"Tattered of the South
Common of the Central Plains
Heroine of the North" - Sage Qongli, among the last fragments of his writing
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Dust was kicked up, as a foot, clothed in nothing but a simple, worn-out sandal finally breached the top of the plateau, entering into the simple town, part of which was situated over the large Jin River, running below. It was a somewhat small town, but still quite heavily populated, with a bustling main market, one that was instantly introduced to the visitor, the moment they entered.
Holding one of the largest bridges over the Jin River, going from the north to the south of to the land, it was well traveled through, and what had originally been built as a small fort for housing those who were sent to watch over and clean the Jin river from where the evil cult liked to poison it up river at its source, it had developed into the bustling market town it was today. Afterall, with how troubled the east always was, beset with war, caravans preferred taking the safe route over, still well-maintained and protected by the central empire's troops, but even Lin Si was impressed by the diversity of products.
She finally stopped a common peddler on the street as she went.
"One pair of your sandals, and," she glanced around, taking out a couple copper. "You know where Sovereign Jingsheng lives, I heard he takes residence over here in Qing'an."
The cobbler nodded enthusiastically, taking the extra tip she added on. And graciously pointing the way. "If you are here to take up the challenge as well, just head north, at the end of the main street, there will be a couple paths, take the most beaten one to the top of that hill." She followed his pointed finger to a taller peak rising up behind the city. "And his home will greet you near the crest."
He stopped for a moment, before glancing over at her soft face. He nodded graciously, shuffling a little closer. "But don't go wandering around on his property, he only allows others on the road, lest they scare away the wildlife, afterall the young lord Jingsheng loves to go hunting in the seasons. Also," he pointed forward. "Wu's shop has the cheapest jerky and bean cakes." She was a bit confused why he recommended a food store, but shrugged it off.
She nodded, thanking him for good measure, glancing at the sun, seeing it hadn't reached its noonday peak, she set off for the short mountain ahead.
It took several hours of climbing, but she had finally crested the steepest part, and came into view of the walls of the residence. Along the way, she passed a couple others climbing up as well, each bringing along some food and water jugs to her surprise, and all looked quite fit and agile, and almost recognizable, she just couldn't remember from where she had seen them. Well, it had been a while since she had socialized anywhere in the central plains, so she shrugged it off, finally making it to the destination. However, as she arrived, she noticed the gate was completely shut, and a long line of people waited outside of it, arranged in a neat formation. Several people in the line also eased themselves by sitting down.
A man, leaning languidly over a desk nearby, in a shaded shack with a plethora of papers and writing utensils before him, seeing her, waved her over.
"If you are here to line up for a challenge, you will have to make a small deposit, to register yourself." he explained helpfully to her.
"Challenge?" she questioned curiously.
He looked at her as if she were an idiot. "Sovereign Jingsheng, did you not come here to challenge him for the number one spot?"
The jianghu was a chaotic place, several people learning and cultivating martial arts. However, with so many people practicing, eventually the strongest began to band together to establish order, but whenever a dispute arose, among martial artists, it was always resolved with strength. After the chaotic time period had ended after the calamity, the 5 heavenly kings finishing the last of the rising unrest in the last 50 years, the clans having all long since settled down in peace, people were left with nothing to do with their martial skills except competitions.
And now, hundreds of years after the calamity, most of the ancients had retired, in the current age, when even the heavenly kings had mostly disappeared, several young people arose, and before them all, the great genius Jingsheng, also arose, so powerful, he caste all his competition endlessly packing in regret and defeat in every battle, until their fathers came out, and were defeated as well.
Until, bit by bit, his name began to spread, his infamy almost a decade long, and yet, the great Jingsheng had not suffered a defeat, easily claiming the name as the number 1 strongest in the current world. A spot desired by all.
So, that martial artists came to challenge him wasn't surprising, more than that, it was surprising how organized and normalized it had been made.
