On the ancient road, there were many travelers.
There were not only the rchant team’s rolling wheels and the braying of mules and horses, but also high-ranking officials and nobles sitting in carriages, while most of the common people were on foot.
There were even quite a few Ascetic Monks wearing bamboo hats, lined up in a row.
Under the trees by the road, a group of mysterious people wearing Nuo Masks and draped in wide robes were burning a campfire, cooking, and resting.
Passersby saw them but dared not disturb them.
Those in the know were aware that this was the Wuyang Yangxi Troupe, one capable of setting altars to exorcise spirits, with a Wizard in the troupe.
As for those who didn’t understand, they knew one principle:
When traveling, avoid trouble.
These naturally were Li Yan and his group.
They had set off from Zouma Town, arrived in Zizhong two days ago, and had now passed Jianyang County. Traveling for another half day, they would reach Longquan Station.
After passing Longquan Station, they would consider having arrived at Chengdu.
After two days of travel, although there was no danger encountered, both people and horses were exhausted, so they rested by the roadside to regain their spirits.
After all, the situation in Chengdu would be even more complex.
Above the treetops hung a strange multicolored flag, patched from several colors. While simple, it was exceptionally obvious from an aerial view.
Li Yan sat by the campfire, ditating with closed eyes to rest.
Even though the won from the Bai Family in the team were quite skilled, and there was the veteran Bai Huan to hold fort, since it was an escort mission, he had to remain vigilant.
He was the only one who dared not sleep too deeply at night.
A small dot suddenly appeared amidst the dark clouds in the distance, darting through the sky and clouds, wings flapping—it was the Eagle Falcon Lidong.
Lü San’s pet had long gained spirituality. Although it couldn’t cast spells, its flying ability and intelligence surpassed ordinary birds of prey.
Upon seeing the multicolored flag, it imdiately flapped its wings and landed.
Acting in three separate groups and lacking telecommunication, the Eagle Falcon Lidong had naturally beco the main ans of communication for the team beforehand.
With a rustling sound, wings flapped, and the campfire flickered.
Li Yan first fed it a piece of rabbit at caught on the road, then retrieved a bamboo tube to carefully check the intelligence on it, his eyes showing so surprise.
This old good-natured Wang Daoxuan would actually resort to ruthless asures...
Exterminating an entire village of demon bandits.
And released the na "Youji".
Li Yan was not clear about the reason but was certain that Wang Daoxuan wasn’t the type to act recklessly; he must have been provoked by sothing.
He wasn’t too worried. Even a single Wu Ba could have wiped out those mountain bandits, let alone with Wang Daoxuan there.
The team had been operating separately for five to six days.
In this short ti, Wang Daoxuan acted quickly; he had already explored all the suspected human sacrifice sites near Chongqing Prefecture listed in the intelligence.
One was a fake, a puppet performing troupe from the pugilistic world scheming to deceive people by pretending to have supernatural abilities...
Another was the old Xiong Village, exterminated by Wang Daoxuan.
Yet another involved a manslaughter case where soone was using the excuse of god worship to seize family property, and Wang Daoxuan sent a ssage to Wan Baoquan.
Having a bigger reputation has its benefits.
The title "Youji" started to be ntioned in Shu’s Jianghu, and Wang Daoxuan t several pugilistic world figures near Jinyun Mountain.
According to them, near Nanchong and Langzhong, there were folk magicians secretly preaching, claiming a Dragon God had descended. Many local folk joined the sect, and there were suspected traces of live human sacrifices.
Wang Daoxuan had heard that in Huo Jiao’s hotown, where the Pai Sect was located, it was nearby, so he went along the Jialing River northward to investigate.
After reading the intelligence, Li Yan’s face turned serious.
This mission was no comparison to the old Xiong Village; if it truly involved the River God, the danger level would increase.
Thinking this, he imdiately penned a letter instructing that Wang Daoxuan should only gather intelligence secretly and wait for the team to regroup no matter what situation he encountered...
Just then, the pale-faced Long Yan’er suddenly approached, hesitated for a mont, and asked: "Old Sha... has sothing happened?"
It was because she saw that Li Yan’s expression was off, and quickly inquired.
"Yes, sothing has happened."
Li Yan responded without lifting his head.
"Ah?!"
Long Yan’er was imdiately shocked, nearly unable to stand steadily, and asked tremblingly: "What... what happened to him?"
Li Yan sighed, "The Heavenly Spirit Earth Treasure inford by Qingniu Temple includes a nest of jade bees. I originally planned to find it so that Lu San’s Demon Gourd could be enhanced."
"That old guy got greedy and tasted the honey, resulting in yang energy disorder, stung by Poison Bees, and lay down for three days..."
