragons with one slap, was gone forever. The pure him of that year, even if his head was cracked open, he would never have thought that after many years of successfully transmigrating to Jianghu, he would actually be telling this kind of thing to a young lady.
Disdainful laughter came from behind. Empress came out of the darkness. At this time, the sky was getting dark and the lights were on in the distance. She was wearing a black cloak, and the luxurious fur set off her beautiful and arrogant face. She was domineering and not inferior to men. She had the image of a shrewd and capable woman. At this time, her face was full of sarcasm. "That woman is just a prostitute who deals in the flesh business. She has been rolling in the mortal world and her innate spirituality has long been worn out. She has become vulgar. Do you still expect her to be untainted?
It would be strange if she would listen to you if you told her this. "
Sun Lang spread out his hands and said, "She missed out on at least a hundred million."
Empress said coldly, "You could have given her an ingot of gold first, and then you would have read the Heavenly Book to her for the whole night. She would have listened more seriously than anyone else."
Sun Lang looked up to the sky and laughed, "Am I that kind of fool?"
General Tensei said indifferently, "Are you not?"
Speaking of which, it was infuriating. Who knew how crazy this bastard was playing today. Originally, there were people from all walks of life here. Because of the gathering of martial artists, it was crowded with all kinds of young people who did not have much experience in Jianghu and stupid rich kids who were eager to live in the martial arts world. These people were the easiest to kill.
For example, there were some people who sold Dali Pills, Tianshan Snow Lotus, Sariras, and the like. It was said that eating one pill could increase one's power by sixty years, and drinking one mouthful could increase one's strength by three times. All of them boasted about it to the heavens, and said that golden lotuses would bloom from the ground. They specialized in deceiving the big fat sheep. Therefore, this shameless Sun Lang actually put on the sheep's skin and asked for the price with an innocent face.
When he heard that the Dali Pills were three hundred taels each, he obediently took Empress' money to buy them. He did not even pay back the price. This was also not the most ridiculous thing.
The most ridiculous thing was that after this guy ate it on the spot, his face suddenly glowed with a golden light, and his blood and Qi surged. He roared and slapped the tree beside him into a pile of wood dregs. Then, he was ecstatic. He repeatedly said that this magical medicine was really effective, and took out three thousand taels of silver to buy ten pills in one go. He swallowed them on the spot. With every pill he ate, his power would increase by three times, and the special effects would also be three times more dazzling. When he ate the third pill, the old man who was known as the Medicine King Family finally could not take it anymore. He directly knelt down and kowtowed to beg for mercy. Sun Lang then took back the money with interest.
This was not the only thing he had done. In just one day's time, who knew how many tricks he had come up with. He had made these evil forces from all walks of life complain incessantly. They were completely crazy.
When Empress thought of this matter, she was furious. He, Sun Lang, was having a good time, but she was a Tensei general. Not only did she have to follow Sun Lang around and embarrass herself, she also had to find time to mobilize people and gather intelligence … Did she have it easy?
Perhaps it was Empress' accusing gaze that awakened Sun Lang's remaining conscience, or perhaps it was because he was finally tired after playing around for an entire day. Sun Lang smiled and asked, "How's the matter going?"
That's right. The small Huaichuan had suddenly become a gathering place for martial artists, so much so that the two of them had come here for the same thing.
The birth of a Divine Weapon.
It was said that a Divine Weapon that was not inferior to the Seven Luminaries Sacred Sword had been unearthed. This kind of treasure would definitely belong to the virtuous. In the jianghu, a famous sword naturally belonged to a hero. Thus, many people moved when they heard the news, like sharks that had gathered for blood. In addition, the accounts of many witnesses confirmed the authenticity of this matter. Regardless of their martial arts level or status, more and more people joined in.
Everyone had different goals. Some wanted to possess this Divine Sword to increase their combat strength. Some wanted to offer this sword to the imperial court or a famous clan in exchange for a promotion. Some simply wanted to join in the fun and have some fun. There were also some who wanted to fish in troubled waters and see if they could get some benefits. No matter what, this was a major event that had shaken the martial arts world in recent years.
"The Tensei Province has been paying attention to the whereabouts of Ji Du, especially after they found out that you did not obtain this sword."
Empress's expression turned ugly when she mentioned the matter of Lu Zhen being intercepted. "At that time, after they found out, they arranged for people to be recruited or robbed. However, that little demon was from the Demon Clan and had a very strong spiritual sense. The spirit of Ji Du was also quite hostile to us. After several arrangements were seen through, she escaped without a trace …"
She said, "After all, it's the Demonic Sword of Ji Du … Although it's not that we can't do anything to her, sending out a master of that level would cause too much of a commotion. At that time, the news had already been completely leaked. More than one family was paying attention to this matter. If I do something too conspicuous, it would easily attract the attention of those with ulterior motives, and even leave behind a source of gossip …"
Sun Lang smiled. Her bitchy personality was already leaning towards psychological perversion. No one could predict what she would do. It was normal for her to ignore the Tensei Province.
Empress continued, "Therefore, the Tensei Province's strategy is to wait and see. They are only paying close attention to the movements of the demonic sword. Now that they are being chased all the way, many masters have become tempted. Even if that little demon has Ji Du in her hands, it is gradually becoming difficult to deal with them. Now that they have been chased to the Huai Chuan region, a pocket array has been set up around them, trapping them in the mountains. It is only a matter of time before they are found."
Sun Lang nodded. "Indeed. After today, I have seen a lot of stubborn people. I remember their faces clearly. When the time comes, I will take the brick and teach them the unique skills of the urban management."
Empress could not help but think of Sun Lang holding a brick and smashing the reputable masters of the martial arts world to the ground one by one. Then, she felt that it was somewhat amusing.
She said coldly, "You have nothing better to do. You don't care about your identity at all. Why did you come to the martial arts world to cause trouble?"
Sun Lang said proudly, "What do you know? It's a tradition of our dynasty for the layman to guide the experts. Let me tell you, if I didn't know the cause and effect of this matter, I would definitely suspect that you guys are the culprits. Tell me, didn't the imperial court throw an imperial weapon into Jianghu every few years to set off a reign of terror and let this group of people fight each other and die on the ground so that it would be easier to manage and prevent more and more people from the martial arts world and form a situation where the tail is too big to handle."
Empress Tensei's expression changed when she heard this. Then, she said coldly, "It seems that I should have made you the chief of the martial arts world and let you control this group of people. You have so many ideas."