Blade - Unbound

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Li Yan slid forward amid the wind and snow, executing three consecutive chopping strikes in rapid succession, each sounding like a string of firecrackers. He then flowed through chop, hang, slash, deflect, and shear techniques, his movements growing faster and faster.

Though they appeared fierce and overbearing, they were in fact a seamless blend of feints and solid attacks.

Under the eaves, Madam Li offered guidance from time to time. "Pigua emphasizes using speed to overcome slowness.

"Remember, speed doesn't mean striking wildly. If the attack comes high, you hang; if it comes low, you chop; if it comes horizontally, you block; if it follows through, you redirect... The moment you make your move, you must break your opponent's stance.

"Pigua contains the Winch Force, the Tearing Force, the Swallowing and Spitting Force, the Rolling Binding Force, and the Penetrating Force. Every one of these must be mastered thoroughly..."

Madam Li had reached the Jin Transformation Realm many years ago, but having long withdrawn from the jianghu to devote herself to her family, coupled with her advanced age and declining vitality, muscles, and bones, she naturally could no longer spar with Li Yan. However, her understanding of boxing techniques had reached an exceptionally profound level.

Combined with Li Yan's respectable comprehension, a few words of instruction were all he needed for his grasp of the Pigua Palm to improve with each passing day.

Finally, another day of training came to an end.

Madam Li said with satisfaction, "You trained in the Red Fist since you were a child. But the Red Fist excels at cunning close combat strikes, while Pigua specializes in breaking an opponent's stance before following with crafty palm techniques. If you can merge the two into one, then at the very least, there will be no flaws left in your techniques. When facing an opponent, it will simply come down to who is superior..."

"Thank you for your guidance, Master." Li Yan cupped his fists respectfully before he continued, "I've more or less mastered the routines of the Pigua Palm. For the next little bit, I may not be able to come every day for instruction."

Madam Li was momentarily taken aback before smiling. "What? You think you've learned a few basics and are already ready to graduate?"

She was not angry. She had grown rather fond of this disciple who had practically delivered himself to her doorstep, and she could tell he was not that sort of person. Though her words sounded reproachful, she was really asking for the reason.

Li Yan hesitated for a moment and sighed. "There are some matters in the jianghu."

"Oh..." Madam Li immediately understood. "You're afraid of dragging me into it?"

Li Yan answered solemnly, "The rules of the jianghu are still only rules. Some people don't care much for them, so it's better to be cautious."

"The jianghu..." Madam Li gazed into the falling snow in the distance, seemingly recalling something as she let out a sigh. "I've lived peacefully for so long that I'd almost forgotten what the jianghu is truly like. Take care of yourself in everything. If there's anything you don't understand, you can come anytime. What little I know ought to be passed on to someone."

"Thank you, Master."

Li Yan respectfully cupped his fists before kneeling and kowtowing three times.

Ever since he had stumbled his way into the jianghu, everyone he met had either become a friend or an enemy. Madam Li was the second elder since his grandfather's death who had taught him without reservation. If her martial arts had been taught within a martial academy, it would have taken seven or eight years of training to receive many of the crucial secrets.

Madam Li remained calm and composed, accepting Li Yan's three bows before speaking in a deep voice. "Wait here a moment."

With that, she returned to the house and came back carrying a yellowed boxing manual. Gently stroking it, she sighed. "Cangzhou has always had a flourishing martial tradition. My father devoted his entire life to studying this technique, hoping to innovate upon its foundations. Unfortunately, he always fell just a little short.

"I was born a daughter, and there were no elder brothers or male descendants in the family. I also withdrew from the jianghu early, leaving my father's wish unfulfilled. It has always been one of my greatest regrets.

"This manual records all of my father's lifelong research and many of his ideas. I hope that one day, you'll accomplish what he could not."

Li Yan accepted it respectfully. On the cover were four characters: General Principles of Pigua.

Every page was filled with dense, tiny writing. However, there was no time to examine it now. After bidding Madam Li farewell once more, Li Yan cupped his fists and left the Li Residence.

