The house was not luxurious, just ordinary adobe walls, with trees planted in front of and behind it, which had grown tall and dense with age, shielding the yard perfectly.
Hululu!
At the hitching post by the door, several horses blew loudly through their nostrils.
Had Tigress returned?
And there were guests?
Old Man Liang hesitated upon seeing this.
Though Tigress had grown up under his watch, she was known in the village as a capable woman, soone to turn to whether it was dealing with evil encounters or fiat-seeking riffraff from Chang’an City.
Old Man Liang wondered if he should go back ho and fetch sothing more.
Creak~
Just then, the courtyard door suddenly opened, and the demon hunter Crimson Yaksha erged, smiling, "Old Uncle Liang, why don’t you co inside and sit?"
"No, no, you have guests."
Old Man Liang hurriedly handed over the food box, "It’s Winter Solstice. This is homade, not much, just a little sothing for the kids to try."
"Thank you for the trouble."
"Oh, what kind of formalities between fellow villagers."
Seeing Crimson Yaksha accept it, Old Man Liang seed relieved, and he whistled a little tune as he slowly walked away in the snow.
Crimson Yaksha shook her head with a smile and carried the food box into the yard.
"Red Sister, you got another one?"
Under the eaves of the main hall, Sha Lifei sat at the table, sweating profusely as he alternated between sips of wine and mouthfuls of dumplings, exclaiming, "I’ve never had Hundred-Family Dumplings before, Sister, let try what this filling is..."
"Alright, alright!"
Li Yan said speechlessly from the opposite side, "You certainly don’t consider yourself an outsider."
"How am I an outsider?"
Sha Lifei protested, "My relationship with Red Sister is one forged in life and death, no, we must burn spirit money and decapitate a chicken today..."
Many other children sat at a different table eating dumplings, all snickering to themselves as they listened to the big bald man spout nonsense.
Crimson Yaksha laughed as well, "It’s fine, eat as much as you like; I’m only afraid you won’t finish it all."
With that, she placed the food box on the main hall’s table.
The table was already crowded with filled food boxes.
Li Yan praised, "Red Sister’s popularity is truly remarkable, much stronger than mine back then."
"It’s more than strong, it’s not even on the sa level!"
Sha Lifei couldn’t resist teasing, "With Ghostly Despair at Li Family Castle, your reputation was so bad it stank up the place three miles against the wind. Now that you’re gone, the neighbors are probably setting off fireworks."
The children behind them laughed rrily while Crimson Yaksha’s face also lit up with a smile, "My lineage has lived in Shili Shop for generations, and while our master was alive, the villagers would always get a helpful hand when they faced issues, regardless, we never relied on making money from them."
"A neighbor’s blessing certainly brings great fortune."
Wang Daoxuan took a sip of wine, eyes full of admiration.
After coming down from Mount Taibai, Crimson Yaksha had intended to leave alone, but Sha Lifei tenaciously followed her, endearingly addressing her as Red Sister.
Unable to refuse him, Crimson Yaksha agreed to travel with everyone.
Along the way, they grew increasingly familiar with each other.
Crimson Yaksha’s fierce reputation and seemingly cold deanor were all a facade, after all, a woman traveling alone in the pugilistic world always needed to be extra cautious.
But once they got to know her better, they realized that she was an open and magnanimous woman, and quickly beca friends with people like Li Yan.
Li Yan and the others had initially planned to go straight to Chang’an, but arriving in Shili Shop just in ti for Winter Solstice, Crimson Yaksha pulled them over to her ho as guests.
They had a lively feast with dumplings.
No sooner had they put down their bowls, than children ran over to clean up.
The younger ones washed dishes and wiped tables, while the older ones served tea and water—organized, efficient, and very polite, causing Li Yan and the others to utter words of praise.
Crimson Yaksha’s eyes bead with pride and affection.
It was clear that she had invested her heart and soul into these disciples.
Sha Lifei, with a glint in his eye, proposed, "Red Sister, if you ever need anything, don’t bear it alone. We’ll be mixing it up in Chang’an City from now on, just give us a shout."
"Sure." Crimson Yaksha readily agreed.
There were indeed so tasks she could no longer handle alone as she grew older and felt less vigorous.
Having soone to help out in tis of need was fine, even if it ant earning less.
After all, these children still needed her.
Thinking of this, Crimson Yaksha inquired, "Settling in Chang’an isn’t easy, and the houses there aren’t cheap. Do you all have a place to stay yet?"
"We’ll stay in an inn at first, then look around slowly," Sha Lifei said cheerfully, "Even though it was tough on Mount Taibai, we did save a pretty penny. If we find a suitable house, we could get one."
Li Yan thought for a mont and then asked, "Red Sister, you’re familiar with Chang’an’s circles—do you know of any renowned families skilled in the Splitting and Hanging Palm who also take on external apprentices?"
This was the reason he was in such a hurry to get to Chang’an.
For one, the court was going to impose strict constraints on Magicians, so he couldn’t drag his feet about getting the Daoist certificate, and needed to find Luo Mingzi sooner rather than later.
