Blade - Unbound

Several days later, the imperial court had already taken control of the phosphate mine near Zhu Clan's Fort. After officials dispatched by the Ministry of Works surveyed it, they discovered that its reserves were astonishingly vast.

The previous group had only excavated the tip of the iceberg. Phosphate ore might one day find use in chemical industries, but it had very few applications in the present era, so the imperial court had never paid it much attention.

Now, however, with the military developing firearms, large quantities of yellow phosphorus were also required. The local garrison therefore directly dispatched troops to seal off the waterway and establish a mining operation.

Mining phosphorus was dangerous, and miners rarely lived long. However, war had just broken out in Ezhou, so prisoners and captives from various places were conveniently transported over and put to work excavating the mine.

Naturally, cultivators accompanied the military. The vicious killing qi from the corpse-suppression site near Zhu Clan's Fort had already begun leaking out, so they toppled the foreign monk's deity statue and erected a Mountain God Temple in its place to suppress the area.

Now, the mine was bustling with people. Crude shelters had been erected everywhere, densely packed together, while troops stood guard. Countless points of candlelight flickered beneath the night sky, and the entire place was extremely busy.

On a distant mountain peak, several black-clad figures stood observing the scene. One of them looked extraordinarily strange. He was unnaturally thin and somewhat hunched, crouching on the ground like a large macaque. His face was narrow and simian, yet his eyes were enormous.

Forming the Yang hand seal, he stared into the distance and said, "There are roughly five hundred garrison soldiers. From the looks of them, they're all raw recruits, and their defenses aren't particularly strong."

The mountain was far from the mine, and the night was dark, yet he could see everything with perfect clarity, as though it were right before his eyes.

Every one of the black-clad figures looked solemn and carried a cold, imposing air. Yet they were all standing around a white-bearded old man with his hands clasped behind his back. He was tall and broad-shouldered, powerfully built, with blazing eyes and a hooked nose.

His expression was exceptionally gloomy. "Have you investigated everything?"

A middle-aged man beside him cupped his hands in response. "Reporting to my lord, there were several strange cultivators traveling through the jianghu. They came from Shanzhou and have some reputation there. They were attacked while passing through this place and killed Master Karma. However, they secretly kept The Classic of Lightning and Fire and did not turn it over to the imperial court."

"Hmph!" The white-bearded old man snorted coldly, "These people truly don't know the immensity of Heaven and Earth. They dare touch anything they come across. Where are they now?"

"Word has already arrived from the others. They appeared in Jingzhou yesterday and have since headed for Yichang. Commander Wang has personally gone to intercept and kill them."

"Mm." Finally, the old man nodded slightly, then looked behind him and said calmly, "Are you certain Zhao Changsheng will appear in Ezhou?"

One man slowly raised his head and respectfully cupped his hands. "My lord, the Red Maiden has appeared in Ezhou repeatedly. She is Zhao Changsheng's trusted subordinate. If she has remained for so long, she must be plotting something."

If Li Yan were present, he would have recognized the man who had just spoken as Bai Ruoxu, the head of the Broker Guild who had escaped from Chang'an.

The old man thought for a moment before speaking again. "You were once a member of the Maitreya Sect. I'll leave contacting her to you. Have her pass a message to Zhao Changsheng. The Heavenly Saint Cult and the mountain people will soon be ready. As long as this affair succeeds, I will personally hand over the treasure he wants."

Bai Ruoxu hesitated. "This..."

Someone beside him laughed. "Brother Bai, what are you afraid of? You betrayed the Maitreya Sect, while Zhao Changsheng is being hunted by members of the Maitreya Sect himself. You're both in the same boat. Why would he attack you? Now that you serve under our lord, you can't be too protective of your own skin when carrying out orders."

Looking at the cold expressions around him, Bai Ruoxu sighed inwardly. He knew there was no escaping this assignment and could only cup his hands before speaking softly, "This subordinate obeys."

Yichang was also known as Yiling, and had originally been the territory of the ancient Xiling tribe. Legend held that Leizu, wife of the Yellow Emperor, had been a daughter of the Xiling clan.

