Blade - Unbound

"Everyone's been making quite a name for yourselves lately..." Shopkeeper Wan took a sip of tea with a smile on his face. "I told people long ago that all of you had great potential, and sure enough, the moment you arrived in Chang'an, your fame took off.

“The ritual duel at the Fire Bear Gang, the exorcism at Xiangji Temple... Just as the saying goes: 'A golden-scaled fish is never meant to remain in a pond. Once it meets the wind and clouds, it transforms into a dragon'."

"You flatter us, Senior Wan." Li Yan shook his head and murmured, "It's one thing for outsiders to say that, but we're among our own here. You know us well enough, so please don't make fun of us."

Shopkeeper Wan waved his hand. "Not at all! I'm not exaggerating. Among those on the jianghu circuit, no one's reputation has been rising faster than yours.

"Especially you, Little Brother Li. You're young, dashing, and threw away a thousand taels at Calyx Pavilion. I don't know how many people are envious. I heard every top courtesan in Chang'an has been trying to find out more about you, hoping to conquer this prodigal son of the pleasure quarters. Heh, you really do take after your father..."

Li Yan was dumbfounded. "All I did was drink some wine and sing a few songs. I didn't even touch a single woman. How did I become some notorious playboy?"

"You've got the nerve to say that!" Sha Lifei grew irritated the moment it was mentioned. "You spent a whole thousand taels! Do you really think money falls from the sky?

"I asked around. The Shopkeeper of Calyx Pavilion personally sent the girls to entertain you one after another, yet you didn't fancy a single one. All you did was drink, sing, and throw money around.

"You weren't drinking. You were slapping them across the face. It was basically saying none of Calyx Pavilion's girls were worth your attention. The Shopkeeper of Calyx Pavilion was furious, but the girls from the other establishments were delighted. If any one of them could become your favored companion, wouldn't she become famous overnight?"

Shopkeeper Wan clicked his tongue and shook his head. "That's what you don't understand. Brother Li is obviously playing hard to get. From now on, whichever establishment he visits, he'll be treated like an honored guest. Even veteran patrons of the pleasure houses couldn't pull off something like this..."

Sha Lifei paused before nodding. "That actually makes sense."

"Enough already!" Li Yan laughed helplessly. "How did things end up like this? I was just enjoying myself, got a little drunk, and belted out a few songs.

"Let's drop the subject. Senior Wan, the New Year is almost here. Have you come to Chang'an to buy New Year's supplies?"

Shopkeeper Wan shook his head. "That hardly requires my attention. This time, I've come to Chang'an for one reason. It's the Drum King Assembly!"

Li Yan looked puzzled. "Doesn't that only begin during the Lantern Festival?"

Sha Lifei immediately perked up. "This year's different! I just heard some news. This year's Lantern Festival will be much grander than usual. Over the past few days, performers from all over the provinces have already begun flocking to Chang'an."

Shopkeeper Wan smiled. "That's right. Firstly, because Minister Li has just taken office. Secondly, because of the Daoist sects."

"When the Great Xuan Dynasty was first established, in order to pray for peace and prosperity, every holy land and secret realm minted a special batch of coins. These were sealed away within famous mountains and great rivers, where they were worshipped with incense offerings day and night until the appointed time came to unseal them.

"Those coins are hard currency within the Daoist world. Some suppress evil; some protect the bearer; but they are all indispensable in crafting spiritual artifacts. The orthodox sects and the imperial court each take half, while the remainder is distributed among the various Daoist lineages and unorthodox schools.

"So every time the coin vaults are opened, it becomes one of the greatest events in the Daoist world. The province containing the sacred mountain also holds a grand sacrificial ceremony to pray for blessings in the coming year.

"But even the right to purchase those coins must be competed for. To prevent the various Daoist lineages from killing one another over the quotas, the Daoist world gradually established a set of rules. The competitions are centered around local folk festivals and traditional performances, with victory determining who receives the allocations.

"For example, when the vaults were opened at Huotong Holy Land in Minzhou last year, the chosen event was the Wandering Deities Festival. Countless Daoist practitioners gathered there, displaying their abilities throughout Minzhou and suppressing evil qi in every direction.

“As a result, the coastal regions of Minzhou suffered no major disasters this year. Unfortunately, Minzhou is far too distant. With these old bones of mine and all the matters I have to attend to, even if I wanted to witness such a spectacle, I simply couldn't make the journey."

