Under the hazy moonlight, some pheasants were pecking on the snow-covered poplar branches. Dragging their long tails, some pheasants were pecking on some grains in the snow. Except for the roars of wild beasts, there was no other sound in the silent night sky.
In the carriage which was not very spacious, Fu Fan sat opposite to the coachman who sent him to the south. The coachman had a high forehead. Although his hair had already turned white, his eyes which were obviously smaller than that of ordinary people looked particularly spirited.
He was called Yu Fu, the steward that Fu Chen specially assigned to Fu Fan. This time, when Fu Fan went to the south to learn martial arts, Yu Fu was the only person who escorted the heir of Fu Family on the surface. As for whether Fu Mansion had assigned someone to follow them secretly or not, it was unknown.
When Fu Fan was still in Fu Mansion, due to the pampering and indulgence of his family members, he had read a lot of strange novels. Therefore, he was quite yearning for the gratitude and resentment of men and women in Jianghu in the novels. According to the conventions in the novels, the one who could escort the heir of Fu Family to travel alone must be a powerhouse among powerhouses in Jianghu. However, after traveling for more than half a month, Fu Fan could not find any trace of a powerhouse in Jianghu from the steward beside him.
How to explain it? If this steward of Fu Mansion was really a powerhouse who could leap onto eaves and vault over walls and cross a river on a reed, he should not be less spirited than a spoiled son of a rich family. However, on the way, before Fu Fan felt tired, this powerhouse would complain that he could not walk anymore and insisted to stay for a rest. Fu Fan could not refuse him; therefore, he could only nod and agree.
In this way, no matter how Yu Fu boasted, Fu Fan just smiled and didn't answer him. As for the anecdotes in Jianghu that Yu Fu talked about, Fu Fan was not interested in them. Over these years, he had read a lot of novels about chivalry. As for the legendary powerhouses in Jianghu who could split a river with a finger and turn their breath into frost, he didn't believe in them.
On this day, Fu Fan and Yu Fu finally left the territory of Youzhou Province. If they continued to travel southward, they would arrive at their destination, Lingzhou Province, in less than two months. Although Fu Fan and Yu Fu did not deliberately hurry along the way, they did not delay their journey. Just like at this moment, they could not find any inns in the wilderness, so they simply sat opposite each other in the carriage. The carriage was not big, but it was enough to accommodate the two of them.
Nearly a month of bumpy travel made Fu Fan, who was not very strong, look even more emaciated. Yu Fu looked at his master and felt his heart ache. He was also a veteran of the Fu Residence, and the youth in front of him had grown up under his watch. Although Fu Fan's actions in Huaining City over the past ten years seemed to have softened his temperament, it was precisely because of this that the seniors of the Fu Residence liked this Young Master from the bottom of their hearts.
Fu Fan looked at the absent-minded Yu Fu sitting across from him. Coupled with the roars of beasts coming from outside, he couldn't help but feel a little afraid. He took the initiative to start a conversation, "Uncle Yu, can you tell me more about martial arts? I've been sent by Father to Jiangnan to learn martial arts, so I can learn some general knowledge in advance, so I won't panic when the time comes. "
Hearing Fu Fan's words, Yu Fu suddenly came to his senses. He reached out and slapped his head, then chuckled at Fu Fan. "This old servant has forgotten about this. Young Master, thank you for reminding me. Otherwise, if I really make a mistake, I, Old Yu, will become the eternal sinner of the Fu. Won't I be scolded to death by Master when I return?"
Taking a deep breath, Yu Fu first organized his thoughts in his mind to make sure he did not miss anything. Then he said, "Regarding martial arts, the earlier the better. Just like those martial arts aristocratic families in Jianghu, which one of them doesn't have their own descendants starting to train their muscles and bones from a young age, using all kinds of precious medicinal herbs to nourish their bodies. When they reach the age to learn martial arts, the elders in the family will plan their future path in advance according to their situation."
Seeing Fu Fan's somewhat gloomy expression, Yu Fu hurriedly changed the topic. "However, the path of martial arts ultimately depends on one's own talent, perseverance, and so on. Those famous sects in Jianghu have many good-for-nothing disciples. On the other hand, the children of Jianghu who have never been taught by a master and have walked their entire lives on the unorthodox path are not without outstanding people. Old Yu knew what the young master was worried about. It was nothing more than thinking that it was too late for him to learn martial arts. Everyone in Jianghu knew this, so how could the Great General not understand? Young Master, please be at ease. Since the Great General chose to let you start learning martial arts at this time, he must have made a foolproof plan. "
After listening to Yu Fu's words, Fu Fan's originally anxious heart gradually calmed down. Yes, his father must have arranged everything for him. He only needed to do as he was told. There were not so many things that would make him frustrated.
After thinking this through, Fu Fan's mood also became much better. He smiled and motioned for Yu Fu to continue speaking.
