"Girdled by water and leaning on mountains stand ten thousand hos, Xiangyang since ancient tis, abode of the rich and opulent.
To the north window in February I glance back, the sun drenching the city in floral hue, a tapestry of blooms."
This "Xiangyang" poem cos from the Northern Song’s Jia An, speaking of the splendor of this ancient city.
Since the Late Eastern Han, when chaos reigned supre, the Jingxiang Region under the rule of Liu Biao saw "fertile land for thousands of miles, citizens wealthy and prosperous," becoming a pure land, with generations of distinguished scholars and nobles erging.
The most famous, of course, were the Sleeping Dragon and the Young Phoenix.
During the Yongjia chaos of the Eastern Jin dynasty, scholars fled southward, and Guanzhong aristocrats resettled in Fan Mian, near the Han River, bringing with them great wealth and population.
No matter the changes in dynasties, this place had always been the stronghold of Ezhou.
The reason for this lies in Xiangyang’s unique location.
Xiangyang, westward connecting Guanzhong and Han Zhong, northward paving the way to Nanyang and Luoyang, and southward shielding the Yangtze River, holding Wuchang’s three strongholds in the middle, serving as an indispensable hub connecting east, west, south, and north.
Therefore, it has always been a crucial battleground for military strategists.
After Cao Cao was defeated at Chibi, thanks to Cao Ren’s steadfast defense of Xiangyang, Cao Wei managed to control the Xiangfan region and maintain pressure on Eastern Wu’s Jingzhou...
Yue Wumu recaptured six prefectures of Xiangyang, reigniting the Southern Song’s spirit to resist the Jin...
Previously, the Southern Song staunchly defended Xiangyang for three years, withstanding the southward advance of the Golden Tent Wolf Country. The Great Xuan Dynasty also began its conquest of unifying the Divine State starting from Xiangyang...
It can be said that Xiangyang City was built upon blood and bones.
Of course, in this era of prosperity, Xiangyang City has long since recovered its thriving state, with the Three Religions and Nine Sects converging, and its city full of wealthy and powerful inhabitants.
It is now July, and the Ghost Festival has just passed.
On the Xiangyang Pier, the scent of incense ashes from the ritual burning had yet to dissipate, yet the flow of people shuttling, and the coming and going of carriages and boats, never ceases.
But those familiar with Xiangyang City all know, though these crowds seem nurous, they are much quieter than usual.
Stranger still, everyone’s face is covered with a layer of cloth; the high officials with silk, the common folk with coarse cloth. Regardless of the material, all is perated with a strong sll of vinegar.
Moreover, when people converse, they all tend to keep their heads down, maintaining a distance, even strangers crossing paths avoid each other.
In the distance on the river, a warship was speeding forward.
This warship, not large in size with sharp ends that made the bow and stern indistinguishable, had shelters of neatly nailed reed and bamboo surrounding it, leaving rows of gunports between them.
Anyone with a bit of knowledge would know that this is the Navy’s "Eagle Ship."
This type of small warship is renowned for swift maneuvers and its ease of control, frequently used for reconnaissance and probing enemy territory, or even to breach enemy lines.
Since the outbreak of the Southwest war, these ships were commonly seen on the Yangtze River, either relaying military orders or transporting vital goods.
It flew the naval battle flag, causing civilian boats to evade along its path.
A ship like this, no one could afford to provoke, especially seeing the lines of gun barrels protruding through those gunports, indicating it was on a mission.
If soone were to hinder its way, the crew could even open fire directly.
Without any hesitation, the Eagle Ship passed by both Xiangyang and the opposite Fan City docks and continued forward, heading upstream on the Han River.
On the deck stood Li Yan and others.
Accompanying them was Gu Hanzi from the City God Temple of Yunyang Prefecture.
His face was pale, clearly injured.
By his side were several Daoists, all looking around the water’s surface with vigilance, hands pressed on their sword hilts.
Li Yan had been looking towards Xiangyang Pier, and only when it was out of sight did he turn back with a frown and said, "Sothing’s off at Xiangyang Pier."
"Plague has broken out in Fan City."
Gu Hanzi opened his mouth to explain, "A few days ago, people on a boat on the Han River suddenly dropped dead, their deaths strange, with their organs filled with green moss."
"The Fan City Governnt Officials were patrolling and brought the bodies back, conducted autopsies, and even invited their fellow brothers from the Fan City Law Enforcent Hall."
"At first, we thought it was a Gu poisoning, but expelling poison techniques were of no use, and there were no traces of Yin Evil Qi on the bodies."
"The next day, several Governnt Officials who transported the bodies also died of the sa symptoms, and finally, a doctor judged it to be a rare plague."
"The Prefect of Xiangyang invited a Daoist Doctor from the Li family of Huangzhou to handle the situation, ordering that mouths and noses be covered with vinegar-soaked cloth to block the plague, temporarily containing it within Fan City, preventing it from leaking out..."
"Now, Fan City has been sealed off, but rumors are rampant, claiming that those people had offended the river’s plague deity, causing widespread panic."
"The Li family of Huangzhou?"
Wang Daoxuan showed interest, "The dicine Saint Li Shizhen?"
"Yes."
Gu Hanzi nodded, "The dicine Saint’s family is also a prominent local aristocratic family. Though many descendants have entered the governnt, their family knowledge has never been interrupted. Li Facheng has gained quite the reputation in recent years."
"Facheng... has he joined the Magic Sect?"
"Exactly, Li Facheng, adhering to the dicine Saint’s aspirations, desires to travel across Shen Zhou, to continue expanding the ’Compendium of Materia dica.’
Of the skills in the mountains, the i Mountain Taoist is the strongest; hence he sought teachers and entered the i Mountain Taoist..."
As he and Wang Daoxuan chatted idly, Li Yan looked towards Lv San.
Lv San imdiately understood, glanced at the hawk in the sky, and made an "ok" gesture to indicate that everything was normal.
Li Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
After departing from Liangzi Lake, they returned to Wuchang, visited the Yellow Crane Tower and Qingchuan Pavilion, and were ready to set off for Wudang.
Unexpectedly, a Daoist ca seeking help.
It turned out that Gu Hanzi and his group had gone to the mountains near Huang i to capture a traitor and accidentally fell into an ancient tomb, where they found another Blood Jade Cong and were ambushed by a demon en route.
The relationship between the Taoist and Buddhist sects is a bit delicate.
Although it would be customary to ask the local Law Enforcent Hall for help, and they would certainly help, Gu Hanzi and his group were reluctant. They heard that Li Yan was around and asked them to protect them along the way.
Since Li Yan was already planning to visit Wudang Mountain, he naturally promised to assist without hesitation. He also sought help from the Navy and borrowed an Eagle Ship to reach Yunyang as quickly as possible.
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