Blade - Unbound

Inside the main hall, the altar table had already been prepared. Every door and window throughout the residence stood wide open.

Standing before the altar, a solemn Wang Daoxuan wore a Daoist robe. His vermilion brush danced across the yellow talismans, pausing from time to time to form incantation seals and inscribe taboo names before continuing to write.

Li Yan stood behind him, holding a willow branch. According to Li Kongqing, this residence was merely one of the Prince's Manor's many properties, and an insignificant one at that.

To them, it was a luxurious estate. To the Prince's Manor, however, it was beneath notice. Not only was it rather small, it was also located in Pingkang Street, the district of pleasure houses and entertainment. The Prince would never live here. More often than not, it would eventually be gifted away or awarded to one of his retainers.

Until that happened, they could stay here under the pretext of acting as caretakers.

The Prince's Manor had quite a number of such properties; it was a kind of hidden benefit. Li Kongqing, who had always carried himself with lofty dignity in the past, had joined as well, so naturally the others were happy to let it happen.

The residence had stood empty for several years, and thus, filthy yin qi had inevitably accumulated, making a proper house-cleansing ritual indispensable.

Upon the altar sat a wooden box containing rice, millet, sorghum, mung beans, and black beans. All five grains were present, symbolizing the Five Elements, and forming the basis of the most traditional Five Grains House Purification Ritual.

Beside the box, there were three cups of purified water, three cups of white liquor, three chi of red cloth, a large bowl, a sheet of red paper, eight steamed buns, and several sticks of sandalwood incense.

Ding! Ding! Ding!

Once everything was ready, Wang Daoxuan lit the sandalwood incense and rang the ritual bell. Li Yan immediately turned and dipped the willow branch into the purified water, sprinkling it inside and outside, throughout the courtyard, and into every corner.

The courtyard had already been thoroughly cleaned beforehand. As Li Yan sprinkled the water to dispel impurity, Wang Daoxuan followed him, scattering the five grains while loudly chanting, "This residence has an owner. We respectfully inform all directions. Those who should depart, leave. Those who should come, arrive. The five grains shall nourish generation after generation. Household gods, return to your rightful places. All idle spirits, make way!"

Whenever they reached a doorway, a well, or another important location, Wang Daoxuan would pause briefly, affix a talisman and a household deity tablet, then place three burning incense sticks into a cup of liquor as an offering.

That was the true essence of the Five Grains House Purification Ritual. It would drive away wandering ghosts and settle the Six Household Deities.

Finally, they arrived at the kitchen. There, Wang Daoxuan first spread the sheet of red paper across the stove. The remaining five grains were placed into the bowl, while the liquor, water, steamed buns, and the rest of the offerings were arranged neatly.

Lighting three sticks of incense, he raised them above his head and declared, "The Household Deity has arrived. The Kitchen God returns to his place!"

After finishing it all, Wang Daoxuan folded the red cloth into a long strip and hung it horizontally across the front gate. Only then was the house purification ritual complete.

Although the residence had always been elegant, having stood vacant for years had left it with an indescribably unsettling atmosphere. Now, after the purification, fragrant sandalwood smoke drifted gently through the air, making the entire place feel fresh and comfortable.

"We've finally settled down." Wang Daoxuan sighed. "Back in Xianyang, life was full of hardship. We've suffered many trials along the way, yet each step brought us a little higher. To think we've actually established ourselves in bustling Chang'an... Even now, it still feels unbelievable."

Li Yan smiled. "As they say, a tree dies when transplanted, but a person thrives after moving. The mystic path always speaks of the resonance between Heaven and Man. I think it's the same when rolling about in the mortal world.

"The more you see, the more you experience, the more opportunities naturally come your way!"

"That's true." Wang Daoxuan nodded with a smile before glancing at the sky. "Brother Sha hasn't returned after being out the entire night. Nothing could have happened to him, could it?"

"Don't worry." Li Yan shook his head. "After the ritual duel, someone has to make the rounds through Chang'an's jianghu. My temper isn't exactly pleasant, and dealing with those people would only irritate me. Uncle Sha is much better suited for that sort of thing.

"The Fire Bear Gang has just suffered a setback. They won't make another move anytime soon."

A smile crept onto his lips as he continued, "Uncle Sha has been talking about visiting Calyx Pavilion for ages, but he's been too busy. We're supposed to host Senior Shen Sanyou for a banquet tonight, and he'll probably miss that too.