"So there's an event like this?" Li Yan's interest was piqued and he asked, "What's being chosen in Chang'an this year?"

Shopkeeper Wan stroked his beard with a smile. "The Eastern Divine Tower of Han City! This custom originated from the ancient Shang Dynasty's Rain Dance. People carry towering shrines dedicated to civil and martial deities while praying for rain, accompanied by drums and gongs. It’s an awe-inspiring procession that requires everyone to work together.

"The Guanzhong Plains has always suffered from scarce rainfall, and drought is its greatest concern. There are already signs of it this year, so they've chosen the Divine Tower ceremony to pray for rain. With the combined efforts of Daoist practitioners from every direction, hopefully Shanzhou will enjoy favorable weather throughout the year.

"Of course, the major Daoist lineages are far too proud to participate directly. They'll only seek quotas from the orthodox sects. So those competing are all from the unorthodox schools and the smaller Daoist lineages. I've come to Chang'an this time to gather manpower and assemble a team to compete for one of those slots.

"Little Brother Li inherited the Drum King legacy of the Qin-Han War Drum, and you've cultivated both martial arts and Daoist arts. You'll have to take charge of the lead drum that anchors the formation."

Li Yan smiled. "So that's what this is about. Such a grand occasion naturally deserves to be witnessed. Since you've placed your trust in me, I'll certainly give it everything I've got! Oh, right, there's something else. I asked someone to deliver a message to Brother Zhao Luzi, but they've never been able to find him. What's he been busy with lately?"

Shopkeeper Wan smiled. "Naturally, he's been busy with this as well. The timber used to build the Divine Tower can't be chosen carelessly. I've decided to go all out this time. Quite a few old friends will be lending a hand.

"Well then, I still have matters to attend to, so I'll be taking my leave."

Li Yan couldn't help but ask. "Senior, won't you stay for a meal?"

"Ha, where would I find the time? I still need to gather the others. Once everyone's here, I'll host a banquet and we'll all have a proper drink together!"

"Very well. Take care, Senior."

After seeing Shopkeeper Wan off, the three of them exchanged glances.

Eventually, Sha Lifei chuckled. "I thought things would finally calm down for the New Year, but instead I've got to deal with this Buddhist relic; Little Yan has to beat drums; and I'm guessing Daoist Wang has plenty to do as well."

Wang Daoxuan stroked his beard with a smile. "Master Du introduced me to several jobs. They're all New Year rituals for blessings, house purification, and warding off misfortune. I can handle them by myself; you two should go about your own business."

"Good! Being busy is good!" Sha Lifei blinked. "The busier we are, the more money we make. I've arranged to meet Luo Faqing and visit a venerable monk. I won't be back for lunch."

With that, he hurriedly departed.

Wang Daoxuan also nodded. "Coincidentally, an elder in a wealthy household just passed away, and they need a house purification. I'll head over there. As for you, Little Yan..."

Li Yan smiled. "Go ahead, Daoist. The New Year is almost here. I'll first visit my master, and deliver some gifts before things become too busy."

Soon, Li Yan was the only one left in the courtyard. He smiled to himself. Everyone was busy, but that also meant their lives were steadily improving. Perhaps before long, he would have enough silver to buy a house of his own.

After locking the courtyard gate, Li Yan turned and left the alley.

Outside the Li residence, the steward called out loudly, "Fengxiang woodblock New Year prints, Household Six Deities painting, twenty jin of Xifeng liquor, ten jin of Ganquan tofu, one pig, one sheep, twenty fish..."

Gift-giving had always been an art since ancient times. For officials, one couldn't be too ostentatious. It had to be tasteful and leave the recipient pleased. Handle it poorly, and not only might you fail to meet the person, but you could even earn their resentment...

Ordinary folk also had their own considerations when giving gifts. They needed enough to satisfy the gossip of neighbors, relatives, and friends, while also ensuring they didn't overburden their household...

As for a modest family like the Li Family, what they valued most was their reputation.

Steward Li shouted at the top of his lungs, wishing every neighbor could hear him.

People always said the master had only a reputation but little actual wealth. Well, just look. Who else received New Year's gifts this early? And in such abundance?

Inside the main hall of the inner courtyard, Madam Li shook her head helplessly.

"Why is he shouting so loudly? And you... Coming to visit is enough. Why bring so many things?"

Though she spoke that way, she was secretly delighted. Meanwhile, Li Yan respectfully nodded. "It's only proper."

