Chapter 81. This World is Like a Green Forest

Li Chunchun and Wang Zhenqing nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes. We understand well."

"You speak wisely."

The two men flattered Sim Yangjiao as if they had tails to wag. For the two who were on the side of Qingyun Pavilion, the arrival of new experts was quite welcome news.

Lian Jieha and the Concealed Sword Heart Yangjiao, who had left Manjianghong, turned their direction towards Yangri Guesthouse.

During the journey, Sim Yangjiao spoke about what he had sensed.

"It seems that the Nanyang Merchant Guild and the Hongfang are preparing some trump card."

"A trump card?"

"Yes, otherwise they wouldn't continue to push this fight whose outcome is already clear."

Lian Jieha nodded.

Indeed, if the martial officials of Luoyang help Qingyun Pavilion, it would be difficult for the Hongfang to withstand them.

"Perhaps they might send reinforcements from Yuming Sect."

"Would someone like Yuexia Xianzi come?"

Sim Yangjiao glanced at Lian Jieha's side face.

He wanted to know if Lian Jieha was really targeting Yuexia Xianzi or if he was just saying it offhandedly.

From his expression, it seemed like he was just saying it without much thought.

"Such a high-level expert won't come for the interests of this small place. They will send someone who can handle the martial officials of Luoyang, even if not as good as Yuexia Xianzi."

Suddenly, Lian Jieha began to recite.

"This world, you see."

"Yes."

"Is all like a green forest. The Righteous Alliance and Yuming Sect are all fighting to take. If you don't have the strength to protect, you give; if you have the strength, you take more."

"You're right. The righteous pretenders of the orthodox factions, when you look closely, are all fighting for the interests of their own sects."

"Exactly. What's the difference between a mountain stronghold and a sect? Just like a mountain stronghold collects tolls, a sect collects protection fees."

"Hehe."

"Why are you laughing?"

"Your words make me feel refreshed. I hope you keep such a clear mind until the end."

"Why? Do you think I'll change my mind?"

"It seems like you're going to leave the green forest."

"Haha! To me, the world is all a green forest. Where would I go?"

"Oh, I see."

Sim Yangjiao felt that Lian Jieha's thoughts on the green forest were a bit different from his own, but he didn't mind. After all, what difference does it make whether he goes to the mountains in his remaining years or stays?

As they chatted, they soon saw Yangri Guesthouse before their eyes.

***

Yangri Guesthouse.

In front of the central table, a dozen or so wandering knights stood in a line.

They told a young woman in her twenties, who looked gentle, their names and nicknames, and then stepped back.

The young attendant, who had neat handwriting, raised her head.

A young boy stood there, looking bewildered.

He must be about seventeen, right?

No matter how hard it is to make a living, it's still too early for him to sell his sword.

The attendant, feeling pity, couldn't help but ask.

"Hey, do you know what kind of position this is?"

"Yes."

"If you're too young, we can't accept you. We need people who can fight, not those who will die."

"I'm nineteen, can't I?"

Lian Jieha frowned, looking troubled.

His body was small due to not seeing the sun for ten years, making him look three to four years younger than his peers, and he was always treated like a boy wherever he went.

"Oh, really? You only look about seventeen."

The attendant looked at the boy in surprise.

Upon hearing this, she noticed that his eyes were deep, not like those of a child.

She dipped her brush in ink and asked.

"What's your name and your sect?"

"Lian Jieha. Wulong Hall."

Lian Jieha didn't want to cause a commotion by saying Wufeng Mountain Stronghold, so he used Wulong Hall.

Since Wulong Hall had disappeared, he felt no resistance to using its name.

Moreover, Wulong Hall was indeed his sect of origin.

The attendant's eyes sparkled.

She didn't expect to meet a Lian from Wulong Hall here.

After writing his name and sect in the register, she looked at him again.

As a first-generation disciple of Wulong Hall, he would be much more skilled than the wandering knights.

"Have you arranged accommodation?"

"Not yet."

"Then why don't you stay at Yangri Guesthouse? We can provide a room for Lian Xiaoye."

She was the daughter of Wu Shanquan, the master of Qingyun Pavilion, and assigning a room was no big deal.

Lian Jieha pointed to Sim Yangjiao, who was standing behind him.

"I have a companion. Can we share a room?"

The attendant nodded after glancing at the old man.

"Yes, it would be a bit spacious for one person anyway. What's your companion's name?"

Lian Jieha stepped aside.

Sim Yangjiao stepped forward and answered.

"My name is Sim... Tong. My nickname is Jiu... Tian Laodao (Nine Heavens Old Saber)."

Sim Yangjiao mixed the name he used during the Green Forest Conference.

The attendant, though unfamiliar with the name and nickname, didn't show it. The world is vast and full of strange people. Jiu Tian Laodao Sim Tong must be one of them.

"I'll discuss your remuneration with the master and let you know. Please have some tea while you wait. I'll write down the names of the others and come back."

Lian Jieha and Sim Yangjiao sat at a table by the window.

The guesthouse's dining hall was spacious, as there weren't many applicants.

Lian Jieha sipped his tea and chuckled.

"Jiu Tian Laodao Sim Tong?"

"Hehe, I plan to live by that name from now on."

"Can you just change the name your parents gave you like that?"

"It's fine. After all, Sim Yangjiao was also a name given by my master. I was an orphan."

