"Shaless!"
Shen Sanyou slamd the table hard, cursing, "Isn’t a house just for living in?"
"These nobles and their countless mansions, they don’t even glance at them. They’re practically rotting away, so why can’t I live in them?"
"What a bunch of cheapskates!"
"Hahaha..." The woman beside him was laughing so hard she couldn’t stand straight.
Li Yan glanced over, a little surprised.
Typically, the won in the brothels were worldly and perceptive, never behaving this way.
Most likely, she was an old acquaintance of Shen Sanyou.
After Shen Sanyou finished his rant, he didn’t bring it up again. Instead, he picked up his wine cup, took a sip, and sneered, "I know what you’re after. You want to ask about the Mystical Sect’s affairs in Chang’an."
"Don’t rush, there’s a good show later. Let’s talk after watching it."
"A good show?"
Li Yan’s interest was piqued.
At that mont, Shen Sanyou’s eyes lit up, and he pointed below, "Look! The good show’s starting!"
Li Yan looked down, a trace of astonishnt flashing in his eyes.
On the stage below, the Western Region dancers had dispersed, and two people strode onto the stage.
One wore a long robe, tall and thin, with deep wrinkles on his face, his hair and mustache white. He appeared solemn, playing with a pair of walnuts in his left hand...
The other was a middle-aged man, plump and fair, dressed in a landlord robe, his face full of smiles, appearing very amiable...
The plump landlord coughed to draw the crowd’s attention, then respectfully cupped his hands to them, "Ladies and gentlen, I am the leader of Wu’s Troupe. Today, we are competing in skills with Yang’s Troupe."
"In this line of work, it’s all about skill, but which of us is better depends on your judgnt."
"Soon, our disciples will distribute so votes, and after we each show our skills, you can vote for whoever impresses you."
"Ladies and gentlen, if we disturb you, please bear with us."
With that, he raised his hand in a fist and gave a deep bow.
"Great!"
"Tonight wasn’t a waste!"
"Show your real skills, and there will be rewards!"
The audience around them cheered, creating an uproar.
The chubby leader of Wu’s Troupe made exaggerated faces, bowed to the left and right, and said amusing words, causing more uproarious laughter.
With just a few words, he had the atmosphere of the hall under control.
The tall, thin old man stepped forward, unwilling to be outdone, and cupped his hands, saying, "Everyone, what the leader of Wu’s Troupe said is true. In our line, it’s all about real skills. Talking doesn’t get you anywhere."
"You are all well-inford. Our Xicai Sect’s skills are nurous and cannot all be compared one by one, lest we waste your ti."
"So we’ll compete in three rounds: strength, skill, and ancient colorful magic."
He turned and said, "Leader Wu, would you like to go first?"
The chubby leader hurriedly cupped his hands, "I’m the junior, of course, I should let Leader Yang go first."
"Please, after you."
Though their expressions were amicable, they were clearly rivals.
"Alright."
Leader Yang nodded, smirked coldly, and stepped off the stage.
Ah, it was the Xicai Sect’s troupe.
Li Yan had realized by now and wondered why a brothel was putting on a variety show.
The woman next to Shen Sanyou giggled, covering her mouth, "Little brother, you might not know, but Xicai was forrly known as the hundred-amusent troupe."
"During the prosperous Tang dynasty, around the Lantern Festival, troupes from across the Divine State would gather in Chang’an to compete at the Huaye Shining Pavilion."
"Our master welcos them, so there are always Xicai performances at Huawei Building every night."
"For pugilistic perforrs, Huawei Building is a Fengshui treasure. These two are the most famous troupes in Chang’an. They’ve agreed to compete, and whoever wins gets to perform at Huawei Building next year."
"Oh, I see."
Li Yan nodded slightly, but his interest waned.
In his past life, he had seen plenty of both ancient colorful magic and modern magic, as well as various circus acts.
Even in this world, Zhuque Street was full of pugilistic perforrs with all sorts of talents.
