Secret Agent Wind Boy

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Are you a member of the martial arts world?

If you are one of them, you must have heard the following statement:

There is a city on the water, named Baili, but its name is only known and its trace is never seen.

Thirty years ago, this phrase was famous throughout the martial arts world. Thirty years ago, Baili City was not only the number one city in the martial arts world, but also the most mysterious holy land of martial arts.

Because, although everyone knows that Baili City exists, no one knows exactly where it is, and of course no one has ever been there... It is like the wind, you can feel its presence, but you can never see it; it is like a dream, it exists in the heart of every Jianghu person, but the dream can never come true.

However, that was thirty years ago.

Today, Baili City remains the number one city in the martial arts world and a sacred place in people's hearts. However, if you arrive in the sparsely populated border region of Yunnan on the ninth day of the eighth lunar month every year and find the town called Baili, you will find that martial arts practitioners from various factions gather there. If you go with them to the inn called Baili in the town and are willing to spend a large sum of money, you will receive a jade token. With this token, you can swagger into the sacred place in your heart - Baili City and stay there for three whole days.

Only three days: from the 10th to the 13th of August.

If you are kind and intelligent, you will not only receive a warm and friendly welcome from the people of Baili City during these three days, but your martial arts skills will also greatly improve.

Because every year on these three days, thousands of disciples from Baili City compete on the Sword Testing Platform.

Baili City has dominated the martial arts world for over a century, and its residents are filled with masters. If you are a martial artist, seeing so many masters compete on the same stage for three consecutive days will surely make you want to stay longer.

However, remember, you must leave Baili City before sunset on the third day. Do not be dazzled by the picturesque scenery of the city, or you may never be able to get out.

Of course, if you are a person with evil intentions, once you dare to enter this city gate, you will never be able to leave.

Thirty years later, the most famous saying in the martial arts world became—

The supreme martial arts master resides in a city of great renown; the good people benefit, while the bad people perish.

Are you a member of the martial arts world?

If you are, you should have heard this saying.

Skilled at making money

The ninth day of the eighth lunar month is auspicious. It is suitable for trading and traveling.

As the waiter at Baili Inn in Baili Town yawned, he removed the door latch just as dawn was breaking.

The faint light of dawn illuminated the stone-paved road of this small town on the border of Yunnan, and a large group of people standing guard by the roadside.

Upon hearing the door open, the crowd stirred, and a burly man strode forward, barking at the waiter, "Opening the door now? Are you trying to kill me with waiting?"

Seeing his menacing expression and his attire as a street thug in short clothes and bound legs, the waiter assumed he'd encountered a bandit and immediately began screaming like a pig being slaughtered: "I've just arrived in this town and only worked for a few days. I'm penniless. If you want money, go find our manager. I didn't see anything, I didn't see anything..."

"I'm not asking for any money, I'd rather lose it!" The big man spat a mouthful of phlegm on the ground. Thinking that the waiter was a newcomer and there was no point in saying more, he asked, "Where is your manager?"

"Count the jade pendants in the back room," the waiter replied honestly. "The manager said there will definitely be more customers this year than in previous years, so more jade pendants have been made. We need to count them carefully."

The big man was already impatient. He pushed him aside and went inside. The others followed suit and rushed in like a swarm of bees, finding seats in the lobby.

One of the old men, with a goatee, stared at the cotton curtain in the inner hall and said to the person next to him, "Have you heard? This year, Mayor Xiao of Baili City is personally guiding his disciples in the competition, so the number of people who have come here to hear about him is several times greater than in previous years!"

"Yes, I heard that on August 13th, which is his 50th birthday, Lord Xiao will appear at the Sword Testing Platform."

"I suppose we'll get to see Madam Xiao then? She was a great beauty when she was young. I wonder what she looks like now."

The old man chuckled and said, "Isn't Madam Xiao most famous for her beauty?"

"That's right. Everyone in the world knows she's the Goddess of Wealth. Without her, how could Baili Town be what it is today? And let me tell you, last time my cousin, a high-ranking official, got married, my cousin specifically asked to come to Baili Town to pick out her dowry. It's because it gathers almost all the best of goods from the north and south. There's no other place in the world that has more complete selections and everything you could want."

"Have you forgotten Madam Xiao's identity before marriage—the eldest daughter of the richest family in the world, the Gong family of Luoyang? How could she not understand business? Look, Baili Town was transformed from nothing into the most prosperous town on the Yunnan border in just thirty years under her leadership."

Just as everyone was discussing this, the cotton curtain was suddenly lifted, and a fair-skinned, plump, and auspicious-looking middle-aged man walked out. It was none other than Jin Yidou, the innkeeper. Seeing that the lobby was already packed, he was not surprised at all. Instead, he greeted everyone with a beaming smile, "Everyone has arrived earlier than usual this year... Qiao Laosan, you probably only get up this early today, right?"

"Can't it be any better if I'm not early?" The burly man glared at him and strode up to him. "Last year, I was only half an hour late, and all the good seats were taken. I ended up sitting in the last row, craning my neck but not being able to see anything!" As he spoke, he pulled out a gleaming gold ingot from his pocket, hurriedly handed it over, and shouted, "One hundred taels of gold, for the first row, middle seat. Hurry up and give me the jade token, or they'll snatch it up first."

"Sorry, that was last year's price." Kim Il-doo smiled amiably. "If you want to sit in the first row this year, it'll cost this much."

He spread his right hand and shook it.

Five hundred taels of gold! This is no small sum; it's equivalent to nearly ten years' worth of expenses for an average family.

Unexpectedly, a hint of joy flashed in Qiao Laosan's eyes, and he exclaimed loudly, "So, the rumors in the martial arts world that City Lord Xiao will personally take part in the battle this year are true?"

Jin Yidou's gaze swept over the expectant faces of the crowd, and he said unhurriedly, "That's right—my city lord will personally guide the martial arts of our city's disciples on the final day of the competition..."

Everyone's faces lit up with joy, and one of them couldn't wait to ask, "Then, will the city lord really use the 'Return to the Past Sword Technique' in public?"

Jin Yidou said with a smile, "Regarding this matter, my wife is still trying to persuade my city lord. I can't guarantee whether it will succeed. However, the Jinghong Sword has not been drawn for ten years. If the city lord agrees, everyone will be in for a treat. Of course, the viewing fee will be charged separately..."

Upon hearing this, Qiao Laosan could no longer contain himself and loudly chimed in, "I don't know about others, but I'm a swordsman, and no matter how much money it costs, I want to see what the number one sword looks like!"

Everyone nodded in agreement. Everyone

……