"Let introduce."
The elderly woman Bai Huan smiled and said, "Young Hero Li, this is Master Xiaoyue from Shuiyue Temple of Qingcheng Mountain."
"Master Xiaoyue, this is Young Hero Li. Without his escort, we wouldn’t have made it to Chengdu."
"Greetings, Master Xiaoyue."
Li Yan cupped his hands in salute, neither humble nor arrogant.
Though Shuiyue Temple is at the base of Qingcheng Mountain, it is not Red Dust Temple, but a place for the female Kun Dao practitioners of Qingcheng Mountain.
Master Xiaoyue is not only an elder of Qingcheng Mountain, but also a renowned figure of the righteous path in Shu’s Mystical Sect.
Even in Ezhou, one has heard of her na.
"Young Hero Li’s na, I have long heard of it."
Master Xiaoyue’s deanor was relatively nice, she smiled and said, "Several months ago, brother Yu Chanzi, the Wudang Sect Master, personally wrote a letter and sent soone to Qingcheng Mountain, asking us to look after you."
Li Yan was sowhat surprised by this.
When he left Ezhou, he had a conversation with Yu Chanzi, mainly about the Ghost Sect and Zhao Changsheng.
The other party advised him to look for clues about Zhao Changsheng upon arriving in Shu, and if the Ghost Sect sought revenge, to seek reinforcents from Qingcheng Mountain.
He thought it was re politeness, didn’t expect an actual letter was written.
As for Zhao Changsheng, since arriving in Shu, he only learned from the Captain Bureau’s spies that years ago, the other party had visited the Shu Prince Mansion.
Beyond that, there were no clues.
No traces of Ghost Sect activities were found in Shu. According to Li Yan’s speculation, they should have proceeded to Qianzhou to ally with the Yang Family against the court.
However, the Salt Gang repeatedly caused trouble.
Of course, Zhao Changsheng’s whereabouts were critical, and it was possible he planted spies even at Wudang Mountain; who knows if Qingcheng Mountain had any.
Without certainty, he wouldn’t speak rashly of such matters.
Thinking of this, Li Yan changed the topic, saying, "There is indeed a matter I would like to ask for your help with."
"I have a Magic Artifact which I have sent to Qingcheng Mountain for Master Fire Monk to forge. Now I have so materials at hand, and I would like to entrust you to deliver them to the mountain."
Beside him, Bai Huan was sowhat surprised, "Young Hero Li isn’t coming up the mountain with us?"
The original plan was for Li Yan to accompany everyone up the mountain, visiting the Qingcheng Mountain Sect Master and elders along the way.
Firstly, to make an introduction and acquire a spot for the cellar opening.
Secondly, to forge the Magic Artifact.
But now, the plan suddenly changed...
Bai Huan pondered for a mont, then understood.
He knew that Li Yan was likely worried about his companions.
"Not ascending the mountain temporarily is fine."
Master Xiaoyue thought for a while, then said, "To be honest, currently, there are so miscellaneous matters on Qingcheng Mountain, not convenient to talk about; but if you were to ascend now, no one would have the ti to pay attention, you would likely face cold reception."
"By year-end, things should beco clear, as next year is the cellar opening, and outsiders cannot be made a laughing stock."
"Then, when you ascend the mountain, you won’t be drawn into it..."
Her words were vague, but Li Yan had a hint of understanding.
Most likely, it was about the position of Qingcheng Mountain’s Sect Master.
The previous Sect Master, Han Songzi from the Cheng Family, was getting old and reportedly suffered so minor injuries during the righteous and evil battle at Dujiangyan.
Having been in office for a long ti, the Sect Master was sure to be re-elected.
Originally, with Cheng Jianxin around, such matters were not a problem, but the Sword Immortal of Shu hadn’t appeared for years, tempting so to vie for the position.
On Qingcheng Mountain, there is more than one power faction.
The most ancient legacy traces back to "Ning Fengzi" during the ti of Emperor Xuanyuan, connected with the Sword Immortal inheritance.
Then ca Yin Changsheng, who also left an inheritance.
But what truly made Qingcheng Mountain renowned was Zhang Daoling.
And then the subsequent Southern Heavenly Master Dao.
During the Tang Dynasty’s turmoil, Emperor Xuanzong and Emperor Xizong sought refuge in Shu, with accompanying Daoists who went up the mountain, forming another force in close relation with Qingyang Palace in Chengdu Prefecture.
In short, each faction has deep roots.
Vying for the Sect Master, it’s not that easy.
Although it hasn’t co to outright confrontation, there are certainly various dealings taking place behind the scenes, reaching results satisfactory to all parties.
