Chapter 43: Chapter 43: The Fire-Worshipping Sect and General Fei Lei Gu Sheng’s eyes revealed a peculiar expression. At first, he thought the "good place" Gu Erniu talked about might be something special. Deep down, he couldn’t have imagined the seemingly honest and simple Erniu brother would have such a side. Unexpectedly, it turned out to be a place for storytelling. Seeing Gu Sheng’s bewildered face, Gu Erniu chuckled slyly. "What did you think it was? Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you should let your thoughts wander. My relationship with your sister-in-law is solid." With a laugh, he skillfully pulled out two Copper Coins and handed them to a nearby attendant. After receiving two bowls of tea, he found a wooden stump to sit down on. "Every time I enter the city, I have to come here to listen. You can learn quite a lot." The tea carried a bitter taste, but no one seemed to mind. Everyone’s attention was entirely focused on listening. The storyteller was an elder wearing a long robe, worn to the point of fading. However, his tone while speaking carried strength and confidence. "Once upon a time, in the prior dynasty, demons wreaked havoc. The imperial order was feeble, leaving the common people to suffer miserably. Our dynasty’s founding emperor rose up, slayed the Demon Dragon, and gathered thirty-six formidable generals under his banner..." Before his words could finish— Voices of displeasure erupted from the audience below. "Mr. Zhang, haven’t we heard this part a dozen times already? If you’re going to offer this again, we might end up listening to Old Li next time!" Mr. Zhang appeared sheepish, clasping his hands together in apology. "Ladies and gentlemen, please don’t rush. This is just the appetizer; we’ll soon dive into today’s main topic!" He wiped the sweat from his brow. Storytelling these days was becoming increasingly difficult to sustain. He only had so many tales in his repertoire. If he told them all at once, people wouldn’t return in the future—far less reliable even than brothel patrons. But if he skipped out on worthwhile content, the fierce competition among storytellers would overwhelm him. Navigating this balance was no easy feat. Seeing that there was a large crowd today, Mr. Zhang pondered briefly, then clapped his wooden clapper decisively and exclaimed: "Ladies and gentlemen, today let us delve into the tale of Yun Province’s rebellion and General Qin claiming the enemy’s head amidst thousands of troops!" "Excellent! Let’s hear this one!" The audience’s eyes gleamed, and Gu Sheng grew curious as well. "A few months ago, severe drought plagued Yun Province. The land ran dry for miles, harvests failed, and countless lives suffered..." "His Majesty, benevolent as ever, allocated funds for disaster relief and even sent ministers to personally oversee Yun Province as a sign of imperial kindness. This calamity should have passed peacefully." "But who could have imagined!" "A group of heretics took advantage of the disaster to stir up chaos. Yun Province’s governor failed to recognize the threat, leaving these heretics unchecked. They manipulated the ignorant masses, escalating into a full-fledged disaster, with officials under attack and unimaginable turmoil breaking out!" "Now, can anyone guess who these heretics are?" Mr. Zhang paused dramatically. Beside him, Gu Erniu couldn’t contain his eagerness and shouted loudly: "Who are they?! Who?!" "Fear not, brave gentleman. These heretics are extraordinary, members of a mysterious group known as the Baihuo Sect. Each member is not only highly skilled in martial arts but also conducts themselves in eerily unpredictable ways." "The Baihuo Sect worships an evil fire deity. Do you know that to join its ranks, one must endure forty-nine days of relentless sunlight, scorching them mercilessly? Even their entry ritual is cruel beyond imagination—now think how vicious these heretics must be!" "Hiss!!" The audience collectively gasped. "Forty-nine days under a punishing sun? Surviving that alone makes them no different from demons!" "That’s horrifying!" "With creatures like this sowing chaos in Yun Province, no wonder the catastrophe escalated to such colossal proportions. These heretics truly deserve death!" Gu Sheng’s expression revealed visible shock. Though he suspected the storyteller might exaggerate, this Baihuo Sect clearly wasn’t ordinary. In chaotic times, when people’s hopes were lost, it became fertile soil for cult groups to thrive unchecked. He silently heightened his vigilance. Mr. Zhang raised his voice, becoming fervent: "Fear not, folks!" "Though the Baihuo Sect heretics are dastardly and cruel, our dynasty has subdued the Thirteen States for hundreds of years! How could mere heretics hope to overthrow us? His Majesty’s fury sent the great General Qin Leiyu