Nie Sangu is an old precursor of the Evil Dao, how could she be silent and submissive, her hoarse voice like a night owl, "Don’t think we don’t know."
"This old body has found out that the old ghost of the Cheng Family has a grudge against you, he ca to Chengdu this ti by scent, the Prince only asked you to investigate, not to act!"
"Now, the Cheng Family has been alerted, and my bait has co off the hook, leaving a ss for us to clean..."
Nie Sangu escaped a disaster tonight, but lost face, and all her Protective Magical Artifacts were destroyed, the more she spoke, the angrier she beca.
At this mont, her face was grim like an Evil Ghost, surrounded by black aura.
The duo from the "Ghost Theater Troupe" were equally not to be trifled with.
Around Situ Qian, it beca cold and eerie, with rustling sounds, and several small footprints appeared on the ground...
Bai Qihong, the artist wearing mourning clothes, smiled sinisterly, her skin turned pale as if covered with powder, and blood tears dripped from her eyes...
"What are you all doing?"
At that mont, Ba Dazha, the "Blood Ritual Master" who had been silently smoking, suddenly spoke, flicking off the ash, and said blandly, "If you want to fight, perhaps it’s better to settle it now, anyway, if this continues, no one will co out well."
Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Even the duo from the "Ghost Theater Troupe" restrained their Qi.
Among the four Evil Dao practitioners in the Southwest, the Dao varied in strength.
Nie Sangu is notorious, but slightly inferior to the other three, the most terrifying one is this "Blood Ritual Master" Ba Dazha, followed by Water Ghost Master Tian Qi and Duoji Zhaxi.
Seeing everyone silent, Ba Dazha nodded slightly and looked at Situ Qian, "When did your troupe leader arrive in Chengdu?"
Facing the expressionless old man, Situ Qian also felt a chill in his heart, and slightly cupped his hand, saying, "The troupe leader sent a ssage, when the Yang Family was besieged, they had already gone to Jiangsu and Zhejiang for other important matters."
"Chengdu is mainly handled by the two of us. If the task cannot be completed, the remaining Silver Tael will be refunded in full."
"Left?"
Ba Dazha’s eyes narrowed slightly, but it wasn’t surprising.
From the information he received, the newly ford "Ghost Theater Troupe" is quite large, pursuing profits wherever they find them, whoever offers better rewards, they work for them.
Surely, soone from Jiangsu and Zhejiang offered better conditions.
As for breaking promises, these people don’t care at all.
Of course, they don’t mind seeing the situation like this.
Thinking of this, Ba Dazha spoke in a deep voice, "This commotion is not small, I’m afraid the orthodox people have been alard, the urgent task now is to complete the major matter of the Prince."
"On the fifteenth of the first lunar month, make sure nothing goes wrong, tomorrow is Stove Sacrifice Day, the Prince Mansion has a grand banquet, the Prince will not show himself, and those Commandery Princes are probably already eager to act, you two are fresh faces, go into the Prince Mansion to protect the Prince..."
"Tian Qi and Duoji Zhaxi, those two from the Dragon Worship Sect have left, I fear they have developed ulterior motives, find a way to locate them and eliminate them quickly!"
Water Ghost Master Tian Qi narrowed his eyes, "Those two, the old man can’t handle, this matter can’t be done."
Ba Dazha smiled hoarsely, "Old brother Tian is joking, I know sothing about your layout in ’Yellow Springs’. Isn’t it just right to lure the two out and let them fight till death?"
Upon hearing this, Water Ghost Master Tian Qi did not speak further.
Ba Dazha then looked at Nie Sangu, "Sangu, you’ve shown your face in Chengdu Prefecture, you need to temporarily stay out of the lilight, co with ."
Nie Sangu was still thinking of dragging people to avenge, to kill Li Yan, but upon hearing this, she was a bit displeased, "What for?"
Ba Dazha ignited his pipe and took two puffs.
"The Yang Family is extinguished, the Sea Opening Sect is exerting force, the remnants are being escorted to Chengdu, once they arrive in Chengdu, it’s when they make their move."
"We’ve been stable all these years thanks to the Prince Mansion’s cover, those remnants must not be allowed alive into Chengdu!"
.........
Crackle! Crackle!
Not yet dawn, the sound of firecrackers had already started.
In the side room, Li Yan routinely rose early, practicing the Red Fist Ten Great Disks of Pan Gong.
His ability to be bold and diligent is inseparable from daily hard work and practice, and leveraging the Daluo Dharma Body, to explore the edge of danger.
Just like now, exerting force like Taishan, grasping the thousands, Sparrow Earth Dragon, Swallow Holding Mud... still those stances, already perfect in skill.
But unlike before, at this mont Li Yan’s entire muscles were trembling, from the fascia outward, emitting rumbling like thunder inside his body.
His skin was turning red, sweat transforming into white mist and rising.
At this mont, he had completely mastered the Great Cloud Thunder Sound, and combined it with the Ten Great Disks, walking a path even his master, Madam Li, hadn’t thought of.
Such practice, an ordinary person would probably be shocked with their jaw dropping.
