"…The wound on your hand has been bandaged. Don't move it too much. There are some foods you should avoid, like…keep the wound clean. Change the wound medicine every three days. If you want to take a bath, don't let dirty water touch it, it will be troublesome, you might die…I said, don't touch the wound…"

The afternoon sun was still somewhat dazzling. In the unfinished arena north of Chengdu, hundreds of people were gathered to watch the first round of selections for the "Number One Martial Arts Tournament Under Heaven."

Throughout history, the economic base determines the superstructure, and also determines the social landscape. Although Chinese civilization is said to have a long history, and there are many noteworthy major events and grand occasions, the essence of the elite system has not changed from thousands of years ago to the Wu Dynasty. When people talk about what a society is like, what achievements it has made, they mainly talk about the faces of the upper class, who make up less than five percent of the population. The lower class, on the other hand, has never really mattered.

The Wu Dynasty historically valued literature over martial arts. Although various kinds of people, including those from the Three Religions and Nine Schools, and outlaws, have always existed, many of the reasons for their existence being concretized can be attributed to the storytellers of the Bamboo Records in recent years—although they actually cannot cover the entire world, the stories they tell are classic, and other storytellers have followed suit.

After more than ten years of this process, the concepts of *Jianghu* (the martial arts world) and outlaws have been relatively concretely established in the minds of some people. Even many original martial arts practitioners considered their practice to be merely a "style" for self-defense, but after hearing storytelling, they roughly understood that there was an "outlaw world" and a "*Jianghu*."

Such titles made them feel like they had an identity.

Twenty years ago, Zhou Tong of the Imperial Boxing Hall was just a boxer with good skills in the eyes of ordinary people. Many martial artists in the countryside would not have heard his name. Only when one practiced martial arts to a certain level would they gradually hear about what a Saintly Duke or a Cloud Dragon Nine Appearances was, and then gradually enter the circle of outlaws. And this outlaw world was actually a very small circle of people with an unclear concept.

It was the Bamboo Records that made Zhou Tong known to everyone, and it was also Ning Yi who unified the various bandits who came to assassinate him into "outlaws" through the Bamboo Records. In the past, outlaw competitions were witnessed by at most a dozen or dozens of people. People competed, fought, and communicated on a small scale. Most of the time, gatherings were only for killing and robbing, "doing business." These competitions would not fall into the mouths of storytellers and be widely circulated.

For martial arts practitioners, the biggest event officially recognized in the past was the *Wu Ju* (military exam), which was held every few years. The people did not really care about it, and most of the historical materials passed down to later generations did not record the names of the *Wu Ju* champions. Compared to people's pursuit of literary champions, *Wu Ju* champions basically had no fame or status.

The "Number One Martial Arts Tournament Under Heaven" in Chengdu can now be considered an unprecedented "outlaw" event. Based on the storytelling of the Bamboo Records, many people have also developed various associations—in the past, the Chinese Army had held such a tournament internally, but that was a military competition. This time it was finally open to the whole world. During this period, some propaganda personnel from the Bamboo Records also organized the stories and nicknames of some famous people in the martial arts world in a decent manner, stirring up the atmosphere in Chengdu like a dragon and tiger fight. When they had time, well-meaning people could not help but come and take a look.

The Chinese Army defeated the Western Army at the end of April. Considering that the journey to all parts of the world was long, and it would take time for news to spread and people to arrive, the early stage was just a hype with a lot of thunder and little rain. In June, the preliminary selections began, which was to allow the martial artists who arrived first and registered first to conduct the first round of competitions to accumulate victories, let the referees test their mettle, and let the Bamboo Records storytellers write more stories. When people came in July, the registration would be closed and the next round would begin.

At that time, people from all over the world would gather in Chengdu. Cultural elites could argue in the newspapers, the vulgar could watch martial arts fights and roar and celebrate at the sports meeting, and they could also show off the military strength of the Chinese Army by parading and visiting Jurchen prisoners of war. At this time, the first round of commercial cooperation between various parties was basically finalized, making a fortune together and everyone was happy. In this atmosphere, the People's Congress was established, and the Chinese People's Government was officially established. Everyone witnessed it together, legally and effectively, celebrating together—this was the basic logic of the whole situation.

Of course, because not many people had come yet, this initial elimination round did not attract many spectators after the first few days of heat. However, the various portraits of experts posted outside the venue, with their names, nicknames, and battle records, attracted a large number of people every day, and people gathered in nearby restaurants and teahouses, often vividly talking about the rumors of certain experts:

"This XXX's nickname is XXX, do you know how it came about…"

"This XX and XXX competed in XX three years ago, and only XX was present as a witness…"

Or:

"Do you know Lu Tuo?"

