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墨書 Inktalez
The cultural essence of the Lu State can be glimpsed through the decoration of its houses. Take, for instance, when Yan Dong and Gu Ping entered that pawnshop. The intricately carved dragon-patterned counter and the colorful murals on the walls, depicting comforting sand paintings, all exuded a unique cultural custom. Looking at the horse-head fiddle hanging in the window, one could also see the cultural inclusiveness that belongs to the Lu State.
The Lu State is neither too big nor too small, but within its modest city lies a colossal presence: Mok Ming Academy, a Holy Land that all scholars in the World of Mortals yearn for. It quietly supports what seems to be a destitute nation, yet fills it with vitality. The Lu State may appear weak in terms of military power, but its scholars are exceptionally talented. The rulers of the Lu State have never been tyrants or useless monarchs.
In this No Lu Kingdom, hundreds have been deeply influenced by the teachings of the academy, gradually transforming from a poor and weak nation to what it is today, relying not only on military strength but also on the purity of its court and the spirited ambition of its scholars—those who point to the rivers and mountains with grand aspirations.
Although the people of Lu State do not possess the strong sense of national pride and confidence like those from Great Jin, every citizen of this No Lu Kingdom harbors a heart dedicated to learning and serving their country.
"Excuse me, young master, are you here to pawn or sell something?"
The clerk at the pawnshop noticed Gu Ping entering and was initially unsure how to address him. However, upon seeing the longbow strapped to Gu Ping's back, he felt compelled to call him "young master." After all, not just anyone could carry such a formidable bow made of ironwood—one that was too large for an average person to draw. Moreover, he had never seen a bowstring made from such material before, prompting him to decide on a respectful address.
"To sell. Where is your boss?"
"Right away," replied the clerk as he called out loudly for the owner.
"Coming! Coming! What’s going on?"
From a side door of the shop emerged a man wearing polished crystal glasses. He appeared to be Liao Ji, though it was unclear if they were real glasses or merely decorative.
"Wei Yuanzai wants to sell something but couldn’t identify it himself, so I called for the shopkeeper to take a look," explained the clerk.
"Oh," said the old shopkeeper as he glanced at Gu Ping. True to his profession in the pawn business, he immediately recognized Gu Ping's attire. With surprise, he noted that it was fur from a Nine-Hearted Dragon-Tiger Beast—certainly not something an ordinary person from No Lu Kingdom would wear.
Gu Ping listened to the Old Shopkeeper's words and felt that there might be something worthwhile, so he hesitated before asking.
The Lu State had just implemented a real-name registration system, and this new policy was only effective in Ying City. It was too late for him to promote it. He needed a real-name wooden tablet issued by the court, with his portrait and name inscribed on it, to stay in Ying City and conduct business. Otherwise, he would find it nearly impossible to make any progress in Ying City.
"Thank you, old man. I will get that real-name wooden tablet and come back to bother you again."
After saying this, Gu Ping left without any intention of discussing further matters with the Old Shopkeeper. He knew that the Old Shopkeeper might try to take advantage of him, so he decided to think about other things instead. He was unfamiliar with the area and did not want to attract unnecessary trouble.
Watching Gu Ping's departing figure, the Clerk struck a pose with his leg and looked at the Old Shopkeeper.
The Old Shopkeeper pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "For now, let's not act against him. We should send someone to keep an eye on him. If he heads directly to the government office in Ying City, we can take action then. If he goes to some prominent person's residence, then let it be. Not everyone can wear the skin of the Nine-Hearted Dragon-Tiger Beast."
"No."
After hearing the Old Shopkeeper's words, the Clerk responded and hurried off to make arrangements. Little did he know that the Old Shopkeeper's concerns were entirely unnecessary; Gu Ping truly did not know anyone there.
What should he do? Gu Ping thought. Going directly to the Yamen to obtain an identity wooden tablet might not be wise. After all, he was a Liu Xiaren without any proof of identity. If they verified his identity, he would be in serious trouble for appearing after being presumed dead. If someone were to recognize him as Gu Ping from Lu State, it could lead to complications. Moreover, he had no way of knowing if anyone was aware of his existence at that time.
Gu Ping traversed the Flowing Cloud Realm, getting his skin tanned and wearing fur clothing that stripped away any scholarly appearance. No one would connect the current Gu Ping with the one from two years ago.
But what about his identity? That posed a challenge for Gu Ping. He certainly could not take a legitimate path now. He thought about connections; if he truly wanted to blend into Ying City without any ties, he realized there might be someone—a daughter of a Grand Minister of Justice—who could help him navigate through things without her knowledge.
Having made up his mind, Gu Ping began asking for directions as he walked around aimlessly until he finally reached the center of Ying City—Duan Ge Fang—where he sought out the mansion of the Grand Minister of Justice.
Looking at the sizable entrance before him, a large sign reading "Jingzhao Mansion" hung in the center, flanked by two "Fierce Demon Statues" guarding the gate. One statue twisted its body, gazing westward, while the other curled up, its head turned in a different direction. He had never seen such stone figures as "Gu Ping," "Liu Xia," and "Great Jin," and for a moment, he found himself curiously examining them.
At the main gate of "Mei Ba," Gu Ping stood in front, scrutinizing the "Fierce Demon Statues." The guard stationed there grew somewhat impatient and remarked, "Who is this hunter? What are you doing here? This is not just any place; it's the residence of the Grand Minister of Justice. If you're looking for a market, you should turn left and head south for eight blocks."
"Oh, I'm here to visit Miss Zhang Chenyu and Zhang Qianjin. Could you please notify them?"
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