As she watched him leave, Madam Li let out a faint sigh before turning and instructing, "Steward Li, go ask whether Master is coming home today. It's snowing so heavily that there can't possibly be that many patients. Don't tell me he's snuck off to drink again..."

After leaving Lanling Street, Li Yan looked back once more.

Studying martial arts at the Li Residence had been peaceful and uncomplicated, but there were certain things both he and Madam Li understood.

People often said that wherever there were people, there was the jianghu. That referred to the broader sense of the word, the complicated web of human relationships.

There had always existed a dividing line between the imperial court, the jianghu, and ordinary people. On one side lay law-abiding lives filled with firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. On the other lay flashing blades, bloodshed, grudges, love, hatred, and the dance of life and death.

Although Li Shiqing was a member of the Daoist world, he did not mingle within the jianghu. His family lived peaceful, stable lives. No matter how deep their friendship became, it was best to maintain some distance. Of course, once everything had settled and all hidden dangers had passed, he could still visit from time to time to seek guidance.

With that thought, Li Yan lowered his bamboo hat and, braving the wind and snow, returned once more to the inn.

Inside the room, Sha Lifei handed over a yellow cloth bundle and grumbled, "Here, I got them. The Daoist world's stuff is ridiculously expensive. A bundle of worthless paper and cloth costs you a hundred taels of silver."

Wang Daoxuan laughed. "This is hardly worthless paper."

He shook his head while explaining, "These are all top-quality talisman papers. After they're made, they have to be placed upon an altar established at a spiritual node of the earth's veins and nourished with incense offerings for no less than five years before they can bear the mystic arts.

"These yellow scrolls are the same. Producing the materials for even these low-grade magical implements takes considerable time and effort. They're one of the major sources of income for the orthodox sects and Daoist lineages."

Sha Lifei's eyes lit up as he chuckled. "Daoist, your cultivation has already reached the second-storey realm. Why don't we establish an altar ourselves and make these? We'd be making money without lifting a finger."

Wang Daoxuan shook his head. "In your dreams. The orthodox sects and Daoist lineages have accumulated their foundations over thousands of years. It's nowhere near that simple. Whether it's incense offerings, ritual grounds, spiritual troops, or craftsmen to do the work, it takes more than a generation or two to build.

"I don't possess a grand temple supported by incense worship. Even if I established an ancestral altar and had the ability to refine them, the divine astral qi sustained by incense would dissipate after only a few attempts. We'd better just honestly pay for them."

As he spoke, he took a stack of talisman paper from the bundle before bringing out cinnabar ink and brushes, handing a set to Li Yan with a smile. "I've already subdued those spirit soldiers. They'll come in handy during the ritual duel."

"Then we'll be counting on you when the time comes, Daoist!" Sha Lifei laughed heartily before his expression turned serious. "Actually, I also learned something else. The Fire Bear Gang has been searching for Brother Lu."

Li Yan was not surprised in the slightest. "Qiao Sanhu has always been close with the Fire Bear Gang, so it makes sense they'd help him search. But why are they recruiting people throughout Chang'an? Didn't Brother Lu go to Ezhou?"

Sha Lifei replied, "Apparently not only has the court issued a warrant, but Qiao Sanhu has also put out a secret bounty. Since there hasn't been any news of Brother Lu anywhere in Ezhou, they suspect he fled to Chang'an instead."

Li Yan pondered for a moment before muttering, "That's certainly possible. Just keep an eye on things, Uncle Sha. Since there's no rush, we'll take it one step at a time. As long as we win this ritual duel, not only will we help Sister Hong recover her belongings, but we'll also establish our own reputation. Who knows? One day we might even deal with that bastard Qiao Sanhu and figure out a way to clear Brother Lu's name."

After discussing things briefly, the three went about their own tasks.

Wang Daoxuan began preparing the ritual altar for the upcoming ritual duel while Sha Lifei headed out to gather information and monitor the enemy's movements.

Once the two had left, the room fell quiet.

Li Yan lit three sticks of incense, first calming his mind before picking up a sheet of talisman paper between his fingers and focusing his spirit. Setting martial arts aside, his greatest trump cards in mystical arts were undoubtedly the Soul-Hooking Chain and the Five Yin Ghost Battalions.

