Chapter 14

"Here we go again... eating dirt..."

Yang Yu muttered to himself, feeling a headache coming on.

He had been hoarse for several days now, and the stones really irritated his throat...

Slap!

The crisp, loud sound startled Yang Yu.

He turned his head and saw an old man in thin clothing on a raised platform in the center of the teahouse, striking a wooden clapper.

A storyteller?

Yang Yu was slightly taken aback; the teahouse owner was quite generous.

People need entertainment.

Even ordinary folks need some amusement to alleviate the monotony of life.

However, whether it's a theater or a brothel, the cost is too high. It's fine to go occasionally, but frequent visits would be hard on both the person and the wallet.

For the common people, listening to stories is the most cost-effective form of entertainment.

For just a few dozen coins, one can listen for a whole day.

Slap!

With the clapper, the previously lively teahouse instantly quieted down. Even those who wanted to speak were silenced by the glares of the other patrons.

"Last time, we talked about how Ji Long Mountain, enraged, killed over four hundred officials, shocking Qingzhou. The governor of Qingzhou, Nie Wendong, was furious and personally led the Qingzhou Guard on a thousand-mile pursuit!"

"Nie Wendong, the governor of Qingzhou, comes from a prominent family. He showed astonishing talent from a young age, ranking third in the imperial exams at sixteen, gaining fame across the land.

Later, he abandoned his literary pursuits for a military career, fighting on the frontier for thirty years, honing a world-renowned martial arts prowess.

The Qingzhou Guard is even more famous, having served under our Great Ming's founding emperor, Zhang Yuanchu, for four hundred years, always achieving success in their missions.

This time, they were mobilized to crush Ji Long Mountain with overwhelming force within Qingzhou."

The storyteller was highly skilled, narrating vividly and engagingly, leaving the audience breathless.

Some even imagined themselves as Ji Long Mountain, feeling the darkness of the world and the hopelessness of their situation, breaking out in cold sweat.

Rustle~

The storyteller waved his fan.

He smiled lightly, and a servant came forward, holding a bamboo basket, bowing and collecting money from each table.

"Thief! Just after money!"

"Quick, quick! If the story is good, there will be tips!"

"Whoa~"

The audience burst into laughter, and some generously threw copper coins and silver pieces.

"Storytelling seems quite profitable."

Yang Yu, looking at the bamboo basket already filled with money, rubbed his chin in thought.

"Cough, cough~"

The servant held out the basket again, making Yang Yu, who was penniless, feel quite embarrassed.

He could only pretend not to hear, sipping his tea and looking around.

The servant left, disgruntled.

Fortunately, people like Yang Yu were few. Most of the audience still contributed, and after a round, the basket was quite full.

Seeing this, the storyteller clapped the wooden clapper again.

Slap!

The entire hall fell silent.

"... With Nie Wendong's overwhelming pressure and killing intent, even groups like the 'Thirteen Thieves of Qi Yun' would have fled in terror.

But who is Ji Long Mountain? His martial arts prowess is already earth-shattering, capable of changing the weather with his anger, moving mountains and seas with his second anger, and shifting the stars with his third anger!"

"After several inconclusive battles, the conflict ended with Nie Wendong sustaining minor injuries and Ji Long Mountain retreating to Changliu Mountain with severe injuries."

"Little did the governor of Dingjun, Nie Wendong, know that his pressure would force out a great hero of the green forest, revered across the four states and eighteen prefectures!"

"Indeed,

Thirty years of mediocrity, one day of rising, and the world is overturned! Nie Wendong failed to recognize the true hero, and now his grave is overgrown with grass!"

Slap!

With a crisp sound, the storyteller lifted his robe, clasped his hands, and bowed.

"Thank you for your support, and please bear with me if the story was not to your liking."

With that, he was about to leave the stage.

"Good!"

The hall erupted in applause, and Yang Yu nodded in agreement.

The story was not extraordinary, and many knew it, but the storyteller's skill made it engaging.