Lin Si sighed, annoyed. "No, no, I'm just here to see him, I have a letter with me to deliver, you could say his father sent me."
The man just gazed at her, exhaustion apparent in his eyes. "Look, if you have a letter, just leave it with me, if you're here to see him, wait in the line with the others after paying the fee, if you want to see him directly I'll need a signed note from him himself."
Of course he didn't believe her. Li Junlong's father had died when he was around 16, now he was already 27. Over a decade since his father was gone. How would he send anyone? And she had no letter from Li Junlong (Jingsheng his courtesy name). She had the note from his father, but showing it here wasn't appropriate, it should only be shown to the son himself, and it wasn't sealed. She sighed, "how much."
"20 silver taels."
She coughed, stumbling slightly in shock. 20?? "...isn't that a bit much?" she asked tentatively.
The man wasn't gonna waste time on her, someone else had already come up behind her, who she had passed on the mountain path. "You can either pay the deposit or head back down the mountain." She glanced around for security if she decided to break into the residence instead, before noticing he had let loose his presence on her, with a tinge of killing intent.
Ah, so he was strong. But then again, if she was really strong enough to take on the no. 1 strongest, what was the receptionist gonna be able to do against her? Maybe he had a way to call out Li Junlong? She glanced at his worsening expression. Ah, maybe it wasn't a good idea to offend his staff just yet.
She almost bled from her eyes and mouth, parting with basically all the money on her person. She had less than 4 taels left. She may have wealthy parents, but that didn't mean she took it as her own, and well, ehem, she had been slow at getting a proper job as of late.
Hence, why her father sent her instead of her sister out here.
She got into line, the noon day sun was already past half, and would be burning down on them, luckily the forest around them was rather dense, and a couple tall, well-leafed trees spread over the path, casting them in cool shadows.
An older gentleman, came up the mountain crest to stand behind her in line, a little sweat on his brow from going up in the straight sun. He looked to be already past thirty, in his forties or fifties, but also had less lines on his face then most that were that age. She glanced back a couple times, getting a good look of him up and down. His outfit was more or less like that of a monk's, several wooden beads threaded to it, and he carried a staff. However, his hair was intact, and he didn't stand or sit like one. Well, he was sitting already, unlike a couple in front. She couldn't help but get curious, plopping down next to him.
"Say, you been here before?"
The man glanced at her curiously in response, before finally sighing. "Unfortunately, yes, you see, last time I was a bit unlucky."
She looked him up and down, already impressed he could pull out 20 taels from his simple dress, but, as someone who also went around clothed like a commoner, she couldn't really judge.
"Oh? What happened, how long does it usually take for him to come out?"
"Well." he considered deeply for a moment. "Usually it's in the afternoon, hence why I came later today, and, as for how many he battles it can be anywhere from 3 to 10, however," he gazed forward in disappointment. "It seems it's still crowded still, even today…" he sighed. "Last time, I waited 3 days and nights, but not having food or water, I finally had to give up my place in line, and head back down to town."
She gazed at him in surprise. "Wait, it can take that much time?"
He nodded. "I mean, can you blame him, anyone, even the strongest would get tired, fighting such powerful people all day."
She nodded in understanding, "but then, if you went back down, did you have to pay another 20 taels when you rejoined?"
"No, no." he waved, smiling. "Luckily, as long as you have the plaque that scholar Long Wen gave you, you are fine, you must drop it in the basket over there, before entering the gate tho." he pointed to a basket set up to the side of the doorway.
Lin Si glanced to the front, counting the people, there were easily 35 to 40 ahead of them. And already, 2 people had joined in behind.
"Why are there so many," she finally begged the question, a little disappointed.
"Ah," he smiled, happy to explain and have something to do while they waited. He was the talkative type, but rarely had anything interesting to say. "We are all martial artists, looking to reach the peak of martial arts, thus, even if we can't claim victory, a chance to exchange blows with the mightiest warrior in jianghu, who single-handedly fought back the demonic city, isn't this a great opportunity?"