However, the Five Yin Ghost Battalions had a limited number of summons, while the Soul-Hooking Chain was a decisive trump card capable of turning the tide. Neither could not be revealed lightly. Thus, his ordinary techniques became all the more important.

There were still five days before the ritual duel. During that time, he had to master both the Northern Emperor Straw Spirit Technique and the Northern Emperor Divine Movement Technique.

The Straw Spirit Technique differed fundamentally from the Yin Sect's Paper Figure Technique.

The Yin Gate's technique involved cutting paper into human shapes before using secret methods to bind spirits or malevolent ghosts to them, allowing them to kill under the practitioner's command. More advanced practitioners also crafted paper men and paper horses. Those were even more powerful, and somewhat resembled puppet techniques, though each had its own strengths.

The Straw Spirit Technique, however, was entirely different.

The Northern Emperor Scripture states: Straw spirits are men and horses fashioned from bundled reeds. They are called spirits because they belong to the realm of the divine.

Simply put, Straw Spirits were more akin to gods. There were Heavenly Gods and Earthly Deities. There were also differences in rank among Earthly Deities. Beings such as the Mountain God that had formed in the mass grave outside Xianyang, or the Tiger Daoist, who had ascended to godhood at the Medicine King Temple in Zhongnan Mountain, possessed independent consciousness.

The same was true of certain famous figures who had been officially invested as City Gods. Such beings had generally been extraordinary even while alive.

Far more common, however, were deities like the Earth God of the Li Clan's Fort, whose astral qi had condensed from the incense offerings and wishes of ordinary people. Once the incense offerings ceased and the astral qi dissipated, they would vanish into the dust of history, just as the Mountain God of Tianzhu Mountain had.

The Straw Spirit Technique created a simplified form of divine astral qi. The Straw Spirits it produced behaved much like an automaton, carrying out whatever commands they received. Compared to the Yin Gate's Paper Figure Technique, the Straw Spirit Technique possessed relatively little power at the beginning, but it excelled in being easy to control and was incapable of backfiring.

More importantly, it was an orthodox underworld art. As one's cultivation increased, the Straw Spirits would likewise become stronger. The next stage even allowed the creation of straw effigies and humanoid dolls.

Moreover, this Straw Spirit Technique served as the foundation for the higher-level Soldier Armor Art recorded in the Northern Emperor Scripture, the very basis of the legendary technique of Scattering Beans to Create Soldiers.

After mentally reviewing the entire casting process once again, Li Yan stepped in the formation of the Big Dipper while forming hand seals, simultaneously folding the talisman paper.

The rectangular talisman was folded into exactly seven layers. At the same time, he formed the Big Dipper Seven-Star Seal, representing the seven positions on it. After finishing the folds, Li Yan picked up a pair of scissors and, following the diagrams in the Northern Emperor Scripture, deftly snipped away until he formed a paper figure. He respectfully placed it before the incense burner.

He then once again stepped in formation, chanting the Northern Emperor incantation, "Nuogao! Supreme Subtle Straw Spirit, become soldiers and armor, expel evil and uphold righteousness, let yang harmony permeate your form. By decree of the Northern Yin Emperor, awe all blades and weapons. By my command!"

As he chanted, he entered the state of visualized meditation before suddenly pointing forward. A yin wind swept through the room as the bluish incense smoke rising from the three burning sticks suddenly flowed downward, enveloping the folded paper figure.

At the same time, Li Yan sensed the divine light stored between his brows gradually dimming. But a force abruptly knocked both his hands aside. With a whoosh, the paper figure burst into flames.

He had failed...

Li Yan simply shook his head. Entering meditative concentration to restore his spirit, he rested before making another paper figure, offering incense once more, forming hand seals, and chanting the spell again. Again and again, the paper figures caught fire and burned.

Though mentally exhausted, Li Yan did not grow discouraged. He knew the Straw Spirit simply could not yet withstand the impact of the astral qi and killing qi because flaws still remained in his casting process.