"When he gets back, he'll definitely complain again."

Wang Daoxuan laughed helplessly. "I won't be going either. I still have several rituals to perform today. I need to establish the Ancestral Altar first, then offer incense to the spirit soldiers and the ritual artifacts. After that, I'll arrange a proper fengshui formation.

"Since we're staying in someone else's residence, we ought to protect it properly."

Li Yan thought for a moment before asking, "Should we ask Sister Hong to help?"

Wang Daoxuan blinked, then grinned. "No need. I'm more than capable of dealing with a few thieves pretending to be ghosts."

Li Yan nodded. "Fair enough."

He said no more. He understood well that although Wang Daoxuan and Sha Lifei had chosen to follow him, neither intended to become a burden.

Sha Lifei handled the affairs of the jianghu, while Wang Daoxuan focused entirely on increasing his own strength. He had even begun practicing basic martial arts.

Once the Ancestral Altar was established and guarded by the spiritual soldiers, ordinary jianghu travelers or mystic path cultivators entering the courtyard would truly be no match for Wang Daoxuan.

With no commissions for the moment, the two of them busied themselves. Wang Daoxuan concentrated on arranging the altar, while Li Yan set up the Thundercloud Divine Drum in the courtyard.

After practicing his boxing for a while, he began striking the drum.

He had already examined the neighboring residences. Like the estate belonging to the Prince's Manor, most stood empty. Only a handful of elderly servants remained to watch over them. The sound of the drum would not disturb many people.

Furthermore, his cultivation method had already changed. Back in Wu Family Gully, he had comprehended the Thundercloud Resonance. Now, every strike carried the martial rhythms of the Qin and Han dynasties.

Combined with the drum's inherent power to suppress evil, hearing its sound uplifted one's spirit, cleared distracting thoughts, and even helped people sleep better at night.

Soon, deep booming drumbeats echoed throughout the narrow alley. Some of the elderly caretakers in neighboring courtyards cursed under their breath. Others stopped what they were doing and listened with admiration.

People from Shanzhou loved drums. Nearly every region had its own drum music. Those older folk who appreciated the art immediately recognized the rhythms as ancient Qin-Han War Drums. Living in Chang'an had made them shrewd. They knew the owners of these residences were not people they could afford to offend.

They were merely hired caretakers, and there was no need to provoke trouble.

Naturally, there were still some who found the noise unbearable. Several hundred zhang away, within another small courtyard, the heavy scent of medicinal herbs filled the air, along with an oppressive atmosphere.

A woman quietly sobbed while a square-faced man stood in the courtyard with tightly furrowed brows. The moment he heard the drums, irritation surged across his face. "What annoying bastard is beating a drum in broad daylight? Can't anyone enjoy a little peace and quiet?!"

After listening carefully to determine the direction, he strode toward the gate.

"Husband, don't!" The sobbing woman hurriedly stopped him. She pleaded anxiously, "The people living around here aren't ordinary families. Xian'er is already gravely ill; please don't stir up any trouble."

The man clenched his teeth before letting out a long sigh. "When we moved here, all we wanted was a little peace and quiet. Who would've thought..."

Before he could finish, an elderly woman with bound feet hurried out from a side room. Overjoyed, she exclaimed, "Master, Young Master has fallen asleep!"

The man's eyes lit up as he and his wife hurried inside. "What?"

A child of only five or six years lay on the bed. His face was yellow and emaciated. His clothes were in disarray, with both hands and feet tied, while his chest was covered in scratch marks.

Sweat beaded across the child's forehead, yet his expression looked far more relaxed than before. His eyes were tightly shut and he was even snoring softly.

The woman immediately dropped to her knees and prayed toward the sky outside the doorway. "Thank the heavens..."

The man, however, fell into deep thought. "Nanny Liu, what happened just now?"

The old woman thought back carefully before answering, "When the drum started sounding, Young Master seemed frightened at first. But then, he simply fell asleep."

The husband and wife exchanged bewildered glances.

After pondering for a while, the man said, "We may have encountered an extraordinary person..."

He gritted his teeth and muttered, "My dear, prepare those tea leaves. I'll go pay them a visit immediately."

The woman dared not delay and quickly packed everything. Carrying the gift, the man followed the sound of the drum until he arrived outside the courtyard. Only upon approaching did he notice something unusual.

Although the drum sounded deep and thunderous, listening to it somehow eased his heart. Even his worries seemed to melt away. His conviction grew even stronger.