"Got it. If Old Sim wants to do it, who am I to stop him?"

Lian Jieha secretly welcomed Sim Yangjiao's name change. Shen Yangjiao, the Concealed Sword Heart, has too many enemies. If he keeps using that name, he'll be too busy dealing with them.

"How about you, Sir, choose a suitable nickname?"

"I don't like childish ones."

Sim Tong didn't press further at Lian Jieha's firm refusal.

After about a quarter of an hour,

The attendant, who had left for a moment, approached.

"By the way, the first-generation disciples of Wulong Hall are said to have gone to Zhengzhou... Did you come alone?"

"Yes."

"I'm sorry about your father. I didn't know Yuexia Xianzi was such a wicked person."

"Grudges often make people lose their minds."

Surprised by Lian Jieha's calm response, the attendant asked.

"What's your relationship with Chan Yue Jianke?"

"He's my father."

"Oh! I see."

She looked at Lian Jieha with renewed interest.

The direct descendants of Wulong Hall were all exceptionally skilled for their age. Of course, nowadays, there are many people who look down on their Jiu Tian Sword, but that's another story.

"I hope you do well. We've decided to offer you the highest remuneration. Three hundred coins per day. Is that acceptable?"

Lian Jieha nodded.

Three hundred coins a day means three silver taels in ten days, twice what other wandering knights receive.

Sim Tong asked casually.

"I heard that the martial sects of Luoyang are helping. Do you know which ones?"

"Baixian Sect, Dalian Sect, and Qiyang Sect have decided to send experts."

Sim Tong nodded, recognizing the names.

They all have deep grudges against Yuming Sect, though he didn't know that.

"We can handle the Hongfang alone. They are coming to prepare for the support from Yuming Sect. They all have deep grudges against Yuming Sect."

Baixian Sect, Dalian Sect, and Qiyang Sect suffered significant losses from Yuming Sect in Leshui. Helping Qingyun Pavilion this time is their way of taking revenge.

"Can they handle Yuming Sect?"

"I believe they can. Yuming Sect won't send peak experts even if they get involved."

"Understood. When will the fight be?"

"I'll let you know just before the battle. You won't have to wait long."

The attendant, who was talking, returned to her seat when a stranger entered the guesthouse.

Former Qingyun Pavilion members who had once been part of Nanyang Merchant Guild were busily coming and going.

They had been involved in the Wufeng Mountain Stronghold suppression but didn't recognize Lian Jieha.

His clean and tidy appearance helped, but more importantly, no one had seen Lian Jieha up close.

Moreover, no one associated Lian Jieha with the green forest when he mentioned Wulong Hall.

***

After two days, experts from Baixian Sect, Dalian Sect, and Qiyang Sect arrived at the guesthouse.

The guesthouse, which was half empty, was now packed with martial artists.

The wandering knights had to find rooms in nearby guesthouses due to the lack of vacancies.

The experts from the three sects showed interest in the wandering knight from Wulong Hall.

Huang Dongye from Baixian Sect, Wu Zhongshan from Dalian Sect, and Sun Shangji from Qiyang Sect were particularly interested.

They had roamed together for a long time as the "Five Heroes of Luoyang" and knew Wulong Hall well.

At dusk, four people sat in the guesthouse dining hall.

The attendant from Qingyun Pavilion and the three from Luoyang: Huang Dongye, Wu Zhongshan, and Sun Shangji.

The attendant asked with a serious face.

"So, Chan Yue Jianke doesn't have a son named Lian Jieha?"

Huang Dongye, the first of the Five Heroes of Luoyang, nodded.

"That's correct. I formed a brotherhood with Lian Shuzhu, the third daughter of Wulong Hall, and we traveled together."

"I know. The Five Heroes of Luoyang are famous."

The attendant looked disappointed.

The Five Heroes of Luoyang were admired by the younger generation, especially because Lian Shuzhu of Wulong Hall and Li Xiaomin of Yitian Sect were among them. Wulong Hall was once a name that reached the heavens.

Huang Dongye continued.

"Lian Shuzhu only has two older brothers, Lian Wubai and Lian Shengbai. Lian Jieha? I thought they used the character 'Bai' in their names. Isn't that different?"

"Could he be a half-brother?"

The attendant recalled Lian Jieha's confident face.

It was hard to believe he was impersonating someone else.

'No way. If it was a few years ago, maybe, but now?'

Why would he do such a thing when Wulong Hall is being criticized by people?

"If he said he was from Wulong Hall, he's not a half-brother. I've never heard of anyone named Lian Jieha in Wulong Hall. It's all a lie."

Wu Zhongshan, the second of the Five Heroes of Luoyang, spoke with anger.

At that moment, someone descended the stairs.

Lian Jieha.

Huang Dongye, who had been looking around casually, widened his eyes.

Wu Zhongshan and Sun Shangji's expressions also hardened.

The three looked at Lian Jieha in surprise, and he waved his hand lightly.

"Hey, nice to see you. How long has it been? How have you been?"

"Xiaoye, what are you doing here?"

Huang Dongye couldn't believe it.

Why would the best of the Wufeng Ten Heroes be here?

Wu Zhongshan and Sun Shangji turned their heads away, pretending not to see him.

"Didn't you know? I've been wandering the world lately. Like a Jianghu journey, you could say."

The three men shuddered at the mention of a Jianghu journey.

They remembered the hot-blooded journey they took, only to be defeated by him.