There is a kind of scholar

Chapter 723 "Chen Fairy" is also here
Zhang Meiniang, the imperial concubine of the Shu Emperor, was one of the "four beauties in the world". Su Xian had naturally heard of it, and it was said that even the gods would drool after seeing her beautiful face.

The other "three beauties" are Li Youqing, Princess of Lanling in Daliang, Chen Keyan, Princess of Wu Kingdom in Nanchen, and Chen Keyao, Princess of Yue Kingdom in Nanchen.

Su Xian is very lucky. He has seen Li Youqing and Chen Keyan in person. They are indeed incomparably beautiful. Each has its own merits and it is difficult to distinguish between them.

A woman selected into the "Four Beauties in the World" must not only have an appearance that will captivate the country, but also have status. The minimum requirement is that she be the daughter of a prince.

They are not ordinary women.

And she must be a virgin and pure.

Zhang Meiniang has been in the Shu Palace for many years. It stands to reason that she should have been kicked out of the "Four Beauties in the World" long ago. However, according to rumors, the Shu Emperor is not good at that, and Zhang Meiniang is still a virgin...

However, some people hold different opinions, and this matter is quite controversial among the people.

Based on this, some people did not agree with Zhang Meiniang's reputation as one of the "four beauties in the world", kicked her out, and instead pursued the Yang family's daughter who sold tea in Nanchu.

Although this Yang girl is the daughter of a merchant, her ancestors are not simple. She is a remnant of the Daqian Dynasty. If the Daqian Dynasty is still there, then the Yang girl will be a princess!
Therefore, the concept of "four beauties in the world" is not unified.

Li Youqing, Chen Keyan, and Chen Keyao are firmly in the top three positions, while Zhang Meiniang and Yang's daughters each have their own fans.

There are two versions of the "Four Beauties in the World", and there has been no conclusion among the people for many years.

……

Su Xian slowly gnawed on a large steamed pancake and listened to the discussion at the next table. He couldn't help but smile knowingly. Although Zhang Meiniang's position as one of the "four beauties in the world" is not guaranteed, her reputation is the best in the world and the world still talks about it. .

Tang Shujing sat next to him and saw that he seemed to be listening attentively to something. She was curious and couldn't help but turn her head to listen attentively...

"Boring! Disgusting!"

In just a few breaths, Tang Shujing's face changed color slightly. She straightened her body and stopped eavesdropping. She also pushed Su Xian gently with her hand and glanced at him:
"Listen, as long as I'm here, you can't even think about looking for that beautiful girl!"

"What?"

Su Xian was confused and stared at her sideways:
"She is the concubine of Emperor Shu, the emperor's wife. She lives in the palace all year round. How can I find her? Why should I find her? Think before you speak."

With that said, Su Xian raised his hand and knocked on Tang Shujing's forehead.

Tang Shujing pushed Su Xian's hand away, with a slightly embarrassed expression on her face, she had to admit that what Su Xian said was right, Zhang Meiniang lived in the deep palace for a long time, how could Su Xian go to see others?
But...it's a little strange.

She had just subconsciously imagined the scene of "Su Xian and Zhang Meiniang's secret date". Could it be that Su Xian was so... omnipotent in her heart?
Or is she really thinking too much these days?
Su Xian ignored Tang Shujing who was deep in thought. After eating breakfast, everyone packed their luggage and "goods", abandoned the ship and landed, hired more than ten carriages, and headed north along the official road towards Yizhou.

The official roads in Shu are relatively easy to navigate.

In order to rush for time, Su Xian passed through towns and villages without stopping. As a result, after dark today, they were in a dense forest with no way to reach the village or store.

Su Xian decided to camp here.

They are almost all fierce people who are not afraid of any danger at all. The safety factor of camping in the wild is very high. This is the reason why Su Xian dares to rush on the road risking his life.

In the blink of an eye, night has completely fallen. There are no ferocious beasts in this mountain forest, but there are a lot of mosquitoes. The night wind rustles the treetops...