After studying the courtyard for a moment, he gritted his teeth and knocked on the gate.

Li Yan looked somewhat puzzled at the unfamiliar man before him. "Can I help you?"

Although the man had already seen the Thundercloud Divine Drum within the courtyard, Li Yan's youth still made him hesitate. "My name is Zheng Xian, and I live in this alley. May I ask... Were you the one beating the drum?"

Li Yan sighed helplessly. "Did I disturb everyone? My apologies, I'll stop-"

Before Li Yan could finish speaking, the man bowed deeply. His eyes reddened as even his voice trembled.

"Please save my son!"

***

The doors and windows of the room had all been sealed shut. The interior was dim as candlelight flickered.

A brazier bubbled softly as the thick scent of medicinal herbs filled the room.

Li Yan first swept his gaze around the surroundings before looking at the child lying on the bed. Only then did he release his Yang Seal and nod slightly at Wang Daoxuan.

He had never expected that their very first commission would literally come knocking at their own door. The man, Zheng Xian, worked as a records clerk at the Chang'an Prefectural Office, managing official archives and documents.

Though merely a minor clerk, his family had once been prosperous. They had even possessed a large ancestral estate in Qunxian Street. However, after the family's fortunes declined, they sold the residence and moved here, living off the remaining savings. What's more, his son appeared to have fallen victim to some supernatural affliction.

Yet, after hearing the drum, his condition had noticeably improved, prompting Zheng Xian to seek their help. Of course, certain things still had to be confirmed. If the child were simply ill, they would not interfere and would instead refer him directly to the Li Family Medical Hall.

However, looking at the kid, it was clear there truly was a problem. The room's air was stale and Li Yan detected a fishy odor. Moreover, that scent had mingled with the child's own smell, making it particularly strange.

Seeing Li Yan's subtle indication, Wang Daoxuan also understood.

He first glanced at the windows before asking, "Why have they been kept shut so tightly?"

Zheng Xian sighed and shook his head. "For some reason, ever since this happened, my son can't stand the light. The moment sunlight reaches him, he screams and bangs his head against the wall."

"When did it begin?"

"About half a month ago. He was playing and fell from a tree. Soon after, he became drowsy and went to sleep. I woke up in the middle of the night and found him secretly eating. Since then, his temperament has completely changed. He stopped talking, and stayed cooped up in his room. He never goes outside anymore, and only comes alive at night. Even then, he is either eating constantly or screaming for no reason..."

"Oh?" Wang Daoxuan pondered for a moment before asking, "Didn't you seek help?"

"We did." Zheng Xian looked utterly helpless as he continued, "I know a little about the mystic path. So I invited a Daoist to examine him. In the end, they said he had lost part of his soul. But after several soul-summoning rituals, there was no improvement.

"Daoist, what exactly is happening?"

Wang Daoxuan thought quietly. "No rush. Let's perform a ritual first."

With that, he arranged the altar. He clipped a few of the child's fingernails and cut several strands of hair, wrapped them inside a yellow talisman, and placed it upon the altar. Then, he placed an egg upon the child's forehead. As he continued to form hand seals and chant incantations, he rolled the egg slowly back and forth.

Watching from the side, Li Yan had already formed a rough guess.

Sure enough, after Wang Daoxuan removed the egg, he first boiled it. He then burned the talisman containing the child's fingernails and hair. Once the shell was peeled away, a pitch-black mark appeared upon the egg white.

Looking closely, it resembled a rat.

"So... It entered an animal's womb." Wang Daoxuan remained calm as he stroked his beard. "The child suffered a fright, scattering his Three Souls. Coincidentally, a mother rat nearby had just given birth. In the end, one of his wandering souls entered the animal womb, competing with the newborn rats for the body.

"Since his own soul became incomplete, his habits were also influenced. That's why his behavior resembles a rat."

Zheng Xian hurriedly asked, "D-Daoist, what should we do?"

Wang Daoxuan laughed lightly. "There's no need to worry. It's only an animal womb. A single ritual will resolve it. If he entered a human womb instead, even I would have been powerless."

Turning to Li Yan, he continued, "Little Brother Yan, this matter will require your help. Ordinary people probably won't be able to find it."

"No problem." Li Yan first memorized the peculiar fishy scent lingering on the child. Then, activating his divine ability, he wandered throughout every room and courtyard of the Zheng Residence.

