Blade - Unbound

The first snow had yet to melt, leaving Zhuque Avenue blanketed in silver. Though the biting cold lingered, carts and horses still streamed ceaselessly through the streets.

Camel bells rang in succession as merchants from the Western Regions arrived, burdened with packs and hauling exotic treasures. They had journeyed to the Central Plains in pursuit of handsome profits.

The walls that once lined both sides of the avenue had long since vanished, replaced by rows of shops, teahouses, and taverns. Passersby wrapped themselves tightly in fur coats and felt hats, doing their best to bundle themselves from the winter chill.

As the central axis of Chang'an, Zhuque Avenue was bustling even on ordinary days. Now that the Winter Solstice had passed, the common folk were no longer occupied with farming and had begun preparing for the New Year.

For those of the jianghu, however, it was the exact opposite. The people of the Central Plains labored hard all year, pinching every coin in their daily lives. Only at this time of year, after finally saving a little money, were they willing to spend generously.

Thus, the season from before the New Year until after it, all the way through the Lantern Festival, was the best time to make money. Some seasoned veterans of the jianghu relied on these holidays alone to make their fortunes. Nearly every stretch of the avenue was occupied by street performers and peddlers.

Pretending not to notice the people tailing him, Li Yan clasped his hands behind his back and wandered straight into the crowd, feigning interest in the festivities.

As he browsed, he spotted quite a few tricks of the jianghu.

An elderly man from the Jin Sect had set up a fortune-telling stall with a sign: Better Than an Immortal. Flipping noisily through a book of fate while speaking with astonishing eloquence, he thoroughly bewildered a country woman with his predictions.

There was also a blind man wandering about, clacking bamboo castanets as he walked while chanting, "Fortunes of yearly calamities and monthly misfortune! Wealth and poverty, nobility and lowliness foretold!"

Someone from the Pi Sect was performing the "Fishing Plums" scam. Carrying a long bamboo pole covered in all kinds of fleshy worms, he shouted, "People eat the five grains, so worms naturally grow inside the body! Take one dose of my medicine, and every kind of worm will come right out!"

The surrounding commoners watched with great curiosity, unaware that those worms were actually made from turtle intestines. Still, they looked astonishingly lifelike.

Naturally, there were also plenty of sellers peddling counterfeit medicines, from fake amber to fake tiger bones and fake ginseng. The displays looked dazzling, yet not a single item was genuine.

Those tricks were aimed precisely at those greedy for bargains.

Of course, there were even more storytellers, drummers, clapper performers, and street entertainers making their living on the ground. They filled the avenue with the sounds of clanging gongs, rhythmic chants, and lively singing.

Li Yan wandered leisurely, deliberately squeezing through the densest crowds. The several men following behind him inevitably became separated.

Only one particularly sharp fellow managed to stay close, lingering beside a martial arts performer hawking miracle strength pills.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The instant the gong sounded, Li Yan turned and walked away. The tail hurriedly turned as well, only to be grabbed by the performer, who thrust the bronze gong directly in front of him.

The follower barked angrily, "Scram!"

The performer showed no irritation. Raising an eyebrow, he said, "Brother, making a living away from home isn't easy for anyone. You've watched for so long, at least give a little. Surely you aren't planning to freeload? If word got out, wouldn't it disgrace us Chang'an folk?"

With that single remark, everyone's attention fell on the man.

Both furious and embarrassed, the tail casually tossed two coins into the gong. By the time he pushed through the crowd again, Li Yan had already disappeared without a trace.

Behind him came the performer's cheerful shout. "Many thanks for the reward, sir!"

Yanshou Street was located near Guangde Street. Close to the City God Temple and situated among the wealthy district of northwestern Chang'an, it did not lack for fine teahouses and taverns.

During the Tang Dynasty, although the imperial family revered Daoism, Buddhism flourished among the common people. Back then, when the Buddha's relics were welcomed into Chang'an, the wealthy families of every ward along the route all held grand Unrestricted Almsgiving Assemblies.

These assemblies welcomed everyone without distinction, admitting the rich and poor, monks and laymen, the wise and the foolish, and the virtuous and the wicked alike.