During the Eastern Jin dynasty, when the western part of Yiling was divided off to establish a new county, it was named "Yichang," conveying the wish that the nation's fortunes would prosper. This was the first historical appearance of the name. It was then formally adopted after the Great Xuan dynasty was established.

***

"Young Hero Li, we've arrived!"

On the deck, Old Zhang's hearty voice rang out.

He had spent the entire journey on edge. It wasn't the complicated and dangerous waterways that bothered him, but the large quantity of firearms aboard the vessel.

As someone from the jianghu, he had certainly done his share of dirty work in the past. But by now, everyone knew just how seriously the imperial court treated firearms. Moreover, with war raging in Ezhou, there were noticeably more government patrols along the waterways. If they were caught, even if they managed to escape, they would certainly become wanted fugitives and have no choice but to flee into the mountains or forests.

Fortunately, his boat-handling skills were exceptional, and Lu San had kept his hawk ranging ahead to patrol. Whenever they spotted government naval forces from a distance, they immediately avoided them.

Thus, despite several scares, they finally reached Yichang safely. Naturally, they could not bring those firearms into the city. Halfway to the city, they had found a small hill beside the river and hidden them in a secluded cave.

Hearing Old Zhang's call, Li Yan and the others also came out of the cabin.

Dawn had only just broken. The sky was overcast, and a fine drizzle drifted through the air. Across the broad Yangtze River, waves rolled endlessly while hundreds of boats and thousands of sails crisscrossed the water. In the distance lay an enormous bend in the river, with a vast city built along its banks.

The bustle here was no less impressive than Jingzhou, which they had passed earlier.

Old Zhang smiled as he introduced the place. "Gentlemen, Yichang's docks command access upstream to Bashu and downstream toward Jingxiang. It's an important jianghu port in Ezhou. There are plenty of jianghu factions here from Bashu, as well as those native to Ezhou. Dragons and snakes mix together here, but with your abilities, gentlemen, you'll be able to establish yourselves wherever you go."

Li Yan nodded and solemnly cupped his hands. "Senior Zhang, we've troubled you greatly throughout this journey. Once we reach the docks, this is where we part ways."

Old Zhang froze. "Aren't you heading elsewhere after finishing your business here? This old man can wait for you."

Sha Lifei laughed beside him. "No need to say any more. We've stirred up some trouble, and our enemies are no easy lot. Better not drag you into it. When the world settles down again, we'll definitely come find Senior Zhang for a drink."

Old Zhang fell silent for a moment before nodding slightly. "Very well. At my age, this old man isn't afraid for himself, but these apprentices all have elderly parents and children at home depending on them. My apologies."

Li Yan laughed. "Senior, what are you apologizing for?"

Old Zhang then turned toward Wang Daoxuan and bowed deeply with cupped hands. "Daoist Wang, your righteousness commands respect. Please accept this old man's bow."

The boatmen aboard the vessel all turned as well and respectfully bowed in thanks. Throughout the journey, although Li Yan was their leader, the person they respected most was Wang Daoxuan.

Wang Daoxuan was broad-minded and gentle, treating everyone with warmth and kindness. More importantly, he never hoarded his knowledge and had explained all manner of taboos and precautions for avoiding evil entities to them.

Old Zhang had personally written everything down, filling an entire thick volume. He knew that this was knowledge worthy of being passed down through his family!

They might still fall far short of true practitioners from the mystic path, but they did not make a living by exorcising evil anyway. Now, if they encountered bizarre supernatural incidents again when traveling from place to place in the future, at least they would have methods to protect themselves.

As they spoke, the wooden boat gradually approached the docks. The riverbank here was broad, with several separate wharves for mooring vessels. Some admitted only government ships, while others were reserved for large merchant vessels unloading cargo. The dock for small passenger boats was comparatively narrow.

"Gentlemen, farewell!"

"Take care on your way!"

After disembarking and exchanging farewells, Li Yan and his three companions watched Old Zhang depart before turning toward Yichang City.