Eventually, he stopped beside the woodshed in the rear courtyard.

Pointing to one corner outside the shed, he said, "It's here. Dig, hurry!"

Zheng Xian turned to the side. "Start digging!"

He had summoned an elderly servant to accompany them. The two immediately swung their hoes with loud clanging sounds.

Sure enough, they uncovered a rat's nest. The mother rat had already fled. Only several tiny newborn rats remained, crawling about helplessly.

Having already received Wang Daoxuan's instructions, Zheng Xian did not hesitate. He first opened a large black umbrella to block the sunlight. Then he raised the hoe and smashed every newborn rat to death. When he was done, he piled firewood over them, added yellow talismans, and set everything ablaze.

Meanwhile, Wang Daoxuan had already begun the soul-summoning ritual. Li Yan could clearly smell something strange rising into the air.

It drifted back and forth beneath the black umbrella.

Whoosh!

He immediately snapped the umbrella shut and hurried back inside. The moment he opened it again, Wang Daoxuan rang the ritual bell to summon the soul. A cold aura flashed once before entering the child's body.

The child's eyelids began twitching violently. Knowing the child's soul remained unstable, Wang Daoxuan immediately tied red cords around both wrists and ankles, knotting each one to stabilize the soul.

Finally, the child slowly opened his eyes. Though fear still lingered within them, life had returned.

In a soft voice, he murmured, "Mother..."

The woman burst into tears of joy and immediately embraced her son. "Xian'er..."

"Mother... I dreamed... I was crawling around inside a rat's nest..."

"It's alright, it's all over now. It's all over..."

Watching the scene before him, a faint smile appeared on Li Yan's face. When it came to slaying evil ghosts or capturing underworld sinners, he might indeed surpass Wang Daoxuan. But when it came to solving the troubles of ordinary people, Wang Daoxuan was clearly far more adept.

Zheng Xian's eyes reddened as he repeatedly expressed his gratitude. "Thank you, Daoist, thank you so much."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head and laughed. "It was only a small matter. However, your son's Three Souls remain unstable. It would be best to perform a Longevity Three Souls Ritual. When you're done, visit the City God Temple and obtain a Longevity Lock."

Zheng Xian nodded in excitement. "Yes, of course. We'll follow everything you say."

At the same time, Li Yan sensed someone staring at him. Turning sharply, he discovered it was the child who had only just recovered.

The instant the child realized Li Yan had noticed him, he buried his face in his mother's embrace.

"Mother, I'm scared."

"What is it, Xian'er?"

"That uncle, there's a tiger beside him..."

Li Yan froze, and exchanged glances with Wang Daoxuan.

***

The days in winter were short. Night fell quickly, between five and seven in the evening, as snow once again drifted from the heavens. As Chang'an's busiest entertainment district, Pingkang Street was lined with long lanterns illuminating both sides of the streets. Brothels and taverns glowed brilliantly with light while the faint sounds of stringed instruments and singing drifted through the air.

Walking through the streets, Li Yan continued thinking about what had happened earlier that day. It still felt rather incredible. He had actually witnessed the exact moment a child awakened a divine ability.

That was right, the child had awakened a sight-related divine ability. Moreover, it was the rare Yin Yang Eyes of Ghosts and Spirits. The instant they awakened, the child was already able to see the manifested phantom of the Divine Tiger Token.

One had to know, spiritual artifacts like the Divine Tiger Token concealed their aura whenever they were not in use. Ordinary people could never see them.

The child's talent was simply astonishing. Following Wang Daoxuan's advice, Zheng Xian had already gone to the City God Temple.

Since the Zheng family had only one child, whether he would enter the Taixuan Orthodox Sect, or instead have his divine ability sealed away and live as an ordinary person would depend entirely upon the family's decision.

Perhaps, the fate of the Zheng Family would change along with that choice.

Thinking about it, Li Yan quickened his pace as he made his way toward Calyx Pavilion, the largest establishment in Pingkang Street.

From an upstairs window of a nearby brothel, a woman embraced a pipa as she sang, "The green mountains keep each other company, the white clouds remain in love. I dream not of purple robes and golden sashes, but of a humble thatched cottage. Let the wilderness bloom. Why care whose house prospers, whose declines, who wins, who loses? Even with a simple bowl of rice in a narrow alley, one may still find joy."

Her song drifted gently through the air as snow fell beneath the lanterns of the ancient capital.