One could never go wrong with generous gifts. Besides, his master had truly treated him well, teaching everything she knew without holding anything back.

In a good mood, Madam Li smiled and asked, "I heard you've been rather busy lately. Have you read that book yet?"

She was referring to The General Principles of Pigua.

The old lady's maiden surname was Ma, and her father had been a renowned Pigua master from Cangzhou. He had spent his entire life studying the Pigua Palm, hoping to innovate upon its foundations.

Unfortunately, although the old lady possessed extraordinary talent, she had left the jianghu early to marry and raise a family, losing any chance to advance further. Though her life had been peaceful, there was always some lingering regret. She had passed this book on because she believed Li Yan's aptitude was promising enough that he might one day fulfill her father's final wish.

At the mention of it, Li Yan grew interested and said, "Grandmaster's understanding of martial theory is truly profound. His insights into the art have benefited me tremendously. But there's one section of his deductions that fascinated me the most.

"Pi means to split, Gua means to hang. Taking the Five Elements as its core and the Eight Trigrams as its framework, its wide and sweeping movements are meant to shatter the enemy's stance. Of all its forms, the one most perfectly aligned is the thunder part of the Eight Trigrams. When thunder arises, yin and yang transform. If one's fist carries the momentum of thunder itself, it can break all techniques..."

Madam Li smiled wryly and shook her head. "That was merely a metaphor. My father was using thunder's fierce power as an analogy. Throughout his life, he only reached the Jin Transformation Realm. He never reached the Core Jin Realm, much less cultivated astral force. Those were merely his speculations on how Pigua's momentum might evolve after astral force had been attained."

"Master, please take a look."

Li Yan wasted no words. Rising to his feet, he walked into the courtyard. Sinking his shoulders and twisting his waist, his arms expanded and contracted in flowing cycles, folding and unfolding without pause.

Madam Li nodded slightly in approval as she watched. The technique Li Yan was using was nothing unusual. It was simply Reverse Black Lightning Rotation, one of the twelve forms. But it was obvious that Li Yan's technique had improved again, showing that he had not neglected his training during this period.

However, his fist momentum soon began to change.

"Hong! Hong!"

As he continued to practice, he simultaneously unleashed the Thundercloud Resonance. According to Buddhist scriptures, it was something even more powerful than ordinary thunder. Practicing the two together caused Li Yan's fist art to transform. It became overwhelmingly fierce and domineering, like the God of Thunder himself dancing with his mighty hammer.

Madam Li suddenly rose to her feet, her expression turning grave. "Hm?"

A long while later, Li Yan finished his routine. His entire body was flushed red; white steam rose from the top of his head; and every breath emerged as mist, as though he had just run a thousand miles.

That was a method he had stumbled upon by accident.

The true purpose of the Thundercloud Resonance had never been simply beating a drum. Rather, it used the vibrations of the divine drum to reduce the practitioner's limitations, allowing them to gradually comprehend the mysteries of the Thundercloud Divine Drum.

After long practice, Li Yan had gained increasing mastery over his hidden force. Now, even without using the divine drum, he could still unleash the technique.

Of course, the Thundercloud Resonance he unleashed treated his own body as the drum. It was still worlds apart from the actual Great Thundercloud Sound, whose transformations embodied the interplay of yin and yang.

There was another reason as well. Although many of the neighboring courtyards were empty, every practice session inevitably disturbed the peace. He couldn't keep doing that forever.

Coincidentally, after reading that line in The General Principles of Pigua, he decided to cultivate both the Pigua Palm and the Thundercloud Resonance simultaneously.

To his surprise, it actually transformed how he unleashed the palm technique.

After listening to Li Yan's explanation, Madam Li remained silent for quite some time. Finally, she said with a solemn expression, "I've heard that the Taixuan Orthodox Sect possesses a profound technique called Lightning Palm. It combines Daoist arts and martial arts as preparation for cultivating true lightning techniques in the future. Your method follows a remarkably similar principle. Perhaps you really can blaze a trail of your own.

"For the next few months, I'll personally oversee your training. Come regularly so I can help straighten out your path. We mustn't let anything go wrong."

Li Yan was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master."

Although his master was an elderly woman whose martial progress had long since reached its limit, her talent was extraordinary. Her understanding of martial principles far surpassed the level of her current cultivation.

With her approval, it meant the path he had found truly wasn't mistaken.