"This list, the Chinese Army did it on purpose. To say who is the number one in the world today, there are probably five people who can participate in the competition. Among them, the most powerful one, do you know where Mr. Ning's reputation as the 'Bloodhanded Man-Butcher' comes from…"

"Speaking of Lin Zongwu, the Chinese Army calls him 'Piercing-Forest Northern Legs', why? This person is tall and thin, and his leg skills are excellent…"

Various news and discussions formed a lively atmosphere, enriching people's amateur cultural life. In the arena, the fourteen-year-old young doctor only routinely stopped the bleeding, treated injuries, and told them to pay attention to hygiene for a group of *Jianghu* heroes named XXX every day.

Frankly speaking, there was really nothing to see in the martial arts competitions. A few days ago, he watched those fights with full attention and interest, but recently, he had completely turned into a listless, pancake-faced expression of routine work.

Real martial arts masters have their own strengths, while martial arts beginners are mostly terribly unskilled. For Ning Ji, who had seen the level of Hong Ti, Xi Gua, and Du Sha, and had been tempered on the battlefield for a year or two, watching the arena competitions in front of him was really a bit awkward and uncomfortable.

Unable to make standard moves, he could only review standard medical knowledge to balance this discomfort. Seeing a sweaty strong man about to reach for the bandage he had tied, he reached out and patted it.

"…I said, don't touch the wound. You're sweating a lot. It's best not to exercise in the next few days…"

"Hey!" The strong man was not happy, "You little kid is so talkative. We martial arts practitioners will of course sweat and suffer this or that kind of injury! What's a little knife wound, look at this scar, and this…just bandage it up, and it'll heal on its own. You little doctor looks so delicate, you haven't suffered! Let me tell you, a real man needs to exercise more, eat more, and suffer a little injury, what's the big deal, you say it like it's a matter of life and death…We martial arts practitioners, don't worry, we're durable!"

Ning Ji looked at his scar expressionlessly: "This scar became like this because it wasn't treated properly…You were lucky that nothing happened before. There are all kinds of small bacteria you can't see around us at any time. The dirtier the place, the more bacteria there are. If they get into your wound, you might get sick and the wound will get worse. These bandages have all been boiled in boiling water…Don't open this bandage, only open it when you change the medicine!"

"Bac…bac what?"

"Bacteria." Ning Ji was bored anyway, watching the arena being cleaned above, he said a few more words with the strong man, "They are living small animals, but very, very small, we can't even see them. When they enter the wound, they start eating your flesh and blood, that is, external evil invades. You just used your hand to block the knife, and the knife on the other side wasn't very clean either. If something happens in the future, you might get a fever, or you might die from the fever."

"Very small, very small, then how did you see them? You said you can't see them…Forget it, I won't argue with you little kid, you bandaged it up pretty well…Speaking of blocking the knife with my hand, do you understand the wonder of my move just now, little kid?" The strong man changed the subject, his eyes began to shine, "Forget it, you definitely can't see it, let me tell you, I could have dodged his knife, but I exchanged injuries with him, and he was immediately scared. I exchanged a knife with him, so I won. This is called 'He who is brave wins when narrow roads meet.' And little kid, let me tell you, the arena competition, he chops over and I chop back, it's just a moment. There's no time to think. In that moment, I decided to exchange injuries with him. This kind of response requires great courage. I just said today, I must win…"

"…Indeed, it requires great courage…Congratulations."

Ning Ji repeated expressionlessly, picked up his medical kit and walked to the other side of the arena, found a place to sit down. He saw that the bandaged strong man also patted the bandage on his arm and got up. He first looked around as if looking for someone for a while, then wandered around the arena bored, and then walked to Ning Ji's side.

"Hey, I said, you little kid, you're a doctor at such a young age?"

Ning Ji looked ahead: "The old go to the battlefield to kill the enemy, and the young become doctors, shouldn't it be?"

"That's right, you are also a member of the Black Flag Army. The Black Flag Army are real heroes, my words were reckless." The strong man looked rough, but occasionally uttered refined words in his speech. At this time, he also bowed to Ning Ji, and then sat down next to him, "The soldiers of the Black Flag Army are real heroes, but ah, your people above have problems, something will happen sooner or later…"

Ning Ji's gaze moved to the corner of his eye, glanced at him, and then returned to its original position. The strong man also seemed to feel that he shouldn't say these things, sat there bored for a while, and then looked at Ning Ji's ordinary doctor's attire: "I see that you have to come out to work at such a young age, probably not from a good family. I also respect you Black Flag soldiers who are really tough guys. I'm saying this here, my master is knowledgeable and learned, and everything he says is accurate. He's not talking nonsense, he once said in private that he's afraid that your Black Flag will turn into emptiness after a period of prosperity…"

"Who is your master?"

