Danny meets a bully
The treasures housed within the walls of Jinling's Dagongfang were indeed easily located. Moreover, unlike other coveted treasures, they had yet to fall into anyone's possession. The allure of the Dagongfang treasures lay in the high probability of discovery by pivotal characters in the unfolding plot.
Intent on avoiding being outpaced by others, Song Qingshu resolved to embark on an immediate journey to Jinling with his entourage. In a moment of subconscious impulse, he had discreetly dispatched Mu Wanqing to Jiangnan, hoping that fate would soon reunite them.
"The faithful cool breeze, the boundless autumn moon, and my contemplative state seem to endure an eternity..." Song Qingshu's mind wandered to the arduous journey undertaken by Zhou Botong and Qiu Qianren, traversing vast distances in their relentless pursuit. Having only recently achieved a mastery of light-footed techniques, Song Qingshu impulsively decided to travel from Huashan to Jinling relying solely on the agility of his own legs, forsaking horses or carriages.
Initially, he darted swiftly, employing the footwork technique of treading sand without a trace. But after running dozens of miles, exhaustion overwhelmed him, surprising Song Qingshu. Despite possessing considerable internal strength and stamina, his ordinary light-footed technique fell short in comparison. It lacked the swiftness he desired, unable to sustain a sprint of a hundred or even eighty miles. It seemed that Wei Yixiao's expertise lay in short bursts of speed.
After a few days of relentless running, an epiphany dawned upon Song Qingshu. He began to focus on optimizing the efficiency of his internal energy utilization. Through careful experimentation, he shattered the limitations of his rapid rushing technique, extending his range to over a hundred miles.
Continuing his efforts, Song Qingshu refined his approach further. Following a burst of intense running, he would switch to a more moderate pace, utilizing the opportunity to adjust his internal energy. With each subsequent attempt, the distance he could sustain increased.
After numerous days of pushing himself to the limits, Song Qingshu's internal strength experienced a remarkable surge, surpassing even the growth achieved through his daily practice. Sensing the surge of true qi coursing through his body, he acknowledged reaching a threshold. Once he resolved the challenge of harmonizing Shenzhao True Qi and Nine Yin True Qi, he would attain a state of harmonious integration, where inner strength would surge endlessly without exhaustion.
Five or six days later, Song Qingshu finally arrived at the outskirts of Jinling City, sighing inwardly, "Two thousand miles, it took me five or six days, much slower than the trains in my previous life." Unbeknownst to him, his current speed was an awe-inspiring feat in this existence. Lu Yi, the fastest information network in the world, employed the full might of a nation, deploying the finest horses, ringing bells by day and setting fires by night, sparing no effort to expedite message delivery. Yet, even with all their resources, the so-called fastest transmission of urgent information, covering a mere one hundred thousand li, could only achieve five hundred miles per day. Meanwhile, Song Qingshu, with nothing but his own legs, had accomplished close to four hundred miles per day...
"If I can achieve a constant speed while maintaining the balance of yin and yang within my body, it might not be much slower than the planes of my previous life," Song Qingshu mused as he dragged his weary legs into the city. The more he contemplated, the more his excitement grew. "Travel in ancient times is good, but the pace is far too sluggish. These carriages are painfully slow, enough to make one's blood boil."
Finding lodging at an inn within the city, Song Qingshu discreetly inquired about the whereabouts of Dagongfang's shop. After satiating his hunger, washing up, and preparing for the night, Song Qingshu stealthily slipped out of the inn and made his way to secluded and shadowed corners, eventually arriving at Dagongfang.
"Strange, why is it deserted?" An ominous foreboding gripped Song Qingshu's heart as he hastened to enter the compound and made his way to the woodshed where the treasure was rumored to be hidden.
Driven by his determination to search, he swiftly discovered the entrance to the cellar beneath the pile of firewood. Using his strength, he quietly removed the plank and leaped into the depths while remaining vigilant.