Long Yan’er: "..."
Seeing this woman’s appearance, Li Yan couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly and sighed silently. If it weren’t for Lu San’s reminder, he truly wouldn’t have noticed that this Holy Daughter of the Gu Sect had taken a fancy to Old Sha.
Along the way, despite making every effort to conceal it, she couldn’t resist asking him about Sha Lifei.
One can only say that fate is indeed such a wondrous thing.
Thinking of this, Li Yan stopped his teasing and said seriously, "Miss Long should be worried about herself. Although we now have a thod, re-condensing the Lifebound Gu is no small feat."
"Old Sha is ready to risk everything; you are in even more danger than him. We don’t understand the Gu Technique and can’t offer much help..."
After all, with the Life Fate Association’s ancient predecessor heritage, Bai Huan searched through nurous books along the way and finally found a thod.
But this thod is even more hazardous, nearly a life-or-death ordeal, and outsiders can’t lend any help.
Upon hearing Li Yan’s inquiry, Long Yan’er was silent for a mont and then showed a calm smile, "If I succeed, I will co looking for you. If I don’t... just pretend you’ve never t ."
With that, she turned around and went back to Bai Huan’s side.
Seeing this, Li Yan couldn’t help but sigh.
Pugilistic world youth often find themselves unable to control their fate, and many tis even if feelings develop, they can’t be together. At most, they may et again amidst mountains and rivers in the future.
Old Sha, after wandering for half his life, this fate ca too late and too bitter.
Both must experience a life-and-death ordeal.
Thinking of this, Li Yan picked up his pen again and wrote down Long Yan’er’s situation, stuffing it into the bamboo tube.
He knew, although Sha Lifei wouldn’t say it, he definitely wanted to know...
Swoosh!
The Eagle Falcon Lidong once again flapped its wings and soared into the air.
Watching the black dot disappear into the clouds, Li Yan stood up and said, "Alright, everyone, let’s move out. We’ll reach Longquan Station tonight."
"Find a place to stay and gather information..."
...
The Eagle Falcon Lidong flapped its wings and soared, traversing mountains and rivers.
After an unknown period, it suddenly lowered its body, burst out of the clouds, and flew towards the high mountains below.
The towering mountains were lush and verdant with peaks and cliffs of extraordinary beauty, with strange rocks standing upon solitary bases. Amidst the misty clouds, one could see Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, as well as large tea gardens on the mountain slopes.
This place is Bayue Mountain, where peaks rise majestically with thirty-five peaks on the crest. Although not a Cave Heaven Blessed Land, it is still a place of spiritual essence and unique natural beauty.
On the mountain, there are Taoist temples and Buddhist monasteries, all known as Red Dust Temple, often visited by literati and poets from Chongqing Prefecture seeking serenity and scenic beauty.
But the most famous are the tea gardens on the mountain.
This place is renowned for producing "Shuinan tea," a Royal tribute tea. Even the Shu Prince Mansion has people stationed here year-round to oversee tea picking.
Generally speaking, tea leaves are planted in spring and autumn, but the picking season varies, each offering different flavors.
Spring tea is the lightest, sumr tea is more bitter, and autumn tea has a rich and llow taste.
At this mont, in the tea garden on the mountain, tea-picking ladies are hard at work, planting new tea amidst the chilly wind, with their fingers reddened by the cold.
In a tent in the distance, the eunuchs of the Shu Prince Mansion are roasting a stove, drinking tea, eating snacks, and chatting with laughter.
No one even noticed that an eagle falcon had already flown overhead, landing in a dense forest on the back mountain.
Under the shade of the forest were Lu San, Sha Lifei, and the Hidden Treasure Man master and apprentice connected by the Jinzhou Chamber of Comrce.
"Hmm~ Hmm~"
Sha Lifei was swollen all over, his eyes puffed up like light bulbs, leaning against a tree, unable to help but groan.
The little white fox, Chiqi, stood beside him, its big, bright black eyes staring at him, the corners of its mouth curving as if mocking him.
"Go, go..."
Sha Lifei waved his hand, muttering, "To think I was concerned about finding honey for you, and now you’re making fun of ."
Lu San then retrieved the bamboo tube from the eagle falcon’s claws, checked it, and handed the letter written by Li Yan to Sha Lifei.
Upon seeing it, Sha Lifei fell silent imdiately.
The old Hidden Treasure Man next to him was applying dicine to him, and seeing this, comforted him, "No worries, old man’s prescription specifically treats bee venom. The swelling will go down in two or three days."
Sha Lifei forced a smile and changed the subject, "Mr. Yu, will that thing really appear tonight?"
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