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Sha Lifei's heart skipped a beat, "What's the matter?"
He was more than clear that this young man in front of him was no pushover.
The first ti he ca years ago, he thought what trouble could an old crippled man and a half-grown child possibly cause?
Just coming to greet them was already showing them respect.
No one would have anything to say if word got out.
So that ti, he swaggered in, acting all high and mighty.
Not only was he discourteous, but he also barked orders, relying on his senior status to have Li Yan prepare food and wine to mooch a al.
Li Yan was young then, but he wasn't one to suffer losses.
He prepared the food and wine, quite a sumptuous spread, but added a bit of croton powder, controlling the dosage so that Sha Lifei suffered relentless diarrhea only after leaving the village.
It infuriated Sha Lifei at the ti.
But as he still had to escort the grain, looting from the dragon's mouth was not a joke, he could only press on, planning to teach the young lad a lesson when he visited the following year.
He had no murderous intent, though.
He had many ways to deal with a young brat.
Like claiming a spar under the guise of martial arts practice and giving him a solid beating.
He hadn't anticipated that Li Yan, leveraging the power of the Substitute Divine Statue, would beco a martial arts fanatic, achieving Minor Success by the next year.
Though still lacking experience, he was not so easily dealt with.
From then on, Sha Lifei beca much more polite.
Now suddenly halted by him, could it be trouble, or was he trying to reclaim the leader of the grain escort?
Thinking of this, Sha Lifei wore a smile but stayed vigilant inside.
These young wolves new to the pugilistic world were the most ruthless, reckless in their actions, and willing to do anything to make a na for themselves.
He better not trip over himself today...
While he was anxious, Li Yan asked, "I've heard Uncle Sha has connections with the Mystical Sect, could you perhaps introduce ?"
Sha Lifei was taken aback, simultaneously relieved, his gossiping nature aroused, he curiously asked, "What, have you encountered trouble?"
"Was it a collision with custors or is the Fengshui unfavorable?"
Li Yan didn't answer directly, "Nothing much, just curious. Uncle Sha, be honest, do you really have this connection?"
"Of course I do!"
Sha Lifei thumped his chest and laughed heartily, "Aren't you going to inquire, I am Sha Lifei, with friends all over the world."
"There's nothing I can't handle on this Guanzhong road!"
Seeing Li Yan remain expressionless, he widened his eyes, "What, you don't believe ? I do know soone from the Mystical Sect."
"This person is a Fire Living Daoist, skilled in Qin Dunjia, fortune-telling, examining Yin houses, Yang houses, Fengshui, and exorcising ghosts and subduing demons. He's proficient in everything and is sought after by the wealthy families in Chang'an City..."
While Sha Lifei boasted, Li Yan found it increasingly unreliable.
Though he was an amateur, in his previous life, he had so understanding of folklore.
Just the divination alone included Four Pillars of Destiny, Six Divination, i Hua Divination, Six Ren, Qin Dunjia, Taiyi Divination, Purple Star Astrology...many schools.
Learning one required a considerable expenditure of effort.
Without enough talent, one wouldn't even be able to get started.
Not to ntion the ghost-catching and demon-subduing; it sounded like a big scam.
Unaware, Sha Lifei continued boasting, "His na is Wang Daoxuan, rumored to have ties with the Taixuan Orthodox Sect in Chang'an City, and he even handled grievance charts in Xianyang..."
Hearing this, Li Yan's eyes lit up.
The Taixuan Orthodox Sect was the true legitimate sect of the Mystical Sect.
Handling grievance charts wasn't sothing just anyone could do.
Grievance charts were docunts during funerals, recording the deceased's birth and death dates, cremation, and burial specifics.
With a grievance chart, the governnt granted burial permission.
Du Daya had ntioned that the ones who handled grievance charts were generally from the Mystical Sect.
In Li Yan's estimation, handling grievance charts also temporarily served as a coroner's role.
For unclear deaths or poisonings, a Yin Yang Master had the right to refuse a grievance chart, reporting it for governntal handling, including those bodies possibly "problematic."
Anyway, this Wang Daoxuan seed to be an insider.
At worst, he could inquire about entering the Taixuan Orthodox Sect for cultivation.
Thinking of this, Li Yan smiled more warmly and spoke more courteously, "Then I'll trouble Uncle Sha with this. There shall be a thank-you afterward."
"No problem!"
Sha Lifei laughed heartily, then shook his head, "But there's trouble with this; you'll need to accompany for a trip, joining the team tomorrow."
Li Yan frowned slightly, "Why is that?"
Sha Lifei clicked his tongue, "That Master Wang is very busy and values etiquette and rules in all things. You can't let him co to see you."
"Just as we're headed to Xianyang, we can handle your matter along the way!"
"Oh."
Li Yan pondered for a mont, "That's fine."
This Sha Lifei's words were half-truths, and he loved to exaggerate, but Li Yan guessed he probably just knew Wang Daoxuan, without much of a relationship.
Regardless, it was still a lead. eting might yield sothing.
Entering the Mystical Sect was urgent.
