Chapter 870: Clear Wind Over the River
Drinking three days' worth of medicine in one go would cause problems for an ordinary person.
Xiao Zhang would not have problems. His recovery ability was incredibly formidable.
After sleeping soundly for half an hour, he woke up and said, "My spirit is restored."
Chen Changsheng asked, "Are you sure you don't want to travel together?"
"We are not of the same path, so why travel together?"
Xiao Zhang stood up, took the dry rations and medicine box that Chen Changsheng handed him, picked up his iron spear, and walked out.
He did not leave immediately. Instead, he went to the Treasure Pavilion at the top of Qibao Village and took that box of ancient tea.
Then he looked at the green-robed Daoists and the court experts and said, "Come on, let's continue."
...
...
Xiao Zhang left, and so did the green-robed Daoists, the court experts, and the Divine Crossbow Battalion.
Chen Changsheng and his group naturally had to leave as well.
The people of Fengyang County on both sides of the main street did not leave.
They knelt before Chen Changsheng, bowing devoutly, seeking his blessing. Even many elderly people who had difficulty moving were carried to the roadside by their children and nephews, hoping to receive the Pope's blessing.
If it were another time, Chen Changsheng would have stayed in Fengyang County for a while, treating the believers' ailments or performing a small Light Ritual as described in the scriptures.
But now he had no time; he had to leave. Fortunately, Hu Sanshi had already sent a message to the nearest Daoist temple, and arrangements for distributing the corresponding medicines had been made.
According to Chen Changsheng's request, one or two priests skilled in the Holy Light Art should also be coming.
"May the Holy Light be with you."
Chen Changsheng said to the people of Fengyang County.
The people bowed again, like a surging tide.
Leaving Fengyang County, crossing the iron chains, they arrived at the sparsely populated Gorge Mountains.
Thinking of the scenes just now, Tang Thirty-Six said, "It wasn't until just now that I truly felt you are the Pope."
The Pope was sacred and would inevitably be revered by countless believers, but heartfelt love and devotion were not so easily earned.
Generally speaking, this required the accumulation of time, and thus the accumulation of reputation.
Chen Changsheng had only been Pope for three years. In remote places like Fengyang County, if the local Daoist temple had not preached effectively, many believers might not even know about this matter.
The fact that he had earned such heartfelt love and respect from so many believers was largely due to the promotion of Zhu Sha Dan by people like An Hua, and the state religion's praise campaigns had played a very significant role.
Chen Changsheng did not want to talk about these things and changed the subject. "The little monster Xiao Zhang encountered should be Chu Su."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "Possibly. If Xiao Zhang hadn't been seriously injured beforehand, how could he have succeeded in a sneak attack?"
Zhe Xiu said, "Not necessarily. Chu Su was also injured in Wenshui City, so don't go off alone."
Tang Thirty-Six understood his meaning and said with slight surprise, "Is that monster really that troublesome?"
Chen Changsheng said, "Indeed, very troublesome."
As he said this, a hint of worry appeared between his brows.
It wasn't because of Chu Su, but because of what Xiao Zhang had reminded him of—there might be some problems at Holy Maiden Peak.
Tang Thirty-Six and Zhe Xiu also knew what he was worried about. After leaving Fengyang County, their travel speed had already increased significantly compared to the previous days.
But Chen Changsheng still felt it wasn't fast enough.
If something had really happened at Nanxi Zhai, would she, who was in seclusion at Holy Maiden Peak, be in danger?
Following the right bank of the Gorge River for dozens of li, Fengyang County was no longer visible, and the boats on the river had become much scarcer.
Chen Changsheng brought Nanke out of the Zhou Garden and then looked at Zhe Xiu and the others.
Tang Thirty-Six felt a bit resistant and said, "Why do I feel like I've become a cat?"
Zhe Xiu said, "Have you ever seen a cat cage as big as the Zhou Garden?"
Hu Sanshi said humbly, "Being able to stay for a moment in His Majesty's small world is a great blessing."
Zhe Xiu frowned.
Tang Thirty-Six sighed and said, "Too much."
Chen Changsheng said, "Hurry up."
After watching them being sent into the Zhou Garden, Nanke asked, "Chen Changsheng, where are we going?"
Now she knew and remembered Chen Changsheng's name, but she still didn't know who she was, as naive as a child.
"We're going to Holy Maiden Peak." Chen Changsheng spread out the map and pointed out the direction for her.
Nanke's gaze was still dazed, unsure if she understood the map. She asked again, "How fast?"
Chen Changsheng said, "As fast as possible. Of course, you can't get hurt."
Nanke said, "Understood."
Then she grabbed Chen Changsheng by the neck and jumped off the cliff toward the river below.
The river wind was slightly cold, howling as it hit his face. Chen Changsheng felt much calmer.
Then, looking at the river surface rushing toward him, he couldn't stay calm anymore.
It was only now that he remembered—after the bloody battle at Snow Ridge, Nanke's wings had disappeared. So how was she going to fly?
A trace of bewilderment also appeared in Nanke's dazed eyes.
She only knew she could fly, and instinctively jumped into the air, without any fear or hesitation.
But how exactly had she flown before?
Relying on her lightning-fast movement technique, Nanke made several astonishing, almost teleport-like dashes in the air outside the cliff, but she was still falling.
The two of them fell faster and faster, the river surface getting closer.
She closed her eyes nervously.
Chen Changsheng sighed, thinking that since Zhi Zhi wasn't around, what method could he use to quickly dry his soaked clothes later?
Just as they were about to plunge into the river, two sounds rang out behind Nanke.
The sound was somewhat like the white paper on Xiao Zhang's face being rustled by the wind in Xunyang City.
It was Xunyang City, not Fengyang City, because in Xunyang City, the white paper on his face had been intact.
It was also somewhat like a sail being hoisted in the shortest possible time.
Of course, it was most like the spreading of wings.
A dozen-zhang-long, dark green feathered wing spread out from behind Nanke, carrying her as she skimmed over the turbulent river surface and then took flight.
Chen Changsheng was even closer to the river; the soles of his boots even touched the water, leaving a faint ripple.
From a distance, it looked like a dragonfly skimming the water.
...
...
Pope Chen Changsheng had left Fengyang City, but the people of this small town were reluctant to leave for a long time.
In a tavern by the river, a young nobleman looked at the people still gazing into the distance at the Gorge River, a look of disgust on his face.
"Truly a bunch of ignorant fools."
A beautiful young woman walked out; it was Mu Jiushi.
That young nobleman was Bie Tianxin.
Seeing Mu Jiushi come out, Bie Tianxin immediately changed his expression and said softly, "The wind by the river is strong; be careful."
Back when Mu Jiushi was expelled from the Li Palace, her state religion inheritance was abolished, but her realm and strength from the Great Western Continent remained. How could she care about the river wind?
Bie Tianxin was just trying to show his concern.
Mu Jiushi smiled faintly, naturally accepting his concern, and stood a little closer to him.
...
...
(Fengyang County is based on Fengjie and Yunyang. The stone steps were written based on Yunyang's Ten Thousand Step Stairs. Yunyang is my hometown. "Clear Wind Over the River" is the large inscription in front of Yunyang's famous Zhang Fei Temple. I've had a deep memory of it since I was a child. Over a decade ago, when I first started using QQ, my friend Chen Yong was very troubled about what name to use to trick girls. I offered him these four words, and he's been using them ever since. But aside from his wife, it seems he hasn't tricked anyone... Finally, Xiao Zhang's departure was a bit cool.)