From a distance, the city walls looked entirely different from those of the Guanzhong Plains. Their foundations were built of red sandstone, with the walls built from gray brick. The entire city was also oval in shape, with a moat dug all around the walls. It was four zhang wide and filled with water diverted from the Yangtze, using the great river itself as a natural defensive barrier.

The city gates were already open. Though busy, traffic flowed smoothly, and there was no need to queue to enter. However, large numbers of soldiers patrolled and inspected those passing through.

As the group approached, they quickly noticed something unusual. The soldiers were especially strict when inspecting people dressed in the styles of various ethnic minorities, as well as armed jianghu travelers.

The four exchanged glances and immediately understood why. Although they had tried to move quickly in their journey, Sha Lifei had still taken the time to enter Jingzhou when they passed through and purchased the latest intelligence.

Over in Yunyang Prefecture, the fighting had fallen into a bitter stalemate. After the mountain people seized Zhushan County, they gathered a large number of troops and prepared to continue capturing cities and territory. They had even intended to take Yunyang City itself.

Yunyang Prefecture was now in a very different state. Governor Yuan Qun, who had originally been recuperating from illness at home, had dragged his ailing body back into office. He was a truly capable official. Having governed Yunyang Prefecture for many years, he had promoted land reclamation and farming while drawing the mountain people into settled communities, gradually improving the situation.

Precisely because he was so capable, he enjoyed an excellent reputation even among the native tribes. His steady encroachment on their influence had been what finally forced the Heavenly Saint Cult to take desperate action.

The moment he returned, he immediately brought the situation under control. The overly aggressive garrison commander was immediately removed from office, while dependable generals were temporarily promoted and ordered to hold the strategic waterways and key routes.

Once proper defenses were in place, the effectiveness of gunpowder was greatly reduced. When the rebellious native clans attempted to lure the government troops into another trap, Yuan Qun instead sent men to set an ambush of his own, securing the imperial side's first victory since the war began.

Even so, Yuan Qun did not advance recklessly. The Heavenly Saint Cult's forces were simply too numerous. In a very short time, they had already assembled an army of two hundred thousand. Only emergency reinforcements from the Shanzhou garrisons allowed Yunyang to barely hold its ground.

Yuan Qun's strategy was simple. He intended to fortify and hold his position at all costs.

This rebellion was nothing less than a slap in the emperor's face. The Great Xuan court had already begun mobilizing armies from every direction and sending them toward Ezhou to suppress the revolt. As long as Yuan Qun could keep the fighting contained within a limited area, once the main imperial army arrived, they could sweep through the Jingchu mountains and completely eradicate the Heavenly Saint Cult.

Of course, they still had an even greater enemy, the rebellious natives.

The Great Xuan's imperial court had already made up its mind. This time, it intended to resolve both the problem of the Jingchu native clans and the policy of replacing native chieftains with direct imperial administration in a single stroke, thereby stabilizing the situation throughout the Divine Continent.

Yichang, however, was somewhat unique. On one side, it bordered the territories of the southwestern clans. On the other, it connected with Bashu, where a large imperial force was stationed.

Once the fighting in the Jingchu mountains settled, this place would become the frontline from which the imperial court could suppress the surrounding regions and eliminate the rebellious natives.

Before that happened, however, the court was unwilling to apply too much pressure.

After all, some natives remained loyal to the imperial court and were willing to cooperate with the policy of replacing native rule with direct administration, while others were still watching from the sidelines and had not joined the rebellion. If those groups could be won over, the war could end much sooner.

At the same time, agents of the rebellious natives were also active. Their first goal was to find ways to infiltrate Yichang and prepare for war. Their second was to win support from the various powers in the region.

At present, Yichang City was practically a gathering place for every manner of demon, monster, and schemer.

"Stop!"

Sure enough, the group had barely reached the gate before soldiers blocked their way. One look at them was enough to tell the soldiers that they were hardly ordinary, law-abiding civilians.

But Li Yan remained calm and took out his black Dao Permit. "We're cultivators from Shanzhou. We've accepted several assignments from the City God Temple of Yunyang Prefecture and came to the southwest to investigate some cases."

