A bigwig who had planted two jujube trees in front of his family home said: "Human joys and sorrows do not communicate, I just find them noisy."
While the court held its breath waiting to see the battle of wits between the monarch and his subjects in Jiangzhe, the vast martial world was abuzz over another matter.
Read latest chapters at freёweɓnovel.com Only.
And coincidentally, this matter also involved Yang Ge...
On the fifteenth day of the first month, the latest heroes ranking was released by Lou Wai Lou.
Yang Ge, under the name "Divine Revelation True Monarch" Yang Erlang, topped the brave heroes list, firmly holding the title of Knife Hero.
With each heroes ranking, Lou Wai Lou would comment on the valorous heroes and beauties, Divine Weapons listed, seeking to convince the masses.
It was no different with Yang Ge.
Lou Wai Lou merged the two personas of Yang Erlang and Zhang Mazi, from the three grain merchants hoarding grain to inflate prices, to the bestowal of the Cold Moon Precious Saber by "Reaper" Duan Yu just before his defeat, laying out a detailed timeline and a trail of footsteps.
Including why he went to Jiangzhe, how he made connections with Lianhuan Fort, and why he went to Hangzhou to help Lianhuan Fort, all were described in a very detailed and conjectural manner.
The speculations were close to reality, and the angle was fairly neutral, not slanting the facts or smearing his name because of Yang Ge’s slaughter of numerous Lou Wai Lou assassins in Yangzhou...
Of course, it could also be because there were too many eyewitnesses, and whether it was Yang Erlang or Zhang Mazi, both had such a strong reputation in the martial world that to force a distortion or smear would only damage the century-old esteemed reputation of Lou Wai Lou.
Before this heroes ranking was released.
The names "Divine Revelation True Monarch" Yang Erlang and "Timely Rain" Zhang Mazi were both very famous in the martial world.
But each name had its own supporters, each with its own followers, and there was a subtle rivalry between them, as if neither acknowledged the other, with martial artists frequently debating their merits in places where jianghu travelers gathered.
The reason for this situation was naturally because Zhang Mazi was a jianghu traveler, while Yang Erlang was an official’s man.
This dichotomy of identities represented the martial artists’ attitude towards the imperial court, some embracing it, some hostile towards it.
Now that Lou Wai Lou combined the names Yang Erlang and Zhang Mazi, the previously subtle opposing groups of admirers suddenly realized: whether it was Yang Erlang or Zhang Mazi, neither stood with the court nor with the jianghu, but had always stood with the common people.
Whether it was Yang Erlang or Zhang Mazi, they didn’t show mercy when dealing with corrupt officials who preyed on lives, and they were just as ruthless when strangling malevolent figures in the martial world...
The nobility of a hero, is to treat all equally!
Since then, "Divine Revelation True Monarch" Yang Erlang’s fame in the martial world was hot on the heels of "Quanzhen Sword Immortal" Li Qing!
His renown so overwhelming that even "Overlord Spear" Xiang Wudi of the Jiangdong the Xiang Family and the "Fallen Leaves Sword" Yan Bufan of Mount Hua Sword Sect, two bright newcomers on the valorous heroes list, were overshadowed by his presence.
Indeed, the old master of Lianhuan Fort "River Crossing Dragon" Li Changjiang, although he had cleaned up his sect after breaking through, the fight still revealed his half-baked cultivation and hollow strength, leading to his fall from the heroes list.
And just like the transition of new and old saber heroes, the new sword hero had openly defeated the former sword hero in front of everybody, claiming the title of sword hero for himself...
Xiang Wudi and Yan Bufan, both long-standing figures on the rising stars list of the martial world, should have reigned supreme with the update of the heroes ranking, drawing universal admiration.
Unfortunately, they encountered Yang Erlang, a dark horse who hadn’t even appeared on the rising stars list but stormed straight to the valorous heroes list, relegating them to mere backdrop roles.
It’s worth mentioning that Yang Tiansheng managed to catch the last train to successful qi cultivation, squeezing onto the rising stars list this time, with a ranking not so low—number seven at first entry.
But when even the two newly ascendant heroes Xiang Wudi and Yan Bufan had lost their luster, what more could be said for his mere seventh place on the rising stars list?
One wonders how many times Yang Tiansheng cursed "Yang Ge, you really deserve to die" to himself for barely making the rising stars list while the whole martial world discussed little aside from Yang Erlang’s name.
The entire martial world was talking about Yang Erlang’s name, to the point that the excitement of witnessing failed candidates from the previous heroes rankings flock to challenge the successful ones went unnoticed.
A rumor even emerged from nowhere, claiming that in Jiangzhe, just by mentioning "I know Yang Erlang," you’d get a larger sesame cake than others...
Many martial artists heard the rumor and gave it a try.
Indeed, theirs were bigger.
...
"Divine Revelation True Monarch?"
Fang Ke, in disguise, came to Yuelai Inn, glanced at the heroes ranking in his arms, then looked at the smiling face of the "Divine Revelation True Monarch" himself, standing in front of the inn beckoning guests, feeling a profound sense of absurdity.
Having just tended to a table of customers, Yang Ge turned and saw Fang Ke standing motionless outside the inn.
This rascal had glued on a beard and dressed like a wealthy gentleman. Yang Ge, at first glance, did not recognize him and approached with a welcoming smile, saying, "Guest, are you looking to stop over? The weather is warming up, and our inn’s signature copper pot mutton will soon be out of season, would you like to come in and try it?"
Fang Ke was so startled by this greeting that he "shuddered," hastily whispering, "My lord, it’s me."
Yang Ge tactically leaned back and scrutinized the fellow from head to toe before recognizing him.