It seems that now is indeed not suitable for heading up the mountain.
After chatting casually for a while, Master Xiaoyue imdiately got up, holding the hands of two young girls, and said with a serious expression, "Although we won the duel at River Dam, the Southwest Evil Dao has not been completely eradicated."
"As we leave Qingcheng Mountain, we might get targeted by them, and the two children need to be enlightened early."
"There’s no ti to lose, let’s set off now!"
"Wait a mont!"
Li Yan took the ancient zither off his back, placed it on the table, turned his head to look at Long Yan’er beside him, and said seriously, "Miss Long, the ’Zither Insect’ has been caught, see if it can be used."
"If it doesn’t work, I’ll find another way."
The sound of the zither behind him continued, Master Xiaoyue had long noticed it, but due to his upbringing and the rules of the Mystical Sect, he refrained from asking more questions.
Upon hearing the term "Zither Insect" and seeing the ancient zither, he beca sowhat surprised, "This is the zither of Pei Yufang, a side door expert in Chengdu, what happened?"
At this point, Li Yan didn’t bother to conceal anything and briefly recounted the events at Wuhou Temple.
"I see..."
Master Xiaoyue pondered for a mont and shook his head, "King Shu has indeed been acting strangely in recent years, privately gathering many side door experts. Instead of rebelling, it seems he has other sches."
"This concerns the court, and our Mystical Sect prefers not to get involved. If it were on Qingcheng Mountain, it would be fine, but elsewhere, you must be wary of retaliation from the Shu Prince Mansion."
Li Yan coldly said, "They provoked first, should I just offer my neck for them to chop?"
"Moreover, you don’t want to provoke the Shu Prince Mansion, but when they get violent, they have no scruples..."
After speaking, he recounted the story of the Shu Prince Mansion stealing the stone coffin and framing the Monk Sect.
Since the conflict was unavoidable, he might as well give them more trouble, so they won’t always be thinking of him.
"The Immortality Elixir!"
Master Xiaoyue was amused and angered, "If there really was an Immortality Elixir in the world, what would three disasters and five difficulties an to us cultivators?"
"These nobles enjoy the Qi Fortune of the Human World, and that’s fine, but they always love daydreaming!"
"As it stands now, Shu is already a land of chaos, yet for selfish gain, they incite infighting among the righteous path; idiotic to the extre!"
"Rest assured, young friend, I will inform the Huangling Sect about this matter, and you don’t need to worry further."
After saying this, Long Yan’er then stepped forward, removed a bamboo tube from her waist, and poured all the powder inside into the opening of the ancient zither.
The "Zither Insect" imdiately cald down.
Once the red cloth was untied, the strange insect poked its head out lazily and then turned back into the zither to sleep soundly.
"It is usable, it’s an Exotic Insect!"
Long Yan’er was full of joy, a glimr of hope rose in her eyes, "Using this as the Gu Mother, it will certainly succeed, but this thing is extraordinary and might require more ti to refine."
"As long as it can be used."
Li Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief, "In cultivation, years pass unnoticed, so taking ti doesn’t matter. Miss Long, if you succeed, you are welco to join us anyti."
Long Yan’er also earnestly clasped her hands in salute, "Great kindness needs no thanks, if I survive, I will promptly join you!"
With arrangents in place, the Bai Family group and Long Yan’er were escorted by the Kun Dao from Shuiyue Temple towards Qingcheng Mountain.
Watching their figures gradually disappear, Li Yan finally breathed a sigh of relief; this escort mission was essentially completed.
Whoosh!
Just returned to the inn, Eagle Falcon Lidong flapped its wings and arrived.
Li Yan took the bamboo tube secret letter and examined it carefully.
Sha Lifei and his team had already reached the vicinity of the Dazu Stone Carvings and hadn’t found any clues about Corpse Forest yet, but there was no danger either.
As for Wang Daoxuan, he had been established in Nanchong, claiming the court’s bounty with demon hunters, suppressing zombies and Evil Spirits everywhere.
The na "Rooster Daoist" is becoming increasingly renowned.
But it seed a force in Nanchong has been discreetly igniting fires, trying to cover up so things.
Wang Daoxuan still hadn’t uncovered anything.
Li Yan pondered for a mont and decided to find Sha Lifei first.
After all, compared to the Dragon Lady’s commission and the Heavenly Master’s grace, he cared more about the safety of his companions.
With this in mind, he packed his bags and prepared to leave.
But before setting off, Li Yan narrowed his eyes and looked out the window.
He saw a little beggar climbing up through the window, his face was full of panic, and he said, "Sir, many fierce n have arrived and are inquiring about you at Longquan Station!"
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