However, the storyteller's accent seemed foreign, as if he had just arrived from elsewhere.

"Wait, wait!"

Just as the storyteller was about to leave, a voice came from a private room on the second floor:

"Repeating the same old story, what's the point? Today, tell me what happened next. What did Ji Long Mountain gain in Changliu Mountain to become a hero revered across the four states and eighteen prefectures?"

"Does the court really not care?"

"Hmm?"

The voice carried a sense of superiority, causing the audience to frown.

Some wanted to speak but were held back by their acquaintances.

Those who could sit on the second floor might not be wealthy, but this one was truly rich and powerful.

Some had already recognized who it was.

"Liu Qingqing!"

Yang Yu also recognized the voice's owner.

In his time working at the yamen, he had only seen the county magistrate, Liu Wenpeng, a couple of times, but he had seen this Liu Qingqing, the young master, many times.

He had also heard many stories about this young master.

It was said that this young master disliked studying and preferred martial arts, often practicing with weapons, causing much conflict with his father.

"Too old to tell two stories a day. If you want to hear more, come early in the afternoon."

The storyteller frowned, about to decline.

"Master Liu!"

Hearing the voice, the teahouse owner could no longer sit still, hurriedly bowing and gesturing for the storyteller to respond.

"Master Liu, I..."

The storyteller's face was not pleasant, about to refuse, when a yellow object fell in front of him with a 'plop.'

"Gold..."

Someone's throat moved, eyes glowing: "At least five taels!"

The prices in the Great Ming did not fluctuate much.

A copper coin could buy two pancakes in a good year, or one in a normal year.

Five taels of gold, converted to copper coins, would be fifty thousand!

But this was only theoretical; most people present had never even seen gold.

Many stretched their necks to look.

"... I dare not accept such a generous reward from Master."

The storyteller hesitated for a moment, then bit his lip and picked up the gold, but did not put it in his pocket. Instead, he placed it on the table, not daring to accept it.

Although he was from elsewhere, he had heard of the 'Three-foot Liu.'

How could he dare accept money from his son?

"Since Master likes it, I will tell another segment."

The storyteller conceded, clapped the wooden clapper, recited an opening poem, and then continued.

"The great defeat at Changliu Mountain spread across the land, and the emperor could not bear the embarrassment. The old emperor was furious and ordered Nie Wendong to capture Ji Long Mountain and send him to the capital."

"... Changliu Mountain stretches for countless miles, with dense forests and miasma, and dangerous terrain. Nie Wendong's several attempts to capture Ji Long Mountain were unsuccessful, and he suffered significant losses...

Until the old emperor passed away, the matter was put on hold."

...

"Who knew that a few years after the current emperor ascended the throne, he also heard of this matter. Upon learning that Nie Wendong had not captured Ji Long Mountain, he was furious and almost had him beheaded.

Fortunately, the ministers intervened, and Governor Nie managed to save his life. But he knew that if he could not kill Ji Long Mountain, his future would be bleak, and his life would be in danger..."

"... Another failed attempt left Nie Wendong with no more options. He wrote to the court, intending to resign, but instead, another famous figure was sent to assist him!

It is said that this person was a classmate of his from his student days!"

...

At this point, the storyteller paused.

Following his usual routine, he was about to leave the stage to collect tips, but before the servant could react, the voice from upstairs spoke again:

"Famous across the land? Anyone can be famous across the land? You're just a storyteller..."

"Uh..."

The storyteller swallowed his words about collecting tips.

Yang Yu shook his head; being forced indeed lowered one's performance. The latter part of the story was clearly not as engaging as before.

There was a sense of urgency to finish quickly.

"Master, you are mistaken. This great figure is well-known to all."

The storyteller, clearly displeased but not daring to show it, softly countered:

"This is Xu Wenji, known as 'One Leaf of Clear Sky' and also called 'Gangfeng'..."

At this, the storyteller paused.