Chapter 454: Chapter 418: Shengjing City
December 10th, outside Shengjing City.
The Northern Land sky, a heavy snowfall akin to cotton, falls gracefully, enveloping the world in endless white snow.
Zhang Junming’s caravan arrived ten days early outside Shengjing City, lining up with other caravans from various places coming to deliver year-end offerings, waiting for inspection. The carriages are loaded with goods, covered with thick felts, and now blanketed by snowflakes.
The Northern Land’s cold wind is like a dagger; the coachmen, dressed in thick fur coats, have faces reddened by the wind under their fur caps, with frost hanging on their brows and beards. They tighten their clothing, stomp their feet to keep warm, but their gaze remains fixed on the city before them, elusive yet so near.
The entire Shengjing City, akin to a massive Eight Diagrams rising from the snow, stands mysterious and grand, awe-inspiring for those who behold it. Seen from afar, the city resembles a perfect Eight Diagrams. Eight main streets stretch like eight roaring dragons, extending in all directions.
The city walls tower into the clouds, built with huge black bricks, so thick they seem to withstand any worldly invasion. On the wall, every ten steps stands a sentry tower, with spire-carved auspicious beasts, emanating elegance and luxury from every corner.
The gate towers are even more magnificent, with flying eaves, bracket systems, carved beams, and painted structures. Even though the snow has covered some of its colors, the majestic aura still confronts those who approach. The gate is heavy, with fist-sized door nails reflecting icy light under the white snow.
Armored in silver, the patrol guards are lined up on both sides of the gate, unafraid of wind and snow, their solemn faces exerting a strong sense of pressure.
Zhang Junming rubs his hands, handing over the passage document stamped with Empress Dowager Yu’s phoenix seal and each special identity token of the caravan to the gate guard officer for inspection.
The guard officer, along with ten others, spent nearly half an hour verifying everyone’s identity accurately, taking a drop of blood from each, dripping it onto a special mirror, then waved them through.
Zhang Junming leads Zhang Family’s caravan slowly into the city, where buildings are arranged in varied heights, densely packed, the snow covering the roofs outlining wondrous shapes, akin to mysterious talismans within the Eight Diagrams. Even as the heavy snow falls, it’s hard to conceal the bustling scene in the city’s prosperous areas, where crowds bustle and chatter fills the air.
The signs of shops sway in the wind; bursts of laughter and the fragrance of wine mingle with the aroma of food wafting from the door cracks of taverns; the inns are brightly lit, with each exquisite pavilion stacked in layers, their flying eaves resembling cranes poised to soar in the snow. The windows of the lofts possess delicate carved floral patterns, exuding a sense of sophistication and luxury.
For the first time entering Shengjing City, Zhang Family’s servants exclaim at the city’s splendor, filled with admiration, unconsciously hunching their bodies, treading carefully.
"Everyone, be careful when unloading, move gently and quickly check how much was damaged on the way. I’ve asked the inn to prepare hot soup and rice, so once we’re done, let’s have a good meal and rest for the night."
At the caravan’s lodge, Zhang Junming directs everyone to unload the goods and rushes over when he sees someone about to move his cart’s box.
"Be careful, be careful! This box goes directly to my room, absolutely no mistakes."
"Got it, Young Master!"
Two Zhang family servants carry the box filled with brocade, walking straight upstairs in the lodge.
"Why does this box feel heavier?"
"Maybe you didn’t eat anything!"
Once the box was set down, Sang Que, who had been nestled inside all along, waited until she heard the sound of the two leaving and the door shutting before she lifted the box lid.
For the past few days, she came over secretly each day, hiding in the box to listen to the outside noise, today finally entering the city smoothly.
Sang Que carried her painting, swiftly climbed out of the box, tidied the disordered brocade within, and consumed a Xun Trigram to conceal her form, then leaped from the second-floor window of the lodge.
Upon reaching the streets, Sang Que quickly observed the attire and appearance of the people, noting that clothing here was more sophisticated in material and style compared to Jinzhou’s Sanchuan City.
Moreover, Shengjing City’s women are fashionably adorned with painted forehead decorations, their clothing style reminiscent of the Tang Dynasty. Observing their expressions, Sang Que feels assured that these people lead a good life in Shengjing City.
The faces here bear an abundant sense of happiness, unlike the citizens in other parts of Xuan Dynasty, who often carry a trace of sickness.
This Shengjing City is indeed peculiar; Sang Que feels an oppressive force emanating from all directions, suppressing the ghostly power within her to her feet, then seeping out, embedding into the ground.
Here, Sang Que’s own strength is at least reduced by half.
Though this issue isn’t insurmountable, the Ghost Vendor has set off first and is likely already infiltrated Shengjing City, prepared fake identity tokens for them, and created items to address this situation.
In the city, Instant Teleportation won’t work, nor can the Five Ghosts be summoned to communicate; Sang Que can only avoid the crowds and find the Ghost Vendor on foot.
The Jinzhou caravan entered via Shengjing City’s West City Gate, where a horse market is located. Sang Que, wearing a borrowed bamboo hat to shield herself from snow and wind, with a mole attached to her face, enters the horse market to wander a circle and swiftly finds the Ghost Vendor disguised as a fur merchant.
After confirming with a secret code, the fur merchant in fox fur hunting attire stands up, "Miss, are you here for donkey-hide gelatin? I do have a fine donkey hide, but it’s in my house. Will you wait here, or come with me to fetch it?"
"I’ll go with you to get it."
"Alright, then wait for me to pack up."
The Ghost Vendor leisurely packs, loading valuable goods onto the cart while leaving less valuable items behind, instructing someone at the neighboring stall to keep an eye on them, promising to return shortly.
During this time, Sang Que suddenly hears a familiar voice.
"How much for this lamb? On a snowy day like today, we should be eating lamb hotpot."
Sang Que restrains her impulse, slowly turning to look, and indeed sees Qin Ze, wearing only a shirt and pants in the snow, right arm tied with a red string, bamboo hat on his head, a piece of dry grass in his mouth from unknown origin, in the corner of the horse market temporarily assembling a lamb pen, selecting lambs.
Shengjing Exorcism Bureau so idle? Doesn’t he have any work to do?
Sang Que ponders slightly and suddenly understands, it must be He Buning who sent him out wandering, knowing she wanted to enter the city, hoping she would find him through Qin Ze.
Is this He Buning’s own intention, or Zuo Jinye’s intent?
"Miss, let’s go."
Sang Que withdraws her gaze, first follows the Ghost Vendor to leave, temporarily planning not to contact Qin Ze.
Following the Ghost Vendor, Sang Que reaches the alley where West City horse market merchants reside, bustling with pedestrians, livestock and horses; the snow mash on the ground mixed with mud emits a damp and foul odor.
Arriving at the courtyard where the Ghost Vendor resides, the two finally breathe a sigh of relief.
Sang Que opens the painting, releasing Hua Qianmian, Yao Zhen, and Cheng Ge, while the Ghost Vendor hands over the already-prepared identity tokens to everyone.
"I’ve prepared different identities for you. The change of clothes is inside. Keep the identity tokens on you, avoid the Shengjing Exorcism Bureau people as much as possible. The tokens can’t be distinguished visually, but they can’t withstand detailed scrutiny. Many places within the city require token inspection due to this reason; these past few days I’ve only been able to wander around West City without gathering any information."
Upon hearing this, Sang Que turns towards Hua Qianmian.