Shen Sanyou, noticing this, gave a mysterious smile, "Just watch. These two troupes are different from the ordinary."
As he spoke, soone took the stage below.
It was a middle-aged man, robust in stature, with a dark complexion and an honest, rustic appearance akin to a rural farr.
"Ladies and gentlen..."
The man’s strong accent from Yu State bood.
Folding his fists at the crowd, he said, "I’ll be performing traditional strength acts, swinging the blade and drawing the bow. As they say, a hundred-pound Guan’s Blade in spring and autumn displays power..."
"Hu—"
Before he could finish, soone booed from below.
"Hey, brother, hold your horses."
The man on stage was unhurried, "I know you’re all bored of this kind of thing, but since I’m putting on a show, I’ve certainly got sothing special!"
"You all know about swinging blades and drawing bows. Anyone can swing a hundred-jin Guan’s Blade, and you’d think it’s dull."
"So, I’ll add a bit more..."
"What, what did you say?!"
"Two hundred pounds?"
"Hey, that’s tough for ..."
With that, he suddenly extended four fingers.
"Four hundred pounds!"
Everyone collectively gasped.
Even Li Yan found it hard to believe.
He knew this traditional acrobatics show as wielding an iron Guan’s Blade to demonstrate extraordinary strength.
Four hundred pounds and still spinning it.
That was sothing else...
Seeing he had everyone’s attention, the man bellowed, "Co on, just talking isn’t enough."
"Everyone, watch closely. Brothers, bring it up for !"
As soon as he finished speaking, a few n stepped up from below.
Paired two by two, they lifted a long Guan’s Blade with wooden rods on their shoulders, shouting in unison as they brought it onto the stage.
The blade was pitch black, forged entirely from raw iron, with edges two fingers thick and a large copper ring at each end.
The Spring and Autumn Guan’s Blade required imnse strength from the waist, legs, and arms, and this one was more a decoration than a weapon.
Even the Divine Statue’s accessories in temples weren’t so hefty.
Thud!
Even with careful handling, it landed with a dull thud.
"Spit!"
The muscular man spat into his hands, rubbed them together, then approached to lift it. Halfway there, he suddenly acted like he heard sothing and looked wildly at a distance, "Hey, brother over there, you don’t believe it, huh? Think it’s paper?"
"Co up and see if I’m bluffing!"
"Alright!"
Curious folks imdiately went on stage to inspect.
The big blade was indeed untampered with.
So couldn’t budge it at all, while those with remarkable strength in the martial arts scene could barely lift it half an inch. Giving the Xicai man a big thumbs up, they shuffled back down.
"Hahaha!"
The little test had the audience howling with laughter.
The tough man wasted no ti, removing his shirt to reveal a gleaming, almost lacquered muscular fra.
Gripping the blade’s handle in a lifting stance, he took a deep breath. As he moved, his muscles rhythmically danced, almost unraveling like strands of thread.
"Rise!"
With a fierce shout, the weighty Guan’s Blade was lifted slowly off the ground.
At the sa ti, his face turned somber. Flexing his biceps, he spun the blade around in a circle.
Then his speed increased, spinning it with all sorts of flourishes.
Going with the flow, casting a backward glance at the moon, snatching victory from defeat...
These moves, common in blademanship, were mostly theatrical flourishes, terrifying when done with such a hefty weapon.
"Bravo!"
"Bravo!"
The audience roared in approval at the imposing spectacle of the spinning Spring and Autumn Guan’s Blade.
Li Yan’s expression turned grave as he watched.
It was the servant body technique!
He’s inviting a presence onto himself.
This thod was similar to a Divination Child. Those skilled in the servant body technique often perford feats like crossing Blade Mountain and fire seas during temple fairs and sacred festivals...
The man below hadn’t achieved Hidden Energy, but he was close to the peak of Ming Jin and possessed unnatural strength.
Yet to wield a four-hundred-pound Spring and Autumn Guan’s Blade with such ease, he must have used the servant body technique.
At this mont, there was already a yin soul clinging to him...
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