Several piles of bonfires were set up, and the experts from Butterfly Valley walked around in the mountains and forests and brought back many prey. With dry food, water, and barbecue, it was a hearty and fulfilling meal.

The flames of the bonfire jumped, illuminating the mountain forest brightly. Su Xian had enough to eat and drink, and after ordering Tang Shujing to "make the bed and fold the quilt", she took a leisurely walk around to digest food.

Suddenly, Su Xian found a man sitting in front of a bonfire, holding a small steel needle in his hand and grinding it carefully on the whetstone, with a very serious look on his face.

Su Xian turned around and walked towards the bonfire.

That person is "Guan Ping", the master second only to Zhou Wei in Butterfly Valley.

"Hero Guan!"

Su Xian smiled and greeted.

"Guan Daxia" is Guan Ping's "nickname", and everyone in Butterfly Valley calls him that. Su Xian Zeng was curious to find out, and learned that Guan Ping once had a nickname, "Guan Zhong Hero".

In the Guanzhong generation in Chang'an, Guan Ping's name was well-known in the world, and the court also gave him some respect. He respected both black and white, and his future was bright.

But in the end, he was willing to remain anonymous and follow Li Qingniu as a guard or bodyguard close to a "slave"...

"Second Senior Brother!"

Guan Ping immediately dropped the whetstone, stood up and bowed respectfully.

Su Xian was polite with him, patted Guan Ping on the shoulder and sat together in front of the bonfire, his eyes paused for a moment on the whetstone, and he said with a smile: "Guan Daxia is sharpening a needle?"

"Yes." Guan Ping picked up the whetstone and started grinding the ink carefully. The long needle in his hand reflected the light of the campfire, making it slightly dazzling.

"What a coincidence, I am also a 'player with needles'!" Su Xian took out a set of silver needles, took out one, and practiced the acupuncture techniques taught by Professor Li Qingniu.

"Second Senior Brother's silver needle is for saving people. But my subordinate's steel needle is a weapon for killing people. After all, there is a difference between the two." Guan Ping said calmly.

"Oh? That's a weapon?"

Su Xian was slightly startled. It was rare to use steel needles as weapons.

Under the light of the bonfire, Guan Ping's face seemed to have experienced the vicissitudes of life. There were scars on it. His eyes were sometimes sharp and sometimes deep, and he was unsmiling.

He stopped grinding, held the long needle in a strange way, turned his head and looked at a tree three feet away, where the steel needle was pointed.

Su Xian was instantly interested. Guan Ping was going to demonstrate how to use this strange weapon!

On the side, Yan Dashan, Yang Zhilan, and other Butterfly Valley masters who followed Su Xian all looked sideways, waiting for Guan Ping's performance.

Suddenly, Guan Ping's hand shook violently, and a flash of silver light flashed past.

Su Xian ran over to check in person and saw that the two-inch long steel needle had penetrated the tree trunk by more than an inch. The most surprising thing was that the one-inch steel needle that had not penetrated the tree trunk had three or five needles strung on it. mosquito!
Great!

Yang Zhilan commented calmly:
"What a handsome technique. Although my concealed weapon can hit mosquitoes, the steel needle is too light and I can't penetrate an inch of wood from a distance of three feet."

"There should be a unique technique." Yan Dashan added.

"..."

Guan Ping is very humble. He knows that Yang Zhilan's skills are enough to kill him instantly. In addition to the skill of flying needles, he also has other methods, but they are not so amazing in comparison.

Su Xian's eyes suddenly lit up, looked at Guan Ping and asked: "Can this kung fu be passed on to the outside world? I think it suits me very well."

"If the second senior brother wants to learn, my subordinates will naturally teach them with all their heart." Guan Ping nodded. In the past, he would definitely refuse. This is a secret of his Guan family, but it is different now.

"Great!" Su Xian was very happy and said with a smile:
"I can quench the poison on the tip of the needle. If anyone dares to harm me, I will prick him with a flying needle. This needle is small and easy to carry, making it difficult for people to guard against it!"