"Next, I will talk to the Young Master about the realms of martial artists in Jianghu. This old servant only heard some of it from hearsay. For the time being, Young Master should treat it as a joke. Just listen and don't take it seriously. It is said that before our Jiangchu Dynasty pacified the six countries, the division of martial arts realms was actually not clear. Each country had their own set of standards. This caused a second rank martial artist from one country to become a third rank or first rank martial artist in a neighboring country. Think about it, when two people of similar strength compete, one claims to be a first rank martial artist and the other claims to be a third rank martial artist. However, if the first rank martial artist is accidentally defeated by the third rank martial artist, wouldn't that be a huge joke? So, before the Central Plains was unified, Jianghu was actually very chaotic. Those so-called Jianghu people were mostly hot-blooded and impulsive. They often drew their swords at the slightest disagreement, not to mention fighting for fame. "
Taking off the wine gourd at his waist, he slowly drank two mouthfuls. Clicking his tongue, Yu Fu slightly narrowed his eyes and continued, "Those Jianghu Wanderers fought to their heart's content, but in the end, weren't the common people the ones who suffered? It was not rare to see Wanderers directly fighting in the streets of the city. They wandered everywhere in this vast world and didn't have that many scruples. If they smashed a roadside stall, who would pay for it? Even if those Wanderers were willing to pay for it, would the common people really dare to ask for it? So, for the stability of the dynasty and to let these Jianghu people know their place, after our Jiangchu Dynasty established the Central Plains, we immediately set a standard for the cultivation of martial artists. All martial artists who can't break armor are considered to be unqualified. Young Master, do you know what armor this so-called Armor Breaking is supposed to break? "
Fu Fan was engrossed in listening, but he didn't expect Yu Fu to keep him in suspense. After thinking carefully, he still probed, "Could it be our imperial court's Godly Mecha?"
Yu Fu was slightly taken aback when he heard those words, then he laughed loudly and said, "Young Master, you're thinking too much. The Godly Mech Armor is the exclusive armor of the Godly Mech Battalion, which is second to none in our empire. How can it be easily broken by ordinary martial artists? This Armor Breaking is actually just an ordinary standard armor of the dynasty. However, during the Seven Nations Competition for Supremacy, our Jiangchu Dynasty's armor had the best defense and could block swords and sabers. So, it's actually not easy for martial artists to break armor. In the Jianghu, they can barely be considered to be qualified. Those who break three armors and below are all seventh rank martial artists. Those who break three armors and below five armors are sixth rank. Those who break five armors and within ten armors are fifth rank. Those who break ten armors and within twenty armors are fourth rank. As for the first, second, and third rank, I heard that it's not just based on the number of armors broken. It also takes into account the length of one's breath and the depth of one's inner force. The more specific details are not something this old servant knows. This old servant still hopes that when young master becomes a rare first rank expert in the future, you can tell this old servant in detail about the advantages and disadvantages. "
Fu Fan's mood improved after listening to Yu Fu's explanation, but he still had some doubts in his heart. He continued, "Uncle Yu, since the first, second, and third rank realms are not divided in detail, then how many such experts are there in the Jianghu?"
Yu Fu was startled by the question, then replied with some uncertainty, "It is rumored that there are no less than a hundred third rank experts in the Jianghu, so the Jianghu knows a lot about the experts among these experts. However, second rank experts are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. There are only about ten experts who are publicly acknowledged. As for those first rank experts who come and go without a trace and are even crowned as Earth Immortals, this old servant has never heard of anyone in the Jianghu who has reached that realm. However, it is said that five hundred years ago, Wudang Mountain's Ancestor Lu was such an outstanding person. Also, three hundred years ago, a Buddhist monk was also at that realm. As for the most recent one, it should be an immortal from the Daoist sect named Zhun Ti from more than a hundred years ago. It is said that this immortal once cut off the Canglan River with a finger. As for whether there are other first-grade Immortals, I don't know. "
These words dazzled Fu Fan, and he became even more excited about the Jianghu that he was about to come into contact with.
Jiang Chu's Jianghu had more than a million people. How many children of the pugilistic world did not yearn for that legendary realm? The children of Jianghu had their own Jianghu affairs, and it was not something that could be explained clearly with a few pots of wine or a few swords.
It was said that the children of Jianghu would die in Jianghu, and the lovesickness of Jianghu was the most hurtful. As for those scholars and doctors who said that it was better to forget each other in Jianghu than to help each other in times of hardship, they should just go to hell. These words could only be used to coax those weak and self-pitying scholars. We, the people of Jianghu, would not fall for it.
The scenery of the Jianghu was so good, it was no wonder that generation after generation of Jianghu men and women came one after another. In an instant, Fu Fan couldn't help but be filled with ambition. He snatched the wine gourd from Yu Fu's hand and drank it in one gulp.
Cough, cough!
Yu Fu was in a good mood when he saw Fu Fan's flushed face from choking on the wine. He grinned at the side.
Oh, Jianghu.
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