Blade - Unbound

Performers who made their living wandering the jianghu all belonged to the Eastern Beggars, while the young beggars in the city were all managed by the Western Beggars. Some had fallen on hard times from childhood, while others had been abducted and sold.

These young beggars, who were weak by nature, would spend their entire lives being bullied. They even had to hand over everything they earned from begging. At best, they might get a meal from the communal pot before eventually dying from sickness or the cold. Others gritted their teeth and carved out a path through blood, becoming overseers and enforcers within the Beggars' Gang. They could keep a little spare money for themselves and were responsible for managing the other beggars.

The few older beggars beside this group of children were just such men. Though they were likewise dressed in rags, they were much sturdier, and some even had blades concealed on them. They were responsible for keeping the young beggars in line. Anyone capable of fighting their way into such a position was invariably ruthless. On ordinary days, they often bullied outsiders who came here trying to make a living.

Yet they did not even dare look at the old beggar from the east side. They kept their heads lowered and eyes averted, their faces filled with fear.

The old beggar, for his part, could not even be bothered to look at them. A faint red gleam flickered in his pupils. Only after Li Yan's figure had completely disappeared did he slowly turn his head toward Long Wind Inn.

Seeing officials coming and going through the entrance, the old beggar narrowed his eyes slightly, then turned back and continued playing his erhu, singing softly, "Kind sirs and good folk, hear my tale! The fisherman's drum sounds, sorrow rises; long are the years wandering the jianghu. A lone boat drifts wherever the wind may blow, a traveler at the ends of the earth with a heart full of unease. Once, lofty ambition soared into the clouds; today, fallen on hard times, no one knows..."

It was merely an ordinary fisherman's drum ballad, hardly elegant, but the old beggar's voice was so desolate that it inexplicably stirred sorrow in those who heard it.

In the teahouse across the street, a dull-faced middle-aged scholar heard the song. He immediately slapped several copper coins onto the table, rose, and hurried off in the direction Li Yan had gone.

At the same time, Li Yan strode along Yichang City's ancient streets. The streets of the old city were somewhat narrow, and the bluestone paving had been worn smooth by the passage of time, its slabs varying in size and lying unevenly at different heights.

Yichang was a vital hub for waterborne transport, and its architecture likewise blended styles from various regions. Everywhere he looked, he found whitewashed walls and dark gray tiles, their damp corners mottled with moss. Above them rose both tall horse-head walls and sweeping eaves supported by bracket sets. The brick carvings and woodwork were exquisitely detailed, while the darkened timber bore the unmistakable marks of age.

The pedestrians on the streets likewise differed in both dress and accent. There were quite a few native people, as well as travelers from Bashu. Their accents were extremely thick and peppered constantly with local slang, to the point that Li Yan could not understand them at all.

Of course, for Li Yan, scent was a second pair of eyes. With his left hand tucked inside his sleeve, he occasionally formed the Yang Seal with his fingers. Every scent within a hundred zhang flooded his nostrils, and he immediately discovered many things.

Yichang City truly was anything but peaceful. There were far too many people from the jianghu present!

For instance, there was the porter from Bashu on his left, dressed in coarse black-and-blue clothes and looking simple and honest, yet a sharp blade was concealed inside his carrying pole.

Then there was the old woman selling wild vegetables beside the street. She looked no different from an ordinary commoner, yet she had poisonous snakes and spiders hidden inside her sleeves. Numerous willow-leaf darts were also concealed beneath her clothing, all carrying a faint fishy odor from the poison smeared over them.

There was also the paper-offering shop he had just passed. Not only was it filled with the lingering scent of incense, but several faint traces of cold killing qi could also be detected within. Clearly, ghosts were being kept there.

None of these people could be considered experts, but they had all learned the ways of the Ge Teachings. They relied on their martial arts to hire themselves out for all manner of dirty and illicit work, including gathering intelligence.

The jianghu and the imperial court might appear unrelated, but in truth, they were closely intertwined. Many disturbances in the jianghu even had their roots in policies issued by the imperial court.

For instance, after the seas were opened to trade, coastal docks became prized territory fought over by people of the jianghu. Blades flashed and swords crossed, leaving who knew how many people dying miserable deaths in dark alleys.

Competition and conflict between various trades often began in the jianghu as well. A shop suddenly catching fire, goods being robbed, or gangs of swindlers appearing at the door were often merely a rival’s opening moves.