rushing to Yun Province with his army overnight!" "General Qin is truly like a Heavenly God descended to earth. With over a million misguided peasants under the heretics’ sway, General Qin charged forth cloaked in lightning, a War God in human form. With a single blow, he pierced through tens of thousands, claiming the enemy’s head in the heart of the army itself!" "Flying thunder and matchless spearmanship—those qualities define General Qin!" "Once General Qin arrived, the heretics fled in terror, abandoning shields and helmets, quaking so badly that they soiled themselves. As such, the so-called chaos was turned to dust in an instant..." Mr. Zhang eloquently continued, weaving in vivid details of the battlefield, captivating the audience as audible gasps broke out repeatedly. Gradually, the story veered off into anecdotes about General Qin’s personal life—tales of certain prestigious ladies sending embroidered mandarin ducks as tokens of affection or noble princesses seeking marriage proposals. Gu Erniu was enthralled, his eyes shining brightly, exclaiming how excellent the narration was. As for Gu Sheng— His thoughts had already wandered elsewhere by then. Ordinary storytellers couldn’t possibly know so many details. Most likely, they heard rumors among refugees and spun exaggerated narratives around them. However, the Baihuo Sect and this Thunder General Qin were likely real. "I wonder what level of Martial Arts Realm this Thunder General has attained." Encased in lightning, claiming the enemy’s head amidst multi-thousands—though there might have been embellishment, it couldn’t be entirely baseless. It was hard to imagine what sort of realm such extraordinary power belonged to. Mr. Zhang entertained the crowd thoroughly before circling back to familiar stories he had shared before. These tales included myths, biographies, or the famous exploits of martial arts masters from around Canghe County. For instance, the "Autumn Water Sword" Yan Heng, the "Black Sand Palm" Zhao Honglie—Gu Sheng even heard the name Gu Jingang mentioned, "Iron Fist Jingang" Gu Jingang! This managed to capture his curiosity, and he silently made a note of those names. Time passed quickly. Mr. Zhang clapped his wooden block once more and announced the session’s end, departing while his audience, still unsatisfied, watched him longingly. Gu Erniu smacked his lips, still savoring the vivid tales painted by the storyteller, sighing only after some time: "To live such a thrilling life in this world—surely that would be worth all the trouble!" Gu Sheng nodded in agreement. The people loved listening to stories. In a way, it was a method of experiencing life through another’s perspective. Gu Erniu and the others had futures that were almost predictable. Hence, they turned to this outlet for solace. As for Gu Sheng, his path had only just begun. Looking at the bustling yet distinct Canghe County, he silently thought to himself: "Gu’s Manor is only my starting point, as is Canghe County. One day, I will live freely and untethered, guided only by my own heart!" ... The next day. Early in the morning, Gu Erniu took Gu Sheng to handle the pelts and herbs they had brought on this trip. Last night, Gu Renxu had quietly told Gu Sheng that their stay wouldn’t exceed two days, so the two had to move quickly. Before long, they stopped before a building, its sign reading Mingyu Hall. Mingyu Hall, the property of a prominent local family, dealt in arms, medicines, and various goods. They also offered pawn-buying services, maintaining an excellent reputation for fairness. Although their purchase prices tended to be slightly lower, the safety they guaranteed made them a preferable option. Last night, Gu Sheng had decided after some consideration to tell Gu Erniu about the silver fox he hunted. Gu Erniu was astonished to learn that the silver fox had fallen victim to Gu Sheng’s skills. No wonder no one else had been able to find it—he couldn’t help but marvel further at Gu Sheng’s reserved nature. Had it been someone else who hunted the silver fox, they would’ve bragged endlessly by now. Still, while he admired it, he harbored no jealousy, only feeling happy for Gu Sheng since his life had been saved by him. Given Gu Sheng’s plan to sell the silver fox pelt, the two ultimately chose Mingyu Hall. Upon entering, a clerk immediately approached. "Are you two here to sell pelts and herbs?" 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶 "Indeed." Gu Erniu made a gesture, and Gu Sheng replied calmly: "I have a fine pelt I’d like to sell. Could you please ask your manager to come out?" A deal worth dozens of taels clearly wasn’t small. The clerk, perceptive and attuned, noticed their composed demeanor and promptly invited them to a private room. After apologizing, he hurried to the back hall to find the manager.