Guan Ping was slightly startled and looked over with complicated eyes.

Quenching poison on hidden weapons is a despicable method in his opinion. Although he used both black and white when he was the "Guanzhong Hero", he was generally a decent person.

"It only tempers the ecstasy, not harming anyone's life! Of course, except for sinister people." Su Xian immediately added.

Guan Ping nodded and said:

"Second senior brother has never practiced martial arts, so learning this flying needle kung fu alone, although it can hurt people, is not enough to kill people. If it is quenched with ecstasy medicine, it can achieve a very good effect, and it is enough to protect yourself at critical moments."

"Then how long will it take for me to learn?" Su Xian rubbed his hands. The world was dangerous, and one more way to save his life would give him a sense of security. He was looking forward to it.

"It will take about...two years!"

"Two years?" Su Xian immediately paused as he rubbed his hands together, stunned, two years?This is too long!This is a big challenge for him who is lazy.

"..."

In the end, Su Xian accepted it. He had no choice but to learn this flying needle kung fu on his own initiative. If he backed down after hearing that it would take two years to learn, where would he put his face?
However, the good news is that Guan Ping only explained and demonstrated once, and Yang Zhilan next to her learned it. She frowned and thought for a moment and then said:

"Although Guan Daxia's techniques are also exquisite, it is really not easy for the young master to master..."

"I have slightly modified the technique of flying needles. You can master it in one month, be proficient in it in three months, and stick it wherever you want in half a year!"

"..."

Seeing this, Su Xian was naturally very happy. The study time was shortened from two years to half a year, which suited him very well.

Yang Zhilan is indeed worthy of being the number one killer of the internal defense. Although she has gone through a lot of brutal training, she is actually very talented, otherwise she would not be able to reach her current heights.

However, based on the principle of striving for excellence, Su Xian asked Yang Zhilan with a shy face: "Can that technique be further streamlined? The sooner the better."

"How long do you want to master it, Master?" Yang Zhilan asked calmly.

"Three..." Su Xian held out three fingers. He originally wanted to say "three hours", but later thought it was too short, so he changed his words: "Three days?"

"..."

Yang Zhilan was speechless. Even though she was as calm as she was, the muscles in the corners of her eyes twitched. She wanted to master a kung fu in three days. What the hell are you thinking?
Yan Dashan and others were also holding their foreheads, but due to Su Xian's status, no one among them dared to attack Su Xian. In the end, Tang Shujing poured cold water on him:
"Three days? What are you thinking? If a kung fu can be mastered within a few days, wouldn't the world be full of masters?! Do you think it is possible?"

"Haha, just kidding, don't take it seriously..."

Su Xian followed the principle of "I'm not embarrassed, it's other people who are embarrassed" and lightly exposed the matter, but in fact, he was so embarrassed that he wanted to dig a crack in the ground to get in.

……

The next day.

When the sky became brighter, everyone got up one after another.

After a simple breakfast, the group continued on their way.

smooth all the way.

Finally, on the afternoon of the next day, Su Xian and his party finally arrived at their destination, the capital of Shu - Yizhou City!

They entered the city early before the city gates closed at nightfall. Because they were dressed as business travelers, they paid a certain amount of city entry tax...

After entering Yizhou City, Su Xian and others took a breath, and then they had time to look at the capital of Shu——

I saw that the city wall was as tall as a mountain; the roads in the city were all paved with bluestones, which were smooth and clean; the houses on the streets were all two- or three-story wooden buildings; the pedestrians on the streets were brightly dressed, neatly dressed, and full of energy... It was evident everywhere The wealth and prosperity of Shu.

"The rumors are indeed true. From what we have seen and heard along the way, as well as this Yizhou City, we can see that the Shu Kingdom is the richest in the world... Although Daliang is the Zhengshuo of the Central Plains Dynasty, it is still richer than the Shu Kingdom. insufficient."