The turmoil in the southwest had likewise drawn people of the jianghu from all directions. The only difference was that the rules had changed. Elsewhere, the rules of the jianghu revolved around dividing up interests and benefits. Conflict was avoided whenever possible, lest both sides suffer. But none of those who dared come here during wartime were easy to deal with.

There was only one rule. Survive longer than everyone else.

With the way Li Yan was dressed, anyone could tell at a glance that he belonged to the jianghu. He was conspicuous as he walked down the street, drawing plenty of gazes both out in the open and in the dark.

At the same time, he had other important matters to attend to and could not be bothered to invite trouble, so he simply ignored them. After asking for directions several times, he finally found the Yan Family's residence.

As one of Yichang's prominent clans, the Yan Family's residence was naturally imposing. The estate covered a considerable area, and carried a subtle Huizhou architectural flavor, with white walls, black tiles, vermilion gates, towering horse-head walls, and bamboo groves surrounding it.

A pair of drum-shaped stone door supports stood before the entrance, while several horse-tethering posts stood outside the courtyard. Even the ornamental door studs came in three or four layers, each older than the last, showing that several high-ranking imperial officials had emerged from the family in generations past.

The wooden couplets on either side read: Honesty and kindness preserve the family through the ages; poetry and books carry its legacy through generations. Above them hung a plaque inscribed: A Family Tradition of Poetry and Rites.

Li Yan could not help laughing when he saw it. It seemed that kid Yan Jiuling had been rather modest about his family. Even if the Yan family could not be called an illustrious clan of hereditary high officials, it was undoubtedly a force of considerable importance in the local area.

It was broad daylight, and the Yan Family had not closed its gates. Two young servants in blue were chatting by the entrance, even keeping their voices soft and refined.

Li Yan wore his blade at his waist and had an uncommon bearing. The moment they saw him approaching, the two servants became wary. One immediately ran into the courtyard, and before long, two guards followed him back out. Their expressions were solemn, with their right hands resting on the hilts of their sabers.

Li Yan immediately guessed, Something's going on with the Yan Family...

A family with a scholarly tradition like this generally placed great importance on etiquette. For them to be so guarded against outsiders, something had to have happened.

With his expression unchanged, he stepped forward and cupped his hands to introduce himself. "I am Li Yan, from the Guanzhong Plains. Young Master Yan Jiuling and I are friends, and I've come specifically to pay a visit."

"You're a friend of the Second Young Master?" The servant's eyes were filled with suspicion as they quickly sized him up again. "Do you have any proof?"

Li Yan immediately took out the letter Yan Jiuling had written, along with a simple, ancient-looking jade pendant, and handed both to the servant.

Upon seeing the jade pendant and recognizing the handwriting on the letter, the servant immediately relaxed.

He respectfully cupped his hands. "Young Master, please wait a moment. I'll report your arrival to the master at once."

With that, he took the letter and entered the residence. Li Yan did not mind and waited patiently outside. He glanced at the ornamental door studs and plaques, his expression turning thoughtful.

The plaques were actually all objects used to ward and protect the residence. Every single one was far more powerful than the Mighty Through a Hundred Battles plaque his family had once possessed. The scent of incense lingered around them as well, indicating that offerings were made to them during festivals and holidays.

Ordinary evil entities would steer well clear the moment they encountered them.

Only after approaching the gate did he also discover that the fengshui layout of this residence had been carefully designed. The fresh, elegant surroundings complemented the bamboo grove perfectly. Living here for an extended period could cultivate the mind and nurture one's temperament.

Yan Jiuling had mentioned that his grandfather had once been a teacher at White Deer Academy. Perhaps the family even had connections to the Confucian mystic schools.

Then there were the two guards. Their postures appeared loose, yet their feet were planted in a stance that was neither square nor splayed. Their temples bulged slightly, and neither man spoke a word. One look was enough to tell that they were skilled household guards.

While Li Yan's thoughts wandered, the servant hurried back through the gate and respectfully cupped his hands. "Young Master, my master invites you inside."

Li Yan nodded. "Thank you."

He followed the servant into the residence. After passing the spirit screen, the first thing that entered his sight was an open courtyard well that admitted rain and sunlight, followed by a spacious front hall. The beams, brackets, decorative braces, and other structural elements within the hall were all intricately carved, with lifelike designs depicting people, flowers, and auspicious beasts.