"Ah…" She nodded, glancing up, it was long past noon, and she was already quite hungry. "Do people stay the night often?"
He nodded. "Some do, and some don't, chances are up to two to three often give up waiting during the night, but to hold your place, you must stay. There is no cutting in line. If you do, you will be reported by scholar Wangji to the sovereign Jingsheng, and will be refused from the duel."
"Ah." This is so weird. She didn't really understand. This wasn't really about getting the no. 1 spot was it? What was the point of waiting to duel anyway? Can't you learn more from real fights? She finally shrugged, it was pointless to understand how others thought sometimes. She finally stood up, brushing off her pants. "Yo, could I ask you a favor?"
"Yes?"
"Please hold my place in line, I'm hungry, and I haven't even eaten breakfast, just hold my place until I come on back up."
"Well…" he glanced over at Long Wen (courtesy name wangji). She couldn't tell if he was scared of breaking the rules or if he was loath to let her cheat the system.
She shrugged. "Don't woryr, just say we came together, we are waiting together. Also…" she bent down a little, winking. "I'll bring up your dinner for free!" She glanced over at his supplies he'd brought up, they were all uncomfortable, dried foods, and he had two gallons of water.
He nodded. "Alright," then he added, as she stepped away. "Bring some shrimp, if it's on sale today." Shimp would come up the Jin river from Tengtaiteng, and went bad quickly when it arrived in Qing'an.
She flipped him a hand signal behind her above her shoulder, as she left, confirming she heard the message.
Heading down to the town, it wasn't long before she found an old donkey, for cheap, also buying a cart for another tael, and then with the rest of her money, she bought noodles and warm wrapped meat and fried vegetables and rice and even some tofu. She covered them, putting them atop a bed of heated coals. By the end, she was penniless, the rest of her money to buy the gentleman's shrimp. The merchants watched her action were a little confused, but shrugged anyway. A hot meal sold was a hot meal sold afterall. Not their business what she did with it.
It took 2 hours to go back up the hill, but as she came out, it was already nearing late afternoon, and the smell that wafted from her cart, immediately swept over all those in line, they all glanced back, seeing the donkey and cart.
She reached her guy. There were already 5 people behind him. "Hold it a little longer." she requested, as she handed over his meal, he smiled thankfully, eyes glued to the shrimp.
She dragged the donkey to where the gate was still unopened, taking off its covers, letting out the scent. "1 tael for 2 jin of fresh food! 1 tael for 2 jin of fresh food, your choice of pick!" she called out, no one moved at first, confused. Before, the scent of the food brought them to their senses. 1 tael? Yes, that would be a lot for a commoner, but for these men…easily all great martial artists with some reputation, they had money to spare. And those in the front had been waiting innumerable days, without fresh food, even getting low on water. One of their stomachs finally won out, he'd run out of food the day before, and he figured, even if the food was far over-priced, it was worth it. If only to increase strength. Plus, couldn't he choose anything?
He called her over, handing a tael. She handed him a plate, allowing him to weigh it out on her scale. He filled it to his delight. Following him, the others also instantly jumped in to join. She quickly got over 15 buyers, and within an hour, almost every one, including two who had just begun to wait today, had bought a meal. She finally ran out of food, allowing her donkey to graze nearby, while she went to stand in line. "Thank you," she took his paper waste back to place in the cart with the rest. She oculd feel Long Wen glaring at her, but she hadn't yet crossed his line. She was worried if she tried again, she might, but, well, that was a thing for later, today, she'd already made more than she'd owned when she first came.
"You…"the man who had finished his dish, rubbed his chin.
"Heehee, just call me a genius." she grinned cheekily, winking.
He smiled back. "I don't know about genius yet, but you are quite clever."
She took it, grinning back, when they finally heard the gate open. A young man poked his head out. "The sovereign is ready to receive one for a match!"