"Don't be angry, little kid, what I said is from the bottom of my heart…My master is also doing it for your own good, he didn't say anything bad about you. I think he's right, if you can last for a long time like this, why aren't many literati-turned-officials of the Wu Dynasty like you? Saying that your method can only last for thirty or fifty years, and then there will be great chaos again. The Wu Dynasty used Confucianism, talking about moderation, moderation, moderation…"

"…The Doctrine of the Mean?"

"Yes, you little kid have read books, the Doctrine of the Mean can last for two or three hundred years…Look, this also makes sense. The Jin Kingdom was strong for thirty or fifty years, and was defeated by the Black Flag. You may be defeated after thirty or fifty years…It's hard to say whether you'll last for thirty or fifty years, the main thing is just to say it, remember if it makes sense…I think it makes sense. Hey, little kid, have you seen those who are really good at fighting in your Black Flag Army? What heroes are there, tell me about them, I heard they'll be appearing next month…I'm not asking for myself, my boss is much better at martial arts than me, he's preparing to get a ranking this time, he said he'll admit it if he doesn't get first place, at least get in the top few…I don't know what will happen if he fights your Black Flag Army heroes, actually battlefield methods aren't necessarily strong one-on-one…Hey, have you been on the battlefield, you little kid, you shouldn't have…"

The two sat there watching the arena, Ning Ji's shoulders had collapsed in the voice of the words, he had said a few more words because he was bored, he did not expect that this person was more bored than him. Recently, the Chinese Army opened its doors to welcome outsiders, and newspapers were allowed to argue, so the inside had also made repeated orders, forbidding military personnel from hitting people because of a few words from the other party.

Now he could only pick up the medical kit and change sides again. The strong man also knew that the little friend was angry, and sat there without chasing after him. Not long after, it seemed that someone appeared from outside the arena, beckoning to the strong man, and the strong man left the arena after waiting for his companion. Ning Ji took a look, the person who came to find him walked steadily, probably had some inner martial arts skills, but half of his hair was gone, this was accumulated dark injuries in the meridians, it could not be considered superior. He did not know if it was the boss of the other party who was preparing to get a ranking.

Stupid arena competitions on the stage decided the victory one after another, shouts were occasionally heard from the seats outside, and occasionally some small injuries appeared. Ning Ji ran over to deal with them, and the rest of the time he just sat loosely, fantasizing about how many moves it would take to take down a person. On this day, near dusk, the arena competition ended, and his brother sat in a seemingly shabby carriage, waiting for him outside, probably had something to do.

"I found a roast duck restaurant, the wrappers are made extremely well, the sauce is also good, today I'll take you to explore it, eat something delicious."

Ning Xi recently found Ning Ji, eight out of ten times he went to find good food, people who did not know it would think he was looking for food in Chengdu all day long. In fact, Ning Ji knew the busyness of this brother, although he was only eighteen years old, but he had many things on his shoulders, he just liked to inquire about food with people, inquired about it and kept it in his heart, and went to explore it with his family when they gathered, if it was really delicious, he would often praise it, if it was not delicious, he would silently fill his stomach.

The two chatted on the car, Ning Xi asked Ning Ji about his experiences in the martial arts field, whether any famous experts had appeared, and what level they were, and also asked if he was tired recently in the venue. Ning Ji was a little more lively in front of his brother, and vomited all the complaints he had been wanting to vomit for days.

In this way, they arrived at the roast duck restaurant, the brothers called a private room upstairs, the private room faced the street, you could see the road, pedestrians, sunshine, trees and the river and lakes in the distance sparkling in the golden sunset. Before the duck came up, Ning Xi took out a stack of files from the bag he carried with him, as well as ink and a writing brush.

"Here are a total of ten copies, you sign and stamp them at the back."

"What is it?"

"You don't have to worry about it, just sign and stamp it."

"Let me see…"

Ning Xi curled his lips, Ning Ji looked at it a few times, the files were similar, all were descriptions of Ning Ji's battlefield performance by Zheng Qiming and a group of people, and everyone had already signed and stamped at the back: "This is…"

"Of course it's useful, it has something to do with my current affairs, you don't have to worry about it, sign and stamp it, which means it's correct…I didn't want to find you at first, but there has to be a procedure. You sign first, the duck is coming up."