He had achieved Yang Six Roots; if sothing was eyeing him, he had no mounted deity to advise against evil.
Xianyang wasn't too far, nor too close; he could return in five or six days.
Asking neighbors to watch over his grandfather, a trip wouldn't be a problem.
Seeing him agree, a trace of satisfaction flashed in Sha Lifei's eyes, and he waved his hand, "Alright, it's settled, we set off early tomorrow!"
With that, he hastily bade farewell and left.
Watching him leave, Li Yan shook his head slightly, turned back into the house, and packed a traveling bag for tomorrow's departure.
.......
The next day, before dawn, the sound of hooves approached the gate.
"Brother Yan, it's ti to go!"
Sha Lifei's booming voice followed.
Li Yan was already prepared.
It was near the ti of grain in ear, and hot, so he wore a black short jacket, shaded by a straw hat, carrying a bag, with Guan Mountain Blade strapped across.
He ca to his grandfather Li Gui's door, knocking, "Grandfather, I'm leaving."
However, no one responded from within.
Seeing this, Li Yan was a bit helpless.
He had ntioned this yesterday; of course, his grandfather was unwilling.
Unfortunately, where life and death are concerned, this trip was necessary.
Just as he was about to turn, a hoarse voice ca from inside the house, "The pugilistic world is dangerous. Stay alert in everything."
"Okay!"
Li Yan imdiately brightened and departed with big strides.
Creak~
Just as he left, his grandfather Li Gui pushed open the door, watching the boy's figure recede into the distance, heaved a sigh, and inexplicably thought of Li Hu in those past years.
"Father, what is the pugilistic world?"
"The pugilistic world?"
"Once you step out this door, you're in the pugilistic world..."
...
Li Yan once thought that having lived two lives, nothing would excite him.
Having seen the previous life's colorful nightlife and magnificent landscapes, even the most bustling capital of this world seed only quaint to him.
Yet, the mont he left the mountain village, he found himself mistaken.
The shadow of Li Family Castle gradually vanished; loess valleys, golden wheat fields, verdant mountains, blue sky, and white clouds... the vastness of the Guanzhong land enveloped him swiftly.
It was an unpolluted world.
Everything seed remarkably clear.
Coupled with the unknown Mystical Sect, Li Yan felt as if he turned back into that once-young lad, filled with curiosity and yearning for the world beyond.
"Brother Yan, why must you leave too?"
Hei Dan ca over, interrupting his thoughts.
The exuberant mood was also shared by this dark-skinned boy.
Unlike Li Yan, apart from attending festivals in Lantian County, this was his first journey so far, casting aside usual calmness, chattering endlessly along the way.
"Xianyang, I heard it's very far..."
"I wonder if we can see Chang'an City along the way..."
Soon, he felt the difficulty of traveling.
They trekked the official road under the blazing sun. The dusty dirt road seed to churn, with golden wheat fields on both sides, billowing like waves in the scorching sumr wind.
Moreover, the thick black cloth absorbed heat, scorching under the blazing sun, soon turning his face flush red, sweat dripping profusely.
Sha Lifei gathered grain harvesters from villages surrounding Li Family Castle, about fifty people, all carrying backpacks, scythes, and whetstones on their waist.
Upon setting out, their attire was fairly tidy.
But now, most had undone their shirts, and so even stripped to their torsos, revealing bronze skin in the sunlight.
Sha Lifei, although riding a horse, was equally sweltering.
He occasionally took down the canteen from his waist, sneaking glances at Li Yan.
However, Li Yan marched silently, occasionally admiring the surrounding scenery.
They set off in the early morning and walked continuously until noon.
By now, Hei Dan was drenched in sweat, eyes blacking out, soles aching, ankles weak, each step felt like treading on cotton.
Li Yan, also sweating all over, remained calm.
After all, with regular martial practice, his footwork far exceeded ordinary people.
Finally, Sha Lifei checked the sky, saw the sun was at its zenith, then announced, "Find a place to rest, move again after the fierce sun subsides."
They needed to travel continuously for two more days.
Traveling at noon consud more energy, especially with many elderly in the team, better to preserve strength and cover more ground in the cool evening.
As for staying in an inn, Sha Lifei didn't even consider it.
Even if he was willing, these poor folks wouldn't spare the money.
A resting spot was easy to find, a few big locust trees ahead along the official road offered ample shade for people to lie on.
With Sha Lifei's order, they hurried forward, found a place to settle, taking out hard grain rolls to chew with cold water.
Li Yan also sat, leaning against a tree, eating dry rations.
With a tenacious mind, this journey was rely training footwork for him.
Upon return, he could visit the mule market in Xianyang to see if he could afford a good horse with the money he carried.
Dadada...
While contemplating, a string of hoofbeats sounded from afar.
Li Yan squinted, looking up, and imdiately heightened his alertness.
More than twenty n were approaching, all mounted on fast horses, wearing bamboo hats, so with long knives, others carrying short swords, evidently people from the pugilistic world.
Suddenly, Li Yan's expression changed subtly; he gripped the knife handle.
He slled a scent of blood emanating from these people...
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