Inside the front hall, an elderly man sat in the seat of honor. He wore white robes and a black scholar's cap. His face was hale and spirited, a long graying beard hanging down to his chest, and he possessed an elegant, scholarly air.

The moment he saw Li Yan enter, he stood and smiled. "You must be Young Hero Li, whom my son mentioned. Please, have a seat."

Clearly, he had already read Yan Jiuling's letter.

"Greetings, Uncle Yan."

After exchanging the proper courtesies, Li Yan sat down, and a servant soon brought him tea.

Yan Jiuling's father was named Yan Bonian. He had the servant return the letter and jade pendant to Li Yan, then smiled. "My son mentioned in his letter that Young Hero Li once saved his life in the mountains. This old man cannot thank you enough."

Li Yan calmly shook his head. "Uncle Yan, you're too courteous. Brother Yan and I have been through life and death together. It was a small matter, hardly worth mentioning."

His words were polite, but inwardly he found something rather strange. Yan Jiuling's mother had gone mad, and three years of seeking treatment had yielded nothing. Li Yan had traveled thousands of li to Yichang precisely because he was afraid of losing time on the road, so why did Yan Bonian not seem anxious at all?

As though seeing through his thoughts, Yan Bonian finally asked, "According to my son's letter, Young Hero Li obtained a precious medicine capable of curing my wife's illness?"

𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Judging from his expression, he was clearly somewhat doubtful.

Li Yan did not take offense. He shook his head slightly and smiled. "Uncle Yan, I don't know whether it will actually work. However, the Feiyi is a rare beast recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas, something seldom seen in this world. A senior from the Pure Yang Courtyard of Mount Hua personally said that it is a heavenly treasure capable of curing all forms of epilepsy and madness, as well as every kind of gu poison. I imagine he wouldn't be wrong."

"Oh?" At the mention of a heavenly treasure and Pure Yang Courtyard, curiosity appeared in Yan Bonian's eyes as well. "The Feiyi is a creature of legend. Would you allow this old man to broaden his horizons and take a look?"

"Of course." Without wasting more time, Li Yan took the wooden box from his robes, slid it open, and handed it to Yan Bonian for inspection.

The Feiyi's corpse had already been dried. Seeing its bizarre appearance, Yan Bonian clicked his tongue in wonder before returning it to Li Yan and sighing softly. "Please don't take offense, young friend. It's simply that this matter is far too extraordinary. Over these past three years, this old man has sought out renowned physicians everywhere and even invited several Daoist physicians of the mystical traditions, yet none could do anything. I've already stopped holding out much hope.

"Besides, my wife's condition..." He trailed off and sighed, seemingly unwilling to continue. Rising to his feet, he said, "Young friend, you've traveled thousands of li to deliver this medicine. My son certainly chose his friend well. Whether or not this succeeds, you have this old man's gratitude. Please come with me."

Li Yan rose and followed Yan Bonian toward the rear courtyard.

The Yan Family's residence was quite large. There was even a small ancestral hall in the central courtyard, while the middle of the rear courtyard contained a rockery surrounded by separate compounds on three sides. There were not many servants or maids along the way as they made their way through the residence, but there were more than twenty guards, all stationed at various corners and passageways.

Li Yan frowned slightly at the sight. This was a defensive arrangement inspired by the Eight Trigrams. Guards were scattered throughout the residence, and if an intruder slipped inside, a single whistle would bring nearby brothers rushing over as reinforcements. In larger estates, there would even be groups patrolling in shifts.

But normally, such precautions were only taken at night. Why were they maintaining this formation in broad daylight...

According to Yan Jiuling, he also had an elder brother, a younger brother, and a younger sister, while his father had four or five wives and concubines. However, the entire residence had seemed cold and deserted along the way.

When they reached a side courtyard on the right, a maid immediately came forward to greet them.

"Greetings, Master."

"How is Madam today?"

"She had another episode this morning. Fortunately, Concubine Shen managed to stop her."

"Mm."

After asking a few more questions, Yan Bonian led Li Yan into the courtyard.

Before they had even entered the room, Li Yan's brow twitched slightly. Although the courtyard had been swept neat and clean and contained quite a few flowers and plants, a foul odor still lingered in the air.

It was the smell left by a patient suffering from chronic urinary and fecal incontinence. Sometimes, no matter how carefully someone was looked after, the smell simply could not be dispelled.