"What's the matter?" Ning Ji frowned.

"Can I tell you that? Military secrets."

"Is it about my Third-Class Merit?"

Ning Ji looked at Ning Xi, Ning Xi supported his forehead: "…"

"…Brother, I heard that Dad refused to give me that Third-Class Merit, he also wants to protect me, forget it if he doesn't give it to me, I didn't want it anyway."

"…You sign first, what they said isn't false, right? If it's not false, this merit should be given, you risked your life for it." Ning Xi said this, seeing that Ning Ji was still hesitating, he said, "And Dad asked me to appeal for you, which means he's also willing to give you this merit, I know you look down on fame and fortune, but this is related to my face, the face of both of us, I must succeed in the appeal…I've been running around these days, these statements alone can't solve it, but you don't have to worry about it, I'll take care of the rest."

Ning Ji sighed and stamped one by one: "I really don't want this Third-Class Merit very much, and if I appeal like this, won't it still be sent to Dad in the end? He'll send it back with one stroke, and you'll be busy for nothing, I think it's better not to waste time…"

"You don't understand, Dad will recognize it after the procedure is done, he values this step very much." Ning Xi said, "Although you've been a doctor recently, do you know what's the main thing to do in Chengdu?"

"Establish a representative assembly, announce it to the world?"

Ning Ji answered like this, and Ning Xi stopped talking, the waiter sent the roast duck in, so he stopped temporarily. Ning Ji stamped all the copies and handed them back to his brother.

Ning Xi put away the files, and only opened his mouth after the room door was closed: "Opening a representative assembly is one purpose, and another purpose is to reorganize the Bamboo Records and the Su Family, and rub everything into one under the banner of the Chinese People's Government. In fact, all the big heads of all parties already know about this matter, how to change it, how to rub it, how to transfer personnel, all the plans are actually being made. But after the representative assembly is opened, the suggestion to reorganize will be put forward through the representative assembly, and then through this suggestion, and then rub it into the government, just like this idea was thought of by the representative assembly, and everyone is doing things under the command of the representative assembly."

Ning Xi took the initiative to wrap a copy for his brother: "The representative assembly makes suggestions, the experts make solutions, and the People's Government is responsible for implementation. This is what Dad has been emphasizing. He hopes that most of the things in the future will follow this step, so that it can become a common practice in the future. So the appeal is also like this, the appeal is very troublesome, but as long as the step is reached, Dad will be willing to let it pass…Hmm, delicious…Anyway, you don't have to worry about it…This sauce tastes really good…"

Ning Xi began to talk about food, eating with relish, the evening wind blew in from the window, bringing the aroma of various foods from the street.

Ning Xi asked in between: "Xiao Ji, are you really not participating in this martial arts tournament?"

Ning Ji said: "There's nothing powerful about it. If I participate in the youth competition, there will be even less to fight."

Ning Xi did not ask any further. In fact, the family had always had some doubts about Ning Ji's decision not to participate in this martial arts competition. Many people were worried that Ning Ji's emotions had not recovered since he and his mother visited the widows of those comrades, so he was not interested in the competition, but in fact, Ning Ji had a more open plan in this regard.

He had already made a decision that when the time was right, when he was older and stronger, he would be able to leave Chengdu, roam the world, and see the martial arts masters of the whole world. Therefore, before that, he did not want to expose his identity in such a place as the Chengdu martial arts tournament.

And going to other places in the future, Ning Ji's identity would ultimately bring him more danger than ordinary people. Although he was still young, he had seen a lot of life and death on the battlefield, so he would not be blindly arrogant. Compared to the identity of a martial artist or a brightly dressed young master, a doctor who travels the world can go further and safer—after all, no one would casually kill a doctor—this is also the reason why he has been constantly practicing medicine and healing people recently.

Of course, he would not mention these thoughts in his heart to his brother for the time being—he would not reveal them to anyone in the family, otherwise there would be no possibility of leaving in the future.

Thinking of this, he changed the subject and said, "Brother, have there been any strange people approaching you recently?"

"What?" Ning Xi thought for a while, "What kind of people are considered strange?"

"Well, for example…what beautiful girls. You are the eldest of our family, sometimes you have to show your face, maybe there will be this or that kind of girl to seduce you, I heard Grandpa Chen and the others say, a beauty trap…You must not let down Sister Chu Yi."

He was only a fourteen-year-old boy, talking about beauty traps, it was really a bit of a forced maturity. Ning Xi heard the last, and slapped him on the head, Ning Ji's head shook, this slap passed over his head: "Ouch, my hair is messed up."