"..."

Su Xian and others were dazzled as they walked on the bustling and wide streets. As they gradually deepened into the city, their understanding of the Kingdom of Shu was constantly being refreshed.

Yan Dashan sighed:
"In the past ten years, the weather in Shu has been favorable and the grain income has increased year after year. Although the Emperor of Shu did a lot of absurd things, he has a profound foundation, so the people of Shu can live and work in peace and contentment."

Su Xian said:

"The smooth weather in Sichuan is mainly due to the construction of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System by our predecessors, as well as the dredging of rivers and waterways, which turned Sichuan into a fertile wilderness!"

"Furthermore, the land of Shu is surrounded by mountains. It is easy to defend and difficult to attack. As long as the pass is guarded, if the imperial court does not mess up first, the land of Shu can be said to be impenetrable!"

"Since ancient times, those who win the land of Shu can win the world! Today, the country of Shu exclusively occupies this geomantic treasure land. If the country of Shu is not rich, who can be rich?"

"..."

Su Xian and Yan Dashan were chatting while searching for a suitable inn.

The sky was gradually getting dark, and the first thing to do was to settle down, have a good meal, and then plan the mission to Sichuan.

Suddenly, when they reached a crossroads, a crowd gathered in a certain direction, and there were bursts of exclamations, which was very lively.

There were so many people joining in the fun that for a moment, Su Xian and others were unable to move forward and could only move slowly with the surging crowd.

After a while, Su Xian saw clearly that the street in front of him was under martial law, and there were soldiers in bright armor guarding them with guns to keep the crowd out.

"Who is this? Such a big show?" Su Xian frowned slightly.

A Shu countryman nearby replied casually:
"Tomorrow is Concubine Zhang's birthday. All countries have sent envoys to celebrate her birthday. There is an envoy in front of me, but I don't know which country it is from?"

"..."

It turned out to be the case.

Su Xian nodded slightly. They came early rather than by chance. The birthday of Concubine Zhang was actually tomorrow!
Now that foreign envoys were entering the city, the Shu court sent officers to clear the streets to welcome them. There were also many people who came to watch, making it difficult for them to move forward... They had no choice but to wait for a while.

The location where Su Xian and the others were located was three to four feet away from the street. Anyway, they were idle now. Su Xian also looked up and could tell which country's envoy this was by the clothes and carriage.

Finally, armored soldiers appeared on the street, followed by servants and maids, and finally a carriage appeared. From a distance, the carriage looked extremely luxurious...

"That's Nan Chen's envoy!"

Su Xian recognized the uniforms of soldiers from all over the world, as well as the attire of servants, etc., all of which had obvious Nanchen characteristics, so he could distinguish them at a glance.

Speaking of Nan Chen, the beautiful face of Chen Keyan, the "Nan Chen Fairy", appeared in front of Su Xian's eyes.

A few months ago, he personally escorted Chen Keyan back to Nanchen. Except for the last time he contacted her to persuade Emperor Chen to unite against the Liao Dynasty, he had no contact with her.

I wonder how Chen Keyan is doing in Nanchen?
What about the situation in Nanchen?

Although Su Xian was slightly distracted, his eyes kept falling on the carriage.

Suddenly, something surprising happened——

From the side window of the carriage, half of a white hand came out, opened the curtain, and then a very familiar face peeked out, and then lowered the curtain.

That is……

Su Xian stood on the spot, dumbfounded. The person in that carriage was actually... Chen Keyan!

She is Nan Chen’s envoy!

Yang Zhilan also discovered Chen Keyan. She also knew all the secrets between Su Xian and Chen Keyan. Although she felt strange in her heart, she was calm and did not show any abnormality.

"Sir, that's..." Yan Dashan was not so calm, and he also discovered Chen Keyan.

"Hush!" Su Xian immediately interrupted him, and reminded in a low voice: "That's Nan Chen's envoy, it's better for us not to cause trouble."

"..."

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(End of this chapter)