It’s almost as if he’s fighting with his life, one slip, and he could beco disabled.
Indeed, that’s exactly the case.
Each ti Pan Gong pushes to the limit, the body suffers heart-wrenching pain, a sign of the fascia being torn.
Thankfully, there is the tily repair from the Daluo Dharma Body.
This extre drifting state is what boosts Power the most.
Nowadays, the Daluo Dharma Body is damaged, mostly due to practice.
In the next courtyard, the disciples of the Trigram Sect were also practicing, Mud Stepping, Eight Trigrams circling the pillar, beating the iron man...trains vigorously.
But soon, they all stopped, cocking their ears to listen.
Boom—
"Senior brother, was that thunder?"
"Seems like it’s coming from that Li fellow’s room..."
Li Yan has recently gained quite a reputation in Shu’s Jianghu.
Although they followed Imperial Censor Wang from the Capital, they had heard of his fa, and seeing his age last night, they couldn’t help feeling a bit dissatisfied.
The more dissatisfied they were, the more curious they beca.
"What are you all doing!"
A reprimanding voice echoed. Two experts from the Trigram Sect who were present last night walked over with hands behind their backs, eyes sharp, and expressions stern.
The young disciples quickly lowered their heads and resud their practice.
anwhile, these two experts listened carefully, exchanged glances, and their expressions grew even more solemn.
With their vast knowledge and experience, they naturally understood what this ant.
But given Li Yan’s age, it was quite astonishing...
In the side room, Li Yan was too engrossed to pay attention to these people. After finishing his training, he sat facing east, cross-legged, and cald his mind.
The path of cultivation is nothing but following the heavens and emulating the earth.
The right way involves both action and stillness, expansion and contraction.
After completing these, with the night fully retreated, Li Yan tidied up and pushed the door open.
The disciples of the Trigram Sect had already left.
Only a middle-aged man from last night remained at a crucial position.
Seeing Li Yan, he hesitated for a mont before speaking: "Brother, today is Stove Sacrifice Day, and the stove has already been extinguished. If you’re hungry, we have so pastries and tea here."
As soone offered goodwill, Li Yan naturally wouldn’t put on a cold front. He smiled and clasped his fists: "That’s just perfect, thank you, senior."
"No need to be so formal."
"I am Li Yan, may I ask..."
"From the Capital’s Trigram Sect, Dong Cunshan."
"Long have I heard, so it turns out you’re from a prestigious family. The na of Senior Dong is thunderous to my ears..."
"Our ancestor is old and has long refrained from worldly matters..."
The two chatted over tea and breakfast and quickly struck up a conversation.
Li Yan was indeed a bit surprised.
No wonder the disciples of the Trigram Sect carried so arrogance; they indeed had reasons to be proud, for they hailed from the Dong family of the Trigram Sect.
Their ancestor, Dong Changxing, was one of the Ten Grandmasters of the Divine State.
That Imperial Censor Wang could have these people guarding him was largely due to the strong support from the Sea Opening Sect behind him.
Both had intentions of forging a connection and thus found the conversation quite enjoyable.
"Is Lord Wang here? I wish to take my leave."
"The lord is preoccupied with official matters and has already left."
After an explanation, Dong Cunshan’s expression turned serious as he continued, "Young brother, we are outsiders here. Although we’re here to protect, being in a place like the Capital, many things are beyond our control, so we only focus on the Imperial Censor’s safety and do not ddle in other affairs."
"This Chengdu Prefecture is steeped in ominous vibes; be cautious."
"No matter how strong the sinister winds, in the end, evil cannot overco righteousness!"
"Good! Take care!"
After bidding farewell to Dong Cunshan, Li Yan imdiately left.
Outside the Chengdu Prefecture Office, the festive atmosphere hit like a wave.
In the distance, candy vendors had set up their stalls, with the steaming sweet aroma perating the alleys...
Opposite, in front of a tavern, incense stalls lay, filled with red paper inscribed with "Speak Good Deeds to the Heavens", alongside aged kitchen god images and straw chickens and horses being burned together...
Amidst the loud firecrackers, the shopkeeper and his staff knelt in worship.
The twenty-third of the twelfth lunar month, Stove Sacrifice Day.
Chengdu Prefecture has a custom where on this day, people make lantern festival dumplings and give them to others as gifts.
Won on the street carried food boxes from house to house, and even through the boxes, Li Yan could sll the sweet aroma of the dumplings.
He couldn’t help but recall the old witch from last night.
Red firecracker papers scattered on the white snow added to the festive atmosphere. Passing by a teahouse, so street kids were boasting inside.
"Do you know? Last night the Chief Historian’s house at the Prince Mansion caught fire?"
"What really happened?"
"Heard they committed too many wicked deeds, angering the Kitchen God, who burned the Xu family to the ground, leaving no survivors."
"Good! If only all the wicked in this world were dead!"
Li Yan slightly shook his head, looking towards Chengdu Prefecture shrouded in cold mist.
"This year, won’t be easy..."
User Comments
0 comments from readers