The usefulness of the black Dao Permit immediately became apparent. The moment the officer guarding the gate saw it, his expression softened considerably.

He respectfully cupped his hands. "Please wait a moment, fellow Daoists. Someone from the Yichang City God Temple is stationed here and can verify your identities."

He quickly turned and shouted, "Go invite Daoist Yu Lingzi!"

There was a guardhouse near the city gate. Inside, a gray-haired Daoist was sitting in meditation. He was somewhat plump, his head bobbing up and down as loud snores escaped him.

"Daoist! Daoist!" A soldier hurriedly woke him. "Several Daoists have arrived from Yunyang Prefecture. They say they accepted assignments from the City God Temple. Oh, and they said they came from Shanzhou. The captain asked me to have you verify their identities."

"Oh." The plump Daoist opened his eyes groggily. Then he suddenly jolted awake and grabbed the soldier. "You said they came from Shanzhou? Is the one leading them a young man?"

"Mm. Daoist, you know them?"

The soldier had barely finished when the plump Daoist hurriedly shoved on his shoes and rushed outside in a fluster. When he reached the city gate and saw Li Yan and the others, his face immediately broke into a broad smile.

He stepped forward quickly and performed a Daoist salute. "Would you happen to be Daoist Li from the Guanzhong Plains?"

Li Yan froze, looking somewhat suspicious. "Daoist, you know us?"

The plump Daoist flicked his horsetail whisk and smiled brightly. "This poor Daoist is Yu Lingzi. My martial nephew Gu Hanzi sent a letter saying that you would be coming here. This poor Daoist has been waiting for you for quite some time. I've already arranged accommodation for you. Please, come!"

Li Yan and his three companions exchanged glances. They might have gained a little reputation by now, but compared with the colossal Taixuan Orthodox Sect, they did not even count as ants.

Such enthusiasm was probably not without reason. Still, having come this far, they could only respond appropriately.

Li Yan replied politely, "Thank you for the trouble, Daoist."

He gave the others a meaningful look, then followed the plump Daoist into the city.

Immediately beyond the city gate stretched a long avenue lined with shops on both sides and crowded with pedestrians. Even beneath the shadow of war, the city remained remarkably prosperous.

"Cold shrimp! Cold shrimp! Cool and refreshing!"

"Radish dumplings!"

Restaurants and food stalls lined both sides of the street, their cries of advertisement rising one after another.

Li Yan and the others had been traveling without pause for days, moving day and night. They had eaten and slept aboard the boat, where they could not light fires, so they had survived on dry rations. The moment they heard the vendors calling out, their stomachs began to rumble.

Sha Lifei could not help licking his lips. "The customs really are different everywhere. This is the first time I've heard of shrimp being cool and thirst-quenching."

Daoist Yu Lingzi laughed. "Daoists, you misunderstand. 'Cold shrimp' isn't actually shrimp. It's a kind of food. Rice batter is cooked and then pressed through a perforated ladle into a basin of cold water. Since each piece has a large head and thin tail like a shrimp, it was named such. When eaten with sugarcane syrup, it has a flavor all its own. There's a family shop up ahead that makes it best. Let's go have some.

"Yichang gathers delicacies from both regions. If you want to know where the best food in the city is, this poor Daoist knows every place worth eating..."

Seeing how smugly pleased he looked, Li Yan immediately understood.

Gu Hanzi had mentioned that all the elite members of the Taixuan Orthodox Sect in Ezhou had already been transferred to Yunyang Prefecture in response to the war. Here in Yichang, the local Dharma lineages were more powerful, and the Taixuan Orthodox Sect only controlled the City God Temple. Although Yu Lingzi's seniority was considerable, he was obviously not one of their elite practitioners.

Apparently oblivious to Li Yan's strange expression, Yu Lingzi continued forward, talking nonstop as he introduced the sights and customs of Yichang.

Of course, most of his introductions were centered around food. Before they realized it, the group had already crossed the central district and reached a street on the right side of the city, where the City God Temple was located.

Yet the moment everyone saw it, they were dumbfounded. Half the temple's front facade had collapsed, and numerous workers were repairing it in the rain.