But such events demanded enormous expenditures. In those days, Yanshou Street saw Minister Pei of the Ministry of Rites, Prince Wu Yi of Henei, and the various imperial princesses and princes-consort all jointly funding the festivities. It was a celebration of such immense scale that it astonished the entirety of Chang'an.

Yet prosperity always came to an end. Princes and nobles all turned to dust. Buddhism and Daoism suffered repeated devastating blows until they were no longer what they once were.

Now, the former estates of the princesses housed rows of restaurants and teahouses. The finely dressed nobles riding spirited steeds had been replaced by merchants who had once been looked down upon.

Qingjiang Tower, in particular, specialized in Huaiyang cuisine.

As the saying went, people became humble away from home, but goods became more valuable away from their place of origin. Since these dishes had traveled all the way to Chang'an, the prices were naturally far from cheap.

"Daoist Master, this way upstairs!"

The waiter ushered Luo Mingzi in. He lifted his Daoist robe and hurried up to the second floor where he walked into a private room. Once he saw who was by the window, he burst into laughter. "Hahaha, what's this? Made some money, have you? Inviting this poor Daoist to sample something fancy?"

Li Yan quickly rose to his feet. "Greetings, Senior."

"Enough with the formalities!" Luo Mingzi waved him off and sat down with a smile. "I had matters to attend to recently, and didn’t even didn't even get the chance to welcome you properly by the time you arrived in Chang'an. This meal is on me."

Then he sighed and shook his head. "I've also heard about what happened on Mount Taibai. That Martial Uncle of mine was never a vicious man. I truly don't know why he resorted to forbidden arts to prolong his life..."

As the two conversed, a waiter knocked on the door, and entered carrying a large tray of dishes while chanting in a practiced rhythm. "Fragrant delicacies from Huaiyang! Unforgettable flavors await! Crab Roe Lion's Head Meatballs, Braised Shredded Dried Tofu, Three-Set Duck, Marinated Pork... Esteemed guests, please enjoy."

After placing the dishes on the table, he flicked a towel over his shoulder and asked with an ingratiating smile, "Honored guests, our establishment also has young ladies who perform..."

Li Yan waved him away. "No need. We're discussing something."

Once the waiter had left, he stood and filled Luo Mingzi's wine cup. Luo Mingzi glanced at the lavish spread before him.

His expression turned thoughtful. "So much food and wine... No one flatters without reason. You've run into trouble?"

"As expected, I can't hide it from you, Senior."

Li Yan wasted no time and recounted everything.

"So... A ritual duel." Luo Mingzi chuckled and shook his head. "You're a living yin emissary, and judging by your appearance, you've already inherited the proper lineage. Even among Daoist cultivators, your standing is no worse than the orthodox sects. Why involve yourself in something like this?"

Li Yan replied earnestly, "The jianghu may be vast, but there aren't many friends truly worth standing beside. When it's time to act, one must act."

"Hahaha!" Luo Mingzi nodded in approval. "Well said. Cultivating the Dao is still cultivating oneself. If you can't even be a decent human being, what right do you have to seek the Dao? As for ritual duels, so long as they don't become too excessive, our Enforcement Hall generally turns a blind eye.

"But by the same token, we also can't intervene directly, nor can we openly appear. You were clever enough to secretly send word to me, which makes this matter much easier. I have two loyal friends in mind. Though they're from unorthodox lineages, their techniques are exceptional, especially in combat. I'll write you a letter shortly. You can simply seek them out."

As he spoke, he picked up a slice of marinated pork and continued thoughtfully, "The Daoist world may be special, but many of its rules are no different from those of the jianghu. When people speak of a ritual duel, what they're often competing over isn't the spells at all, but their connections, especially in something like the Tianyuan Match.

"By standing up for someone this time, you're also establishing your own name in Chang'an. If you handle this well, you'll earn a reputation. Once people know your name, they'll naturally come seeking your help, which will give you a foothold to use in the future.

"But relying on others can never be a long-term solution. You possess a Summoning Writ and have successfully completed underworld assignments. Being able to summon the Underworld's soldiers... That is your true foundation."

