Chapter 636: Acquired Martial Artist (Part 2)

After running for half an hour, Shi Tou discovered that people were cultivating farmland on both sides of the road.

Some people are turning over the soil, some are sowing seeds, and some are sitting on the edge of the field drinking water.

A woman straightened up and waved to the passing group, holding a child in her arms.

Zhang Ergou also saw them and whispered, "These should be from the previous batches; they seem to have already settled in."

It seems that the general was right; if he wanted to kill us, he would have done it long ago. Why keep us alive until now?

The stone didn't speak, it just kept thinking.

The Blood Abyss Demon Sect, which he hated, has been destroyed, and so far, he has developed a very favorable impression of the Beacon Fire Territory.

With General Su's help and Xiao He's father also being cured, could it be that their suffering has finally come to an end?

Stone felt a little dazed, as if he were dreaming.

The group continued onward.

As evening approached, the majestic city wall came into view.

The voice of the thousand men at the front carried over: "Hangu Pass is just ahead. Once inside, leaving the group without permission is strictly prohibited. Anyone who violates this rule will be executed without mercy."

"Yes!" the crowd responded.

Shi Tou, sandwiched in the crowd, looked up at the city wall that was getting closer and closer, and clenched his fist.

The city gates were wide open, and a dense, dark crowd was slowly pouring in.

Stone followed the group and entered through the north gate.

Passing through a long archway, you see heavy iron and wooden doors and winch cables on both sides.

At the end of the gate is a semi-circular barbican. After passing through the barbican and walking forward, the view suddenly opens up.

Stone paused for a moment.

A wide, stone-paved street stretches straight from one foot to the other, seemingly endless.

On both sides of the street, every three steps a Qin warrior stood, holding a long halberd, his face expressionless.

Behind Ruishi was a bustling crowd.

Several children in short-sleeved shirts gathered around the candied hawthorn stall.

"Don't push! There's enough for everyone!" The old man selling candied hawthorns protected his stand with one hand and slapped away the dirty little hands reaching out with the other.

"If you squeeze another candied hawthorn skewer and it falls to the ground, whoever squeezed it has to pay for it!"

"Grandpa, the sugar coating on these hawthorns is too thin! They're not sweet at all!" A child grinned, holding up a candied hawthorn.

The old man didn't even lift his eyelids: "Thinner is better! Thinner isn't greasy! What do you know? Back in the day, on the White Pagoda City Wall, I single-handedly slashed down more than thirty skeleton soldiers, and I relied on these candied hawthorns to quench my thirst!"

"Grandpa, you're bragging again!" The girl with pigtails looked up at him, her eyes sparkling. "If you're so amazing, why are you still selling candied hawthorns here?"

The old man paused, stuck the candied hawthorn on the rack, and snorted irritably, "Retired! The city lord thinks I'm too old and wants me to do something easy! Is that not allowed?"

"What about those skeletons you chopped down?" another skinny boy squeezed in. "Why didn't you bring them to show us?"

"They've long since turned to ashes!" The old man glared at him. "You bunch of little brats, all you know is how to eat, what else do you know?"

A chubby boy took the opportunity to tiptoe to reach for the candied hawthorns on the shelf, but the old man slapped him away: "Where's your money?"

The chubby boy withdrew his hand and chuckled, "Grandpa, please put more sugar on it tomorrow! I don't mind it being too sweet!"

"Even if you're not afraid of it being too sweet, I won't give it to you!" The old man shifted his position behind him. "Do you think extra sugar is free? Get lost, get lost!"

The children scattered, ran a few steps, then circled back, running around the stall twice.

The old man kept his head down, arranging the candied hawthorns, without even glancing at them.

The children then ran off laughing and playing.

Zhang Ergou walked beside the stone, looking at this scene, and couldn't help but laugh: "This place does have a bit of a human touch."

Stone followed his gaze and looked around.

As dusk falls on Hangu Pass, the lanterns are lit, and bronze lanterns hang on both sides of the street, their flames swaying gently in the evening breeze, illuminating the entire street.

After looking at it for a while, Shi Tou suddenly whispered, "I never thought that people could live like this."

Zhang Ergou turned his head to look at him.

“Back in the Blood Nest,” Stone’s voice was soft, “no one dared to go out after dark. If anyone left their lights on, the steward would come knocking on their door the next day, saying they were wasting the sect’s oil.”

If someone laughs on the street, you have to cover your mouth immediately; if the patrol officers hear it, they'll think you're up to no good.

Zhang Ergou didn't reply, but simply reached out and patted Shi Tou's shoulder.

The two continued forward with the group, with a thousand people leading the way. As they walked, Stone looked around.

After walking for a while, the commander suddenly quickened his pace and whispered, "Pass through quickly."

The crowd was puzzled, but they all quickened their pace.

Looking up, Shi Tou saw a two-story stone building not far ahead, surrounded by a large open square.

The building itself wasn't tall, but the defensive strength in front of the door made Shi Tou feel uneasy.

The soldiers standing around the square were no longer Qin warriors, but centurions, a far superior force to the previous ones.

He vaguely heard someone whisper "Council Hall" next to him, but he didn't dare to ask any more questions and quickly walked past with his head down.

After crossing the square, the streets became lively again.

To the south lies a bustling commercial district, with even denser crowds than to the north. The streets are lined with shops and stalls, and the sounds of vendors hawking their wares fill the air.

New blue-quality armor arrived! Don't miss it!

"A spiritual fruit from Beacon Fire City—try one, it's so sweet it'll make your teeth ache!"

"Hey bro, wanna sell this dagger? I'll offer three gray crystals!"

"Get lost! Is this all you're going to give a beggar?"

"Those four!"

"......make a deal!"

Before Stone could react, the buyer pulled out four gray crystals with a pained expression, while the seller handed over the dagger with a look of "I've lost out big time."

The moment the two shook hands, a nearby stall owner remarked quietly, "Stop acting, you two already made a deal here yesterday."

The seller froze, then chuckled dryly, "Yesterday is yesterday, today is today. Business is all about repeat customers."

The buyer didn't even look back; he just slipped away with the dagger in his hand.