With the aid of a flickering torch's light, Song Qingshu surveyed the room and discovered it was empty. He had hoped to find another hidden chamber, but the surrounding walls proved solid. Dejectedly, Song Qingshu lowered himself to the ground, finally noticing the numerous marks on the floor left by wooden boxes. A quick assessment revealed that they had contained heavy objects and had been sitting there for quite some time.
"Who could have moved these treasures?" Song Qingshu resigned himself to the fact that his search was in vain and returned to the inn, plagued by lingering doubts.
The following day, he hurried to the inn's common area, placing an order for several dishes. Eagerly, he strained his ears, attentively listening to the conversations of the surrounding guests. The inn was a melting pot of diverse individuals, making it a hub for the rapid dissemination of information. Perhaps amidst the drunken banter, he would catch wind of some valuable news.
Indeed, Song Qingshu's ears perked up as he caught snippets of conversation from a nearby table:
"I heard that Yuan Chengzhi's Golden Snake Camp has become a force to be reckoned with in Shandong. Even the Manchu emperor finds it challenging to handle."
"Yuan Chengzhi has truly brought honor to our Han people. With the northern regions of the Yangtze River under the Qing Dynasty's control, it's rare to witness such a rebellious spirit against their rule."
"But didn't the Manchu and Qing Dynasty send envoys to forge an alliance with our Song Dynasty? Will Yuan Chengzhi's actions affect the relationship between the two nations?"
"Yuan Chengzhi is a Ming Dynasty survivor, not a true descendant of the Great Song Dynasty. How could his actions impact the relationship between our countries? Speaking of this alliance, it infuriates me. The Manchus and the Jin Kingdom share the same origins, and the Jin Kingdom has a deep-rooted animosity towards the Song Dynasty. I simply cannot understand why the emperor would form an alliance with the Qing Dynasty."
"My friend, you fail to grasp the situation. Mongolia currently holds great strength and possesses the potential to dominate the world. We have been engaged in fierce battles with Mongolia in Xiangyang and Sichuan. The Manchus and Qing Dynasty have also fought against Mongolia for a considerable time. The enemy of our enemy becomes our friend. Naturally, the emperor must seize this opportunity to form an alliance against Mongolia."
"Hmph, I still harbor dissatisfaction in my heart. When will our Han people finally recover from the past? The so-called saints of today merely cling to their cities. However, I believe Yuan Chengzhi possesses greater insight. The hopes of the Han people may rest upon him."
"Hush! Your words border on treason…" The speaker deliberately lowered their voice but couldn't help asking, "What makes you think so?"
"Yuan Chengzhi has repeatedly repelled the Qing soldiers' encirclement and suppression with his Golden Snake Camp. It demonstrates his strategic skills. He is hailed as the foremost martial artist in Shandong, and his reputation and charisma speak for themselves. Moreover, his cunning display during the Dagongfang incident showcased his intelligence and resourcefulness. It managed to infuriate the prefects in Jinling, haha..."
Coldness gripped Song Qingshu's heart as he heard the conversation unfold. Yuan Chengzhi had taken the treasures from Dagongfang! It made sense — the military expenses for his formidable Golden Snake Camp must be astronomical. To amass such a mighty force in Shandong within a short span of time, he would undoubtedly require substantial funds.
Song Qingshu felt disheartened, losing interest in eavesdropping altogether. He left a few pieces of silver on the table and departed, weighed down by a sense of despair. "Am I destined to forever remain a secondary character in this world?" he pondered, aimlessly wandering the streets. Everywhere he turned, his plans were thwarted, and the treasures he sought remained out of reach. The more he dwelled on it, the deeper his frustration grew.
"Make way!" The piercing sound of bells shattered his thoughts as two galloping horses raced towards him from behind.
Under normal circumstances, Song Qingshu might have seized the opportunity to play the hero and intervene, but his current despondency robbed him of any inclination for chivalry. Swiftly maneuvering his steps, he narrowly evaded the thundering hooves of the horses. However, luck was not on the side of those ahead of him. "Who dares to collide with me?" a brazen voice rang out, capturing Song Qingshu's attention. Anticipating a confrontation between an arrogant noble and an innocent victim, he peered up with a mixture of curiosity and interest.