It was no wonder the old man had been so hesitant earlier. Many wealthy families had the same problem. They insisted on preserving their dignity no matter what and did not want outsiders to see them in a wretched state. It was what people called: The donkey may fall, but the frame must remain standing.

Outside the side room, a sturdy woman was carrying out a basin full of clothes. Upon seeing the two of them, she hurriedly nodded. "Greetings, Master."

"How is Madam?"

"She's quiet now."

After answering, the sturdy woman hurriedly set down the wooden basin, stepped forward as quietly as possible, and slowly pushed open the door.

Li Yan looked inside and saw an elderly woman sitting by the window. Her clothes had clearly just been changed. She stared blankly outside, mumbling incessantly under her breath, though he could not make out what she was saying.

"Young friend, this is my wife." Yan Bonian sighed. "How should we treat her?"

"It's simple." Li Yan took out the corpse of the Feiyi and snapped off a small piece. "Grind this into powder. Once she swallows it, that should be enough."

"That's all?" Yan Bonian found it somewhat unbelievable, but Li Yan had traveled thousands of li to bring them this medicine, so he could hardly refuse. He could only turn to the maid. "Lianyun, go fetch the tools."

Since there was a patient in the household, the Yan Family had a complete set of tools for preparing medicinal ingredients. Before long, they had crushed and ground that piece of the Feiyi's tail into powder.

The sturdy woman had spent years caring for the sick and was clearly very experienced. She concealed the powder in a bamboo spoon, coaxing Madam Yan as she waited for an opening. The moment Madam Yan was caught off guard, she fed it directly into her mouth, then made her drink several mouthfuls of water.

"Ah! Ah!" Madam Yan immediately went into a frenzy, flailing her arms and clawing wildly. At the same time, the stench of urine rose into the air, and the clothes she had only just changed into were soaked once again.

Fortunately, the sturdy woman was experienced and held her down tightly.

Seeing this, Yan Bonian's eyes reddened. His voice trembled as he said, "My wife has always had a mild and placid temperament. She never quarreled with anyone. She loved tending flowers and plants, and she was always particular about cleanliness. Who could have imagined..."

Before he could finish speaking, Madam Yan suddenly stiffened. Her entire body went stiff, her eyes staring at the ceiling as hoarse rattling sounds emerged from her throat.

"Madam! Madam!" The sturdy woman holding her had never seen anything like this before. She immediately panicked and called out to her repeatedly.

Li Yan was also startled, and a bad feeling rose in his heart.

Could there be something wrong with the Feiyi? What if it couldn't cure her illness and had instead poisoned her?

Just then, Madam Yan's body began trembling. Phlegm rattled loudly in her throat before she suddenly retched and vomited up a large quantity of thick mucus.

Li Yan's pupils instantly contracted at the sight. The large puddle of phlegm on the floor was viscous and yellowish green. But it also contained a transparent egg case about the size of a silkworm cocoon, with a worm writhing inside. The moment it came into contact with the air, the egg case rapidly dried out and turned yellow. The worm inside stopped moving as well.

"Gu parasite?" The instant Yan Bonian saw it, his expression turned ugly. His eyes reddened as he gritted his teeth. "It's actually one? How could that be..."

"This isn't a Gu parasite." Li Yan's expression turned grave, and a trace of killing intent flashed through his eyes. He said in a deep voice, "Uncle Yan, send someone to the incense burner in the ancestral hall and bring me a handful of incense ash. Oh, and find a sewing needle as well."

"Lianyun, quickly!" Yan Bonian already knew from the letter that Li Yan was a practitioner of the mystic path. He clearly knew something, so Yan Bonian did not dare delay and hurriedly ordered the maid to fetch the items.

The maid herself had been badly frightened. She stumbled out of the room and soon returned with both items. Li Yan grabbed the incense ash and scattered it over the egg case. Strangely enough, every speck of incense ash was immediately absorbed onto the egg case. It continually contracted until it looked remarkably like a small stone.

Next, Li Yan then picked it up with a pair of chopsticks and placed it on the table. Taking the sewing needle, he carefully broke open the outer shell bit by bit, exposing the worm within.

Watching from beside him, Yan Bonian felt his scalp go numb. Bright sunlight streamed through the window, yet an icy chill spread throughout his entire body at the sight of the creature within.

The creature resembled a soft, plump, white silkworm, but its head vaguely resembled a human face. All its facial features were also nearly intact.