Jiang Rushuai escaped from the government office, only to find that the world outside was in turmoil, and people from all sides wanted his life.
Left with no other choice, Jiang Rushuai fled to Penglai Inn to seek help from his friend Shen Jue.
When Shen Jue appeared, He Miao exclaimed in surprise, "It's actually Xiao He?"
Good heavens! Xiao He wasn't even on the poster, and she hadn't even noticed the cast list. To her utter surprise, Xiao He was actually in the show!
Xiao He's portrayal of Mu Ze remains one of He Miao's favorite characters to this day.
Shen Jue is a cold-faced but warm-hearted person. Although he said he disliked Jiang Rushuai for causing trouble, he still provided protection for Jiang Rushuai and helped him through a difficult period.
What He Miao found interesting was that the Penglai Inn only had one cook, Shen Jue, who was always busy with the kitchen. Although they kept mentioning the landlady, her face was never shown, and even her figure was half-hidden, making her seem very mysterious.
However, at the same time, this proprietress was very well-informed, even more so than Jiang Rushuai, and directly pointed out a clear path for Jiang Rushuai, telling him to go to the Chai family in Jiangnan.
It is said that in Jiangnan, the business of selling official salt privately is currently mainly managed by the Chai family. Relying on the power of the Chai Prime Minister, they have absolute control over the salt mines on the ground and the transportation along the river. Even in such a rich place as Jiangnan, they have exploited the people to the point of misery.
It is important to understand that controlling the salt supply was one of the important means of strengthening centralized power in ancient times. Salt is also a necessity for maintaining human physiological functions and plays an important role in human health. Even though ordinary people at that time could not afford to eat meat and fish every day, a long-term lack of salt would lead to a decline in physical fitness, not to mention illness, and even less strength to live. Social order would also change accordingly.
The only good news is that the more powerful and arrogant the Chai family becomes, the more people will dislike them.
Jiang Rushuai might be able to use this to carve out a way for himself to survive.
Immediately afterwards, the plot reached a minor climax as the people chasing Jiang Rushuai finally gathered at Penglai Inn.
When a burly man loudly questioned the person pouring water in front of him about where Jiang Rushuai was, He Miao couldn't help but clench her fingers in worry.
Oh no, is Xiao He going to log off right after logging on?
The young man in front of him, dressed in a tattered pudding-like outfit, simply put down the teapot he was pouring water, wiped the saliva that had sprayed onto his face, and said calmly, "Please enjoy your meal, guest."
"I'm asking you a question!"
A guan dao (a type of halberd) slashed down vertically, grazing Shen Jue's cheek before crashing heavily onto the table, leaving a deep crack. Shen Jue didn't even blink, coldly watching the burly man courting death before him.
“I know you, Shen Jue. You’re known in the martial arts world as ‘Bonecrusher’.”
The fact that Shen Jue could use his signature move as his nickname already showed his extraordinary talent, but clearly, this burly man didn't think so.
“They are all afraid of you, but I am not! You and Jiang Rushuai are close friends, so you should know his whereabouts! I advise you to think carefully, otherwise my broadsword will not show any mercy.”
As he spoke, Guan Dao was drawn, and the table shattered instantly. The once bustling inn lobby had become so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone was doing their own thing, but all eyes were fixed on Shen Jue.
Meanwhile, someone began to slowly draw their sword—
Shen Jue stared at the burly man, his gaze finally settling on the shattered remains of the table. He narrowed his eyes and then let out a long sigh.
"This will cost us money—"
The next moment, a whirlwind swept in, and the young man's movement to draw his sword was so fast that even the viewers in front of the screen couldn't see it clearly. In the blink of an eye, the burly man who had been so arrogantly wielding the guandao was now reduced to only half an arm, and the hilt of the guandao was nothing ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) but a skeleton.
"Ahhh—"
As the burly man screamed, countless onlookers drew their swords and charged at Shen Jue. Shen Jue immediately raised his leg and delivered a spinning kick, knocking the guandao (a type of halberd) out of the burly man's hand. Without hesitation, he severed the burly man's head and then kicked him hard again. The guandao flew out, passing through two henchmen and pinning them firmly to the pillar behind them.
Jiang Rushuai also descended from the sky, decisively charging into the crowd—
The two moved like a gust of wind, quickly reaping lives as they entered the crowd.
Amidst the flashing blades and clashing swords, only the endless spray of blood flew wildly.
He Miao was so excited she almost jumped up, watching without blinking as they joined forces to wipe out all the pursuers in the inn.
He's so handsome!
Is such an awesome fight scene really something she can watch?
He Miao even felt a little regretful that such a wonderful scene could not be seen in the cinema.
What followed was Jiang Rushuai taking advantage of the ulterior motives of various forces, using their strengths against them, and repeatedly escaping perilous situations.
The plot isn't particularly mind-bending, mostly consisting of fighting, but the character Jiang Rushuai is incredibly charismatic—no, to be precise, every character is captivating. Every character's fight scene is impressive, and the variety of weapons is amazing, making for a thrilling viewing experience. Everyone follows Jiang Rushuai as he escapes and searches for the true token and evidence, watching him drag several prestigious families from Jiangnan into the mire, ultimately finding the real Zhang Lin and obtaining the token and evidence.
—Yes, the person at the beginning of the story was not actually Zhang Lin. The burly man was just a small fry under Zhang Lin. Jiang Rushuai managed to fool everyone by using the head of this small fry.
Including the audience.
After all, they all thought Jiang Rushuai was just trying to help, but ended up getting involved in the incident by accident. As a result, Jiang Rushuai had already planned the next steps back when they were on the boat at the beginning!
Because of Jiang Rushuai's reputation as a bandit hunter, the bloodstained head had been sitting for several days, rotting and smelling terrible. At the time, Clerk Ma, covering half his face, glanced at it hastily, preoccupied with his master's instructions, and didn't bother to look at it any further. Later, when Jiang Rushuai fled, he didn't forget to wrap up all the heads he had brought with him and run away together. Clerk Ma thought that Jiang Rushuai was just as the saying goes in the martial arts world: greedy and shameless, and even if he didn't get the money, he wouldn't leave any heads behind. He never imagined that this was just a simple trick by Jiang Rushuai.
But it's too late now. Jiang Rushuai has already escaped with the real evidence. He must die here!
So, on the lake at dusk, Jiang Rushuai and several renowned bandit hunters began to fight, and gradually began to struggle. But just then, his friend Shen Jue arrived again, his pair of boning knives entering the fray with a bloody whirlwind, directly turning the tide of the entire battle.
He's father, who had been silent all along, finally couldn't help but clap and cheer.
He Miao's eyes lit up: "Wow, is Xiao He's swordsmanship really not edited in post-production? How can it be so amazing?"
He's father also praised, "So this young man's name is Xiao He? His knife skills are really impressive; he must be a trained martial artist."
He Miao shook her head: "I don't know, but they seem really capable!"
-
In the end, Jiang Rushuai did not take the evidence and tokens to the capital to hand them over to the important figures there.
He knew that if he took these things to the capital, not only would he die, but nothing would change. The current emperor was extravagant and indulged in wickedness, and he also bore a great responsibility for how Jiangnan had become what it was today.
Jiangnan is still the same Jiangnan as before, and the people are still living the same lives. All his efforts will be in vain.
So Jiang Rushuai was deceiving them from the very beginning, making them suspicious of each other, fighting and checking each other.
