My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 267: Chapter 145: Post House (2)

...’If I had come into the city alone, I probably would’ve gotten lost before I even got very far, wouldn’t I?’

This was simply beyond imagination!

’In just this short distance, I must have seen over ten thousand people... In a city this massive, just what is the total population?’

Qin Fang was utterly shaken.

...He had previously believed it was impossible for a city that could support a population of several million to exist in this World.

But after seeing Lanyang City... he was no longer so sure.

Since he had a ready-made guide right next to him, Qin Fang curiously asked Zhang Cheng this very question.

Upon hearing this, a proud smile appeared on Zhang Cheng’s face. ”Not that many, not that many. Lanyang City’s permanent population is probably just over a million. However, this is the Prefecture City, a hub connected in all directions, and it attracts a massive number of outsiders. The year-round residential population is probably between two and three million.”

A colossal city with a population of two to three million?!

Even though he was somewhat prepared, Qin Fang’s heart still pounded fiercely!

...As far as he knew, even the most prosperous Chang’an of ancient times in his previous life had a population of only about 1.8 million!

And Lanyang City had actually reached the colossal size of two to three million?

...Truly astounding!

Amidst his amazement, Zhang Cheng suddenly said, ”We’ve arrived at the Post House.”

He pointed ahead.

Qin Fang looked over subconsciously, and his pupils contracted...

...He had originally thought the Post House would just be a streetside shop, something like an inn.

He never expected that what would appear before his eyes was a sprawling, massive manor!

The name ’Lanyang Post House’ was inscribed in large characters over the manor’s gate.

It was guarded by Black Armored Soldiers.

Carriages came and went through the open gates, which thronged with a constant flow of people...

Staring at the tall, vermilion courtyard walls that seemed to stretch endlessly, Qin Fang was completely dumbfounded.

”Follow me.”

Zhang Cheng’s call broke Qin Fang out of his shock. He came to his senses and quickly followed.

Zhang Cheng walked up to the Post House gate, and the gazes of the several Black Armored Soldiers on duty swept over. He cupped his fist and said, ”The person Tributor Yun spoke of, here for a temporary stay.”

The Black Armored Soldiers looked at Qin Fang, and one of them said, ”Where is the Temporary Passage Token?”

Qin Fang quickly handed over the Temporary Passage Token.

The Black Armored Soldier took it, and after examining it carefully, he nodded lightly and said to Zhang Cheng, ”Alright, you can leave him here.”

Zhang Cheng nodded, then said to Qin Fang, ”Just follow their arrangements in a moment. They’ll get you settled in... I’ll be heading back to report now.”

Qin Fang cupped his fist and said, ”Thank you for your trouble.”

”You’re too kind, it’s just official business. Well then, may we meet again.”

Zhang Cheng smiled, cupped his fist again, and turned to leave.

”Follow me.”

After watching Zhang Cheng bid farewell to Qin Fang and leave, one of the Soldiers nodded to Qin Fang, his attitude reasonably mild.

Qin Fang followed him through the manor’s main gate.

He then saw a wide avenue stretching straight into the distance, so far he couldn’t see the end.

On both sides of the avenue, a type of tree with straight trunks and dense crowns was planted intermittently. Under the noonday sun, they formed rows of green shade. When the wind blew, it rustled the budding green leaves and branches, a refreshing and delightful sound.

And next to the trees were neat rows of courtyards. From the outside, these courtyards looked nearly identical, and their grounds were surprisingly large... almost three or four times bigger than the two courtyards Qin Fang had in Wanshui and Fishermen’s!

The courtyard walls were high and painted vermilion.

’A quick count... In this row alone, aren’t there at least a hundred courtyards?’

Moreover, there were many people here. Quite a few were strolling along the road or cooling off in the shade of the trees.

It seemed very lively.

”This way.”

As he was looking around curiously, the Black Armored Soldier called to Qin Fang. Qin Fang turned his head and only then discovered a Zhi Lu just inside the gate. The Black Armored Soldier was beckoning him over.

He walked over.

”By order of Tributor Yun, you may choose an empty courtyard in C Courtyard to reside in temporarily, until the Martial Arts Examination is over.”

The Black Armored Soldier said to Qin Fang, ”Holders of a Temporary Token are, by rule, to reside in the Post House. During the day, you may travel outside the city, and the Post House will not inquire. However, you must return by midnight. If you fail to return by the deadline...”

His tone paused slightly, and his gaze became stern. ”The lightest punishment is revocation of your eligibility for the Martial Arts Examination. The most severe is a nationwide arrest warrant. This is an ironclad rule... You had best be cautious.”

Qin Fang’s heart instantly went cold.

Then he understood the meaning behind Tributor Yun’s words: ’Qin Fang, you are permitted to enter the city, but you will be under supervision.’

...’So, this was what was waiting for him?’

’Does this mean I’m temporarily under house arrest in the Post House?’

His gaze flickered incessantly...

...It seemed the problem with his Identity still existed; they just hadn’t asked too many questions about it.

Instead, it was manifesting in other ways...

This filled his heart with a sense of helplessness.

”Did you hear clearly?”

Seeing Qin Fang remain silent for a long moment, the Black Armored Soldier frowned and asked.

Qin Fang took a deep breath, then nodded.

...’What else can I do?’

’An arm can’t wrestle a thigh. All I can do is agree.’

’...Fortunately, I can leave during the day, and the Post House won’t care... so it’s not like I have no freedom at all.’

He could only console himself with this thought.

Seeing Qin Fang nod, the Black Armored Soldier continued, ”Furthermore, private duels are strictly forbidden within the Post House. Violators will be detained. If it results in serious injury or death, the lightest punishment is stripping you of your Martial Arts Examination qualification, while the most severe is public execution... This is also an ironclad rule.”

”However, if there is truly a feud of life and death that cannot be resolved, you may go to the Life and Death Platform and sign a death waiver to settle it... But this requires both parties to willingly sign. On the Life and Death Platform, each must accept their own fate.”

The Black Armored Soldier’s second statement made Qin Fang’s heart skip a beat...

’There’s actually a place like the Life and Death Platform?’

...He immediately noticed the difference between this Prefecture City and a county town.

County towns didn’t have anything like a Life and Death Platform.

...As expected, the martial culture in this Prefecture City was incredibly strong!

Of course, back in the county town, as long as you were outside the town’s borders, the Government Office would almost never intervene in the conflicts of the martial world.

...In a way, that was an even bigger Life and Death Platform...