Secondly, he had already ascended one level in Dao, mastered spells like the "North Emperor’s Scripture," and even acquired the Divine Skills of the Yin Bureau’s Soul Hook. Even compared to the disciples of the Proper Xuan Sect, he was in no way inferior.
Only his martial arts skills were lagging behind.
After all, he wasn’t a Mage from the Taixuan Orthodox Sect, with the court army for protection and an assembly of experts to turn to during altar ceremonies; he just needed to focus on the ceremonial aspects and spells.
The pugilistic world was dangerous; Chen Fagui and Old Four Yu - weren’t they both second-level in Dao? But because they knew no hand-to-hand combat, once soone got close to them, they were on a one-way street to death.
Hand-to-hand combat was sothing Li Yan dared not neglect.
According to his previous plans, learning the Splitting and Hanging Palm, combined with Red Fist Cannon Fist’s nimbleness and overbearing force, would complent his Great Cloud Thunder Sound perfectly.
Moreover, it would be beneficial for his future cultivation of the "North Emperor Yin Thunder Hand."
"The renowned masters of Splitting and Hanging Palm..."
Crimson Yaksha pondered for a mont, "There are quite a few masters of this style in Chang’an City, but you know the rules of the Martial Arts community; once you join, you can’t avoid getting entangled in all sorts of gratitude and grudges."
"We follow the ways of Mystical Sect, the highest esteed in the pugilistic world, but there are inevitably those with ulterior motives, who wish to use your power to seek wealth and status. It’s best to keep a distance from them."
"There is one in Lanling Square, with the surna Li and the na Shiqing, who’s a senior in the Daoist Doctor lineage and also a famous doctor in Chang’an. He’s proficient in Splitting and Hanging Palm, and his martial arts have reached the level of Force Transformation."
"A senior of Daoist Doctor lineage?"
Li Yan’s eyes lit up, "Can Sister Red help get an introduction?"
Crimson Yaksha replied with so difficulty: "I t this senior when I was injured, and only after getting to know him did I realize his impressive skills."
"However, the senior is usually very busy with patients, and I am not sure about his willingness. I can help you get an introduction, but if it doesn’t work out, don’t bla ."
Li Yan smiled and said, "Sister Red, you’re joking. I’d be grateful even for an introduction. Whether it works out depends on luck..."
...
Early the next morning, the group arrived outside Chang’an City.
This thousand-year-old ancient capital flourished the most during the Tang Dynasty, with a total of one hundred and eight neighborhoods. But after countless wars, it no longer possessed its forr glory.
For example, Taiji Palace and Great Ming Palace are still a collection of ruins to this day, while the Prince Chang’an’s mansion is located in the forr Xingqing Palace.
The remaining intact neighborhoods in the city numbered only seventy to eighty, and their layout had beco disordered. So neighborhoods had rged, large and small, far from the standardized planning of the Tang era.
However, as the seat of Shan State, it was still bustling with activity.
Goods from the North would converge in Chang’an, then be transported by mule and horse rchant teams to places like Manchuan Pass and various other dry and water ports, heading towards the South.
Goods from the South would also reach Chang’an and spread out to various locations.
Crimson Yaksha and the three n arrived just as the sky began to lighten, and after a night without snow, a light flutter began anew in the early hours.
Amidst the wind and snow, the line waiting to enter the city stretched for miles. The braying of mules and horses mixed with the cacophony of people’s voices.
Li Yan and his companions were in no rush and patiently waited in line.
The conversations of passersby to the left, right, and around them intermittently reached their ears.
"Have you heard? The Prince Mansion is holding a poetry contest for winter."
"That’s for the lords. Why should soone like you care?"
"You know nothing, fool. Prince Chang’an loves delicacies; it’s well known. I heard they’re collecting rare delicacies from outside, and if you send them sothing rare, you’ll get a reward with money..."
"Is that so? Let think about it..."
"Brother Lu, are you going to get rich this year?"
"Rich, my foot! I’m still worried about paying back the money I owe to Xiangji Kitchen..."
Sha Lifei listened with great interest and even occasionally joined in the conversation.
anwhile, Li Yan looked thoughtfully at Chang’an City.
There was sothing he hadn’t ntioned to everyone else.
His father, Li Hu, though it’s said he was tricked by Zhou Pan, the actual hand that struck him ca from a demon of the Maitreya Sect.
If he found a lead, he would have to settle this grudge.
Pat, pat!
Just then, the sound of horse hooves ca from behind.
Li Yan sniffed, recognizing a familiar scent, and quickly turned around.
Sure enough, a team of black riders from the Captain Bureau approached from amid the snowstorm, leading them was Guan Wanche, the forr arrest officer of Xianyang.
"Eh?"
Guan Wanche had sharp eyes, and from atop his horse, he had a better vantage point. He imdiately spotted Li Yan in the crowd, pulled the reins to stop, and said sternly, "Li Yan, you’ve co to Chang’an?"
Without waiting for Li Yan to answer, he turned his head and said, "Sister, this is the son of Li Hu."
That Guan Wanche!
Li Yan inwardly sensed sothing amiss.
Looking up, sure enough, among the black riders of Captain Bureau was a middle-aged Daoist nun, carrying a longbow, her gaze cold as she looked his way...
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