Chapter 1668
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Chapter 1668 Queues and Slogans
“Sir, may I ask if the road ahead leads to Chang’an?”
On the desolate land, a young man carrying a travel pack stopped an old man with a carrying pole and respectfully asked.
“Yes, walk another ten li forward and you’ll reach Chang’an, but you’d better detour five li from the southeast first.”
Hearing this, confusion appeared on the young man’s face, “Why?”
“There’s a celestial abyss ahead. If you don’t detour early, you’ll have to walk along the edge of the abyss through ravines, which is more exhausting.” The old man waved his hand, said no more, and walked straight toward the distance.
“Celestial abyss…” the young man murmured, “I’ve never heard of any celestial abyss near Chang’an before.”
Although confused, he still followed the old man’s advice and began to detour southeast.
This young man appeared to be about twenty-four or twenty-five, wearing a dust-covered dark blue robe that made him look like a cultured scholar from a distance. But upon closer inspection, one would notice traces of mending at his cuffs and hem. Although the mender’s skill was quite excellent, there were still subtle color differences.
He adjusted his heavy pack higher on his back, wiped the sweat from his brow, and walked step by step toward the scorching sun.
After some time, he climbed a small mound and looked back to see a massive abyss indeed situated in the distance, its inner walls exceptionally smooth, like an endless deep hole with no bottom in sight.
“Such a divine wonder near Chang’an…” Shock appeared in the young man’s eyes. He couldn’t imagine how such a massive, profound abyss had formed.
After resting briefly, he set off again toward Chang’an. Several hours later, he finally arrived at the foot of Chang’an.
Strangely, a large section of Chang’an’s city wall had collapsed for some reason. Many laborers were busy rebuilding the wall, and a group of armored soldiers stood at the original gate position, checking everyone entering the city.
“Brother, what exactly happened in Chang’an?” the young man, standing in line, couldn’t help asking the man in front of him.
“I don’t know either, but on my way here, I heard Chang’an was attacked by some powerful evil spirit, and it was the Champion Marquis who intervened to prevent a great disaster,” the man looked around and said quietly,
“Did you see that celestial abyss outside the city? They say that was also the Marquis’s work!”
“That abyss was man-made?!” Shock appeared in the young man’s eyes.
“Hmph, that’s the Marquis for you! Is there anything he can’t do?”
“Champion Marquis…” the young man murmured this name, admiration appearing in his eyes.
Seeing the young man’s interest in the Champion Marquis, the man’s lips curled slightly upward. After hesitating for a moment, he mysteriously leaned toward the young man’s ear and said somewhat proudly, “Brother, to tell you the truth, I came to Chang’an this time to join the Marquis!”
“Join the Marquis?” The young man was stunned. “Are you also here to apply for the Demon Suppression Bureau?”
“? You too??”
After discovering they were fellow travelers, the two immediately became enthusiastic and began addressing each other as brothers according to their ages.
“Brother Hu, since you’re here to apply for the Demon Suppression Bureau, why are you arriving only now? If I remember correctly, isn’t today the last day?” the man asked puzzledly.
“My home is quite far from here, and it took some time to walk all the way.”
“Oh? Where is your home?”
“Chonglin County.”
“Whew, that is indeed not close… You walked all the way here? Why not buy a horse?”
The young man smiled without saying anything.
Seeing that the young man was unwilling to elaborate, the man tactfully stopped asking. After chatting briefly, it was their turn to be questioned by the soldiers.
“Who are you? Why do you want to enter the city?” the soldier asked with a serious expression.
The man was about to say something when he looked around furtively, then finally leaned close to the soldier and answered in a low voice:
“I’m going to the Demon Suppression Bureau…”
The soldier looked at him with a strange expression. “If you’re going to the Demon Suppression Bureau, just say so. Why whisper? Go on… You, the young man behind, what about you?”
“I’m the same as him, also going to…”
“Ah, go on, go on. Go straight for two li then turn right. There are signs guiding you all the way. Remember to get a number and wait in line.”
The soldier waved impatiently, seeming reluctant to ask more. The two mysteriously passed through the city gate, and they vaguely heard the soldier’s impatient voice again:
“What? You’re also going to the Demon Suppression Bureau? Why didn’t you say so together? Tsk, go on… Anyone else going to the Demon Suppression Bureau, no need to wait in line, just go in, don’t block others’ way.”
Young man: …
“Are there really so many supernatural practitioners in the world?” The young man scratched his head in confusion.
“I don’t know if there are that many supernatural practitioners, but people who admire the Marquis are definitely numerous.”
“By the way, Brother Zhao, I haven’t asked yet – since you’re also a supernatural practitioner, what’s your ability?”
“Me? Hehe…” The man looked around to ensure no one was nearby, then leaned toward the young man’s ear and proudly said, “I can kill a bull with three punches!”
“…” The young man’s mouth twitched slightly, and he finally forced a smile and politely praised, “Brother Zhao is truly mighty…”
“Haha, it’s nothing. What about you, Brother Hu?”
“I… I’m not as good as Brother Zhao. I can’t even kill a bull.”
The man looked at the young man with pity, patted his shoulder, and with a knowing expression, said meaningfully,
“Brother Hu, being a supernatural practitioner isn’t important. It’s the thought that counts…”
“Brother Zhao, let’s hurry over. I see the line of applicants already extends into the street.”
“What?!”
The two proceeded as the soldier had directed, and indeed saw many eye-catching signs along the way:
—Supernatural practitioners apply two li ahead.
—Turn right ahead.
—One li from the application site, approximately 200 people in line, estimated wait time two hours.
—Time is precious as gold. Don’t waste your time or others’. If you’re not a supernatural practitioner, please go to the street across for a bowl of mung bean soup, then return the way you came.
The two joined the end of the queue, and seeing the dense crowd ahead, the man sighed helplessly and turned to the young man:
“Brother Hu, there are too many people. Why don’t you go back… Practice more and come back next year when you can kill a bull.”
“…” The young man shook his head. “It’s fine, I can wait.”
The man stopped persuading him. The two stood in line, inching forward as the bright sunlight gradually slanted westward, bringing them closer and closer to the mansion.
“Brother Hu, this isn’t so slow after all… People keep turning back, probably giving up.” Seeing that it was almost his turn, joy appeared on Zhao’s face!
The young man was about to say something when a young man with a cold face walked over from the front, wearing a jade tablet at his waist inscribed with the characters “Demon Suppression.”
“You, what’s your ability?” Wuquan approached Zhao with an expressionless face.
“You’re from the Demon Suppression Bureau, right?” Zhao mysteriously leaned toward his ear, “I can kill a bull with three punches!”
Wuquan glanced at him and silently extended his hand, pointing to the street across:
“Go drink mung bean soup, and get lost after you finish!”