Li Yan sighed gloomily. "Please don't mention it. This Summoning Writ really isn't as useful as I'd imagined. After capturing the sinner on Mount Taibai, it gained three astral decrees. Each decree can summon one deployment of the Five Yin Ghost Battalions, five hundred in total each time. Once they're used up, they're gone.

"Besides that, the Summoning Writ can also appoint a few ghost soldiers to run errands, but the powerful ones are beyond my control, while the weaker ones aren't of much use.

"Compared to how dangerous underworld missions are, it feels rather underwhelming..."

The moment Luo Mingzi heard this, he glared at him. "Listen to yourself. If the practitioners of certain Daoist lineages heard you, they'd probably die of anger. Do you think raising spiritual soldiers is that easy?

"First, you need an ancestral altar. Then your masters must accumulate generation after generation, sustaining them with incense offerings year after year. They must also be trained regularly before they'll obey orders.

"Even if the Five Yin Ghost Battalions are mediocre, they're still stronger than the ancestral spirit soldiers of most Daoist lineages. If you prove yourself worthy in the future, you might even receive the privilege to summon the official troops of the underworld itself, which are comparable to the Register Soldiers of our orthodox sect.

"As for those ghost soldiers, ordinary practitioners raising spirits must always suppress them with special treasures; otherwise, they'll inevitably cause trouble. But your Summoning Writ is the finest suppressing treasure imaginable. You only need to offer incense from time to time. Compared to everyone else, your method is vastly more convenient."

Li Yan pondered for a moment before grinning. "When you put it that way, you're right."

Luo Mingzi's explanation cleared the cobwebs from his mind. The Summoning Writ certainly couldn't compare to the great orthodox sects and major Daoist lineages. After all, they possessed millennia of accumulated foundations, countless practitioners, and could conduct grand rituals involving hundreds of participants.

Its true strength, however, lay elsewhere. A single person could wield it, summoning troops quickly and effortlessly. Simply put, it excelled in individual combat. Moreover, the more astral decrees he accumulated by completing missions, the more trump cards he would possess to turn the tide at a critical moment.

Half an hour later, Li Yan descended the stairs wearing a bamboo hat. After confirming that no one was watching him, he blended into the crowd and headed toward the southwestern part of Chang'an.

Moving swiftly, he arrived near Yanping Gate on the western side of the city in less than the time it took three sticks of incense to burn. He glanced up at the memorial archway marking Fengyi Street as he strode inside.

Just as Wang Daoxuan had said, ever since the walls were demolished, the curfew abolished, and restrictions on private commerce lifted, business had flourished throughout Chang'an.

Yet Fengyi Street was something of an exception. Unlike Xianyang, nearly everyone in Chang'an who made a living from the dead had gathered here. Everyone from coffin makers, funeral halls, grave keepers, and funeral banquet organizers to professional mourners, bone collectors, river corpse retrievers, paper effigy craftsmen, and leather workers had set up shop.

In short, every trade connected with funerals could be found there.

Ordinary people considered the place unlucky, so unless absolutely necessary, they avoided coming. As a result, the streets were relatively quiet. Even the shop assistants made no effort to solicit customers. After all, funeral businesses were hardly the sort that needed to attract passersby.

Because it dealt with matters of life and death, the street had also become the gathering place for Chang'an's unorthodox practitioners.

Li Yan strode straight through before turning into a narrow alley on the left and stopping before an ancient courtyard. He knocked gently on the wooden door.

A lazy voice drifted out from within. "Who's there?"

Even through the door, it sounded deep and warm.

Li Yan replied, "Daoist Luo Mingzi sent me."

"Oh. One moment."

After some rustling, the wooden door creaked open. The middle-aged man who appeared had an unnaturally pale complexion, as though he had not seen sunlight in years. His features were quite handsome beneath the scruffy beard, but his clothes were disheveled, and he looked as though he had only just woken up.

The man said softly, "Come in."

He turned, yawning as he wandered into the house. A clatter of objects followed as he rummaged through the room. "Damn it... Which bastard made off with my tea leaves?"

