Dragon Gate Inn, a na well-known in the pugilistic world.
To use "Dragon Gate" as its na actually has two anings.
One is regional.
For example, at the Jin-Shaanxi border, where the Yellow River's Yun Pass resides, legend has it that Yu the Great cleaved the mountain here to create a gate, through which the Yellow River rushes, forming a perilous terrain, hence the Dragon Gate Inn...
There's also Dunhuang Yun Pass, a key point on the Ancient Silk Road. The image of a lone inn in the desert symbolizes the journey west beyond the Dragon Gate, where solitary desert smoke rises...
The second aning is taphorical for the "pugilistic world's Dragon Gate."
Crossing this threshold is entering the pugilistic world, where one's fate determines whether one is a stinky crab or rotten shrimp, or a carp leaping over the Dragon Gate and soaring to the sky.
The Dragon Gate Inn at Dragon Gate Post is naturally the forr.
Nearby is the famous Dragon Gate Grottoes.
"This place is located at the Yi River ferry south of Luoyang City, backed by the residual veins of Mang Mountain, adjacent to the Dragon Gate Ancient Post, serving as Yu State's water-land hub, connecting northward to the Yellow River's Cao Yun and southward to Funiu Mountain Path..."
Earth Dragon introduced while walking, suddenly turned and asked:
"Young Hero Li, what do you think?"
Li Yan nodded slightly, "Trouble!"
No need to ntion, such a place is both a major transportation hub and a gathering site for the Three Religions and Nine Sects of the pugilistic world, with surely no shortage of green forest brigands from Funiu Mountain, grave robbers from Mang Mountain, and river bandits from the Yellow River.
"Young Hero Li is correct."
Earth Dragon nodded, adding, "This Dragon Gate Inn is indeed well-known in Yu State's pugilistic world."
"Initially, it was the private residence of Pei Shou, an Imperial Censor of the Tang Dynasty, whose ancestors were Mystical Sect's 'Heluo Fengshui Sect' disciples, proficient in Fengshui and Earth Vein techniques. After the Anshi Rebellion, the Pei descendants converted the residence into an inn, nad 'Qiyun Villa', covertly sheltering cultivators fleeing south..."
"During Southern Song, it was acquired by Pan Jiuniang, an external elder of i Mountain Sect, renad 'Dragon Gate Inn', outwardly operating as a tavern but secretly serving as a point for i Mountain Sect to deliver secret ssages to the northern Mystical Sect, fighting against Golden Tent Wolf Country's Shamanism stronghold."
"Beneath the inn's foundation lies the 'Eight Dragon Plate of Zhenyue', an array set by the Pei ancestors to suppress the 'Yique Demon Flood Dragon' using Mang Mountain's earth qi, locking the Flood Dragon Soul with the power of Yi River's Dragon Gate. It was said that on rainy nights, one could hear the flood dragon's moan..."
"Later, Wolf Country's Iron Cavalry breached the Divine Capital, a grand battle ensued here, involving one of the Ten Grandmasters at that ti, Chen Shoujing, the dean of Dragon Gate Grotto Quanzhen Sect and Xuandu Temple on Mang Mountain, who was besieged at Dragon Gate Inn by the direct disciple of Phags-pa, Duoji Sangbu, the Imperial Tutor of Wolf Country."
"Outnumbered and alone, Chen Shoujing fought many experts and was surrounded by thousands of Wolf Country Iron Cavalry, ultimately breaking the 'Eight Dragon Plate of Zhenyue'."
"On that day, the demon flood dragon broke free, Yi River flooded backwards, Dragon Energy shocked, Mang Mountain's ghosts erged, and Chen Shoujing Grandmaster perished along with the enemy..."
"A brave man!"
The listeners were deeply shaken, even Wang Daoxuan couldn't help but praise.
In those turbulent tis, tales of national affairs and life-and-death righteousness, countless heart-stirring stories unfolded across the Divine Land.
Li Yan had also occasionally heard of Chen Shoujing's na, glanced faintly, and spoke, "If the elder has sothing to say, just say it."
He knew Earth Dragon was not rely guiding them; there must be another purpose behind these words.
Earth Dragon smiled at the comnt and continued, "A great fire ravaged this land back in the days, turning it to scorched earth. Presently, Dragon Gate Inn has long had new owners."
"After Great Xuan Dynasty rose, vanquishing Great Xing and Golden Tent Wolf Country, Dragon Gate Post was rebuilt again, flourishing alongside the restoration of Yi River ferry."
"The current shopkeeper is 'Golden Fur Fox' Madam Pei, claiming to be a descendant of the Pei family and the squad leader of Heluo Horse Gang, having rebuilt the inn for passing rchants to rest."
"And because of Dragon Gate Inn's reputation, it has beco Wind News Inn in the pugilistic world, with intelligence on Yu State road that rivals none other than Luoyang City!"
Li Yan imdiately understood, "Alright, then let's release so news here and see if any fish take the bait."
According to Earth Dragon, those people are quite secretive, and even with his prowess in Yu State road, he couldn't find any traces.
Searching for Zhao Lvzi has already delayed them a lot, and to prevent accidents, they can only rattle the grass to scare the snake, luring the enemy to the door!
As they talked idly, they had already spotted the inn.
It was an inn standing opposite, backed against the cliff of Yi River with a main building of irregular three-level courtyard.
The front hall was low like a farmhouse, the rear building towered like a fortress, and the side rooms were staggered and stacked according to the mountain terrain, topped with blue tiles and outer walls constructed with ramd earth and crushed porcelain fragnts.
In front was a three-zhang wooden pole, hanging the banner of 'Dragon Gate Inn', the pole was rough and cracking, and the flag surface had faded from exposure to the elents.
Beside it was a dedicated stable courtyard, hidden behind yellow earth walls, yet from within ca many cries of mules and horses.
The inn was quite simple, seemingly unworthy of Dragon Gate Inn's renowned na, but the crowd didn't find it odd.
This inn servicse horse gangs and traveling rchants, similar to lodges within the city; the pugilistic journey is tough, accommodating more of the destitute, and making it too grand ans few could afford it.
Before they even approached, noise emanated from within.
A mix of commotion, dice gas, and singing blended together.
This ti, without Earth Dragon's instruction, his two disciples briskly stepped forward, lifting the door curtain left and right.
Sha Lifei saw it and nearly laughed out loud.
The saying "When the upper beam is not upright, the lower beam will be crooked" fits.
Earth Dragon, by nature vicious and domineering, yet bullied the soft and feared the hard, liked to keep up appearances, and the disciples he trained were unskilled but adept at flattery.
Along the way, they perhaps harbored resentnt towards them, always causing trouble over trivial matters, but after so secret lessons from Sha Lifei, they beca much more obedient.
Their swift movent brought out Earth Dragon's prestige, making him genuinely a little admired.
Sure enough, everyone inside the inn was bluffed.
User Comments
0 comments from readers