Watching from the side, Li Kongqing could only smile bitterly and shake his head. He had intended to chat with Li Yan after he arrived, but the martial fanatics duo had become completely absorbed in discussing the Pigua Palm, paying no attention to anything else.

"Brother Li, carry on. I have something to attend to, so I'll be leaving first."

"Mhm..."

Seeing Li Yan's absent-minded response, Li Kongqing chuckled helplessly, shook his head, and strode out of the residence. After leaving, Li Kongqing hailed a carriage. It first traveled east through Anshan Street, then turned north, passing successively through Zhaoguo Street, Yongchong Street, and Yongning Street.

The heavy snow had just cleared, and with the New Year approaching, the streets were crowded with bustling, lively pedestrians. Yet Li Kongqing sat inside the carriage, preoccupied with his thoughts, not even bothering to lift the curtain.

The farther north they went, the more luxurious the buildings became.For thousands of years, although Chang'an had risen and fallen through countless wars, one pattern had never changed: the east belonged to the nobility, the west to the wealthy, the south to the poor, and the north to the princes.

After passing Pingkang Street, they arrived at Shengye Street. There were almost no ordinary commoners there. Every residence belonged to nobles or high-ranking officials, each a quiet and elegant mansion.

Before long, a magnificent palace came into view. Its vermilion gates, glazed roof tiles, bronze-studded doors, and stone guardian lions marked it as the former Xingqing Palace, now the Prince's Manor. Though magnificent, it did not exceed the ceremonial standards permitted for the imperial family.

Snow rested upon the green pines nearby, while armored soldiers carrying halberds patrolled the grounds. A solemn and imposing aura filled the surroundings.

Upon reaching the estate, the carriage driver visibly became nervous. He quickly stopped the carriage, lifted the curtain, and said quietly, "My lord, we've arrived at the Prince's Manor. I don't dare go any closer."

Li Kongqing was jolted out of his thoughts. "Mm."

After stepping down from the carriage, he straightened his robes and walked toward the manor gates. The waist token hanging from his jade belt identified him as one of the prince's scholarly attendants. The guards all recognized him, so no one stopped him.

After entering the manor, he did not approach the main hall. Instead, he followed the covered corridor toward the rear courtyard.

"Good morning, Lord Li."

"Greetings, Lord Li."

The maids along the way all bowed respectfully.

Li Kongqing acknowledged them with a nod. "Mm."

Before long, after passing through a circular archway, a three-story building suddenly appeared before him. Built beside the lake and hidden among pine and cypress trees, it was a place where clerks constantly came and went, giving it an elegant yet imposing atmosphere.

That was the Prince's Renxiao Pavilion. It had originally stood upon the site of the former official tower before being rebuilt and renamed Renxiao Pavilion. It also happened to be where Li Kongqing carried out his daily duties.

"Good morning, Lord Li."

"Good morning, Lord Guo."

"Oh, Lord Li. Since the New Year is almost here, how about I treat everyone to a few drinks tonight?"

"Since Lord Liu is inviting us, I'd naturally be delighted to attend."

"Hahaha... Then it's settled."

People greeted him constantly along the way. After arriving at the office where official business was handled, he found that a clerk had already lit the brazier. Li Kongqing sat behind his desk, gazing silently out over Xingqing Lake through the window.

According to the official system of the Great Xuan Dynasty, the prince's scholarly attendant ranked alongside the accompanying lecturer and accompanying scribe as one of the prince's Three Attendants, and was allowed to be seated beside the prince during audiences.

Because of that, he was a ninth rank official. In simple terms, his duty was to accompany the heir apparent in his studies. His status was neither particularly high nor particularly low. How much authority the position actually carried depended entirely on the attitudes of the prince.

Previously, Li Kongqing had constantly offered remonstrance, living in incorruptible austerity. Not only did the heir dislike him, but even his colleagues within the Prince's Manor also wanted little to do with him.

After listening to Li Yan's advice, he had learned to keep his mouth shut. He had also learned to secure a few conveniences for himself. To his surprise, his relationships with his colleagues had steadily improved. Sure enough, what books taught was one thing, while reality was something else entirely.

Thinking about this, Li Kongqing let out a long sigh. He felt that he had matured, and as a result, his circumstances had improved. Yet for some reason, he also felt that he had regressed. The contradictory feeling left him deeply unsettled.

Just then, footsteps sounded behind him. Li Kongqing quickly turned around. His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately cupped his hands in salute.

"Greetings, Your Highness!"