Chapter 58: Chapter 40: Duel Outcome, Exaggeration, Truth? 2
Translator: 549690339
Lu Yuan was drinking and casually chatting with Sun Siwen next to him.
However, the focus of both clearly wasn’t on their conversation. Their minds had drifted to the Battle of Fairy Maiden Ridge.
But to find out what happened, they had to wait for any passing merchants or travelers from the Jianghu to bring the news.
Yangmei Town was somewhat remote, causing news to spread a bit slow.
If they were in Fu City, the results of the Battle of Fairy Maiden Ridge would have been heard that night. Even in Dayu County Town, the news should have arrived this morning.
Time slowly passed.
Some people had come and gone in the tavern, but they were all locals, no visitors.
It was almost one o’clock, midday had almost passed and no one had arrived.
At this time, about a dozen people had gathered in the tavern. The food and drinks on their table had almost finished, but everyone stayed, chatting absently, occasionally glancing towards the tavern door.
Clearly, they were all waiting for news from the Battle of Fairy Maiden Ridge.
This battle had indeed touched the hearts of many people in Luling Prefecture, it was fair to say it stirred up clouds and winds.
Lu Yuan was a bit anxious, considering if he should go to the county town to find out the news himself.
But thinking about the recent chaos, he dismissed his thought and chose to play safe.
After all, it was just news.
Even if the waiting was hard, it wasn’t worth the risk.
Even if that risk was very small.
Luckily, when many people were starting to get impatient, a customary merchant who frequented the town arrived with a huge box of goods for women’s makeup.
When he wiped his sweat and found something off, he looked up and noticed that all eyes in the hall were fixated on him. He was shocked, and asked awkwardly, “Gentlemen, did I do something wrong?”
No sooner had he finished speaking than a fidgety fat landlord nearby blurted out, “Li Er, since you often shuttle between the county and countryside, do you know who won the Battle of Fairy Maiden Ridge?”
Upon hearing this, everyone brightened up, their eyes enthusiastically fixed on Merchant Li Er.
Such grand postures somewhat startled Li Er, but he stuttered back, “I… I know. In this battle… Sect Leader MO and Chief Capture Shao joined forces, defeated the Rebel leader Fang Tianying, leaving him severely wounded and on the run.”
“We won?”
“Why did they join forces? Weren’t they supposed to duel?”
“Of course they had to team up against such cunning thieves, who would play fair with them.”
“But how did they let Fang Tianying escape?”
“As long as that rebel isn’t eliminated, our Luling Prefecture will never have peace. ”
“Sigh, winning this fight is futile anyway.”
Upon receiving the result, the people in the hall immediately began to discuss
loudly.
At this moment, the fidgety fat landlord who asked the question earlier slapped the table hard, and turned to the others behind him, “Stop arguing! Can’t you let Li Er finish talking about the battle first?”
After speaking, the fat landlord turned to Li Er and with a forced smile, he said, “Li Er, you can talk at your own pace. I’ll cover your drinks today. Order as much food and drink as you want, just tell us more about the details of the battle.
How did Master MO defeat the Eagle King, why did Chief Capture Shao help, how badly is Fang Tianying injured, was he chased out of Luling Prefecture?
Tell me all about it.”
Upon hearing this, an elated Li Er quickly thanked him, “Thank you, Master
Sun,”
Then he summoned the tavern’s staff and ordered several dishes, as well as a few pots of good wine. He then looked at the eager men around him, cleared his throat, and launched into his narration, “The Rebel Head Fang Tianying challenged the Iron Sword Sect Leader MO Baichuan, and the battle was set to commence at around 5 0’clock in the morning.
On that day, the martial arts heroes of the world..
As a merchant, Li Er was naturally good at talking. He took all the rumors and gossip he heard from the county, added some of his own interpretations, and vividly relayed them.
There were tales of how Sect Leader MO was like an immortal being, leaping hundreds of feet high, and with one stroke of his Iron Sword, sliced a piece off a mountain top.
And how Fang Tianying was so formidable, his single strike on the river surface could stop the river flow.
They talked about how the voice of the two could transmit hundreds of miles, just like thunder.
They even said the Eagle King could fly in the sky, like a mighty eagle, the king of the air.
All sorts of exaggerated descriptions were reported by Li Er.
The landlords in the hall listened attentively, marveling and praising his tales.
Even some appeared to fully believe Li Er, viewing MO Baichuan and Fang Tianying as immortals and holding them in complete reverence.
Even those with occasional doubts only questioned the exaggerated descriptions of flying and thunderous voices. They seemed to believe the stories of slicing mountains and breaking rivers.
For the people of Luling Prefecture, Iron Sword Sect Leader MO Baichuan, who commanded the martial arts world in the prefecture, was indeed akin to an immortal.
When they looked at his achievements, they naturally viewed them through a lens of awe.
That kind of posture was somewhat understandable.
Lu Yuan, listening to Li Er’s account, was dumbfounded.
He turned his head to look at Sun Siwen, only to find that the scholar was also stupefied like him..