Li Yan paid him no mind and looked around the courtyard. Under the eaves hung soul-summoning banners of every size. Some were made of paper, others of cloth, and some had even been sewn together from animal hides.

Before long, the middle-aged man emerged, scratching his stomach as he lazily remarked, "I've got nothing worth serving guests. Not that it'd suit your tastes anyway."

"It doesn't matter." Li Yan shook his head slightly before handing over the letter Luo Mingzi had written. "Senior, Daoist Luo Mingzi asked me to deliver this."

The man glanced through it, then snorted. "A ritual duel... I've heard of this Liu Wenchen fellow. Useless piece of work. Greedy enough to covet someone else's belongings, yet he still insists on making such a grand spectacle of it. Fine, I'll be there when the time comes."

Li Yan cupped his fists respectfully. "Senior, although I'm relying on Daoist Luo's favor, proper compensation is only right. I wonder what you would..."

"Compensation?" The man scratched his head, narrowed his eyes, and smiled somewhat mischievously. "You look like you've got money. I haven't had a drink in quite a while..."

Li Yan laughed. "No problem!"

This was the first person Luo Mingzi had introduced. His name was Shen Sanyou, a cultivator of the third level of the Yin Sect. He was an expert in mourning rites and soul summoning, known by the nickname Night Crier.

More than half an hour later, Li Yan arrived at Xuanyi Street, and walked straight into a pawnshop. The counter was so tall that even standing upright, Li Yan had to look upward.

Only a small opening was left in the wooden partition, from which came a cold, emotionless voice. "What would you like to pawn, sir?"

Without another word, Li Yan simply slipped the letter through the opening.

After a long silence, the indifferent voice rang out once more. "I'll be there when the time comes. As for compensation... Forget it. What I want is beyond your means."

"Thank you, Senior."

Li Yan wasted no more words. Bowing with clasped fists, he took his leave.

After stepping outside, he turned to look at the enormous sign, still feeling rather incredulous.

Over the past few months, he had come to understand the structure of the Daoist world. The standing of great orthodox sects such as the Taixuan Orthodox Sect naturally went without saying. Even ordinary rogue sorcerers like You Laosi could become honored guests of powerful gangs.

Yet not every practitioner of the Dao lived in wealth and luxury.

Take Shen Sanyou, for example. Heaven only knew what he had experienced in the past. He drifted through life in a daze, content so long as he had enough to eat each day.

The person inside this pawnshop was even more extraordinary. He had once been an assassin known simply as Shadow, a master of illusion techniques, yet he willingly lived as an ordinary man, working quietly as the pawnshop's appraiser.

Perhaps, just as Luo Mingzi had said, for some people, cultivating mystical arts was not a blessing, but something far closer to a curse.

By the time Li Yan returned to Phoenix Inn, night had already fallen. Seeing everyone's expectant gazes, Li Yan smiled. "Don't worry, it's all settled. This time I've invited two true experts. The people Liu Wenchen managed to find might very well lose their nerve the moment they hear their names."

"That's wonderful." Feng Feiyan covered her mouth with a graceful smile, her beautiful eyes glimmering. "Little Brother Yan truly is remarkable. You've only just arrived in Chang'an, yet you've already built such connections. In the future, you're bound to become one of the great figures of the jianghu."

Li Yan laughed it off without continuing the conversation. "You're too kind, Boss Feng."

Although he was staying at the inn and had Red Yasha as a mutual acquaintance, how could he completely trust Feng Feiyan?

Something about her circumstances felt off. Red Yasha had told them that Feng Feiyan's family had fallen into ruin, yet she had ventured alone into Chang'an. Not only had she established herself firmly in the jianghu, she had even built an enterprise like the Phoenix Descent Inn.

Li Yan had secretly instructed Sha Lifei to gather information about her, but everything had come back flawless.

Too flawless.

On the surface, she seemed nothing more than an exceptionally intelligent woman blessed with extraordinary luck, advancing steadily and escaping danger every single time. Yet there were many things that intelligence alone could not explain.

The world had never lacked clever people, and the jianghu was a dangerous place. It was always wiser to keep one's guard up.