He tidied his hair, Ning Xi did not know whether to laugh or cry: "What beauty trap…" Then he became alert, "Tell me honestly, did you see or hear anything recently."

"It's nothing, I'm just guessing if there is one. And Dad and Aunt Gua mentioned it when they came to my place to eat last time, saying that they should arrange your marriage with Sister Chu Yi recently, you can have children, and avoid bad women approaching you. Dad and Aunt Gua also said that they are afraid that you and Sister Chu Yi haven't gotten married yet, but you're already pregnant with a child…"

Ning Ji was originally talking casually, saying it naturally, but at this moment, he suddenly realized something, and was slightly stunned, a hint of red flashed across Ning Xi's face, and another slap came over, this time hitting Ning Ji's head solidly. Ning Ji held his head, his eyes slowly turned, and then looked at Ning Xi: "Brother, you and Sister Chu Yi wouldn't really…"

Ning Xi kicked over, Ning Ji's legs bounced, sliding two meters away with the person and the chair, directly to the corner, blushing and said: "Brother, I won't tell anyone…"

"You you you, what do you know, you're talking nonsense, me and your Sister Chu Yi…Come here, I won't hit you…We're innocent, I'm telling you…"

"I'm studying medicine, I already know what I should know." Ning Ji straightened his neck and raised his red face, pretending to be skilled in adult topics, wanting to ask a few more questions, but finally did not dare to, moved the chair and leaned over, "Forget it, I won't say it. I'm eating, don't hit me, okay?"

"Eat duck." Ning Xi also generously changed the subject.

The two brothers then talked about some trivial things, and finished a whole roast duck and various side dishes—they had both practiced inner martial arts since childhood, their consumption was large and their appetite was also large—Ning Ji occasionally glanced at his brother, and became curious about a certain taboo thing, decided to give her a pulse secretly next time he met Sister Chu Yi. Unfortunately, he only served as a bag assistant when he went to the countryside in the past, and later he was in the army for a long time to treat external injuries, and he had never really felt the pulse of joy, and he did not know if he could feel it. If he felt it, he had to warn them to get married quickly…

But how should I say it? If I said it in front of Sister Chu Yi, I would inevitably get beaten again, especially if she had a baby, I would not be able to fight back…

The two brothers had their own thoughts at this time, and after the meal, they simply parted ways. Ning Ji carried his medical kit back to the courtyard where he still lived alone.

At this time, the sunset had already sunk behind the western city wall, and the various lights in Chengdu lit up. Ning Ji changed his clothes in the room, took a small waterproof package and came out of the room again, then climbed over the side courtyard wall, stretching his body in the dark and walking towards the nearby river.

There are many rivers in Chengdu, and he has not inquired about the name of this river not far from the courtyard where he lives. It is still summer now. He often came here to swim some time ago, but today he has other purposes. He came to a secluded place by the river, changed into waterproof water clothing, and wrapped his hair, and the whole person turned black, and went directly into the river.

In the distance, there were brightly lit flower boats sailing on the water. Ning Ji paddled doggy style smoothly past from the water, and after a while, he turned into a dead body, and not long after, he landed on the shore by a relatively remote riverbed.

Taking off the water clothing and letting go of his hair, shaking off the water from his body, he wore thin black clothes and masked his face, leaning towards a courtyard not far away.

Skillfully climbing over the wall and entering, Ning Ji walked in the shadows of the backyard, and after a while, he climbed up the roof along the wall and inspected it all around. This was a three-inlet rich man's mansion, and it seemed that not many people lived here. The rearmost courtyard was an embroidered building, and maids and servants were hauling hot water to the second floor room, Ning Ji watched on the roof for a while.

"Taking a bath so early…"

He muttered in his heart, and then remembered what he had said with his brother today about having children and other things, he climbed down from the roof, found a foothold on the outer wall of the second floor, and peeked into the window.

This observation position was very good, not only could you see inside the window, but also see many things in front of the courtyard.

The hot water for the bath in the room had already been prepared—Ning Ji was very strange that women still wanted hot water for bathing in the summer, but thinking that the woman in this embroidered building always looked unhappy, her body must be very poor, and it could be explained medically.

Not long after, a girl with snow-like skin and eyebrows like distant mountains came to this room, her age was about two years older than Ning Ji, although she looked beautiful, but there was always a melancholy temperament in her eyes. This was not surprising, bad people came to Chengdu, they would always die, she probably knew that she would inevitably die here, so she was afraid all day long.

Since he had already regarded this woman as a dead person, Ning Ji was curious and secretly watched for a while outside the window…

Then, between the courtyards in front, several people came together, laughing and talking.

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