Before he realized it, midnight had arrived. His mind had already become dizzy and sluggish, while the time required to recover through meditation grew longer and longer. Taking a deep breath, he invoked the Great Luo Dharma Body to restore himself before cutting another paper figure and chanting once again.

"Nuogao! Supreme Subtle Straw Spirit, become soldiers and armor... By my command!"

An yin wind surged forth, causing the candle flames to flicker violently. However, this time, the hand seals were not forced apart. Then, to Li Yan's delight, the Straw Spirit paper figure before the incense burner slowly stood upright.

Moments later, the folded paper unfolded into seven paper figures holding hands.

Snap! Snap! Snap!

Every point of contact where the paper figures were joined together broke apart.

Success!

Li Yan could no longer suppress the joy in his heart. When the Big Dipper divided, the spirit possessed life. The separation of the paper figures signified that the technique had been fully mastered. Once separated, however, the paper figures flopped limply onto the floor.

Li Yan was in no hurry. Forming a Sword Seal with his fingers, he pointed ahead. "Rise!"

Rustle!

The seven paper figures immediately floated into the air, circling around him as they danced up and down like yellow butterflies.

Li Yan could not help laughing out loud. "Hahaha! Wonderful!"

That was precisely the beauty of the Northern Emperor Straw Spirit Technique. Straw Spirits were somewhat like talismans. One could accumulate many of them in advance, and activate them effortlessly whenever needed.

Watching the Straw Spirit paper figures flutter gracefully through the air, Li Yan suddenly had an idea. Forming another hand seal, he pointed toward the door. Wind blew past as the paper figures slipped through the crack beneath the door.

At his current level of cultivation, once activated, the Straw Spirits could remain active for roughly half the time it took a stick of incense to burn. Since they had already been activated, he might as well test what they could do.

The paper figures flitted silently through the night like ghosts, flying to Sha Lifei's room before slipping through the crack beneath the door.

Li Yan had already closed his eyes. The divine light at the center of his brow flickered, as the scene within was revealed through a hazy vision.

Sha Lifei was sprawled across the bed, snoring soundly.

Li Yan then guided the paper figures away, intending to head toward Wang Daoxuan's room. Before they could even approach, however, a powerful sensation of being watched by a ferocious beast washed over him.

The spirit soldiers! The Daoist had already established his ritual altar.

Li Yan immediately understood, and withdrew the paper figures at once.

The Straw Spirit paper figures were essentially miniature gods. Their astral qi originated from his own stored spirit, and once divided among them, it became extremely weak. Naturally, they feared the spirit soldiers.

With that in mind, Li Yan directed the Straw Spirits to scatter beyond the courtyard. The neighboring courtyards were occupied by fellow jianghu travelers. Some chatted through the night, while others drank alone inside their rooms. Faint sobbing could even be heard somewhere in the distance.

Life in the jianghu was difficult. There was never a shortage of broken-hearted souls. Li Yan had no intention of disturbing these fellow wanderers. Instead, he formed another hand seal and directed the Straw Spirits toward Feng Feiyan's room.

Before they even reached it, one of the paper figures was suddenly engulfed in flames before dissolving into wisps of smoke.

Controlling so many at once was still somewhat taxing. With a thought, Li Yan allowed the remaining paper figures to ignite and crumble into ash, leaving only a single one to slip through the crack beneath the door. Yet the moment he saw what lay inside the room, he froze.

The bed was completely empty. There was no one inside.

Clack!

At that moment, the bedboards suddenly split apart as a figure swiftly leaped out. She wore black robes embroidered with silver thread, a Yazi embroidered across the front and a Bi'an upon the back.

Beneath those robes was a graceful, alluring figure.

It was none other than Feng Feiyan.

The instant Li Yan saw her, he was utterly shocked.

Good heavens!

This innkeeper... She's actually an undercover agent of the Military Surveillance Department.

He had long heard that although the imperial court openly relied upon the Divine Fist Association when intervening in jianghu affairs, it also secretly deployed countless covert agents to monitor the movements of the martial world.

No wonder Feng Feiyan had risen so quickly! With the Military Surveillance Department backing her, what problem couldn't they solve?